What is the best alternative to Svalbard, Norway?

Question

Built By the Slant team

Find the best product instantly.

4.7 star rating

Try it now - it's free

score 5 · Answer 1

Tromso, Norway

Top Pro

Lovely locals

The people of Tromso are lovely and welcoming, greeting you on the street and responding to your poor attempts at speaking Norweigan with a smile and response in perfect English. See More

Top Con

Lots of hills and uneven roads

While the main part of town is down at sea-level, the rest of the town builds up behind it on some quite steep hills and many unsealed/uneven roads. This can be slightly treacherous in winter so best to have shoes with substantial grip and don't take a wheeled suitcase if you're staying out of town and up a hill - it will be quite a workout! See More

Top Pro

Relatively mild climate for latitude

Due to it's coastal location, Tromso is much milder in winter than other locations at the same latitude. See More

Top Pro

Great location for sightings all year round

Tromso is located in the Northern Lights oval, the area with the greatest chance of sightings. See More

5 0

score 5 · Answer 2

Reykjavik, Iceland

Top Pro

Plenty to do besides the Northern Lights

While the city is a great place to see the lights, it also has plenty more to offer so you can really pack your trip full of fun excursions. You can see filming locations of Game Of Thrones, go to the geothermal spa, or check out the Phallological Museum. See More

Top Con

Expensive food and accommodations

Though the flight to Iceland is generally cheap, the expenses there tend to be quite high. See More

Top Pro

Lots of options for tours

Because Reykjavik is such a popular destination to see the Northern Lights, there are a variety of options available for Northern Light tours. See More

Top Pro

Very accessible

Due to the increasing popularity of Reykjavik as a tourist destination, there are frequent (and affordable) flights to the city. See More

5 0

score 3 · Answer 3

Lapland, Finland

Top Pro

Long viewing season

Finland has a long viewing season for the lights, stretching from August-April. See More

Top Con

Expensive accommodations

There aren't many hostels, so it can be difficult for backpackers and budget travelers to find affordable accommodations. However, there is a fairly active community on both Couchsurfing and AirBnB. See More

Top Pro

View the Northern Lights from a glass igloo

The Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort offers a unique way to view the Northern Lights. Glass igloos (which include a toilet and bed) let you sleep under the lights with a full view of the sky. See More

3 0

score 2 · Answer 4

Nunavik, Quebec, Canada

Top Pro

Very little light pollution

Being so large which such a small population, there is very little light pollution. This gives you a very clear view of the Northern Lights. See More

Top Con

Sparlsey populated/remote

There is only 12,000 people living in Nunavik, an area of 443,684.71 km2 . Communities are isolated and spread out, and the only way to get to Nunavik is by air (there are no roads connecting Nunavik to southern Quebec). See More

Top Pro

Great place for the winter adventurer

If you enjoy outdoor winter activities, Nunavik has plenty to offer. There isn't much in the way of guided tours, so you have to be willing to do some independent adventures. There is plenty of fishing and hiking, lots of chances to get out on the water, and plenty of wildlife to see. You can get a feel for the activities in Nunavik here. See More

Top Con

Very little tourism infrastructure

There are very few tours/packages available and limited accommodations, so you have to be willing to really plan out your trip and look after everything yourself. See More

2 0