When comparing Svalbard, Norway vs Reykjavik, Iceland, the Slant community recommends Reykjavik, Iceland for most people. In the question“What are the best travel destinations to see the Northern Lights?” Reykjavik, Iceland is ranked 1st while Svalbard, Norway is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose Reykjavik, Iceland is:
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.
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Pros
Pro Northern lights can be seen in the day time
Svalbard is one of the only places where the northern lights can be seen during the day.
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.
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.
Pro Very accessible
Due to the increasing popularity of Reykjavik as a tourist destination, there are frequent (and affordable) flights to the city.
Cons
Con Extremely cold temperatures
The island of Svalbard is majorly covered by ice and can get to temperatures below -30°C in winter, with summer temperatures around 8-10°C
Con Very small community with few options for travelers
Svalbard is home to less than 3000 people. Being such a small community, there are very little options available for travelers (for example, there are only a few hotels to choose from).
Con Expensive food and accommodations
Though the flight to Iceland is generally cheap, the expenses there tend to be quite high.