When visiting Svalbard, you are in the High Arctic and you need to dress accordingly. The temperatures in that time of the year can go as low as -25 degrees celsius with additional wind. Frostbite is one of the most common injuries in Svalbard. The weather can change very quickly at any time of the year. Strong winds make the actual temperature lower than the measured temperature. The terrain in Svalbard is uneven and rocky, and you will need waterproof and solid walking shoes/mountain boots for hikes in the mountains and the surrounding areas.

Your clothing should be adapted to the season, and should always be windproof and waterproof. Additional clothing for extreme weather conditions goes without saying. During winter, it is important that you are able to cover all bare skin with insulating and windproof clothing – including your face. Several layers of clothing are usually more effective than one thick layer. Shoes and clothing must be big enough to fit extra insulating layers. There is no single piece of ‘wonder clothing’ to cover all your needs, so you need to make sure you choose varied clothing adapted to your needs and your excursion. Always bring extra mittens and an extra hat, even on short excursions.

Overall dresscode: Arctic casual, meaning leave your suit back home
Tenant meeting: Casual
Hosted tenant dinner: Business Casual

Most places in Svalbard have kept the old mining company town tradition of not to use outdoor shoes indoors. You will for instant be asked to take off your shoes at the hotel etc. For your comfort, we advise you to bring indoor shoes or slippers.