Longyearbyen is Svalbard's largest settlement and administrative center, with the archipelago's best services and infrastructure. Set deep in Adventfjord off Isfjorden, it has a year-round airport, though the harbor freezes in winter. Most shops, hotels, restaurants, and the hospital are within walking distance of the port. Notable sites include UNIS, the northernmost higher-education center, and the nearby Svalbard Museum. Traces of former mining remain throughout town.

Svalbard's north is less affected by the Norwegian Current than the south, so it has more ice. Northern Spitsbergen offers striking fjords, bays, and glaciers. Nordaust Svalbard Nature Reserve includes Spitsbergen's east coast, Hinlopen Strait, Nordaustlandet, and islands such as Kvitøya and Storøya. Expect walrus haul-outs, bird cliffs, glaciers, Arctic flora, polar bears, and historic sites; ice conditions determine access.

Svalbard's north is less affected by the Norwegian Current than the south, so it has more ice. Northern Spitsbergen offers striking fjords, bays, and glaciers. Nordaust Svalbard Nature Reserve includes Spitsbergen's east coast, Hinlopen Strait, Nordaustlandet, and islands such as Kvitøya and Storøya. Expect walrus haul-outs, bird cliffs, glaciers, Arctic flora, polar bears, and historic sites; ice conditions determine access.

Svalbard's north is less affected by the Norwegian Current than the south, so it has more ice. Northern Spitsbergen offers striking fjords, bays, and glaciers. Nordaust Svalbard Nature Reserve includes Spitsbergen's east coast, Hinlopen Strait, Nordaustlandet, and islands such as Kvitøya and Storøya. Expect walrus haul-outs, bird cliffs, glaciers, Arctic flora, polar bears, and historic sites; ice conditions determine access.

Svalbard's north is less affected by the Norwegian Current than the south, so it has more ice. Northern Spitsbergen offers striking fjords, bays, and glaciers. Nordaust Svalbard Nature Reserve includes Spitsbergen's east coast, Hinlopen Strait, Nordaustlandet, and islands such as Kvitøya and Storøya. Expect walrus haul-outs, bird cliffs, glaciers, Arctic flora, polar bears, and historic sites; ice conditions determine access.

Svalbard's southern region, especially Spitsbergen's west coast, is less ice-clogged than the rest of the archipelago because of the Gulf Stream. Fjords here were used by trappers, hunters, and mining companies, and you can still visit remains of huts and mines, along with active scientific and commercial settlements. Depending on the season, glaciers can be reached on foot or by sea. Hornsund offers dramatic geology, rugged mountains, spectacular glaciers, seabirds, and seals.

In the 1920s, overcrowding in Ammassalik led to the founding of Scoresbysund in 1925, bringing about 70 Inuit from Ammassalik and four West Greenland families. Ittoqqortoormiit, on Liverpool Land near the Scoresby Sund entrance, is one of Greenland's most isolated settlements, with about 460 residents. Frozen for nine months, it is reached via Constable Point airport. Hunting remains important, though tourism is growing.

Scoresby Sund is the world's largest and longest fjord system, a vast Arctic labyrinth of islands, fjords and ice. Named for explorer William Scoresby, it now has only Ittoqqortoormiit, though Paleo-Eskimo peoples once lived there. It is rich in wildlife-musk oxen, arctic foxes, whales, belugas, narwhals, walrus, seals, seabirds, and polar bears. Its true highlight is the scenery: calm fjord waters, huge icebergs, and dramatic, ice-capped mountains.

Scoresby Sund is the world's largest and longest fjord system, a vast Arctic labyrinth of islands, fjords and ice. Named for explorer William Scoresby, it now has only Ittoqqortoormiit, though Paleo-Eskimo peoples once lived there. It is rich in wildlife-musk oxen, arctic foxes, whales, belugas, narwhals, walrus, seals, seabirds, and polar bears. Its true highlight is the scenery: calm fjord waters, huge icebergs, and dramatic, ice-capped mountains.

Scoresby Sund is the world's largest and longest fjord system, a vast Arctic labyrinth of islands, fjords and ice. Named for explorer William Scoresby, it now has only Ittoqqortoormiit, though Paleo-Eskimo peoples once lived there. It is rich in wildlife-musk oxen, arctic foxes, whales, belugas, narwhals, walrus, seals, seabirds, and polar bears. Its true highlight is the scenery: calm fjord waters, huge icebergs, and dramatic, ice-capped mountains.

Scoresby Sund is the world's largest and longest fjord system, a vast Arctic labyrinth of islands, fjords and ice. Named for explorer William Scoresby, it now has only Ittoqqortoormiit, though Paleo-Eskimo peoples once lived there. It is rich in wildlife-musk oxen, arctic foxes, whales, belugas, narwhals, walrus, seals, seabirds, and polar bears. Its true highlight is the scenery: calm fjord waters, huge icebergs, and dramatic, ice-capped mountains.

Siglufjordur, Iceland's northernmost town, is a tiny isolated gem of just over 1,000 people, reached by a single-lane tunnel through snow-capped mountains. Once a herring-fishing capital, it's now known for Nordic Noir and Trapped. Visit the Herring Era Museum, stroll the colorful harbour, boat the fjord, hike the hills, and explore the Folk Music Museum and festival.

Isafjordur, a town of about 2,600 in Iceland's Westfjords, sits on a spit in Skutulsfjörður beneath dramatic mountains and fjords. Despite its remote setting, it has a lively center of cafes, restaurants, and half-timbered houses. Fishing and seafaring define the town, showcased at the Maritime Museum. Nearby, you can try local specialties, ski, ice fish, play golf, visit Tungudalur Waterfall, explore Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, and watch puffins on Vigur Island.

Cruise to Dynjandi and discover Iceland's most spectacular waterfalls. Book a Silversea Luxury Cruise and be inspired by Iceland.

Embark with Silversea Cruises and discover Stykkishólmur, in western Iceland. Be seduced by the breathtaking scenery - a gift provided by Mother Nature herself.

Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, is a walkable, welcoming city of color, creativity, cafés, bars and a growing food scene. Two-thirds of Icelanders live here, and it's the best base for outdoor adventure. See Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa, the harbor, geothermal pools, geysers, waterfalls, and the northern lights.