Flights from Montreal (YUL) to Longyearbyen, Svalbard & Jan Mayen
Here is what to know before booking a flight to Longyearbyen from Montreal.
From Montreal, fares to Longyearbyen usually run between $1650 and $2450. The best fare spotted recently is $1581 (about 13% below the typical price).
Longyearbyen is one of the northernmost towns on Earth, a tiny cluster of colourful houses in the Arctic wilderness of Svalbard, ringed by glaciers and polar-bear country. It swings between months of polar night and the endless daylight of the midnight sun, with dog teams and snowmobiles as everyday transport. Bundle up and step into a landscape unlike anywhere else!
When to go
The dark polar night runs from roughly late October to mid-February, prime time for northern lights and a deep Arctic quiet. Late winter into spring brings snow, returning light and the best snowmobile and dog-sled tours, while summer offers the midnight sun and boat trips among the glaciers. It is cold year-round, so pack serious layers whenever you go.
Getting there from Montreal
There is no direct route from Canada; you fly to Oslo, Norway, usually crossing the Atlantic overnight, then take a Norwegian domestic flight north to Longyearbyen (LYR), often via Tromsø. The whole trip takes real planning, since the final leg is the only scheduled air link to the islands. Allow generous connection time and check baggage rules for the domestic hop.
What to see and do
- The Svalbard Museum on Arctic nature and history
- Dog-sledding across the frozen valleys
- Snowmobile and glacier tours into the wilderness
- The exterior of the Global Seed Vault
Good to know before you go
The currency is the Norwegian krone and cards are used almost everywhere, so you barely need cash. The town itself is small and walkable, with a handful of taxis but no ride-hailing at all; anything beyond the settlement is polar-bear country and requires a guided tour, as a rifle and guide are mandatory outside town, so book excursions rather than wandering off alone. Norwegian is the official language but English is widely spoken, and always respect the strict wildlife and safety rules.
Travel information is provided as a guide and can change. Always confirm fares, schedules and entry requirements before booking.