January · typical climate, not a forecast
Svalbard in January
Norway
Not your escape
-13°C day · -17°C night · 25% rain · 0h daylight · almost empty · €1,565 estimated
Live · Svalbard
–°C
Reading…
Live · Tallinn (you)
–°C
Reading…
Cool Score breakdown
Scored for 5 nights from Tallinn in January.
- Temperature fit0
-13°C typical high vs your 12–20°C window
w 26 - Heat escape100
12°C cooler than Tallinn
w 14 - Rain probability100
25% chance of rain on an average day
w 11 - Daylight hours0
0h of daylight mid-month
w 8 - Outdoor conditions25
Comfortable for a full day outside at -13°C
w 10 - Crowding86
Almost empty for this month
w 8 - Flight + stay cost20
≈€1565 estimated for 5 nights vs €1000 budget
w 12 - Nature access100
10/10 — wild ground within reach
w 6 - City atmosphere36
2/10 urban texture · 6/10 food scene
w 4
Why Svalbard in January
Single-digit highs in July. It does not get more extreme than this.
- Glacier boat trips
- Polar desert hikes
- Abandoned mining towns
What January in Svalbard is actually like
In January, Svalbard sits around -13°C by day and drops to about -17°C after dark, so a light layer earns its place in the bag even in high summer. That is roughly 12°C cooler than Tallinn at the same time of year — the difference between planning your day around the shade and simply walking out of the door.
Expect rain on roughly 25% of days, usually passing rather than persistent, and about 0 hours of daylight to spend outside. Crowds are almost empty this month, and a 5-night trip from Tallinn works out at around €1,565 including flights, a mid-range stay and everyday spending.
Single-digit highs in July. It does not get more extreme than this. Days here tend to fill up with glacier boat trips, polar desert hikes, abandoned mining towns — which is why Svalbard scores 45 out of 100 for january: not your escape.
Other months
Compare the typical climate month by month.