Antarctica travel guide 2026: best time to visit, visas, costs and safety

Overview

Wikivoyage does not have a travel guide for this destination yet, so this page shows facts from official and open data sources.

Know before you go

Answers to what travellers most often look up about Antarctica.

Local time

Explore Antarctica by category

Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.

Sights & nature

Culture & history

Food, stays & fun

Practical

Getting around

Public transport and paid services in Antarctica.

Taxi and ride-hailing apps

Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Antarctica.

Best time to visit Antarctica

Mildest, driest months

Jan: Recommended month
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec: Recommended month

Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.

Weather by month

Average conditions in Antarctica

Avg. highAvg. lowRainfallRecommended month

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. high	-28°	-39°	-50°	-54°	-55°	-56°	-58°	-58°	-57°	-50°	-37°	-27°
Avg. low	-30°	-41°	-53°	-58°	-59°	-60°	-63°	-62°	-61°	-53°	-39°	-29°
Rainfall (mm)	3	3	7	7	6	6	5	5	6	6	4	4
Humidity	92%	95%	96%	92%	92%	88%	76%	80%	82%	93%	92%	92%

Monthly averages, January 2001 - December 2025. Source: NASA POWER.

Visa and entry requirements

Your passport

Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.

Safety and travel advice

We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.

US Department of State

Level 2 of 4

Exercise increased caution

Summary of the advice

Exercise increased cautionin Antarctica due to environmental hazards posed by extreme and unpredictable weather and limited emergency services. There are no U.S. government consular services available to U.S. citizens in the Antarctic Region. The closest U.S embassies and consulates are in Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa. U.S. government resources in the Antarctic Region are committed to the U.S. Antarctic Program, per longstanding U.S. policy.

Updated Sep 23, 2025Read the full advice

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.

Summary of the advice

The British Antarctic Territory is a British Overseas Territory. It is administered by a commissioner, based in London. The British Antarctic Territory website has more information. Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  Follow FCDO:    travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram

Updated Apr 10, 2025Read the full advice

Articles about Antarctica

Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Antarctica.

Culture & history

Churches in Antarctica

Christianity has found its way onto all seven continents of the world. It reached Antarctica two centuries ago and there are now eight churches on or near the continent, with others further out.

Wikivoyage

Nature & adventure

Wildlife of the Southern Ocean

In and around the Southern Ocean lives an ecosystem of plant and animal life including penguins, seals, and whales.

Wikivoyage

Nature & adventure

Midnight sun

Midnight sun is the sun being above horizon throughout the night, while polar night is when the sun stays below it even in the day. They can be experienced in the Arctic and Antarctica.

Wikivoyage

Travel tips

Voyages of Roald Amundsen

Roald Amundsen (1872-1928) was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions and a key figure of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

Wikivoyage

Itineraries

Gringo Trail

The Gringo trail is a term for places in Latin America visited by gringos, that is, people from North America or Europe. It is the Western Hemisphere's equivalent of tropical Asia's Banana Pancake Trail.

Wikivoyage

Travel tips

Sea kayaking

Sea kayaking is popular around the world anywhere where there are large open bodies of water to be explored: lakes, bays, calm rivers, estuaries or the ocean.

Wikivoyage

Overview

Know before you go