Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen is the largest populated settlement on the Svalbard archipelago, located in the high Norwegian Arctic.

The settlement is named after American entrepreneur John Munro Longyear (1860-1922), who as head of the Arctic Coal Company founded the town and the neighboring coal mine, the first large mine on Svalbard. Mining remains an important component of the economy, and historical remnants of the mining past can be seen on the nearby mountain slopes and throughout the town. Today, however, most mining is done at the Svea mine to the south. The economy of Longyearbyen is now driven primarily by scientific research and tourism.

With approximately 2,500 inhabitants, the town is the de facto "capital" of the islands, and is today a vibrant, modern, and international settlement with much of the character of mainland Norwegian towns. It has an airport, a school, a shopping centre, hospital, hotels, restaurants, and a university. People from approximately 40 different countries call Longyearbyen home, and this is reflected in the events offered in the town.

There is no public transportation aside from the airport shuttle bus. Visitors who leave the town centre without a guide should be aware that polar bears can be seen anywhere on the islands at any time of year. Leaving the central area of Longyearbyen without a hunting rifle is not recommended. Rifles can be rented from several places in the town, or alternatively, a guide can be hired for expeditions.

There are many possibilities for walking and sight-seeing in the immediate Longyearbyen area. Walking out of the settlement into the fjord, you will see the old cemetery and several abandoned mine buildings.

• 🌍 North Pole Expedition Museum (Spitsbergen Airship Museum), ☏ +47 91383467, info@spitsbergenairshipmuseum.com. Displays materials and ephemera from the era of polar exploration using dirigibles and other aircraft, mainly by Norwegians, Italians and American explorers. Entry 100 kr. 
• 🌍 Galleri Svalbard (in Nybyen), ☏ +47 79 022340. Permanent exhibitions of Kåre Tveter, lithographies from the Recherche expeditions and a 'Svalbard collection' with maps, books and local currency. The adjoining café, shop and artists' workshops are free to visit. 70 kr. 
• 🌍 Svalbard Museum (Svalbard Science Centre (at the end of the main street)). This museum features many displays about the human history of the archipelago, especially whaling and mining, as well as various exhibits about arctic flora and fauna. Entry 90 kr. 
• 🌍 Svalbard Church (Svalbard Kirke) (above town), ☏ +47 79 025560. The world's northernmost church. Always open, and has coffee and cookies for the visitors. Also sells postcards, books, etc., – just leave the money in a bowl. 
• Animals. Reindeers roam free in the city. You can also see polar foxes and birds. 
• 🌍 24-Hour Sundial. Not big, but it does 24 hours a day in the summer. 

A wide variety of activities including hiking, dog-sledding, kayaking and snowmobile safaris and ice-caving and more are offered by Svalbard's many tour companies. The largest operators are Spitsbergen Travel and Svalbard Wildlife Service (SWS). Prices are high — expect to pay from 390-1000 kr for a half-day activity, 1000-3000 kr for a full day — but the standard is high and the experiences are well worth the price.

• Dog Sledding with Green Dog, greendogsvalbard@gmail.com. Green Dog offer a variety of dogsledding trips all year round. These range from 3-hour trips to 5-day expeditions. During the summer guests can experience dogsledding on wheels, with specially-made sleds which seat 2-3 persons. From 990 kr. 
• Year round activities with Spitsbergen Travel, ☏ +47 7902 6100, info@spitsbergentravel.no. Snowmobile safaris, ice caving, hiking, boat trips etc. Safaris vary from 4 hours to 10 hours. Snowmobile tours and ice-caving are offered during the winter season. Generally between December and mid-May, dependent on the snow conditions. Experienced and safety-conscious guides. Destinations include: Elveneset, Tempelfjorden, Pyramiden, Barentsburg and the East Coast. During the summer months the waterways open up and the midnight sun shines on Svalbard. Thousands of migratory birds come to the area, and nest in the cliffs. You can enjoy the landscape and wildlife with an open boat trip to the bird cliffs, a calving glacier or to a popular fossil hunting location, with experienced guides. One possibility is a demanding yet rewarding trip to Trollsteinen (849m over sea level) or a hike from sea to summit. From 730 kr. 
• 🌍 Esmarkbreen Glacier. Across the Isfjorden (2-3 hours by boat). Scenic glacier across the bay, colored a striking blue. Drop a cube in your glass for an Arctic martini. Often combined with cruises to Barentsburg. 

• 🌍 Barentsburg. The Russian settlement of Barentsburg is accessible from Longyearbyen by boat. Organised tours are available. Accommodation and meals can be found at the Hotel Barentsburg, for prices somewhat lower than you would find in Longyearbyen. 
• 🌍 Pyramiden. Across the Isfjorden from Longyearbyen (2-3 hours by boat) lies Pyramiden, a Russian mining settlement that was abandoned in 1998. A small Russian contingent is now based on-site to prevent vandalism and take care of basic infrastructure needs. As of 2013, basic accommodation in Pyramiden is available at the Tulip Hotel, including cooked meals. A small number of converted shipping containers, located on the old docks, are also available to rent. Bringing your own food and water may be recommended. Contact the Russian company Trust Arcticugol, which maintains the town of Pyramiden, for booking. Because Pyramiden is no longer inhabited, a hunting rifle is required for protection if you are not part of a tour group. Polar bears are frequently seen in the area. Wireless services (phone and internet) are not available here so please use caution. 

If you have multiple days to spare then your options really open up: how about a week-long snow scooter trip (21,500 kr) or 11 days by boat around all of Spitsbergen (from around €3000) For a real Arctic experience, you can arrange to join a trip to the North Pole.

Svalbard's shopping is concentrated in and around the two-story Lompensenteret shopping mall and the supermarket. Most shops are only open M-F 11:00-18:00, and Sa 11:00-14:00.

• 🌍 Svalbardbutikken (Opposite Lompensenteret). Svalbard's sole supermarket and department store rolled into one. Has a surprisingly wide selection, but prices are high, especially for anything perishable: half a cucumber costs 10 kr and a kilo of bananas costs 20 kr. A hot deli offers a few staples and occasionally some ethnic themes. Open weekdays from 11:00 to 20:00, reduced hours Sa-Su. 

Eating out in Longyearbyen (as with all of Norway) is expensive, with the simplest sit-down meals usually costing over 150 kr. There are several small cafés in the town centre, and also a restaurant and bar at the Radisson SAS Hotel. Many places serve traditional Norwegian food. Some serve Svalbard specialties such as seal and whale. Delivery is usually available, arranged through local taxis for about 50 kr.

Svalbard's tax-free status makes alcohol a lot cheaper than on the mainland.

• 🌍 Kroa Bar. Offers a range of decent drinks and meals in a pleasant environment. 
• 🌍 Nordpolet (in Svalbardbutikken). M-F 11:00-18:00, Sa 10:00-15:00, closed Sundays. Sells a full range of beer, wines and spirits, but quotas apply and you must show your plane ticket to purchase. Special opening hours around public holidays and religious festivals. 
• 🌍 Svalbard Bryggeri, ☏ +47 902 86 205. It is the world's northernmost brewery. The beer is partly based on thawed ice water from the Bogerbreen glacier. Beer tasting for groups by appointment. 
• 🌍 Svalbar, ☏ +47 79025003, post@svalbar.no. M-F 16:00-02:00, opens earlier on weekends. Good bar with reasonably priced cafe food. 38 kr for a beer. 

The full service hotels are fairly expensive, especially during the high season. Discounts of 20-50% may be available in the October–May low season.

Virtually all shops and services take major credit cards. As of 2024, Longyearbyen has no banks nor ATMs. You will have to bring sufficient funds from the mainland. Some businesses don't accept cash at all.

• 🌍 Longyearben Public Library (Bibliotek), Lompensenteret 2F. Eccentric and limited opening hours: M W Th 11:00-17:00, Tu Sa 11:00-14:00, closed F Su. This surprisingly comprehensive library has an excellent selection of books on Svalbard (some in English), a rather more limited selection of English fiction and, most useful of all, three free Internet-connected PCs. 
• 🌍 Svalbard Reiseliv, ☏ +47 790 255 51. M-F 08:00 to 16:00, Sa 10:00 to 12:00. The official tourist information office, a mine of information for Longyearbyen and the rest of Svalbard. 

Perhaps more so than anywhere in the world, Longyearbyen is free from crime. The risk of being involved with any type of altercation or incident is practically nil, with the sole threat being from fellow visitors. It is not uncommon to see intoxicated tourists wandering around during the midnight sun in August, but despite the lack of visible law enforcement, problems are almost non-existent. Note that driving under the influence of alcohol is regarded as a very serious offence, and police stops for cars and snowmobiles are not uncommon. The blood alcohol content limit is 0.02%, and the fines are steep.

You are advised not to leave the settlement limits (clearly marked with signs bearing the picture of a polar bear). If you choose to do so, it is compulsory to carry a firearm which can be rented from the town. Travelling further afield requires permission from the Governor of Svalbard, whose office is near the church.

As everywhere in Svalbard, it is critical to understand that all year round there is a significant threat from polar bears. However, polar bears are legally protected, and shooting one will be treated very seriously by the police and investigated thoroughly.

• Barentsburg - Svalbard's solitary remaining Russian settlement, easily visited on a (albeit expensive) day trip.
• Pyramiden - Alternatively on Tuesdays you could take the same ship to visit the mysterious abandoned Russian settlement of Pyramiden - perfectly preserved but utterly empty.

Both trips operate summer season only, and will not operate unless minimum numbers (about 12) are achieved. Be prepared for disappointment in shoulder season.