Longyearbyen - Arctic colors

Getty Images/Flickr RF

Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen is like a portal to a magical sub-polar world. Just about every Svalbard experience begins here, but if you came to Svalbard and spent the whole time in Longyearbyen (Svalbard's only town of any size), you'd leave disappointed. That's because although Longyearbyen enjoys a superb backdrop including two glacier tongues, Longyearbreen and Lars Hjertabreen, the town itself is fringed by abandoned mining detritus and the waterfront is anything but beautiful, with shipping containers and industrial buildings. The further you head up the valley towards the glaciers, the more you'll appreciate being here. Even so, Longyearbyen is a place to base yourself for trips out into the wilderness rather than somewhere to linger for its own sake.


Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • placement: fullWidth
  • path: destinations/top
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "destination": "Longyearbyen",
      "region": "Svalbard",
      "country": "Norway",
      "continent": "Europe"
    }

Articles

Latest stories from Longyearbyen

Filter by interest:

Architecture

This Norwegian visitor centre will showcase the Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Nov 1, 2019 • 2 min read

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Longyearbyen

  • placement: fullWidth
  • path: destinations/bottom
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "destination": "Longyearbyen",
      "region": "Svalbard",
      "country": "Norway",
      "continent": "Europe"
    }