Longyearbyen Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
town and administrative centre in Svalbard, Norway
About Longyearbyen
Longyearbyen is the largest populated settlement on theSvalbardarchipelago, located in the highNorwegianArctic. 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 thede facto"capital" of the islands, and is today a vibrant, modern, and international settlement with much of t
Top Attractions in Longyearbyen
Explore the best things to see and do in Longyearbyen:
- ★24-Hour Sundial
- ★Animals
- ★Barentsburg
- ★Dog Sledding with Green Dog
- ★Esmarkbreen Glacier
- ★Galleri Svalbard
- ★North Pole Expedition Museum
- ★Polarjazz
Where to Eat in Longyearbyen
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Barentz Pub & Spiseri
- 🍴Coal Miners’ Bar & Grill
- 🍴Fruene AS
- 🍴Funktionærmessen Restaurant
- 🍴Huset
- 🍴Kroa
Where to Stay in Longyearbyen
- 🏨Basecamp Spitsbergen
- 🏨Coal Miners' Cabins
- 🏨Funken Lodge
- 🏨Gjestehuset 102
- 🏨Longyearbyen Camping
- 🏨Mary-Ann's Polarrigg
Longyearbyen Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 13 sections including: