For the visitor there is a very interesting museum about Svalbard, and some good restaurants and bars. Land based trips on Spitsbergen take place all year round. Perhaps channel that energy in protesting governments and companies for not taking action against climate change so we can increase the number of polar bears instead. Are you planning tovisit Svalbardone of these days? See all available properties in Longyearbyen. Polar bears do not actually hibernate. Longyearbyen is the largest populated area on the territory of Svalbard, located in the high Norwegian Arctic. Got some flexibility with your travel dates? Also, bring a headlamp! Here is a list of commonly found ingredients in Northern Norway cuisine: If youre a vegan or vegetarian, 99% of places will have an option for you. Once the main industry, mining is still important, but industries such as tourism are expanding due to prolific wildlife and great adventure opportunities. Lookingto save some extra cash on yourLongyearbyen vacation?

You can get decent cucumbers and bell peppers there, however along with packaged cheese and freshly baked bread, so making sandwiches Norwegian-style is quite easy. Longyearbyen has around 2,000 inhabitants, spread around the valley leading up from Advent Fjord. Taking a small ship cruise around Spitsbergen is the most popular way to go, and another world from giant cruise liners taking over Longyearbyen. Your email address will not be published. There's no skimping on freebies - guests receive free continental breakfast, free WiFi, and free self parking. As everywhere in Svalbard, it is critical to understand that all year round there is a significant threat from polar bears. Travel to a land where polar bears roam the sea ice and seals play among glaciers. Self-drive and guided tours, with focus on the outdoors.

If youre super keen to gosnowmobiling in Svalbardbut cant rent a snowmobile yourself, consider taking a tour! They are Spitsbergen (the largest), North East Land, Edge Island, Barents Island, Prins Karls Foreland, Kvit Island (Gilles Land), Kong Karls Land (Wiche Islands), Bjrn (Bear) Island, and Hopen. Prefer to avoid peak season? In summer, there are boats such as the Langysund, Billefjord, or PolarGirl that go there. In 2014, the Pyramiden Hotel underwent a renovation and is opened seasonally from March until October. Your entire vacation is designed around your requirements, Select your preferred style of accommodations, Create the perfect trip with the help of our specialists, All our specialists have traveled extensively or lived in their specialist regions, The same specialist will handle your trip from start to finish, Make the difference between a good trip and an outstanding one, Hand picked by us or our local partners as the best available, Offering more than just dates and names, they strive to offer real insight into their country. This page was last edited on 2 October 2020, at 17:15. Everything you need for an amazing trip? If youve booked a trip to Svalbard, you probably already know this. Meals range from 95kr for a small soup to between 119kr-260kr for generously portioned mains. The town was abandoned in 1998 and left to the polar bears.

If youre doing something else and are on your own or with an independent group, you must be armed for your own protection. Instead, Ill give you some reading material to educate yourself on climate changes impact on Svalbard. AndNARWHALS. The sign with a polar bear shows that you have left the safe zone. Some places accept GBP, USD, and EUR but dont count on it. Not big (about 1 meter high), but it does 24 hours a day in the summer. Despite its frontier status, the settlement has a diverse community, including large Thai and Eastern European segments. I will note now to not expect the produce to be the freshest under the sun as it is imported from the mainland. The town can be busy during giant cruise ship season, May until August, when the seas melt and allow access. Nybyen - This district makes up a small part of the city and is home to the Galleri Svalbard and multiple guesthouse-style accommodations. There is also no VAT (value-added tax) in Svalbard which is pretty cool. Good bar with reasonably priced cafe food. There can also be harsher conditions in the winter which make it more difficult to navigate the mean streets of Longyearbyen. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; }/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. This guide will help you out! It is possible to reach Longyearbyen by a cruise from Tromso in Norway. The Arctic circle celebrates every opportunity it gets. Reindeers roam free in the city. ABTA member P7085 so you are fully protected, Vacations that you view will be shown here. Be sure to pick up a tote bag in Svalbardbutikken! ), 15 Best National Parks to Visit in September (+ Fall Tips! On our cruises, the expedition-style landings will take you close to the Arctic wildlife, the ghost towns of the early whaling stations and remote mining towns, research communities, spectacular fjords and icebergs. There're many cruises on Svalbard, mostly by big cruise ships. Basically, Svalbard is completely visa-free tolive and work for EVERYONE. Tourism is catching up fast. The tours will take you on buses, boats, helicopters, snowmobiles, and more. Not when you book yourLongyearbyen vacation dealwith Hotwire. The best way to reach it during winter is via a snowmobile. To get around, bikes can be rented from 150kr and 300kr from Poli Arctici or Basecamp Spitsbergen. It's located about 400 m north-east of the church. Places we feel connected to and how to see them On the path of Dr Livingstones travels: Botswana Longyearbyen is one of the world's northernmost settlements, lying within the Arctic Circle on the island of Spitsbergen, and is the capital of the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. Most of what youll find in Longyearbyen is Norwegian-inspired or internationally-inspired. Many places serve traditional Norwegian food. When you book a package deal on Hotwire, you can expect aLongyearbyen vacation package with airfareand hotel. Make your base camp at the foot of the Nordenskiold Glacier and you'll be able to behold a massive expanse of ice that seems to stretch for as long as the eye can see. All rights reserved. From traditional wooden teepee style huts which were once hunting cabins, to a converted radio station with an expert chef preparing the finest of cuisine. Can I save on my Longyearbyen car rental if I bundle it with my hotel or flight? It is open till 8pm on weekdays. I even bought (ugly) sunglasses there as well as stuffed animals to take home.

Look no further than Travelocity. The glacier, also known as Sveabreen, rises to 820 feet above seal level.

Ready to getall of your wildest dreams fulfilled(for way less than you expected)? Just ask (they will speak English!). Svalbard Wildlife Eiendom AS, Nybyen, Longyearbyen, 9171. View Map. With your own ride, all the main sights in and around Longyearbyen are an unforgettable road trip away. There's no skimping on freebies - guests receive free buffet breakfast, free WiFi, and free self parking. This grocery store is more of a department store as it has all kinds of odds and ends. The only two commercial airlines flying there will year-round routes are Norwegian (via Oslo) and SAS (via Oslo and Troms). With recentCOVID-19 closures and reopenings, many people are wondering, Is it safe to travel toLongyearbyenright now? When its time to book yourvacation package, be sure to check out the most up-to-date information on all safety measures,any restrictions, andguidance on traveling during the coronaviruspandemic. If youre American, I know that this will certainly be a concern. Those who like to stay in style will enjoy the Radisson BLU Polar Hotel Spitsbergen. From giant cruise liners to culture, wildlife watching to polar bear safety, we have plenty of issues to discuss when it comes to Spitsbergen. Our itineraries will give you suggestions for what is possible when you travel in Longyearbyen, and they showcase routes we know work particularly well. You MUST have a permit in order to obtain a weapon (buying or renting).

Travelling further afield requires explicit permission from the Governor of Svalbard, whose office is near the church. It will also include parts about shopping there and what to expect. I have worn it in several places in the north and it is extremely warm and practical for the frigid temperatures. So even if you fly in from Norway, you have to go through international arrivals and customs, reminding you that this part of the world is a whole other ball game. You will find pretty much a ton of Norwegian grocery items inside of the shop. A bar/lounge and a 24-hour front desk are featured at this hotel, along with free self parking. My legwarmers were a homemade gift in Norway, but I will list an alternative below. It's both a testament and a monument. While this town may seem abandoned, it really isnt these days. You can also find arctic foxes, reindeers, seals and whales. They do come out, however but dont be surprised if you visit Svalbard during the polar nights in winter for a few days and never see them. No biggie you can add it to your package. In the 1940s and after the leveling of the villages in Svalbard, the USSR proposed the territory becoming a condominium. Walking is a viable option (about 40 minutes from the airport to the center of town), although rather tedious if you need to move around outside the center, especially when the weather is bad. Required fields are marked *. There are over 3,000 polar bears calling Svalbard home and that is actually more than the number of people living there. Not particularly. If you'd like any help, Arctic sailing voyages, North Spitsbergen, Arctic wildlife vacation, Polar bear explorer, Lofoten Islands and Svalbard northern lights safari, Pioneering responsible vacations since 2001.

Want to get away now-ish and still save? Adventdalen, the valley housing Longyearbyen's only currently operational mine (#7), stretches out to the east. The town of Barentsburg, home to the Pomor culture, is where nearly 500 Russian and Ukrainian inhabitants live today. But, the buildings are mostly accessible as are most hotels. You can see on a menu if something is vegansk (vegan) or vegetarisk (vegetarian). Polar bears can wander into town any time of year, and for this reason, no one locks their car or building doors so that people can quickly find safety if necessary. THanks for all this info on Svalbard, I have read all your posts. There are limited flights going there and also a limited number of hotels on Spitsbergen. Hunt for auroras on a cruise or partially-guided adventure. Because of its proximity to the North Pole, residents of Longyearbyen are used to the odd natural phenomena.

Svalbard refers to the entire archipelago while Spitsbergen refers to just the island where Longyearbyen and the other main settlements are located. The center of town lies near the coast on the east side of the river, with the district of Skjringa across the river, the district of Nybyen 2 km (1.2 mile) to the south and the airport 3 km (1.9 mile) to the west. However, thanks to the Gulf Stream, Spitsbergen and the other islands in the Svalbard archipelago boast a surprisingly mild climate with distinctive seasons. I didnt! In 2016 and 2017, the melting permafrost led to flooding in the entryway of the Seed Vault, resulting in a $13 million renovation to make it more waterproof in 2018. The infrastructure is just simply not there.

Sign up for our newsletter today to receive 90 Onboard Credit on Your First Cruise. Please do NOT go out there alone, however. You can also see polar foxes and birds. I have pinned for future use, Your email address will not be published. When I first went, I was traveling with someone else and, low and behold, their shoes were stolen from the hotel. You will only put yourself in danger and if you risk the life of a polar bear because youre dumb or irresponsible, Ill send an Arctic fox to terrorize you for the rest of your trip.

Fair enough. The frontier-like Longyearbyen is doubly cut off: firstly in its remoteness, and secondly because it is surrounded by polar bears, meaning anyone venturing beyond its boundaries must bring with them a rifle or an armed guide. Youll find fewer crowds during . There is actually atour you can take to visit a walrus colonynot too far outside of Longyearbyen. To fly to Svalbard, you will need to search for tickets to Longyearbyen (airport code: LYR).

They later destroyed pretty much every settlement up there. Though travelers can get around via car once in the city, there are no roads to get in. Get in touch with them and theyll plan your dream Svalbard trip. Traveling on business?

Beware the limited opening hours: most shops are only open 11-18 weekdays, 11-14 Saturday and closed Sunday. Longyearbyen lies at the southern side of Adventfjorden, stretched out along the Longyearelva River. Your own personal itinerary, arranged by a dedicated travel consultant.

There is NOWHERE to exchange your money out in Svalbard so either show up with Norwegian kroner or use your card to get cash out.

Click herefor more information about renting a weapon on Svalbard. In fact, there is a really cool and diverse range of wildlife there and it blows my mind and makes me pine to return!

This is the best time to go see thenorthern lights in Svalbard. It is not uncommon to see intoxicated tourists wandering around during the midnight sun in August, but despite the complete lack of visible law enforcement, problems are almost non-existent. It's a colourful modern town with first-class facilities, like excellent hotels and restaurants, regular flight connections to mainland Norway, as well as an impressive range of activities to suit every traveller. There are several small cafs in the town centre, and also a restaurant and bar at the Radisson SAS Hotel.