Hotels near Svalbard Airport - LYR, Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen is unique. It is a small settlement up in the Arctic in a stark but beautiful landscape. It is very different to other places I have visited. We stayed for 4 nights and included a couple of trips on 2 of the 3 full days we spent there. It was a bonus for us that on the third day, 14th August 2025, it happened to be the 100 year anniversary of Norway's sovereignty over Svalbard. The town is very quiet and there are not many bars and restaurants but we were very happy to find the Karlsberger pub and it's sister restaurant opposite. These are 2 establishments which are popular with the local residents and are very lively and friendly with great food and drinks. The staff are very friendly and helpful. It is very easy to walk around Longyearbyen with museums and old mines to visit or you can walk down to the shore and see what wildlife turns up.

The food on offer in restaurants is incredible. Try something new or stick to an old favourite like fish and chips. Everything is easy to get to all walking distance So many activities to try, Coal Mine 3, ATV tour outside the settlement of town, Northern most brewery visit and tasting. Experience the place for what it is, awesome, incredible and unique place on the planet. Try as much food as you can.

Longyearbyen for me is characterised by hospitality and warmth which is exactly what you need in the harsh beauty of the arctic circle. Arriving in November meant we said goodbye to any daylight but the magic of the northern lights more than made up for this and we were fortunate to see them.

Svalbard is unique and probably not for everyone. If you want adventure where not much people go, and where everything seems from another planet, this is the place to be. You will either get 24/7 daylight or complete darkness in this place. Getting essentials is not as trivial as in the mainland. Wildlife is in a different level (yes there are polar bears roaming the island). Ice caves and glaciers all around. It all adds up to an unforgetable experience and not many people dare to live.

This is the second time I have traveled to Longyearbyen and I am already planning my third trip back. I usually travel during October, which usually means less people because it's just before polar night begins. Where do I even begin... The food, the people, the history, the scenery... It's all incredible! If you want to go somewhere different, and don't mind the cold (like, COLD cold!), I highly recommend coming here! Just be sure to book some tours and excursions, as there isn't too much to do in town, and you will need someone with a rifle with you to go outside of the town limits due to polar bears. Definitely try the reindeer stew at Stationen (it's absolutely incredible!) then pop over across the hall to have a drink at the northernmost pub in the world! And if you are lucky enough to be here when MS Bard, the hybrid electric catamaran boat, is running the dinner cruise, DO IT! They also run tours during the day where the captain chooses where y'all go depending on season, weather, wildlife, etc. The ATV tours are also really fun if you want to go up to the old coal mines. There's also a husky cafe where you can sip some coffee or hot chocolate with some retired sled dogs. No matter the season, you can also book some sled dog tours. If there's no snow, they use wagons. You can book tours on the Visit Svalbard website. Happy Traveling!!!

To be in this icy wilderness is a real pleasure and despite that, the town maintains a level of coziness. The tours are fantastic. Ice cave hike, coal mine tours, beer tasting at the most northerly brewery in the world. Residents and travellers from all over the world with a great spirit about them. Not expensive to fly to any more and going in summer, winter and the shoulder seasons is like taking completely different holidays so reasons to return.