Things to do in Longyearbyen

REMEMBER TO CHOSE A PICK-UP LOCATION! Start with pickup at the hotels and guesthouses in town before a short drive to the outside facility of Mine Number 3. On the way there, you will pass the world-renowned Global Seed Vault where over 1 million seeds from around the world are stored. The first seed bank on Svalbard was opened in Mine no. 3 in 1984. This is where the idea to build the Global Seed Vault on Svalbard started — by storing seeds in the permafrost with no need for electricity.  Enter the facility and explore maps over Longyearbyen and Svalbard. Enjoy a historic coal mine and listen to the stories and anecdotes of what was the last mine in town where thin-seam production was applied. Expect in-depth information about the town’s history and why some men decided to settle here some 100 years ago. A model of the mine is used to illustrate how the coal was extracted using thin-seam techniques. Walk through the workshops and see machinery and equipment that was left behind when the mine was shut down in 1996. Put on a miner’s overall and crawl through a replica of a production tunnel and get a feeling of how a miner spent his days. Towards the end of the tour, discover the mine itself by walking almost 800 meters in and entering three different side tunnels. REMEMBER TO CHOSE A PICK-UP LOCATION!

Experience the magic of the Northern Lights on a guided tour from Longyearbyen. Enjoy the best possible conditions to see the fantastic Northern Lights in Svalbard. Start with a pickup from your hotel in Longyearbyen and head out to search for the best spots to see the Northern Lights. Enjoy the cold and frozen landscapes of Svalbard, lightened up by the special Arctic light. Take the opportunity to capture the colors of the scenery and the Northern Lights on camera. Above Svalbard, enjoy a crisp and clear sky, free of light pollution and other disturbances to your experience. During the polar nights in the winter, experience the Northern Lights in both nighttime and daytime. This happens when the night lasts for all day long, opposite of the bright midnight sun in the summertime. However, this phenomenon really depends on two things: clear weather and the sun giving the “goods,” so it is a “risky” thing and there is no guarantee.

Wildlife hiking and driving tour in and around Longyearbyen. We give priority to taking pictures! Explore unique Svalbard Reindeer and Arctic Foxes, and Svalbard Rock ptarmigan birds. A rich birdlife from late May, and up to midt august. On this tour the wildlife is in focus. We are picking you up at your hotel, and driving out of town for see and explore wildlife. This tour includes also a HIKE. It’s a flat and easy hike, but sometimes we are out up to 3 hours, before we are back to the car, for something warm to drink and som snacks. IMPORTANT! Use warm clothing and warm boots, especially from September to May. From May to September, the ground is often wet and it’s necessary with waterproof hiking boots. We have a wildlife focus and therefore we gives priority to wildlife encounters and we can stay around reindeers, birds and foxes until we have got what we want.

Set sail from Longyearbyen to the Soviet ghost town of Pyramiden, with breathtaking views of the Nordenskiöld Glacier and Svalbard’s rugged cliffs. Discover Pyramiden’s hidden gems and watch for Arctic wildlife along the way. Begin with a pickup from your accommodation in Longyearbyen. Head to Longyearbyen harbor, meet your guide, and receive a briefing and safety instructions. Get dressed in a provided drysuit. Depart by open RIB boat to Pyramiden. Stop at Skansbukta and disembark the boat for a short look around the area where you will see the iconic Svalbard cliffs. Arrive in Pyramiden around lunchtime, followed by lunch at the Pyramiden restaurant. Enjoy an extended guided tour of Pyramiden, exploring as many of its unique corners and hidden spots as possible. Head to Pyramiden harbor, board the open RIB boat, and head toward the massive Nordenskiöld Glacier. Finally, head back to Longyearbyen and be transported back to your accommodation.

Get picked up at your hotel by bus and your private Photo Exploring guide and begin your journey from Longyearbyen by ship. Upon arrival in Pyramiden, your guide will lead you through the area, highlighting the best photo opportunities and scenic locations. For your comfort you'll be transported home by ferry to Longyearbyen and then transfer to your hotel. Please note: Light lunch and soft drinks are included in your tour. Due to local wildlife regulations at Svalbard, the tour will be conducted in a group with other travellers. Early in the ice season this tour has focus on the nature experiences alongside the ever-changing ice edge in Billefjorden and the inner parts of Isfjorden, without docking in Pyramiden. Pyramiden was founded by Sweden in 1910 and sold to the Soviet Union in 1927. It lies at the foot of the Billefjorden on the island of Spitsbergen and is named after the pyramid-shaped mountain with the same name adjacent to the town. In 1998, the settlement lost its last remaining inhabitant, thus rendering it a ghost town. This is a marvelous place to capture Soviet architecture and a Northern settlement fixed in time!

Get picked up at your hotel by bus and your private Photo Exploring guide and begin your journey from Longyearbyen by ship. Upon arrival in Barentsburg, your guide will lead you through the area, highlighting the best photo opportunities and scenic locations. For your comfort you'll be transported home by ferry to Longyearbyen and then transfer to your hotel. Please note: Light lunch and soft drinks are included in your tour. Due to local wildlife regulations at Svalbard, the tour will be conducted in a group with other travellers. Early in the ice season this tour has focus on the nature experiences alongside the ever-changing ice edge in Billefjorden and the inner parts of Isfjorden, without docking in Barentsburg. Barentsburg, founded in 1920, is a mining settlement that to this day remains operational. It is a fantastic opportunity to capture images of both run-down, Soviet architecture as well as state-of-the-art mining equipment set against the jawdropping backdrops of the fjords with their majestic mountains reaching into the heavens.

Experience the Arctic from above on a scenic hike to Platåfjellet, the iconic mountain plateau that towers over Longyearbyen. This moderate hike offers a perfect introduction to the wild beauty of Svalbard, with panoramic views that stretch from the fjords to the endless tundra. Follow your local guide on a trail that winds up through rocky slopes and Arctic landscapes. Along the way, learn about Svalbard’s history, geology, and wildlife—and keep an eye out for reindeer, Arctic foxes, and birdlife. At the top, be rewarded with a breathtaking view of Longyearbyen, Adventfjorden, and the surrounding mountains and glaciers. This is a must-do experience for anyone visiting Svalbard. No technical experience needed—just good hiking shoes, a sense of adventure, and a camera ready to capture unforgettable moments.

Longyearbyen was founded in 1907 by its namesake, mining company owner John Munro Longyear, and is to this day operational, the northernmost settlement in the world with more than a thousand inhabitants. The northern location has led to several unique laws, one of which renders it impossible to be buried there, as the permafrost doesn't allow for the bodies being reclaimed by the earth. A truly spectacular place to visit!