Polar City Break

Are you one of those who associate the concept of city breaks with skyscrapers, traffic noise and chaos? If so, we challenge you to try something completely different – a polar city break. In the small Arctic metropolis of Longyearbyen, you will find the best of both worlds: a wide selection of good restaurants, hotels and shopping – and magnificent nature-based experiences just a stone’s throw from the main street.

Longyearbyen, the main settlement in the Svalbard archipelago, has a population of around 2,400 who come from more than 50 different countries. These nature-loving people have tight bonds in harsh climatic conditions, with the Arctic wilderness right on their doorstep. The wilderness begins in the town centre – and it’s virtually endless!

However, the Polar Night is not the time to hike the length or breadth of Svalbard. The Polar Night, the time of the year when the sun is well below the horizon and it’s dark around the clock, is the time to enjoy, taste and see. You will be surprised by the excellent opportunities Longyearbyen offers for exploring and challenging your senses. Seal carpaccio at Huset? A vintage champagne from Funken’s wine cellar from the year you were born? Reindeer pizza at Barentz Gastropub? With some of Norway’s best restaurants, its own brewery and chocolaterie, you have many wonderful culinary experiences to look forward to in the far north.

  1. Learn more about Longyearbyen here
  2. Get a taste of what Longyearbyen has to offer

Want a city break with a difference? Head to Svalbard

Under the Polar City Break tab, you will find a range of experiences and activities that are perfect for those wanting to experience and get to know Longyearbyen during their visit to Svalbard. You will have plenty of time for socializing, excellent dinners and pleasant experiences in a place that is extremely different from other destinations. Although Svalbard is part of Norway, there is a lot about life in Longyearbyen that is different from the towns and cities in mainland Norway and other parts of Europe.

We encourage you to explore the distinctive features of Svalbard. Talk to the bartender, waiter or waitress about life in Longyearbyen, spend time in our wonderful library and read up on polar literature and everyday life in the Arctic or cheer on the local children on the ski slope (but please don’t photograph people without asking!). We encourage you to explore the distinctive features of Svalbard. Talk to the bartender, waiter or waitress about life in Longyearbyen, spend time in our wonderful library and read up on polar literature and everyday life in the Arctic or cheer on the local children on the ski slope (but please don’t photograph people without asking!).

  1. Christmas spirit in the Polar Night
  2. Meet the Svalbardian Guro who brought her family and moved to the Polar Night

Gain inspiration for your polar city break

Although the Polar Night has arrived and it’s dark in Longyearbyen, a wide range of activities awaits visitors, albeit just a bit more urban than during the spring and summer. We recommend visiting the Svalbard Museum! This is the place to immerse yourself in the history, wildlife and industry of Longyearbyen and the exciting exhibitions make it a fun place for children too! The gallery Nordover is also well worth a visit. After a visit at the gallery, why not head up up to Nybyen for a scenic walk with a delicious lunch waiting at Coal Miners’ Cabins

You can experience the beautiful Northern Lights here until around mid-March. However, they are perhaps most spectacular from November to January when it’s dark around the clock and it’s possible to experience the Northern Lights during the daytime as well. Join a Northern Lights excursion involving dog sledding, a wilderness evening, a snowmobile safari or snowcat. You don’t need to venture far before the artificial light disappears and you can experience the magnificent natural light in the sky.

Regardless of whether the aim of your holiday is delicious food, wonderful nature-based experiences or simply recharging your batteries, you will find the answer in Longyearbyen – the small town with the big city feel, just a stone’s throw from the North Pole.

“Kosen is Norway’s most important and representative contribution to world culture." – Author Knut Faldbakken.

  1. Check out what's on in our Polar city!
  2. A city break is not complete without some sightseeing!

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Number of results: 73

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  1. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 410 reviews410 reviews

    Bjørndalen walk with BBQ -Experience for everyone - Spitzbergen Adventures

    Longyearbyen

    Bjørndalen is a place which offers you several characteristics from Svalbard in one location. The surroundings offer both impressive mountains, fjord and wildlife. You will find everything in one valley. You can spend hours in this valley and keep…

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    • 2 - Suitable for most

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    • Food
    • Hiking
    • Sightseeing and lectures

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 410 reviews410 reviews
  2. Cruise welcome - Nature, wildlife and sightseeing - Snowfox Travel

    Longyearbyen

    We welcome you in Longyearbyen! This activity gives you both nature and sightseeing when you arrive in Longyearbyen.

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    • 2 - Suitable for most

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    • Hiking
    • Sightseeing and lectures
  3. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 824 reviews824 reviews

    Wilderness safari with electric snowmobile - Hurtigruten Svalbard

    Longyearbyen

    This is the snowmobile trip for the ones who want to experience Longyearbyen's local vicinity at its best. On electric snowmobiles, we take you out into the beautiful valley “Adventdalen”. 

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    • 2 - Suitable for most without any snowmobile experience. Very easy and flat terrain.

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    • Environmentally-friendly company
    • Snowmobile

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 824 reviews824 reviews
  4. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 123 reviews123 reviews

    Svalbard Brewery

    Longyearbyen

    Svalbard Brewery was established in 2011 and served it's first beers to locals and visitors in August 2015.

    Svalbard Brewery, established in 2011, brewed its first beer in August 2015. Six years of efforts to change the law from 1928, which…

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    • 1 - Suitable for all

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 123 reviews123 reviews
  5. Arctic Plunge & BBQ - Snowfox Travel

    Longyearbyen

    Ready for some true Arctic experience?
    Every evening we host our unique Arctic dive & BBQ. Join us for an evening of fun in the fjord.
    A warm shower, an official certificate and a nice BBQ is waiting for you!

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    • 2 - Suitable for most

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    • Wellness
  6. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 183 reviews183 reviews

    Coal Mine 3 Visit - Gruve 3 AS

    Longyearbyen

    Step into the history of Gruve 3 and Longyearbyen’s coal mining industry.

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    • 2 - Suitable for most

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    • Mine visit

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 183 reviews183 reviews
  7. Easy Hike and Wildlife: The guide's choice - Perfect for strollers and nature lovers - Rana Itinerans

    Longyearbyen

    An easy activity focused on experiencing the wilderness.
    With a combination between driving and hiking, the tour can include different slopes, terrain and several destinations, depending on the interests and level of the participants.

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    • 2 - Suitable for most

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    • Hiking
    • Photo safari
    • Sightseeing and lectures
  8. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 438 reviews438 reviews

    Dogs on wheels - Svalbard Husky

    Longyearbyen

    When we are done with the instructions and all the dogs are put into the team we drive out into the arctic wilderness of Svalbard. Everyone drive equal amount of time as we switch half way.

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    • 2 - Suitable for most

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    • Dog sledding
    • Environmentally-friendly company

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 438 reviews438 reviews
  9. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 565 reviews565 reviews

    Kayak: Full day in Adventfjorden - Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions

    Longyearbyen

    Do you want to try an exiting and traditionell way of travelling in the Arctic? Join us for a kayak trip over the Advent Bay.

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    • 3 - 3 - Average physical fitness

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    • Environmentally-friendly company
    • Food
    • Kayak

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 565 reviews565 reviews
  10. Longyearbyen City Walk - Rana Itinerans

    Longyearbyen

    From fundation to nowadays : how to live in a remote and inhospitable place : a 2h30 entertaining stroll around Longyearbyen

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    • 2 - Suitable for most

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    • Hiking
    • Sightseeing and lectures
  11. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 23 reviews23 reviews

    Guided morning tour around Longyearbyen and surroundings - concludes over lunch - Longyearbyen Guiding

    Longyearbyen

    Guided minibus tour in the morning combined with a culinary, local food experience.

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    • 1 - Suitable for all

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    • Sightseeing and lectures

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 23 reviews23 reviews
  12. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 524 reviews524 reviews

    ATV Safari in The Polar Night - Svalbard Adventures

    Longyearbyen

    Darkness and minimal light pollution are typically key to witnessing the Polar ‘fireworks’ -known as Northern Lights. Join us for an ATV-safari trip where we head into the darkness and the frozen Advent Valley.

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    • 2 - Suitable for most

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    • ATV safari
    • Environmentally-friendly company

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 524 reviews524 reviews
  13. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 565 reviews565 reviews

    Halfday Kayak: Explore the fjord - Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions

    Longyearbyen

    We will use the kayaks as transport to get closer to the nature and birdlife in the fjord. There are qualified kayak guides joining so everything the tour fits for almost everyone that want to experience this adventure. 

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    Grading

    • 3 - 3 - Average physical fitness

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    • Environmentally-friendly company
    • Kayak

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 565 reviews565 reviews
  14. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 824 reviews824 reviews

    Longyearbyen Panorama - a magical sunset - Hurtigruten svalbard

    Longyearbyen

    Bring the family along on a fantastic snowcat tour to enjoy the view of Longyearbyen as the sun sets over the pointy mountains on the other side of Isfjorden.

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    • 2 - Suitable for most

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    • Environmentally-friendly company
    • Handicap-friendly
    • Snowcat

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 824 reviews824 reviews
  15. Longyearbyen Sightseeing - Svalbard Photography

    Longyearbyen

    This three-hour sightseeing tour takes us comfortably leads us almost over the entire road network of Longyearbyen and the surrounding area with many photo-stops along the way

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    • 1 - Suitable for all

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    • Handicap-friendly
    • Photo safari
    • Sightseeing and lectures
  16. Arctic sauna - SvalBad

    Longyearbyen

    Take a time-out and find inner peace at SvalBad, our floating, wood burning sauna. Here you can enjoy the view of Hiorthfjellet or, if you’re lucky, see the northern lights during the polar nights. If it gets too warm in the sauna, you can take a…

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    • 1 - Suitable for all

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    • Wellness
  17. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 380 reviews380 reviews

    Dog Sledding in the Polar Night - Arctic Husky Travellers

    Longyearbyen

    Hopefully, we'll see the magical Northern Lights dancing across the sky while dog sledding through the Polar Night. The dogs are eager and looking forward to the winter!

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    • 2 - Suitable for most

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    • Dog sledding

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 380 reviews380 reviews
  18. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 23 reviews23 reviews

    Guided afternoon tour around Longyearbyen and surroundings - Longyearbyen Guiding

    Longyearbyen

    Explore Longyearbyen in the midnight sun or during the blue hour! Join an exciting guided afternoon tour around Longyearbyen in a warm and comfortable minibus.

    Facilities

    Grading

    • 1 - Suitable for all

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    Symbols

    • Sightseeing and lectures

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 23 reviews23 reviews
  19. Guided phototour - Rana Itinerans

    Longyearbyen

    Do you dream of natural ice sculptures, mountains falling into the sea, wildlife, industrial features?
    We take you to the best spots fitting your interests, observing wildlife and will also be able to help you with some photography basics.

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    • 2 - Suitable for most

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    • Hiking
    • Photo safari
    • Sightseeing and lectures
  20. Treasure and Scavenger hunt in Longyearbyen - Rana Itinerans

    Longyearbyen

    Looking for some fun while learning about the place? These games add some challenges to your stay and can be done at any time. 

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    Grading

    • 2 - Suitable for most

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    Symbols

    • Sightseeing and lectures
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