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 where you can spot the remains from the old mining times in the mountain sides. 

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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  1. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 222 reviews222 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 - 222 reviews222 reviews
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 189 reviews189 reviews

    Longyearbyen in a nutshell - sightseeing with the local expert - Svalbard Buss og Taxi

    Longyearbyen

    2 hour round trip to see the area around Longyearbyen and the driver will tell the story of how this society was built up while watching parts of the wonderful nature of Svalbard.

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    • 1 - 1 - Suitable for all

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    • Handicap-friendly
    • Sightseeing and lectures

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 189 reviews189 reviews
  5. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 128 reviews128 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

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    • Brewery visit
    • Toilet

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 128 reviews128 reviews
  6. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 433 reviews433 reviews

    Lens & Perspectice - the slightly different sightseeing tour with focus on photos - Spitzbergen Adventures

    Longyearbyen

    Join us for a tour outside the box. Amazing light conditions, great motives and time. Time you can use to take your perfect picture. The target for this tour is to take you on a scenic discovery journey were photography is our main purpose. We won't…

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    • 1 - Suitable for all

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    • Handicap-friendly
    • Photo safari
    • Sightseeing and lectures

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 433 reviews433 reviews
  7. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 906 reviews906 reviews

    Ny-Ålesund - The northernmost town in the world - Better Moments

    Longyearbyen

    Join us on a trip to Ny-Ålesund, a former mining town and gateway to the Arctic. This was the starting point for famous explorers’ race to the North pole. Roald Amundsen, known as the first person, to reach both to the South- and North pole, used…

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    • 1 - Suitable for all

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    • Closed boat
    • Food
    • Handicap-friendly
    • Toilet

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 906 reviews906 reviews
  8. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 449 reviews449 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 - 449 reviews449 reviews
  9. Cruise welcome - Nature & Wildlife experience - 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
  10. Customised Hikes: The guide's choice - Chose your own pace and goal -Rana Itinerans

    Longyearbyen

    Do you have a specific project? Do you need a complete different schedule than the usual offer? Do you want your own little challenge without needing to keep up with with a group?

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    • 2 - Suitable for most

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    • Hiking
  11. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 31 reviews31 reviews

    Guided morning tour around Longyearbyen and surroundings - Longyearbyen Guiding

    Longyearbyen

    Start your stay in Svalbard with a pleasant and comfortable trip by minibus around Longyearbyen and in the surrounding areas with a local guide. This way you will quickly get to know all the wonderful places and attractions in the area and get the…

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    • 1 - Suitable for all

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    • Sightseeing and lectures

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 31 reviews31 reviews
  12. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 938 reviews938 reviews

    Northern Lights Safari by Electric Snowmobile - Hurtigruten Svalbard

    Longyearbyen

    Shh! What’s that sound? Nothing. It is just Arctic silence. As you press the gas, your snowmobile silently starts moving, while it lights up the dark polar night. No sound of a roaring engine. The only thing to be heard is "the Arctic silence".

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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 - 938 reviews938 reviews
  13. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 31 reviews31 reviews

    Chasing the dancing Aurora (Northern lights) - Longyearbyen Guiding

    Longyearbyen

    Come and join our chase for the dancing Aurora! Our warm and comfortable minibus will take you outside the city and the light pollution, to the best viewpoints for the ultimate kodak moments of the spectacular Northern Lights.

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    • 1 - Suitable for all

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    • Photo safari
    • Sightseeing and lectures

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 31 reviews31 reviews
  14. Northern Lights Photo Safari - Svalbard Photography

    Longyearbyen

    This Northern Light photo-safari takes us leisurely into Adventdalen, where we wait to hopefully with a little luck will be able to watch the colourful lights dancing in the sky.

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    • 1 - Suitable for all

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    • Handicap-friendly
    • Photo safari
    • Sightseeing and lectures
  15. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 433 reviews433 reviews

    The exclusive Northern Light chase - Spitzbergen Adventures

    Longyearbyen

    Come with us to chase the northern light. We pick you up from your hotel and will get into a comfortable minibus.

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    Grading

    • 1 - Suitable for all

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    Symbols

    • Handicap-friendly
    • Sightseeing and lectures

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 433 reviews433 reviews
  16. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 596 reviews596 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 - 596 reviews596 reviews
  17. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1468 reviews1468 reviews

    Dog sledding on wheels - Green Dog Svalbard

    Longyearbyen

    When the snow starts melting at the beginning of June,we start using dog carts instead of sledges. At this trip you drive a 3 person cart with 8 huskies in front.Our guide will help you harness the dogs and drive in front of you with his own team…

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    Grading

    • 3 - Average physical fitness

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    • Dog sledding

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1468 reviews1468 reviews
  18. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 31 reviews31 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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    Grading

    • 1 - Suitable for all

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    • Sightseeing and lectures

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 31 reviews31 reviews
  19. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 654 reviews654 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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    Grading

    • 3 - 3 - Average physical fitness

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    • Environmentally-friendly company
    • Food
    • Kayak

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 654 reviews654 reviews
  20. TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 906 reviews906 reviews

    New adventures with old legends - Better Moments

    Longyearbyen

    During this Arctic evening, we will take you on an off-road hike in the outskirts of Longyearbyen.
    After the hike, we will serve you a two-course dinner in our brand new “explorers club”, and tell you stories about our arctic explorers.

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    Grading

    • 2 - Suitable for most

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    Symbols

    • Food
    • Hiking

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 906 reviews906 reviews
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