Svalbard Airport, Longyear: where to stay, areas and recommended…

Longyearbyen is the only real settlement in the Svalbard islands, in the High Arctic about 1,300 km from the North Pole: a radically different context from mainland Norway, where walking outside the settlement without a rifle or an armed guide is forbidden because of the risk of polar bears. The Flybussen links the airport to the centre in 10-15 minutes (100 Norwegian kroner one way), with stops in front of the main hotels. The centre, along the single main street, remains the most practical base; those seeking the atmosphere of the old miners' barracks can head for Nybyen and Skjæringa, a few minutes on foot or with the same Flybussen.

Central Longyearbyen

City centre · Flybussen in 10-15 minutes from the airport (about 4 km), 100 NOK one way or 170 NOK return, with stops in front of the main hotels; a taxi is an alternative for about 200 NOK.

Best for: Those who want restaurants, the Svalbard museum and Arctic tours a short walk away, with the Flybussen stopping right outside the hotel.

Pros

Restaurants, shops and the Svalbard museum within walking distance along the single main street
The Flybussen with a stop right outside the hotel, handy also during the midnight sun or polar night season

Cons

Outside the settlement it is forbidden to walk without a rifle or an armed guide, because of the risk of polar bears
In high season the glacier and fjord tours need to be booked well in advance

Recommended hotels in this area

Radisson Blu Polar Hotel, Spitsbergen: On the main street, a few minutes on foot from the Svalbard museum; the city's largest hotel, often a meeting point for organised tours.
Basecamp Hotel: Trapper style with furs, reclaimed wood and period maps on the walls, right on the central pedestrian street; about 15 minutes by car from the airport.
Svalbard Hotell | Polfareren: A central 4-star hotel, a few minutes from the Svalbard museum and the university; reception open around the clock and free breakfast included.

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Nybyen and Skjæringa

Neighbourhood · Skjæringa is 6-8 minutes on foot from the centre, with a Flybussen stop right outside the hotel; Nybyen, at the foot of the mountains, is about 2 km away (15-20 minutes on foot, not advised without a guide because of the bear risk) or a few minutes by taxi/shuttle.

Best for: Those who prefer to sleep in the old miners' barracks, in a more isolated and quiet atmosphere a few minutes from the centre.

Pros

An authentic atmosphere in the restored miners' barracks, amid the mountains and the remains of the mines
Quieter and more isolated from the traffic of the main street, a good base for night-sky watching

Cons

In Nybyen you don't walk towards the centre without an armed guide because of the risk of polar bears, especially in the dark
Fewer restaurants nearby: for dinner you often go back to the centre

Recommended hotels in this area

Mary-Ann's Polarrigg: A former miners' boarding house in the Skjæringa district, 6-8 minutes on foot from the centre, with the Flybussen stopping right outside; rooms furnished in period style.
Funken Lodge: On the hill of Haugen, about 10 minutes on foot from the centre; the city's most scenic hotel, overlooking the bay and the mountains.
Coal Miners' Cabins: Miners' barracks from the 1940s converted into simple lodgings in Nybyen, at the foot of the glaciers; the area's most affordable and authentic option.

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