Longyearbyen is often referred to as the administrative centre of Spitsbergen, the largest of the Svalbard islands. It is however so much more as it stands as one of the world’s most northerly located towns. Stunning scenery surrounds many attractions such as galleries and museums, and the town offers visitors plenty to see and do.

See:

• Some of the town’s historical museums. The Svalbard Museum displays the human history of the area while the Spitsbergen Airship Museum showcases exploration aircraft of the past.
• Svalbard Gallery displays permanent and changing exhibitions by local artists.
• The world’s most northernmost church is located in Longyearbyen amongst beautiful scenery.
• Wildlife through the city such as reindeer, polar foxes and birds.

Experience:

• Take a snowmobile safari or a dog-sledding adventure through town.
• A 24-hour summer or winter days.
• A guided tour through a coal mine to see how difficult it was for miner’s working underground.
• A cruise across to the Esmarkbreen Glacier with its stunningly blue colour.

Secrets of the town:

• Longyearbyen is an ideal base to start exploring greater Svalbard.
• The town is actually named after an American called John Munroe Longyear when he founded it in 1906.