What to do in Longyearbyen

Facts last verified 2026-10-03

There are two kinds of things to do in Longyearbyen. In town you can come and go as you like: a sauna on the fjord, a beer at the brewery, a swim or an evening on the ski slope. Beyond the town limits, polar bears make a guided trip the sensible choice, and that’s where most of the big experiences are, from dog sledding in the polar night to boat trips to the glaciers in summer.

For the museums, the old mining sites and the Seed Vault, see What to see in Longyearbyen.

In town

SvalBad, the floating sauna

SvalBad is a wood-fired sauna on a floating pier in the harbour, with a big window looking across Adventfjorden to the mountains. Between rounds you can climb down into the fjord for a cold dip, and in the dark season you may see the northern lights from the pier. The pier and sauna were built from materials reclaimed from old buildings in Longyearbyen and Svea.

• Where: meet on shore by the floating pier, to the right of Bykaia.
• Drop-in: NOK 300 per person for an hour, with up to 10 people in a session.
• Private hire: NOK 3,000 for up to 14 people for two hours.
• Booking: at svalbad.no. Sessions cancelled because of bad weather are refunded in full.
• Age: 18 to go on your own; children from 10 can come with a parent or guardian.
• Bring two towels (one to sit on, one to dry off), drinking water and wool socks.

It’s open in all three seasons, from the polar night to the midnight sun.

Svalbard Brewery

The world’s northernmost brewery is down by the harbour. It opened in 2015, once a 1928 ban on brewing in Svalbard had been lifted, and brews with water from the Bogerbreen glacier. There are two ways to visit:

• Open night on Fridays. On Friday evenings the brewery bar opens its doors, and this is the relaxed way to try the beer.
• Beer tasting, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 18:00. You hear how the brewery came about, look into the production hall from the bar, and taste five beers. It takes about 90 minutes and costs NOK 585. Buy tickets in advance. Groups of 15 to 45 can book a private tasting.

You must be 18 or over. To buy alcohol to take away from Nordpolet, the shop in town, you need ID and your boarding pass.

Swimming at Svalbardhallen

The town’s sports centre, Svalbardhallen, has a 25-metre pool that’s open to the public, mostly in the evenings and at weekends, and closed on Thursdays. Buy a single ticket in the webshop or at the kiosk; you get a QR code by email to let you in. There’s also a gym and a climbing wall in the sports hall.

Nedover, the ski slope

Nedover, in the middle of town, is the world’s northernmost ski slope. It opened in 2024 and is run by volunteers from the local sports club, Svalbard Turn. In the 2026 season, from January to mid-June, it was open on Monday, Thursday and Sunday evenings from 17:00 to 20:00. Pay for a day pass by card.

Cinema and an evening out

The cinema at Nordover Art Centre shows films on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For something guided, A Taste of the Endless Night is an evening walk through town with local stories and food, and Huset, a historic mining house, offers a guided tour combined with dinner.

Borrow a bike

In the polar summer you can borrow a bicycle at the Tourist Information Centre. Stay inside the town limits, unless you’re with a guide.

Guided trips in winter

Most of these trips need snow, which usually arrives in December and starts melting at the beginning of June. See Seasons: when to go for what each part of the winter is like.

• Dog sledding. Usually two people share a sled and swap driving halfway. Half-day trips are the most common, and full days and expeditions of several days are offered too. Many trips start with a visit to the kennel and the puppies.
• Snowmobiling. To drive, you need a valid driving licence: an ordinary car licence (category B) is fine, and you must carry it on the trip. Passengers don’t need one. Trips run from a few hours to several days, to places such as Tempelfjorden and its glaciers or the east coast. Some operators offer electric snowmobiles.
• Ice caves. Meltwater carves caves in glaciers such as Larsbreen and Scott Turnerbreen. Trips run in the Northern Lights Winter and Sunny Winter, and you get there by snowmobile, dog sled, snowcat or on foot. Guides provide helmets, headlamps and crampons.
• Snowcat. A comfortable tracked vehicle that takes you out across Adventdalen without any effort, good for anyone who can’t or would rather not drive a snowmobile or walk.
• Northern lights. From October to the end of February, by snowmobile, dog sled, snowcat, boat or minibus, away from the lights of town. No one can promise you’ll see them.
• Skiing. Ski touring to summits such as Trollsteinen, cross-country trips through the valleys, and longer ski expeditions, best in May and early June when the sun never sets.

Guided trips in summer

• Boat trips. From spring until late November or early December, boats run to the glacier fronts, the bird cliffs and the settlements of Pyramiden, Barentsburg and Ny-Ålesund. Summer brings walrus and whale safaris. Choose between a fast, open RIB and a larger boat with food and a toilet on board.
• Hiking. Guides carry rifles and know the terrain. Popular hikes include Platåfjellet, about 400 metres above town, and Sarkofagen, which comes down across the Longyear glacier. Svalbard is also known for its 60-million-year-old plant fossils, which you can look for on the way.
• Kayaking. Trips on Adventfjorden, Billefjorden and Isfjorden, with a dry suit provided. Some combine paddling with a walk to the abandoned settlement of Hiorthhamn.
• Dog carting. When the snow melts in early June, the dog teams switch to wheeled carts.
• ATV safaris in Adventdalen, with the same driving licence rules as snowmobiles.
• Bikes. Guided e-bike and fatbike trips, in summer and in winter.
• Floating in the fjord. A guided float in the icy water of the Arctic Ocean, with a hot drink afterwards.

Choosing and booking a trip

• Check the grading. Trips are graded by how fit you need to be, from 1, the easiest, to 5.
• Book the trip that matters most first, before your flights, especially from March to August.
• Warm clothing is often included on winter trips. Ask what the operator provides.
• Allow a spare day. Trips can be cancelled or changed because of the weather.
• Ask about guide approval. Under new field safety rules, from 1 July 2027 operators working outside the settlements must use approved Svalbard guides.