Longyearbyen
Plan your base in Longyearbyen: getting there, polar bear rules at the town limits, seasons, local customs and what to book before you travel to Svalbard.
Places
The settlements of Svalbard, from Longyearbyen, where almost every trip begins, to the research town of Ny-Ålesund and the Russian mining towns.
Barentsburg
The Russian mining town on Grønfjorden: its Dutch and Soviet history, life there today, why local operators boycott visits, and how to see it on a guided trip.
Ny-Ålesund
Visiting the research town on Kongsfjorden: its mining and airship history, radio silence and walking rules, and how to get there on a day trip or cruise.
Photo: Harvey Barrison, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Pyramiden
The Soviet-era mining town on Billefjorden: its history, who runs it today, why local operators boycott landing tours, and how to see it from a boat.
Photo: Guillaume Baviere, CC BY-SA 2.0
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