4 Best Places to Stay in Svalbard → Towns & Top Hotels
Svalbard is, without a doubt, the most unique place I visited while living in Norway! Being so remote (it’s the closest settlement to the North Pole), I know just how overwhelming trip logistics can be when planning a trip to Svalbard.
I myself was so confused about where to stay in Svalbard when I started researching, but after actually going there, I finally wrapped my head around everything there is to know about Svalbard accommodation.
To save you the same struggle, I’ve put together this guide going through all the best places to stay in Svalbard, covering every inhabited town with hotel recommendations in each.
One thing I can tell you for sure is that you’re in for an adventure of a lifetime!
Bags Always Packed is a reader-supported site which means some of the links on this page may be affiliates. I spend a lot of time researching these hotels, tours and products and only recommend those which I would use myself. Booking your trip through my links is a great way for you to support my work for free, as I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. ♡
Contents
Quick Summary
The best place to stay in Svalbard is Longyearbyen. Longyearbyen is the main town in Svalbard, which is home to the airport, museums, shops, bars, restaurants, and by far the most accommodation options. In fact, I would say nearly everyone should stay here.
That being said, there are a few other towns you can choose from if you’re looking for something even more unique. Barentsburg, the second biggest settlement in Svalbard, is a Russian mining settlement southwest of Longyearbyen with a couple of museums, shops and two hotels.
Alternatively, if you’re up for a spooky night, stay in Pyramiden, a russian ghost town in a remote part of Svalbard.
| 📍Main Town: | Longyearbyen |
| 💲💲💲Best Luxury: | Basecamp Hotel |
| 💲💲Best Mid-range: | Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg |
| 💲Best Budget: | Haugen Pensjonat Svalbard |
| 🛏️Best Hostel: | Gjestehuset 102 |
Where I Stayed
I chose to stay in Longyearbyen as it had the easiest access to tours that would allow me to explore the rest of Svalbard. Overall, I was super happy with my decision as Longyearbyen had so much to explore on its own, plus I could easily take my pick of snowmobile or boat tours to get to other places like Pyramiden.
Gjestehuset102
I stayed at Gjestehuset102 during my trip to Svalbard and loved it! Looking at the map, I thought it might be a little too far out of the main part of Longyearbyen but it actually allowed us to explore even more of the town than we would have if we stayed closer to the water. Plus, the walk to town was only around 25 mins and all the tours would pick us up from the door.
With a choice of dorms or private rooms with shared bathrooms, a kitchen and an incredible free breakfast, I would say that this hotel gives you so much value for your money.
We stayed in a private room which was clean, modern and had a little sink which was great. But what made our stay here super enjoyable was the social atmosphere. There was an eclectic range of people staying here, and everyone would hang out in the evenings to discuss our adventures from the day.
1. Longyearbyen – The Main Town in Svalbard
Welcome to Svalbard’s main hub and the world’s Northernmost permanent settlement! You could think of Longyearbyen as the archipelago’s capital, as this is where you’ll find everything from the island’s airport to hotels, attractions and restaurants.
Most tours leave from here too, and since you’ll definitely jump on a few day trips and tours to explore the wilderness, staying in Longyearbyen is definitely the most convenient option.
NOTE: Svalbard doesn’t joke when it comes to protection against polar bears, and you actually can’t leave the town without a gun (and a permit of course) to protect yourself from them. That’s why, as a tourist, you’ll need to book tours and day trips to experience all Svalbard has to offer. Make sure you book everything super early, especially if you’re traveling during the summer months, because it all books out at least 6 months in advance.
Longyearbyen is super-cute and cozy, and it offers some gorgeous scenery, so definitely take a walk around the streets to get to know the town a bit and just enjoy the atmosphere! There are tons of attractions to pass your time, like the Svalbard Museum, the North Pole Expedition Museum (I loved this one) and the Svalbard Brewery, which offers tasting tours. Plus, if you’re into shopping, then Longyearbyen might become your favorite spot! There are tons of boutique shops here, and luckily, in Svalbard you won’t have to pay taxes for anything.
TOP TIP: One thing to note about Longyearbyen is that the town is bigger than it seems on the map. While everything is walkable in the summer, if you have limited mobility or are visiting during the cold winter months, you may want to consider the location of your accommodation within the town itself. There is an airport shuttle that drops off at all the hotels around town, and most tours will organise a car to pick you up, but if you want the freedom to walk around and explore, it’s something to consider.
Best Luxury Hotels in Longyearbyen
Basecamp Hotel – Chic rustic style, a cozy atmosphere and the central location make this luxurious place one of the best hotels in Svalbard! After a day spent in the cold weather, you’ll love coming back here and warming up with a hot drink at the hotel’s bar. The rooms are beautifully decorated with wooden elements and will surely make you feel like an arctic explorer. Guests can even borrow books from the lobby to enjoy while watching the Midnight Sun and Northern Lights.
Funken Lodge – Another amazing hotel with gorgeous mountain views, elegant decor and an on-site restaurant serving French and Arctic dishes. The rooms have a homey vibe, and some come with insanely beautiful views! When you’re not out and about, you can chill in the lounge area by the fireplace and enjoy some drinks and snacks. This would have been my choice if I had the budget when visiting Svalbard!
Radisson Blu Polar Hotel – Located right near the town’s biggest attractions like Svalbard Museum, this hotel is perfect for your stay as it has some lovely rooms with a simple yet modern design, an on-site restaurant and a bar. The fjord views are pretty incredible, and at night you can admire the Northern Lights after a nice meal on the terrace or inside the hotel. After a day out, head to the sauna to unwind or chill in the hotel’s hot tub.
Svalbard Hotell | The Vault – Start your day with a delicious breakfast at this clean, modern hotel featuring stunning mountain views and comfy beds. While here, you can rent out bikes for free, enjoy some drinks on the terrace or in the lounge area after a day of exploring Longyearbyen and arrange for other activities like hiking, horse riding and skiing.
Top Mid-Range Longyearbyen Hotels
Svalbard Hotell | Polfareren – Wake up to a stunning view of the mountains while staying in the amazing rooms at Polfareren Hotel. Offering self-catering suites complete with a washing machine, this is a great mid-priced option if you want some independence. However, you’ll also find an on-site restaurant that serves Nordic, French and Asian inspired dishes for those of you who want a fully catered vacation (you’re on holiday after all!).
Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg – This accommodation is so unique and definitely a bit different than all the other places in Longyearbyen, so I’ll definitely award it the one of the best hotels in Svalbard title! Its restaurant and lounge area are decorated with plants (seeing so much green in a place like this is definitely unusual), and the hotel also offers a game room equipped with a pool table, foosball, darts and bar! (I also heard they have fun outdoor concerts and events in the summer. I REALLY wanted to stay here when I visited Svalbard, but it was booked out months in advance, so make sure to get in quick! I was super jealous of everyone who got off the airport bus here.
Longyearbyen Apartment – If you’re traveling with your family or a group of friends and you want to save some money, then I’d definitely recommend this apartment. It has 2 rooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, a living area and a washing machine. All your needs will be covered here, plus all the furnishings are super modern and the atmosphere so cozy that you’ll want to spend some slow mornings, enjoying a cup of home-made coffee and admiring the stunning views!
Budget-Friendly Hotels in Longyearbyen
Haugen Pensjonat Svalbard – Looking for an affordable hotel in Longyearbyen? Then check out this one, which boasts rooms and apartments with a private kitchen and free Wi-Fi. The suites are well-equipped and pretty spacious, making them perfect for families. You’ll have to walk for around 20 minutes to the City Center, but with landscapes like the ones you’ll get in Svalbard, the walk will be more than entertaining!
Gjestehuset 102 – A small yet so cute hostel that has shared and private rooms (all come with shared bathrooms and free Wi-Fi). I talked about my stay here at the start of the article, but to recap, the accommodation is surrounded by the typical stunning Svalbard views, and it also offers an airport shuttle. In the morning, you can enjoy a delicious breakfast in the shared kitchen and then head out to explore the town. If you want to try some activities, the hotel staff can help you out as they offer lots, like tours, skiing adventures and live music performances.
Russkiy Dom – Another super cool budget hotel in Longyearbyen. You can save some money and book one of the shared rooms at this place but it also has single rooms if you want some privacy. Located a short walk away from the attractions, this accommodation has the basic facilities like free Wi-Fi and an airport shuttle. Guests will also have access to a lounge area, a shared kitchen and free on-site parking.
Coal Miners’ Cabins – Whether you’re traveling alone or with buddies, this hotel has you covered with some great rooms, which are pretty simple but nice and clean. Most come with a shared bathroom, but there are ones with private bathrooms as well. While here, you’ll have access to a shared kitchen, lounge area and laundry facilities as well.
2. Barentsburg – A Russian Mining Town & Svalbard’s 2nd Biggest Settlement
“Toto, we’re not in Norway anymore”! Or so it would seem when you arrive in Barentsburg, which is Svalbard’s second biggest settlement.
Even though Norway is the official custodian of Svalbard, any nation that signed the Svalbard Treaty is allowed to set up its own town here. So when coal was discovered in Svalbard, Russia did just that and one of those is the mining town of Barentsburg. To this day, the area is owned by Russia, and most people who live here are either Russian or Ukrainian. You’ll probably hear people mostly speaking in Russian or English, so it’ll definitely feel as if you’ve left the Norwegian lands!
NOTE: Although Barentsburg is a bit cheaper than Longyearbyen, it’s pretty cut off from all the tourist activities as there’s not much transport to get you from one town to another in Svalbard. So while staying here is a unique adventure for sure, I would suggest staying a night or two and then spending the remaining days in Longyearbyen.
There are no roads outside of Longyearbyen so to get to Barentsburg, you will need to go by snowmobile during winter and by boat in the summer months. For those who just want to visit for a day, this is a great snowmobile tour that includes lunch and a guided tour of the town. Or if snowmobiling isn’t your thing, you could join this day trip, which takes you to Barensburg by boat. This is a photo tour, so you’ll also get some tips on how to take some great pics.
Once there, you can go on a walk around town, maybe visit some of the Russian stores. As for things to do, there are 2 museums that you can check out, the Art Arctic Gallery and the Barentsburg Pomor Museum.
There are only 2 hotels in Barentsburg so you’ll have to pick from the ones below.
Hotel Barentsburg
Even though this hotel may look quite soviet on the outside, the rooms are modern, comfortable, and equipped with all the necessary facilities (you’ll also get some fab views too)! There’s a restaurant on-site that serves European cuisine and a bar where you can enjoy some drinks. If you want to relax a bit after your journey, then definitely take advantage of the hotel’s hot tub.
Hostel Pomor
Here’s a more affordable accommodation in Barentsburg with a shared kitchen and lounge area plus free Wi-Fi. The accommodation has double and triple rooms, most of which overlook the sea. There’s also a tour desk where you can inquire about different activities, and the hotel offers bike hire too.
3. Pyramiden – Cool Russian Ghost Town on Svalbard
Welcome to Pyramiden, named after the pyramid-shaped mountain that looms above it. Unlike Barentsburg, this town is an abandoned Russian settlement! Today, its only inhabitants are a handful of seasonal residents who work at the hotel, allowing tourists to visit.
NOTE: When I say this place is a ghost town, I really mean it! There’s no mobile service, internet, wifi or anything like that here! So if you’re looking for an adventure, this is the place to spend a night or two!
There are no roads between Longyearbyen and Pyramiden, so the only way to travel between these places is by snowmobile during the winter and by boat during the summer. You will need to organise your transport in advance regardless of which option you take by contacting the local tour companies. It’s so isolated that even in the spring, the sea ice was still too thick for us to actually get ashore (something we weren’t told until after booking our day trip to Pyramiden).
It’s a cool place to see as it literally looks as if time stood still here. So if you’re into history, culture and up for an adventure, you will really enjoy it here! But that being said, it’s important to note that you also can’t really go exploring outside of Pyramiden’s very small town center alone, as there are tons of polar bears. So definitely consider what you can actually do with your time when choosing how many nights to book.
TOP TIP: For those of you who want to visit Pyramidin but don’t want the hassle of logistics, I recommend this 3-day snowmobile tour from Longyearbyen as a great option. It includes 3 days of snowmobiling with a guide, 2 nights in Pyramiden, a guided tour of the town, winter clothing rentals and most of your meals. When you add up all the prices, it’s not much more than organising everything yourself and is much more convenient.
Hotel Pyramiden
As it’s a ghost town, it’s probably no surprise that there is only one hotel in Pyramiden! Offering comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and sea views, this hotel will bring you back in time. After spending your day exploring the deserted structures of Pyramiden which will surely make you feel like you’ve landed in a different era, you can sit back and enjoy the on-site restaurant, steam room and sauna. Take it from me, your muscles will certainly thank you if you’ve spent the entire day on a snowmobile!
4. Ny Alesund – Scientific Research Station in Northern Svalbard
Last but not least, Ny Alesund is the northernmost settlement in the world! While Longyearbyen is more well-known as the northernmost permanent settlement in the world, Ny Alesund is actually nearly 2,000 km (1,240 mi) further north.
Originally built as a Norwegian mining settlement, today Ny Alesund is a scientific research base, and lots of researchers from all around the world come here to learn more about the Arctic. Ny Alesund was also used by lots of famous explorers as a starting point for expeditions to the North Pole, so it’s definitely a place that you’ll want to see!
While it is super cool, unfortunately, there are no hotels in Ny Alesund open to tourists, so the only way to visit is on a day trip from Longyearbyen (unless you’re living here). You’ll be given plenty of free time to explore the town, check out the Ny-Alesund Museum and even send a postcard from the northernmost post office in the world!
Frequently Asked Questions about the Best Hotels in Svalbard
What is the main town in Svalbard?
Longyearbyen is the main town in Svalbard. This is where you’ll find the majority of hotels, attractions, and tours in Svalbard.
What are the best cheap places to stay in Svalbard?
Haugen Pensjonat Svalbard and Gjestehuset 102 are some of the best cheap places to stay in Svalbard. Both are located in Longyearbyen, the main town and offer all the facilities you’ll need for your stay.
Are there hostels in Svalbard?
Yes, there are some hostels in Svalbard. You have Gjestehuset 102 and Russkiy Dom in Longyearbyen and Hostel Pomor in Barentsburg.
What are the best hotels in Svalbard?
Basecamp Hotel and Funken Lodge are the best hotels in Svalbard. Set in central Longyearbyen, the main town, the hotels are beautifully decorated and come equipped with amazing facilities.
Where to stay in Svalbard in winter?
Longyearbyen is the best place to stay in Svalbard in winter, as most adventures start from here. Most other towns are inaccessible by boat in the winter months due to sea ice so you will spend a lot of time going overland by snowmobile.
Well, I hope you found what you’re looking for and that this article clarified at least some of the confusion surrounding booking a trip to Svalbard.
To recap, Longyearbyen is the best place to stay in Svalbard for the majority of visitors as it has the most facilities and tours. Funken Lodge and Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg would be my absolute top picks of hotels for the next time I visit Svalbard, but remember to book at least 6 months in advance as places are limited and do sell out, all year round.
If you want any more recommendations or have any other questions about Svalbard, let me know in the comments below, and I would be happy to help you out.
Happy adventuring,
Kate
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Helpful Resources
Hotels.com - Another great place to find a hotel with specific requirements for your trip.
Agoda - Best for booking hotels in Asia. Has options worldwide however in Asia it seems to have the most options of all the booking sites.
Hostelworld - Perfect for backpackers, Hostelworld is my go-to to find dorm rooms and cheap, social accommodation options.
Rental Cars - Another option to compare rental car companies and providers worldwide.
Sixt - Previously “Thrifty” car rentals.
Europcar - Offers car and van hire around the world.
AutoEurope - Best place to find RV’s to rent for your trip.
Paul Camper - Rent campervans directly from their owners at reduced prices.
Viator - Preferred by US providers so sometimes has a bigger range of activities in select locations.
Klook - Most popular in Asia, you will find a bigger range of attractions and tours in the region of Asia on Klook.
Civitatis - Specializing in European Cities. Although it provides tours worldwide, always check here for additional options if visiting Europe.
HeadOut - Best place to find discounted attraction tickets.
Tiqets - Offers a lot of combo tickets. Make sure to visit if you are planning on visiting a few iconic attractions within a city.
Tripaneer - Where to go if you want to book retreats of any kind (yoga, cycling, outdoors etc).
Guru Walks - Book your spot on a free walking tour.
G Adventure - Lets you compare multi day tours around the world to pick the right itinerary for you.
Cruise Critic - Check out the different cruise options for long or short trips world wide.
Cruise Direct - Another option for comparing and booking cruises for your trip.
Helly Hanson - Norwegian based clothing brand which produces durable outdoor clothing, particularly ski gear.
The North Face - High quality clothing for all your outdoor adventure needs.
Decathlon - Has a great range of cheap equipment and clothing for a huge range of sports and outdoor activities.
Sport Chek - Everything you need for general sports and outdoor adventures under one roof (or website).
Kiwi - Best platform for comparing different routes and dates.
Flixbus - Cheapest bus service mostly serving Europe but available in a few other destinations.
Greyhound - US long distance bus transport service.
Busbud - Compare and find all the bus times and providers for your chosen route.
Trainline - Find train times and tickets for long distance travel around the world.
Save a train - Another place to get train tickets and compare services for your destination.
Welcome Pickups - Pre book your airport transfer to your hotel.
Get Transfer - Another option to find airport transfers within your destination city.
Kiwi Taxi - Find and pre-book a taxi service in your location (including airport transfers).
SafetyWing - Best for digital nomads, offers ongoing monthly travel insurance plans.
Bonzah - Rental car insurance. Cheaper plans than those offered by the rental car companies themselves.
