Where to Stay on Svalbard
Lodging areas and types across the archipelago, with Longyearbyen as the centre of tourism.
Longyearbyen as the centre
Among the places on Svalbard, Longyearbyen alone offers a complete range of lodging, from camping to guesthouses and luxury hotels.
Museums and supplies share the town with its accommodation, and this is where tourism on the archipelago is centred.
- 89,000Guest-nights in Longyearbyen, 2008
- 2.2 nightsAverage stay in Longyearbyen, 2008
Guest-nights rose from 30,000 in 1995 to 89,000 in 2008, and the average guest stayed 2.2 nights that year.
Student housing is the main use of Nybyen, which lies at the top of the Longyear valley.
Camping, guesthouses and hotels
Camping
The price for a camping stay in Longyearbyen begins at 120 kr a night, and tent rental is excluded from that figure.
Within 300 m of the airport, the Longyearbyen campsite is the only camping allowed fairly near the town.
Longyearbyen Camping, about 4 km outside the town, sits near the airport.
Guesthouses and homestays
Basic accommodation is what guesthouses and homestays in Longyearbyen provide, and breakfast, linens and towels can carry extra charges.
A guesthouse in the cheap category is priced around 500 kr each night.
Hotels
Prices at full-service hotels in Longyearbyen run fairly high, with the high season especially costly.
Longyearbyen hotels may give 20-50% off during the October to May low season.
Pyramiden has a hotel reopened to tourists, and staff posted at the largely abandoned settlement operate it.
Prices at a glance
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Camping in Longyearbyen, tent rental not included | From 120 kr per night |
| Cheap guesthouse on Svalbard | Around 500 kr per night |
| Hotel discounts in Longyearbyen, October to May | 20-50% |
| Rifle rental | From about 150 kr per day |
| Temporary rifle permission without a gun licence | 248 kr fee |
Hotel discounts of 20-50% in Longyearbyen apply in the October to May low season, and rifle rental from about 150 kr per day is listed alongside them.
Water, supplies and rifles
Drinking water from the tap is fine on Svalbard, whereas water taken from the surface may carry tapeworm eggs and calls for boiling first.
Svalbardbutikken is the only grocery store in the Longyearbyen area.
For protection against polar bears, a rifle must be carried at all times by anyone beyond the settlements.
Renting a rifle starts at roughly 150 kr a day.
The fee for the temporary permission that a rifle renter without a gun licence needs is 248 kr.
Ships in protected areas are capped at 200 passengers, under regulations announced in February 2024.
Questions about lodging
Frequently asked questions
How many guest-nights did Longyearbyen record in 2008?
Longyearbyen recorded 89,000 guest-nights in 2008, up from 30,000 in 1995.
How long did the average guest stay in Longyearbyen?
In 2008 the average guest in Longyearbyen stayed 2.2 nights.
Where on Svalbard is a full range of lodging available?
Camping, guesthouses and luxury hotels are all found in Longyearbyen, which is the only place on the archipelago with that full range.
Is tap water on Svalbard drinkable?
Yes. The tap is drinkable, while surface water may hold tapeworm eggs and calls for boiling.
Is a rifle needed outside the settlements?
Yes. Anyone beyond the settlements has to carry a rifle at all times to guard against polar bears.
Are hotel discounts available in the low season?
Discounts of 20-50% may be available at Longyearbyen hotels from October to May.
What does a camping stay in Longyearbyen cost?
A camping stay in Longyearbyen starts at 120 kr per night, and tent rental is not part of that price.
What is the fee for temporary rifle permission?
A person without a gun licence who applies for temporary permission to rent a rifle pays a fee of 248 kr.