Longyearbyen – the northernmost town in the world

Stretching inland from the Adventfjord on Spitsbergen’s west coast, Longyearbyen is a small town in one of the world’s most inhospitable places. Yet, among the raw Arctic beauty, you’ll find a warm and welcoming community.

Svalbard’s capital is home to some of the northernmost eateries, shops and research centres in the world. “It’s completely different to anything else. The wildlife, the wilderness expeditions and the people make life here very attractive,” says Alberto Lozano, Head Chef at Longyearbyen’s iconic Huset Restaurant.

Longyearbyen is a great place to eat, meet and then plan an Arctic adventure or even a journey closer to the North Pole and into the Svalbard archipelago; cruises are often the only way to reach other parts of Spitsbergen and the even more remote Jan Mayen island.

Longyearbyen’s enterprising spirit has seen the town through many changes. Whalers first fished its icy shores in the early-17th century, and, in 1896, Hurtigruten (then Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab) brought tourists to visit Svalbard. Our founder, Captain Richard With, even shipped an entire hotel here, to house the visitors who were as curious then as we are now about a land so far north.

It wasn’t until 1898 that two families spent the whole winter here. A year later, the first commercially viable coal was mined and coal mining began in earnest in 1901. The industry transformed Longyearbyen into a bustling company town, and moulded other mining towns such as the now-abandoned Pyramiden, to the northeast.

During World War II, German forces razed Longyearbyen, leaving only four buildings standing. Post-war rebuilding and the migration of mining outside city limits in the 1990s paved the way for modern industries like tourism, Arctic exploration and climate research.

Today, Longyearbyen is the world’s northernmost settlement with a population over 1,000. The Midnight Sun, stark beauty and unique wildlife that surround it draw people from all over the world; it helps that citizens of countries that signed the Svalbard Treaty can live and work in the archipelago indefinitely.

As a result, Longyearbyen is surprisingly multicultural, and a hub for scientists, adventurers and tourists. Film crews have even used it as a base for blockbusters like Mission: Impossible 8. The iconic Global Seed Vault (pictured above), perched on a hill overlooking the town, plays a vital role in preserving the planet’s biodiversity.

“The Vault is a big part of life here,” says Caroline Sund, a Travel Designer for Hurtigruten Svalbard. “It’s such an important monument, and during the dark season, it’s beautifully lit to look like the Northern Lights.”

Seasonal contrasts define Longyearbyen’s climate. Summers bring endless daylight, with the Midnight Sun shining from late April to late August. This unique phenomenon lets you explore the spectacular Arctic tundra in full bloom.

“I love the summer,” says Caroline. “With the endless daylight, you can hike at 2 AM and still have incredible views over town and the fjords.” The long days also mean more time for boat trips, where you might spot whales, walruses and perhaps even polar bears along the shores.

Winter, on the other hand, has a completely different charm. The winter weather brings opportunities for snowmobiling and nights in remote cabins. Between the end of November and middle of February, Polar Night engulfs the town. The sun doesn’t rise more than 6 degrees below the horizon, blanketing Longyearbyen in an eerie glow.

For Alberto, every season in Longyearbyen has its beauty, but he’s especially drawn to the dark season. “Getting ready for the pure darkness is such a cosy time,” he says.