Pyramiden svalbard visit
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In Longyearbyen you’ll also find a campsite that’s perfect if you’d like to enjoy the camping life during summer. There was a petrol station, greenhouse and farm, school, kindergarten, hotel, restaurant, pretty much “all the facilities” one could need. Svalbard’s nature with it’s challenging climate and weather, as well as the risk of polar bear encounters all year round, demands a lot in terms of preparations and safety management to be able to get a good and safe night’s sleep.
Luckily, you’ll find several wilderness cabins that can offer you simple Arctic luxury safely together with a guide on organised guided trips.
In Longyearbyen you will find a broad range of attractions, cultural events, festivals and activities all year round. With your own kitchen and plenty of room it’s easy to feel at home in town!
Both in Longyearbyen and out in Svalbard’s wilderness there are also places to stay that are perfect if you’re looking to spend a night in the wild safely.
The place got its name from the pyramid-shaped mountain towering over it. You will also find sushi, burgers, pizza and Thai food, not to mention handmade chocolates from the world’s northernmost chocolaterie.
Where to Stay
After a day of High Arctic adventures there’s nothing quite like laying down for a good night’s rest!
But just as different adventurers are drawn to different adventures in Svalbard’s wilderness, there are also different beds and places to stay for any adventurer in Svalbard as well.
However, one thing all the nature-based experiences in Svalbard have in common is that they are run by local guides who prioritise safety, environmental awareness and local knowledge
Attractions, cultural events and activites
Svalbard has much more to offer than wonderful nature. But one thing is missing: residents.
Pyramiden’s history
During the 80s there lived over 1000 people in the mining town of Pyramiden, a town founded by Sweden in 1910 and later sold to the Soviet Union in 1927.
Most of the buildings are still standing as they were when the residents left. Around him, there is still growing grass that was once imported all the way from Siberia.
Information regarding tours with any form of connection Russian state-owned companies in Svalbard
Owing to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the related violations of international law and human rights, an extraordinary general meeting in Visit Svalbard has decided that all products, tours, services or other offers with any form of connection to the Russian state-owned companies in Svalbard, will be removed from Visit Svalbard’s platforms.
For more information, see the media release from Svalbard Tourism Council and Visit Svalbard.
Still remaining in the centre of Pyramiden is the bust of Lenin who keeps a watchful eye over the town, with a view towards the beautiful glacier Nordenskiöldbreen in the far distance to the east. Dwindling coal prices, difficulties with coal extraction from the mountain, and the catastrophic Russian plane crash at Operafjellet where 141 people lost their lives, all contributed towards the discontinuation of the mining operations.
Many people are surprised to discover how much is on offer in such a small place – so close to the North Pole!
Svalbard has something for everyone, whether you fancy a challenging multi-day expedition in the wilderness or a comfortable urban weekend with a good dose of culture, food and drink. Today it’s mostly visited by seabirds, Arctic foxes, and possibly the occasional polar bear.
The Russian state-owned mining company Trust Arktikugol closed down Pyramiden’s mining operations in April 1998 after having been in continuous activity for 53 years.
You can choose between a wide range of restaurants and you may be surprised to learn that two of Norway’s leading restaurants –HusetandFunktionærmessen– are located here.
Unique dining experience at Isfjord Hotel
In addition to the many restaurants in Longyearbyen, exciting culinary experiences in the Arctic wilderness await you too.
The best part of all is that you can pick and choose between the various offers to create your perfect Svalbard experience!
Pyramiden
At a distance one can see buildings, streets, industrial structures and signs of mining industry in the nearby mountain. There are still cups left on tables, newspaper cuttings on the walls, and skiing equipment left in the hallways to this day.
The town was developed according to Soviet ideas of an ideal society.
Great food and drink is an important part of a wonderful Svalbard experience and, given the wide range of food and drink available in Longyearbyen, you won’t be disappointed.
A night in a hotel in Svalbard, whether it’s in town or out in the wilderness at Isfjord Radio, can offer so much more than “just a hotel bed”!
There are also three guesthouses in Longyearbyen especially well suited if you’re looking to get to know new people during your visit in Svalbard.
Throughout the summer season, Longyearbyen Camping operates with an electric fence for their guest’s polar bear safety while they sleep.
No matter where you decide to get a good night’s sleep when visiting Svalbard you can rest assured that the fresh Svalbardian air and wilderness will be waiting for you just outside your window, hotel door or tent!
Things to Do
Svalbard is one of the world’s largest untouched wilderness areas and it’s precisely this vast area of raw and untamed nature that many find so alluring.
The chance to get out of Longyearbyen and explore this Arctic wilderness is many people’s main motivation for visiting the Svalbard archipelago. Are you tempted by the sound of delicious food and fascinating stories in an old trapper’s hut? You can achieve this through a wide range of activities and offers involving various modes of transport – both motorised and non-motorised – and degrees of difficulty.
Or perhaps local delicacies at Isfjord Radio, the remote radio station that has been transformed from an important telecommunications link between mainland Norway and Svalbard into a hotel and gourmet restaurant?
You will find local produce on the menus at most Longyearbyen restaurants and naturally you can wash your meal down with locally brewed beer from Svalbard Brewery.
The guesthouses offer a very social setting as guests come back from their daytime adventures and gather for a cosy talk in the evening to share stories from their day with other guests.
In the centre of Longyearbyen you’ll also find short-term rental apartments well suited for a visit with a group of friends, a family vacation or if you’re just looking to have a bit of extra privacy during your stay.