Longyearbyen Audiowalk – Start City Center
von spitzbergen_reisen · Longyearbyen · 48 Stationen · 68:08 min · 11.35 km · Zu Fuß
1. Welcome to Longyearbyen
1:22 min · Welcome to Longyearbyen and the Longyearbyen Audio Walk. On this approximately 10 km journey, we'll guide you through the world's northernmost town...
47 m
2. Svalbardbutikken & Nordpolet
1:41 min · Situated at the heart of Longyearbyen, Svalbardbutikken, now part of Coop AS since 1996, started as a small shop selling touristy items and snacks....
22 m
3. Nordover
0:47 min · Nordover houses the permanent exhibition of the Kaare Tverter Foundation Collection, events by Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, and changing temporary art di...
148 m
4. Visit Svalbard – Tourist Info
0:29 min · Visit Svalbard is the official representative of the tourism industry in Svalbard and Longyearbyen.
The tourist information centre not only provide...
194 m
5. Spishusene
0:54 min · Longyearbyen, though often associated with barren landscapes, surprises visitors with houses in vibrant shades of green, blue, red, and brown. Beyo...
275 m
6. Ski Lift
1:06 min · Norwegians' love for skiing is well-known, and even in the northernmost town, having a ski lift isn't surprising.
The new ski slope, opened in 2024...
292 m
7. Avalanche Wall
1:36 min · In December 2015, an avalanche struck Gruvefjellet, burying homes and residents, shocking the entire town of Longyearbyen. Elevated snowfall and wi...
352 m
8. Bruktikken
1:22 min · Bruktikken, Longyearbyen's only second-hand shop, where all items are free. Operated by the Longyearbyen Local Council in collaboration with the Un...
471 m
9. Haugen & Funken
0:48 min · Built after World War Two, the Haugen district in Longyearbyen was created to house engineers and employees, transforming the town into a family-or...
176 m
10. Old Hospital
0:20 min · The initial hospital in Longyearbyen, established after World War Two In Haugen, was destroyed in a 1953 landslide. A second hospital was then set ...
108 m
11. Longyearbyen Skole
1:39 min · Longyearbyen Skole, the northernmost school globally, accommodates approximately 250 students offering both primary and secondary education.
Conne...
182 m
12. Water System
1:35 min · In Longyearbyen, above-ground sewage pipes are a practical solution due to the town being built on permafrost. The permafrost's active layer thaws ...
274 m
13. Gruve 2B
1:50 min · Opened in 1937, Mine 2b, established by Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani, operated until 1968, offering stable working conditions with a 70 cm t...
241 m
14. Nybyen
1:24 min · Established in 1946 to address housing shortages after Longyearbyen's wartime destruction, Nybyen served as accommodations for Mine 2b workers.
Wi...
27 m
15. Dynamo Graffitti
0:55 min · Unfortunately, even a remote place like Longyearbyen is not immune to vandalism. In 2016, several buildings, including some of Longyearbyen's cultu...
137 m
16. Nybyen Artist Center
0:39 min · Walking towards the outermost part of Longyearbyen, about a kilometer away, a prominent red building appears on the right. Once Svalbard Galeri, it...
358 m
17. Sverdrupbyen
1:38 min · Opposite Nybyen, Sverdrupbyen, founded in 1938, lies outside the safe zone. Named after Einar Sverdrup, Store Norske's director, it endured the 194...
182 m
18. Einar Sverdrup Obelisk
1:05 min · This obelisk-shaped statue honors Einar Sverdrup for his contributions to the community. Joining the Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani in 1922, h...
49 m
19. Huset
1:31 min · Located away from Longyearbyen, the lone white house, Huset, has profound historical significance.
Constructed after World War II and opened in 195...
795 m
20. Old Cemetary
1:16 min · Established in 1917, Longyearbyen's cemetery replaced an earlier graveyard at Hotelneset. In its inaugural year, it witnessed burials due to illnes...
485 m
21. Camp America & Mine 1a
2:06 min · In 1901, John Munroe Longyear collected coal in Adventdalen, envisioning its potential. Back in the USA, analysis results were promising. Four year...
185 m
22. J.M. Longyear Memorial Plate
0:23 min · Located at the base of a trestle from John Munroe Longyear's first mine, Mine 1a, known as the American Mine, stands a memorial to commemorate Long...
104 m
23. Pigsty and Stables
1:29 min · In Longyearbyen's early days, it operated as a company town, and land ownership was prohibited until the Svalbard Treaty of 1920. The Norwegian Sta...
29 m
24. Solfest Stairs
1:31 min · Every March 8th, Longyearbyen celebrates Solfest, the Sun Festival. The highlight is the gathering on the old hospital stairs, accompanied by town-...
50 m
25. Abondend Barnehagen
1:00 min · As of 2024, Longyearbyen boasts two Nursery Schools, with a third one closed due to avalanche risk. No children are born on Svalbard due to medical...
52 m
26. Svalbard Kirke
1:33 min · Built from July to August in 1921, Longyearbyen's first church was consecrated on August 28th of the same year. Unfortunately, the church was destr...
39 m
27. 22 of July Memorial
0:34 min · On July 22nd, 2011, terrorist attacks targeted offices in Oslo and Utoya Island. Among the 69 victims was 14-year-old Johannes Buo from Longyearbye...
471 m
28. Taubanesentralen
3:03 min · Established in the 1920s, Taubertalsentralen served as the sorting and logistics hub for Longyearbyen's coal operations, connecting lines from vari...
129 m
29. View to the Coalharbour
1:19 min · Not all of the Longyearbyen Safe Zone is marked by the Polar Bear sign. A small bridge towars the airport signifies its limits, forbidding departur...
555 m
30. Old Sysselmannenbygget
4:33 min · Perched over Longyearbyen, the Government building Sysselmannen Bygget dominates the town's skyline. Built in 1934, it symbolizes Norway's sovereig...
80 m
31. Sysselmesteren
0:43 min · Adjacent to the old Sysselmanennbygget, now Sysselmannen's residence, stands a sleek silver structure—the new government headquarters. It hosts the...
81 m
32. Skjäringa
0:56 min · Ayer & Longyear's inaugural coal expedition to what later became Longyear City was led by William D. Munroe, arriving in Advent Fjord on June 2nd, ...
50 m
33. War Memorial
1:10 min · On August 8th, 1945, Crown Prince Olav unveiled this memorial during the first royal visit. It honors 23 Norwegians, 2 Brits, and 1 Swede who lost ...
346 m
34. Powerplant
2:14 min · Norway's longest-lasting coal power plant, the Power Plant in Longyearbyen, has played a crucial role in the town's history.
Its initial installati...
636 m
35. University Centre in Svalbard
1:55 min · Polar research has a rich history on Svalbard, with Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, and Ny-Ålesund serving as homes for the scientific community. The Sv...
170 m
36. North Pole Expedition Museum
0:47 min · Nestled among private housing, the North Pole Expedition Museum, identifiable by a cutout polar bear and a blimp model, specializes in Arctic explo...
25 m
37. Houses on stilts
2:10 min · All buildings in Longyearbyen share a unique feature – none of them have basements due to the permafrost.
To prevent thawing, cooling coils are ins...
322 m
38. Snow Scooters everywhere
2:43 min · Svalbard residents favor snowmobiles, crucial for transportation in winter and utilized for weekend getaways and day tours.
During summer, these sn...
88 m
39. Svea Airport Tower
0:56 min · On October 25th, 2022, Longyearbyen residents witnessed an unusual sight on the roads – a historic piece from Svea Airport, the tower, being transp...
941 m
40. Dogyards & Duck huts
2:35 min · Heading towards the famous polar bear sign on Longyearbyen's eastern edge, you'll pass two dog yards. The first, owned by Svalbard Villmarksenter, ...
200 m
41. Polar Bear Sign & Adventdalen
2:59 min · Four of Longyearbyen's roads culminate with the iconic Polar Bear Sign, while a fifth is located just outside the airport. This sign is not only a ...
1466 m
42. Svalbard Museum
1:15 min · Since 2006, the Svalbard Museum has been situated in the eastern wing of the Svalbard Forskningsparken (Science Park), sharing a roof with the Univ...
320 m
43. Longyearbyen Sykehus
0:55 min · Longyearbyen's small hospital provides primary and specialist healthcare, offering outpatient services like dentistry, walk-in clinics, and minor s...
73 m
44. Kulturhuset
0:59 min · The Culture Center Kulturhuset, sharing an entrance with Tio Muncho restaurant and the local library, hosts various events like the Christmas craft...
56 m
45. Posten & former Bank
2:15 min · Longyearbyen is now a predominantly cash-free settlement, a shift accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2019, SpareBank Norway closed less profi...
38 m
46. Lompensenteret
1:00 min · Today's Lompen Senteret is a bustling shopping center housing various shops, a pharmacy, a bar, café, restaurant, spa, and hairdresser, often refer...
24 m
47. Miners Memorial
0:34 min · Positioned between Svalbardbutikken (Coop) and Lompensenteret, this statue depicts an anonymous miner clad in full lomp, the traditional attire wor...
48. Farewell
0:34 min · Congratulations, you have reached the end of our audio walk. We hope you enjoyed discovering the history and culture of the northernmost city in th...
Longyearbyen Audiowalk – Start City Center
Welcome to the northernmost city in the world!
The former mining town of Longyearbyen is now a cultural melting pot with visitors and residents from all over the world. The Arctic settlement has never lost its historical heritage and presents itself as open and diverse.
Come with us on a tour around Longyearbyen and learn more about its history, its culture and what inspires people here today.
How long is the tour?
If you do the tour from start to finish without a break, you will be on the road for about 3 hours. However, some of our stations can not only be viewed, but also visited. If you decide to do this - which we can only warmly recommend - you may need an hour longer.
When is the best time for this tour?
You can take our audio walk at any time of day or year. However, we recommend that you check the opening times of museums and shops if you plan to visit them. Most establishments are open by 10 a.m. at the latest.
Enjoy your Arctic audio walk in Longyearbyen!
von spitzbergen_reisen (Spitzbergen Reisen AS)
erstellt am 5/24/23
erstellt am 5/24/23
1. Welcome to Longyearbyen
Welcome to Longyearbyen and the Longyearbyen Audio Walk. On this approximately 10 km journey, we'll guide you through the world's northernmost town...
0:00
1:22
30 Sekunden reinhören
Lade Kartenansicht...
