No community on Earth with more than 1,000 people lies further north than Longyearbyen, the capital of the Svalbard island archipelago, located halfway between the North Pole and mainland Norway.

The community received its name from the American businessman who founded both the town and its first large coal mine.

Mining remains a major industry here, and visitors can even take guided tours of a coal mine whose average underground temperature is -5°C.

Full service Longyearbyen hotels are particularly expensive during the summer high season (mid-April to mid-August) when the sun never sets, but prices are slashed by up to 50 percent during the constantly dark winter months from October to February.

A 24-hour sundial stands in the town centre alongside the world's northernmost church, which always has cookies and coffee for its visitors.

An airship museum, an art gallery and a science centre are also located here.

Visitors can handle their own dog sled excursions, cruise along the beautiful blue Esmarkbreen Glacier or even venture to the Russian community of Barentsburg.

Reindeer frequently roam free on Longyearbyen streets.

Reviews: The hotels in Longyearbyen we list total 68 reviews, with an average score of 8.2 out of 10

*Save: We compare prices from top travel websites so you can save on average 138.84 USD for a 3 night stay.

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