Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tax-free contracts. There are at least seven mines dotted around Longyearbyen and the sur-
rounding area, although only one, Mine No 7, 15km east of town, is still operational.
Reflecting the days when miners would remove their coal-dust-encrusted boots at the
threshold, local decorum still dictates that people take off their shoes upon entering most
buildings in town. Exceptions include the majority of shops and places to eat.
Sights
In addition to the following sights, keep an eye out for wild reindeer and even the Arctic
fox in and around the town.
Svalbard Museum MINING & NATURAL HISTORY
MUSEUM
(adult/child Nkr75/40, combined ticket with Spitsbergen Airship Museum Nkr130/
60; 10am-5pm May-Sep, shorter hr rest of yr) Museum is the wrong word for this
impressive exhibition space. Themes include the life on the edge formerly led by whalers,
trappers, seal and walrus hunters and, more recently, miners. It's an attractive mix of text,
artefacts and birds and mammals, stuffed and staring. There's a cosy book-browsing area,
too, where you can lounge on sealskin cushions and rugs.
Spitsbergen
Airship
Museum
EXPLORERS'
MUSEUM
( www.spitsbergenairshipmuseum.com ; adult/child Nkr75/40, combined ticket with
Svalbard Museum Nkr130/60; 10am-5pm mid-Jun-Aug, shorter hr rest of yr) This
recentlyopenedmuseumisafascinatingcomplementtothemainmuseum,withastunning
collection of artefacts, original newspapers and other documents relating to the history of
polar exploration. With labels in English and intriguing archive footage, you could easily
spend a couple of hours here reliving some of the Arctic's most stirring tales.
Galleri Svalbard ART GALLERY
(adult/child/concession Nkr60/20/40; 11am-5pm Jun-Aug, shorter hr rest of yr)
Galleri Svalbard features the Svalbard-themed works of renowned Norwegian artist Kåre
Tveter, so pure and cold they make you shiver. It also has interesting reproductions of an-
 
 
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