Longyearbyen
Longyearbyen is Norway’s main administrative centre on Svalbard. The small colourful community of approx. 1800 inhabitants has developed from being a typical mining company town into a modern community with different kinds of business and industry and with a wide range of cultural activities and opportunities. The town is the de facto "capital" of the islands, featuring the airport, a school, a shopping center, hotels, restaurants and more.
Since there are no roads between the settlement areas on Svalbard, snowmobiles and boats are a common means of transportation. Locals are very fond of outdoor activities, as well as taking weekend trips to cabins and huts. A wide variety of activities including hiking, dog-sledding, kayaking and snowmobile safaris and even coal mining and more are offered.