How to get from Svalbard Airport to Longyearbyen
Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago located in the Arctic Ocean, is a unique destination known for its stunning landscapes and wildlife. If you’re arriving at Svalbard Airport Longyear (LYR), getting from the airport to the main town, Longyearbyen, is relatively straightforward despite its remote location. I’ll admit, when I was preparing for my trip back in March I got so confused on how it all works. I ended up having to contact my hotel asking for help. Now that I’ve done it, I can’t believe how straightforward it is. How do you get from Svalbard Airport to Longyearbyen?
So, I’ve written this guide to help you out. I’ve tried to keep it as to-the-point as possible so you find the journey easy. Here’s my guide to help you navigate the journey from Svalbard Airport to Longyearbyen.
How to get from Svalbard Airport to Longyearbyen
Modes of Transport
Airport Bus
This is the most popular way to get to the city from the airport. There is an airport bus (Flybussen in Norwegian) that goes from the airport to most of the hotels in Longyearbyen.
A one-way ticket is 100 NOK for adults, while an adult roundtrip ticket is 170 NOK. There are small discounts for students and children.
The bus doesn’t stop at every hotel. However, Longyearbyen is small enough that it’s easy to walk to your hotel even if it isn’t listed below. Just choose the hotel closest to yours. Click the button below to see the route they take.
Taxi
There is a taxi company in Longyearbyen and they operate 24/7. If you are staying somewhere unique, need to get to town quickly, or just want a more high-end experience in Longyearbyen, it is possible to get a taxi from the airport to the city.
There is a taxi rank outside the airport, but no guarantee there will be taxis there. It’s best to call in advance and reserve a taxi.
The cost for a taxi is approximately 200 NOK. Be prepared to pay with bank card.
• Longyearbyen Taxi, phone (+47) 79 02 13 75
Svalbard Buss and Taxi, phone (+47) 79 02 13 05
Getting to Longyearbyen
There is no schedule for the bus online! Rather, the bus is timed with the flights. When I landed in March, there were two buses. Tell the driver the name of your hotel, and they’ll point you to which of the two buses is going there.
Since Longyearbyen is small, keep in mind they may announce one hotel and your hotel is right next door, so be aware of what’s around your hotel. They don’t stop at every hotel based on requests.
You drop off your bag and sit on the bus. Once everyone has boarded, the driver comes around with a card machine and you pay for the ticket. You can buy a roundtrip ticket or one-way ticket. If you purchase a roundtrip ticket, you’ll get a printed copy. When taking the bus back to the airport, show the ticket to the driver.
The buses wait until 40 minutes after the flights arrival, or when the luggage belt is empty.
Once the bus (finally) leaves, it takes only 10-15 minutes to get to your hotel.
Getting to the Airport
Inside your hotel will be a schedule for when the bus comes past. I stayed at the Radisson Blu and they had a clear timetable and a bus stop located outside the hotel on the road. The bus was punctual, thankfully – it was -20C outside when I was waiting!
The Radisson Blu was the last stop before going to the airport.
Because flights come in at different times every day, the airport bus schedule is not regular and you need to check the most up-to-date schedule. You can find the updated schedule on the Svalbard Buss og Taxi website below.
The schedule varies every day depending on the flight, so please check with your hotel or online for when the bus will be heading to the airport.
At the Airport
Once you’re at the airport, it’s a fairly quick and straightforward process. There are self-service ticket machines or a manned counter, and you go through security as you would in any Norwegian airport. There’s only one gate (see picture above) so you can’t get lost!
From the Airport to Longyearbyen
Hopefully this guide has cleared up how easy it is to get from the airport into Longyearbyen and then back again.
If you have any questions, please ask in the comment section below!
Be sure to read my detailed travel guide for Svalbard, including all the settlements and itineraries for different times of the year.
