Barentsburg Hotel

Svalbard


The Barentsburg Hotel has reasonable rooms that are, like Barentsburg itself, a fine evocation of former Soviet times. Despite the old-fashioned decor, the rooms were renovated in 2013 and make for a comfortable and atmospheric stay.

The restaurant serves traditional Russian meals, featuring such specialities as boiled pork with potatoes and Arctic sorrel, parsley and sour cream. Breakfast/lunch/dinner costs 150/250/200kr.

Bookings in advance for both rooms and meals are essential. In the bar you can enjoy a deliciously affordable and generous slug of vodka or a Russian beer, as well as live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. It also sells large tins of the Real McCoy caviar at prices you'll never find elsewhere in the West, let alone Norway.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Svalbard attractions

1. Pomor Museum

0.21 MILES

This simple, appealing little museum outlines (in Russian only) the historical Pomor trade with mainland Russia, plus Russian mining and history on…

2. Chapel

0.22 MILES

The small wooden Orthodox chapel above the football pitch commemorates the twin disasters of 1996 (a plane crash) and 1997 (a mine explosion).

3. Svalbard Global Seed Vault

21.73 MILES

Deep inside a mountain, down beneath the permafrost, a vast artificial cavern, already dubbed the Doomsday Vault or a vegetarian Noah's Ark, was opened in…

4. Galleri Svalbard

21.96 MILES

Galleri Svalbard features the Svalbard-themed works of renowned Norwegian artist Kåre Tveter (1922–2012), so pure and cold they make you shiver, as well…

5. Kunstnersenteret

21.96 MILES

Attached to the Galleri Svalbard is the Kunstnersenteret, which serves as a workshop for local artists, with many of the works on sale.

6. Mine No 2

22.12 MILES

High on the steep valley wall south of the town centre, the crumbling, evocative ruins of Mine No 2 loom over the town.

7. Graveyard

22.36 MILES

Southwest of the town centre lies a haunting little graveyard with simple white, wooden crosses. It dates from the early 20th century and includes the…

8. Wooden Steps

22.67 MILES

Some 50m south of Svalbard Kirke stand five weathered wooden steps, all alone, and a sign, 'Sykhustrappa' (Hospital Stairs). This is all that remains of…