Hotel Pyramiden

If solitude had a postcode, it would be Hotel Pyramiden. Nestled in the skeletal remains of a long-abandoned mining town, this Arctic outpost offers an experience that’s equal parts eerie and enchanting. It’s not for the faint of heart—or the warmth-loving, although there's a sauna—but for those seeking isolation, introspection, and a brush with the sublime, it’s unforgettable. Despite the isolation, the staff make you feel seen, heard, and cared for. They’re not just employees—they’re stewards of a forgotten world, and they welcome you into it with open arms and frostbitten hearts that somehow still burn bright. P.S. Polar Bear stealing your morning coffee or snowmobile is optional, but on the house if it happens.

One and only (!) place to stay in Pyramiden settlement. Ot is known as "pearl of Svalbard" as well as "forgotten city". Worth visiting, staying in a copy Soviet style atmosphere, with people from all over the world looking for emotional trip to thr past.

An amazing, peaceful place, with tasty food, a lot of wildlife and a bit of cold, i definitly want to come back here

Well-maintained hotel manned with polite and accomodating staff. Socrealist lobby and restaurant contrasted with contemporary hotel rooms. Easily the best hotel in Pyramiden.

This is such a unique hotel in a very unusual place so not sure how I can review it objectively. The hotel in itself feels like a time capsule in the corridors with Soviet era decor and items that take you back in time. The rooms are recently renovated, modern and vey comfortable. Super clean too with great amenities provided. Not sure why this hotel is listed as a 2*, our experience there was better than 4* hotels we've stayed at. We visited the restaurant/bar a couple times during our stay as it is the only place to get hot food in Pyramiden. The food was great, despite the remoteness of the location, had an impressive selection of spirits and local beers. The menu also reflected the Soviet era with traditional foods. Service was astonishing, all the staff we met were super helpful and attentive. They helped us arrange activities in the area (sauna, private cinema) and also gave us lots of advice for our hikes and places to see in the city. Felt really well looked after and the staff ensured that we had rifles with us for the polar bear protection.

This place is great. ||The rooms have been refurbished and are of a decent standard. Soviet decor but clean. Thick quite soundproof windows. Well heated. Very very comfortable bed. Modern clean bathroom. We slept better than we had in weeks of travelling in far higher rates hotels. ||The whole hotel has a Soviet vibe and decor too but again is clean and feels like a well tended Soviet hotel in 1987 rather than an untended decaying place that you might expect in a settlement that closed 25 years ago.||The food is surprisingly good and well priced, like the booze. Portions are good. ||The staff are brilliant. We dealt mostly with Anatoly (reception) and Elena (guide) who were beyond friendly. It was proper five star service in the middle of nowhere. Amazingly delivered. ||But overall the experience staying here was fantastic. You feel like you’ve taken a polar-driven Time Machine. The animals are barely afraid of people (good when it comes to foxes…less when it comes to bears…so you leave the hotel with an armed trained guide every time). Take the extended tour whatever you do and maybe some extra guiding time. ||We got to see so many old buildings and places and got a real sense of what happened when it was actually a working mine. The staff even showed our kids cartoons in the theatre at the cultural centre.||Recommended: Don’t do the day trip. Stay the night. And if you’ve got a weapon loan permit and a rental weapon so can go outside without a guide, consider more than a night. ||Well well worth it.

Food was absolutely terrible, location is lovely and hotel is great.

Interesting hotel. You feel more like in Soviet union than in Norway. It's kind of stylish, room was clean, bathroom was clean, it's comfortable given how up north it is. Door could be better, mine had huge gap and didn't close completely. Staff was very friendly, food was tasty and there is also northernmost post in the world.