About us · Nybyen, Longyearbyen
Built for miners.Kept warm for you.
Gjestehuset 102 is a small guesthouse at the top of the Longyear Valley, in a house that has been giving tired people a bed since 1946. First it was coal miners. These days it’s travellers like you.
Check availability Meet the team
- 1946Built for coal miners
- 1999First guests move in
- 61Beds in 30 rooms
- 2 kmTo the town centre
- 78° NCloser to the North Pole than to Oslo
Our story
The millionaires’ mansion
Nybyen was built in 1946 to house the men who worked the coal mines up the valley. Barrack 102 was the best-equipped of them all. It went to the veteran crews, the miners with the most experience and the highest wages, so the rest of the valley started calling it the millionaires’ mansion.
Every room had its own sink, which was real luxury at the time. The mine entrance was a short walk up the mountainside, and Huset, the town’s meeting place, was just across the bridge.
In 1999 Barrack 102 became Gjestehuset 102 and started welcoming visitors instead of miners. Today the house fills up with travellers, students, scientists and photographers from all over the world. You’ll hear more languages in our hallways than the miners ever did.
The sinks are still here. The mine is quiet. The kettle is always on.
The owner
Arne Kristoffersen spent his first Svalbard winter in Sverdrupbyen before moving across the valley to Nybyen. He still looks after the building today.
How we do things
Small house. Big welcome.
We’re not a big hotel, and we like it that way. Here’s what you can count on when you stay with us.
01
Small on purpose
With 61 beds, we have time to learn your name, ask how your day went and point you to the best view in town.
02
A real person at reception
Questions about tours, the weather or the polar bear rules? Ask us. We know Svalbard well and we’re happy to help you plan.
03
Breakfast is part of the stay
A breakfast buffet is included every morning from 07:30 to 10:00. Have a second coffee, and don’t skip the waffles.
04
Simple rooms, warm house
No fancy extras. Just clean rooms, two cozy lounges, a big shared kitchen and plenty of space to relax after a cold day out.
A day at 102
From waffles to northern lights
No two days in Svalbard are the same, but this is roughly how one goes in our house.
07:30
Breakfast opens
Coffee, waffles and a buffet on the first floor, until 10:00.
Morning
Tour pickup
Almost every tour picks you up, so being 2 km from town is no problem at all.
11:00
Check-out
Flying out later? Ask at reception about keeping your bags with us.
14:00
Check-in
New faces arrive from the airport shuttle. Direct bookers get first dibs on early check-in.
Evening
Lounge & sky
Cook in the shared kitchen, swap stories in the lounge, then look up. Nybyen sits above the town lights, so the sky gets properly dark.
Our team
The faces behind the front desk
We come from different corners of the world, but we’re all here for the same reason: to make your stay in Svalbard warm, easy and memorable. Say hi when you see us.
Crew 102 · 01
Angie M.
The one who makes it work (fuelled by love and mild chaos)
Crew 102 · 02
Khristin G.
The one who makes friends out of guests, and keeps it real
Crew 102 · 03
Giorgia C.
The bright sunshine you meet before the cold, silent snow
Crew 102 · 04
Pat R.
The one who knows when the waffle is just right
Crew 102 · 05
Orn C.
The reason everything smells like clean laundry
Crew 102 · 06
Brixton G.
The guy who knows where the tools are
See you at reception · Gjestehuset 102
Guest reviews
Guests say it best
★★★★★
“The room was clean and cosy and really affordable. Furthermore, the breakfast buffet as well as the 24/7 free tea and coffee have been great. The staff was very friendly.”
Magnus B. · September 2026 · Tripadvisor
★★★★★
“Nice clean place with good breakfast included. Even with shared bathrooms, I’ve never experienced any queue. Very friendly people working there.”
Toril A. · September 2026 · Tripadvisor
★★★★★
“Excellent place with kind and warm people. Breakfasts were delicious, beds comfortable, and views – absolutely stunning. Everything was clean and well-maintained.”
Julia S. · July 2026 · Tripadvisor
Come and stay
Your room in the millionaires’ mansion
Book directly with us for our best price, breakfast included and 5% off tours with our partner operators.
Postcards from Nybyen
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