Wow! What a place!
We spent one night at the hotel during our Svalbard adventure.
We arrived at the hotel on snowmobiles - read more HERE.
Hotel web page: https://goarctica.com/pyramiden-hotel
Hotel Pyramiden in Svalbard is an extraordinary place that combines history, the atmosphere of the Soviet past, and the raw beauty of the Arctic. It is located in the abandoned town of Pyramiden, which was once a model socialist city and is now a tourist attraction..
When we parked our scooters outside the hotel and went inside, we saw an unusual reception: It had a sort of Soviet style but the signs were in English.
Additionally, each of us received a shot of vodka!
The hotel was opened in 2013 as part of a project aimed at transforming Pyramiden into a tourist attraction..
The town, founded by the Swedes in 1910 and sold to the Soviet Union in 1927, was for decades a site of coal mining. After the closure of the mine in 1998, Pyramiden became a "ghost town." The hotel is one of the few renovated buildings in the town and serves as a base for tourists visiting the area.
The Pyramiden Hotel retains the atmosphere of its Soviet past. The interiors are maintained in a retro style, with decorative elements referencing the times of the Soviet Union.
This is a place that allows you to feel the atmosphere of a bygone era while simultaneously offering modern amenities.
Since its opening, the hotel has undergone several renovations to adapt it to the needs of modern tourists. The rooms have been refurbished while still retaining the characteristic Soviet style.
The building has been equipped with modern installations, but it deliberately lacks Wi-Fi and mobile signal, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Arctic.
The hotel offers 43 rooms, including 38 standard rooms and 5 suites. The rooms are spacious, warm, and comfortable, with views of the mountains and the Nordenskiöld glacier. Each room is equipped with a bathroom featuring a shower and toilet. The interior decor references Soviet aesthetics, making a stay at the hotel a unique experience.
The restaurant at the Pyramiden hotel serves dishes inspired by Russian cuisine, with local accents. The menu is designed to cater to the needs of those who have spent the day exploring the raw Arctic nature. The restaurant also offers a special banquet menu for groups and for special occasions.
Also, check out the film I recorded in the hotel. The film, recorded in three languages simultaneously, tells the story of our adventures and the hotel itself. If you're not a polyglot, turn on the subtitles on YouTube to better understand what we're talking about.
The atmosphere in the hotel is amazing. Let me give you an example of an event. For some strange reason, I took some sprats purchased... in the south of Spain at Mercadona for this northern expedition.
During dinner, I took them out and placed them on the table. The waitress, who noticed this, ran over to us and, with a natural smile and concern, asked if we wanted an extra plate. We asked for one small one and inquired if she wanted to try it. She did! In no time, she was with us, holding a plate and her own fork. She really enjoyed it. It may seem like nothing, but imagine such a situation somewhere else in the world. Everywhere else, a waiter would have refused. But here, at the end of the world, every such action is an event for these people. We received the whole experience very positively!
In summary:
Hotel Pyramiden is a place that combines history, culture, and wilderness in one fascinating point on the map of the Arctic. A stay at this hotel is not just comfortable accommodation, but also a journey back in time to the era of the Soviet Union.
View from the hotel window of the mad house:
