The Northernmost Everythings: Bars, Churches, Malls and Saunas at the Edge of the World
Longyearbyen main street, Svalbard and Jan Mayen
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from our Arctic adventures, it’s that human stubbornness knows no latitude. Where most creatures call it quits, slap on some fur, and hibernate, humans build bars, churches, and—of course — saunas. Because what’s a little darkness, ice, and bone-snapping wind when there’s beer to drink, sins to confess, and steam to sweat out?
We’ve been there, frozen that — from sipping local brews in Svalbard to sweating it out in a sauna shaped like a golden egg in Sweden. So here’s our firsthand guide to the northernmost everythings—places so absurdly remote that you’ll question why (and how) they even exist.
The Northernmost Bar
📍 Svalbar, Longyearbyen, Svalbard (78° North)
We walked into Svalbar half-frozen from the Arctic wind, only to find a warm, wood-paneled haven where miners, scientists, and slightly bewildered tourists sip Svalbard Bryggeri — the world’s northernmost brewed beer, made from 2,000-year-old glacier water. Best part? The doors are never locked because if you need to escape a polar bear, you’d better be able to dive into the nearest pub.
Svalbar is not the only bar in Svalbard, and we were actually surprised by the number of awesome pubs, restaurants and accommodations!
Did you know?
According to Visit Svalbard, there are 10 restaurants in Longyearbyen, as well as several pubs and bars.
This vibrant culinary scene is quite remarkable, considering Longyearbyen's remote Arctic location and small population of approximately 2,400 residents!
Pic: Moose burger at Kroa. Yum!
📍 Top of the World Hotel Bar, Utqiaġvik (Barrow), Alaska, USA (71.3° N)
At the very top of Alaska, the Top of the World Hotel Bar serves up strong drinks and even stronger stories from locals who have spent a lifetime in the land of eternal winter. Now, that’s remote. And no need to drink to see whales passing by!
The Northernmost Church
📍 Svalbard Church, Longyearbyen, Svalbard (78° North)
In a place where polar bears outnumber people and where even God needs a coat, even faith has to be resilient. Svalbard Church is always open (polar bears, people!), offering warmth and a place for reflection in the coldest, darkest months of the year — whatever your faith or beliefs are.
📍 Church of Our Saviour, Qaanaaq, Greenland (77.5° N)
If you thought Svalbard was remote, welcome to Qaanaaq, Greenland, where the nearest neighbor is a few hundred miles away and dog sleds are still a common form of transport. In this simple wooden structure, Sunday service happens in Greenlandic, Danish, and sometimes English.
📍 Northern Lights Cathedral, Alta, Norway (69.9° N)
Ok, its below 70.0ºN, but Alta’s Northern Lights Cathedral is worth mentioning — Ok, Tromsø’s Arctic Cathedral too. Of all the churches we’ve seen, these two might just be the most futuristic-looking ones. With its swirling, metallic design meant to mimic the aurora borealis, stepping inside Alta’s church feels like entering an Arctic space station. And it’s not just for looks — this place is a beacon of culture in Europe’s far north, hosting concerts and art.
Sky-inspired architecture
Alta’s Northern Lights Cathedral has a spiral design meant to mimic the swirling motion of the aurora borealis. Inside, the minimalist, light-filled space reflects the Arctic’s natural beauty. And you get a stunning view of the Northern Lights when they show up!
The Northernmost Saunas
📍 Pyramiden Hotel Sauna, Pyramiden, Svalbard (79° North)
Picture this: an abandoned Soviet ghost town, temperatures plummeting below -35°C, and the only place to feel remotely human again is a tiny, wood-fired sauna inside the last operating hotel. Sit in the steam, sipping vodka, staring at portraits of Lenin — because nothing says Arctic survival quite like sweating in a Soviet relic.
📍 Solar Egg Sauna, Kiruna, Sweden (67.8° N)
Ok, not the exact northernmost Sauna, but it’s too cool not to be mentioned! In Jukkasjärvi, near the ICEHOTEL, we stepped inside a golden egg. Not some weird Arctic mirage — the Solar Egg Sauna is a giant, futuristic art installation. The contrast of -28°C air outside and the intense heat inside made us momentarily believe we were hallucinating from temperature shock.
The Solar Egg sauna, a stunning creation by Riksbyggen in collaboration with the artist duo Bigert & Bergström, was born in Kiruna and first unveiled in 2017 at the Luossavara ski resort. From there, it embarked on a remarkable journey, popping up in Björkliden, Paris, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and even Minnesota. After its globetrotting adventure, the golden sauna has now returned to Kiruna.
The stunning Egg Sauna on the Torne river, when it was in Jukkasjärvi.
📍 Arctic Sauna, Ilulissat, Greenland (69.2° N)
For the ultimate sauna-with-a-view, try Ilulissat, Greenland, where you can sweat while watching actual icebergs float by in Disko Bay. Because why would you settle for an ordinary spa day when you can defrost in front of a moving glacier?
The Northernmost Shopping Malls
📍 North Mart, Iqaluit, Canada (63° N)
What’s it like shopping in the Arctic? Expensive. Wander in the northernmost shopping mall in the world, and fiund bananas priced at $10 each (importing food up here is no joke). If you need groceries, hunting gear, and a flat-screen TV all in one trip, this is the only game in town.
📍 Amfi Alta, Alta, Norway (69.9° N)
Europe’s northernmost mall, Amfi Alta, is unexpectedly fancy. We walked in expecting utilitarian Arctic gear and instead found a full-fledged shopping experience with fashion stores, restaurants, and a cozy café where Sami herders sip cappuccinos between reindeer migrations. Ok, you can also buy frozen fish for your sled dogs!
📍 Svalbardbutikken, Longyearbyen, Svalbard (78° North)
Okay, so it’s not technically a mall, but Svalbardbutikken is the store in Longyearbyen. Groceries, winter gear, polar bear deterrents—it’s all here. Just make sure to leave your riffle before coming in! Across the street, there’s even a tiny shopping center with a handful of stores, making this the de facto shopping hub of the Arctic. If you ever need a reminder of just how remote you are, check the price tags.
The Northernmost Cinemas
📍 Kino Kosmos, Norilsk, Russia (69.3° N)
Nothing says cinematic experience like watching a blockbuster in a freezing Siberian city that no one is allowed to visit without special permission. Kino Kosmos is still standing despite Soviet-era aesthetics and Arctic isolation. And there’s popcorn!
Penguin Trampoline tip:
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📍 Svalbard Cinema, Longyearbyen, Svalbard (78° North)
Turns out, even at 78° North, people need their Marvel fix. Svalbard Cinema is the northernmost functioning movie theater in the world, screening everything from Arctic documentaries to the latest Hollywood hits. You would almost expect a polar bear to stroll into the audience! Oh, and there’s an Arctic Film Festival in spring. So cool, literally!
Here’s our favorite playlist for our Arctic travels.
There’s something profoundly human about building the familiar in the unfamiliar. Whether it's a bar at the edge of the Arctic Ocean, a sauna in a golden egg, or a shopping mall where reindeer herders buy their winter boots, these places prove that no matter how far north you go, life keeps on living.
We’ll admit it — there’s something about visiting the northernmost (or southernmost, for that matter) anything that makes us feel like explorers. Alright, alright, maybe an explorer wouldn’t go to the mall!
