Sisimiut’s main visitor areas lie along a road that climbs quite steeply from the harbour. When planning your trip, you can weigh up city visits, hikes and excursions on the water. If you’re looking for a hotel in Sisimiut, it helps to first choose the activities you want to shape your stay.
Getting around Sisimiut
Ways to get around town include walking, bicycle rental, taxis and a bus. The bus serves most parts of Sisimiut and stops at each stop every 20 minutes. As the service frequency may change, check the current timetable before travelling. Guided city walks and e-bike tours offer other ways to get to know Sisimiut and its surroundings; check availability locally.
Hiking and trails in the landscape
The hiking trails vary in length and format. The challenging Assaqutaq Trail is a 9.8-kilometre hike one way and is offered in July, August and September. The challenging Nasaasaaq Trails are return routes of about six kilometres and are also listed for these months. When planning, compare not only the distance but also whether the route is described as one way or a return trip. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
The Kangerluarsunnguaq Trail runs through Akia, Sisimiut’s residential area north of the bridge, and through Dog Town. From the upper areas of Nasaasaaq Mountain, a 360-degree panorama stretches across Sisimiut and Palasip Qaqqaa, west over the ocean, and north and east over lakes, valleys and mountains in the hinterland. A trail between Sisimiut and Assaqutaq runs between the Nasaasaaq range and the fjord, following the foot of the mountains to the settlement.
Water-based and winter excursions
In summer, boat trips from Sisimiut visit UNESCO sites and abandoned settlements, including Assaqutaq. Specially designed whale-watching tours are also offered from Sisimiut; availability may vary by season. Kayaking is also possible in Sisimiut in winter. Stand-up paddleboarding and paddling a traditional Greenlandic kayak are among the other possible activities. Ask locally about current availability. If you’re interested in winter excursions, a remote cabin on the UFO Trail north of Sisimiut is a destination for dog-sledding trips; snowshoes are often not needed there. Snow and trail conditions may vary.
Culture and history in town
The Sisimiut Museum focuses on trade, shipping and industry. The museum also features a large archaeological exhibition with finds from Saqqaq culture settlements. Its exhibits include a reconstructed turf house illustrating how people in Sisimiut lived about 100 years ago. The museum is housed in former colonial buildings, several of which date from the 18th century. Bethelkirken, Greenland’s oldest church, also known as the Blue Church, is located in the museum.
Taseralik Cultural House offers art exhibitions, films and various events. This makes it possible to combine a stay that includes culture with outdoor activities. Arctic Sounds is a music event held in Sisimiut in April, celebrating music from Greenland and other countries; check the event dates before your trip.
Longer plans in the wider destination of Qeqqata Kommunia
In the wider destination of Qeqqata Kommunia, the Arctic Circle Trail runs between Sisimiut and the end of the 170-kilometre-long Kangerlussuaq Fjord. The marked hiking route is 160 kilometres long; hikers usually need eight to nine days to complete it. This is a considerably longer undertaking than the local hiking trails. Check current trail conditions before planning a trip.
The Arctic Circle Race also takes place in the hinterland of Sisimiut: a three-day, 160-kilometre cross-country ski race. Together with the hiking trails, water-based activities and cultural venues, Sisimiut offers a variety of starting points for planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Maniitsoq, Aasiaat, Uummannaq, Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq.
Back to the wider travel overview: Qeqqata Kommunia.
