Making the most of Sisimiut Holsteinborg
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Ships moor or anchor in this port and passengers tender ashore, although small vessels can now also berth directly.
Sisimiut sits just north of the Arctic Circle. It is both Greenland's northernmost town with an ice-free winter harbour and its southernmost town where dogsled travel is possible during winter and spring. Buildings from the colonial period's first 100 years remain in the old quarter. The museum area, for example, has a gateway made from enormous whale jawbones and the blue church, Greenland's second-oldest, dating to 1775.
Sisimiut means "the inhabitants at the foxholes". Founded in 1756 as the Holsteinsborg mission and trading station, the municipality now has 6,000 residents across Sisimiut and the settlements of Kangerlussuaq, Sarfannguaq and Itilleq, making it Greenland's second largest. A high-tech prawn and crab processing factory demonstrates that fishing remains Sisimiut's principal industry.
Getting around
No roads join Greenland's towns, so every inter-town journey is made by plane or ship. The Arctic climate can sometimes be extreme and places heavy safety demands on transport, which Greenlandic operators meet in full. For shorter trips beyond town, local residents use their own boats, dogsleds or snowmobiles.
Nearby places
At the foot of Sisimiut's landmark mountain, the 784-metre (2,572 feet) "Kællingehætten", literally "old woman's cowl", lie excellent opportunities for alpine skiing in winter and spring; the town is also a leading dogsled destination. In summer, walking to the summit rewards visitors with a superb panorama of the town, sea, mountains and abandoned Assaqutaq settlement. The ice-free waters around Sisimiut and some of Greenland's deepest fjords also draw people wishing to sail among many whales and seals
Food and shopping
Souvenirs from Greenland are distinctive handmade artworks unlike anything available elsewhere in the world. A Greenlandic artist shapes and designs every item, following established tradition and custom while also incorporating his or her own ideas, abilities and creative character. Visitors will have plenty of opportunities to search among these individual pieces and find precisely what they want.
Money
Credit cards work at many hotels, restaurants and shops. However, visitors are recommended to take a small amount of Danish kroner to Greenland because certain ATMs may not operate at weekends.
Staying connected
As a visitor to Greenland, you will understand absolutely nothing when Greenlandic is spoken. It is called ‘kalaallisut', a name that actually means ‘the Greenlanders' language'.
Danish functions more or less as a second language; English is less common.
Internet and e-mail: take your laptop. Most major hotels have established Hotspots for internet access. A number of larger towns contain internet cafés, and several tourist offices also allow visitors to check web mail.
Greenland's mobile telephone network is GSM 900/1800.
Opening Hours and
In the main towns, supermarkets typically open on weekdays from 10:00 – 17:30, on Fridays until 18:00 and on Saturdays from 09:00 – 13:00. Many towns also have corner shops and grocers with longer hours, including Sunday opening.