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1 city
Municipality · Arctic Circle
Qeqqata
Kangerlussuaq and the ice sheet, Sisimiut, the Arctic Circle Trail, the fjords of Maniitsoq and the Inuit heritage of Aasivissuit–Nipisat.
In the photo: Houses and boats along the rocky coast of Maniitsoq, in Qeqqata.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The municipality
Get to know Qeqqata
Qeqqata, “the middle one” in Greenlandic, lies along the central west coast of Greenland and is crossed by the Arctic Circle. It extends from the sea to the ice sheet and includes Sisimiut, the administrative center and the country’s second-largest town, Maniitsoq and Kangerlussuaq at the end of a long, narrow fjord.
Kangerlussuaq began as a US air base during World War II and for decades was the country’s main international airport. It is the easiest place to reach the ice sheet: a gravel road leads from the town to Point 660, on the ice edge, passing close to the Russell Glacier. Muskoxen and reindeer live on the surrounding tundra.
Between Kangerlussuaq and the sea lies Aasivissuit–Nipisat, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2018. It is an Inuit hunting landscape between the ice and the sea, with remains of camps, reindeer traps and settlements spanning about 4,200 years of history, from Aasivissuit near the ice to the island of Nipisat near Sisimiut.
Sisimiut is a fishing town with colonial-era houses gathered in a museum by the harbor, and mountains you can hike, such as Nasaasaaq. It is the southernmost town on the west coast where dog sleds are still used. The Arctic Circle Trail, a multi-day route with simple huts along the way, links Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut across tundra and lakes.
Maniitsoq, to the south, sits on an island among fjords and high mountains, popular for boat tours and backcountry skiing.
Destinations
2 destinations in Qeqqata
Cities
2 cities in Qeqqata in the guide
Qeqqata
Capital
Sisimiut
A port town about 50 km above the Arctic Circle, with colourful houses on the slopes and a colonial neighbourhood where the museum and Bethel Church are located. Mount Nasaasaaq closes the view to the east. This is the end of the Arctic Circle Trail, and in winter sled dogs return to pull sleds on the trails around town.
Qeqqata
Kangerlussuaq
A settlement of a few hundred people at the head of the long Kangerlussuaq fjord, formed around a former U.S. airbase. It has the country’s driest and most stable climate and is the easiest place to reach the ice cap by road, along a dirt track to Point 660. The surrounding tundra has muskoxen and reindeer, and the Arctic Circle Trail begins here.
When to go
From June to August the tundra is snow-free, the road to the ice edge is usually open, and the Arctic Circle Trail is typically hiked from mid-June to mid-September. Kangerlussuaq has a dry climate with less precipitation than the coast. In autumn the tundra gains color, and from September to March the aurora borealis appears frequently when the sky is clear. From February to April is dogsled season in Sisimiut.
Getting there
Kangerlussuaq Airport (SFJ) receives flights from Nuuk and other towns in the country and, for part of the year, direct flights from Copenhagen. Sisimiut (JHS) and Maniitsoq (JSU) have small airports with flights to Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq. There is no road between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut: travel is by plane or, on foot, via the Arctic Circle Trail. There are no roads connecting the towns. Confirm routes before booking.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Qeqqata
How do you get to the ice sheet from Kangerlussuaq?
Local operators run excursions in adapted vehicles along the gravel road to Point 660 at the ice edge, where you can walk on the ice with a guide. Tours run mainly in summer; in winter access depends on snow conditions. Book before you go.
How long does the Arctic Circle Trail take?
Most people hike the trail between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut in one to two weeks. There are no shops or services en route, only simple huts, so you must carry food and equipment for the entire trip. Plan the trip in advance and leave your itinerary with someone.
What is Aasivissuit–Nipisat?
It is the Arctic Circle UNESCO World Heritage site, inscribed in 2018: a strip of land between the ice sheet and the sea used by Inuit and earlier peoples to hunt reindeer inland and marine animals on the coast. It comprises seven areas with remains of camps, traps and settlements.
Are there direct flights from Europe to Kangerlussuaq?
Part of the year, yes: there are direct flights between Copenhagen and Kangerlussuaq, in a season that usually runs from late winter to autumn. At other times you reach it via Nuuk with a domestic flight. Confirm dates before booking.
How many days should you allow for Sisimiut?
Two or three days let you visit the museum and the old town, hike one of the surrounding mountains and take a boat trip along the coast. In winter, add an extra day for a dogsled excursion.