Sisimiut

What is Sisimiut?

Sisimiut is a town on Greenland’s west coast, just north of the Arctic Circle. That position matters when planning a visit. Sisimiut is within the part of West Greenland where dog sledding is legally permitted, and the year is clearly divided between the light summer months and the darker period when the northern lights can be seen again.

Sisimiut is a town rather than simply a base for one particular activity. A visit can therefore combine time in town with pre-booked trips. We generally advise against filling every day with fixed plans. Greenland has an Arctic climate, and weather or local conditions can affect transport and activities. Keeping one day open makes it easier to adjust the itinerary if necessary.

First-time visitors should decide on the season before booking flights and accommodation. A winter trip built around dog sledding is quite different from a stay during the light months. The northern lights are visible from September to April, while the dog-sledding season is shorter, running from January to April. Summer provides more daylight for time outdoors, but it is not the season for either of those winter activities.

The Arctic Circle is also a practical legal boundary. Dog sledding is restricted to West Greenland north of the Arctic Circle, as well as East Greenland. It is available in Sisimiut because the town lies just north of that line. It does not exist in Nuuk, Qaqortoq or anywhere in South Greenland. If dog sledding is the main purpose of the trip, choose the destination according to this boundary rather than flight access alone.

How to get to Sisimiut

Air Greenland connects Nuuk and Sisimiut. For international travellers, Nuuk is therefore a practical connection point on the way to town. Nuuk’s international airport opened on 28 November 2024 and has direct jet service to Copenhagen. There are five flights a week, increasing to six over Christmas and New Year and eight in summer.

The onward connection to Sisimiut will not necessarily operate on the same day as an international arrival. Check schedules and frequencies for your actual travel dates, and review the complete journey before booking its individual parts. If the itinerary requires a night in Nuuk, include that stay in both the schedule and the budget from the outset.

We normally leave some room between important commitments when a trip includes several flights. Weather in Greenland’s Arctic climate can affect transport, and an itinerary with no spare time is more vulnerable to changes. This is particularly relevant if a specific activity is only possible on one day of the stay or if the return flight from Nuuk must connect with an international departure.

Always check the current timetable with the airline. The number of international flights between Copenhagen and Nuuk does not indicate whether a Nuuk–Sisimiut connection is available on a particular weekday. Compare the schedules in both directions and check how much time is allowed between flights.

During winter, we would not treat travel days as activity days. Even when flights operate as planned, arrival, baggage collection and settling into the accommodation take time. Dog sledding and other scheduled trips are better placed on full days in the middle of the stay than immediately after arrival or shortly before departure.

Things to do in Sisimiut

Dog sledding

Dog sledding is the activity that most clearly distinguishes Sisimiut from destinations south of the Arctic Circle. The season runs from January to April. Conditions on the day still determine whether a trip can go ahead, so being within the stated season is not a guarantee that every departure will operate.

Dog sledding must be booked as a separate activity. If it is an important part of your plans, read our Dog Sledding in Sisimiut activity page before arranging the wider trip. Consider the length of the excursion, clothing requirements and how many days are available if the booking has to be moved.

The legal rule is worth repeating because it is often misunderstood. Dog sledding is permitted in West Greenland north of the Arctic Circle and in East Greenland. Sisimiut lies just north of the boundary and is therefore within the dog-sledding area. The activity is not available in Nuuk, Qaqortoq or South Greenland.

January through April is the relevant period, but the months are not interchangeable. Days are shorter early in the year, with daylight increasing towards April. The choice depends partly on whether you prefer the darker part of winter, with the possibility of northern lights, or more daylight around planned activities. We would not select a month on dog sledding alone. Daylight, temperatures and the complete travel route also need to be considered.

Northern lights

The northern lights can be visible in Sisimiut from September to April, as they can throughout Greenland. They require darkness and suitable conditions, and they cannot be booked or guaranteed. Staying for several nights provides more opportunities than relying on a single evening, but it still does not ensure a sighting.

Seeing the northern lights does not necessarily require an organised excursion. If you go out independently, identify a safe place in advance with as little artificial light as is practical, and remain in an area where you can find your way. Winter clothing must be suitable for standing still outside, which usually feels colder than taking part in an activity that keeps you moving.

September and April sit at opposite ends of the northern-lights season and have more daylight than the darkest winter months. If the northern lights are your main reason for travelling, it is not enough to check whether a month falls within the season. The number of nights, the rest of the itinerary and the time available to wait for suitable conditions are at least as important.

Walking and time in town

Not every part of the stay needs a fixed activity. A walk around town is a straightforward way to understand distances, locate meeting points for booked trips and work out the route between your accommodation and the places you will use. This is particularly helpful on the first day, when plans may already be limited by the arrival time.

The light months allow more of the day to be spent outside. Around summer, Sisimiut’s position north of the Arctic Circle brings long, light days, while winter daylight is limited. Plan longer walks according to available daylight and current conditions rather than using the same schedule throughout the year.

Before walking beyond the parts of town you already know, check the route, ground conditions and weather. A distance that looks short on a map may take longer in Arctic conditions. You can also tell your accommodation where you intend to walk and turn back with time to spare. This is practical planning rather than a specific activity requiring a particular operator or specialised equipment.

Photography can be included during walks, northern-lights viewing and dog sledding, but equipment should be simple enough to operate while wearing gloves. Cold affects batteries, so keep a spare battery close to your body in winter. When photographing the northern lights, make sure you can also find your way back without depending solely on a camera or phone.

Best time to visit Sisimiut

Choose the month according to the activity that matters most. From January to April, the dog-sledding and northern-lights seasons overlap. This is the period to consider if you want the possibility of doing both on one trip. Northern lights may also be visible from September through December, but the verified dog-sledding season has not yet started during those months.

January and February suit a winter stay with short days. March provides more daylight while remaining within both the dog-sledding and northern-lights seasons. April is the final month of both seasons, with daylight taking up more of the day. Before booking close to the beginning or end of a season, check whether the intended activity is expected to operate on your selected dates.

From May to August, plan the trip without northern lights or dog sledding. The days are longer, providing more light for time outside. These months may suit visitors who want a straightforward town stay and prefer to spend the day walking rather than arranging winter activities.

September marks the beginning of the northern-lights season. Northern lights can be visible from September to April, although hours of darkness, cloud cover and local conditions vary. October, November and December are also within that season, but they are outside the January-to-April dog-sledding period.

We recommend choosing one main priority and treating the other possibilities as additions. If dog sledding is essential, travel between January and April and allow room for changes. If northern lights are the priority, the available period is wider, though several nights are still preferable. If daylight and walking matter more, consider the lighter months instead.

Where to stay

We do not name individual properties here because availability and the range of accommodation can change. Compare location, room type, cancellation terms and access to practical information before arrival. Hotels, smaller guesthouses and accommodation with a private kitchen meet different needs. The lowest price may not be the most practical choice if the location does not fit the itinerary.

A central place to stay can simplify the first few days, particularly if you do not know the town. It can reduce the need to plan transport for meals, shopping and activity meeting points. If you choose accommodation farther away, establish in advance how you will reach activities that begin early or finish after dark.

Ask the activity provider for the exact meeting point before confirming accommodation. Some trips may use a fixed meeting place, while others may have different arrangements. Do not assume that pickup is included unless the booking states this clearly.

In winter, access and practical distance matter more than a map may suggest. A property can appear close, but wind, snow, darkness and baggage change how straightforward the journey is. Visitors travelling with children, substantial equipment or limited mobility should ask specifically about access, stairs and the distance from the arrival point.

A private kitchen can be useful for a stay of several days, but check what facilities are actually included. If breakfast or other meals are important to the daily schedule, confirm those details before booking as well. For a late arrival, make a clear arrangement for gaining access to the room.

Practical advice for a first visit

Dress in layers. A base layer, an insulating middle layer and a wind- and water-resistant outer layer make it easier to adjust between the aircraft, town and outdoor activities. In winter, gloves, a hat, warm footwear and extra insulation should not be packed in baggage that you cannot reach during the journey.

For dog sledding, clothing must be suitable for sitting still in the cold. Ask in advance whether specialist outerwear or boots are provided and what you need to bring yourself. We would not assume that ordinary urban winter clothing is enough for a longer outdoor activity.

Pack a smaller bag with medication, chargers, an extra warm layer and essential documents. This makes the journey easier to manage if a connection changes. Save the main details for flights, accommodation and activities so that they can be accessed without relying on a constant internet connection.

Avoid scheduling a tightly timed activity immediately after arrival. Use the first day to get oriented, confirm the next day’s meeting point and buy anything you are missing. On departure day, also leave a reasonable interval between any activity and the flight.

Check the weather and messages from the airline and activity provider each day. Plans can change at short notice without making the whole stay unusable. An open day or a simple alternative plan makes it easier to adapt.

Finally, set expectations according to the season. Sisimiut can be visited at different times of year, but the available activities are not the same. Dog sledding belongs to January through April, northern lights to September through April, and the light months require a different daily schedule. Once that distinction is clear before booking, the rest of the trip is easier to arrange.