Ammassalik (Tasiilaq) cruise port guide

Arrival & Getting Ashore

Getting to the centre: The useful town route is from the tender landing in Kong Oscar Havn to Ammassalik Museum, close to the harbour.

• Walk: realistic but hilly; the museum is close to the harbour.

Sources: Visit Greenland destination guide, Visit Greenland museum guide.

Orientation, not a walking route

Cruise passengers normally tender into Tasiilaq. Seabourn lists Tasiilaq as a tender port, while Visit Greenland's cruise-facilities assessment describes cruise passengers landing by tender on rock or via the mole. The harbour pilot records limited alongside capacity at the 30-metre Atlantkaj for vessels up to 110 metres, but that capacity does not show normal cruise practice.

Identify the return landing on the ship’s map. Ice can obstruct the approach, so keep independent plans conditional on the landing briefing.

About this port

This guide covers Tasiilaq on Ammassalik Island in East Greenland. For a short call, a visit to Ammassalik Museum and a walk within town make a practical introduction. Treat a trip into the surrounding fjords or mountains as a separate guided outing, with its return arranged before leaving the ship.

Getting Around

Tasiilaq is hilly. Walking suits a town visit, while a pre-arranged taxi or tour transfer can reduce climbing. Agree the pickup location and return with the driver; a town described as walkable is not necessarily an easy outing for someone with limited mobility.

Things to Do

Start with Ammassalik Museum, housed in the former church, which also includes a peat house. Use the museum's current opening information before making it the centrepiece of the day.

Flower Valley is an option for extending a town walk after taking local route advice. For a mountain hike or a boat excursion towards Sermilik, use an organised outing. Visit Greenland advises taking a properly equipped local guide for hikes farther from town because of polar-bear risk. Leave time for the return transfer rather than combining both outings in a short call.

Getting back to your ship

Tasiilaq is hilly. Walking suits a town visit, while a pre-arranged taxi or tour transfer can reduce climbing. Agree the pickup location and return with the driver; a town described as walkable is not necessarily an easy outing for someone with limited mobility.

Practical Information

Money: Danish krone (DKK). Bring some cash as a backup.

Police: +299 70 14 48. Keep the ship’s shore contact details with you as well.

Frequently asked

Can you walk from Tasiilaq harbour into town? Yes, but expect hills. Walking is practical for a town visit, and Ammassalik Museum is close to the harbour.

How difficult is the walk around Tasiilaq? It is hilly, so treat the town as partly walkable if climbing is difficult. Local taxis can reduce the amount of uphill walking.

Do cruise ships dock or tender in Tasiilaq? They normally tender. Atlantkaj has limited alongside capacity, but the cruise evidence describes tender landings.

Where is Ammassalik Museum in Tasiilaq? It is in the former church close to the harbour and includes a peat house.