Narsaq means "plain" in Greenlandic. The name is due to the large, green plain on which the town sits. With its central location in a massive fjord system, Narsaq is a good place to begin a round trip of South
Greenland. The glaciers north of the town ensure that there are icebergs nearly all the time around Narsaq and the fjord near Narsaq peninsula is rich in seals, salmon, trout and minke whales. The temperature ranges from plus 22º C in summer to minus 17º C in winter.
The town's population:
About 1600 people live in Narsaq and the rest live in
Narsarsuaq,
Qassiarsuk,
Igaliku or one of the many sheep farms in the area. Most people are engaged in fishing or sheep farming. Narsaq is a relatively young town and first achieved town status in 1959, at a time when only 600 people lived there.
How to get there:
Via the international airport in Kangerlussuaq you firstly fly to Narsarsuaq and thereafter to Narsaq by helicopter (Air Greenland). During the summertime you have the option to reach Narsaq via a direct international flight to the international airport in Narsarsuaq, where both Air Greenland and Air
Iceland operate. You also have the option to sail on Arctic Umiaq Line's passenger ship. The helicopter flight from Narsarsuaq to Narsaq lasts around a quarter of an hour, whilst the boat trip lasts around 3 hours. If you wish to travel onwards to other towns in
South Greenland, this can be done on Arctic Umiaq Line's passenger ship or private passenger vessels - enquire at the local tourist office for more details. Arctic Umiaq Line also sails to other towns on the coast, all the way up to Ilulissat in the north. In the summer season it is a good idea to book your tickets well in advance.
How to get around:
The area is ideal for walking and the sea - both long and short hikes and boat trips. You can go on fishing trips and excursions by boat. In winter, cars are supplemented with skis and snowmobiles. Transportation between towns and settlements in South Greenland is made by ship or Air Greenland's helicopters.
Where to sleep:
You can stay overnight at a hotel, hostel or privately. In South Greenland you can choose to stay with a family on a sheep farm. One possibility is to put up a tent in the mountains, where the countryside and view pleases you most.
