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Voykit pocket guide · Greenland
Qassiarsuk
Half a day is enough to see the reconstructed Norse longhouse and church, plus Erik the Red's farmstead ruins. Overnight only if you want to hike the dirt road to Narsaq or relax by the fjord.
Qassiarsuk (population 34) is the site of Brattahlíð, Erik the Red's farmstead, with a reconstructed longhouse and Thorhilda's church. It sits across the fjord from Narsarsuaq, reachable by a 5 km boat crossing or a longer walk. Most visitors come for a half-day trip from Narsarsuaq; the settlement has two small hostels for those who want to hike or explore slowly.
- Country
- Greenland
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (dark, cold, limited boat crossings)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- DKK
- Money
- Currency is the Danish krone (DKK, kr). Cards are accepted in hotels and shops in towns; carry some cash for small settlements.
- Daily spend
- Budget kr 300–500 (dorm bed, self-catering) · Mid kr 600–900 (half-board hostel) · High kr 1,000+ (private room, meals, boat trips) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Tusass is the only operator; prepaid SIMs in Tusass shops and some kiosks. Roaming from EU plans is not included (Greenland is outside the EU) — check your plan.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E, F, K · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round-pin plugs fit.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Not expected; round up if pleased.; Guides: Optional small tip for multi-day trips.
- Water
- Tap water is clean and drinkable; in settlements, check with your host.
- Toilets
- Normal in hotels and towns; very basic in small settlements and camps.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Dorm bed (Leif Eriksson Hostel) | kr 300 |
| Half-board (dinner + breakfast) | kr 525 |
| Boat crossing Narsarsuaq–Qassiarsuk | kr 200 |
| Hot meal at the cafeteria | kr 150–210 |
| Bike rental (half day) | kr 100 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- UAK · Narsarsuaq Airport
- 5 km (3.1 mi) across the fjord; boat transfer arranged by the tourist office or local fishermen3.1 mi (5 km) across the fjord; boat transfer arranged by the tourist office or local fishermen
Typical fares
- Narsarsuaq → Qassiarsuk boat
- about kr 200 return (check)
- Hostel dorm → cafeteria
- 5 min walk
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk the dirt roads; the settlement is small. Bikes can be rented at the Leif Eriksson Hostel.
See and do
Known for
- Brattahlíð (Erik the Red's farmstead)
- Reconstructed Norse longhouse and church
- Inuit house ruins
- Crystal hunting along dirt roads
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Narsarsuaq | Boat across the fjord (5 km (3.1 mi)) or walk via the river crossingBoat across the fjord (3.1 mi (5 km)) or walk via the river crossing | 20 min by boat, 1.5 h on foot |
| Igaliku | Boat from Narsarsuaq or Qaqortoq, then a short walk | About 2 h |
| Qaqortoq | Boat from Narsarsuaq (about 1 h) then bus or walk | About 2.5 h |
Sleep
- Leif Eriksson Hostel
- Only accommodation in the village; 7 double rooms, 3 dorms, campsites. Half-board available.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Aluuah-loo |
| Thank you | Qujanaqkoo-yah-nak |
| How much? | Qanoq akigiva?ka-nok a-kee-gee-va |
| Boat | Umiarsuaqoo-mee-ar-soo-ak |
| Where is the hostel? | Sumi iniarfik?soo-mee ee-nee-ar-fik |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, quiet tone; avoid: Loud talk
- Visiting a home: Remove shoes; accept coffee; avoid: Refusing all food bluntly
- Silence: Allow pauses in conversation; avoid: Filling every gap
- Culture: Ask about Greenlandic words and life; avoid: Calling people Eskimo or treating Greenland as simply Denmark
- Nature: Leave no trace; avoid: Taking stones or bones from sites
Scams and watch-outs
- Boat crossings from Narsarsuaq depend on weather and daylight — confirm the day before.
- No ATM in Qassiarsuk; bring cash (DKK) from Narsarsuaq or Qaqortoq.
- The dirt road to Narsaq (50 km) is for experienced hikers only; no services en route.
Very safe settlement; the main risks are cold fjord water (no swimming), sudden fog on the crossing, and the unmarked dirt road to Narsaq — carry a GPS and emergency shelter if hiking.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Qassiarsuk yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Brattahlíð (Erik the Red's farmstead)
- Reconstructed Norse longhouse and church
- Inuit house ruins
- Crystal hunting along dirt roads
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Qassiarsuk, revision 5307253 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5307253
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Qassiarsuk
Leif Eriksson Hostelmut, qujanaq
To the Leif Eriksson Hostel, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance, fire112
Greenlandic is the main language; Danish and English understood at the hostel and cafeteria.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/qassiarsuk). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.