Dudinka's Arctic port

Dudinka (Russian: Дуди́нка doo-DEEN-kuh) is the capital of Taymyria and a port open to sea-going vessels near the mouth of the Yenisey River.

Get in

The nearest commercial airports are in Igarka to the south and Norilsk to the west. Note that Dudinka (as well as Norilsk) are closed cities and have major travel restrictions for foreigners and Russian citizens alike; be sure to apply for a special permit far in advance and to have a darn good reason for the application.

A very limited road network connects Dudinka with Norilsk, including the airport, and Talnakh further to the east. Buses ply the route several times per day. There is a railroad connecting all three cities too but nowadays it's limited to freight traffic.

Dudinka is a large port with cargo ships arriving from all over Russia and beyond; pretty much everything consumed in the nearby Norilsk comes by ship via Dudinka, and everything produced in Norilsk (metals and metal ore concentrate) is shipped out via Dudinka. Some ships visiting Dudinka accept passengers; just don't expect it to be possible to get the permissions without extensive skills in navigating through Russian bureaucracy. A more viable option to get here is to hop on a ferry from Krasnoyarsk, the shipping company PassazhirRechTrans usually have three to six departures every month during the summer season. The journey along the mighty Yenisey river takes three nights and scenery along the route are spectacular.

See

• 1 Taymyr History Museum (Таймырский краеведческий музей), ul. Sovetskaya, 30, ☏ +7 39191 5-11-23. A rather impressive museum, showcasing artefacts of the Nganasan people, a nomadic people that was the first inhabitants of Taymyr, as well as sections devoted to the natural history and the exploration and settlement by Russians in the early 20th century. The museum also has a small souvenir shop. 

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Northern Lights (Гостиница Северное сияние), st. Matrosov 14, ☏ +7 39191 -3-30-70. Check-out: At noon. Centrally located with 37 rooms. A sauna, swimming pool and small café are available. Prices between 1200-6000 руб.