Qaqortoq

The largest town in South Greenland, with colorful houses built into the hillsides; by boat you can reach the Hvalsey Norse church ruins in the UNESCO-listed Kujataa region and the Uunartoq hot spring island.

Qaqortoq (Danish former name: Julianehåb) lies at the southern tip of Greenland in the Kujalleq municipality. With a population of about 3,000, it is the largest town in South Greenland and its administrative and educational center. The town was founded by Danish merchants in 1775. Red, yellow, blue and green wooden houses are stacked up the rocky slopes around the harbor. The central market square preserves the Fish Fountain, an old blacksmith's museum and the 19th-century Church of Our Saviour. More than 40 stone sculptures from the “Stone and People” project are scattered across the town's rocks, and the whole town can be explored on foot in half a day.

The real highlights are on the fjords. A boat trip of about one hour reaches the Hvalsey Church ruins in the UNESCO-listed Kujataa region, the best-preserved Norse building in Greenland. On an uninhabited island to the southeast, the Uunartoq hot spring lets you bathe while watching icebergs drift by. Farther afield, the sheep-farming village of Igaliku and Brattahlid, the farm of Erik the Red, are key stops on the Viking history route. To the north, Narsaq is known for its icebergs and mountain hiking. On days when you can't go to sea, the lakeside trail around Lake Tasersuaq behind the town is a good alternative.

Getting there: the new Qaqortoq airport opened in 2026 and has direct flights from places such as Nuuk. Before that, travelers usually connected through Narsarsuaq Airport and then took a helicopter or boat. Travel between towns is mainly by boat. In summer there are scheduled ferries and tour boat trips, while in winter transport is greatly reduced.

The best season is June–September, with navigable fjords, long daylight and many boat tours. July–August temperatures are about 8–12°C. In September, the tundra turns red and northern lights may be visible. Plan 3–4 days, including 1–2 boat days.

Notes: sea trips are often rescheduled due to ice and weather, so leave flexible time. Wind- and waterproof clothing is needed year-round, and a head net is advisable in summer. Prices are high, so book boat and hot spring tours in advance.

Top sights

• Hvalsey Church Ruins – Greenland's best-preserved Norse site. A stone church stands on the fjord shore, and the wedding recorded here in 1408 is the last written…
• Uunartoq Hot Springs – A natural open-air hot spring on an uninhabited island. Soak in water at about 34 to 38°C while watching icebergs drift past on the fjord.
• Stone & Man Sculptures – More than 40 stone reliefs scattered across the rocks of the town, carved on site in the 1990s by Nordic artists. Together they form an ope…
• Mindebrønden Fountain – A memorial fountain at the centre of the old town market square. It is the only public fountain in Greenland, with copper fish and whale sc…
• Qaqortoq Museum – A town museum in an old blacksmith's workshop built in 1804, with Inuit kayaks, hunting tools, Norse relics and displays of colonial-era li…
• Church of Our Saviour – A red wooden church built in 1832 from prefabricated timber shipped from Norway. It is one of the most prominent buildings on the harbour o…
• Lake Tasersuaq Hike – A lake and tundra trail just behind the town, reachable on foot from the town. From the top you can look down over the colourful houses and…
• Igaliku – A pastoral sheep-farming village in southern Greenland, built on the ruins of the medieval Garðar bishopric. It is one of the core sites of…
• Brattahlíð (Qassiarsuk) – The Viking farm site founded by Erik the Red, with a reconstructed turf longhouse and Thjodhild's Church. It was the starting point of the…
• Narsaq – A fjord town north of Qaqortoq, known for its icebergs, the Narsaq Museum and the hike up Qaqqarsuaq mountain.

Where to eat

• Inbox Thai Corner – A small Thai restaurant by the harbor that makes curries with reindeer, musk ox, seal and whale. It is the highest-rate…
• Brasserie H.Q, Hotel Qaqortoq – The main restaurant and café in the town's leading hotel, overlooking the harbor. It is the most reliable kitchen open…