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Museum · Nuuk, Sermersooq
Greenland National Museum and Archives
The country’s main museum, in old buildings of Nuuk’s colonial harbor. It covers more than four thousand years of history, from the first peoples to the colonial era, and houses the Qilakitsoq mummies.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Greenland National Museum and Archives
The National Museum of Greenland (Nunatta Katersugaasivia Allagaateqarfialu), which also houses the national archives, occupies historic buildings on the waterfront in Nuuk’s colonial harbour. It was one of the country’s first museums, opened in the 1960s.
The galleries trace human occupation of the island from the oldest cultures, which came from the Arctic of Canada in the north, to the arrival of the Norse in the south and Danish colonization. There are kayaks and umiaks, the large skin boats used to carry families, sleds, hunting tools, fur clothing and traditional costumes.
What draws most visitors are the Qilakitsoq mummies: Inuit women and children buried about 500 years ago and found in 1972 near Uummannaq in the north. The cold and dry wind preserved the bodies and the fur garments, showing how people dressed and protected themselves from the cold.
Temporary exhibitions of art and history complete the visit, and the building is a short walk from Hans Egede’s house and the cathedral.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
One to two hours.
Best time
At any time of year, preferably at the start of your stay, to understand the rest of the trip. In winter it is open fewer days: check the opening hours.
How to get there
It is on the waterfront, in the colonial harbour; from the centre it is about a 15-minute downhill walk.
Tip
Combine the visit with a walking tour of the colonial harbour and the cathedral, which are on the same stretch of the waterfront.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Greenland National Museum and Archives
What are the Qilakitsoq mummies?
They are the bodies of Inuit women and children buried about 500 years ago in northern Greenland, preserved by cold and dry air. They are in the National Museum in Nuuk.
How long does a visit to the Greenland National Museum take?
About one to two hours for the main rooms and the mummies.
Does the National Museum have English texts?
Yes, the main exhibitions include information in English, in addition to Greenlandic and Danish.