Kujalleq · Greenland

Qaqortoq and Kujataa

The green fjords of the south, with the Norse ruins of Kujataa, a UNESCO World Heritage site: Hvalsey Church, Brattahlíð and Garðar, among sheep farms and icebergs.

South Greenland

In the photo: Qaqortoq’s harbor and the houses on the rocky slopes of Kujalleq.

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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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The south of Greenland is the country’s greenest part, with pasture valleys between fjords full of icebergs that descend from the ice cap. Norse settlers who arrived with Erik the Red raised cattle and sheep there for almost five centuries; after a long gap, Greenlandic families resumed sheep farming in the same valleys. UNESCO recognized this ensemble, called Kujataa, in 2017.

Qaqortoq, the largest town in the south, is the gateway, with an airport, colorful houses above the harbor, the country’s oldest fountain and rock-carved sculptures. From there boats depart for Hvalsey, the Norse church that still has all four walls standing.

Farther north along the fjords are Qassiarsuk, with Brattahlíð, Erik the Red’s farm, and the statue of Leif Eriksson, and Igaliku, with the ruins of Garðar, the old seat of the bishopric. Narsaq, on a plain between fjords, has a museum and trails with views of the ice cap.

Boats and helicopters connect the places. Multi-day trails cross the farms, and a hike from Narsarsuaq reaches the Kiattuut glacier.

This destination brings together 4 cities: Qaqortoq, Qassiarsuk, Igaliku, Narsaq.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Qaqortoq and Kujataa is

Dados cartográficos: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0); contorno terrestre: Natural Earth (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Qaqortoq and Kujataa

✈ Qaqortoq Mittarfia (JJU) · 5 km to Qaqortoq

Entry is through Qaqortoq Airport, linked to Nuuk year-round and to Iceland in the summer season. Boats and helicopters continue to Narsaq, Narsarsuaq, Qassiarsuk and Igaliku. There are no roads between the places. Confirm routes before booking.

Suggested arrival point: Qaqortoq

Kujalleq · Qaqortoq and Kujataa Capital Suggested arrival point

Qaqortoq

The largest town in southern Greenland and the seat of Kujalleq, with about three thousand residents, colorful houses arranged like an amphitheater above the harbor, and a square with the country’s oldest fountain. There are sculptures carved into the rocks around town, the museum in the old forge, and the red church from 1832. Boats depart from the harbor to Hvalsey Church and to the Uunartoq hot springs.

Kujalleq · Qaqortoq and Kujataa

Qassiarsuk

A settlement of sheep herders on the shore of the Tunulliarfik fjord, on the site of Brattahlíð, the farm of Erik the Red. It has Norse ruins, a reconstructed longhouse and church, a statue of Leif Eriksson, and trails through the farms. On the other side of the fjord is Narsarsuaq, where the hike to the Kiattuut glacier starts.

Kujalleq · Qaqortoq and Kujataa

Igaliku

A village of sheep farmers with a few dozen residents, stone houses and green pastures by a fjord. In the middle of the houses are the foundations of Garðar, where the settlers’ bishop lived and where the cathedral stood. You reach it by boat to the Itilleq pier and then on foot, along a path of about 4 km.

Kujalleq · Qaqortoq and Kujataa

Narsaq

A town of just over a thousand inhabitants on a green plain between two fjords, at the foot of Mount Qaqqarsuaq, with colorful houses and an old harbor. It has a museum in the colonial buildings, trails to the mountains behind the town, nearby Norse ruins and views of the ice cap and the fjord’s icebergs.

The local experience

Things to do in Qaqortoq and Kujataa

Qassiarsuk · Kujalleq · Archaeological site

Brattahlíð

The ruins of Erik the Red’s farm, founded around 985, in Qassiarsuk, with replicas of the Norse longhouse and Tjodhilde’s small church and a statue of Leif Eriksson.

Qaqortoq · Kujalleq · Historic ruin

Hvalsey Church

A stone church of the Norse settlers, with the walls still standing, on the edge of a fjord about 19 km from Qaqortoq. It is the site of the last written record of the Norse in the country, dated 1408.

Narsaq · Kujalleq · Museum

Narsaq Museum

Museum in the colonial buildings by Narsaq’s old harbor, with an exhibition about the Norse settlers of the south and objects from the town’s history.

Igaliku · Kujalleq · Archaeological site

Garðar Ruins

The remains of the settlers’ old bishopric, with the cathedral of St. Nicholas, the bishop’s residence and large barns, in the middle of the settlement of Igaliku.

See 4 more places in Qaqortoq and Kujataa

Igaliku · Kujalleq · Trail

Kongevejen

A roughly 4 km dirt path between the Itilleq jetty and Igaliku, across an isthmus between two fjords, with pastures, small lakes and views of the icebergs.

Qaqortoq · Kujalleq · Museum

Qaqortoq Museum

The city museum in an 1804 stone building, the old forge of the colonial harbor. It shows objects from the Norse and Inuit eras, hunting tools and the history of the colony.

Narsaq · Kujalleq · Mountain

Qaqqarsuaq

The mountain of about 685 meters behind Narsaq, with a trail to the top and views over the town, the iceberg-filled fjord and, in the distance, the ice cap.

Qaqortoq · Kujalleq · Monument

Qaqortoq Fountain

The oldest fountain in Greenland, from 1932, in Qaqortoq’s central square, with bronze whales spouting water. Colonial houses and the red church surround it.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Summer is the season of frequent boats, green pastures and open trails. Icebergs remain in the fjords all summer, and from September onward the auroras may appear on dark nights.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Five to seven days allow for Qaqortoq and Hvalsey, one night in Qassiarsuk and another in Igaliku, with time for boat schedules. Narsaq adds another day.

Which city to stay in

Qaqortoq has the largest accommodation offering in the south and is close to the airport and boats. In Qassiarsuk and Igaliku accommodations are simple, on farms and guesthouses, and allow you to sleep next to the ruins. Narsaq has options in town near the harbor.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Qaqortoq and Kujataa

What is Kujataa?

The name given by UNESCO to the ensemble of old and current farms of the south, inscribed in 2017, with sites such as Hvalsey, Brattahlíð and Garðar.

What is the best time to go to southern Greenland?

Between June and September: that’s when boats connect the villages and paths are free of snow.

How do you travel between Qaqortoq, Qassiarsuk and Igaliku?

By boat with local operators, and on some legs by helicopter. Arrange transfers in advance, because they depend on ice and weather.

Can you hike between the farms in the south?

Yes. There are multi-day trails between Narsaq and Qassiarsuk and between Igaliku and Qaqortoq, passing farms and ruins, with no services along the way.

Is Narsarsuaq still the south’s entry point?

Not for airplane flights: arrival has shifted to Qaqortoq Airport. Narsarsuaq has a heliport and is a boat point for Qassiarsuk and the starting point for the Kiattuut glacier trail.

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Qaqortoq and Kujataa

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.