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Avannaata · Greenland
The town at the foot of the heart-shaped mountain, on an island in the Uummannaq fjord, with icebergs in summer and dog sleds across the frozen sea in winter.
In the photo: Houses of Uummannaq at the foot of the two-summit mountain, views of the fjord.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Uummannaq lies north of Disko Bay, on a small island in the middle of the Uummannaq fjord, about 600 km north of the Arctic Circle. It is the largest town north of Ilulissat, with colorful houses scattered over the rocks and a busy fishing boat harbour.
Behind the town, a 1,170-meter mountain with two summits forms a heart and gives the place its name. The reddish cliffs appear from every viewpoint, from the harbour to the football field, one of the most photographed in the country.
Beside the harbour are the 1935 stone church, the museum in an old hospital and historic turf houses. Nearby, in 1972, the Qilakitsoq mummies were found; they are now in Nuuk.
In summer the fjord fills with icebergs; in winter and spring, the sea surface hardens and becomes a route for dog sleds.
This destination brings together 1 city: Uummannaq.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Dados cartográficos: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0); contorno terrestre: Natural Earth (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
✈ Heliporto de Uummannaq (UMD) · 1 km to Uummannaq
✈ Qaarsut Mittarfia (JQA), in Qaarsut · 20 km to Uummannaq
Via Ilulissat, with a short flight to Qaarsut and a helicopter to the island. There are no direct international flights. Confirm routes before buying tickets.
The local experience
The two-summit mountain, 1,170 meters high, that gives Uummannaq island its heart shape and dominates the town. The summit is not reached without technical climbing, but trails circle the base.
Museum in an old hospital by the harbour, with replicas of the Qilakitsoq mummies, kayaks, polar expedition objects and historic turf houses in the surroundings.
A 1935 church built from stones quarried from the slope where it stands, by the port of Uummannaq — one of Greenland’s rare stone churches.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
From June to September, for hikes, boats and icebergs in the fjord. At the end of winter, when the sea freezes, for dog sleds. On dark nights there is a chance of auroras.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Two or three days, with time for the fjord.
There are few lodgings and they are in the centre, near the harbour and heliport, within walking distance of everything. Book in advance, especially in summer and during the dog-sled season.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
Because of the two-summit mountain behind the town, shaped like a heart: that is what Uummannaq means in Greenlandic.
Summer, for boats and hikes among the icebergs, or late winter, for dog sleds over the frozen sea.
It is to the north, a short flight to Qaarsut and a helicopter transfer to the island.
Visit the harbour, the stone church and the museum, walk at the base of the mountain and go out by boat or dog sled into the fjord.
