Qaqortoq

Overview

Several old buildings sit around the square which boasts the only fountain in Greenland. The Cooper’s Shop dates from 1781.

A museum displays Inuit utensils and Viking artifacts. Behind the museum there’s an exact copy of a turf house from the beginning of the 1900s. The town tannery processes skins and furs and sells high-quality fur coats and hats around the world: Tours of the tannery can be arranged. Other points of interest include the Culture House (art exhibits) and the old church (a beautiful red wood building).

One popular excursion from Qaqortog is the boat ride to Hvalsey Church the most famous and best-preserved Viking ruin in Greenland. On the nearby island of Uunartoq you can hike to several hot-spring pools—at 95 F/35 C they are quite suitable for a dip. Lounging in the warm water while icebergs crash about in the nearby inlet is a rather bizarre experience—but it's pretty cool. Qaqortoq is 300 mi/485 km southeast of Nuuk Nuuk .

History