Qaqortoq | The Melting Pot of Greenlandic Culture

The history of Qaqortoq: 4,000 years of settlement

Saqqaq culture (c. 2500–800 BC)

Qaqortoq's story begins roughly 4,300 years ago with the Saqqaq culture, marking continuous human presence in this corner of Greenland. The Saqqaq left behind chipped stone drills and carving knives, though their footprint here is less prominent than elsewhere.

Dorset Culture (c. 800 BC–1300)

Around 2,800 years ago, the Dorset people arrived, constructing rectangular peat dwellings that still mark the landscape.

Norse settlement (10th–15th Century)

The Norse came in the late 10th century, bringing written records to South Greenland. Just 19 kilometres northeast stand the ruins of Hvalsey – Greenland's most prominent Norse ruins, including Hvalsey Church where the last documented Norse event occurred: a 1408 wedding ceremony.

For nearly five centuries, the Norse maintained settlements here, becoming major ivory suppliers to medieval Europe. Then they mysteriously disappeared.

Thule migration and Inuit continuity

The Thule people arrived around the 12th century, contemporary with the Norse, though evidence suggests minimal early contact.

What to see and do in Qaqortoq

Stone & Man – Qaqortoq’s open-air sculpture project

Qaqortoq functions as an open-air art gallery thanks to the Stone & Man project. Between 1993 and 1994, artist Aka Høegh and 18 other Nordic sculptors carved pieces into rock faces and boulders throughout town. What began as 24 sculptures has grown to over 40, transforming the entire town into an artistic exhibition.

Colonial Qaqortoq and historic landmarks

Mindebrønden, completed in 1932, is Qaqortoq’s historic fountain, depicting whales spouting water from their blowholes — a nod to the region’s maritime identity. It's become a gathering spot in the compact colonial heart of town.

Qaqortoq's museum occupies the original blacksmith shop, built in yellow stone in 1804. The oldest harbor building is a black-tarred log structure from 1797, designed by royal Danish architect Kirkerup and shipped from Denmark in pieces.

Gertrud Rasch’s church

Consecrated in 1973, Gertrud Rasch’s Church is Qaqortoq’s modern Lutheran landmark. The striking white concrete structure overlooks the harbour and features an altar decorated with South Greenland flora motifs, alongside a Danish Frobenius organ.

Hvalsey church ruins

Located approximately 19 kilometres northeast of Qaqortoq, Hvalsey church is Greenland’s best-preserved Norse ruin. Its 14th-century stone walls hosted the last documented Norse event in Greenland — a wedding ceremony in 1408.

Today, the roofless granite structure stands largely intact against the surrounding fjord landscape, offering a tangible link to nearly five centuries of Norse settlement in South Greenland.

Uunartoq hot springs

The Uunartoq hot springs offer one of South Greenland’s most surreal experiences: soaking in 37–38°C geothermal water while icebergs drift through the surrounding fjords. In summer, yellow buttercups bloom along the rocky edges, contrasting warm thermal pools with the cool Arctic landscape.

Wildlife

Land mammals and birdlife

South Greenland’s milder coastal climate supports a distinct Arctic landscape where wildlife and human settlement coexist. Reindeer roam inland valleys, Arctic hares move across tundra slopes, and ravens are a constant presence around both town and wilderness.

White-tailed eagles — Greenland’s national bird — are often seen soaring above fjords or perched on cliffs overlooking the sea. The surrounding farming belt, a legacy of Norse and modern Greenlandic settlement, supports sheep grazing in summer, creating a rare Arctic environment shaped by both ecology and history.

Marine wildlife

The fjords surrounding Qaqortoq are rich feeding grounds during the summer months. Humpback whales are the most frequently sighted species, often breaching or lunge-feeding in sheltered waters. Fin whales and minke whales also pass through the region, while harbour porpoises are occasionally seen close to shore.

Boat excursions from Qaqortoq offer whale watching where you're genuinely close to massive marine mammals breaching and feeding. The combination of wildlife, icebergs, and dramatic fjord scenery creates unforgettable experiences.

Experience East Greenland with Secret Atlas

Greenland is a land of regional contrasts. While Qaqortoq represents the cultural crossroads of South Greenland — where Norse ruins, Inuit heritage, and modern settlement converge — our expeditions focus on the vast fjord systems of East and Northeast Greenland.

In Scoresbysund and the Northeast Greenland National Park, the landscape shifts dramatically. Here, human presence becomes sparse, settlements disappear, and nature dominates at monumental scale. Towering basalt mountains, cathedral-like fjords, drifting icebergs, and whale-rich waters define the experience.