Experience the true warmth of a Greenlandic welcome in this breathtaking seaside town with captivating Inuit traditions and a backdrop of a heart-shaped mountain.
A big personality is packed into the tiny town of Uummannaq. The town’s name translates to “heart like,” but you’ll soon see that it isn’t just the nearby mountain that gave the town its name. As your cruise ship arrives in Uummannaq’s harbor, you’ll be greeted with the song and chatter of young musicians, and local townspeople will show you their traditional customs of fishing and handicrafts.
Discover the past and present perspectives of Inuit culture at the Uummannaq Museum and see original turf huts that were once a common sight in northern Greenlandic regions. If you’d like to find out more about ancient Inuit heritage, go on a sailing trip to nearby islands to see fascinating archaeological sites. Uummannaq was put on the archaeological map in 1972, when eight mummified ancient Inuit people were found nearby the town. Learn about the 500-year-old Uummannaq mummies at the National Museum in Nuuk.
Visit Spraglebugten Bay to learn the Danish and Greenlandic myth about Santa Claus’ summer home. If you’re lucky, you might catch a performance at Uummannaq Music, a concert platform positioned on sea ice.
Go on an unforgettable trip around the Uummannaq Fjord by boat, helicopter or on foot. You can also hike to the Nuussuaq Peninsula or the Upernavik Mountains along trails that lead inland toward the Ice Sheet or around magnificent mountain peaks. With 2,000 hours of sunshine in a year, you’ll have plenty of daylight to see the magnificent mountain vistas and iceberg-speckled sea views.
Chat to local fishermen about their ice-fishing traditions in the wintertime. Go on a dogsledding trip to pristine spots for trying your hand at long-line fishing. The town is neighbored by seven surrounding villages, which are perfect for daytrips and coastline-cruising adventures.
Uummannaq is located on Uummannaq Island in the south-central waterway of the Uummannaq Fjord. Reach the town by cruise ship or by helicopter from Qaarsut Airport. With magnificent mountain views, fascinating Inuit culture and pristine waters, it’s easy to see how Uummannaq can capture your heart.
