Uummannaq cruise port guide

Arrival & Getting Ashore

Getting to the centre: Route advice is from your ship's boat landing to Uummannaq Museum in the compact harbour-centre cluster.

• Walk: realistic; Visit Greenland says the centre is compact and most visitors walk.

Sources: Visit Greenland.

Orientation, not a walking route

Plan for a boat transfer ashore. Aurora Expeditions' voyage log records Greg Mortimer at anchor at Uummannaq while passengers visited the town. This supports tender access for an expedition call, without establishing the arrangements for every ship.

The harbour pilot describes Skonnertkaj and other small quay facilities. A guide collecting you needs the landing point in the ship's daily programme; do not assume all boats use the same quay. Note the assistance available and the last return boat before leaving the landing.

About this port

Uummannaq’s town centre sits beneath its namesake mountain on an island in north-west Greenland. The harbour-area museum and historic buildings can form a short town visit. A boat excursion to the Qilakitsoq discovery site is a separate option, but the original mummies displayed to visitors are in Nuuk.

Getting Around

Visit Greenland describes a compact centre, with taxis and a local bus as alternatives to walking. Most of the historic visitor sites are clustered near the harbour. Obtain any vehicle return arrangement before leaving the centre.

Things to Do

Start with the museum and ask about its leaflet identifying the historic buildings. The stone church, turf houses and former hospital building offer a focused town walk; entry depends on local opening arrangements. This is a flexible choice if your time ashore is shortened.

A boat trip can visit Qilakitsoq, where the mummies were found. The National Museum in Nuuk confirms that four of the mummies are displayed there, so a visit to the discovery site is not a visit to that collection. For any boat excursion, agree the full return time. Uummannaq Mountain itself requires technical climbing skills and equipment, according to Visit Greenland; it is not a casual summit walk from town.

Getting back to your ship

Visit Greenland describes a compact centre, with taxis and a local bus as alternatives to walking. Most of the historic visitor sites are clustered near the harbour. Obtain any vehicle return arrangement before leaving the centre.

Practical Information

Money: Danish krone (DKK). Bring some cash as a backup.

Police: +299 70 14 48. Keep the ship’s shore contact details with you as well.

Carry the return point and ship contact details.

Frequently asked

Can you walk around Uummannaq from the cruise landing? Yes. The centre is compact, most visitors walk, and the main historic sites cluster near the harbour.

Where should you start a short visit to Uummannaq? Start with Uummannaq Museum and the nearby historic buildings around the harbour.

Do cruise ships dock or tender in Uummannaq? They tender on the documented expedition call used for this guide. Aurora Expeditions recorded Greg Mortimer at anchor while passengers visited town on 18 September 2025.