#Norse History

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Blue Ice Explorer: 8 days easy hiking package

Tour package for individual travellers in the best hiking area in Greenland! Accommodation at farms and in settlements.

Blue Ice Explorer: 10 days round trip & hiking visiting Nanortalik

A cocktail that includes all of the highlights of South Greenland.

Tasermiut Expeditions: Hiking and Kayaking Adventure

8 days trip, kayaking and on foot: complete contact with nature, kayaking and hiking activities, discover Viking ruins in South Greenland.

Tasermiut Expeditions: South Greenland Explorer

Tasermiut fjord Big Walls called "the Arctic Patagonia", hot springs, glacier camp, navigation among icebergs. 15 day trip from June to Sep.

Tasermiut Expeditions: Exclusive Adventure

Hotel&Adventure 8 day trip: Impressive hikes, viking ruins UNESCO World Heritage, navigation among icebergs, glacier trek. Dates: July, August
Blue Ice - UNESCO sites 5 days

Blue Ice Explorer - 6 days round trip visiting UNESCO sites

Visit Hvalsey, Igaliku and Qassiarsuk – 3 of the UNESCO sites – together with South Greenland’s colourful town Qaqortoq.
Blue Ice - Towns & Settlements 8 days

Blue Ice Explorer - 8 days round trip visiting unique towns & settlements

Explore the 2 towns of Narsaq and Qaqortoq together with the delightful calmness, warmth and undisturbed paradise of the village of Igaliku.

About Greenland

Tjodhilde's church - a reconstruction of church from the norse presence in Greenland 1,000 years ago. By Mads Pihl

Tjodhildes Church

Tjodhilde was credited for Erik the Red’s conversion to Christianity and the building of the first church on the North American continent.
The axe of Leif Erikson - the statue overlooking Qassiarsuk in South Greenland, by Mads Pihl

Leif Eriksson

Leif Eriksson made ​​amazing discoveries and was the first European to reach North America. Nearly 500 years before Columbus.

Hvalsey Church Ruin

Ruins of Hvalsey or Hvalsø church can be found in the lush surroundings of southern Greenland and was built in about 1300.

Gardar Cathedral

Greenland got its first bishop in 1124. The ruins of the impressive Gardar bishopric and the cathedral can be seen at Igaliku.
A rune stone on a hill in Qassiarsuk in South Greenland. By Mads Pihl

Erik the Red

Read more about Erik the Red’s saga; how he got exiled; his travels as well as his discovery and establishment of the first settlements on Greenland.
The axe of Leif Erikson - the statue overlooking Qassiarsuk in South Greenland, by Mads Pihl

The Viking period of Greenland

The Vikings settled in southern and western Greenland about 1,000 years ago. Brattahlid is the best preserved of Old Norse settlements.
Houses in Radiofjeldet & Tuapannguit. Photo - Rebecca Gustafsson, Visit Greenland

Architecture in Greenland

When you arrive in Greenland, you quickly realize that Greenlandic architecture is very distinct, with its many colored houses placed on sloping hillsides. The big apartment blocks may have scared you off a little, and sometimes you stumble upon amazingly beautiful buildings, including some of the churches of Greenland.

Things To Do

Museums

The museums of Greenland are like a modern voyage of discovery through the history of culture and artistic expression.
Cast iron figures inspired by norse runes in Qassiarsuk in South Greenland

Vikings in Greenland

The Vikings inhabited Greenland for more than 400 hundred years and created a tradition of farming which today has become a corner stone of everyday life in Southern Greenland.

Articles

Hikers approaching Hvalsey church ruin one of several norse historical sites in south greenland. By David Trood

Following in the footsteps of the Vikings in Greenland

Read about one of Greenland's most exciting historical locations taking one back to when the vikings first came ashore more than 1000 years ago.
Mother of the SeaMother of the Sea. By Mads Pihl

Greenland myths and legends

The northern lights, Mother of the sea, The wandering spirit known as Qivittoq. Wonders, and myths were a vital part in the daily life of Greenlanders.
A rune stone on a hill in Qassiarsuk in South Greenland. By Mads Pihl

Experience Greenland like the Vikings did

Experience the history of Greenland's vikings and find out how the country got its name so long ago by the chieftain Erik the Red.
A lone traveller stands in Qassiarsuk and looks over Tunulliarfik Fjord toward Narsarsuaq. Photo by Stacy William Head

Greenland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites are pure nature

Here is a peek at what you will find up here plus how to get the experience
A Chinese traveler writing a journal entry on a dog sledding trip in the Disko Bay in Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl

Editor’s pick: 12 real reasons to visit Greenland

So Greenland’s on your bucket list for the new year - but when is the best time to go? That’s one of the most common questions we get here at Visit Greenland. In order to help you make your decision, visitgreenland.com editor Tanny Por has hand-picked 12 reasons why she loves this polar wonderscape. Enjoy!
Northern lights over the Leif Ericson statue in Qassiarsuk in South Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl

What really happened to Greenland's vikings?

Many of us have heard the tale of troublesome Erik the Red, who found his way to Greenland after being exiled from Norway and Iceland for murder.
Disko Bay Steam in Ilulissat Ice Fjord. Photo - David Trood, Visit Greenland

Greenland vs Iceland: The Arctic Travel Battle

10 basic differences between Greenland and Iceland you should know before booking your vacation.

Local Providers

Common room in Sulisartut Højskoliat Photo by Magnus B Trolle - Visit Greenland

Sulisartut Højskoliat

Sulisartut Højskoliat is an educational institution, which also offers overnight accommodation. There are 18 single and 12 double rooms.
Qassiarsuk. Photo by Blue Ice Explorer

Blue Ice Explorer

Blue Ice Explorer is your ultimate tour operator for custom trips to South Greenland!
Riding horses on the beach. Photo by Riding Greenland

Riding Greenland

We offer a short boat-tour to a glacier, guided tour by the norse ruins, storytelling of sheep farming in South Greenland.
A sunny day at the Nanortalik church in South Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland

Nanortalik Tourism Service

We have existed since 1999, and thereby has many years of experience of dealing with guests and developing both short and longer trips.
Guests at Hvalsey church ruin in South Greenland. By Mads Pihl

Greenland Sagalands

We provide information and advice, as well as offering fishing trips, hiking trips, boat trips, kayaking, etc., for individuals and groups.
Two people kayaking among icebergs in South Greenland. Photo by Tasermiut South Greenland Expeditions

Tasermiut South Greenland Expeditions

We specialize in adventure travel in South Greenland, known for its mild weather and fjords filled with icebergs and glacier fronts.
Guests enjoying the afternoon sun at a Blue Ice hut in Igaliku in South Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland

Igaliku Hotel & Lodges

Cosy and comfortable accommodation and delicious Greenlandic meals served in the café. The hotel has 8 double rooms.
Outside bathtub at Isikkivik in Narsaq, South Greenland. Photo by Isikkivik

Isikkivik

We call this cozy little house in Narsaq, ‘Isikkivik’ – the Greenlandic word for ‘what a view!’ – and when you see it, you’ll understand why.
Glaciem House. Photo by Mats Bjerde

Glaciem House

Glaciem House was founded in 2017, and strive to provide fun and entertaining dissemination of Greenland's culture and history.

Pages

Photo by Tasermiut South Greenland Expeditions

In the spotlight: Tasermiut South Greenland Specialists

Get active in South Greenland and experience some of the Arctic’s most magnificent natural wonders in one place.
The statue of Leif Ericson, son of Erik the Red in Qassiarsuk in South Greenland. By Mads Pihl

All about Greenland's vikings

In Vikings: Valhalla (2022), a historical series on Netflix, the two Greenlandic Vikings, Leif Eriksson and Freydís Eiríksdóttir immediately caught our eyes. As descendants of Erik the Red, they proudly say that they are from Greenland. In Greenland, not only Inuit people but also Vikings had been living in South Greenland for more than 400 years.
A group of travelers having lunch in front of the Sven Havsteen Mikkelsen artwork in Qassiarsuk. By Mads Pihl