Nuuk

Nuuk (Greenlandic meaning "The Headland"), also known by its Danish name of Godthåb (Good Hope), is the capital and administrative centre of Greenland, with a population of around 15,000 (about 1/4 of the entire population of the country). The city is sometimes accused of being rather soulless, with many high-rise blocks.

Bygd in Nuuk Fjord

Understand

Climate

Nuuk, along with most of Greenland, has a subarctic climate. Being on the coast helps moderate temperatures somewhat, and winter temperatures are not unlike those of northern Europe or central Canada. However, in July the average temperature is only 7°C, with highs rarely above 15°C.

Autumn has the highest rainfall and snowfall, although it is fairly steady all year round.

Nuuk
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       42     −6 −11       58     −6 −11       49     −5 −10       45     −1 −5       58     4 −1       47     9 2       66     11 4       88     10 5       87     7 2       71     2 −1       106     −1 −5       114     −3 −8 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Source: Wikipedia. Visit the Met Office for a five day forecast.
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       1.7     22 13       2.3     22 12       1.9     23 13       1.8     30 23       2.3     39 30       1.9     47 36       2.6     52 40       3.4     50 40       3.4     44 36       2.8     36 29       4.2     29 22       4.5     26 18 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Nuuk Aurora

Get in

There are no roads or railways connecting cities within Greenland. The only practical means to travel is by boat or air. On foot is less practical and far more strenuous.

By plane

The capital has its own airport, but due to length constraints of its runway, it only accommodates small aircraft and domestic flights. Flying to Nuuk from abroad requires changing from a large airliner to a smaller aircraft on neighbouring airports like Kangerlussuaq.

• 🌍 Nuuk Airport (GOH  ^IATA) (about 4 km northeast of town).  
  • Air Greenland offers connections to various destinations in Greenland, including Kangerlussuaq which has flights to Copenhagen, a major airport. During the summer months they fly to Keflavík Airport, Iceland, where there are flights to Canada, Europe and the United States.
  • Air Iceland flies year-round to Reykjavík (domestic airport), three times a week during the summer and twice a week during the winter months.

By boat

Arctic Umiaq Line has a passenger terminal to Maniitsoq-Sisimiut-Aasiaat-Uummannaq and Paamiut-Qaqortoq-Narsaq-Narsarsuaq.

Royal Arctic Line and Blue Water are cargo-boat companies operating out of Nuuk.

Get around

Iceberg in Fjord, Summer

Nuuk has a small bus company (Nuup Bussii A/S), or you can rent a car.

Nuuk at Night

• Nuup Bussii A/S, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Six bus routes. Ticket costs 15 kr for adults and is good for 90 min. 
• Sixt Car Rental, Industrivej 18 and at the airport. 

See

Nuuk

• 🌍 Greenland National Museum (Greenlandic: Nunatta katersugaasivia allagaateqarfialu), ☎ [phone]. (updated Oct 2017)
• 🌍 Nuuk Art Museum (Danish: Nuuk Kunstmuseum). (updated Oct 2017)

The old colonial town is on the east coast side of the town centre.

Here you will also find the statue of Hans Egede, Hans Egede's House and church.

• 🌍 Statue of Hans Egede. (updated Oct 2017)
• 🌍 Hans Egede's House. Built in 1728 and reputably the oldest house in the country. The former residence of Hans Egede and later used for the country's prime minister. It is now used for government receptions. (updated Oct 2017)
• 🌍 Hans Egede Church. A wooden Evangelical Lutheran church. (updated Oct 2017)

Hans Egede monument

Do

• 🌍 Katuaq (Danish: Grønlands Kulturhus), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. (updated Oct 2017)

Excursions

• Nuuk Marathon.  

Nuuk Arena

Katuaq

• Whale watching by boat.
• Helicopter ride to the inland ice, Norse ruins and kaffemik at a nearby village.

Several hiking routes start from Nuuk:

• An easy hike from the Circuslake around the mountain Little Marlene follows a marked trail.
• A unmarked trek goes up Big Marlene and offers a view over Nuuk from above. Parts of this trail is on mountain sides with large boulders or steep climbs up loose rocks.

Buy

Handmade seal skin gloves cost around 500 kr. Ask in shops near Colonial town.

Eat

• 🌍 Cafe Esmeralda, Aqqusinersuaq 6, 1. sal, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 10:00-21:00, bar closes 01:00 on weekends. Pasta, wrap, burgers, omelets and sandwiches. 100 kr. 
• 🌍 Godthaab Bryghus, Imaneq 30, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. This brewpub has good beer and good food. Burgers and steaks, often serves muskox, reindeer and lamb 200 kr. 
• 🌍 Sarfalik (In Hotel Hans Egede). Gourmet food at reasonable prices. They have both a global menu and a local menu with muskox, carabou, seal, whale, etc. the course menu: 550 kr. 
• 🌍 Nipisa, Hans Egedevej 29 (Next to the huge Santa Claus mailbox), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. W-Sa 18:00-22:30, brunch Sa-Su 11:00-14:00. Excellent gourmet food in the old Nuuk shipyard 1000 kr for 5-course dinner with wine menu. 
• 🌍 Charoen Porn, Aqqusinersuaq 5, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Good Thai food with a Greenlandic touch: mattag, halibut, whale and musk ox 100 kr for mains, 300 kr for the big menu. 

Drink

Central Nuuk offers a variety of locations for the enjoyment of alcoholic beverages, all within quick walking distance of each other. Nearly all pubs offer the same selection of beer (Classic on tap and Tuborg and Carlsberg in bottles) at the same (expensive) price (60 kr for 40 cl of draught), but beer from Godthaab Bryghus is also available.

Greenlandic coffee is prepared with coffee, whisky, Kahlua, whipped cream and Grand Marnier. It is prepared at the table in a little show and if you ask, you also get the story.

Cafés

• Barista, Spindlers Bakke 10C, ☎ [phone]. 11:00-00:00. The place to get good coffee, slushies, and sandwiches 25 kr for coffee. 

Bars

• 🌍 Kristinemut, Aqqusinersuaq 7, ☎ [phone]. M-Th 13:00-midnight, F 13:00-03:00, Sa noon-03:00, Su noon-midnight. The oldest bar in Nuuk. Very lively 
• 🌍 Daddy's, Imaneq 30 (Next to Godthåb Bryghus). Irish-inspired pub. 

Sleep

• 🌍 Hotel Hans Egede, Aqqusinersuaq 1-5, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Nuuk's largest hotel. 
• 🌍 Hotel Seamen's Home, Marinevej 3 (At the harbour), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 
• 🌍 Hotel Nordbo, Vandsøvej 13, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. From 895 kr. 
• Hotel Centerbo & Nordbo Apartments, Samuel Kleinschmidtsvej 11, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 795 to 1 685 kr. 

Connect

Stay safe

Nuuk is only a small town, with a population of about 15,000. Crimes rates are very low, there are no slums and no places you should avoid.

Go next

You can choose among the destinations served by the boats and planes leaving Nuuk. The very adventurous can travel inland by foot or dog sled.