Nuuk

Bygd in Nuuk Fjord

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 a quarter of the entire population of the country). The city is sometimes accused of being rather soulless, with many high-rise blocks.

Understand

Climate

Nuuk, along with most of the population centres of Greenland, has a tundra climate. Being on the coast helps moderate temperatures somewhat, and winter temperatures are not unlike those of northern Europe or central Canada. However, unlike in those regions, summers remain quite cool. For example, in July, the warmest month of the year on average, the daily mean temperature is only 7 °C (45 °F), with highs rarely above 15 °C (59 °F).

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

In 2024, the capital's airport was expanded to allow direct jet flights, making access much easier.

• 1 Nuuk Airport (GOH  ^IATA) (about 4 km northeast of town).  
  • Air Greenland offers year-round connections to Copenhagen and Keflavík Airport, Iceland as well as various destinations in Greenland.
  • Icelandair flies year-round to Reykjavík (domestic airport), three times a week during the summer and twice a week during the winter months.

By boat/ferry

• 2 Port of Nuuk (GLGOH).  

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).

Nuuk at Night

• Nuup Bussii A/S, ☏ +299 342 300, fax: +299 342 301, post@bus.gl. Six bus routes. Ticket costs 21 kr for adults and is good for 60 min. Every part of town is easily accessible by bus. (updated May 2022)
• 1 Nuuk Biludlejning, Iggiaanut 3a, ☏ +299 31 25 58, biludlejning@nuuk-biludlejning.com. Rental cars and SUVs 400-775 kr/day. (updated Jul 2024)

See

Nuuk

• 1 Greenland National Museum (Greenlandic: Nunatta katersugaasivia allagaateqarfialu), Hans Egedesvej 8, ☏ +299 32 26 11, NKA@natmus.gl. 16 Sep-31 May: Tu-Su 13:00-16:00; 1 Jun-15 Sep: 10:00-16:00 daily. The crown pieces of the museum are 500-year-old mummies discovered in 1978 and remarkably well preserved, with some of their facial tattoos still recognisable. Free entry in winter and on Sundays, DKK 30 in summer. (updated Jul 2020)
• 2 Nuuk Art Museum (Danish: Nuuk Kunstmuseum), Kissarneqqortuunnguaq 5, ☏ +299 32 77 33, kunstmuseum@sermersooq.gl. (updated Feb 2020)
• 3 Nuuk Cathedral (Greenlandic: Annaassisitta Oqaluffia). Also known as the "Cathedral of Our Saviour", the red wooden church building was established in 1849. During National Day celebrations, large crowds usually gather around the church.  

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.

• 4 Statue of Hans Egede. (updated Oct 2017)
• 5 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)
• 6 Hans Egede Church. A wooden Evangelical Lutheran church. (updated Oct 2017)

Hans Egede monument

Do

• 1 Katuaq (Danish: Grønlands Kulturhus), ☏ +299 36 37 70, reception@katuaq.gl. (updated Oct 2017)
• 2 Nuuk Golf Club, ☏ +299 48 44 73. (updated Feb 2022)

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.

Events

• Nuuk Snow Fest: , Imaneq 23B, ☏ +299 36 75 35, snow@sermersooq.gl. From end of February to beginning of March. A snow festival held since 1994. Free. (date needs fixing)

Buy

Akiki discount store and Sunset Boulevard restaurant

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

• 1 Nuuk Center. First shopping mall in Greenland. (updated Aug 2019)
• 2 Atuagkat Bookstore (Danish: Atuagkat Boghandel), ☏ +299 32 17 37. (updated Aug 2019)

Eat

• 1 Cafe Esmeralda, Aqqusinersuaq 6, 1. sal, ☏ +299 48 22 03, kontakt@cafeesmeralda.gl. 10:00-21:00, bar closes 01:00 on weekends. Pasta, wrap, burgers, omelettes and sandwiches. 100 kr. 
• 2 Godthaab Bryghus, Imaneq 30, ☏ +299 34 80 80, info@nuukcafe.gl. This brewpub has good beer and good food. Burgers and steaks, often serves muskox, reindeer and lamb. 200 kr. 
• 3 Sarfalik, Aqqusinersuaq (In Hotel Hans Egede), ☏ +299 34 80 00, restaurant@hhe.gl. M-Sa 18:00-22:00. Gourmet food at reasonable prices. They have both a global menu and a local menu with muskox, caribou, seal, whale, etc. the course menu: 550 kr. (updated Nov 2023)
• 4 Charoen Porn, Aqqusinersuaq 5, ☏ +299 325759, info@charoenporn.gl. 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, ☏ +299 321114. 11:00-00:00. The place to get good coffee, slushies, and sandwiches 25 kr for coffee. 
• 1 Kaffivik, Nuukullak 35, ☏ +299 55 96 72. Su-Th 11:00-21:00, F-Sa 11:00-23:00. 

Bars

• 2 Kristinemut, Aqqusinersuaq 7, ☏ +299 348094. M-Th 13:00-00:00, F 13:00-03:00, Sa 12:00-03:00, Su 12:00-00:00. The oldest bar in Nuuk. Very lively 
• 3 Daddy's, Imaneq 30 (Next to Godthåb Bryghus). Irish-inspired pub. 

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Hans Egede, Aqqusinersuaq 1-5, ☏ +299 324222, fax: +299 324487, booking@hhe.gl. Nuuk's largest hotel. (updated Aug 2019)
• 2 HHE Express, Aqqusinersuaq 14B, ☏ +299 34 80 10, booking@hhex.gl. (updated Nov 2023)
• 3 Hotel Seamen's Home, Marinevej 3 (At the harbour), ☏ +299 32 10 29, fax: +299 32 21 04, nuuk@soemandshjem.gl. Check-in: 10ː00, check-out: 14ː00. (updated Aug 2019)
• 4 Hotel Nordbo, Vandsøvej 13, ☏ +299 32 66 44, fax: +299 32 66 00, info@nordbo.gl. From 895 kr. 
• Hotel Centerbo & Nordbo Apartments, Samuel Kleinschmidtsvej 11, ☏ +299 32 66 44, fax: +299 32 66 00, info@nordbo.gl. 795-1,685 kr. 
• 5 Hotel Aurora, Paassaasivik 8, ☏ +299 38 40 45. 

Connect

• 1 Public and National Library of Greenland, Imaneq 26, ☏ +299 32 11 56. (updated Sep 2019)

Stay safe

• 2 Queen Ingrid's Hospital (Dronning Ingridip Napparsimmavissua), ☏ +299 34 40 00. The university hospital of Greenland, founded in 1953. (updated Oct 2022)

Nuuk is only a small town, with a population of about 15,000. Crime 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.