Nanortalik

Nanortalik in winter

Nanortalik is on Nanortalik Island in southern Greenland.

Understand

Nanortalik is one of Greenland's "larger" towns, with a population of 1,256 in 2018. It is similar in size to Narsaq, and like Narsaq, is much smaller in number of restaurants and attractions than major town Qaqortoq. The name Nanortalik is Greenlandic for "the polar bear place," but the chance of seeing any polar bears in Nanortalik these days is not very big. However, a few polar bears can be spotted during spring as they hitch rides on the drifting ice from eastern parts of Greenland.

Nanortalik is home for one of South Greenland's most comprehensive museums set up in the old colonial buildings, each one of them telling a piece of the history of Nanortalik. This "Open Air Museum" offers visitors a chance to see kayak's, the women's boats, pit huts and other interesting things form the past.

Like many towns in Greenland, Nanortalik is slowly decreasing in population. Settlements like Nanortalik are in danger of disappearing.

Get in

Basically there are 2 ways to get to Greenland, it is either from Iceland by Icelandair or Denmark by Air Greenland. During summer season port of entry to South Greenland is via Narsarsuaq Airport which is between mid June to the end of September. From then on means of transportation is by sea or air with Diskoline from Narsarsuaq to Nanortalik.

There is a ferry stop and a heliport in Nanortalik. Otherwise, like most towns in Greenland, there are no roads connecting it to other towns. Getting to anywhere in Greenland without a tour guide is a challenge.

Get around

The town is only a few hundred yards wide, so getting around Nanortalik should not be a problem.

See

Natural features

• 1 Cliffs on Nanortalik Island. Watch your footing! On the east side of Nanortalik Island, there are some giant cliffs. From the sea (if you were in a boat, for example) this is a beautiful sight not far from the Nanortalik marina. (updated Dec 2017)
• 2 Rock Garden, Lundip Aqqutaa. Greenland is a rocky place - rocks can be found in numerous places, including here. Free. (updated Dec 2017)
• 3 Tasermiut Fjord, Mathiessenip Aqqutaa B507, info@tasermiutcamp.gl. Tasermiut fjord is well known for its spectacular beauty. With its sky high mountains, reflecting themselves in the still waters of the fjord, the inhabitants and travelers alike have crowned it as a wonder of the arctic (updated Oct 2018)

Man-made structures

• 4 Nanortalik Church, Lundip Aqqutaa (Across from the rock garden). Beautiful church building on the southwest end of town. (updated Dec 2017)

Do

• 1 Explore rocks, Numerous locations (One of multiple locations - there is a rock garden on other side of town as well). Greenland, as stated above, is a rocky place. Besides the rock garden in the southwest, there is also an abundance of rocks beyond Hotel Kap Farvel on Isua Road. The main group of rocks is about 400 feet long, and there is another group of rocks on an islet a few feet off the coast of Nanortalik. (updated Dec 2017)
• 2 Hike Around a Cove, Isa fjordurip Aqqutaa (Follow the road north through a small housing development and continue along a dirt road around a cove west of Nanortalik). Although you can of course go off any dirt roads or trails in Greenland (property ownership isn't much of a problem here), this is one of several nice hikes in the Nanortalik area, and this one follows a road rather than just going through rough country. The countryside begins about a mile outside of downtown Nanortalik, and then continues for a few kilometers around a cove. The dirt road ends near a small reservoir. (updated Dec 2017)

Buy

• 1 Brugseni, Lundip Aqqutaa B-376 (In the southeast of town a hundred yards before the church), ☏ +299 613321, nanortalik@brugseni.gl. 07:00-20:00. Supermarket (updated Dec 2017)
• 2 Pilersuisoq, Ulissannguit B-1294, ☏ +299 868404, 10Nanortalik@kni.gl. 07:00-18:00. Supermarket (updated Oct 2018)

Eat

There are no restaurants in Nanortalik, although there are two cafés (see below).

Drink

• 1 Roskipidip Cafe, Qujanarteq. (updated Dec 2017)
• 2 Cafe 44, Lundip Aqqutaa. (updated Dec 2017)

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Kap Farvel, B304, Isua, ☏ +299 613294. (updated Dec 2017)
• 2 NTS Rooms, Lundip Aqqutaa (Right in front of the old wooden church, super market and harbour.), ☏ +299 613633. Six hotel apartments with 14 beds. All rooms are equipped with bathroom, shower, television, kitchenette. 700 kr per night for a single room. (updated Oct 2018)

Go next

Narsarsuaq, small town with major airport and easy access to glaciers and Valhaltinde.

Igaliku, farming village near Narsarsuaq

Qaqortoq, town of 3,000 people with restaurants and hotels