Why You Should Visit Nuuk: Greenland’s Tiny Capital with Big Energy
View of old Nuuk — Hard to believe it’s a capital city, but turnaround and you’ll see big buildings!
So why Nuuk, Greenland? Because it’s not trying to impress you. Nuuk doesn’t show off. It just is. It’s a capital without the stress, and without the tourist groups of Ilulissat. A city that feels like a village — if that village had sushi, mummies, arctic fjords, and some of the most grounded, generous people you’ll ever meet.
We had seen Nuuk in Conan O’Brien Must Go, we knew about the new airport, and we landed here with a few vague expectations about “Arctic vibes.” What we got was something else entirely: a crash course in Greenlandic calm, a boatload of icebergs, and an accidental royal sighting (more on that later). And honestly, we were very surprised on many levels.
Nuuk is not just a place. It’s a reset button. And we can’t shut up about it.
Where is Nuuk, exactly?
Greenland’s capital city is wedged between jagged mountains and a glacier-carved fjord that could swallow several small countries. No roads in or out — you arrive by air or by boat, which immediately gives it strong “end of the earth” energy. But somehow, life hums along here.
Locals go to the beach on sunny days. Students sip lattes between lectures. Nuuk might be small, but it’s not sleepy.
Did you know?
Nuuk is closer to New York than it is to Copenhagen. And, actually, locals talk about Europe like a remote continent! So, are Greenlanders North Americans or Europeans? Well, they are geographically part of North America, but politically, Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, which makes things... Arcticly complicated.
Pic: Nuuk from the plane
How to get to Nuuk?
By air
The quickest way in is by plane — usually via Copenhagen or Reykjavik, and soon New York. We flew from Barcelona to Copenhagen with Vueling, and from Copenhagen to Nuuk with Air Greenland. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a clear-sky landing and get an eyeful of glaciers from the window. When we landed in Nuuk for our connecting flight to Ilulissat, the pilot had to circle an extra hour while waiting for the fog to dissipate. What a view!
By ferry:
The Arctic Umiaq Ferry Line runs up and down Greenland’s west coast and stops in Nuuk. It’s a multi-day journey — more expedition than commute — but the views are outrageous, the vibe is slow travel at its best, you get to hang with friendly locals and eat local food, and there’s nothing like brushing your teeth while passing a floating mountain of ice.
What to do in Nuuk?
Get very quiet at the water’s edge
When walking along the sea in Nuuk, you’ll totally forget you’re in a capital. The boardwalk, the beaches and the road to the airport are incredibly cinematic and silent. Stand there at midnight and it’s just you, the water, the mountains, and the sound of your own breathing. Sometimes a boat. Sometimes a bird. That’s it. Turn around, and you’ll see the large buildings of the city center (downtown Nuuk, yeah!)
See the mummies
Yes, real mummies. The Greenland National Museum has several, preserved in ice for over 500 years. They’re haunting and beautiful and will change how you think about time, mortality, and parkas. The rest of the museum is really worth your time too, with a lot of cool artefacts and fascinating historical facts.
Did you know?
Greenlanders have survived here for over 4,500 years. No roads. No comfort. No supermarkets. No Amazon deliveries. Just wind, ice, and pure resilience. It's one of the longest continuous human presences in the Arctic, and somehow, people are still fishing, hunting, laughing, and texting under the midnight sun. That alone makes Nuuk feel like a miracle in motion.
Pic: Traditional outfits at the Greenland National Museum
Eat sushi at the edge of the earth
Ok ok, I know what you’re thinking: this is ridiculous! And trust us, we’re all about eating local when we travel. So, sushi in the Arctic? Hell yes, because they’re made with super fresh local ingredients! You’ll find a couple of options in town. We found great ones at Cafe Neko in the mall — made with local fish and snowcrab, and the owner is as sweet as the cakes.
Eat local like you mean it
And for a true local experience, eat Greenlandic specialties! Musk ox. Smoked halibut. Reindeer. Grilled scallops. Fish roe. Salmon. Seal or whale blubber (Mattak). Katuaq Cultural Centre is a fab place to start — equal parts restaurant, gallery, and beating cultural heart of the city. We liked it so much, and prices were so reasonable we ate there 3 times!
Seal, whale, even polar bear — these aren’t trophies in Greenland. They’re dinner, winter boots, and lamp oil. Hunting here might be controversial abroad, but it’s deeply traditional, community-regulated, and incredibly sustainable. Nothing’s wasted. Families live from the land and sea like they have for thousands of years — no factory farms, no waste, no imported shrink-wrapped nonsense. Just respect, survival, and skill passed down through generations.
Loving our Inuit jackets!
Shop the North
Admittedly, we’re a bit weird. We barely go shopping when we’re home, but we go a bit crazy when we are in the Arctic. And we had fun exploring Nuuk’s unique shops!
Yes, Nuuk has a mall. It’s the great, the mighty Nuuk Center, which has a couple of souvenir shops, good clothing options and the Government of Greenland offices), and no, it’s not the northernmost mall.
But the real gems are scattered across town:
Bibi Chemnitz for Greenlandic, design streetwear (I read on the plane that she had been to Paris Fashion Week!)
Inuit Quality Clothing for clothes with an awesome Inuit logo and winter sales
Qiviut for musk ox wool item (very, very pricey but so beautiful and unique)
Dooit design for gorgeous, arctic-inspired glasswork and paintings
Siku tattoo if you want to get a cool tattoo — I (Eli) got a polar bear!
Go to the beach (no, really)
If you’ve been reading us for a while, you know we looove Arctic beaches. And Nuuk has several. They’ve got icebergs (before they melt). And people swim in it. And by people I mean me, Eli, the stupid tourist who wants to swim in every single sea and ocean she encounters (and Labrador sea was a first!). And by swim I mean dip my legs. Oh, and don’t worry, at 0,3 ºC, your legs get numb so fast you don’t feel pain for long! Seriously, Nuuk beaches are so pretty and really cool, literally. Our fav was Saqqarliit beach.
Walk the empty streets in the middle of the night
Midnight sun makes the whole city glow. It’s quiet. It’s so eery. It’s magic. You’ll probably have entire neighborhoods to yourself. Except the ravens. They’re always watching. It’s just so weird to us to walk in an empty city in the middle of the day… except that it’s the middle of the night.
Explore old Nuuk
The view on the colorful houses of old Nuuk from Myggedalen (see the cover photo of this article), with the mountains and fjords in the background, will literally take your breath away.
Spot the King
There's a bronze statue of controversial Hans Egede looming over town — missionary, colonizer, and complicated legacy guy. But plot twist: while we were there, the actual King of Denmark showed up. He waved. We waved back.
Meet the Mother of the Sea (your highness)
Near the church, you’ll spot a haunting sculpture of the Mother of the Sea rising from the water — hair flowing, arms outstretched, surrounded by Arctic creatures. It’s as eerie as it is beautiful, and it brings Greenlandic myth into the present with serious presence. Greenlandic legend tells of the Mother of the Sea — a powerful spirit who controls all marine life. If people misbehave, she tangles the animals in her hair and holds them at the bottom of the ocean. Only when a shaman visits her and sets things right can the hunt continue. Whether you believe in legends or not, the story is a beautiful reflection of Greenlanders’ deep respect for nature, balance, and the sea that sustains them.
Hike a mountain or two
Lille Malene is the chill hike. Store Malene is the dramatic one. Due to ice and snow conditions, we could only hike Lille Malene in the snow, and it was already pretty steep. Either way, you’ll get killer views, a lung workout, and bragging rights.
Made it to Lille Malene (8pm) — We’ve deserved our fika!
Just make sure to have travel insurance when doing any kind of outdoor activity in Arctic conditions.
Penguin Trampoline tip:
We love the Swedish tradition of fika and we enjoy it even more after strenuous hike! Get some energy at Pisiffik. Oddly, the Danish style pastries are incredibly good for a grocery store.
Where to stay
We booked a cozy Airbnb from locals who were off to Denmark — and it was perfect. Sea views. Mountain views. Hygge comfort with Inuit touches. Most Airbnbs are not exclusive for tourists, so keep checking as new listings come up. If you want a more hotel-style setup, you’ll find several options of hotels and hostels.
Nuuk doesn’t have a ton of places to stay, so book early. Especially in summer — everything fills up faster than you’d think. It’s not a touristy city per say, but many visitors stop for a day or two before continuing their journey.
View from our Airbnb at 11pm
When to go
We went at the end of April and had a mix of summer and winter, with bright sunny days that never end and snowstorms.
Summer (June–August): Hikes, boats, and sun that never quits. Great hiking possibilities.
Winter (Oct–March): Snow, stars, and northern lights if you’re lucky. Difficult to hike, unless you have equipment and a guide. Make sure to get good travel insurance (5% off with our partner HeyMondo).
Shoulder seasons: Fewer people, moodier light, pure magic for photographers.
View from the ferry between Ilulissat and Nuuk at 11pm
Get in the Nuuk mood with some Kalaallisut music:
You won’t come to Nuuk for the party (although…). You’ll come for the space. The silence. The way time seems to stretch out — like the light at midnight — and rearrange your priorities.
You’ll come with questions (like “how do people live here?”) and leave with new ones (like “how do we go back to normal after this?”).
You’ll eat a Danish pastry with a view of the ice. You might meet the king. And you’ll leave knowing that the weirdest capital in the world is also one of the most unforgettable.
Nuuk: 10/10, would get existential here again.
Nuuk just got added to your bucket list? Don’t miss our other articles on Greenland (some coming soon).
🧭 [Greenland Travel Guide]
🧊 [Ilulissat Travel Guide]
⛴ [Greenland by Ferry]
🧳 [Packing for Greenland]
💸 [How much does Greenland cost? Saving Guide]
