What does Nuuk mean in Greenlandic?

In the Greenlandic language, Nuuk means “point (of a peninsula)”.

Is Nuuk worth visiting?

Yes, Nuuk is the world's northernmost capital and is located next to the second-largest fjord system in Greenland. It is the biggest city in Greenland where you can visit the National Museum of Greenland and see Greenlandic mummies on display.

Is Nuuk the most northern capital in the world?

Yes, Nuuk's latitude is 64°11' N which is just a few kilometers farther north of Iceland's capital Reykjavík with a latitude of 64°08′ N.

When did the International airport in Nuuk open?

Nuuk International Airport opened in November 28 year 2024. Before this date, Nuuk was only a domestic Airport. Now the airport's 2200-meter runway allow bigger planes to land in the capital.

There is a direct flight from Reykjavík, Iceland (Keflavik International Airport) (KEF) and Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH) and Newark (EWR) in the US.

How long is the flying time to Nuuk?

Flying time from Europe and US is almost the same between 4 and 5 hours.

Where can you travel from Nuuk?

You can travel to most of the cities in Greenland from Nuuk, but to get to some you will need to take a few planes. There are direct flights from Nuuk to Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Kangerlussuaq, Maniitsoq, Narsarsuaq, Paamiut, Qaqortoq and Kulusuk. You can also take the coast ferry, Arctic Umiaq Line, from Nuuk to go south or north along the coast of Greenland.

How to get from the airport to the city?

You can take a taxi, bus or private tour with a car. Taxi usually wait outside the airport (the price for a taxi could be from 150-300 DKK depending on where in town you need to go). There is one bus (route 3) which stops at the airport once every hour. The easiest way to get to the city is to combine pick-up from the airport with a private tour in town and you can be dropped off at your hotel after your tour.

Is there a public transport in Nuuk?

Yes, there are public buses - Nuup Bussii. There are several different routes included from Nuuk airport to the town. You can buy the ticket on the bus with cash in dkk.

Can you see icebergs in Nuuk?

The short answer is: Yes! At the end of Nuuk Fjord, there are two glaciers (Kangiata Nunata Sermia and Qamanarssup Sermia) that produce icebergs. The icebergs are traveling in the fjord system and sometimes we have icebergs floating just in front of the city, or washed on the beach. But if you want to make sure you see icebergs while visiting Nuuk, book a tour of Nuuk Icrfjord tour, Stand up paddle board among the icebergs, or Nuuk Icefjord hike.

Can you see whales in Nuuk?

Yes, you can see whales in Nuuk from May until September. Please note that we cannot guarantee seeing whales on whale-watching tours but the captain try their best to find them.

Can you see puffins in Nuuk?

Yes, Nuuk is one of the only places in Greenland where you can see puffins!

Can you see the Northern Lights in Nuuk?

Yes, you can see the Northern Lights in Nuuk from the start of September until the middle of April.

Can you go dogsledding in Nuuk?

No, there is no possibility to go dogsledding in Nuuk. You can go dogsledding from the Arctic Circle (Kangerlussuaq, Sisimiut) and above or in East Greenland.

What can you do in Nuuk?

In summer, you can go hiking, kayaking, or stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), take a boat tour and aim to see whales or puffins, go fishing, enjoy nature and go glamping, or stay at a hut. In winter, you can try snowshoeing, cross-country and downhill skiing, hunting the Northern Lights, or going on winter boat tours. There are many activities you can do all year around: Boat tours, visiting small settlements in the Nuuk area, enjoying the only swimming pool in Greenland, visiting national, local, and art museums, trying a variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars, find sculptures built all around the town, a walk-in only shopping mall in Greenland, visit cinema or National Theater of Greenland.

Does Nuuk have polar nights?

No, Nuuk does not have polar nights. The shortest day is December 21st and it lasts 4 hours and 6 minutes.

Does Nuuk have midnight sun?

No, Nuuk is below the Arctic Circle so there is no midnight sun in Nuuk. However, in summer you can experience very long days. For example, June 20th is the longest day which lasts 21 hours which means that it does not really get dark. We do run very popular late evening trips, to let visitors experience the late-night golden sky.

Can you drink tap water in Nuuk, Greenland?

Yes, you can drink tap water everywhere in Greenland! You can also drink any running water from springs or rivers in Greenland. Locals also melt floating ice (preferably transparent ice) and drink it.