Nuuk is the coolest capital city, it’s official (yes, there’s a cheesy pun there). And being the capital city of Greenland, it’s one of the largest urban centres in the country. That being said, don’t compare it to New York or London – it feels like a very small town in size (with about twenty thousand residents calling it home).
Whatever the case, it’s a great city in Greenland to visit and probably (along with Kangerlussuaq) one of the first places you’ll visit on your trip to Greenland. So, to help you get the most out of your visit to Nuuk, I wanted to share the very best things to do in Nuuk that I’m sure you’ll love.
Now, you’ll likely only spend a day or two in Nuuk, before visiting some of Greenland’s iconic spots you can’t miss. This means you’ll likely want to cram in as much as possible before you leave. Thankfully, due to Nuuk’s compact and small size, it’s a city that’s really easy to walk around, even over a few hours.
Take a look, below, at our very best things to do in Nuuk that we loved – and we’re sure you will too! Have the best time visiting Greenland.
1.) Greenland National Museum and Archives
Whilst wandering around Nuuk, you’ll want to head into the Greenland National Museum and Archives. It’s one of the best museums in all of Greenland and right on the harbour front area of historic Nuuk. Best of all, it’s really accessible, with short walks and visits taking around 30-40 minutes.
Now, size-wise, the Greenland National Museum and Archives might seem small, especially if you’re used to colossal museums like the Smithsonian or British Museum. However, don’t think that size is everything! This place is amazing and it’s one of the best sites in all of Greenland to learn more about the heritage of the country, its culture and the Inuit people. We loved it.
Read more: Best places to visit around Greenland
2.) Nuuk Art Museum
Visiting the Nuuk Art Museum is easily one of the best things to do in Nuuk if you want to explore some of the country’s art and installations. You see, the Nuuk Art Museum houses heaps of works by local and national artists from all over Greenland. There’s a small price for entry (it wasn’t much at all) and well worth taking a gander inside.
Visits will take around 20 minutes and about a 15-minute stroll from the waterfront at Greenland National Museum and Archives. We were also able to buy a few small pieces of art by Greenlandic artists within the gallery. They were only small watercolours, but we treasure them!
Read more: Best places to visit around Greenland
3.) Nuuk’s Boardwalk
Just around the historic harbour area of Nuuk is the boardwalk (Google Maps pin) that follows the shoreline here. The walk is lovely and around 300 metres or so in length. This means it’s easy to complete in 10 minutes and very easy to find as you wander from the Greenland National Museum and Archives.
Along the way, you’ll get to take in the views around Nuuk Harbour, which is lovely around sunset. Just make sure to wrap in warm (in layers), the wind can pick up here, and it can get chilly with those arctic currents.
Read more: How to spend a day in Nuuk when visiting on an expedition cruise
4.) Nuuk’s Historic Harbour
Nuuk’s Historic Harbour is almost too hard to miss! It’s right in the heart of the action around Greenland National Museum and Archives and the Hans Egede Statue. Now, don’t get this confused with the commercial harbour nowadays. If you’re arriving in Nuuk by boat, this is where you’ll dock… but that’s not the historic harbour. The one I’m talking about his the natural harbour and waterfront (Google Maps pin).
Take a wander around, explore some of the colourful streets and even take a stroll down to the beach. Whilst here, and actually all across Nuuk, you’ll find public art that’s positioned in key areas around the city.
For instance, you can easily spot the Mother of the Sea right on the shores of Nuuk’s natural harbour area.
Afterwards, make sure to head to Anori Art, a gift store that has heaps of handmade goodies – all from Greenland. Here, you’ll be able to purchase Inuit Soapstone Figures that are carved out of local stone.
Alternatively, you can purchase a Tupilaq (ᑐᐱᓚᒃ in Inuktitut syllabics) that is made from animal bone and carved by Inuit people. The latter has a long history with Inuit people, and they were used to ward off enemies and were regularly made in secret, away from sight.
Read more: Best places to visit around Greenland
5.) Nuuk Church and monument
Just shy of the historic harbour is the Church of our Saviour (Google Maps pin), which is hard to miss in the city. Although relatively small, its bright red colours are so beautiful. It’s a small walk uphill from the Mother of the Sea art installation and only takes around 2-3 minutes to get there.
Oh, and don’t forget to see the Hans Egede Statue (Google Maps pin) while you’re there. He was a missionary priest who came to Greenland to spread European religion to the Inuit people. Now, there are obviously lots of controversies around cultural erasure here, but the statue represents a key historical period for Greenland and its cultural connections to Europe (even though it’s considered to be part of North America, in terms of geographic continents).
6.) Whale watching
There are a heap of tours you can do from Nuuk, especially if you want to explore more of the stunning natural environment that surrounds the city itself. Now, remember, there are no real roads that connect settlements to towns in Greenland. Therefore, the easiest way to get around is by air or boat, with boats being a great option to spot local wildlife.
Nuuk Water Taxi operate whale watching tours in the summer months. You can book these on their website, and we’d recommend doing this before arriving in Nuuk, just in case places fill up. Also, always be prepared for cancellations due to weather. The Arctic weather is unpredictable, and safety is always paramount.
Tours take around 3 hours and operate between the months of June to September.
Read more: Best places to visit around Greenland
7.) Northern Lights
This one is great! Honestly, seeing the Northern Lights in Nuuk isn’t hard if you’re visiting in the latter parts of spring or late summer when darkness starts to return to Nuuk. You see, in the height of summer (when most people visit Nuuk), there are almost 24 hours of daylight. The midnight sun is strong, and this can dampen the opportunity to spot the Northern Lights in Greenland.
It really is one of the best things to do in Nuuk if you’re visiting in the shoulder months. It’s well worth staying up until the dark skies appear.
8.) Myggedalen Panoramic View
If you’re looking for a great view of Nuuk, then head to the Myggedalen Panoramic View (Google Maps pin). It’s probably the most iconic image of Nuuk that you regularly come across, and with good reason! The views down the bay, past the colourful houses, are stunning.
Read more: Best places to visit around Greenland
9.) Nuuk Boat tour
As I said before, Nuuk can be a great place to base yourself to undertake wider tours of Greenland and explore some of the iconic places around the country. Now, there are a few tour operators that craft local tours from Nuuk. Our favourites are Greenland Arctic Xplorers, Greenland Cruises, and AirZafari (which operates flight tours).
From Nuuk, you can easily head out into the bays and fjords that surround the city itself. Alternatively, you can cover much greater distances when flying, where you can see the Greenlandic Ice Cap from the air. It’s breathtaking.
We loved seeing Qeqertarsuatsiaat, Kapisillit, Atammik, and Ameralik Fiord. The whole region here is stunning – but remember, these can be great distances from Nuuk, so consider the travel time you need for some of these tours.
Read more: Best places to visit around Greenland
10.) Foodie spots in Nuuk
There are quite a few independent restaurants to visit in Nuuk. You certainly won’t go hungry in the city. For an easy lunch, pop over to Kunguak Café. Here, we had a yummy musk Ox burger and ice cream that was so tasty.
Nearby, you’ve also got Restaurant Unicorn; another gem in Nuuk. Here, you can grab some Greenlandic dishes and try venison (which was so good).
For a tipple, head to Daddy’s. They have their Godhaab Bryghus brews, which are so good.
Read more: Best places to visit in Greenland
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