Amid the rugged landscapes of southwestern Greenland, Nuuk is an arctic gem that effortlessly blends ancient culture with contemporary flair. Visitors can explore Nuuk’s natural beauty, Inuit traditions, and cosmopolitan culture by exploring the city’s bustling streets and surrounding nature. From admiring centuries-old artifacts at the Greenland National Museum and Archives and cutting-edge art at Nuuk Art Museum to exploring the world’s second-biggest fjord system and hiking nearby mountains, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Nuuk.
The long, bright summer days are the best time to visit Nuuk, explore the fjords, and soak up the city’s cosmopolitan atmosphere. On June 21, Greenland’s national day is celebrated with music and people wearing national dress. Winter and spring offer skiing, snowshoeing, and aurora-spotting. Every second fall, you can catch the biennial Suialaa Arts Festival, a week-long celebration of contemporary art and culture that takes place in more than 50 venues across the city.
Nuuk is small enough that you can easily get around the city on foot. Otherwise, you can use the efficient bus system—buy tickets on board with cash or from one of the kiosks around town. You can rent a car in Nuuk, but remember you can only drive as far as the roads go—Greenland’s towns are not connected by road.
You can catch a glimpse of Nuuk's rich creativity by checking out some of the many public artworks scattered around the city. Nuuk Art Museum has a self-guided ArtWalk on its website, which leads to the city’s best street art and sculptures, including a giant mural of a woman with a polar bear painted on the side of a housing block that appeared in the TV show Borgen - Power and Glory.
