Nuuk

Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, is the world's northernmost capital and, with around 20,000 people, one of its smallest, a surprisingly colourful and cosmopolitan little city set against a backdrop of towering mountains and a vast fjord system. Its old colonial harbour district of brightly painted wooden houses, the historic cathedral and the excellent Greenland National Museum, home to the remarkably preserved Qilakitsoq mummies, sit alongside modern cafes, cultural centres and university life. It offers a fascinating window into contemporary Greenlandic and Inuit culture at the edge of the Arctic wilderness.

History

The Saqqaq culture lived around Qoornoq as far back as 2200 BCE, the Dorset culture later lived around Kangeq but had left the district before 1000 AD, and the area was then settled by the Norse. In 1728 the royal governor Claus Paarss moved Hans Egede's Hope Colony, founded in 1721, from Kangeq Island to the mainland at the Inuit settlement of Nûk, naming it Godthaab, "good hope"; a smallpox epidemic in 1733-1734 killed most of the native population and Egede's wife, and Egede returned to Denmark in 1736, leaving his son Poul to continue his work. Moravian missionaries began a mission in 1733, and by 1747 there were enough converts to build the mission house of New Herrnhut (Wikipedia, Nuuk).

Highlights

• The colonial harbour - the colourful old wooden houses and cathedral.
• The National Museum - the Qilakitsoq mummies and Inuit heritage.
• The Nuuk Fjord - the vast fjord and mountains around the city.
• The modern culture - the cafes, art and cultural centre.

When to go

June to September, the summer, for the mildest weather, long daylight and boat trips into the spectacular fjord; winter brings deep cold, snow and the possibility of the northern lights. The city is walkable and pleasant to explore in the summer months, with whale-watching and hiking nearby.

Practical notes

Nuuk is small and, while colourful and cultured, is a working modern town rather than a picturesque village or a place of grand sights, so a day or two suffices; the weather can be grey and changeable even in summer. As the beating heart of contemporary Greenland, though, blending Inuit heritage, colonial history and a spectacular fjord setting, it is a fascinating and worthwhile introduction to the country.

Nearby

The Nuuk Fjord, its abandoned settlements and hiking trails are close by.

Key facts