After recovering from a busy but amazing eclipse trip in Iceland (and planning trips for so many people!) I spent a week in Nuuk, Greenland on a travel agent tour. And I was shocked at how amazing it was; you may just have to visit Greenland after Iceland. Or before!
Here’s a quick overview. Greenland has 3 brand new airports that opened in the last couple of years. The first of those is in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, whose new airport opened at the end of 2024. That new airport allows United Airlines to run nonstop flights from New York (well, Newark) in the summer. You can fly from Newark to Nuuk in under 5 hours!
Nuuk is a great base for a Greenland trip. Yes, there are lots of other areas of Greenland you can explore. But with a country that is half the size of the United States, and unpredictable weather, staying in Nuuk plus one more location at most makes sense to me.
Visiting Greenland: Nuuk itself
Nuuk has a population of just 20,000 people, and there isn’t enough in the city itself to make for a fulfilling vacation. But there are still some options in town, including shops, museums, and walking in and around the Colonial Harbor area:
And there are several interesting restaurants with tastes of local Greenlandic food:
(There are plenty of other food options too, including a surprising number of Thai restaurants.)
Exploring the fjords outside of Nuuk
Where Nuuk really shines are the areas you can reach on day tours or overnight trips from Nuuk. Check out the fjord systsem that is accessible from Nuuk:
(That’s a map from Visit Nuuk that shows a multi-day hiking trail, but just imagine you get to those by boat instead of on foot! Or by helicopter.)
The fjords hold incredible beauty and opportunities to explore. The ride itself is breathtaking, as you watch the early morning sun:
give way to stunning blue skies (weather-permitting, at least):
Then, within a couple of hours you can reach an abandoned village. Or a still-active village with a population of 40. Or a restaurant that is only accessible by boat and is BYOF (bring your own fish):
Or a sheltered glamping spot with luxury tents and meals in the middle of nowhere:
All of this and more is easily accessible with a day trip from Nuuk. You can also add in a trip to a different part of Greenland, and fly to places like Qaqortoq to the South (new airport opened April 2026) or Ilulissat to the North (new airport set to open in October 2026.) But spending most of your time in Nuuk, and avoiding the hassle of flying to several domestic destinations, is now both viable and exciting.
Reach out for more information. We can plan a custom itinerary for you, but we’re also looking at creating a group tour next summer. Just fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!
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