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Nuuk

Also known as Godthåb, Nûk, Nuk

Nuuk (; ) is the capital and most populous city of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. It is the seat of the municipality and the government of Greenland and is the territory's largest cultural and economic center. In January 2025, it had a population of 20,113—more than a third of the territory's population—making it one of the smallest capital cities in the world by population.

AI overview

Nuuk is the capital and largest city of Greenland, serving as the center of the territory's government, culture, and economy. With a population of about 20,000 people—more than a third of Greenland's total population—it is one of the world's smallest capital cities by population size.

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Place details

Locality: Nuuk
Region: Sermersooq
Country: Kalaallit Nunaat
Population: 14,798

Travel guide

Get in

There are no roads or railways connecting cities within Greenland. The only practical means to travel is by boat or air. On foot is less practical and far more strenuous.

Get around

Nuuk has a small bus company (Nuup Bussii A/S).

See

thumb|Hans Egede statue The old colonial town is on the east coast of the town centre. Here you can find the statue of Hans Egede, Hans Egede's House and his church.

Do

thumb|Looking down Imaneq, Katuaq is visible in the foreground

Buy

thumb|Akiki discount store and Sunset Boulevard restaurant Handmade seal skin gloves cost around . Ask in shops near Colonial town.

Drink

Central Nuuk offers a variety of locations for the enjoyment of alcoholic beverages, all within quick walking distance of each other. Nearly all pubs offer the same selection of beer (Classic on tap and Tuborg and Carlsberg in bottles) at the same (expensive) price ( for 40 cl of draught), but beer from Godthaab Bryghus is also available.

Greenlandic coffee is prepared with coffee, whisky, Kahlua, whipped cream and Grand Marnier. It is prepared at the table in a little show and if you ask, you also get the story.

Sleep

thumb|Nuuk at Night There are plenty of hotels and accommodations scattered across the city.

Stay safe

Nuuk is only a small town, with a population of about 15,000. Crime rates are very low, there are no slums and no places you should avoid.

Go next

You can choose among the destinations served by the boats and planes leaving Nuuk. The very adventurous can travel inland by foot or dog sled.

Travel guide from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0)

~20 min read

Article

34 sections

Contents

History
Early settlement
Founding and early colonial period
Missionary settlements
Cultural and political developments
World War II and postwar changes
Geography
Climate
Demographics
Government
KANUKOKA
Economy
Energy
Education
Healthcare
Tourism
Shopping
Transportation
Airport
Sea
Roads
Cityscape
Historical buildings
Cultural
Educational
Sports
Notable people
Sport
International relations
Twin towns and sister cities
See also
Notes
References
External links

Nuuk ( Greenlandic pronunciation: [nuːk] ; Danish: Godthåb) is the capital and most populous city of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. It is the seat of the Sermersooq municipality and the government of Greenland and is the territory's largest cultural and economic center. In January 2025, it had a population of 20,113—more than a third of the territory's population—making it one of the smallest capital cities in the world by population.

The city was founded in 1728 by the Danish-Norwegian missionary Hans Egede when he relocated from the earlier Hope Colony (Haabets Koloni), where he had arrived in 1721; the governor Claus Paarss was part of the relocation. The new colony was placed at the Inuit settlement of Nûk and named Godthaab ('good hope'). Nuuk is the Greenlandic word for 'cape' and is commonly found in Greenlandic place names. It is so named because of its position at the end of the Nuup Kangerlua fjord on the Labrador Sea's eastern shore. Its latitude, at 64°11' N, makes it the world's northernmost capital, a few kilometres farther north than Reykjavík. When home rule was established in 1979, the authorization of place names was transferred to Greenlandic authorities, who preferred Greenlandic names to Danish ones. The name Godthåb mostly went out of use over the next two decades.