Nuuk: Colorful Capital City

Nuuk, Greenland

September 18, 2026

Colorful houses around Nuuk Harbor

Nuuk is the capital of Greenland; so, here is some information about the country of Greenland.

Greenland is the world’s largest island, about three times the size of Texas.  It is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark; therefore, citizens of Greenland are citizens of Denmark.  Greenland shares a 1.2 km border with Canada on Hans Island.

Over 85% of the residents of Greenland are Inuit.  And, the majority of residents speak both Danish and Greenlandic.

Greenland is socially progressive.  Approximately 65% of its electricity is produced by hydropower and other renewable forms of energy.  Both health care and education are free, and the country strongly supports LGBTQ rights.

Fun Facts About Greenland :

• There are no roads to connect the different cities and settlements of Greenland.  People travel by boat, plane, helicopter, dog sled, or snowmobile.

• Residents own more boats than cars.

• The first humans arrived on the island around 2500 BC.

• Greenland isn’t very green, since most of the land is covered in ice.

• The words “kayak” and “igloo” come from Greenlandic words.

• According to local tradition, Christmas decorations are supposed to be left up until the twelfth night of Christmas, or January 6.

Nuuk:

The capital and largest city in Greenland is Nuuk.  However, the small population makes it one of the smallest capital cities in the world. Nuuk is situated on a harbor with scenic mountains in the background, and, at the mouth of one of the largest and longest fjord systems in the world. The Nuup Kangerlua Fjord stretches 99 miles inland!

Nuuk celebrates Inuit culture and history to an extent that is unprecedented in many cities with higher indigenous populations.  It may well be that tiny Nuuk is the most indigenous city in the world.

Most homes and apartment buildings in Nuuk are painted in bright colors. In the past, the colors had specific meanings to help people identify where they needed to go, even if they were not literate. For example - Yellow was for healthcare facilities, and Red was for churches and schools.

Some of the community guidelines in Nuuk include a request to not pick the flowers, to respect the cultures and traditions, and to ask before taking a photograph of the people.  (More information on Nuuk and its culture is posted in the Educational Resources section of our web site)

Fun Facts about Nuuk:

• Nuuk means "cape" or "headland" in Greenlandic.

• The daily peak traffic hour lasts about 15 minutes.

• The first shopping mall opened in 2012.

• Greenlandic coffee, typically served after dinner, contains hot coffee, whiskey, Kahlúa, Grand Marnier, and whipped cream—set ablaze before it’s served.

• Waterfalls and icebergs are both visible from the city center.

Sights from our city tour:

The pyramids on the top of the buildings allow sunshine (and warmth) in during cold weather.

The Mother of the Sea sculpture celebrates the indegnous relationship with the sea.

A Danish Navy ship in the Harbor.

Hillside showing the granite rocks and colorful lichens that are common in Nuuk

Dogs (and possible other wildlife) of the Day:

Nuuk selfie:

Nuuk's tourist industry is growing and more people are flying into the country from various places, especially since the Nuuk International Airport renovation was completed in January 2025. Greenland is investing in the future of the city and building more apartments to house residents and workers.

We had a fun day today exploring Nuuk, and learning about Greenland. Tomorrow we will arrive at the small town (150 people) of Itilleq (pronounced e-teeth-a). We are looking forward to crossing the arctic circle to get there, and to meeting with a family to share a Kaffemik.