Nuuk is the capital of Greenland.  Its history is connected with the missionary Hans Egede, who arrived in Greenland in 1721 to look for the descendants of the Icelandic settlers.  His ship landed on the Island of Hope, where there was a small settlement, which was moved to the present location of Nuuk seven years later.  Nuuk, therefore, is the first hamlet of the country and its oldest village.  The old colonial houses are few nowadays and the town is mostly modern with hotels, restaurants, malls, apartments blocks, town buses, city hall, cultural centre, house of parliament and a marina.  The town is divided in two parts, Nuuk, the older one, and Nuussuaq.  Altogether 18300 people inhabit them.

Nuuk is beautifully situated on a spit of land, and might look like a city from afar, but the small and colourful bungalows depict the Greenlandic characteristics.  The main landmark of Nuuk is the 1210m high Mt. Sermitisiaq (The Saddle), and beyond the town are many long ad deep bays, which are very popular among sailers.  During bright summer evenings and nights, very few sailers and boats occupy Nuuk’s harbour.

Hans Egede, being the founding father of Nuuk/Godthåb, was not the first white man to settle in the area.  The Icelandic settlers built at least 80 farms on the Godthåb Bay, and most of their descendants remained there and in other settlements in Greenland until the turn of the 14^th century.  They disappeared mysteriously and no reasonable explanations have been offered yet.

Reindeer farming on the Godthåb Bay is of increasing importance as elsewhere in the southern part of the country.  Large areas have been declared inviolate for them, where no hunting is permitted.  About 230 animals were imported from Lapland after the artist Jens Rosing had studied reindeer farming there for one year.  Now the life stock counts about 1400 animals.  The explorer Frithjof Nansen expressed the first idea concerning reindeer farming, when he stood on the edge of the ice cap above the Godthåb Bay in 1888 and saw the excellent grazings.

Common tourists rarely visit Nuuk.  It is expensive to travel to and within Greenland, and for the same price it is possible to visit Disco Bay in the proximity of the inland ice and tour with dog sledges.  Nuuk is most attractive to tourists during the latter part of June, when the national day (June 21^st) is celebrated and the inhabitants wear the national costumes.  At that time many whales (humpback whales and other species) swim so close to the coast, that people think they might run aground.  They are following the capelin, which seeks shallow waters to spawn.

Attractions:  The National Museum and Archives, The Colonial Harbour, The Aanaas House, The Hans Egede House and his monument, the church, The Herrnhut Mission, other monuments, The Samuel Kleinschmidt’s light pole, The Sydtryk Printing Works, Santa Claus’ Post Office, The Greenland Cultural Centre etc.

Events:  The Nuuk Cultural Festival (the first weekend of August), The Nuuk Marathon (the last week of July), The Snow Statue Festival (two weekends in March).

Organized Tours:  The Summer Ski Resort (Kangerluarsunnguaq; 45 minutes by boat from Nuuk), Various boat trips during summer and winter, Bus Tours, A Greenlandic Pick Nick (½ a day), Art Tours, Helicopter Tours, Arial Sight Seeing.

Activity Tours:  Hiking, both summer and winter, Mountaineering, Hunting Trips, and Snow Scooter Tours.