I recently visited Nuuk, the capital city of Greenland, and explored the surrounding area. I left inspired to share what I learned about the city, the people, and the landscape.
Here are all the reasons to add Nuuk to your travel list.
1. Greenland Is a Short Flight From the U.S.
There is only 1 flight available from the U.S. to Greenland. It’s a seasonal United Airlines service from June to September, departing from Newark (EWR) in New Jersey. The flight to Nuuk is scheduled at 4 hours and 25 minutes. The flight I took was actually 3 hours and 53 minutes.
The recent addition of this relatively short flight, compared to previously having to connect in Iceland or elsewhere in Europe, is one of the best reasons to visit Greenland.
2. You Can Travel There on Points and Miles
The best and fastest way to travel to Nuuk (GOH) is to book a nonstop flight on United Airlines from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). United began the flight in 2025 and has just announced it will continue the seasonal summer route in 2027.
This route is great news for U.S. travelers and a unique opportunity. There are only 5 other airports in the world that offer nonstop service to Nuuk: 3 in Denmark (including Copenhagen (CPH)), Reykjavik (KEF) in Iceland, and Iqaluit (YFB) in eastern Canada. Only Copenhagen and Reykjavik have year-round service to Nuuk.
Ideally, you’d want to book the United nonstop flight to Nuuk rather than one that connects through a European airport. However, cash fares on the United nonstop flight to Nuuk can be expensive.
Fortunately, you can use United MileagePlus miles to book your flight. You’ll need to be flexible on dates, but it is possible to book premium economy (United Premium Plus) for just 50,000 United miles each way. United does not offer business class on this route, but sells the regular domestic first class cabin as premium economy.
A hot meal is served. Because Nuuk is generally only 3 hours ahead of the U.S. East Coast, jet lag is also less of a problem than when landing in Europe.
Additional Options for Traveling to Nuuk
If you don’t have United miles available, here are some additional options for traveling to Nuuk using points or miles:
- Transfer Bilt Rewards to United MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio.
- Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio.
- Use Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards to book Icelandair flights that connect through Keflavik (KEF) and then continue nonstop to Nuuk.
- Use Delta SkyMiles to book Delta Air Lines or Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) connecting through Copenhagen (CPH) to a SAS flight to Nuuk.
- Book an Air Greenland flight from Copenhagen (CPH) with your Chase credit card through the Chase Travel portal. You can then redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 1 cent each for a statement credit (this is not a recommended best use of your rewards, though).
You can earn United MileagePlus miles quickly, receive priority boarding, and get a free checked bag with the United℠ Explorer Card. The card also comes with 2 one-time-use United Club passes that give you access to the club in Newark before your flight to Nuuk. Another card benefit is expanded award availability and a discount on qualifying award tickets.
3. You Can Book Lodging With Points
While there are no worldwide hotel chain properties in Greenland, you can use credit card points and miles to book lodging.
I booked my stay through Chase Travel using my Chase Sapphire Reserve® and paid with Ultimate Rewards points. I could have also used my $300 travel statement credit on my Sapphire Reserve for Business℠, a benefit available after each card anniversary on either Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
Here are some additional ideas for using points, miles, or statement credits to pay for lodging in Nuuk:
- Use Delta Stays to book prepaid eligible hotels with select Delta-branded cards and receive up to $250 in statement credits (per calendar year). Eligible cards include the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (up to $250), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (up to $200), and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (up to $150).
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers $100 off a prepaid hotel stay when you book through Chase Travel.
- Book a stay with Capital One Travel using the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and receive a $300 statement credit. Or, book directly with the hotel and redeem miles for a statement credit for the purchase.
- The Citi Strata Premier® Card offers $100 off a $500 hotel purchase made through Citi Travel.
4. Nuuk Is a Walkable City
There are few capital cities in the world that are compact enough to walk to most major attractions. Although the weather could deter you slightly, you can comfortably reach the highlights of Nuuk on foot. Just dress appropriately.
You can walk to museums, the harbor, grocery stores, shopping, and restaurants. If you want to take the bus, you’ll have that option with the easy-to-use public bus system, Nuup Bussii.
Here’s a self-guided walking tour of Nuuk to get you started.
5. It’s Not as Expensive as You Might Expect
If you’ve visited any Nordic countries, you’ve experienced the high cost of nearly everything. Greenland is no exception, but there were some surprises during my visit in August, 2026.
Shuttle transportation from the airport, for example, was a reasonable $14 per person. A premade deli sandwich at the grocery store bakery was about $9, and a pizza (dining in) was about $15.
Local cuisine, including musk ox, reindeer, fish, and beef, was comparable in price to steak at a fine restaurant in the U.S., well-prepared and of high quality. At the best steakhouse in town, A Hereford Beefstouw, a half-pound reindeer steak dinner costs around $55.
Basic hotel rooms can be booked for under $200 a night, even in peak season, if you plan ahead (and do not use points or miles). A voucher good for 10 bus trips can be purchased for about $27. Excursions were expensive but were good value for the unique experience.
6. Nuuk Is an Interesting City
In addition to walking the neighborhoods and taking in the views of the bay, there are additional things to do in Nuuk. First, you would certainly want to include a short hike up to the statue of Hans Egede, the city’s founder.
Don’t miss the harbor for incredible views of Old Nuuk and the colorful houses.
The city has several museums, but the Greenland National Museum and Archives is a must-visit. The museum hosts an incredible collection of items that document thousands of years of history. The vast collection includes actual homemade whaling boats, mummies, and everyday items from Inuit households.
If you want to take home a souvenir, Anori Art has a good selection. And if you need an additional layer of warm clothing, there are plenty of shops where you can purchase it.
7. Nuuk is a Great Base for Exploration
Because Nuuk is relatively small, you can see it in a weekend. You’ll want to stay longer to explore Greenland beyond Nuuk.
The nearby fjords are easily explored from Nuuk during a day trip. We used Greenland Cruises, but there are other reputable tour operators based in Nuuk.
Whether you want to kayak the icy waters, spend the night on a glacier, or hike a mountain, you’ll be one with nature around Nuuk. While you can book excursions that leave from the city, you can also fly from Nuuk to 8 destinations in Greenland on Air Greenland.
8. Greenland Has a Unique Culture
Expect to learn about another culture when in Greenland. There are only about 56,000 residents in the entire country, of whom about 20,000 live in Nuuk. More than 50,000 of the country’s residents are Inuit, making it important to learn more about their lives and history during your visit. Because Greenland is an autonomous, self-governing territory of Denmark, residents are European Union citizens. However, unlike Denmark, Greenland itself is not part of the European Union.
Visiting the museums will give you a good perspective on the history of the Inuit in Greenland and their ancestors, the Thule. Visiting an Inuit village, where people still rely on hunting and fishing for food and income, will further expand that perspective.
9. The Natural Surroundings
Nuuk is surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Icebergs, with mountains in the background, dot the waters surrounding it, year-round. Heading north into the fjords, you’ll witness waters filled with larger icebergs and glaciers.
Greenland is about 25% larger than Alaska, our largest and least densely populated state, and has only 56,000 residents. Therefore, most of the country is raw, uninhabited nature, ready to be explored.
And if you’re visiting from late August to early April, you could see the northern lights.
10. Visit While the Opportunity is There
No one knows if United will continue its nonstop service beyond the 2027 summer season. Currently, the flights operate just twice per week.
If United discontinues its nonstop service, traveling to Greenland will once again require a connection through Europe or traveling via the Northeast Canada route.
It may be best to take advantage of this window of opportunity while flights are convenient and nonstop. Plus, Nuuk is neither crowded nor touristy now. This could be the perfect time to visit.
Final Thoughts
Nuuk is easily accessible via a nonstop United flight that can be booked with miles. Lodging can also be booked with card points or statement credits.
Stay tuned for more information in an upcoming article on how I offset the expenses of my trip to Greenland using points and miles.
Rarely does the opportunity arise to visit such a unique destination so easily. Consider visiting to discover a unique culture and natural landscape without a long journey.