Discover Nanortalik, Greenland: A Unique Experience

Experience Nanortalik

We got to experience Nanortalik, Greenland in August of 2023 and let me tell you when people say this is a beautiful and picturesque place, it really is. The town is home to approximately 800 people and with the quaintness of town it really holds some breathtaking views of icebergs and natural beauty surrounding this town.

Journey to Nanortalik

Now, we arrived by cruise ship on the Carnival Legend Journey cruise. I do recommend seeing Nanortalik by cruise ship, but if you would like to fly in and stay in one of their little hotels here you will need to fly into Narsarsuaq airport and then you can take a helicopter or boat over to the town. There are no roads connecting to this town, so really the only way to get here is by boat or helicopter from a nearby area. In fact, the longest road in Greenland is only 22 miles and none of the towns are accessible by land.

Our journey cruise left Baltimore and took us five and half days to reach Nanortalik. Once we approached this little village, we definitely began to feel the drop in temperature from our departure area as Nanortalik was in the upper 40s to low 50s while we visited.

What are some frequently asked questions about Nanortalik you may want to know before visiting?

• Can you see the Northern Lights from Nanortalik?

Yes! We went in late August and saw them late at night heading to Qaqortoq. Now, we were only able to see them through our camera, but hey I saw them, and they were beautiful. But the best time to see them is September - March.

• When is the best time to visit Nanortalik?

The best months are June - September, when you can enjoy outdoor activities more. If you plan on cruising to Greenland, most cruise lines to Greenland only offer August and September cruises. However, you might find some in May.

• Is it safe to travel to Greenland?

Yes, there crime rate is low and no serious security concerns. We just loved the locals when we were there. Everyone was so friendly.

• Will I see polar bears in Nanortalik?

Even though Nanortalik means "place with polar bears" most polar bears live in North or East Greenland that is not populated.

• What is the most popular food in Nanortalik?

The national dish of Greenland is Suaasat which main ingredient is seal, and I was told this is a staple among many Greenlandic cuisines, and yes, I had to try some.

Discovering Local Delights

When visiting Nanortalik we decided to walk around the village and take in some of the local culture. There were so many locals out selling handmade crafts and souvenirs. We even went to one of their grocery stores and bought two local beers and a really delicious chocolate milk, all of which cost us $20 in American currency.

• The currency in Greenland is Danish Krone and the conversion rate is approximately 1 Danish Krone to .15 cents in US currency.

• They did accept US currency at the grocery store and local bar

Speaking of local bar, we did find one at the hotel called "Hotel". They offer food and drinks here and I purchased an Irish coffee, which watching them make it was pretty neat. The making in itself was definitely worth it. We also discovered buying a drink here granted us free Wi-Fi, which was nice.

However, this is where I also decided to indulge in some local favorites, such as whale blubber and seal.

Yep, you read that right. I tried whale blubber and seal along with other artic delicacies as well, such as cod and salmon. They served it on a sample platter and can't say I was a fan of the seal as it really tasted like jerky to me, but hey I tried it.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to try traditional Arctic cuisine?

Nanortalik Museum

To fully experience Nanortalik and take in the culture, highly recommend visiting the town's museum, as it grants you access to some amazing views of the surrounding area, including the icebergs, rolling green grass, and stunning landscapes.

It's an open-air museum that you can walk around the old town and see copies of turf huts, and summer camp sites. You will learn a lot from their history here and get a chance to see some of the clothing they wore displayed here as well.

Excursions

We didn't get a chance to book an excursion on our visit as they sold out pretty quickly. You can expect to find walking tours, iceberg tours, and even a Viking tour as well.

• Caution: If you don't book through your cruise line, please choose a reputable company such as Tripadvisor or Viator.

• You can check out my video here mentioning a scam that happened for a group of people who booked their excursion through a Facebook group. Please be careful of booking through any social media account. Some of these excursions are not cheap, and you certainly don't want to be scammed.

If you would like to see other options on excursions in Greenland, you can check out my Viator shop.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit in Nanortalik. I highly recommend planning a trip to Greenland.