Denmark

Nanortalik is a charming village to see and is on the route for cruises crossing the Atlantic.  As an Acupuncturist-at-Sea on a cruise ship I enjoyed my Nanortalik Greenland walking tour very much and love sharing my experience.   Because it is so small, you can easily enjoy the village in a half-day adventure.  So, read on to learn about how to make the most of your time in this unique port-of-call.  I was there the end of July, so enjoyed sunny skies with large swaths of yellow wildflowers. 

Nanortalik means “Place of Polar Bears,” even though they are rarely seen here.  The small village of about 1200 inhabitants is on an island on the shores of the Labrador Sea.  While the winters are understandably cold the summer is a great time to visit with temperatures that reaches the highs into the 40’s – 50’s F.   Also, it lies at the mouth of the Tasermiut Fjord in a very picturesque setting.   The locals are very friendly and love to sing, so you can expect street performers and even a choir in the church. 

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Nanortalik Greenland Walking Tour
What to See & Do in a Half-Day

I absolutely loved my 3-hour walking tour here and pretty much experienced it all spontaneously without preparation.  I just walked down the main street toward the old town and became immediately entertained with murals, the landscapes and scenery, along with the friendly locals.  Firstly, I just walked around and took in the views of the granite knolls carpeted with yellow wildflowers, enveloped by mountains and sea.  The morning sun burned off the fog and vibrant, blue sky appeared. 

I walked by the main wooden church with choir performances every hour.  Then, I went to the Old Town, preserved by about 10 buildings with vintage artifacts and photos.  It cost about $10 and was well worth it.  The setting helps you to imagine what it was like to live in this remote area, especially more than 100 years ago. 

The buildings in the Old Town housed various artifacts needed for survival in this part of the world.  For example, I went inside an old blubber house, a fish packing plant and peat house.  There is a Greenland Flagpole that I climbed its ladder to the top for a 360-degree panoramic view of the sea, mountains and even lingering icebergs.  I found a bench seaside with a large iceberg less than 20 feet from me.  It was interesting to sit in the presence of this unique testament to the northern chill. 

Lastly, I stopped in the church to listen to the choir and then walked on down the street to listen to the street performers. 

The locals were very friendly and festive with their music and arts for sale.   Two young girls approached me with puppies.   Also, there were signs for one hour water tours to see the icebergs.  And there was a busy café called Café 44.  Overall, it’s a charming experience with a sense of being off the beaten path. 

 Also, Read More about Southern Greenland

Nanortalik is similar, however smaller than the nearby Qaqortoq.  Both are very dramatic with brightly colored buildings and dramatic scenery.  To learn more about these southern Greenland destinations, check out my other blogs. 

Greenland’s Picturesque Seaport, Qaqortoq: A Scenic Walking Tour
Paamiut, Greenland Highlights & Walking Tour
Cruising Southern Greenland’s Majestic Prince Christian Sound