Greenland Cruise from Nuuk to Reykjavík — 11 Days

Nuuk, Greenland

Nuuk is Greenland’s capital, where Arctic scale meets the pace of a working town. Set beside the vast Nuuk Fjord, it pairs brightly painted houses with modern architecture and a lively harbor. Visit the Greenland National Museum to see the 500-year-old Qilakitsoq mummies and objects tracing Inuit life. Then look toward Sermitsiaq, the landmark mountain rising beyond the water. Nuuk rewards travelers seeking Greenlandic culture alongside its dramatic landscapes.

Sisimiut, Greenland

Set just north of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut is Greenland’s second-largest town and a working fishing port. Brightly painted homes rise above the harbor. Boats and fishing vessels keep the waterfront firmly connected to daily life. At Sisimiut Museum, historic buildings and collections reveal Inuit heritage and the town’s colonial past. From town, trails open onto Arctic landscapes of mountains, lakes and broad tundra.

Ilulissat, Greenland

Ilulissat stands beside Disko Bay, where icebergs drift from the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the world’s fastest-flowing glaciers, sends vast blocks of ice into the fjord. Walk the paths above the water, visit the local museum, or join a boat trip among the icebergs. From shore, their scale can be difficult to grasp. Ilulissat pairs a working Greenlandic town with one of the Arctic’s most striking landscapes.

Fjord Cruising (Fjord Cruising)

Qeqertarsuaq, Greenland

Qeqertarsuaq, once called Godhavn, occupies Disko Island on Greenland’s west coast, beyond the usual reach of road travel. Founded in 1773, it grew around a sheltered harbour and the whaling trade. Today, its small, colourful settlement contrasts sharply with dark basalt cliffs and broad Arctic skies. Walk the waterfront, visit the historic church, or take a guided outing toward waterfalls and the Lyngmark Glacier. In summer, watch for whales offshore.

Kangersuatsiaq Island Greenland (Scenic Stop)

Paamiut, Greenland

Paamiut lies on Greenland’s southwest coast, between Nuuk and Qaqortoq, beneath steep mountains. Founded in 1742, this small fishing town remains shaped by the sea. Brightly painted homes rise above the harbor, while a handsome wooden church anchors the centre. Watch for whales offshore, then look inland to the fjords and peaks of Sermersooq. Greenland’s towns have no road links, so arrival by ship offers a close-up encounter with life on this remote coast.

Hvalsey, Greenland

At Hvalsey, Greenland’s Norse past comes into focus among stone walls, open fields and a broad fjord. Here stands the country’s best-preserved Norse church, part of a farming settlement founded during the medieval period. The last known written record of Greenland’s Norse community describes a wedding here in 1408. Walk the quiet site and imagine a life shaped by weather, livestock and the sea.

Qaqortoq, Greenland

Qaqortoq is southern Greenland’s largest town, set around a sheltered harbor beneath steep, bare hills. Colorful houses climb the slopes, while fishing boats give the waterfront its working rhythm. Follow the town’s Stone and Man carvings, then visit the museum for insight into Greenlandic life and Norse history. Boat trips can take you to nearby Norse ruins or Uunartoq’s natural hot springs.

Prince Christian Sound Greenland (Scenic Area)

At Sea (At Sea)

Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavík is a capital with one foot in the wild. The Atlantic frames the city, volcanic mountains rise on the horizon, and geothermal water warms its pools. Start at Hallgrímskirkja, whose tower commands broad views, then walk down to the harbor and Harpa concert hall. Cafés, design shops, and museums make the compact center easy to explore on foot. Beyond town, geysers and waterfalls make a striking day trip; return for a soak in a neighborhood pool.