Hotel Nuuk - Apartment Nanoq
by the TopOfHotel team
Apartment Nanoq is the budget answer in central Nuuk that finally makes long stays affordable — the shared kitchen pays for itself in roughly two restaurant dinners.
Apartment Nanoq is the budget answer in central Nuuk that finally makes long stays affordable — the shared kitchen pays for itself in roughly two restaurant dinners.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Picture a small apartment block in the middle of Nuuk — a capital city of just 19,000 people where the air is sharp and the houses are painted in bright primary colours — and you've got Hotel Nuuk - Apartment Nanoq. The name Nanoq means polar bear in Greenlandic and is also Greenland's national emblem, so the rooms lean into that with polar-bear prints, wool blankets and a clean wood-and-white Scandinavian palette. Units are compact rather than spacious — but every square metre is used smartly. You get a comfortable bed, a small desk by the window facing those colourful Nuuk houses, and hooks by the door for parkas and snow boots. The look is utilitarian-cosy: no chandeliers, no marble bathrooms, but everything you actually need after a long day in the cold. Anyone who's stayed in northern European guesthouses will recognise the style instantly.
Food and amenities
The heart of this place is the fully equipped shared kitchen, and it's the main reason guests pick Apartment Nanoq over fancier Nuuk hotels. Food in Greenland's capital is brutal on the wallet — a bowl of ramen runs around $23, a lamb steak dinner $45–$60. Eat out three meals a day for a week and your food bill alone tops $700. The kitchen here has a 4-burner gas hob, an oven, microwave, a big fridge with portioned shelves per unit, plus full pots, pans, knives, plates and a coffee maker. All you need to add is groceries. Walk five minutes to Brugseni or Pisiffik supermarket, pick up fresh fjord salmon, Greenlandic lamb and Danish-imported vegetables, then cook back at the apartment. Evenings in the shared kitchen are a real bonus too — travelers from Denmark, Iceland, the US and Japan swap aurora-spotting tips over the hob. Beyond the kitchen you get free building-wide Wi-Fi, shared laundry machines, free parking (rare in central Nuuk) and warm, fluent-English staff who arrange whale-watching boats, Northern Lights tours and airport pickups without fuss.
Location and getting there
The location wins outright for anyone who likes to explore on foot. You're in the middle of Nuuk Centre, the old-town district that packs in most of the city's landmarks. Ten minutes' walk gets you to the Greenland National Museum, where the famously preserved Qilakitsoq mummies and 1,000-year-old Inuit artefacts are on display. Just beyond is Annaassisitta Oqaluffia — the Church of Our Saviour, a wooden cathedral painted blood-red since 1849, framed by snow-topped Mount Sermitsiaq. It's the postcard shot you've probably already seen of Greenland. A few minutes further sits Kalaaliaraq, the open-air fish market where local fishermen lay out salmon, cod, seal and reindeer fresh from the boats — go early to catch the real working scene. The Nuuk Centrum bus stop is a 3-minute walk and the airport bus takes about 10 minutes. For a free big view, climb Lille Malene hill behind the hotel — roughly an hour up, the panorama over the city and fjord is what most guests rank as the trip highlight.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk to make the decision easier — Apartment Nanoq is not a full-service hotel despite the name. There's no lobby, no spa, no room service, no 24-hour reception and no breakfast included. If you're expecting a 4-star or 5-star polish, you'll be disappointed. The cheapest units also share the kitchen and bathroom with 2–4 other rooms. During high season (June–August and December–March), you may queue for hob time at peak hours — check the unit type and shared-versus-private facilities carefully before you confirm. Anyone wanting a plush hotel bed or an en-suite Jacuzzi should budget for one of Nuuk's pricier hotels that run roughly double. Room footprint is also small — families of 4–5 will feel cramped; this works best for solos, couples and small families of 2–3. If you enjoy cooking your own dinners and want a real local-feeling stay, you'll be very happy here.
Our take
After reading guest reviews and weighing the realities of Nuuk pricing, Hotel Nuuk - Apartment Nanoq is the most sensible answer for budget travelers who want a multi-night Greenland trip without burning through their entire travel budget. Starting around $140 a night in a city where comparable hotels begin around $200 is a genuine win, and the full kitchen quietly saves you several hundred dollars in restaurant bills across a week-long stay. It suits solo backpackers, couples who like cooking and small families doing 3–7 night aurora or whale-watching trips. If you want hotel polish, a spa, or 5-star service, look elsewhere. If you want to live like a local in Greenland's capital for a week without going broke, our team scores it 8.5/10 — and yes, it earns every dollar.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Bullseye location in Nuuk Centre — the Greenland National Museum, the red wooden Annaassisitta Oqaluffia and the Kalaaliaraq fish market are all under 10 minutes on foot. In a town where taxis are scarce and expensive, that walkability matters.
- Shared kitchen is genuinely full-spec — 4-burner gas hob, oven, microwave, big fridge, plus the full pot-pan-knife-coffeemaker kit. With a $23 ramen bowl as your alternative, cooking three dinners a week pays for itself by the third night.
- Homey Scandinavian-style decor with the Nanoq (polar bear) theme — wool blankets, warm wood tones, windows looking out at Nuuk's colourful timber houses. Feels like crashing at a Greenlandic friend's place rather than a hotel.
- Staff are warmly reviewed across Agoda and Booking — they speak fluent English and routinely arrange whale-watching boats, Northern Lights chases (Sept–April) and airport pickup without the usual hotel-concierge stiffness.
- From about $140 per night, it undercuts comparable Nuuk hotels that typically start around $200 — making it one of the few central addresses that actually works for a 7-night Greenland trip without blowing your accommodation budget.
- It's not a full hotel despite the name — no lobby, no spa, no room service, no 24-hour front desk and no breakfast included. If you want a polished 4-star experience, look elsewhere; this is closer to a serviced apartment with personality.
- The cheapest units share the kitchen and bathroom with 2–4 other rooms. In high season (June–August and December–March) you may need to queue for the hob at peak breakfast and dinner hours — check unit type carefully before booking.
- Rooms are compact and decor is utilitarian. Families of 4–5 will feel cramped; the layout works best for solo travelers, couples and small families of 2–3 doing a long Greenland stay.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Nuuk
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Insider Tips
- Hit Brugseni or Pisiffik supermarket on the way from the airport and stock 2–3 days of groceries — fresh Greenlandic salmon, lamb and Danish-imported vegetables are far cheaper than any restaurant meal.
- If you visit September–April, ask the front desk to book your Northern Lights tour 2–3 days ahead — Nuuk's clear winter skies are one of the better aurora-viewing spots in Greenland and the seats sell out fast.
- Walk up Lille Malene, the hill behind the hotel — it's about a 1-hour climb each way and gives you a free panoramic view over the city and fjord. Grab a trail map at reception before you go.