Nuuk & Southwest

This region combines the modern amenities of Nuuk with the pastoral beauty of South Greenland, offering the most varied experience for families. Nuuk, one of the world's smallest capitals, is a fantastic base for acclimating to the Arctic. Here, you can visit the Greenland National Museum to see the famous Qilakitsoq mummies (best for older kids) and traditional skin boats. For a relaxing afternoon, the award-winning Malik Swimming Pool offers glass walls with views of the fjord—you might even spot an iceberg while swimming in the warm indoor pool.

Just outside the city lies the vast Nuup Kangerlua fjord system. Families can take comfortable closed-boat tours to catch fresh fish, which many local restaurants will cook for you, or visit the settlement of Kapisillit. Back in town, the Colonial Harbour provides a historic setting for a walk, and children love finding the oversized red mailbox where letters to Santa are collected.

Heading south to the regions around Qaqortoq and Narsarsuaq, the landscape changes dramatically to green valleys and jagged peaks. This is "farming Greenland," where you can hike between sheep farms in places like Igaliku. It is an area rich in history, home to the ruins of Eric the Red's Norse settlement at Brattahlid. The hiking here is generally less rugged than in the east or north, making it excellent for families with younger children. You can walk on gravel paths through green fields contrasting sharply with the ice floating in the blue fjords.

Getting around: The coastal ferry, Sarfaq Ittuk, connects these areas and is a wonderful way for families to travel. It creates a slow-travel experience where kids can play in the lounge areas while parents watch the coast glide by. With a milder climate than the far north and more food options, the Southwest is arguably the most stress-free region for a first family trip to Greenland.