Northern lights in Nuuk tonight

A 790 m peak directly above Nuuk with a marked hiking trail from the road. The summit gives a panoramic view over the Nuup Kangerlua fjord system with no obstructions. At night the fjord glows with bioluminescence and aurora reflects in the dark water below. The route starts from the road west of the city. Snow-covered for much of the aurora season - crampons and poles recommended from October. The fjord walls and icecap in the distance make this Nuuk's best elevated dark sky position.

Moving even 10 km into the fjord system takes you away from all city light. The fjord stretches 160 km into the icecap. Icebergs calve from glaciers at the inner fjord. At night in complete darkness the sky is Bortle Class 1 with no horizon obstruction. Several Nuuk operators run winter evening boat trips into the fjord for aurora watching. This is the most extraordinary aurora setting accessible from Nuuk - dark water, floating ice, icecap walls.

The world's most northerly natural forest - a sheltered valley of birch and willow at 63°N - sits surprisingly close to Nuuk. The valley is dark, sheltered from wind, and faces open fjord to the north. Accessible in summer on foot; in winter a boat is required. A Nuuk operator can arrange charter boats to the valley mouth. Less known than the fjord aurora boat trips but gives a completely different foreground - sub-Arctic forest rather than open water.