Quick answer. Nuuk Airport's new terminal has a cash machine, and the city centre is only about fifteen minutes away, where the Bank of Greenland has more. You can pay for a taxi, roughly DKK 150-250 into town, by card, and the city bus costs around DKK 15. The reason to take out some kroner anyway is Greenland itself: card terminals stop working when a town's telecom link goes down, and settlements beyond Nuuk have no machines at all. Withdraw DKK 1,000 to 2,000 as a backup, choose kroner, not your home currency. Greenland has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner.
Where to get Danish kroner at GOH
In Greenland the withdrawal fee matters less than having kroner when you need them. The figures below assume the kroner equivalent of $100.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of Greenland ATM with a no-FX-fee card | Airport and central Nuuk | Network rate; read any fee on screen | ~$100-103 |
| BoA debit card at any Greenland machine | Anywhere | BoA 3% + BoA's flat non-network fee | ~$108 |
| Paying in dollars at a village store | Settlements | The shop's own rate | ~$105-110 |
| Accepting conversion on a card terminal | Shops, tours and hotels | DCC margin of several percent | ~$104-108 |
The cash machine at Nuuk (GOH), and why a kroner backup matters here
Nuuk's airport was rebuilt between 2019 and 2024 with a 2,200-metre runway and a new terminal, opened in late 2024, which lets jet aircraft fly directly to Greenland's capital for the first time. Air Greenland now flies from Copenhagen, and seasonal flights from North America have followed, alongside the domestic network that links Nuuk with towns up and down the coast. The terminal is modest and has a cash machine alongside a café and car-hire and taxi services. The city's Bank of Greenland head office and more machines are in the centre, about fifteen minutes away. In most countries this page would tell you not to bother with cash. Greenland is different, for the reasons in our Greenland money guide: card payment depends on long-distance telecom links that occasionally fail, and the settlements you may visit have no machines at all.
Arrivals
Air Greenland from Copenhagen and domestic points, plus seasonal international flights
The terminal's cash machine accepts Visa and Mastercard. Withdraw a backup of kroner, decline any offer to convert into your home currency, and keep the notes separate from your cards.
Departures
Same terminal; domestic and international gates
Kroner are the currency of Denmark too, so leftover notes can be spent in Copenhagen if you are connecting. Weather delays are common, so keep some cash for food during a long wait.
Taxi rank and bus stop
Nuuk taxis, the city bus and hotel pick-ups
Taxis wait directly outside. The city bus, Nuup Bussii, stops near the airport and runs about every half hour on weekdays.
Do you actually need cash at Nuuk (GOH)?
Not to reach the city: the taxi and most services take cards. But take out some kroner here anyway:
Taxi to central Nuuk (roughly DKK 150-250, more late at night): About 15 minutes; the fare is shown in the cab or given before the trip.
City bus (Nuup Bussii) (around DKK 15): Cheapest option for light luggage; carry coins or check the bus company's app.
Hotel pick-up (sometimes included): Ask your hotel when you book; some meet arriving flights.
Hire car (high by European standards): Only useful within Nuuk's small road network; there are no roads to other towns.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Nuuk (GOH) to Nuuk?
No. Taxis take cards and the fare into town is modest, and the city bus is cheap. The reason to withdraw kroner at the airport is later in your trip: card terminals in Greenland can stop working during a telecom outage, and settlements have no cash machines.
Can I order Danish kroner before flying?
Useful for Greenland. CEI Currency Exchange ships Danish kroner to a US address in 2-5 days, which gives you a backup for the day the card terminals go down or a visit to a settlement with no machine. The same notes work in Denmark if you connect through Copenhagen.
Is there an ATM at Nuuk Airport?
Yes. The new terminal has a cash machine that accepts Visa and Mastercard, and the Bank of Greenland has more machines in central Nuuk, about fifteen minutes away by taxi or bus.
How much is a taxi from Nuuk Airport to the city?
Roughly 150 to 250 Danish kroner to the centre, with higher fares late at night and early in the morning. The ride takes about fifteen minutes and taxis accept cards. The city bus costs about 15 kroner.
Can I fly directly to Nuuk now?
Yes. Since the new 2,200-metre runway opened in late 2024, jet aircraft fly directly to Nuuk, including Air Greenland from Copenhagen and seasonal services from North America. Before that, most international travellers changed at Kangerlussuaq. Weather delays remain common, so allow slack in connections.