A first timer’s guide to beautiful Greenland

Last Updated on August 21, 2026 by Laura

While I am writing this blog, right in front of me, there is a certificate attesting that I am an “Explorer of the Artic Circle’. There is a part of me that feels incredibly proud of this piece of paper which, to be true to ourselves, it’s more a souvenir than anything to be taken seriously. Still, it testifies that I fiercely travelled solo in one of the remotest and hostile places in the world and returned back to tell you all about it. Despite is partial inaccessibility, Greenland is about to become the next bucket list destination on the travel map. In this first timer’s guide, you will discover how to travel to Greenland and what you should do (and not do) in this extraordinary country.

How I ended up in Greenland?

Despite Greenland being on my bucket list for over a decade, at least since I visited Iceland and learnt about this wonderful neighbour, visiting this year wasn’t certainly planned. Indeed, it was a kind of last minute opportunity and I caught it with no regrets. As many of you know, I have a full time job in the travel field. I worked in travel full time for the past 5 years, but since last May I switched from luxury land travel to luxury sea travel.

So, when my boss proposed me a FAM (familiarisation) trip to one of the destination we need to be expert, I of course said YES! I had a few destination to chose. All of them pretty amazing and never visited before. However, my heart skipped a bit when I saw Greenland on the list. I felt incredibly privileged of having such a choice and I remained truthful to my bucket list and my explorer soul by picking up the most remote, difficult to reach places in the world. I just anticipate you that returning from Greenland was quite an adventure that involved small planes and emergency landings. BUT hey! I am here and grateful of this incredible once in a life opportunity that came my way. Continue reading to discover more about this trip!

Kalaallit Nunaat. The land of the Greenlanders 🇬🇱

One of the things to learn about Greenland is that indigenous Inuit people call their nation as Kalallit Nunaat. This is often translated as “Land of the Kalallit/Greenlanders” but it means also “Land of the People”. Kalallit are identified as the people of Western Greenland. These differentiate from Northern and Eastern Greenlanders who call themselves as Inughuit and Tunumiit. Altogether, the population of Greenland is generally referred as Inuit. I would recommend to not use the word “Eskimo” to describe Greenland inhabitants or Inuit descendants in general. This is considered offensive and was used to describe Inuit people by non-Indigenous colonisers.

Inuit are a group of culturally and historically similar indigenous peoples traditionally inhabiting the Arctic and subarctic regions of North America.

The largest part of Greenland’s population has Inuit descent. Western Greenlanders likely descend from Thule People who are the most “recent” Inuit ancestors arrived in Greenland from North America during one of the latest waves. Historically, Inuits arrived from North America between 2500 BCE to the early 2nd millennium CE in several different waves.

As inhabitants of some of the harshest places on Earth, Inuit developed a series cultural traditions and way of living adapted to extreme climate conditions. From hunting and living in tents/igloos to production of fur clothing and strict diet. Inuit culture is extremely fascinating and really worth to learn about it.

If you want to learn more about Greenland, Inuit culture and history see some sources below:

• Pamela Stern, The Inuit Word (2021)
• Michael Burgan, Helen Dwyer, Inuit History and Culture (2011)
• Karen Routledge, Do You See Ice? Inuit and Americans at Home and Away (2018)
• EAS Cooper, The Inuit Way: A Journey across Greenland and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

Why you should put Greenland on your travel map 🗺

If you are into wilderness, love hiking and don’t mind being disconnected from the world, Greenland is the perfect place to put on your travel map. Until now, Greenland was part of the memoirs of historical explorers. However, it has become again object of renewed tourism attention. Floating icebergs, wild and untouched landscapes makes it an appealing, unspoiled destination despite its remoteness. It’s not a case that National Geographic placed Greenland in its 25 places to visit for 2025. In fact, with the upcoming “official” opening of the Nuuk Airport, reaching Greenland will become easier (and safer?). It its expected that tourism will blow up in 2025 and suddenly everyone will be eager to get a golden ticket for this destination.

From a personal perspective, I think that travelling to Greenland is not for everyone from both a financial and physical perspective. However, is worth every penny if you are into hiking, love learning about the local Inuit culture and are not afraid of the risk of being stuck somewhere for the time being (yes this is a possibility). You should definitely visit if you are an experienced traveller and hiker because its landscapes will blow your mind. If you are curious about the Inuit culture, it’s the perfect place where to learn something new. You should definitely visit to take conscience of the fragility of the Ice Sheet and how this is important for Earth’s different ecosystems.

A trip to Greenland is eyes opening, but is not for everyone. Therefore, I do recommend reading this guide and getting informed as much as possible before deciding to go.

Greenland myths and facts

Being Greenland such a remote destination. Not many people knows about it. Ergo there are many myths and preconceptions surrounding this incredible country. Here are a few myths and facts that is useful to know before your trip.

Greenland is the largest island in the world.

True. Despite not being a continent, Greenland is the biggest island in the world. The total area of Greenland is 2.16 million square kilometres (836,330 square miles), this includes also the smallest islands. What is extraordinary about it, is that over 80% of this area is covered by ice. This means that only 20% of Greenland is actually ice-free. This area is said to be more or less the size of Sweden.

Greenland has this name because it’s green.

True and False. Greenland name’s origin actually comes from what we could consider an ancient Viking’s “marketing strategy”. In fact, the Icelandic Eiríks saga rauða (Saga of Erik the Red), narrates the explorations of Erik Thorvaldsson (aka Eric the Red). A Norse explorer who is claimed to be the first European discovering Greenland. Historians longly debated this theory, claiming that other Norse explorers reached Greenland at least one century before Thorvadldsson (stripping the explorer Gunnbjörn of its proud discovery). Nevertheless, what is certain is that Eric the Red, named the new land as “Greenland” (Grœnland in Old Norse) as this “would encourage people to go there because the land had a good name”. Well, he was clearly able to sell people dreams didn’t he?

In the end, Eric the Red wasn’t entirely wrong. Indeed, recent studies have demonstrated that Greenland was likely really green more than 800,000 years ago and home to a lush boreal forest.

Greenland has no roads

True. However, this has to be understood in the broader sense of the phrase. If you arrive in a city, there are roads to move around the city. Nevertheless, there are no roads connecting cities one to another. This means the only way to visit places within Greenland is by boat, helicopter, plane or dog sledding in the winter. You can read more below.

Is Greenland part of North America?

False. Despite being geographically part of Nord America, culturally and politically Greenland is part of Europe. It’s an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Whales hunting in practiced in Greenland 🐋

True. Greenland population is made in large part of people of Inuit descent. Fishing is an essential part of the Inuit culture as well as of Greenland’s economy. Hunting culture roots in the ancestral heritage of Inuit people for more than 4,000 years as primarily means of survival in one of the harshest places on Earth. Hunting included whales, seals and rarely bears. Albeit controversial nowadays, this is still an important part of Inuit’s identity and culture. To grant no overfishing, the government assigns each year a quote of whales, fish and seals to be fished to each administrative part of Greenland. Hunting whales in Greenland is legal and regulated by the IWC because it’s considered vital to the survival of Greenlandic culture and everyday life of Inuit people. You can read more about whales hunting regulations here.

Travel to Greenland. Everything you need to know

This section of the blog is dedicated to the practical side of your trip. Here you can find all the details you need to know on how travel to Greenland, tools useful for your trips and places to visit.

Which currency is used in Greenland

Greenland official currency is the Danish Krone. I would recommend to have a few cash with you before your trip as I didn’t see many ATMs. However, Apple Pay and credit cards are widely accepted all around the country.

How many days do I need for visiting Greenland?

A very good trip to Greenland, covering most of its visitable towns should be 10 days to two weeks. There are lots of things to do in this country, particularly if you like hiking!

A week itinerary, however, should be enough to cover at least the most famous towns: Kangerlussuaq, Ilulissat, Nuuk and Sisimiut. Make sure to account also the time you need to travel from one place to another. Particularly if you move by boat.

How do I get to Greenland?

Getting to Greenland is not as easy as it looks. There are essentially two ways of reaching Greenland and I will talk about both below. One is by taking a cruise and the other one is by plane.

Travel to Greenland on a cruise 🚢

One of the most comfortable ways of reaching Greenland is by cruise. With cruise, I don’t mean a traditional cruise with entertainment, dances, and ABBA nights. The only cruises that are able to reach Greenland are Expedition Cruises. This because, not many knows, but Greenland waters are some of the most treacherous on Earth and navigation is extremely complicated with vessels not designed for this particular type of Polar waters. It would be like attempting an F1 race with a Fiat Panda.

Greenland by Expedition Cruise

Expedition cruises are designed to fiercely navigate treacherous waters (such as the infamous Strait of Denmark), pass through the icebergs and face hostile environments and weather conditions. Unlike general cruises, vessels are much smaller and instead of 3,000 to 4,000 people, they are able to host only 100 to 200 people at time. This reduces greatly also the impact of tourism in such remote destinations. One of their advantages, it’s also the flexibility in their itineraries when planning around challenging destinations such as Artic and Antarctic.

I have contradictory feelings on cruise travelling, particularly in these destinations. As a person who currently work in this sector and travelled to Greenland by cruise, I’ve seen the advantages of such type of travel. Particularly for people with limited mobility or not too confident in travelling by themselves. It gives them the opportunity to live a once in a lifetime experience that they would be otherwise impossible to them. On the cruise where I was travelling, there were a number of elderly people who were so excited and grateful of this opportunity. Seeing their emotional eyes when seeing some of the Greenlandic marvels, touched my heart and I understood the importance and inclusivity that this type of travel has for many people.

On the other hand, as a personal preference, I don’t like to be confined into a floating space (despite quite luxurious) and stay on fixed times for excursions. I am a free spirit and need to explore at my own terms and pace. On top of that, I suffer seasickness which it really didn’t help in the choppy Greenlandic waters.

Best Expedition Cruise for Greenland travel

I am not entirely unbiased in this opinion since I work for a cruise company that has amazing itineraries. I will write more about my experience on a expedition cruise with the company I work for just to give you an idea of what to expect. However, overall, you have to keep in mind that expedition cruising in Greenland (differently from Antarctica) is still relatively a new sector. Therefore, there are still many things to improve and places to add to itineraries because, in the end, Greenland is still untouched from a tourist point of view. And this is quite exciting to say the truth!

If you are interested in visiting Greenland with an expedition cruise, Swan Hellenic, the company where I work has some fantastic itineraries:

• Greenland in depth
• Iceland to Greenland roundtrip cruise

Prices for expedition cruises usually start at £9,000/$12,000 per person. So, they are not for the pockets of everyone. Still, they are worth every penny for the experience you gain.

Travel to Greenland by plane 🛫

As you can already imagine, also reaching Greenland by plane is not easy as expected. In fact, there are only two countries in Europe that have direct flights to Greenland. These are Iceland and Denmark. However, with the official new runway of the Nuuk Airport expected to open (hopefully) on 28th November 2024, new international flights will be allowed to land from the US and Canada too.

Until then, all the flights must to arrive either from Reykjavik or Copenhagen. Flights can land either at Kangerlussuaq (which so far is the safest place to land in Greenland) or Kulusuk. A small island in western Greenland often affected by bad weather conditions. Internal flights in Greenland are also available via Nuuk, Sisimiut, Illulisat and other smaller settlements.

At the moment, only two companies offers flights in, out and within of Greenland. These are Iceland Air (for international flights) and Air Greenland (for both International and internal flights).

What is really like to fly to Greenland

One thing to keep in mind when flying to/from and within Greenland is that weather conditions can affect your travel much more than other worldwide destinations. This means that your flight can be rerouted, cancelled last minute or have an emergency landing (as happened to me). Similarly to Iceland, weather changes pretty quickly in Greenland too and from sunshine and calm weather you can be suddenly on the worst storm of your life.

Moreover, both Air Greenland and Icelandair use small De Havilland Canada Dash 8. A turboprop-powered planes that differently than big international planes seems to be affected more by weather conditions.

Until now, the safest and more reliable airport where to land in Greenland is Kangerlussuaq. Because of its particularly geographical location within a fjord, it’s less affected by meteorological events. Our guide claimed the weather in this area of Greenland is good most of the year and rarely flights are cancelled. Is not a coincidence that Kangerlussuaq was chosen by the US as military base during WWII. Military planes were able to depart 9 out of 10 times compared to other locations in Greenland.

Our local guide expressed also some concern regarding the opening of the Nuuk airport to international flights. Indeed, despite being the capital of Greenland, the location of Nuuk is more affected to the elements compared to Kangerlussuaq. I could confirm this my self as the day I departed, more than half of the internal flights planned for the day were cancelled due to weather conditions.

Of course, international flights might use bigger, more stables planes. Therefore the likelihood of cancellations is inferior. But still is something you might be want to be covered by your travel insurance.

How my flight got into an emergency landing.

On my return trip from Greenland, my flight was supposed to be into two sections. Nuuk-Kulusuk and Kulusuk – Reykjavik. Nevertheless, while landing in Kulusuk, the pilot suddenly went up. A few minutes later he announced that he wasn’t able to see the runway due to a sudden very poor visibility. He circled around the area for about 15 mins but then he announced there was no chance to land safely in Kulsuk. Luckily, Reykjavik approved us for an emergency landing and I managed to arrive at my destination a few hours before expected.

We were about 15 people on that plane. We were all very grateful as the hostess says that usually the plane get back to where it came from. This is the reality of flights in Greenland. Therefore you should come prepared for any eventuality.

How do I get around within Greenland?

Since Greenland has no roads connecting one place to another, you are probably wondering how to move around once your feet will touch the Greenlandic land. Well, there are a few ways to move. You’ll just need to forget your standard idea of itinerary because, well, you simply can’t move by car or bus to go from one place to another. To note the below information are valid only if you travel via land, not with a cruise.

Moving from town to town 🛳

To get from one city to another the better (and quicker way) is to fly. Air Greenland has a large fleet of small planes that reach almost every town in Greenland that has an airport. Visit Greenland has also a useful map where you can check the routes covered by the small planes.

If you are planning a route of coastal towns, another great way to move is via ferry. There are various companies that offer maritime services. I listed a few below:

• Artic Umiac Line works from April to December and can take you anywhere between Sisimiut and Qeqertarsuatsiaat. A standard couchette for a trip from Ilulissat to Nuuk (2 days) start at 2.389 DKK per person (£266/$366). More luxurious rooms start at 12.739 DKK per room (2 people) (£1419/$1795) during low season. It’s recommended to book largely in advance during summer.
• Blue Ice Explorer operates only in southern Greenland and only during the summer. They have a lovely fleet of small boats that can take you between Narsarsuaq, Narsaq, Sillisit and Qaqortoq. Depending on the route price are between 200 DKK to 875 DKK per person (£22/97 $28/123).
• Nuk Water Taxi organises boat tours within Nuuk and Qoornoq island. Tour start at 1095 DKK per person. (£122 /$154).

Moving from town to settlement 🚁

There are about 54 settlements in Greenland. These are much smaller communities than those you can find in main towns and most of the time, difficult to reach. Settlements that are closer to main towns can be often reached by boat such as Kapisillit that is nearby Nuuk. However, certain settlements are very remote and the only way to reach them is via helicopter. Also in this case Air Greenland have helicopters that uses to connect these destinations. There are only 3 settlements in Greenland that have bigger airports and able to fly internationally: Kangerlussuaq, Narsarsuaq, and Kulusuk.

Moving around towns 🚕

Once you arrive in a town, getting around works exactly as other places around the world. Bigger towns like Nuuk, Sisimiut and Ilulissat have a very efficient bus system. However, you can also book a taxi.

A note on Greenlandic Dogs 🐕

When travelling in Greenland you will probably spot a few Greenlandic dogs here and there. You might see them with their owners or training for their sled jobs. Greenlanders use them in the winter to reach isolated settlements or to cross heavy-iced stretch of land.

Greenlandic dogs are one of a kind. Indeed, they are one of the world’s purest breeds because not allowed to mix with other type of dogs. One of their characteristics is their strength. Indeed, they are able to move incredibly heavy weights. I’ve seen them carrying a taxi in central Ilulissat!

However, don’t be fooled by their cute appearance and never approach them to spontaneously pet them (especially if you are with children). Indeed, something I learnt in Greenland, is that Greenlandic dogs are more similar to wolves than our European dogs. They are not “company dogs” and not used to foreign people approaching them. Therefore they can be very aggressive if caught unexpectedly. Indeed, they are trained to face potential deadly threats (i.e. Polar Bears) and respond to a “command/action” type of approach. If they perceive you as a threat to their owner, you might regret your last action.

In my time in Greenland, I was able to touch only puppies because still untrained and unable to bite. Still, this happened under the supervision of their owners and with their mummy dog looking at me with a not very friendly face.

Can you do a Greenland day trip from Iceland?

Well, in theory yes since there are flights to a few destinations. But please don’t do it! Greenland is not a place for a day trip. It’s not worthy. There is so much to see and learn about the Greenlandic culture that staying one day is just offensive. Moreover, you can probably remain stuck if the weather decides for the worst.

If you want to read more about Iceland, there is an entire section of my blog with useful tips for your trip here.

Why is it so expensive to visit Greenland? 💰

Travelling to Greenland is not for the pockets of everyone. It’s a very expensive destination either if you visit with a cruise or by plane. There are several (and quite obvious) reasons for this.

Principally because of its remoteness. Indeed, despite geographically close to Iceland, Greenland is actually very remote and difficult to reach. On top of this, the harsh climate (particularly during the cold season) is a crucial factor in its accessibility. This means that only a few months a year Greenland is “touristically” visitable. During this period, prices are higher.

Remoteness affects also economy. In fact, except for the fishing industry, Greenland import most of its products (fresh and non) from other countries. The hostile territory doesn’t allow Greenlanders to cultivate or produce a range of diverse food such as other countries. Because of this, prices for food and beverage are extremely high.

Lack of streets and infrastuctures connecting locations around the coast contribute to the increasing cost of a possible visit. In fact, moving by boat or helicopter isn’t certainly cheap.

Is it possible to travel to Greenland on a budget? 💸

Depends on the budget. If by this you mean the budget of a backpacker, I would say this is not really possible because of the nature of the trip itself and the costs associated to getting around. If you have a mid-range budget, you can possibly make it with a few tricks. For example booking your flights early, scouting hostels at low price per night and visiting a small area of Greenland rather than making an extensive coastal route that would need extra means of transports.

These hostels in Greenland have a reasonable price compared to more luxurious options.

Do I need a visa to travel to Greenland?

Greenland is an European country. Therefore, if you are a European citizen, you won’t need any particular visa to enter. Nevertheless, a passport is required to access the country.

Greenland is a visa-free country also for many other nations such as USA, Japan or UAE. A complete list of visa-free countries can be found here. If your country is not on that list, you have to apply for a visa. Requirements are the same as for Denmark and the Faroe Islands. You can check more information here.

What language is spoken in Greenland?🌍

Greenlandic is the official language of Greenland. Is spoken by more than 70% of the population together with Danish.

Greenlandic is divided into three main dialects:

• Kalaallisut or West Greenlandic. Spoken by the majority of the population
• Tunumiisut or East Greenlandic. Spoken by only 3,000 people (circa)
• Inuktun or North Greenlandic. Spoken in the northernmost settlements in Greenland by about 800 people.

Danish is a secondary official language in Greenland and is spoken in many context of daily life. Studying Danish and English is compulsory in every school in Greenland.

I had the chance to speak to a few Greenlanders and almost all communications were well done in English. Only once, two old men who gently approached me on the street to ask what I was doing (they were very kind, nothing creepy) weren’t able to speak English well. However, we somehow had a chat. They were lovely!

Will my mobile phone will work in Greenland?📱

Surprisingly YES but depends where you are coming from. This was one of my biggest doubts as I didn’t know if I had to buy an additional sim card or my mobile network was ok. I use Three as mobile network and I was able stay online for the whole stay in Greenland. I honestly thought that my network was working better than central London! The only thing (for UK users) is that you have to pay a roaming pass. This is usually £7 per day. So I was using it only when I was spending lot of time outdoor.

I assume that many other mobile networks will work in Greenland, so check with your provider if they offer a cover for an extra fee.

In the worst of the cases, you can opt for a local sim card. The only mobile network in Greenland is called Tusass. Sim card are sold also at the airport.

If you don’t want to spend any extra money for internet, just pop in any cafe’ and you will likely find free Wi-Fi.

What is the best time to go to Greenland?☀️❄️

Keeping always in mind that weather can affect your journey at any time, Greenland is potentially an all-year-around destination. However, each season carry different activities that you can do or not. Summer remains the best season to visit. However, here below you can see what you can expect from each period of the year in case you want to visit off peak.

Winter ❄️

Winter in Greenland is the longest season. Usually it starts between late September and ends around beginning of May. Winter is understandably the harshest period of the year to visit Greenland and your flights could be potentially disrupted by snow blizzard and ice. However, winter itself looks an exciting season for visiting Greenland particularly for those who don’t fear the cold and less daylight. Indeed, in winter, Greenland is particularly famous for winter sports such as snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding. Dog sledding is particularly important during this season as the well-trained Greenlandic dogs are able to move around cities even during the worst weather conditions.

If you are a lover of Dark Sky Tourism (i.e. seeing the northern lights). Greenland in winter is certainly one of the best places in the world.

Spring 🪻

Differently from the rest of Europe, spring in Greenland is very short. With very short I mean that if you don’t live in Greenland you might think that they just skip this season. Indeed, there is a very short transition between winter and summer. Usually this happens in May. Therefore if you consider to visit Greenland during the regular European spring (i.e. between March and May) you have to consider that you will likely go back to winter season when in Greenland. If the sunshine starts coming out during the Greenlandic spring, you might expect to find peculiar ice formations given from the water melting under the sun.

Summer ☀️

Summer is regarded as the best period to visit Greenland. Not only because of the pleasant temperatures all around but because of the abundance of flora and fauna that you can witness all around. Indeed, with the snow melting and the sunshine 24h per day, mountains are covered in a carpet of flowers, waterfalls pop out from luscious corners and Greenlanders seems to be all out to celebrate their outdoor life. July and August are definitely the best months to experience Greenland in full, enjoying endless hikes and be fascinated by the Midnight Sun. This is also a peak period for tourism. Therefore, you might expect to face higher costs.

Autumn 🍁

Autumn in Greenland starts from mid September and similarly to Spring it doesn’t last long. However, it comes with a set of beautiful warm colours and (often) still plenty of sunny days. Nevertheless, weather start to become more unpredictable with temperature dropping easily and bad weather conditions always around the corner. Autumn is the best season for Tundra hiking as you can experience the most incredible colours you’ve ever seen. If you are planning to go with a cruise, September is the last month you can travel via water before everything freezes.

Is Greenland safe?

Crime rate in Greenland is very low and it’s considered one of the safest countries. In terms of dangers, you might want to consider other elements in terms of safety. Such as Polar Bears in certain parts of Greenland, other wild animals and, of course, sudden and extreme weather conditions.

If you are planning a lot of outdoor hiking and venture in more isolated places, having a local guide might not be a terrible idea after all!

Can you see the northern lights in Greenland?

Yes, yes, yes!!! Greenland is one of the best places on Earth to see the northern lights! This because towns and settlements are relatively small in Greenland so you have less lights and very dark skies (particularly in winter). I spotted the aurora on my first night in Greenland! Unfortunately I wasn’t on land but sailing along the coast, therefore the pictures are not the most focused ones but the show was absolutely mindblowing!

The lights appeared also quite early in the sky, around 11:45 pm. During my trip to Iceland I had to stay awake until 2 am to get the chance to spot them! We also witnessed the purple aurora that appear to be one of the rarest to spot!

If you want some spectacular photos, make sure to get a spot near the coast to catch a glimpse of the enlighten towns.

Packing for Greenland. Everything you need for your trip 👜

Packing for Greenland requires a little organisation. Your packing should depend on the season you are visiting. However, the best suggestion remain, as per other countries with cold climates, use layers! I honestly was expecting a lot more cold weather but I was absolutely fine with the layers I had. When I went hiking, I was even sweating!

What to pack for Greenland

For a week in Greenland make sure to pack the following:

• 3x Thermal Base Layers (for autumn/winter)
• 3x Waterproof trousers for activities involving water
• 4x Fleece Jumpers (for autumn/winter)
• 2x Hiking Leggins
• 1x Hiking Boots
• 5x Thermal socks (for autumn/winter)
• 1x Hat
• 1x Neck warmer
• 2x Gloves (in case one pair gets wet)
• 5 Long or short sleeves t-shirts (for summer)
• 1x pair of trainers
• 1x down jacket for hikes (my favourite and the one I wore when it was sunny in Greenland is this one from Fjallraven).
• 1x Expedition jacket (usually into two detachable pieces).
• Sunglasses
• Sun Cream
• Toiletries
• Hiking equipment (e.g. poles – these are very useful as the terrain can be very slippery!)

If you are travelling on a cruise, you might want to add also a few “fancy” clothes. I personally carried with me:

• 1 skirt
• 2 cardigans
• 3 t-shirts
• 3 dresses
• 1 pair of loafers

Photographic equipment you would want to carry in Greenland 📷

I probably carried more photographic equipment than clothes. This because I wanted to be prepared for any eventuality. Particularly for wildlife encounters! On my packing list there was.

• DSLR camera
• 18-55mm lens
• 150-600mm lens
• 75-300mm lens
• 10-18mm lens
• Tripod
• DJI drone (check permissions for your drone first)
• Iphone

Travel to Greenland. Best places to see and things to do📍

Rugged landscapes leave spaces to colourful towns and majestic icebergs and unbeatable locations. Greenland is a country that is still very much to discover from a tourist point of view because until know, only a very few people were able to get around there. Here below you will find a list of places and things to do you want to add to your own bucket list for Greenland.

Kangerlussuak and the Artic Tundra

Kangerlussuaq is located in Western Greenland and it takes name from its fjord. The settlement is an old American military base that now hosts the largest international airport in Greenland (until Nuuk’s official opening of its new runaway). Because the settlement is located within a fjord, it’s weather conditions are optimal most of the year. This made Kangerlussuaq an excellent military base and now commercial airport.

Why I should visit Kangerlussuaq 🧊

Kangerlussuaq is for most visitors the first place they see in Greenland. Many think it’s just a transitional place but actually, this settlement is the gateway to your first Greenlandic adventure! Indeed, Kangerlussuaq is home of the Artic Tundra. A permafrost land where tree growth is hindered by frigid temperatures. This doesn’t mean there isn’t vegetation but everything that grows in the Tundra belongs to that particular type of climate.

One of the best things to do in Kangerlussuak is going on a Tundra hiking or a Tundra Safari. This because the Tundra is home of incredible wildlife like Musk Oxes, Arctic hares, Artic Foxes and White-tailed sea Eagles. Autumn and Summer are the best season to get into these activities.

Kangerlussuaq is also one of the closest settlements to the Ice Sheet and the famous Point 660 where you can hike to one of the most incredible viewpoints in all Greenland.

• STAY: Polar Lounge
• EAT: Restaurant Roklubben

Qeqertarsuaq

Qeqertarsuaq is a small port town located on the south coast of Disko Island in Western Greenland. The town, founded in the 18th century as Godhavn, is inhabited by less than 900 people and characterised by colourful houses spread along the coast. Qeqertarsuaq is often used as a base for Disko Island’s different hiking trails (see below). However, the city itself is very nice too as a stopping point. Indeed, there are a few quaint cafes and nice landmarks (like the local church) you can add to your photo spot list!

• STAY: Hotel Disko Island
• EAT: Cafe Blue

Disko island hiking and coastal adventures

I preferred to create a separate paragraph for the hikes you can do in Disko Island. Indeed, the island itself it’s quite small but it has a lot to see and for every type of hiker!

There are 3 main types of hiking trails you can undertake in Disko Island, all starting from Qeqertarsuaq.

• The first is the hike from Qeqertarsuaq to Qorlortorsuaq waterfall. This is an easy hike of about (1h 30 mins return). Terrain is mostly flat and the waterfall is nice. Directions added here.
• A second hike is the one that goes from Qeqertarsuaq to Kuannit (pictured above). This hike is about 5 to 6 hour return and takes you along the basaltic coast of Disko Bay. During spring you can see the Angelica flowers all around the cliffs and the scenery is really beautiful. On your return way you can take a deviation to the Qorlortorsuaq Waterfall as well. Terrain is mostly flat with some steep points and gradual ascent. It becomes slippery when raining. Directions here.
• A third hike is the one going from Qeqertarsuaq the Lyngmark Glacier. This is considered a strenuous hike of 8-9 hours (even more depending on the weather) crossing the majestic Lyngmark mountain until the permanent ice cap of Disko Island named after the mountain itself. As the hike is long, is recommended to stay in one of the lodges near the glacier to recover from the hike and return on the following day. Directions here. A guide is recommended for this hike.

Exploring Disko Island’s basaltic coast from the sea

During my trip, I had the opportunity to do a zodiac excursion to see the basaltic coast of Disko Island from a water perspective. Despite the water wasn’t the calmest and it was pouring, it was a fantastic experience as there are a lot of hidden waterfalls along the coast that can’t be seen from the hiking path (I know because I did also the hike!).

As far as I know, if you are not going with an expedition cruise, I found only this boat tour cruising this part of the coast. Not sure if it goes to the above waterfalls as they were further away from the coast’s grottoes but it possibly do!

Just be mindful of the weather as the area can be very dangerous if big waves impact the coast.

Ilulissat and the UNESCO Icefjord

Located at approximately 350 km north of the Arctic Circle, Ilulissat is third largest city in Greenland and also one of the most famous ones. Indeed this pretty and colourful town is home of some of the largest Icebergs you’ll probably see in your entire life. The city’s name itself means literally this: iceberg. Therefore you shouldn’t be surprised to suddenly see other tourists as, understandably, many people visiting Greenland have the voice “see the icebergs” in their bucket list.

The Ilulissat Icefjord is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Listed area of outstanding value. Here you can witness massive Icebergs floating right in front of your eyes and changing colours with the light of the day. In order to visit, you need to pre-book a boat tour departing from the ferry pier (not the main port). Tour prices usually range between $100 and $400 per person depending on the length and vehicle used. During summer, you can pre-book also kayaking among the icebergs. You can see some tours here.

I warmly recommend you to put on some more layers when visiting this area because you’ll be surrounded by ice and it will be feeling much colder.

• STAY: Hotel Icefjord
• EAT: Inuit Café

Sisimiut

Sisimiut is the second largest city in Greenland and also one of the oldest settlements in the country. It’s name means “residents of the foxholes” and it’s been inhabited for over 4500 years. The city stretches from the port area along one single big and steep road. This is literally the gateaway to all the activities you can do in the city and surrounding areas. From visiting the lovely history museum, to hiking and even skiing during the winter.

One of the things I noted in Sisimiut is that is much more lively than other cities I visited in Greenland (at least when I was visiting in late September). Indeed, I spotted several cafes full of people and I was even able to do some souvenir shopping!

There are some lovely local art craft shops. One in particular near the port sells traditional Inuit objects, quite expensive but definitely unique in their genre.

• STAY: HOTEL SØMA Sisimiut
• EAT: Restaurant Nasaasaaq

Nuuk

Nuuk is the largest city in Greenland, and also its capital. Differently from other towns and settlements in the country, you can really feel a certain “city vibe” when going around. Maybe because the city is big enough that you can’t see the end road (unlike in Qeqertarsuaq) or because there are a lot of cars going around and even art installations!

Things to do in Nuuk

Nuuk is one of those place where you wish to spend a couple of days to really absorb the local culture. The city’s main landmarks, such as the Greenland National Museum are easily visitable in a day. However, you will be thankful to indulge a little more time in exploring the coastal area, discover the cafe’ scene in central Nuuk or hike in the beautiful scenery of the Paradise Valley. If you have additional days to spare, don’t miss the opportunity for a day trip to Qoornoq Island (Bear island).

• STAY: HOTEL SØMA Nuuk
• EAT: Killut – Café & Grønlandske Specialiteter or Café Esmeralda

Uummannaq

I haven’t personally visited Uummannaq but I’ve heard this place is named as the “most beautiful settlement in Greenland”. Therefore I thought it would be good to include it for a possible visit. I mean the stunning mountain background and colourful houses surely increase its appeal! The city takes its name from the mountain that rise on its background. It is located 600km north of the Arctic Circle and it’s quite difficult to reach (you’ll need at least two flights).

Danish and Greenlandic children believe that Santa Klaus live in Uummannaq and there is even Santa postbox here! Among the things you shouldn’t miss yellow “Arctic Desert” and other immense icebergs.

• STAY: AVANI Unnuisarfiit – Apartments
• EAT: Cafemma Ummannaq

Greenland travel map

Above you can see a map with all the locations mentioned in this blog. This will give you an idea of where all these places are and will help you in the preparation of your trip.

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