By now I think we all know that wearing your passport around your neck and traipsing around in huge hiking boots even in the middle of the city are red flags that you are a tourist. That goes for anywhere in the world.
But here are five insider tips for how to blend in specifically in Greenland.
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1. Wear local fashions. From Bibi Chemnitz clothing to inukDesign jewelry to accessories made of qiviut (muskox wool), there are so many designs from Greenland to sport. Not to mention, your purchases support the local artisans and contribute to sustainable tourism.
2. Stay in an AirBnB property. Nothing screams ‘visitor’ like walking out the front door of the hotel. AirBnB’s are located in neighborhoods, so you blend in purely by walking down the residential streets. Plus, since you are in a private home, there is no better way to get a sense of the local style, and down time with your host will give you all the knowledge you will never, ever find in a guide book.
3. Say “Greenlander” instead of native or Inuit. Believe it or not, the population of Greenland is a diverse mix of people from 52 different countries, so to describe someone whose home is Greenland – whether by birth or by choice – we simply use the word ‘Greenlander’.
4. Walk slowly. Stop and smell the roses. Greenlandic culture is a relaxed and casual one. People wear whatever clothes they feel most comfortable in to work, and we accept when someone is not at a meeting point exactly on the minute. When you walk through town, try not to rush from point A to point B; enjoy the walk. Live in the moment.
5. Take the coastal ferry to your next destination. Sarfaq Ittuk is the passenger ferry that sails up and down the west coast of Greenland and stops in 11 towns and settlements. Greenlanders love any chance they get to sail, and hopefully you will feel that while sitting down to the same breakfast table in the cafe or enjoying the fresh salty air together from the upper decks.
