So Greenland’s on your bucket list for this year – or perhaps even the year after – but when is the best time to visit Greenland and what are useful things to know before going? What are things to do in Greenland in winter as opposed to summer?
In order to help you make your decision, visitgreenland.com editor Tanny Por has hand-picked 12 reasons why this polar wonderscape is so special at particular times of the year. Month-by-month recommendations of where to go & why to visit Greenland, enjoy!
January
RETURN OF THE SUN
The thick cloak of polar darkness is still flung over much of Greenland, and January is a time of waiting for the return of the sun. Winter solstice, and Greenland’s winter darkness is magical in its own way. Although the sun has not risen for months in the northernmost parts of the country, light can be found in the moon reflecting on the thick snow, the stars twinkling in the sky, and the northern lights dancing in the heavens.
On the day of its first rising, communities above the Arctic Circle gather together at their town’s vantage point to watch the sun peep above the horizon. There is no set event, but sometimes people will gather and sing songs together as they watch the sun return. It’s an occurrence rarely experienced and hard to imagine by the outside world.
February
WELLNESS X SNOW
As February brings more light to the day, you will notice that people stay out longer. It’s great that Greenlandic wellness options are becoming more accessible because a snowstorm in Greenland would not cancel the event, only add a layer to it!
Nuuk offers a white backcountry experience during this time – one can consider outdoor activities such as alpine and cross-country skiing, randonnée and snowshoeing with stunning vistas! After a day out in the wild, head to the swimming pool for a soak in the hot tub. Magnificent views guarantee a true Greenland spa experience.
Snowmobiling is an adrenaline pumping sport which is second nature to locals in Sisimiut. Take a tour with an operator, and then return to town and try Hotel Sisimiut’s Arctic Spa offering, complete with sauna and wilderness baths.
Another option is on the other side of the country with Tasiilaq tours, where a snowmobile will pull a mobile sauna to a beautiful location. When you are too hot, you can roll in the snow to cool down!
March
CULTURE IN NATURE
March is a fine time to try traditional nature activities such as dog sledding and ice fishing which have both been a way of life for thousands of years. It’s actually still a common mode of transport in Greenland and the local fishing industry is an economic lifeline for the country presently.
There is no better way of feeling the raw power of Greenland’s nature than on a traditional wooden sled. You can dogsled anywhere above the Arctic Circle and in East Greenland, but a lesser known place that stands out in the winter is the northerly town of Uummannaq. Here you can experience small-town living with 1400 residents, and slow your heartbeat down even further by ice fishing. Think of nothing else as you pull up fishing lines of up to 300 metres in spectacularly white, barren surroundings. Your cheeks will grow red from the exertion of working the line laden with the most delicious fish species in Greenland: halibut, redfish or even catfish.
Another popular experience is sleeping at igloo lodge greenland. The tradition of building ice igloos (actually adopted from the Canadian Inuit) is now available for tourists visiting Ilulissat in the coldest months of the year. If you’re lucky when staying at the Greenlandic igloo, the northern lights will shimmer across the sky.
April
LIGHT AND SOUND
April will be one of your last chances to bask under the northern lights until winter comes again! Due to its positioning at 67°N and its inland positioning, Kangerlussuaq is one of the best places on Earth to see the night sky light show. You will find that many nights will be clear and cloudless! During the day, do some activities related to the Greenland Ice Sheet – it’s the only place in the country where you can reach it by road.
For music lovers, combine the northern lights with Arctic Sounds Festival in Sisimiut, a burgeoning music festival, which showcases artists from Nordic countries and Inuit Nunangat from Canada.
Continues further down the page…
Package Tours
Whale Safari
Frozen West
Winter adventure! Vacation in a snowy paradise
