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  • Two travelers reading on a bench overlooking icebergs in the Ilulissat ice fjord in Greenland. Photo by Mads Pihl

Why Greenland may not be for you

A quick guide on how and when to travel to Greenland

It’s usually around this time of the year where media and tourist destinations try to convince you to visit their tropical island, city or ski resort, because it is the biggest, prettiest, flashiest, or <insert any adjective> place to have a holiday.

This year, we thought that we’d try something different, and re-acknowledge the already known fact that Greenland is not for everyone. In fact, if you are planning on visiting Greenland, it would be helpful if you were aware of what you’re getting into.

Don’t get us wrong, Greenland is a very special destination that will give you experiences hard to replicate elsewhere, but there’s also some things not always in our control. So don’t come to Greenland unless….

"The Arctic is a place where you can’t always be in charge of it all."

Continues further down the page...

Package Tours

Arctic Umiaq Line: Discover Greenland from the sea

Arctic Umiaq Line

Discover Greenland from the sea

The coastal ship Sarfaq Ittuk sails from southern Greenland up along Greenland’s west coast to Disko Bay.

FROM 500 DKK
Blue Ice Explorer: Plan your own holiday in Greenland

Blue Ice Explorer

Plan your own holiday in Greenland

Are you dreaming of going to Greenland and would you prefer to plan your own trip?

FROM €24
Disko Line: Calving glaciers, whales and icebergs

Disko Line

Calving glaciers, whales and icebergs

Let the magnificent nature of Greenland get under your skin on boat trips in an extraordinary landscape of glaciers and icebergs.

FROM €1,477
North Safari Outfitters: The Arctic Five winter and spring hunt

North Safari Outfitters

The Arctic Five winter and spring hunt

North Safari Outfitters offers a unique hunt on the Arctic five species, Muskox, Caribou, Polarfox, Polarhare and Ptarmigan.

FROM €4,500
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YOU’RE WILLING TO BE FLEXIBLE

Being open-minded when traveling is important no matter where you go, but the Arctic is a place where you can’t always be in charge of it all.

For example, the same weather conditions that produce enough snow for dog sledding, might also give you a day where you are better off staying indoors.

TIP:

So go ahead and plan your trip as much as you like but be prepared for a few changes along the way – and maybe consider including a few days to relax so that you do Greenland the local way and tackle each day as it comes.

  • THINGS TO DO

    Use our ‘Things To Do’ guide to filter when you want to do it, where you want to go and what type of activities you can experience.

  • SUMMER ACTIVITIES

    Midnight sun, whale watching, icebergs, hiking, kayaking, climbing, culture related activities…

  • WINTER ACTIVITIES - DEPENDENT ON SNOW LEVELS

    Dog sledding, heliskiing, ice fishing, northern lights, trophy hunting…

YOU’RE OK TO HAVE A DIGITAL DETOX

You’re traveling to get to one of the most remote and least accessible countries in the world.

It’s the chance to unplug from the world wide web and get in touch with marvelous natural surroundings, yourself and your travel companions – and it’s probably better to come to Greenland with this mindset.

TIP:

If you need your internet fix it is still possible to purchase WiFi in most places albeit at a higher price than you’re likely used to. However, Nuuk library offers limited free internet access for all, and accommodations like the fine Hotel Arctic in Ilulissat, Hotel Qaqortoq, Vandrehuset and Hotel Hans Egede in Nuuk offer their guests free WiFi in their rooms!

YOU CAN PACK CREATIVELY

If you’ve booked your flight ticket, we can tell you already now: pack within the standard 20 kilo checked baggage guidelines of the carriers, for example the national airline Air Greenland.

Due to the fact that everything from food to dogs to plasma TVs are shipped or flown into Greenland, weight and space on aircrafts are precious.

Therefore, every kilo counts and is accounted for. You might get charged for even bringing a kilo or two extra in.

TIP:

Read the checked baggage guidelines.

Explore related articles, offers and tour providers:

  • Anytime
  • Cultural Experiences
  • Natural Experiences
  • Summer
  • Winter

By Tanny Por

Tanny is a world citizen who helps to share the outside - inside perspective of travelling in Greenland. She also works with strategic initiatives in the areas of content marketing and destination development for Visit Greenland.

https://thefourthcontinent.com/

Editors' pick

Diving into the Nuuk fjord as the sun is setting. Photo by Peter Lindstrom - Visit Greenland

Editor’s tips for 2021

Greenland’s on your bucket list for the new 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?

  • #All destinations
  • #Anything
  • #Anytime
  • #Anywhere
  • #Boat Tours
  • #Capital Region
  • #Cross Country Skiing
  • #Cultural Experiences
  • #Culture vs Nature
  • #Destination Arctic Circle
  • #Disko Bay
  • #Dog Sledding
  • #East Greenland
  • #Fly fishing
  • #Glaciers
  • #Heliskiing
  • #Hiking
  • #Hot Springs
  • #Hunting
  • #Ice fishing
  • #Icebergs
  • #Ilulissat
  • #Ilulissat Icefjord
  • #Inuit Culture
  • #Ittoqqortoormiit
  • #Kangerlussuaq
  • #Kayaking
  • #Maniitsoq
  • #Midnight Sun
  • #Music
  • #Nanortalik
  • #Natural Experiences
  • #North Greenland
  • #Northern Lights
  • #Nuuk
  • #Regions
  • #River fishing
  • #Seasons
  • #Sisimiut
  • #Ski Touring
  • #Snowmobiling
  • #Snowshoeing
  • #South Greenland
  • #Summer
  • #Tasiilaq
  • #The Ice Sheet
  • #Things to do & About
  • #Towns & settlements
  • #Uummannaq
  • #Vikings
  • #Weather
  • #Whale Watching
  • #Winter
Disko Bay Steam in Ilulissat Ice Fjord. Photo - David Trood, Visit Greenland

Greenland vs Iceland: The Arctic Travel Battle

10 basic differences between Greenland and Iceland you should know before booking your vacation.

  • #All destinations
  • #Anything
  • #Anytime
  • #Anywhere
  • #Attraction
  • #Camping
  • #Capital Region
  • #Climate
  • #Cultural Experiences
  • #Culture vs Nature
  • #Destination Arctic Circle
  • #Disko Bay
  • #East Greenland
  • #Glaciers
  • #Guided sightseeing
  • #Hot Springs
  • #Ilulissat
  • #Ilulissat Icefjord
  • #Inuit Culture
  • #Kangerlussuaq
  • #Nanortalik
  • #Natural Experiences
  • #Norse History
  • #North Greenland
  • #Northern Lights
  • #Nuuk
  • #Qaqortoq
  • #Qeqertarsuaq
  • #Regions
  • #Seasons
  • #South Greenland
  • #Souvenir shopping
  • #Summer
  • #The Ice Sheet
  • #Things to do & About
  • #Towns & settlements
  • #Vikings
  • #Weather
  • #Wildlife tours
  • #Winter
A glacier hiker on the Greenland Ice Sheet kicking up ice on a sunny day near Kangerlussuaq. Photo by Mads Pihl - Visit Greenland.

8 Things You Can Only Find in Greenland and Nowhere Else

Here is a list of things that you can find ONLY in Greenland and nowhere else in the world.

  • #All destinations
  • #Anything
  • #Anytime
  • #Anywhere
  • #Architecture
  • #Arctic Wildlife
  • #Art
  • #Attraction
  • #Craft
  • #Cultural Experiences
  • #Culture vs Nature
  • #Food & Drinks
  • #Gastronomy
  • #Greenlandic Gastronomy
  • #Inuit Culture
  • #Language
  • #Natural Expereinces
  • #Natural Experiences
  • #Regions
  • #Seasons
  • #Souvenir shopping
  • #The Ice Sheet
  • #Things to do & About
  • #Towns & settlements
  • #Wildlife tours
Arctic hare in Ittoqqortoormiit. Photo by Bo Normander.

Beautiful hike in Ittoqqortoormiit in East Greenland

A hike to the abandoned village of Uunarteq (Cape Tobin) offers incomparably beautiful Arctic nature, challenging terrain and close encounters with snow hares, eider ducks, sea urchins and, if you are lucky / unlucky, polar bears.

  • #Cultural Experiences
  • #Culture vs Nature
  • #East Greenland
  • #Fauna
  • #Hiking
  • #Ittoqqortoormiit
  • #Natural Expereinces
  • #Regions
  • #Seasons
  • #Summer
  • #Things to do & About
  • #Towns & settlements
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Keep Exploring

Things to Do

Browse culture and nature (outdoor, hunting, fishing, cruises) related activities, as well as combination of both types.

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Read about practical information on how to get to Greenland, how to get around, when to travel or where to stay.

Destinations

Explore the regions and towns around Greenland and dig deeper into the experiences in each destination.

About Greenland

All about art, music, history, as well as animals, climate change and other interesting information about Greenland.

Visit Greenland

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