Biking

Experience Greenland on two wheels!

One of the first things you’ll find out as a potential tourist to Greenland is that our road network is extremely limited. In fact, there are no roads connecting the different towns and settlements – meaning the most common ways to get around are by water and air.

But paved roads are not always necessary to embrace the freedom and flexibility that a bicycle can offer – why not take on Greenland’s backcountry with a good quality mountain bike, or even conquer snow and sea ice on a fatbike!

Within minutes, you can be out of town and into the wilderness, tackling varied terrain that passes through diverse landscapes. Check out some of Greenland’s most unique and accessible biking experiences, separated according to region.

ARCTIC CIRCLE REGION

Kangerlussuaq

Kangerlussuaq is perhaps the most convenient town in Greenland for biking, since it is home to the longest road in the country, which stretches from the ice cap all the way to the start of the Arctic Circle Trail, about 16 km west of Kangerlussuaq town.

Where to go:

A popular trip is to cycle out to the ice sheet – either to Russell Glacier which runs off the ice cap, or further on to Point 660 – the edge of the ice cap itself. But be warned – this trip can be pretty hardcore! It’s about 25 km from town out to the ice sheet, and the road can be rocky and sandy, so make sure you get a mountain bike and that everything is in good working order. Along the way, enjoy the rolling mountainous scenery and look out for local wildlife, such as musk oxen, reindeer, arctic hares and birds.

You can also cycle across to the ‘other side’ of town from the airport, and then follow the road further for 5 km to beautiful Lake Ferguson, a popular spot for kayaking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter. West of town, the road takes you about 10 km to the harbour onto the fjord.

Fatbiking:

In winter, Kangerlussuaq is a popular location for fatbiking since it is possible to bike the Arctic Circle Trail in this way. Fatbikes are specialised mountain bikes with extra fat tires (hence the name!), offering a smooth ride over the tough Arctic terrain. They allow you to traverse frozen lakes and cut through snow on two wheels. Experience Kangerlussuaq on a fatbike with Sirius Greenland.

Sisimiut

Sisimiut is the second largest city in Greenland and is notable for its urban vibe. Most of the bikes you’ll see here will probably be in the outdoor skateparks being ridden by young BMXers! In the summer, you can often watch riders in the parks all night long under the midnight sun. Sisimiut has even produced a few homegrown professional BMX riders.

Where to go:

Despite the vibrant buzz of the city, Sisimiut locals are closely connected to the wilderness that is almost literally in their backyard. To the east of the city the main road becomes a network of dirt tracks which are great for all levels of biking, especially in the summer when the sun dries them out.

Hotel Sisimiut has published its own bike maps of routes both around the city and out into the backcountry. Pick them up at the hotel itself or download them here.

Where to hire:

Rent bikes from Hotel Sisimiut or the Seamen’s Home and head out on the trails on your own, or join an organised tour, either in the city or in the wilderness.

Package Tours

Blue Ice Explorer

South Greenland 5 days – active

The famous blue icebergs of South Greenland and the charming village of Igaliku are just some of the highlights of this trip.

FROM €597

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

Easy hiking package. 8 days

Tour package for individual travellers in the best hiking area in Greenland! Accommodation at farms and in settlements.

FROM €754

Greenland Tours

Best of the West

8 days exploring Disko Bay incl. Disko Island and visit to the Greenland Ice Cap

FROM €1,825

CAPITAL REGION

Nuuk

Being Greenland’s largest city, Nuuk offers the most extensive road network for city biking. In the summer, you’ll often see locals biking to and from work, and for tourists it’s a quick and fun way to get around the city and explore the suburbs.

Since Nuuk is a city that, in places, is literally cut into the mountains, there are some hills to tackle, but this also means that you can get up to some great viewpoints.

Where to go:

Just beyond the city centre is the lively suburb of Nuussuaq, where you can watch local life play out in the winding residential streets. Further out, on the other side of the bay, is the newer area of Qinngorput, with its modern apartment blocks that stand in the shadow of Store Malene/Ukkusissat. Qinngorput is a convenient place to start many of Nuuk’s most well-known hikes, or simply to relax at the viewpoint known as ‘the end of the world’, and watch the city work from afar.

Where to hire:

Rent bikes from Nuuk York Bike Rental, Guide to Greenland and at the Seamen’s Home (only if you are also staying there).

NORTH GREENLAND

Ilulissat

Where to go:

Ilulissat is a sizeable town (in Greenlandic terms), so having a bike makes it much easier to get around and out to the various viewpoints. The long road out to the airport is made much more manageable with a couple of wheels aiding your journey! A bike will also get you out quicker to the famous icefjord and the hiking trails that meander alongside it.

Off-road, although there are trails, the terrain in Ilulissat is a lot more rocky than in Sisimiut or Kangerlussuaq, so be sure to check with the bike rental office where it is appropriate to bike.

Where to hire:

North Greenland Adventure has at least 10 mountain bikes to rent and is located in the centre of town.

Qeqertarsuaq

Where to go:

In Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island there are various dirt tracks and gravel roads which make it easy to get out into the surrounding nature on a bike. Those with technical and endurance skills can head out to Kuannit for some more challenging rides.

Where to hire:

Hotel Disko Island rents bikes of various sizes.

Aasiaat

Where to go:

Like Ilulissat, Aasiaat is not so accessible once you venture off the paved roads. However, there are 20km worth of paved roads, all of which have spectacular views of the water, so it’s worth having a whizz around to take in the views.

Where to hire:

You can hire bikes at the Seamen’s Home, even if you’re not actually staying there.

EAST Greenland

By Liz Cooper

Liz has previously worked for Visit Greenland as part of the content, online, B2B and press teams. She is currently an industrial PhD candidate at Visit Greenland and Copenhagen Business School, researching sustainable cruise tourism.

https://visitgreenland.com