Greenland travel guide

Getting there

Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq and Ilulissat airports handle international flights, mainly from Copenhagen and Iceland, with some seasonal routes from North America. In summer, expedition cruises also visit.

Best time to visit: Jun–Aug for hiking and the midnight sun; Feb–Apr for dog sledding and northern lights.

Flights: see the cheapest month to fly to Nuuk, with live one-way and return fares from your nearest airport.

Tougher months: November-January – very dark and cold, though good for northern lights.

Weather by month in Nuuk

• -4°J●
• -4°F●
• -4°M●
• 0°A●
• 4°M●
• 8°J●
• 11°J●●
• 10°A●●
• 6°S●●
• 1°O●●
• -2°N●
• -4°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: America/Danmarkshavn, America/Nuuk, America/Scoresbysund, America/Thule. Compare with your local time.

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2024-10-29). Read the advisory.

Stay

Most trips to Greenland are based around Ilulissat, Nuuk or Kangerlussuaq. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$150–220 for a backpacker and US$300–500 mid-range, per person.

Connect

Plug types: C, E, F, K. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +299.

Mobile data: set up a travel eSIM or check your roaming plan before you fly, so data works as soon as you land.

Do

• Ilulissat (Disko Bay · icebergs): Home to the UNESCO-listed Icefjord, the island's most spectacular sight.
• Nuuk (Capital · culture): A small capital with a national museum, cultural centre and mountain fjords.
• Kangerlussuaq (West · ice sheet gateway): The main air hub, with easy access to the ice sheet and musk oxen.
• South Greenland (Qaqortoq & Narsaq) (South · Norse history): Green valleys, sheep farms and Norse ruins in a UNESCO-listed landscape.
• Sisimiut (West · adventure town): A hub for hiking, skiing and dog sledding on the Arctic Circle.
• Tasiilaq (East · remote Arctic): Dramatic peaks and a strong traditional culture on the wild east coast.
• Disko Island (Disko Bay · island): Basalt mountains, a glacier for summer sledding and black-sand beaches.

Things to do

• Cruise among icebergs at Ilulissat. Sail past towering bergs calved from one of the world's fastest-moving glaciers.
• Go dog sledding. Race across frozen landscapes behind a team of Greenlandic sled dogs in winter and spring.
• Watch the northern lights. See green curtains of aurora dance across dark winter skies.
• Spot whales. Look for humpbacks feeding in the fjords during summer.
• Hike the Arctic Circle Trail. Trek through wild tundra between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut.
• Visit Norse ruins. Explore Viking-age church and farm ruins in the Kujataa region of South Greenland.
• Kayak in a fjord. Paddle silently among floating ice, as Greenlanders have done for centuries.
• Soak in Uunartoq hot springs. Bathe in natural warm pools while icebergs drift nearby.

Eat and drink

• Suaasat – traditional soup of seal, whale or reindeer with rice
• Greenland halibut – fresh cold-water fish, often smoked
• Mattak – whale skin with a layer of fat, a local delicacy

Money and safety

Currency: Danish krone (DKK). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not expected.

Emergency numbers: 112 police, fire & ambulance.

• Greenland uses the Danish krone.
• Cards are widely accepted in towns, but ATMs are limited in small settlements.
• Greenland is very safe from crime, but nature is the main risk – go with guides off the beaten track.
• Weather changes quickly; carry layers and tell someone your hiking plans.