Greenland Travel Information

Greenland Travel Information

The rugged Arctic island of icebergs and stunning glacier landscapes, Greenland is a unique place to visit. This world’s biggest island set between Europe and North America is the home of interesting Inuit culture, arctic wildlife such as polar bears, whales and seals, and the midnight sun. The remote Greenland is a nature paradise suitable for the adventurous and well-prepared visitors.

Arctic island with glaciers and Inuit culture: Greenland

Located mostly beyond the Arctic Circle, 84% of Greenland is covered with ice. Much of the ice-free area in located along the coast as the mountainous inland of Greenland consists mostly of glaciers. The main attractions on this icy island are the many stunning glaciers shining in rich shades of blue, the Arctic wildlife of the coastal regions, and the attractive capital Nuuk, which is a showroom of Greenland’s culture and a destination full of breathtaking natural beauty and interesting wildlife.

Arctic nature wonders The most famous of Greenland’s incredible icebergs is Ilulissat, which is floating in coastal waters of a small fishing village. The midnight sun lightens the stunning landscapes of Greenland non-stop for weeks in the summer and offers an adventurous wonderland for outdoor sports such as dog-sled tours or trekking in Greenland, kayaking or climbing, not to mention the art of landscape photography. In another words, Greenland is an amazing and wild outdoor park waiting for the active visitor.

Colorful houses on the coast of Greenland

Infrastructure and services. A prehistoric home of Inuit people that has seen the influence of both Norwegian and Danish culture, contemporary Greenland is a home of Inuit fishermen and an autonomous province of the Kingdom of Denmark. Although Greenland is an island with small towns only, tourist services (where there are any) are quite good and tourism is a growing industry in this Arctic destination.Hotels in Greenland offer convenient accommodation, and some restaurants in Greenland that are suitable to most tastes are also available.

Shopping facilities Although shopping is not one of the major attractions of expensive Greenland, some interesting opportunities for shopping are offered especially in Nuuk. The most popular shopping items of Greenland are Inuit arts and crafts and sealskin. In addition to these, duty-free goods are available at the airport for international air passengers.

A view of Glacier in Greenland

Greenland – the home of the midnight sun

Greenland has an arctic climate with highly changeable weather and average monthly high temperatures only occasionally rising above 10 degrees. During the cold and icy winter of this northern island, average monthly high temperatures are usually below zero from October to April.

The best time to travel to Greenland is between June and August for summer activities, and between December and March for winter activities. If you arrive in summer, you will see the magical midnight sun, which means the sun never gets below the horizon for weeks.

Northern lights in above Greenland

Safety. No matter which time you plan to travel, Greenland is a safe destination where crime is practically an unknown matter. However, the presence of polar bears and other representatives of Greenland’s wild but interesting nature, and the challenges set by the Arctic weather make outdoor activities in Greenland potentially dangerous if not done with a professional guide.

How to get there. Flights to Greenland are best available from Denmark and Iceland. Cruises to Greenland are available from both Europe and North America. The adventurous nature of Greenland is boosted by the fact that this large arctic island lacks train and road network, which is why best opportunity to travel around in Greenland is by internal air connections. Unless of course you want to use more sportive means of transport such as for instance those offered in husky safaris. Rental cars in Greenland can be hard to find.

A view of glaciers in Greenland

Finding your way. Note that all places in Greenland have two names, of which one is in Greenlandic and the other in Danish that used to be the major language of Greenland, but has today been put aside by Greenlandic. Another interesting thing is that most places are so small no one has bothered to put a road sign visible. Therefore, if you have problems finding your way in Greenland, ask locals, and they can most likely help you.