Greenland, the world's largest island, is a relatively untouched, pristine, and stunningly beautiful land of rugged mountains, immense glaciers, vast fjords, and sweeping tundra. Considered by many to be one of the world's most impressive regions, Greenland offers a glimpse into the European and North American Arctic of the past. It gives us a chance to experience the northern world as it once was, dominated by ice, snow, and the power of nature.
But Greenland offers lots of questions. After all, it's remote, so how can you visit Greenland? What are the best sights to see in Greenland, and when is the best time to visit? Don't worry! Even though the shores of Greenland may lay far away in the frozen north, the answers to your most pressing questions are much closer at hand. We're experts in Arctic expeditions, having been pioneering polar expedition cruises for over 30 years. So, we're sharing some of our insights, top tips, and must-do's for a trip to Greenland.
Picture by Pierre Gallego
Can you visit Greenland?
First things first, let's start with an easy question. The simple answer is yes, and you should. You can visit Greenland in several ways. However, an expedition cruise is your best option. Navigating the rugged coastline of Greenland by ship will mean you will visit some of the most beautiful and remote areas, often inaccessible by any other method of transport.
Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, so visitors from most European countries can visit Greenland visa-free. Non-EU citizens may require a visa if they plan to stay in Greenland for longer periods. Always be sure to check your entry requirements.
If you join one of our expedition cruises to Greenland, you will likely start your journey from Svalbard, Iceland, or Greenland directly.
So, can you visit Greenland? Yes? How should you visit Greenland? On an expedition cruise. That way, you'll experience some of the most beautiful parts of this rugged land while much of the uncertainty over travel is removed.
Picture by Pierre Gallego
Why visit Greenland?
Greenland boasts some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. On an expedition cruise to Greenland, you'll experience a land where towering icebergs drift silently through deep fjords while ice calves away from glaciers, which themselves carve their way across rugged, untouched terrain. Greenland's fjords are the largest in the world, with the largest, Scoresby Sund, covering an area of around 8,000 km2 (14,700 sq mi).
Greenland has a tiny population, numbering around 56,000, and vast areas of land are uninhabited, being ice plains and glaciated expanses. All towns and settlements are concentrated along the coastline, which is relatively ice-free. Greenland contains the world's largest national park, Northeast Greenland National Park, which covers an area of 972,000 km2 (375,000 sq mi) of Greenland's interior and coastline. The Greenland ice sheet, the world's second-largest body of ice, covers 80% of Greenland.
Greenland is ecologically vital, home to various wildlife and Arctic plants. On a visit to Greenland, you'll likely spot polar bears, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, whales, seals, dozens of bird species, and, if you're lucky, the elusive narwhal. Greenland is not just a land of ice, snow, and rock. It is also home to vast areas of tundra, supporting a variety of plant species, including iconic saxifrage varieties, along with insects and invertebrates rarely found in other parts of the Arctic.
Picture by Martin Anstee
The skies above Greenland also host the beautiful northern lights. During darker evenings, the northern lights transform the skies above Greenland into a tapestry of swirling color, transporting you into an ethereal world of mountains, glaciers, icebergs, and the aurora borealis.
Beyond the stunning landscapes and fantastic wildlife spotting opportunities, Greenland also has a rich cultural history. It has a historic indigenous population descended from the Thule culture, along with more recent Norse settlements and modern influences. It is a land tied to exploration, mythology, and Norse sagas and, in some regard, is a land lost to time.
What are the best places to visit in Greenland?
Greenland is so vast that it may seem impossible to find a list of the best places to visit. However, much of the extreme north of Greenland is locked in ice and beyond the range and capabilities of almost all expedition cruises, so a smaller, more focused list is possible.
Here's our picks for some of the best places to visit in Greenland:
- Scoresby Sund—Scoresby Sund is one of the largest fjord systems in the world, with a main body approximately 110 km (68 mi) long. The landscapes surrounding Scoresby Sund are particularly rich in wildlife and plants, with the tundra supporting a wide variety of fauna and flora. We offer hiking, kayaking and polar diving in Scoresby Sund.
- Prince Christian Sound - This long sound separates the mainland from the Cape Farewell Archipelago in southern Greenland. You can expect icebergs and dramatic, rugged scenery if you navigate through the sound.
- Narsarsuaq – Narsarsuaq is a small settlement in southern Greenland. The surrounding area is rich in biodiversity, and glacier visits are common. A small airfield services this area.
- The Northeast Coast—Northeast Greenland offers some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. It also offers access to untouched fjords and waterways surrounded by mountains and endless expanses of ice. Northeast Greenland is one of the least visited areas on the planet, making it a true Arctic frontier, full of iconic wildlife, including polar bears.
Picture by Pelin Asfuroglu
Greenland has many more places to visit, including Blomsterbugt and Ittoqqortoormiit. However, it is essential not to allow Greenland to be defined by a single location and instead consider it part of a grander experience. The best way to experience Greenland is by expedition cruise, entering narrow waterways and fjord systems, passing between icebergs and before glaciers, and going where larger cruise companies can't.
A visit to Greenland is an unforgettable experience, and the best way to experience it is to follow the spirit of adventure and embrace the wild nature, remote landscapes, and harsh but beautiful Arctic conditions. Join one of our expedition cruises to Greenland to get the most out of your visit to Greenland and experience life in the Arctic to the fullest.
The best time to visit Greenland
The best time to visit Greenland can be subjective, depending on what you want to see. However, a good thing to remember is that many areas of Greenland, you can experience polar night and midnight sun. That is, the sun does not set in much of Greenland during the summer months, and during winter, it doesn't rise for parts of the year. This is less of a consideration in southern Greenland, as it lies outside of the Arctic Circle. Winter in the Arctic is also incredibly harsh, with temperatures dropping, sea ice forming, and many parts of Greenland being cut off entirely for months.
So, the best time to visit Greenland is during the warmer summer months or in the shoulder season on either side. Sunlight and shadow provide extra drama for photography, and the tundra is alive with color and life.
Picture by Ross Wheeler
If you visit during the months when darkness falls at night, you'll also likely witness the beautiful northern lights, which transform the night sky into a tapestry of swirling color.
Our expedition cruises to Greenland occur during the warmer summer months and the brief but beautiful autumn period. This means we will witness the best of life on land and in the surrounding waters, combined with icebergs, snow-capped mountains, and the whispers of a cold, Arctic breeze in the air.
Intrigued by traveling to Greenland? You should be. Join us aboard and experience this jewel of the Arctic.
Main image by Pelin Asfuroglu