Greenland

'When you've seen the world there's always Greenland' goes the old travellers' saying. But why wait till then? Greenland is not a cheap destination, but few places combine such magnificent scenery, such clarity of light and such raw power of nature.

Vast swaths of beautiful, unfenced wilderness give adventurers unique freedom to wander at will, whether on foot, by ski or by dogsled. With virtually no roads, transportation is expensive, but splurging on helicopter and boat rides is worth every penny. These whisk you over truly magnificent mountainscapes and glaciers or through some of the planet's most spectacular fjords. Greenland also offers world-beating but charmingly uncommercialised opportunities for sea kayaking, rock climbing and salmon fishing.

The world's biggest non-continental island has the world's sparsest population. Nonetheless, scattered mainly along Greenland's west coast are dozens of photogenic little villages of colourfully painted wooden cottages, plus a few small towns as well as the capital, Nuuk Town (Godthåb). In the south there's an appealing sprinkling of emerald-lawned sheep farms.

Culturally, the unique blend of Inuit and Danish blood has produced a Greenlandic society all of its own. This sometimes discordant mix of ancient and modern combines hunting and dogsledding with Carlsberg and kaffemiks. Sensitive visitors with a passionate but unaggressive interest in local ideas will find a fascinatingly rich culture beneath the thick facade of Greenlandic taciturnity.

With an ever-improving network of tourist offices, hotels and hostels, Greenland is no longer the sole reserve of plutocratic cruise-ship passengers. However you travel, it's wise to schedule a wide safety margin for unpredictable weather. Leave ample time in each destination to unwind, soak up the midnight sun, witness a glacier calving or to be dazzled by the magic of the aurora borealis.

Explore Greenland

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Greenland.

  • Natural Feature

    The Southern Fjords

    Astonishingly grand spires of granite soar straight out of Greenland's southernmost fjords like the teeth of an interplanetary crocodile. Climbers rate…

  • Bay

    Ilulissat Kangerlua

    The greatest tourist attraction in all of Greenland is the astonishing Ilulissat Kangerlua (Ilulissat Icefjord), a berg-packed bay fed by the 5km (3mi)…

  • See

    Paamiut Museum

    A circle of five historic stone-and-timber buildings around a turf-ringed former wellhouse constitute Paamiut Museum. The 1839 former governor's residence…

  • See

    Greenland National Museum

    The spacious, well-presented Greenland National Museum is based in an extended 1936 warehouse. Its better exhibits include an interesting section on 1950s…

  • See

    Tele-Museum

    On weekend afternoons it's well worth visiting the Tele-Museum. It traces Greenland's role in the development of transatlantic communications and has such…

  • See

    Emanuel A Petersen Art Museum

    Greenlandic landscapes are on view at the Emanuel A Petersen Art Museum, where most of the works are by the eponymous Danish artist. Petersen (1894-1948)…

  • See

    Qaqortoq Museum

    Qaqortoq Museum is housed in a tar-blackened 1804 building that was once the Julianehåb colony manager's house. Today its most unique features are right…

  • See

    University Library

    The University Library was established in 1747 as the New Herrnhut Mission (House of Moravian Brethren), originally set up by a trio of missionaries who…

  • See

    Lyberth Charter

    The cute 1859 cottage housing Lyberth Charter was the former Fortanderkabshuset (elders' council chamber). Red with green stairs, it retains the bronze …

  • See

    Uummannaq Museum

    The excellent Uummannaq Museum is one of Greenland's better town museums and houses a diverse collection featuring displays on the Qilakitsoq mummies, the…

  • See

    Hunting & Fishing Museum

    The newly renovated Hunting & Fishing Museum emphasises the hunting and fishing traditions of the polar Inuit, and contains both traditional and modern…

  • See

    Kittat

    Kittat is a low-key fur workshop that specialises in making traditional style costumes and kammiks. Anyone can peep inside at the small, functional…

  • See

    Maniitsoq Museum

    Maniitsoq Museum is housed in a series of picturesque historic buildings constructed in 1874 and originally used to house a bakery, a blacksmith's shop…

  • Museum

    Upernavik Old Town Museum

    The entire historical district of Upernavik is basically an outdoor museum. The museum itself, Greenland's oldest, is a real surprise. Most interesting is…

  • See

    Fredenskirche

    Fredenskirche, Paamiut's colourful 1909 church, has a Norwegian-style Hansel-and-Gretel façade. Incredibly the church was 'stretched' by 6m in the 1980s:…

  • See

    Qeqertarsuaq Museum

    The Qeqertarsuaq Museum, in the beautiful former inspector's house at the harbour, has exhibitions on the town's history, including the colonial and…

  • See

    Katuaq Cultural Centre

    The spacious Katuaq Cultural Centre is by far Nuuk's finest piece of modern architecture, a sinuous wooden wave edged in glass. It houses the Greenland…

  • See

    Lund Cottage

    Henrik Lund (1875-1948) was a priest, painter and poet whose song 'Nunarput' has since become Greenland's national anthem. Outside the red-and-green Lund…

  • See

    Institute of Natural Resources

    At the north edge of town near the sweet little golf course is the Institute of Natural Resources, in a pair of glass-nosed wooden-slab buildings that…

  • See

    Ammassalik Museum

    The Tasiilaq Museum is housed in the old church (built in 1908). It has a wonderful collection of exhibits on the history and culture of East Greenland,…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Greenland.

  • Activities

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