Top 5 Places to Visit in Greenland

Greenland is unlike anywhere else on Earth. The world's largest island is a place of staggering extremes - vast glaciers that dwarf entire countries, icebergs the size of city blocks, ancient Inuit culture woven into modern Arctic life, and skies that erupt in curtains of neon light during the long polar nights. It is one of the last great wildernesses on the planet, and for travelers who make it there, it rarely disappoints.

But Greenland is also enormous - roughly the size of Western Europe - and its towns are scattered along a coastline with no connecting roads. Choosing where to go matters. This guide focuses on five destinations that consistently deliver the most memorable experiences, whether you're hoping to see towering icebergs, watch whales in Arctic waters, explore traces of Viking history, or witness the northern lights illuminating the polar sky. If you want read more articles on Thursd, click here

1. Ilulissat -The Iceberg Capital of the World

The Icefjord stretches 40 km from the Greenland Ice Sheet to Disko Bay, and it is home to the most productive glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Each year, an estimated 20 billion tonnes of icebergs calve from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier and push through the fjord - some of them so massive they run aground and sit for months before the sea finally claims them. If Ilulissat is on your radar, Nordicsaga offers dedicated tours built around the icefjord experience.

What to do in Ilulissat:

• Take a boat tour through the icefjord - sailing between icebergs that tower 50–100 meters above the waterline is an experience without parallel
• Hike the Sermermiut Valley trail, which winds past ancient settlement ruins to viewpoints directly overlooking the icefjord and calving glacier
• Take a helicopter flight over the icefjord - helicopter travel is common in Greenland and particularly spectacular here
• Visit the Knud Rasmussen Museum, dedicated to the legendary Danish-Greenlandic explorer who crossed the Northwest Passage
• In winter and spring: dog sledding on the sea ice with Disko Bay's dramatic backdrop

Ilulissat is also the best base for day trips to nearby Eqip Sermia (Eqi Glacier) - an active calving glacier where you can stay overnight at the wilderness Glacier Lodge Eqi and watch the ice thunderously break away in real time.

Best time to visit: June–August for midnight sun and boat tours; March–April for dog sledding and the last northern lights of the season
How to get there: Fly from Reykjavik or Copenhagen via Kangerlussuaq or direct to Ilulissat Airport

2. Nuuk - The World's Most Extraordinary Capital City

Nuuk doesn't look like any other capital city in the world. Home to fewer than 20,000 people, it sits at the edge of the Nuup Kangerlua Fjord - the world's second-largest fjord system - with mountains rising directly behind the city center and icebergs occasionally drifting into view from the harbor. You can walk from a gourmet restaurant to a complete Arctic wilderness in under five minutes.

Many travelers treat Nuuk as a brief stopover between flights. That's a mistake. The city rewards those who slow down and explore its layers: a thriving contemporary arts and music scene, fascinating museums, colorful colonial-era architecture, and some of the best food in the Arctic.

What to do in Nuuk:

• Visit the Greenland National Museum - one of the finest Arctic museums in the world, housing 4,500 years of artifacts, including the haunting 15th-century Qilakitsoq mummies and full Inuit ceremonial costumes
• Explore the Colonial Harbour (Kolonihavn) - the historic heart of the city, where Hans Egede's house from 1728 (the oldest standing building in Greenland) still looks out over the water
• Take a Nuuk Fjord boat tour - the fjord system is vast and dramatic, and whale sightings are common from late summer onwards
• Hike Quassussuaq (Little Malene) for panoramic views over the city, fjord, and mountains
• Dine at Nuuk's acclaimed restaurants - the city has developed a serious food culture built around local seafood, wild game, and foraged Arctic ingredients

Nuuk is also Greenland's main entry point, with direct international flights from Reykjavik and Copenhagen, and since 2024, connections from New York on United Airlines - making it easier than ever for American travelers to reach Greenland without a European stopover.

Best time to visit: Year-round; summer for hiking and boat tours, winter for northern lights and ski resort Sisorarfiit
How to get there: Direct flights from Reykjavik, Copenhagen, and New York

3. South Greenland - Vikings, Fjords, and the Greenest Landscape

South Greenland is the island's great surprise. This is the region that Erik the Red named "Greenland" in the 10th century - not as a marketing trick, but because it genuinely impressed him. The south is warmer and more agricultural than anywhere else on the island, with lush green valleys, sheep farms, and wildflowers that look nothing like the Arctic tundra most visitors expect.

But it also holds some of Greenland's most historically significant sites, most of which are now recognized as UNESCO World Heritage under the Kujataa cultural landscape designation.

What to do in South Greenland:

• Visit Qassiarsuk (Brattahlid) - the original Viking settlement where Erik the Red built his farm in 985 AD; the reconstructed longhouse and tiny stone church replica are among Greenland's most evocative historical sites
• Explore Igaliku - a picturesque village near the ruins of Garðar Cathedral, the Norse bishop's seat and the largest Viking farm in Greenland, surrounded by stunning fjord scenery
• See Hvalsey Church - the best-preserved Norse ruin in all of Greenland, where the last recorded Viking wedding in the New World took place in 1408
• Sail the stunning Tunulliarfik and Eriksfjord fjord systems on multi-day kayaking or sailing adventures
• The town of Narsarsuaq serves as the main hub, with glacier hiking and ice cap access nearby

South Greenland moves at a slower pace than the north, and its combination of Norse history, agricultural landscapes, and fjord beauty makes it feel like a completely different country from the icy wilderness of Disko Bay.

Best time to visit: June–September
How to get there: Fly to Narsarsuaq from Reykjavik or via helicopter connections from Nuuk

4. Kangerlussuaq - Gateway to the Ice Cap

Kangerlussuaq occupies a unique position in Greenland travel: it is where most international visitors first set foot on the island, yet surprisingly few stay long enough to explore it properly. Built around a former U.S. Air Force base (active until 1992), Kangerlussuaq has the most accessible route to Greenland's Inland Ice Cap - and that alone makes it extraordinary.

The Ice Cap covers approximately 80% of Greenland's total surface and holds 7% of the world's fresh water. Standing at its edge, watching the infinite white expanse stretch north toward the horizon, is one of those genuinely humbling travel experiences that stays with you.

What to do in Kangerlussuaq:

• Drive or hike the 25 km dirt road to the Ice Cap - the only place in Greenland where the ice sheet is this accessible overland; you can walk directly onto the ice
• Hike to the Russell Glacier, which calves dramatically into a lake at its base
• Spot musk oxen - Kangerlussuaq has one of the highest musk ox densities in the world, and sightings are common on the tundra surrounding the town
• Begin the famous Arctic Circle Trail - a 160 km multi-day wilderness hike from Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut, considered one of the world's great long-distance treks
• Witness the midnight sun from June through late July without needing to travel further north

Kangerlussuaq also holds a special place for northern lights viewing: the inland location means clearer skies and less coastal cloud cover, making aurora sightings particularly reliable from September through March.

Best time to visit: March–April for dog sledding and northern lights; June–August for midnight sun and ice cap hiking
How to get there: Kangerlussuaq International Airport receives direct flights from Copenhagen - it is Greenland's primary international gateway

5. Tasiilaq - The Soul of East Greenland

If the west coast of Greenland is where most travelers go, East Greenland is where the island reveals its most raw, untouched character. And Tasiilaq - East Greenland's main settlement, reached only by flight or boat - is the heart of it.

The East Coast has a distinct culture from the West. The Tunumiit people who have lived here for centuries speak a different dialect, maintain stronger traditional practices, and produce handicrafts - particularly tupilak figures and sealskin work — that are considered the finest in all of Greenland. The landscape is equally dramatic: jagged granite peaks, sea ice that lingers well into summer, and fjords of breathtaking scale.

What to do in Tasiilaq:

• Dog sledding on the sea ice in winter and spring - East Greenland is one of the last places where traditional long-distance dog sledding expeditions still operate
• Kayaking among sea ice floes and icebergs through the Ammassalik fjord system
• Hike to vantage points above town for views of the Sermilik Icefjord, one of the most dramatic in Greenland
• Attend a drum dancing performance or visit local artisans for authentic East Greenlandic tupilak carvings
• Join a boat or helicopter expedition further into East Greenland - Scoresby Sound (the world's largest fjord system) is accessible from here and is otherworldly in scale

Tasiilaq is not an easy destination to reach, but its remoteness is entirely the point. East Greenland rewards the effort with genuine wilderness and cultural immersion that the more visited western towns simply cannot replicate.

Best time to visit: February-April for dog sledding and northern lights; July-August for kayaking and hiking
How to get there: Fly from Reykjavik (Iceland) or via helicopter from Nuuk

Quick Comparison: Greenland's Top 5 Places

Practical Tips for Visiting Greenland

Getting around: There are no roads connecting Greenland's towns. Travel between destinations requires domestic flights with Air Greenland, helicopter connections, or the Arctic Umiaq Line coastal ferry - a slow but spectacularly scenic multi-day journey up and down the west coast.

Budget realistically: Greenland is one of the world's more expensive destinations. Accommodation, food, and transport costs are significantly higher than in mainland Scandinavia. Budget a minimum of $300-500 USD per person per day for mid-range travel.

Book tours in advance: Greenland's most popular experiences - boat tours, dog sledding, glacier hikes - have limited capacity and sell out quickly in peak season. Book at least 2-3 months ahead for summer travel.

Pack for all conditions: Weather in Greenland can shift dramatically within hours. Regardless of the season, bring waterproof outer layers, thermal base layers, and sturdy waterproof footwear. Even in July, temperatures can drop suddenly on the water or in the mountains.

The "Big Arctic Five": Greenland's tourism identity is built around five signature experiences - massive icebergs, whale watching, dog sledding, the northern lights, and the welcoming Greenlandic people. A well-planned trip can realistically include all five, depending on the season.

Where Should You Start?

For most first-time visitors, Ilulissat is the single most impactful place to begin a Greenland trip - the icefjord alone justifies the journey. Combine it with a few days in Nuuk to understand the country's culture and history, and you have the foundation of a world-class Arctic itinerary.

Greenland is one of those rare destinations that genuinely exceeds expectation - a place where the superlatives feel earned rather than borrowed. Wherever you go, the landscape will stay with you long after you've returned home.