Your Greenland Travel Agency

Greenland is an autonomous country that’s part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It’s self-governing and has representatives within Denmark's parliament.

Greenland is technically part of the North American continent, but culturally and politically it is closer to Europe.

Greenland is the world's largest island and it covers an estimated 2.17 million square kilometres (836,330 square miles) of land.

The first recorded settlement of Greenland was by Erik Thorvaldsson, or “Erik the Red”. A Norse explorer, he was exiled from Iceland and journeyed North West with his family, looking for a new home. He eventually discovered Greenland in 982.

Despite its name, around 80% of the country is covered by an enormous ice sheet, meaning it’s more white and blue than green. According to Norse sagas, Greenland’s founder Erik Thorvaldsson named it to attract more people to live there, and not as an accurate description.

Find out more fun facts about Greenland in our blog.

Greenland has a population of around 56,000, of which 88% majority are Greenlandic Inuit.

Greenland is inhabited by Greenlandic Inuits and Danes.

Greenlandic is the official language, with Kalaallisut (West Greenlandic) being the standard dialect. There are also different dialects spoken in North, South and East Greenland. Danish and English are also commonly spoken.

An important seat of government, tourism and finance, Nuuk is the capital city of Greenland.

One of the most requested activities is to see the local wildlife, with day trips to spot whales and polar bears available in Greenland. Of course, these tours cannot guarantee viewings but they are led by experienced locals who know the land and sea.

Another animal-orientated activity is dog sledding. On these guided day tours, you get to meet a pack of huskies before they pull you along on your sled and speed through the stunning countryside.

Hiking is also a popular activity with visitors to Greenland, many of whom decide to trek the well-known Arctic Circle Trail between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut.

Greenland’s towns and cities also have their charms and a visit to the capital Nuuk is not to be missed, with colourful houses, mountainous scenery, museums and galleries to discover.

Taking a voyage to Greenland’s floating glaciers and ice caps is on most visitors' “must-do” list. You’ll get to experience serene sea views and immense icebergs that will take your breath away.

To experience the best of Greenland’s activities and attractions, we recommend visiting in the summer months. If you have your heart set on seeing the northern lights, we'd recommend a trip to Iceland, Lapland or Northern Norway instead.

Find out what to expect in Greenland by reading about Hilmar’s arctic expedition.

Depending on when you visit and the area you explore, temperatures in Greenland can vary from a chilly -50 °C (-58 °F) in the winter to an average of 10 °C (50 °F) during the summer.

Depending on where you’re visiting from, you may need a visa to visit Greenland. If you have a British, American, Australian, New Zealand or Canadian passport then you won’t need a visa.

However, if you’re from a country that requires a visa to enter Denmark, then you you’ll need to apply for one as Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Please keep in mind, Greenland is not part of the EU, so EU regulations on free movement do not apply.

The easiest way to fly to Greenland is via Iceland or Denmark, where you can take a domestic plane to Nuuk or Ilulissat. Keep in mind that when you book a Nordic Visitor package tour to Greenland, your round-trip flights from Iceland to Greenland are included in the tour and organised for you, saving you the bother of booking and coordinating it all yourself.

On your flight from Iceland to Greenland, you’ll be allowed a checked bag and a carry-on. Your hand luggage should be a maximum of 8 kilograms (17 pounds). Your checked bag should be a max of 20 kg (44 lbs).

You can find the price of your Greenland tour by adding your departure dates to the calendar. Please bear in mind though that, due to the limited availability of flights to Greenland, there might be a supplement charged.

Yes, you can choose your arrival date. However, due to limited domestic flights between Iceland and Greenland, we recommend that you book your package from the available dates online to ensure a seamless journey to and from Greenland.

We can only customise certain aspects for you as dates are limited. You’re able to add nights in Iceland before or after your trip to Greenland, or you can combine your tour with another destination such as Iceland or Denmark. This is why it would be better for you to look through packages, and decide which would best suit your travel wish list.

We recommend that you look over flights for timings and dates, but hold off purchasing until you’ve booked your preferred tour and received confirmation from your dedicated travel consultant. Once you’ve had your tour secured, you should then choose and pay for your flights.

Why? Once you’ve been introduced to your travel consultant, you’ll have all the information you need to make informed choices on timings. This is especially important as flights to Greenland are limited. If you have any questions, you can always contact us for booking advice.

The weather in Greenland is changeable, so we advise that you prepare for it by dressing and packing sensibly. Day to day, we suggest you wear good walking boots, plenty of thermal woolly layers, and waterproof trousers and coat. Don’t forget to bring a warm hat, socks and gloves as well. These are especially important as temperatures can drop suddenly and you’ll want your extremities to be protected from the cold.

Here’s a basic list of what to bring on your Greenland holiday:

• Fleece jacket/lightweight wool sweater
• Rainproof/windproof jacket
• Waterproof trousers
• Sturdy walking shoes with a good tread/grip
• Gloves
• Scarves
• Hat (toque/beanie)
• Swimsuit
• Thermal underwear
• Waterproof hiking boots
• Warm socks
• For icy areas, you may want to bring ice cleats, ice grips or anti-slip soles