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How to Get to Greenland
Flights, Ships, and Travel Tips
East Greenland is a tricky place to explore. The northernmost permanently inhabited settlement here is Ittoqqortoormiit, which is served by just two flights a week that arrive into Nerlerit Inaat (Constable Point) Airport – one from Akureyri in Iceland, and the other from Kangerlussuaq on Greenland’s west coast.
Owing to this limited flight schedule, most travellers to Greenland tend to arrive by sea during the summer months, when melting sea ice allows expedition ships to explore the country’s intricate network of fjords. Ships arrive into East Greenland either via Svalbard or Iceland, voyages which can last a day or so depending on weather conditions.
West Greenland is a little easier to access, with more frequent flights and slightly better infrastructure. The busiest airports are those serving Ilulissat, Kangerlussuaq and Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, with flights arriving from both Iceland and Copenhagen.
You cannot currently fly direct to Greenland from the UK or the USA, which is another reason why most visitors choose to arrive by ship. Trips that include West Greenland on their itinerary either start and end here or take in the region as a stop-off point on a combination cruise from Arctic Canada.
Seasonal Travel to Greenland
It is highly dependent on the time of the year that one can visit Greenland. The Summer season is the perfect weather for travel, as the sea ice retreats thus making waterways accessible and even the reliability of air services improved. However, in winter, some places even become more inaccessible due to strong storms and ice-bound seas.
For leisure-seeking and adventurous tourists, some settlements, particularly in East Greenland which does not have so much road construction, have helicopter transfers. Domestic helicopter rides in some places such as Ittoqqortoormiit operated by Air Greenland can be used to fly to and from the wild outlands.
Also, consider the timing of your trip: while most flights and ships operate from late spring through early fall, winter brings the opportunity to experience the Northern Lights, but travel logistics may be more challenging.
If you’re looking to travel to Greenland, then get in contact with one of our polar experts who can help in navigating the journey into Greenland so you can enjoy the trip.
The best time to visit Greenland
Northern lights illuminate the dark sky. Mid January, the sun appears for the first time in Disko Bay. We do not run Greenland trip during this time.
Days are still short and very cold and we do not run Greenland trip during this time.
A transition month, as the hours of daylight and temperature steadily increase, the days begin to lengthen and the snow melts around the coast. March sees crisp temperatures and a blue sky. Fjords may still be full of ice and nights can be lit up by the Northern Lights. The return of sun, land, warmth and pristine snow is ideal for activities such as snowmobiling and dog sledding. Most birds return to Greenland in March.
Spring sees the first shoots of the native vegetation emerging from the land, in this short transition season you can watch the snow melting fast.
The spring thaw is underway and the days are mostly sunny and longer with temperatures above freezing.
The summer months sees long and bright days and you can cruise along the coast or take a hike on land, enjoy the tundra in flower and watching the seabird colonies.
The long, bright, balmy days of summer are the best time to visit Greenland for those who actually want to see a bit of green land! Most of the country’s coasts will become snow-free during these months and, especially in the south, animals like reindeer, Arctic hare and muskox can be seen grazing on the thawed-out vegetation. The sun rarely sets and the towns and villages are buzzing with light.
Visitors can see the Northern Lights as early as August depending on how far south they are, while the midnight sun further north provides plenty of light for travellers wishing to hike into the interior, sail down fjords and explore the local towns. Late summer is the best time for whale watching, with many species passing close to shore.
As the pack ice moves north in September, east Greenland offers a chance to explore this remote, unvisited coast by expedition ship , including the Scoresby Sund. September is the start of northern lights season.
Peak whale-watching season extends into early autumn, with observers able to spot blue, bowhead, fin, humpback, minke, pilot and sperm whales off the coasts, as well as belugas and narwhals. Autumn is when the Northern Lights start to become visible for most of Greenland, although it’s not until the depths of winter when conditions become ideal.
Peak whale-watching season extends into early autumn, with observers able to spot blue, bowhead, fin, humpback, minke, pilot and sperm whales off the coasts, as well as belugas and narwhals. Autumn is when the Northern Lights start to become visible for most of Greenland, although it’s not until the depths of winter when conditions become ideal.