A little more
Greenland.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Greenland: what to know before you go

Greenland is the world's largest island, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark where most of the land lies under an ice sheet and small, brightly painted towns cling to the coast. It suits travellers who want icebergs, Arctic wildlife, Inuit culture and real wilderness, and who accept that travel here depends on weather, boats and small planes.

Where to go

• Ilulissat Icefjord. A UNESCO World Heritage Site on Disko Bay where the fast-moving Sermeq Kujalleq glacier calves enormous icebergs into the fjord.
• Nuuk. The small capital mixes modern buildings with the old colonial harbour.
• Kangerlussuaq and the ice sheet. A former air base at the head of a long fjord and one of the main entry points.
• Disko Island and Disko Bay. Basalt mountains, hot springs and the village of Qeqertarsuaq across the bay from Ilulissat.

Best time to visit

June to August is the main summer season, with the midnight sun north of the Arctic Circle, the best boat access, whale watching and hiking, and the most flights. September brings autumn colours on the tundra and the first northern lights.

Staying online in Greenland

Mobile coverage is available in Greenland's towns and most settlements, and Nuuk and the larger towns have 4G. Outside settlements there is generally no signal at all: on the ice sheet, in the fjords, on hiking routes and at sea you should expect to be offline. Data in Greenland has historically been slower and pricier than in Europe, and Wi-Fi in hotels can be limited. Download offline maps and tell someone your route before hiking. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.