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🇬🇱Things to Do in Greenland
From the Ilulissat Icefjord's calving glacier to Disko Bay's drifting icebergs - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Greenland is the world's largest island, and roughly 80% of it sits under a permanent ice sheet up to 3 kilometers thick - a scale that's genuinely difficult to grasp until you're standing at the edge of a fjord watching house-sized icebergs drift past. Despite being geographically part of North America, it remains a self-governing territory of Denmark, and its handful of small towns are connected mainly by boat and plane rather than roads. Here are 4 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Ilulissat Icefjord
A UNESCO World Heritage site where the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier calves enormous icebergs into the fjord, one of the most productive glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere.
📍 Ilulissat
🚉 There are no roads between Greenlandic towns: fly to Ilulissat from Nuuk or Copenhagen, and the icefjord boardwalk starts a 20-minute walk from the centre of town.
Disko Bay
A bay near Ilulissat filled with drifting icebergs of striking size and shape, best seen on a boat tour, especially during the long daylight hours of summer.
📍 Disko Bay, near Ilulissat
🚉 Boats and the Arctic Umiaq coastal ferry link Ilulissat, Qeqertarsuaq and Aasiaat across the bay, and helicopters cover the same routes in winter when the ice closes in.
Nuuk
Greenland's capital and largest town, with a compact colorful old harbor area, the Greenland National Museum, and access to nearby fjord hiking.
📍 Nuuk
🚉 Greenland's capital has a small city bus network and a new international airport runway; the old colonial harbour and the Greenland National Museum are walkable from the centre.
Northern Lights
Greenland's dark winter skies and low light pollution make it one of the more reliable places to see the aurora borealis, typically visible September through April.
📍 Southern Greenland
🚉 The aurora is seen from September to April across the country - Kangerlussuaq, inland and cloud-free, is the classic base, reached by flight and then a short drive out of town.
Mark Greenland, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Greenland?
A week allows time for Ilulissat's icefjord and one or two other towns, given that internal travel is by boat or small plane and connections aren't frequent.
What's the best time to visit Greenland?
June-August has the mildest weather and nearly 24-hour daylight in much of the country; September-March suits visitors specifically chasing the northern lights.
Is Greenland good for a first-time visit?
It suits travelers comfortable with a slower pace and unpredictable weather - infrastructure is limited outside the main towns, and flights can be delayed by conditions, so build flexibility into the itinerary.
Do I need a visa to visit Greenland?
As a Danish territory, entry generally follows Schengen-adjacent rules for many nationalities for short tourist stays, though Greenland is outside the Schengen area itself. Check the official visa information for your nationality: um.dk.
What are some things to do in Greenland on a tight budget?
Hiking around Nuuk's fjords costs nothing, and some icefjord views near Ilulissat are reachable on foot - though boat tours to see icebergs up close and flights between towns carry Greenland's characteristically high Arctic prices.
Can I rent a car in Greenland, and what licence do I need?
You can, but it will not take you between towns: there are no roads connecting Greenlandic settlements at all, and travel between them is by plane, helicopter, coastal ferry or, in winter, dog sled and snowmobile. Rental exists in Nuuk, Ilulissat and Kangerlussuaq for local driving, and the Kangerlussuaq road to the ice sheet is the one genuine drive. Danish and EU licences are valid as issued; other visitors need an International Driving Permit alongside the home licence. Official visitor information is published by Visit Greenland at visitgreenland.com.