Icebergs the size of towns, an ice sheet you can drive to and Inuit communities, four hours from Copenhagen.
Greenland is the world's largest island, and most of it is ice. People live along the coast in brightly painted towns linked by plane and boat, never by road. That shapes every trip: you choose a base or two, then explore by water.
For a first visit we build around Disko Bay on the west coast. Ilulissat sits beside a fjord so packed with icebergs that it has UNESCO status, and humpback whales feed offshore in summer. Kangerlussuaq, the main airport, has a road that runs out to the edge of the ice sheet.
The caveat is weather. Fog and wind delay small planes and boats, so every itinerary needs slack, and hotels are simple by the standards of the price. Go for the landscape, not the thread count.
The experiences we plan most often, with the months they are at their best.
The Ilulissat Icefjord carries ice from Sermeq Kujalleq, which UNESCO lists among the fastest glaciers in the world, out into Disko Bay. A small boat trip after dinner, under the midnight sun, takes you slowly between bergs taller than church spires. Walk the boardwalk to Sermermiut in the daytime for the view from above.
Humpback, minke and fin whales come north to feed in Greenland's waters in summer, and Disko Bay is a good place to see them from a small boat out of Ilulissat. Seeing a humpback fluke against a wall of ice is particular to this coast, and some whales are still around in September.
At Kangerlussuaq a road runs out to the inland ice. A four-wheel-drive trip crosses tundra where musk ox graze, then a short walk with a guide puts you on the edge of the ice sheet itself. It is an easy half-day on arrival or departure day.
Sled dogs are still working animals north of the Arctic Circle and in East Greenland. In March and April, hunters in Ilulissat and Sisimiut take visitors out across sea ice and frozen valleys, from a couple of hours to several days with nights in huts. Keep a respectful distance from chained dogs in town.
Kangerlussuaq sits inland at 67°N, and its dry, settled climate gives many clear nights. From September to April, the aurora is often visible from the edge of the settlement. April pairs the last dark nights with longer days for sledding and ice sheet trips.
South Greenland is the green part of the name: fjords, sheep farms and the ruins of Norse settlements a thousand years old. Base yourself around Narsarsuaq and travel by boat to Qassiarsuk and the stone church at Hvalsey. August is the most comfortable month for walking.
Hotels in Greenland are small and simple, with the view doing the work. In Ilulissat, Hotel Arctic has rooms looking over the bay. Across the water, Ilimanaq Lodge offers cabins in a tiny settlement. Nuuk has the widest choice, and in the south we use farm stays and small hotels.
We match each trip in Greenland to hotels, lodges and villas chosen for the way you travel. Tell us what matters and a specialist will suggest two or three that fit.
Ask for hotel suggestionsGreenland has two good seasons. Summer, from June to August, brings the midnight sun, open water for boats and whales in Disko Bay, with mean temperatures around 5°C to 11°C. September is a good shoulder month for walking and the first aurora.
Late winter, March and April, is the season for dog sledding and sea ice, with clear, very cold days and nights still dark enough for the northern lights. Between these windows, sea ice and short days limit what you can do.
A summer trip from Kangerlussuaq to Disko Bay, combining the ice sheet, Ilulissat's icebergs and a quiet settlement across the water. 8 nights.
Take the direct seasonal flight from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq. In the evening, drive out to look for musk ox on the tundra.
A guided day to the edge of the inland ice near Point 660, then a short flight north to Ilulissat in the late afternoon.
Walk to Sermermiut, take a midnight boat among the icebergs and head out for whales. Keep one day free for weather.
A full-day boat north to Eqi, where a calving glacier front drops ice into the sea. Lunch on board, back by evening.
Cross by boat to Ilimanaq, a tiny settlement on the bay, for walking, kayaking and long evenings watching bergs drift past.
Boat back to Ilulissat and fly via Kangerlussuaq or Nuuk to Copenhagen, connecting to London the same day or next morning.
Practical notes checked against their sources. For entry and safety, the FCDO advice for Greenland (opens in a new tab) is always the authority.
Fly to Copenhagen, under 2 hours from Heathrow, then on to Nuuk in about 4 hours. The direct Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq flight runs twice a week, from February to November in 2026. From Iceland, Nuuk and Ilulissat are about 3.5 hours away.
Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but not the EU, and UK passport holders do not currently need a visa for tourism. Read the FCDO entry requirements for Denmark (opens in a new tab), which cover Greenland, before you book.
Read the FCDO entry requirements for Greenland (opens in a new tab)
Pack layers for cold, wind and strong glare off ice, and bring a head net for summer mosquitoes. Check TravelHealthPro (opens in a new tab) and the FCDO health page before you travel.
Greenland uses the Danish krone. Cards work in most places and most towns have an ATM, but carry some kroner for small settlements.
Tusass runs 4G and 5G networks with coverage in almost all settlements. Check whether your UK network has a roaming agreement, or buy a Greenland travel eSIM. Larger hotels have wifi.
Prices in Greenland include service, so tipping is not expected. A gratuity for a good guide or meal is appreciated, and the amount is up to you.
June to August for icebergs, whales and the midnight sun, with September a good quieter alternative. March and April are best for dog sledding and sea ice, with the last dark nights for aurora. From November to January, the north is in polar darkness.
Yes. Flights from Keflavik reach Nuuk and Ilulissat in about 3.5 hours, and East Greenland in about 2 hours. A few days in Iceland at either end makes the journey from London feel shorter and gives a buffer if weather delays a Greenland flight.
For children who enjoy the outdoors, yes. Boat trips among icebergs, the ice sheet and whale watching all work for school-age children. Hotels are simple and days depend on weather, so it suits flexible families.
No. West Greenland works well as a land trip based in towns with day boats. Cruises suit remote coasts such as the east and far north, where there are few hotels. See our [Arctic page](/destinations/polar/the-arctic) for voyages that combine Greenland with Arctic Canada.
Tell us a little and a specialist will reply with ideas, dates that work and a price. Best months: March, April and June to August.
Iceland puts glaciers, geysers and black-sand beaches three hours from London, with midnight sun in June and aurora in winter.
The high Arctic three hours from Oslo: glaciers, walrus and polar bear country, reached on a scheduled flight.
The Northwest Passage by expedition ship: Franklin's route through Arctic Canada, narwhal waters and Inuit communities.
Glacier lakes in the Rockies, whales off Vancouver Island and polar bears on Hudson Bay, each in its own short season.
