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Colorful town by fjord with icebergs and snowy peaks

Greenland travel guide

A vast Arctic island for travellers who want ice, silence and very few other tourists

Best: Jul, Aug

Photo: Barni1 / Pixabay

Capital
Nuuk
Language
Greenlandic
Currency
Danish krone (DKK)
Time zone
UTC-04:00, UTC-03:00 +2
Plugs
Type C, E, F, K · 230 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
112

Why visit Greenland

Greenland suits independent travellers drawn to Arctic landscapes rather than packed itineraries: icebergs near Ilulissat, fjords around Tasiilaq and small coastal towns like Sisimiut and Uummannaq. With only 56,945 people spread across 2,166,086 km2, distances are huge and most places connect by boat or plane, not road. July and August are the best months, with the mildest weather and most daylight. The honest limitation: short travel seasons and remote logistics mean trips need more planning time and flexibility than most destinations.

  • A whole continent-sized emptiness

    Greenland covers 2,166,086 km2 but has only 56,945 people. That's one of the lowest population densities anywhere, so most of the land is ice, fjords and open coast with almost no one around.

  • Towns built along the coast

    Every settlement in the country, from the capital Nuuk (18,326 people) to small Uummannaq (1,407 people), sits on the coast. There are no inland roads linking towns, so travel between them happens by boat or plane.

  • Ilulissat and its ice

    Ilulissat, with 4,737 residents, is best visited in June or July, earlier than most other towns, which peak in July and August. This timing lines up with the season when the famous icefjord is most accessible.

  • July and August for the whole country

    July and August are the best months almost everywhere, from Nuuk and Sisimiut to Tasiilaq and Uummannaq. This is a narrow window, reflecting how short Greenland's ice-free, navigable season really is.

  • East coast remoteness in Tasiilaq

    Tasiilaq, population 1,985, is the main town on Greenland's east coast and one of the smallest on this list. Its isolation from the larger west-coast towns gives a sense of how spread out and disconnected Greenland's communities are.

Is Greenland right for you?

Great for

  • Travellers who want a true wilderness trip, not crowds, in a country of just 56945 people
  • Visitors keen on summer hiking and boat trips, with highs of 11 to 12°C in July and August
  • Anyone chasing long polar night skies for aurora, with sun hours dropping to around 1 to 2 hours in December and January
  • People who enjoy small coastal towns, since even Nuuk, the capital, has only 18326 residents

Less ideal for

  • Beach holiday seekers, since sea temperatures stay between -1.7°C and 5.9°C all year
  • Travellers who dislike rain or snow often, with 9 to 14 rain days recorded in most months
  • Anyone wanting warm, sunny days, since even peak summer highs average only 11 to 12°C
  • Visitors hoping for long daylight sightseeing in winter, when sun hours fall below 4 from November to February

Greenland right now: October

2.3/10
Avg high
1°C
Avg low
-4°C
Rain days
11
Sea
3°C

Averages for Nuuk.

Weather by month

Based on data for Nuuk, July and August are the mildest months, with highs of 11-12°C, around 9-11 sun hours and sea temperatures reaching 5-6°C. December through February are the toughest, with highs down to -10°C, lows near -16°C and barely 1-4 hours of sun a day.

Average highs and lows in Nuuk by month January: high -9°C, low -14°C , 14 rain days . February: high -10°C, low -16°C , 12 rain days . March: high -7°C, low -12°C , 11 rain days . April: high -1°C, low -6°C , 10 rain days . May: high 2°C, low -2°C , 9 rain days . June: high 8°C, low 3°C , 12 rain days . July: high 12°C, low 6°C , 10 rain days . August: high 11°C, low 6°C , 10 rain days . September: high 7°C, low 2°C , 12 rain days . October: high 1°C, low -4°C , 11 rain days . November: high -4°C, low -9°C , 11 rain days . December: high -6°C, low -12°C , 11 rain days . -9°C -14°C JAN 14d -10°C -16°C FEB 12d -7°C -12°C MAR 11d -1°C -6°C APR 10d 2°C -2°C MAY 9d 8°C 3°C JUN 12d 12°C 6°C JUL 10d 11°C 6°C AUG 10d 7°C 2°C SEP 12d 1°C -4°C OCT 11d -4°C -9°C NOV 11d -6°C -12°C DEC 11d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Nuuk · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Greenland: month-by-month weather →

Greenland's climate regions

The weather varies across the country; each region has its own best months.

  • Nuuk and the Southwest Coast

    Nuuk

    Winters average -8.5°C in January, summers reach 11.6°C in July. With about 132 rain days a year, it's the wettest of the main towns. July and August bring the mildest, driest-feeling weather.

    Best: Jul, Aug

  • Sisimiut and the Mid-West Coast

    Sisimiut

    January highs average -11.6°C and July highs 10.5°C. Around 115 rain days fall each year, less than Nuuk. July and August are the best months for milder temperatures.

    Best: Jul, Aug

  • Ilulissat and Uummannaq Fjord

    Ilulissat, Uummannaq

    This is the driest region, with about 80 rain days a year. January highs average -12.4°C, the coldest winter reading of the four regions, while July reaches 10.5°C. July and August are best for visiting.

    Best: Jul, Aug

  • Tasiilaq and the East Coast

    Tasiilaq

    Winters here are the mildest on paper, with January highs averaging -5.4°C, but July only reaches 8.3°C, the coolest summer of the regions. It's also the wettest, with about 153 rain days a year. July and August remain the best months.

    Best: Jul, Aug

Sample itineraries

7 days

Icefjords and Coastal Towns Week

  1. Day 1–3

    Ilulissat

    Spend your first days in Ilulissat, home to 4,737 people, walking near the icefjord and watching icebergs drift past the coast. July and June are the best months to visit here.

  2. Day 4–5

    Uummannaq

    Head north to Uummannaq, a small coastal town of 1,407 people. Walk around the settlement and take in views of the surrounding fjords, best seen in July or August.

  3. Day 6–7

    Sisimiut

    End the trip in Sisimiut, Greenland's second-largest town with 5,582 residents. Explore the coastal area and harbor, ideally during July or August when conditions are mildest.

10 days

Greenland Coast to Capital

  1. Day 1–3

    Tasiilaq

    Start in Tasiilaq on the east coast, a town of 1,985 people. Walk through the settlement and look out over the surrounding waters, best visited in July or August.

  2. Day 4–6

    Ilulissat

    Move to Ilulissat to see the icefjord and the icebergs that calve from it. June and July give the clearest conditions for this stop.

  3. Day 7–8

    Sisimiut

    Continue to Sisimiut, population 5,582, and spend time along the coast and in the town center during the July–August season.

  4. Day 9–10

    Nuuk

    Finish in the capital Nuuk, home to 18,326 people. Walk through the city center and along the waterfront, best done in July or August.

Food to try in Greenland

Suaasat

Often called the national dish, this is a thick soup usually made with seal meat, but also whale, reindeer or seabird, with onion and rice or barley. It is home cooking, common at family gatherings.

Mattak

Raw whale skin with a thin layer of fat, cut into small cubes. It is chewy and eaten as a snack or at celebrations. Whale products are divisive, and many countries ban bringing them home.

Dried fish

Fish such as cod, halibut or capelin, dried in the open air. It is a traditional everyday snack, often eaten with seal or whale fat, and is sold in local shops and markets.

Musk ox

Lean, dark meat from wild herds, notably around Kangerlussuaq. Restaurants and hotels in the main towns serve it as steak, stew or burgers. It is a good choice if you want to avoid seal or whale.

Greenland halibut

A fatty, flavourful fish caught in the cold waters off the west coast, especially around Disko Bay and Ilulissat. You will find it fresh, smoked or dried on many menus.

Greenlandic coffee

Hot coffee with whisky, coffee liqueur and orange liqueur, set alight at the table and topped with cream. Bars and hotel restaurants serve it as an after-dinner drink, often with a small show.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Sockets use plug types C, E, F and K, at 230 V. Most European plugs will fit. Bring an adapter if your devices use a different plug or voltage.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right. Check locally before you plan any driving, as we have no details on road conditions or rental rules.
  • Emergency number: Call 112 in an emergency. Save it in your phone before you arrive.
  • Currency: The currency is the Danish krone (DKK). Check with your bank before you travel about card use and cash withdrawals abroad.
  • Language: The official language is Greenlandic. Learning a few basic words is a polite way to start a conversation.
  • Time zones: Greenland spans several time zones: UTC-04:00, UTC-03:00, UTC-01:00 and UTC+00:00. Check the local time for each place you visit, especially for flight connections.
  • Phone calls: The country calling code is +299. Check your mobile plan before you go, as roaming costs can vary.
  • Size and population: Greenland covers about 2166086 km² but has only about 56945 people. Distances between places are large, so plan travel carefully.

Greenland: frequently asked questions

Is Greenland good to visit in August?

Yes, August is one of the two best months, with a score of 5 out of 10. In Nuuk, highs reach 11°C and lows stay around 5.5°C, so it's one of the mildest months. There are about 10 rain days and 8.7 hours of sun a day, and the sea temperature peaks near its warmest at 5.9°C.

When is the best time to visit Greenland?

July and August are the best months, scoring 5.5 and 5 out of 10. July is slightly warmer, with highs of 11.6°C in Nuuk and the most sun hours of the year outside May. Both months have milder temperatures, less rain than spring and autumn, and the warmest sea water, around 5–6°C.

How cold is Greenland in winter?

Winter in Nuuk is far below freezing. January highs average -8.5°C with lows near -14°C, and December and February are similar. Sun hours drop to just 1 to 3.7 hours a day between November and February, and sea temperatures fall as low as -1.7°C in February, which is why these months score lowest, from 1.1 to 2.2 out of 10.

Does it rain a lot in Greenland?

Rain falls on roughly 9 to 14 days a month year-round in Nuuk, so there's no fully dry season. January has the most rain days, 14, while May has the fewest, 8.6. Monthly totals range from 55mm in March to 109mm in September, so September and June are the wettest months by volume.

What is the sea temperature like in Greenland?

The sea around Nuuk stays cold all year. It dips to -1.7°C in February and March and only climbs to 5.9°C in August, its warmest point. Even in summer, the water stays below 6°C, so swimming conditions remain cold regardless of the month you visit.

Which towns in Greenland are best to visit and when?

Nuuk, Sisimiut, Tasiilaq and Uummannaq are all best visited in July and August, matching the country's overall peak season. Ilulissat is the exception, with June and July listed as its best months, likely tied to the timing of its sea ice and iceberg conditions near the Ilulissat Icefjord.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Greenland.