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Colorful town by fjord with icebergs and snowy peaks

Greenland travel guide

A huge, thinly populated country where every main town sits on the coast

Best: Mar, May

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 travellers who want space and quiet more than city life. It covers 2,166,086 km² but has only 56,945 people. The capital, Nuuk, has 18,326 residents. Other main towns, such as Sisimiut, Ilulissat and Tasiilaq, are all on the coast and much smaller. The best months to go are March and May. The honest limitation: towns are small and spread across a vast area, so don't expect big-city choice in places to stay, eat or shop.

  • Vast space, very few people

    Greenland covers 2166086 km², but only 56945 people live here. You get a huge amount of land for each person. Do not come for crowds, nightlife or big-city life. Come for space and quiet.

  • Nuuk, a small capital

    Nuuk is the capital and the largest city, with 18326 people. That is about a third of the whole population. It is a coastal city, so you can see the country's main town and its sea setting on one trip.

  • A string of coastal towns

    Every main town on our list is on the coast. Sisimiut has 5582 people and Ilulissat has 4737. Each makes a clear second stop after Nuuk if you want to see more than the capital.

  • Very small, remote communities

    Tasiilaq has 1985 people and Uummannaq has 1407. These are small places, so expect few services. They suit travellers who plan ahead and want to see how people live far from larger towns.

  • Clear best months to travel

    Our data points to March and May as the best months to visit. The country spans 4 time zones, from UTC-04:00 to UTC+00:00, so check local time for each town when you plan transfers.

Is Greenland right for you?

Great for

  • Travellers who want space and quiet: 56945 people live across 2166086 km²
  • Light seekers in early summer, with about 17.8 sun hours in June and 17.3 in May
  • Arctic fans ready for real cold: highs stay below zero all year, even -9.2°C in July
  • Visitors who dislike rain: monthly precipitation never goes above 26 mm
  • Coastal town trips, since Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat and other listed towns are all on the coast

Less ideal for

  • Beach or sun holidays: the warmest month, July, peaks at only -9.2°C
  • Winter visitors who want daylight: December and January get 0 sun hours
  • City-break fans: the largest town, Nuuk, has only 18326 people
  • Anyone sensitive to cold, with February lows around -39.3°C

Greenland right now: September

3.4/10
Avg high
-19°C
Avg low
-25°C
Rain days
8

Averages for Greenland.

Weather by month

This 2015–2024 climate data is labelled only as Greenland, with no city named, and even July, the warmest month, has highs of just -9.2°C. March, the only month rated ok, and May, with 17.3 sun hours, are the best choices, but avoid December and January, when highs sit around -33°C and there are 0 sun hours.

Average highs and lows in Greenland by month January: high -33°C, low -39°C , 4 rain days . February: high -33°C, low -39°C , 3 rain days . March: high -31°C, low -38°C , 4 rain days . April: high -24°C, low -31°C , 7 rain days . May: high -18°C, low -25°C , 6 rain days . June: high -12°C, low -18°C , 7 rain days . July: high -9°C, low -15°C , 7 rain days . August: high -12°C, low -18°C , 7 rain days . September: high -19°C, low -25°C , 8 rain days . October: high -25°C, low -31°C , 6 rain days . November: high -29°C, low -35°C , 6 rain days . December: high -33°C, low -39°C , 4 rain days . -33°C -39°C JAN 4d -33°C -39°C FEB 3d -31°C -38°C MAR 4d -24°C -31°C APR 7d -18°C -25°C MAY 6d -12°C -18°C JUN 7d -9°C -15°C JUL 7d -12°C -18°C AUG 7d -19°C -25°C SEP 8d -25°C -31°C OCT 6d -29°C -35°C NOV 6d -33°C -39°C DEC 4d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Greenland (country average) · averages 2015–2024

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

Sample itineraries

7 days

West coast towns in one week

  1. Day 1–3

    Nuuk

    Start in the capital, home to 18326 of Greenland's 56945 people. Walk the coastal town, change money into Danish krone and plan the rest of your trip with local operators.

  2. Day 4–5

    Sisimiut

    Move on to Sisimiut, a coastal town of 5582 people. Spend two days walking around town and along the shore at an easy pace.

  3. Day 6–7

    Ilulissat

    Finish in Ilulissat, a coastal town of 4737. Use your last days to explore the waterfront, and ask local guides which trips suit the weather.

10 days

Nuuk to Uummannaq in ten days

  1. Day 1–3

    Nuuk

    Begin in Nuuk, the capital and largest town, with 18326 people. Get used to the pace, sort out Danish krone and book onward trips with local operators.

  2. Day 4–5

    Sisimiut

    Continue to Sisimiut, a coastal town of 5582. Spend two quiet days walking the town and the shoreline.

  3. Day 6–8

    Ilulissat

    Give Ilulissat three days. The town of 4737 sits on the coast, and the extra day leaves room if the weather changes your plans.

  4. Day 9–10

    Uummannaq

    End in Uummannaq, the smallest stop with 1407 people. Slow down, walk the coastal town and enjoy the calm before heading home.

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

What is the best month to visit Greenland?

March is the best month in our data, with a score of 4.3 out of 10. It is the only month rated "ok". Every other month is rated "avoid". May is also listed as a best month, but it scores only 3.9 and is still rated "avoid". So no month in Greenland scores well. Go only if you want Arctic conditions and plan carefully.

Is Greenland good in July?

Not by our scores. July scores 3.7 and is rated "avoid", even though it is the warmest month. The average high is -9.2°C and the low is -14.7°C. There are about 7 wet days and 20 mm of precipitation, with around 16 sun hours a day. These figures cover Greenland as a whole for 2015–2024. The main towns, such as Nuuk and Ilulissat, are all on the coast, so check local forecasts.

Should I visit Greenland in winter?

No, most travellers should avoid November to January. November has the lowest score of the year, 1.8. December and January have 0 sun hours, and highs are around -33°C, with lows near -39°C. February is only a little better, with a score of 3.1 and under 3 sun hours a day.

What plug type and voltage does Greenland use?

Greenland uses plug types C, E, F and K at 230 V. Bring a suitable adapter if your plugs are a different type. If your devices do not accept 230 V, you will also need a voltage converter.

What currency is used in Greenland?

Greenland uses the Danish krone (DKK). Other practical basics: the emergency number is 112, the calling code is +299, and cars drive on the right. Greenland spans 4 time zones, from UTC-04:00 to UTC+00:00, so check the local time for the town you visit.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Greenland.