Things to do in Greenland

What to see and do in Greenland: a shorter list of 25 experiences, not yet checked against sources.

25 things to do in Greenland

Nature

Watch colossal icebergs drift through Ilulissat Icefjord

Ilulissat

Stand at the mouth of Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the world’s fastest-moving glaciers, and witness house-sized icebergs calving into the fjord under the midnight sun.

Nature

Hear the roar of Eqi Glacier from a boat

Ilulissat

Approach the active Eqi Glacier by boat, watching massive ice chunks break off into the sea with a thunderous crash, just a day trip from Ilulissat.

Hidden gem

Soak in natural hot springs on uninhabited Uunartoq Island

Qaqortoq region

Float in steaming thermally-heated pools surrounded by icebergs and mountains, a hidden oasis reachable by boat from Qaqortoq.

Adventure

Kayak through iceberg mazes in Ilulissat’s icefjord

Ilulissat

Paddle silently among towering, sculpted icebergs in a protected bay, feeling the Arctic chill and hearing the ice sizzle as it melts.

Adventure

Dogsled across the frozen sea ice of Disko Bay

Ilulissat

Musher-driven sled dogs whisk you over smooth sea ice with snowy peaks as backdrop, a timeless Inuit mode of travel.

Adventure

Hike the Arctic Circle Trail from Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut

Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut

Tackle a 160-km wilderness trek across tundra, past lakes and reindeer, with rustic huts and endless vistas — accessible only on foot.

Adventure

Ice climb on the Greenland ice sheet near Kangerlussuaq

Kangerlussuaq

Strap on crampons and ascend a frozen wall at the edge of the colossal inland ice, with certified guides offering routes for beginners.

Nature

Chase the northern lights over Kangerlussuaq’s dark skies

Kangerlussuaq

With over 300 clear-sky nights a year, this former US air base is one of the most reliable places to see the aurora borealis dance in green and purple.

Food

Taste mattak (whale skin) at a local restaurant in Ilulissat

Ilulissat

Cut a small piece of raw, blubber-rich whale skin, an ancient Inuit delicacy, offered fresh at eateries like Café Iluliaq.

Food

Savor muskox filet at Restaurant Ulo in Hotel Icefiord

Ilulissat

Enjoy succulent muskox, a Greenlandic specialty, in a sleek restaurant with floor-to-ceiling iceberg views over the icefjord.

Food

Try Greenlandic sushi at Sarfalik Restaurant

Ilulissat

Sample a stunning platter of raw whale, halibut, lumpfish roe, and smoked salmon, blending Japanese technique with Arctic ingredients.

Food

Warm up with a Greenlandic coffee at Café Brasseriet in Nuuk

Nuuk

This layered hot drink spiked with whisky, coffee, and whipped cream is a local ritual served in a cozy café overlooking the harbor.

Culture

Witness Inuit drum dancing at Katuaq Cultural Centre

Nuuk

Inside Nuuk’s wavy wooden landmark, feel the primal beat of the qilaat (frame drum) as performers recount stories through dance and throat singing.

Culture

Explore Greenlandic art at Nuuk Art Museum

Nuuk

Housed in a former church, the museum displays emotive paintings, sculptures, and masks by Inuit and Nordic artists reflecting life in the Arctic.

Culture

Attend a kaffemik (traditional coffee gathering) in Qaqortoq

Qaqortoq

Join locals in a private home for limitless coffee, cake, and storytelling — a heartfelt custom still practiced across Greenland’s communities.

History

See the Qilakitsoq mummies at Greenland National Museum

Nuuk

View the incredibly preserved 500-year-old mummies — six women and a child — rediscovered near Uummannaq, displayed in a hushed gallery.

History

Walk among the Norse ruins of Hvalsey Church

Qaqortoq

Step into Greenland’s best-preserved Viking relic, a stone church from around AD 1300, set in a serene fjord near Qaqortoq.

History

Visit the historic Egede House in Nuuk’s old colonial harbor

Nuuk

The former residence of missionary Hans Egede, built in 1728, stands as Greenland’s oldest wooden house, now hosting cultural exhibitions.

History

Discover the abandoned whaling station at Kangeq

Near Nuuk

Take a boat to this ghost settlement where rusting vats and ruins recall a bloody whaling past, set against a stunning fjord backdrop.

City

Stroll the colorful colonial harbor of Nuuk

Nuuk

Walk among brightly painted wooden houses on cobblestone paths, bookended by the iconic Egede House and statue, with fishing boats bobbing in the bay.

City

Admire the hillside tapestry of houses in Qaqortoq

Qaqortoq

Climb the town’s staircases through a mosaic of color-splashed homes, with the centerpiece being the ‘Stone & Man’ rock carvings dotting the streets.

City

Explore the historic fishing village of Ilulissat

Ilulissat

Wander past drying fish racks, sled dogs, and a cozy harbor lined with cafés and art studios, all while icebergs float silently in the distance.

City

Wander Sisimiut’s old town and the blue church

Sisimiut

The second-largest town surprises with a charming center of turf-hut replicas and the azure Bethel Church, surrounded by mountains and the sea.

Hidden gem

Travel to the remote village of Ittoqqortoormiit

Ittoqqortoormiit

Reach one of Greenland’s most isolated settlements, high in Scoresby Sund, where Inuit hunters still live off the land and sea in a landscape of enormous fjords.

Nightlife

Enjoy a local craft beer at Godthaab Bryghus in Nuuk

Nuuk

Sip Nordic-inspired ales brewed with Greenlandic water, crowberries, and angelica in a convivial brewpub that also serves hearty pub fare.

Nearby destinations

All destinations