The 10 most beautiful places to visit in Greenland

Visiting Greenland is one of your dreams? Are you attracted to this huge island covered with ice on most of its territory? We have selected for you the most beautiful places to visit on the Green Earth.

When Erik the Red approached the southern coasts of Greenland in the 11th century, he was struck by the contrast he had with Iceland that he had just left. As opposed to this Land of Glace, he baptized this new Greenland land, which means Green Land. The small glaciation that began shortly afterwards ended up burying this greenery and there is now only a shaved vegetation on the coastal strip that borders the inlandsis or ice cap. The Vikings abandoned the island in the 14th century. During the Scandinavian occupation, Inuit from Alaska gradually settled around the island and most of the current inhabitants are their descendants.

Colonized by the Danes from the 17th century, the island is an Overseas Territory attached to Denmark and is part of the Schengen area, which facilitates formalities when you want to visit Greenland. We present below, from northwest to southeast, the most beautiful places to discover.

1. Qaanaaq

If you want to experience the polar night or the midnight sun, it is undoubtedly in the Thulé region that you have to go. The area serves as a military base in the United States and is subject to authorization, if you wish to visit this part of Greenland. The small town of Qaanaaq, as well as some surrounding villages, is free of access and all facilities are available for an unforgettable stay.

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the climate is not as harsh as we could fear. The hospitality of the inhabitants and the beautiful landscapes add to the pleasure of discovering a community that has preserved its ancestral customs.

2. Uummannaq

Both the name of the village, the island that shelters it and the mountain that dominates it, Uummannaq is a concentrate of the landscapes and Greenland attractions. On this island of 12 km2, you will be able to explore the seaside paths, climb the mountain of 1,100 m, see the icebergs get off the Qarajq glacier or observe several whale species. If you go there in winter, you can take a sled dog ride and maybe take part in an ice fishing. His mountain is often represented by artists, because his two twin peaks form a very picturesque heart.

3. Island of Disko

The island of Greenland is big as four times France and that of Disko comes second in the ranking of the archipelago. Much more modest in size, with about 9,000 km2, it has a personality well to it, with particularly green areas, thanks to the presence of hot springs. In particular, we meet the angelic, which you can bring back, in memory, a bag designed to prepare you for good herbal teas.

Another big point of interest: this is the only place where you can practice a dog sled outing, when you visit Greenland during the summer season.

4. Ilulissat

Currently the third city of the country with almost five thousand inhabitants, Ilulissat is one of the must-sees when you want to visit Greenland. Well sheltered behind the island of Disko, it enjoys a rather pleasant climate, with a high rate of sunshine in the summer. You can easily spend a week there without risk of getting bored. Here are some activities we can do:

Hiking

Three perfectly marked paths, from one to six km, will take you among the rocks, to discover the beautiful colors of the tundra and will lead you at different points of view of the icefiord, this magnificent iceberg field, detached from the Kujalleq glacier, whose forehead is about 60 kilometers away.

Whale watching

The bay is particularly rich in plankton and fish appreciated by whales. You will necessarily see humpback whales from the shore, but to see them more and more, the best thing is to take a boat or kayak trip.

Discovery of isolated communities

In twenty minutes of boat, you will reach the small fishing village of Ilimanaq and its 80 inhabitants or in an hour thirty that of Oqaatsut, which has only forty souls. From here, to better enjoy the surrounding landscape, you can walk back to Ilulissat, during a six to seven-hour walk.

Eqi glacier mix

At three thirty hours of boat, don't miss visiting the Eqi glacier. Glaciers are in perpetual motion and the air bubbles they contain sometimes explode with fracas, liberating pans of ice, which will form icebergs. The excursion boats stop at one kilometre from the glacier, to avoid being smashed by a possible tsunami, caused by the fall of a large block. Eqi produces many hulls, so you’re practically sure to attend one. However, these are generally not large, compared to those of its neighbour of Ilulissat, Kujalleq.

Visit of the two local museums

One is dedicated to the Esquimologist Knud Rasmussen, native of the place. The other is a museum of art, which exposes much of the works of Danish painter Emanuel Pertersen and temporary exhibitions.

5. Sisimiut

One of the last cities in the north of the polar circle, Sisimiut is rich in a historical past, whose traces can still be seen. Important active fishing port throughout the year, the city is especially known to be the arrival or departure point of the famous Arctic Circle Rail . Reserved for experienced hikers, this trek lasts nine to eleven days and can be practiced in any season, whether on foot, cross-country skiing, sled dog or snowmobile. Yes, visiting Greenland is also coming out of its comfort zone!

6. Kangerlussuaq

Kangerlussuaq is best known as an aerial hub at 100 km inside the land at the bottom of a fjord. It is the only airport in the country capable of receiving medium-sized aircraft and connecting the Denmark in a little over four hours. Numerous internal connections also pass through.

But Kangerlussuaq has other points of interest:

- It is located at a distance from the ice cap, which can be reached in a flight of ten minutes; - An easy hike of 16 km is the opportunity to discover the abundant local fauna: muskoxen (it is actually caprins), reindeer, Arctic fox and many birds; - This is the best place to observe Northern Lights when visiting Greenland; - It is one of the few places in Greenland where you can see trees.

7. Nuuk

The most northern capital in the world, Nuuk has about 17,000 inhabitants and is a buzz of activity. Its magnificent Katuaq cultural centre has a wide range of programming and leaves the beautiful part to the expression of local and international artists in all artistic fields. Founded in 1729 by Norwegian missionary Hans Egede, Nuuk still retains colonial houses in front of the sea.

Everywhere in the city, you can also see sculptures, like Mother of the sea , which is regularly partially immersed, at the rate of tides. The Greenland National Museum when it is a wealth of information: you must visit it during your trip to Greenland.

8. Qaqortoq

The southernmost town of Greenland, Qaqortoq enjoys a milder climate than its consisters of the west or east. Considered as the most beautiful city in the country thanks to its colonial heritage, it has the oldest fountain in the country. Several artists settled there. One of them imagined the project Stone & Man , became a permanent exhibition of about forty sculptures carved in stone and rocks throughout the city.

For the anecdote, Qaqortoq means “the White” because of the multitude of marguerites that bloom along its fjord.

9. Narsaq

Not far from Qaqortoq, well sheltered in the fjord, Narsaq is built on a plain. Its situation allows it to practice the gardening and livestock, thus creating a pleasant landscape to contemplate. It is the starting point for several hikes, one of which makes it possible to climb Qaqqarsuaq Mountain (685 m) and enjoy superb views of the fields, fjord and rivers. Geologists visiting Greenland will be able to discover a rare semi-precious stone, tuttupit.

10. Tasiilaq

The climate conditions in eastern Greenland are more harsh than in the west and have not favoured human settlement. Tasiilaq, the most important city – with its 2,000 inhabitants – is exceptional.

Nestled in the shelter on the island of Ammassalik, in the middle of a circle arc fjord and surrounded by mountains with acerated peaks, it is a pretty town with colorful houses. Many hikes around the area allow you to contemplate the colored vegetation and the fjord dotted with icebergs of all sizes.

Good trip to Greenland!