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Greenland Travel Guide

The 6 reasons to go to Greenland

People rarely find themselves in Greenland by accident. As you're reading this article, you probably have some images in your imagination of this incredible country. Here are 6 reasons to throw a fleece jacket into your rucksack and head off to discover Greenland.

1
Discover its icebergs and glaciers
2
Because it's a unique destination
3
Because the Inuit are a friendly people
4
Because you're rarely on your own
5
Live in the polar day or night
6
Try some mattaq

1. Discover its icebergs and glaciers

In Greenland, there are new things to discover, completely different to our culture, at every step. Grandiose scenery, towering, turning blocks of ice, ice expanses, deep colours – this is what Greenland has to offer. And that list is far from exhaustive.

2. Because it's a unique destination

If you're put off by the idea of crowded beaches, full of parasols and noisy kids – the kind of holiday your work colleagues always go on about – a trip to Greenland guarantees an astonishingly different experience. This island reserves its stock of marvels for people who are interested in searching them out.

3. Because the Inuit are a friendly people

The inhabitants of Greenland are welcoming. There'll always be someone around to help you in a village, to chat with you on a hike or to teach you something new. The Inuit enjoy gathering together for the kaffemik and are sure to invite you to join them if you seem interested and friendly.

4. Because you're rarely on your own

Head off on a hike for an hour, a day or a week. Because escaping the tiring daily grind, the crowds in the city, lame stories, and more from time to time does you good, and spending time by yourself in the wilds of nature makes for self improvement.

5. Live in the polar day or night

You need to experience the polar day or night at least once in your life. Eternal night in winter, never-ending day in summer, means you'll be able to enjoy the aurora borealis for one half of the year and the never-setting sun for the other. Make the most of winter in Greenland by taking a sleigh ride, drawn by husky dogs or snowmobile.

6. Try some mattaq

Mattaq is a delicacy in Greenlandic cuisine. It consists of the raw blubber and skin of a whale. Aside from mattaq, the cuisine includes meats we're not used to eating in Europe: musk ox, seal, whale, etc. After all, we travel in order to gain new experiences, right?

When to go in Greenland?

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Dec

The best period to go to Greenland is short: we advise you to go between June and August, the island's high season. You will be (a little) less cold in the North, and will able to make the most of the only moment where the South is not iced over. Don't be too scared of the cold though: as Greenland's climate is so dry, low temperatures are not paralysing.

See when to go

What to see in Greenland?

Top places to discover.

Prepare your departure to Greenland

Greenland is a destination little known by tourists. Here you will find practical advice for organising your trip with no stress.

What documents do you need to travel to Greenland?

As Greenland belongs to Denmark, those from the EU will not need a visa for a trip to Greenland: a valid passport will suffice. For journeys of less than 90 days, Canadians won't need a visa either, only a passport valid for 3 months after the return date.

Health advise

No vaccination is obligatory, however before your trip to Greenland, make sure that your DTP vaccine is up to date. If you are planning a polar expedition, it is essential to be vaccinated against tetanus and hepatitis A and B. For more information, you can consult the NHS website.

Language

The official language is Greenlandic, the Inuit language of the west coast. Danish is mainly spoken in administrative contexts, as it is the former official language.

Time difference

There is a 3 hour time difference between the UK and Greenland, when it is 12 noon in the UK, it is 3pm in Nuuk.

Phone and internet connection

The dialling code for Greenland is +299. You won't have any problem using phones in towns, further afield there is no phone coverage. Internet is still very expensive in Greenland, so it will cost you a lot to be connected when you can!