12 Things to Do in Greenland – The Ultimate Arctic Adventure Guide

Explore shimmering ice fjords, calving glaciers, and vibrant Inuit culture all in one unforgettable journey! Visit the world’s largest island and discover Greenland’s incredible wildlife, landscapes, and historic sites. Paddle among giant icebergs at the UNESCO heritage-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, trek to Greenland’s ice sheet, spot whales at Disko Bay, follow in the footsteps of the Vikings, and sample the unique local cuisine. Whether you plan your adventure during the midnight sun in summer or under the northern lights in winter, Greenland is the ultimate bucket-list destination for adventurers. Read on and find out the top things to do in Greenland!

Marvel at Glaciers and Ice Formations

Contrary to its misleading name, Greenland isn’t all that green and is mostly covered by ice. The vast Greenland Ice Sheet, which stretches over 1.7 million square kilometers (656,000 square miles), covers about 80% of the island and is the world’s second largest ice sheet after Antarctica. Satellite imaging from NASA shows a rapid decline of the ice sheet due to melting and calving, estimating a loss of around 270 gigatons of ice annually between 2002 and 2023.One of the most famous and fastest-moving glaciers in the world is the Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier (meaning “Southern Glacier” in Greenlandic), also known as the Jakobshavn Glacier. The glacier’s velocity has been increasing since the 1990s, as Ian Joughin, a glaciologist at the University of Washington’s Polar Science Center, revealed in 2014. Joughin’s study, published in Cryosphere in 2014, measured a speed of 46 meters (150 feet) of movement per day during the summer months. This is three times the speed observed in the 1990s. A more recent study published by Lukosz et al. in Quaestiones Geographicae in 2022 shows slower speeds around 2017 and 2018, with a 39-meter maximum daily velocity in the summer of 2021.

Visit Ilulissat to see the glacier in action, with enormous icebergs calving and floating into Disko Bay. Take a hike around the Ilulissat Icefjord to awe-inspiring overlooks on marked trails. The trails feature various difficulty levels for all types of explorers. You can get inspired on Alltrails. Take a boat tour around the fjord to see the glacier formations from the water and cruise amid the giant icebergs. And did you know that the infamous iceberg that sank the Titanic is believed to have originated here?

And while visiting Greenland, make sure you put another glacier on your travel bucket list. Head to Kangerlussuaq to see the Russell Glacier, the gateway to Greenland’s ice cap. The glacier’s impressive 60-meter (197-foot) wall stands in stark contrast to the surrounding tundra landscapes and is a great place for photography, wildlife watching, and nature activities. You can hike along the glacier’s edge, camp on the ice sheet, or explore the Russel Glacier in 4-wheel-drive vehicles.

Ilulissat Icefjord – A UNESCO World Heritage Wonder

This world-renowned UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most awe-inspiring places on Earth. Watch massive icebergs calving (the process of giant chunks of ice breaking off the glaciers), enjoy the amazing whale watching opportunities, and hike along scenic trails. The best time to visit is summer (June to September), when the midnight sun provides 24 hours of daylight and wildlife viewing is at its peak. Autumn and winter bring a different kind of magic, with the aurora borealis in the sky and ample snow activities available like dog sledding, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Top picks for Ilulissat Icefjord exploration:

• Cruise the fjord! Companies like Guide to Greenland offer various fjord cruise options, starting at around 120 EUR. You can also join a kayak experience from around 200 EUR.
• Hike to Sermermiut and discover the nearby archaeological site, revealing remains of settlements from different Indigenous cultures dating back around 4,000 years.
• Discover Disko Island and see unique basalt and volcanic black sand beaches in Qeqertarsuaq, reachable by boat in summer or helicopter year-round.
• Capture the magic. Try your photography skills in a place where it’s hard not to take the perfect picture! And for the ultimate experience, book a multi-day photography safari.

Arctic Cruising and Boat Tours

Follow in the footsteps of Viking Erik the Red and explore Greenland by sea! After being exiled from Iceland in 982 AD, he sailed west and reached the southern tip of Greenland. Today, with no roads connecting most towns outside the main cities, the best way to explore is via small ship. Around the capital, Nuuk Water Taxi provides day cruises to places like Qoornoq Island, the Nuuk fjords, and Kapisillit (the highest settlement located on the Nuuk Icefjord), as well as wildlife watching and northern lights excursions. See their excursions here. In Disko Bay, Disko Line offers boat tours with iceberg sightseeing, whale watching, and trips to the Eqi Glacier. They also provide ferry services between various Greenlandic settlements, and you can find their schedule here. Feeling adventurous? Book a multi-day expedition cruise aboard a small ship. Reach remote settlements, secluded bays, and intricate fjord systems while enjoying hotel-style comforts, lectures, and premium amenities aboard. It’s a popular choice for travelers, and cruise tourism in Greenland has increased over the past years. At 76,477 passengers, the 2023 season reached record numbers, showing a 73.8% growth compared to 2022. Summer cruises are perfect for wildlife watching, while autumn cruises are designed to maximize your chance of seeing northern lights. Browse our upcoming cruise schedule and find your epic Greenland cruise! Find all departures here: (Link to Poseidon’s Greenland cruises).

Wildlife Watching Adventures

Come to Greenland for some of the richest opportunities for wildlife watching in the Arctic, with encounters both on land and at sea. Venture into the tundra backcountry to spot musk oxen, Arctic foxes, reindeer, and Arctic hares. Bird lovers will marvel at the rare birds on the island, as Greenland is home to seabirds such as puffins, auks, and skuas. In the surrounding waters, more than 15 whale species can be found, such as orcas, humpback, minke, bowhead, sperm, beluga, blue, and fin whales, as well as the elusive narwhals. Our experienced Poseidon Expedition guides praise July to August as the best time to see wildlife in Greenland.

You can also spot polar bears, mostly in the regions around Scoresby Sund and King Oscar Fjord inside the Northeast Greenland National Park. Official polar bear population numbers in Greenland aren’t reliable. Scientists still keep discovering new populations, especially in inaccessible areas such as southeastern Greenland. Dr. Kristin Laidre, a marine biologist at the University of Washington, Seattle, found surprisingly high densities of polar bears in the southeastern fjords, which she shared in an article with Polar Bears International in 2024. Using collars for polar bear tracking, Dr. Laidre and her team found that these bears are the most genetically isolated ones on the planet. Results suggest that Laidre’s newly found polar bear population remained separate from other bears for at least 200 years.

Northern Lights and Midnight Sun

Experience the extremes of the Arctic. From endless summer under the midnight sun to dazzling winter skies lit by the aurora borealis, Greenland offers the most awe-inspiringnatural wonders. From mid-May to late July, the sun never fully sets, illuminating the rugged landscape, glaciers, and coastlines for extraordinary photography. Winter offers equally stunning vistas, especially when the aurora borealis is active! Thanks to Greenland’s minimal light pollution and geographic location, you get one of the best chances in the world to see the northern lights, which come in hues of pink, green, and purple. According to NOAA’s (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Space Weather Prediction Center, the best time of the night to see them is between 10pm and 2am, and the best seasons are around the spring and fall equinoxes. You can find more information for catching the northern lights here on the NOAA website.

Hiking and Trekking in Arctic Wilderness

Feel like taking a walk? Greenland is the ultimate place for short and easy to long and adventurous hikes. With almost no roads connecting the country’s settlements, exploring on foot allows you to access the untouched regions of Greenland. Schedule your trip for summer, when the Arctic tundra transforms into a patchwork of wildflowers and mosses, and wildlife is most active. Check out three travelers’ favorites and get inspired for your Greenland hiking trip.

Arctic Circle Trail

Stretching about 160 kilometers (100 miles) between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut, this trail is not for the novice hiker. But if you’ve got prior remote and multi-day wilderness hiking experience, then this might just be the adventure of a lifetime for you! It takes around eight days to complete and takes you from the ocean to Greenland’s ice cap, running approximately 40 to 50 kilometers (23 to 31 miles) north of the Arctic Circle. Along the way, you’ll traverse the UNESCO Aasivissuit – Nipisat World Heritage Site, featuring remains of ancient nomadic Inuit cultures. You can find more information here.

Sermermiut Settlement Walk

Just outside Ilulissat, this 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) roundtrip hike takes one to two hours and leads to Sermermiut. Here you find a famous archaeological site, displaying remains preserving 4,000 years of Inuit history. On this trail, you’ll discover the northern shores of the Ilulissat Ice Fjord.

Narsarsuaq Hikes

Located in South Greenland, Narsarsuaq serves as a gateway for several trails. Choose the 2-hour hike to Signal Hill or the very easy Ridge hike for views of the river valley and the Narsarsuaq Glacier. If you’re looking for a more demanding trip, try the 16-kilometer (10-mile) Narsarsuaq Glacier hike, which climbs over steep, rocky slopes to stunning glacier vistas.

Kayaking Among Icebergs

Did you know that the word “kayak” comes from the Inuit word “qajaq”? For centuries, Inuit hunters relied on slender kayaks built from wooden frames and sealskins as tools for survival in the Arctic. Their ergonomic designs allowed for silent movements on the water, essential for the hunt for marine mammals. Kayak building and paddling expertise was passed down through generations. Today, you can rent a modern kayak and make it your tool for extraordinary exploration! Book a guided kayak tour and paddle the fjords to float by icebergs and find secluded glacier lagoons around Ilulissat. Head to Aasiaat, deemed the kayak capital of Greenland, and paddle this sheltered archipelago located in southern Disko Bay, with prime wildlife-watching opportunities. Multi-day expedition cruises also offer a kayak club aboard, where you can take your kayak out with experienced guides during the voyage.

Cultural Encounters with Inuit Communities

Today, Greenlandic Indigenous culture is very much celebrated and thriving, with nearly 90% of the population having Inuit descent. Traditions date back to the Thule culture, which originated in coastal Alaska around 1000 AD and reached Greenland around the 12th to 13th centuries. Today’s population embraces its Inuit cultural heritage, reviving customs such as drum dancing, traditional tattooing, storytelling, and spiritual practices. Experience Greenlandic culture firsthand at events such as the Qooqa Festival near Kangaatsiaq (southern Disko Bay), held in summer. Marvel at drum and mask dancers, listen to storytellers, see Greenlandic arts and tupilak carvings, witness seal hunting competitions, and try Greenlandic food.

Ancestral knowledge is not only part of Greenland’s cultural heritage, but also a vital contribution to Arctic science and preservation projects. Organizations such as the Arctic Council cooperate with local Inuit communities on joint projects on climate science and sustainability. According to a 2021 publication in Frontiers Journal, scientists increasingly focus on including Indigenous knowledge in their climate change studies. Their deep understanding of their environment, gathered over generations, helps to understand the relationship between people and the water, air, land, and local flora and fauna.

Museums and Historical Sites

Greenland isn’t just a destination for rugged outdoor adventures. History buffs and art lovers will appreciate the incredible historic sites, as well as the diverse museum scene. Learn about Viking, Norse, and Inuit culture in one of the local museums and find out how people could survive over the past 4,500 years of documented history in such a remote place. Start your trip to discover Greenland’s past in one of our favorite museums:

The National Museum of Greenland

Located in the capital, this museum takes you through 4,500 years of Greenland’s past. Discover Norse, Thule, and Inuit culture, with exhibits such as traditional clothing and hunting tools. Here you can see the famous Qilakitsoq mummies, the oldest preserved remains in Greenland, dating back to 1475 AD.

Katuaq Cultural Center, Nuuk

Greenlandic art, culture, and cuisine experiences await you here! Partake in cultural events, try local dishes inspired by hunters and gatherers in the café, or see one of the seasonal exhibitions. The center also features a cinema.

Nuuk Art Museum

This museum showcases Greenlandic art: from classical to contemporary. See sculptures, paintings, and the iconic tupilak carvings, small figurines used by shamans as ritual objects made from materials such as bone and animal parts.

Greenlandic Cuisine and Local Flavors

Sample the fresh, bold flavors of Greenland’s land and sea, rooted in centuries of tradition! Head to Kalaaliaraq Market in Nuuk’s old town and browse the wide range of fresh and dried seafood such as cod, salmon, halibut, and catfish. Traditional staples such as whale and seal meat are also sold here and worth a try. And during the hunting season, you can also find reindeer meat. For a more upscale approach to Greenlandic food, head to Sarfalik Restaurant at Hans Egede Hotel. For a more immersive cultural experience, try to get invited to a Kaffemik, a traditional open-house social gathering event, where Greenlanders open their homes for visitors to stop by for a chat, coffee, and local snacks. Look out for local delicacies like suaasat (a hearty soup made of whale, seal, or reindeer meat) and mattak (raw whale skin and blubber).