Greenland tours & holidays

Generally the summer months of June, July and August are the time to see Greenland, but it does depend what you’re looking for.

At midyear, the country isn’t as chilly as it can be (temperatures can rise as high as a sweltering 15°C…), and you’ll get to experience the phenomenon of the midnight sun.

Of course, if it’s the night lights of the aurora borealis you’re after, the time to go is definitely October through to March, when temperatures can plummet to well below freezing. Pack accordingly.

Human history in Greenland began around four to five thousand years ago when different Inuit people migrated in waves from continental North America via the Canadian Arctic islands.

At some point, Norse settlers came and left the island, followed by English and Dutch whalers who mostly kept to the seas. Greenland then came under the colonial rule of the joint kingdom of Denmark and Norway, which lasted until 1979, when Denmark granted Greenland home rule.

Today, Greenland is still predominantly home to people of Inuit extraction, with the Kalaallisut or “Greenlander’s language” and Danish as the two main languages spoken. Greenland’s National Day is a great display of national pride, with national costumes worn, music played, and flags flown.

When 84 per cent of your country is covered in the world’s largest ice sheet (and the rest is classed as permafrost), geography may seem kind of self-explanatory. But Greenland’s coastal fringes are where most of the magic happens. Plunging fjords, rocky promontories and trundling glaciers calving off into the Labrador Sea.

Most of the settlements along the western coast are wooden houses painted every colour of the rainbow. Towns and settlements are virtually cut off from each other (roads are very rare in Greenland), so most trade and movement are done by sea and air.

Greenland’s cuisine is somewhat dictated by the availability of food. In a land made mostly of ice, there’s little space and suitability to farm, so a majority of food comes from the ocean. From trout, salmon, halibut, cod, snow crabs and more to delicacies of seal and whale meat, the Greenlanders have survived off the ocean for thousands of years. Meat is typically salted, dried or smoked

Things to try in Greenland

1. Fish

Seafood is a staple in Greenland, and there’s no wonder why, as there are so many different types found close by. Some of the favourite fish to be served across Greenland are cod, salmon and halibut. Fish can be prepared in a number of ways, including cured, smoked, dried, pickled, crumbed, boiled or even served as steak.

2. Shrimp

Greenland’s shrimps are slightly smaller than other shrimp as they are grown in ice-cold water over a longer period of time. This gives them a unique, crispier texture but full of flavour. Try a shrimp sandwich or simply order a plate to peel and eat yourself.

3. Suaasat

Greenland's national dish is suaasat, a tasty thick soup typically made with boiled seal, whale, seabird or reindeer meat, onions, potatoes and rice. Seals have been used as a basic ingredient in Inuit cooking for thousands of years but may take some getting used to.

4. Reindeer

The only deer found in Greenland; reindeer are used in a variety of ways in Greenlandic cuisine. You’ll likely find reindeer meat in everything from soups and stew-like dishes or eaten as steak.

5. Greenlandic coffee

This is no ordinary coffee. Made from whisky, Kahlua, Grand Marnier, whipped cream and coffee, Greenlandic coffee is typically enjoyed after dinner and symbolises the iconic northern lights when the Grand Marnier is warmed over a flame and poured over.

The official currency of Greenland is the Danish Krone (DKK).

Major credit cards are accepted at most restaurants, hotels and shops. Major supermarkets also accept cash, but if you’re venturing into the smaller settlements, carry cash as a backup (card readers are often broken).

ATM access is good in the major towns and settlements, but most close at about 6 pm. You can also withdraw money in banks and post offices.