Greenland is an isolated, remote and cold island in the American continent, politically belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark, a destination for explorers and scientists. A little known travel destination, ideal for those who love adventure and do not fear the harsh climatic conditions, offers a land covered with snow for most of the year, jagged coasts littered with islands, which in summer reveals unexpected expanses of green meadows.
A trip to Greenland is an unforgettable experience, even for a honeymoon outside of the usual routes. If the land of ice captivates you but you do not know where to start, here are some tips on what to see and on the routes that can be taken.
North Greenland
In Northern Greenland the main activities for a visitor are husky sled safari and the experience of the midnight sun in summer and the northern lights in winter. The villages scattered along the coast are inhabited mostly by fishermen. The frozen fjords of Ilulissat and Disko Bay are also equipped with top-quality restaurants and hotels of all categories.
Places to see:
Kangaatsiaq:
A small town near a large fjord stretching for 150 km. Do not expect to find hotels of large international chains or tourist offices, here you live the everyday life of Greenlanders in first person and without filters.
Qaanaaq:
The northernmost city of Greenland has little to do with tourism and much with local. Here, you can try husky sled safaris or try fishing with the inhabitants. During the short summer season you can also go hiking in the hills and admire the view of Baffin Bay. Do not miss the opportunity to try a boat ride along the coast to see the icebergs up close.
Upernavik:
A town that, because of its latitude, remains without solar lighting for three months seems boring to you? Quite the contrary. This is the truest Greenland, it is understood by admiring the scattered islets in the bay, the frozen fjord of Upernavik and the majestic island of Apparsuit nearby.
Uummannaq:
Uummannaq is one of the centers of the Inuit culture, picturesque with its colorful houses and fjords. Locals say that when you visit this island, part of your heart is bound to stay here. Nature lovers will feel at home, thanks to the great Nordic landscapes and the view of the Uummannaq mountain that dominates the island.
Oqaatsut:
A village where life is deeply linked to the sea. A few houses scattered on rocky land and a port, no roads and no cars: this is what you find coming to Oqaatsut. Strict temperatures make life difficult, but it is part of the Inuit pride to learn how to survive and adapt to even the most extreme weather conditions.
Ilulissat:
A place dotted with picturesque icebergs, where you can immerse yourself in nature and rich local culture. Ilulissat is an unmissable stop on a Greenland tour, including campsites, museums, restaurants, hills to explore on foot and of course icebergs, the element for which this place is famous and protected by UNESCO.
Qasigiannguit:
A true pristine arctic paradise. Life in Qasigiannguit is focused on fishing for halibut and crab, today as it did decades ago. The bay is inhabited by seals and the pulsating center of the city is the port. Sailing the waters of the sea with a little luck you can spot whales.
Qeqertarsuaq:
Located on a large island off the Greenland coast, Qeqertarsuaq is dominated by Lyngmark Glacier. Here you can go sledding with huskies even in summer.
Aasiaat:
A picturesque location dotted with colorful houses in northern Greenland, to be reached by ferry or helicopter. Renowned for craft production, Aasiaat is perfect for marine activities of all kinds, from fishing to whale watching.
South Greenland
Unlike the northern region, the southern part of the country is green as the name Greenland suggests. Here the main activity is agriculture, there are farms and cultivations of vegetables, green pastures and mountains. A pristine landscape to be explored.
Places to see:
Nanortalik:
Located on an island, Nanortalik boasts a complex system of fjords. Difficult to reach, once you arrive you are greeted by the welcoming atmosphere and the smiles of the inhabitants. If you are a hiker, the mountains in the surroundings deserve more than one trip.
Qaqortoq:
Qaqortoq is the largest city in Southern Greenland. Here you will have the opportunity to take boat trips and enjoy the thermal springs, go kayaking or deepen the Viking culture. Its coastline and Lake Tasersuaq are particularly impressive.
Narsaq:
Narsaq is an agricultural town in Southern Greenland, within a fjord system, where you can go hiking in nature and admire mineral deposits. The city is particularly well known for its horses and for sheep breeding. Not surprisingly, the inhabitants love to call themselves cowboys.
Igaliku:
Igaliku is a welcoming town, full of modern farms and an excellent starting point for excursions.
Narsarsuaq:
Narsarsuaq is the perfect starting point for excursions in the green valleys of Southern Greenland, between fjords and Viking ruins.
Qassiarsuk:
Another center dedicated to agriculture that was once a Viking settlement. Qassiarsuk is inhabited mostly by shepherds and its coasts offer an excellent observation point of the icebergs. Surprisingly, despite the remote location, Qassiarsuk has Internet coverage and services are modern and avant-garde.
Arctic
Cold, dark, remote, uncontaminated and authentic: welcome to the Arctic polar circle, where you can meet fabulous natural landscapes and rich local traditions. Here you can ski, go sledding with huskies and explore the valleys bleached by snow: a destination for true lovers of adventure.
Places to see:
Kangerlussuaq:
With the Arctic cap on one side and the fjord on the other, Kangerlussuaq has an airport, even though it was practically inaccessible until a few decades ago.
Sisimut:
Renowned for snow sports and adventure.
Maniitsoq:
Nicknamed "the Venice of Greenland", because it is spread over several islands and is crossed by canals, Maniitsoq offers wonderful experiences of the Arctic, from Eternity Fjord to the possibility of sighting the whales.
East Greenland
East Greenland is a remote region, which has a culture rich in legends, where the inhabitants speak a different language. Accessible from Iceland within a few hours of flight, East Greenland has a mountainous and frozen territory, inhabited by just over three thousand people in all.
Places to see:
Ittoqqortormiit:
One of the most isolated cities in the world, where the lucky few who arrive can go sledding, try adventure cruises and admire the fauna in a truly uncontaminated environment. Ittoqqortoormiit and its territory are in fact populated by polar bears, reindeers and walruses. Its jagged coastline gives life to a complex system of fjords.
Kulusuk:
Kulusuk is a privileged point of support for various activities and adventure sports, both in summer and in winter. Home to an airport, Kulusuk is located on a mountainous island in the less populated region of the country. You can go hiking in the nature between the hills and Mount Isikajia, from whose top you can admire the Strait of Denmark, the icebergs, the fjords and the island of Tasiilaq.
Tasilaq:
Welcome to the largest city in East Greenland. Inhabited by only about two thousand people, it is surrounded by majestic mountains and offers the perfect setting for skiing, sledding with huskies and practicing many activities on the snow.
The capital city: Nuuk
A trip to Greenland can hardly exclude a stop in its capital Nuuk, a city that maintains a spirit of the province. Inhabited by people from different backgrounds, Nuuk offers opportunities for shopping, whale watching, sporting activities, cultural centers including the Katuaq Cultural Center inspired by the Northern Lights phenomenon and excellent restaurants.
To the south of the capital, visit the picturesque resort of Paamiut, a small town renowned for its skiing activities, unspoiled nature, navigation and hiking trails in the summer.
The national park
The North East Greenland National Park covers an area of 972 thousand square kilometers in the north-east of Greenland, occupying almost 45% of the island: it is the largest national park in the world. Its coastline extends for 18 thousand kilometers.
Almost entirely uninhabited, with the exception of a small population of about forty people subdivided into five settlements, the park is monitored by the Danish Sirius Patrol based in Daneborg in northeastern Greenland, moving with husky sleds. Controls are also carried out by the Zackenberg research station, which oversees the effects of climate change.
The national park is constantly crossed by scientific expeditions. Here, in fact, there are many examples of Arctic fauna and flora as well as ancient ruins of Inuit settlements.
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