Greenland
North America · Nuuk · GL
Greenland is the immense, ice-covered island of the Arctic that belongs to the Danish crown, the largest island in the world and one of the last great wildernesses of the planet, where the ice sheet, the fjords and the tiny coastal settlements sit beneath the dramatic light of the polar seasons. The west coast holds the capital of the Nuuk and the southern towns of the Qaqortoq with their colourful houses, their museums and the sheep farms of the green corner of the island, while the east coast, the remotest of the inhabited regions, frames the giant icebergs of the Scoresbysund fjord. The wildlife of the country, the whales, the seals, the musk oxen and the enormous seabird colonies, and the dog sledding and the kayaking traditions of the Inuit culture fill the itinerary of the short, intense summer. Expensive, remote and unforgettable, Greenland is the ultimate cold-country experience.
Overview
Greenland is a country in North America. Its capital is Nuuk and the international dialling code is +299. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Greenlandic and Danish. Local currency is the Danish Krone (DKK). We also list 1 city in Greenland: Nuuk.
The Icefjord of the Ilulissat and the Giants of the Ice
The icefjord of the Ilulissat, one of the great natural wonders of the Arctic, pours the enormous icebergs of the fastest-moving glacier of the world into the bay of the town, a constant, restless parade of the blue and the white giants that fills the mouth of the fjord. The town of the Ilulissat, the third city of the country, sits on the edge of the spectacle, and the boardwalks of the UNESCO site give the dramatic viewpoints over the ice-field of the bay and the bergs stranded on the shingle. The boat trips among the icebergs, the ice-capped with the fishermen and the cruises of the whale season, are the essential experiences, and the midnight sun of the summer paints the whole bay in its eerie, unforgettable light.
The Capital of the Nuuk and the Colour of the Houses
The capital of the country, the Nuuk at the south-west end of the great island, is the smallest capital city of the world in the population of its country, a town of the colourful wooden houses spread across the headlands and the mountains of its bay. The city holds the cultural centre of the country, the museums of the national collections from the kayaks to the Greenlandic art, and the restored old town of the colonial quarter with its harbour, its church and its views over the fields of the icebergs. The life of the capital, the cafes, the shops and the fishing harbour, runs on the small, confident scale of a town that is at once modern and deeply Arctic.
The Fjord of the Scoresbysund and the East of the Labyrinth
The eastern coast of the country, the emptiest coast of the inhabited world, holds the largest fjord system on the planet, the Scoresbysund, a labyrinth of the branches, the cliffs and the giant icebergs that dwarfs every other waterway of its kind. The settlements of the region, the town of the Ittoqqortoormiit and the hunting stations of the coast, keep the dog-sledding and the hunting life of the eastern Inuit, and the summer voyages through the fjord, between the walls of the basalt and the moon-like mountains, are the great expedition experience of the country. The musk oxen, the polar bears and the whales of the region, and the midnight light of the high latitude, complete the extraordinary remoteness of the scene.
The Dogsleds of the North and the Winter of the Light
The winter of the country, with its months of the long darkness and the northern lights, is the season of the great dog-sledding tradition of the Arctic, and the teams of the huskies, the pure Arctic sled dogs of the island, still draw the hunting and the transport sleds of the north. The paths of the winter, the frozen fjords and the sea ice of the west, carry the dog teams between the settlements, and the travellers who join the sled journeys, wrapped against the cold of the polar edge, experience the oldest way of moving across the ice. The aurora of the winter, the green and the violet curtains over the black peaks, is the most spectacular light of the whole country, and the winter of the Greenland is the deep, pure Arctic season.
The Southern Towns and the Green Pastures of the South
The southern corner of the country, the only region where the farms and the sheep pastures reach, holds the towns of the Qaqortoq and the Narsaq with their colourful houses, their gardens and the views over the fjords and the green valleys of the brief summer. The settlement of the Igaliku and the ruins of the Norse church of the mediaeval settlement of the Gardar anchor the extraordinary story of the Viking colony that vanished from the island, and the hot springs of the Uunartoq on their island give the single most relaxing experience of the country. The flowers of the arctic meadow, the sheep of the pastures and the farmers markets of the towns make the south the green face of the icy country.
Compare hotels, cover your trip and stay connected.
- Capital
- Nuuk
- Currency
- Danish Krone (DKK)
- Languages
- Greenlandic, Danish
- Calling code
- +299
- Internet TLD
- gl
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Greenland.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Greenland?
Nuuk is the capital of Greenland, and the country sits in North America.
What currency is used in Greenland?
You pay with Danish Krone (DKK) in Greenland. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Greenland?
The languages we list for Greenland are Greenlandic and Danish. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Greenland?
The dialling code for Greenland is +299 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in Greenland do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Greenland: Nuuk (capital).