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Greenland: A 5-Minute Guide to Icebergs, Inuit Culture, and Arctic Logistics

By eSIMVu Team •
February 06, 2026 • 5 min read • Destination Insights

Greenland

A community on the shores of Greenland

Source: Britannica

If you look at a map of the world, Greenland looms large—a massive white expanse at the top of the globe. It is the world’s largest non-continental island, yet it remains one of the least visited countries on Earth.

Greenland is not a theme park. It is raw, rugged, and indifferent to your schedule. Weather cancels flights, ice blocks harbors, and the silence of the tundra is profound. But for those who make the journey, it offers a look at a world that feels prehistoric.

This is a land where roads don't connect the towns, where sled dogs outnumber cars in the north, and where the ice sheet is two miles thick. If you are ready for the Arctic, here is your factual guide to Greenland.

1. Ilulissat: The Capital of Ice

If you visit only one place, make it Ilulissat. Located 350km north of the Arctic Circle, its name literally translates to "Icebergs."

  • The Icefjord: This UNESCO World Heritage site is the star attraction. The Sermeq Kujalleq glacier moves 40 meters a day, calving massive icebergs that clog the fjord. Some are as tall as skyscrapers.
  • The Experience: You don't just look at the ice; you feel it. Take a midnight sun boat tour to weave between the bergs. The air pops and cracks as 10,000-year-old air bubbles are released from the melting ice.
  • The Hike: Walk the wooden boardwalk to the Sermermiut settlement ruins. It’s an easy hike that ends with a view of the mouth of the fjord that will leave you speechless.

2. Nuuk: The Arctic Metropolis

Nuuk is the smallest capital city in the world (population ~19,000), but it punches above its weight. It is vibrant, colorful, and surprisingly culinary.

  • Culture: Visit the Greenland National Museum to see the Qilakitsoq mummies—incredible 15th-century natural mummies of Inuit women and children found in a cave in 1972. Their clothing and tattoos are perfectly preserved.
  • Food: This is the place to try "Greenlandic Tapas." You can sample dried whale, musk ox tartare, and snow crab. For the brave, there is mattak (raw whale skin and blubber), a vitamin C powerhouse that tastes like nutty, chewy coconut.

3. The Connectivity Reality: Why You Need an eSIM

Here is a critical logistical fact that catches many travelers off guard: Greenland is politically part of Denmark, but it is NOT part of the EU roaming zone.

If you have a European SIM card that works in France or Germany, it likely will not work here without massive fees. If you are from the US or UK, Greenland is often categorized as "Rest of World," meaning data can cost upwards of $10 per megabyte.

The Solution: The eSIM To avoid a phone bill that costs more than your flight, purchase a Greenland-specific eSIM before you fly.

  • The Local Option: Look for "Hello Greenland" from Tusass (the national provider). They now offer eSIMs for tourists that give you direct access to the best local coverage.
  • The Benefit: Wi-Fi is rare outside of hotels. You will need data to check the Air Greenland app (flights change constantly due to weather) or to use Google Maps when navigating the trails around Ilulissat. Having a working connection is a safety necessity in the Arctic.

4. Kangerlussuaq: The Gateway to the Sheet

Most international flights land here, a former US airbase turned transit hub. Do not just fly through; stay for a day.

  • The Ice Sheet: This is the only place in Greenland where you can drive to the Ice Sheet. A 4x4 bus takes you through a desert-like landscape directly onto the edge of the massive glacier. You can walk on ice that stretches unbroken for 1,500 miles.
  • Musk Oxen: The area around the airport is teeming with Musk Oxen. These shaggy, prehistoric survivors look like bison crossed with sheep. A safari here is almost guaranteed to spot them.

5. Disko Bay: The Whale Highway

In summer, the waters of Disko Bay are a soup of nutrients.

  • Whale Watching: Humpback, Minke, and Fin whales migrate here to feed. Unlike other places where you see a distant fin, here you often see whales surfacing right next to icebergs.
  • Qeqertarsuaq: Take a ferry to Disko Island. It is volcanic, with black sand beaches and basalt columns that look totally different from the granite mainland.
  • Disko Bay, a family views the colourful buildings in the distance
  • Source- Visit Greenland

6. Practical Survival Tips

Travel is Slow

  • There are no inter-city roads. You cannot drive from Nuuk to Ilulissat. You must fly (Air Greenland) or take the Sarfaq Ittuk coastal ferry.
  • The Buffer Day: Always build a "buffer day" into your itinerary. Fog or wind can ground helicopters for days. If you have a tight connection back to Copenhagen or Iceland, you might miss it.

The Midnight Sun vs. The Polar Night

  • Summer (May-July): The sun never sets. It messes with your sleep. Bring an eye mask.
  • Winter (Nov-March): The sun barely rises, but this is Aurora season. The Northern Lights here are intense because there is zero light pollution.

Why Go Now?

Greenland is changing. New airports are opening in Nuuk and Ilulissat in 2024/2025, which will allow larger jets to land directly from the US and Europe. This will inevitably bring more tourists. Right now, it still feels undiscovered. It is a place that reminds you how small you are, and in a noisy world, that perspective is worth every penny.