How many times have you thought about taking a trip to Greenland? Probably few. It is, in fact, one of the largest , but least known lands on the planet. It appears remote, inhospitable, unreachable, but this very remoteness gives it a unique charm.
In an age whenovertourism has made it increasingly difficult to find truly untouched places, Greenland still represents one of the last “frontiers” of adventure. Tourism here is not mass, but it is niche: those who decide to venture up here do so to get in touch with majestic nature, to see icebergs floating in the icy water of the fjords, and to witness the phenomenon of the midnight sun, the days without sunset, an experience that alone is worth the trip.
If there is a time when Greenland shows all its splendor, it is between late spring and summer, when the ice begins to give way to the green of mosses, the color of Arctic flowers and the brilliant blue of endless skies.
How big is Greenland (and how far away it is)
Greenland is a giant that often escapes our imagination: on the map, due to Mercator’s projection, it looks less large than it is. In reality, at more than 2.1 million km² in area, it is the second ‘largest island in the world, inferior only to Australia.
To make a comparison: Greenland alone is larger than France, Spain, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom combined. Yet despite this immense vastness, it has just 56,000 inhabitants, distributed in small coastal settlements, often hundreds of kilometers apartò
And it is not only big: it is also remote. Reaching Greenland requires a real geographic and mental journey. From Denmark, it takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes by direct flight from Copenhagen to land at Kangerlussuaq, one of the small airports operating on the island.
Don’t expect a large international airport, however: Kangerlussuaq is a former U.S. military base in the Arctic wilderness, but all domestic connections to other Greenlandic destinations depart from here.
The real journey to Greenland really begins once you land: moving between Greenland locations requires small planes, helicopters, ferries, or-in winter-snowmobiles and dog sleds.
The midnight sun on Ilulissat Icefjord: when darkness never comes
The name of this town literally means ” iceberg” in the Greenlandic language, and not by chance: here lies Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most spectacular and surreal landscapes on the entire island
If there is one place in Greenland where the midnight sun provides a truly unforgettable experience, it is theIlulissat Icefjord. This fjord, located in the western part of the island is a true “river of ice” in constant motion, fed by the giant Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the most active glaciers in the world.
Here, on summer nights, the light never quite disappears: the sun skims the horizon, tinges the sky with shades of pink and gold, and illuminates the icebergs floating in the fjord, creating surreal reflections. It is a silent and majestic spectacle, in which you will feel tiny in the face of the force of nature.
Many travelers choose Ilulissat itself as a base for hiking or boating excursions during “white nights”-when time seems suspended and the landscape is transformed into a living postcard.
What is really the midnight sun?
The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs in regions beyond the Arctic (and Antarctic) Circle such as Greenland, when-for weeks or months-the sun never sets completely, not even at midnight.
This happens because, during the summer, the tilt of the Earth’s axis causes the polar areas to remain constantly exposed to sunlight, even when the sun should be “hidden” behind the horizon.
Basically: imagine looking at your watch, reading 11:55 p.m., and seeing the sun still there, suspended in an eternal sunset, while the sky remains as clear as it was in the afternoon.
When to leave for Greenland and see the midnight sun?
The best time to view the midnight sun in Greenland is:
- Between late May and late July, especially in northern areas and along the west coast.
- For example, in Ilulissat, the sun remains visible 24 hours a day between about May 21 and July 24.
- The farther north you go, the longer the duration of the phenomenon.
Greenland travel tip for witnessing the midnight sun
Many travelers specifically choose late spring and summer to visit Greenland, because in addition to the midnight sun there are other unforgettable experiences: navigable fjords, icebergs, endless trekking in the perennial light, and breathtaking scenery.
How to get to Greenland?
Those who choose to depart from Iceland can take off from Reykjavik and reach Nuuk or Ilulissat in about 3 hours-a short flight, but one that seems to transport you back in time, among floating icebergs and mountains shrouded in fog.
Even from Canada there are some seasonal routes, especially from Iqaluit to Nuuk, that take less than 2 hours to fly, making Greenland surprisingly close to North America, at least on paper.
How to get to Greenland by plane from Europe
- Copenhagen (Denmark) – Kangerlussuaq: about 4 hours and 30 minutes by direct flight
- Reykjavik (Iceland) – Nuuk: about a 3-hour flight
Scheduled flights to Greenland from North America.
- Iqaluit (Canada) – Nuuk: about 2 hours flight time
- Ottawa – Nuuk (with stopover in Iqaluit): about 5-6 hours total
- New York – Nuuk (via Reykjavik): about 7-8 hours total, including stopover
Once landed, however, time is further diluted: internal travel is almost exclusively by plane or boat because there are no roads connecting the cities to each other.
A Greenland vacation is not a last-minute getaway, but requires a few more days than other destinations, A “real” trip to Greenland, well done, should last between 8 and 10 days. In less time it would be difficult to enjoy both the landscapes and the experiences (such as Inuit villages, frozen fjords, and maybe even a night under the Northern Lights!).
A world apart: how to live in Greenland
Officially, the entire territory of Greenland belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark, but it has long had a very extensive autonomy status that allows it to run almost every aspect of its political and social life.
Most inhabitants are concentrated along the west coast, where the three main cities are located, such as:
- Nuuk: the capital city, with about 19,000 inhabitants
- Sisimiut: port city and fishing center
- Ilulissat: famous for iceberg fjord, UNESCO World Heritage Site
The population is largely composed of Inuit (about 90 percent), who still maintain strong ties to tradition while living in modern homes, using the Internet, and participating in political and social life. Ancient activities related to hunting, fishing, and knowledge of the land are still passed down from generation to generation, as are the Greenlandic language, local gastronomy, and mythological tales that have given voice to ice legends for centuries.
Two worlds coexist in Greenland: that of the present, made up of smartphones, schools, and small airports, and that of memory, carved in the Arctic wind and stories passed down under skies laden with stars and northern lights.
Climate change and the growing importance of Greenland
Global warming, by gradually melting Arctic ice, is opening up new trade routes that were once impractical. Among them, the Arctic Route and the North Sea Route could revolutionize maritime transport between Europe, Asia and America, reducing time and costs.
In this scenario, Greenland assumes a crucial strategic role: not only as a logistical and military foothold, but also for its natural resources, including deposits of rare earths, oil, gas and precious metals.
This is why the great powers are looking at this remote land with increasing interest, and why Greenland’s fate is becoming increasingly connected to global geopolitical balances.
Today more than ever, this immense white island is the new frontier between nature and power, between isolation and world centrality.
I would not be at all surprised if in the next few years, Greenland becomes one of the most important and visited territories in the world, even from the point of view of tourist routes, as well as trade. Slowly, the ‘immense ice world of Greenland is ceasing to be just a setting to be admired from a distance, and is turning into a real travel destination for those seeking authentic experiences like the midnight sun, with the feeling of having arrived at the edge of the world.
Greenlandic landscapes seem to belong to another world: giant icebergs, endless fjords, snow-capped mountains, Arctic lights. In summer, the midnight sun, which never sets; in winter, darkness is interrupted only by the northern lights. A journey here means touching the extreme, the primordial.
Useful links for a trip to Greenland to discover the midnight sun!
- Kangerlussuaq
- Ilulissat Icefjord
- Do you love adventurous nature discovery trips? Also read our article on the Grand Canyon
