Jurisdiction Guide

June through August brings milder weather and long daylight, good for hiking and boat trips. Winter offers a chance to see the northern lights but most areas are freezing and daylight is limited.

Cash is rare, cards are accepted almost everywhere though some kiosks only take Dankort. English is spoken in tourist spots, but Danish and Greenlandic are main languages. SIM cards are expensive and reliable only in towns. Tipping is not expected, service is usually included. Travel between towns nearly always requires a flight or boat; there are no roads connecting settlements.

People greet with a handshake and direct eye contact. Dress casually and layer up for the weather. Bringing a small gift if invited to someone's home is polite. Remove shoes when entering homes. Complaining loudly about services is frowned on.

Violent crime is rare, but drunkenness can happen in towns on weekends. Coastal weather can change quickly and be dangerous for hikes or boat travel. Medical care is basic outside Nuuk. Winters are icy, watch your step and beware of hidden ice.

Visit Kangeq, an abandoned island village near Nuuk, to get a sense of old Greenlandic life. The hot springs of Uunartoq near Qaqortoq let you soak with iceberg views. Eat with locals at a kaffemik if you get the chance, it's usually a birthday gathering with homemade cakes and coffee.

Citizens of Schengen countries enter Greenland visa-free. Travelers from the US, UK, Canada, and Australia need a Greenland-specific visa, separate from Denmark's Schengen visa. Long-term residency requires formal application and sponsorship by a local or employer; there is no digital nomad visa.

Most towns aren't connected by roads, so Air Greenland flights are the main way to travel between towns. Small boats and ferries run in summer. In Nuuk and the south, city buses operate regularly. Taxis exist in bigger towns, but ride-hailing apps do not.

Traditional food includes mattak (whale skin with fat), musk ox, and reindeer, along with fish like halibut. Try suaasat, a warming meat soup. Supermarkets sell Danish basics, but fresh fruits and vegetables are costly and limited. Many restaurants offer European dishes. Vegetarian options exist in a few Nuuk venues, but expect to pay more.

Greenland is expensive. A basic meal is about 120-170 DKK, a beer in a bar starts at 60 DKK, hotel rooms run 900-1800 DKK per night in Nuuk. Smaller settlements are a little cheaper, but most goods are imported so prices don't vary much. Backpacking is tough unless you're camping and cooking your own meals.