Come for Greenland’s beauty. Leave with its spirit.

Chances are that if you are reading Arctic Today, visiting Greenland is on your bucket list. But how much do you know about this country that internationally is called Greenland? To the people who call it home, it is Kalaallit Nunaat. Both names refer to the same place but carry different perspectives. Using the domestic name Kalaallit Nunaat brings you closer to the people, language and living culture.

Such perspective matters when visiting a place where no two journeys unfold quite the same way. That is precisely what makes visiting unforgettable. Beyond travel books or traditional headlines, here is what to know before you go.

Kalaallit Nunaat through the people who call it home

The landscape may attract travelers to Greenland – Kalaallit Nunaat – but the people are what will be remembered the most.

Outsiders often describe Greenland by talking about the ice, mountains, fjords, wildlife and wide-open spaces. These are part of the experience, but they are far from the whole story. Greenland is not an empty wilderness waiting to be discovered. It is a vibrant country, with towns, settlements, families, work, humor, language, traditions, celebrations and everyday life. 

The people, culture and society united with nature and the Arctic elements is what makes the country special.

As more travelers become interested in Greenland, more local people are also choosing to share parts of their life with visitors. Some work full-time as guides, operators or hosts. Others welcome visitors to see their genuine everyday lives – as hunters, fishermen, artists, boat owners, entrepreneurs or families with knowledge to share.

That local presence changes the journey. Visitors are not merely observing Greenland. They are engaging with people who know how to navigate the landscape, how to read the weather, when to wait, when to go, and how to understand the places they pass through.

For Linda Kleist, CEO at Visit Greenland, this is not only a professional point. It is personal. How can it not be when tourists outnumber residents by a ratio of three to one?

‘Having lived around in Greenland, I know that the sea is never just a view. It is part of everyday life. It connects families, towns and settlements. It is how many of us travel, bring food home, visit each other and stay connected across long distances. When you sail with people from Kalaallit Nunaat, you may see icebergs, whales, seals, birds at sea, and reindeer or musk ox along the shore. But the strongest part is often being with someone who knows the place – someone who reads the weather, understands the ice and knows the stories connected to the route. For many of us, the sea is a lifeline. It is also a place where we feel at home. When visitors experience Greenland with local people, they do not only get closer to the landscape. They get closer to Kalaallit Nunaat as a living place – shaped by people, nature and culture.’

Greenland offers a compelling example for the tourism industry: the strongest visitor experiences can emerge when tourism grows alongside local life. Here, local life enriches the visitor experience, while tourism strengthens communities. Infrastructure development is one of the most visible ways tourism creates value for both visitors and residents.

Building connections

The latest example is the new airport in Qaqortoq; the main town of South Greenland, which was previously accessible only by helicopter or boat.

For international travelers, the new airport opens the door to one of Greenland’s most distinctive regions. Qaqortoq is a cozy town offering a unique mix of art, culture and everyday Greenlandic life, and a great point from where to explore the Greenland Ice Sheet, the Viking ruins of Hvalsey Church or the Uunartoq hot springs.

For local people, it is a new, faster route to reach the capital city and its many services. “The airport makes travel easier for medical appointments, education, work meetings and family visits. It also helps companies and public institutions bring in specialists and maintain closer contact with partners in Nuuk” explains Miki Jensen, Director of South Greenland Innovation. Air Greenland expects two daily flights between Nuuk and Qaqortoq year-round and optimized its schedule, making it possible to wake up in Qaqortoq and go to sleep in Copenhagen, giving locals a gateway to the rest of the world.

Improved connections are opening new doors across the country. But for travelers, getting to Greenland is only the first step. The next question is when to come, and what kind of experience you hope to find.

One place, endless possibilities

Greenland basically has two seasons: a short summer and a long winter. The same destination can feel like two different worlds depending on when you come.

Oqaatsut, a small Greenlandic fishing settlement just north of Ilulissat, is a perfect example.

In the summer, visitors can hike along the coast from Ilulissat, admiring icebergs drifting through Disko Bay. A few curious husky puppies, destined to become future sled dogs, may run over to greet them as they wander through the settlement. The day might end around a shared dinner of freshly picked mussels, with berries for a final sweet touch. 

Return in winter and the journey feels entirely different. Boats navigate through icy waters, visitors walk across frozen ground, and sled dogs announce their presence long before they come into view. Moments later, as the musher releases the brake and the dogsled team surges forward, the joyful mix of barking and howling suddenly gives way to silence.

Whatever season you choose, the people remain the thread connecting you to the place. Listening to their stories of everyday life can help you understand how deeply the surrounding nature shapes life in Kalaallit Nunaat. Here, every day is an adventure.

Expect the unexpected

Last year, a group of well-equipped climbers were getting ready to depart on an expedition into the Tasermiut fjord, a hidden Patagonia-level gem in South Greenland. They should have been there for two weeks to tackle the biggest climbing walls in the country. That was the plan until fog and wind started to set in – demanding an urgent change in plans. Luckily, Tasermiut is an extreme adventure destination, and the program eventually included a glacier walk on the Greenland Ice Sheet and a kayaking trip. 

Their situation wasn’t unique. Conditions can change quickly in Greenland, and adapting to them is simply part of the journey. Coming prepared and being ready for the unexpected is key.

A classic Nuuk – Ilulissat journey is far more than a simple commute. Whether you choose a 90-minute flight or a two-night coastal voyage by ship, getting from one place to another is already part of the adventure.

One important thing to understand before planning a trip to Greenland is that the infrastructure probably won’t be what you are used to at home. The country literally has no roads connecting many locations. Long-distance travel is done by air or by sea, and the weather is in control of both routes. Travel plans can be subject to change. And waiting for better weather conditions can become a special moment like having coffee with your hosts, listening to storm stories while watching nature unleash its power through the window. Unique feelings and memories are guaranteed, year-round.

Greenland offers extraordinary landscapes. Its people open the door to experiences many visitors would never get on their own. But every meaningful exchange goes both ways.

What kind of visitor will you be?

Travelling to Greenland is not just another trip. It is a relationship: visitors also have a role to play. 

Travelling to Greenland means showing up with respect for the place and the people who call it home, with an open mind, ready to embark on any adventure that will present itself. It means doing some homework, such as choosing the right season, getting the right equipment, booking the right activity. 

Do you want to experience the northern lights around Christmas, then be prepared to handle the polar night and the sub-freezing temperature. Looking to experience the magic of sled dogs without leaving Nuuk? It won’t happen – sled dogs are not allowed south of the Arctic Circle on the West coast of Greenland. Plan to hike through the mountains in July? Don’t forget your mosquito net.

Tourism is set to shape the future of the country, contributing to economic growth and supporting local communities. But the exchange goes both ways: visitors may leave Greenland with more than memories. They may leave with a new understanding of Kalaallit Nunaat and of the people who call it home. 

As they say in Greenlandic, Ajunngilaq, which translates to “everything is going to be alright”. That is the mindset in Kalaallit Nunaat. Taking that home is perhaps the best souvenir ever.

Ready to explore Kalaallit Nunaat? Deep dive in the destinations and activities with Visit Greenland.

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