Best time to travel to Greenland
The best time for dog sledding and ski tours is between late March and early May, with most tours to the North Pole taking place in April.
The tourist season is in the summer months (mid-July to the first week in September), this is also the travel time for Greenlanders: the days are long and the tundra is adorned with flowers and berries. The disadvantage in the arctic summer is the huge number of mosquitoes, which mainly appear from the end of June to the beginning of August.
The most spectacular northern lights can be seen from August to mid-November and from mid-February to early April. Almost all Greenlandic festivals and events take place in the summer months. Traveling in the winter months between December and February is usually not a good idea. However, the return of the sun after a winter in Greenland is a really significant event, now there are festivals to welcome spring in every town and village. Visit printerhall for Greenland Travel Guide.
Greenland – traveling in the country
Many believe that traveling in Greenland is only possible with an organized tour. However, much of the coast can be traveled by airplanes, helicopters and ferries. But you have to be flexible, sudden weather changes can mean that the transports have to be canceled.
Airplane: Considering the climate, the enormous size and the small population, Greenland is quite well covered with air connections. Most of the flights are operated by Air Greenland. The destinations include the cities on the west coast (including Upernavik in the north and Nanortalik in the south) as well as Ammassalik, Kulusuk and Ittoqqortoormiit on the east coast.
Air Alpha offers some helicopter connections in the east coast area to Ilulissat. Air Iceland flies on the Kulusuk – Nerlerit Inaat (Constable Point) route. There are significantly fewer flights in winter than in summer, so book well in advance.
Ship: Several companies offer ship tours. Usually, however, only one place to sleep on the regular AUL ferries, flight tickets, hotels and possibly excursions are booked. If you want, you can put this together yourself.
Various Arctic Umiq Line (AUL) ferries operate between Aappilattoq near Cape Farewell and Uummannaq in the north in summer. Since the ferries only run individual stages of this route, you have to change ships for the entire route. In winter the ferries go no further north than to Ilulissat.
The ferries are safe and relatively comfortable, but not always on time. Especially in summer you should book as far in advance as possible.
The ferries are divided into four regional groups : West Coast, South Coast, Central Greenland and Disko Bay.
The West Coastis served by two large ferries. The Sarfaq Ittuk sails between Qaqortoq, Paamiut and Nuuk, in summer between Narsarsuaq and Ilulissat in summer. In winter the Sarpik Ittuk travels a similar route, but from mid-June to mid-November – when the northern sea ice has melted – it sails between Nuuk, Disko Bay and Uummannaq, and even as far as Upernavik in mid-August.
Of the ferries on the south coast, the Najaaraq Ittuk is the most used. It drives several times a week between Qaqortoq and Nanortalik. From May to November it also connects Qaqortoq with Narsarsuaq, Narsaq and Itilleq.
The most useful of the ferry routes in Central Greenland is the weekly service between Sisimiut Mima and Itilleq.
The most popular ferry boat in the Disko Bay area with tourists is the Aviaq Ittuk. It runs several times a week between Aasiaat, Ilulissat and Qasigiannguit.
Train: there is no rail network on Greenland.
Car: most Greenlandic cars and buses run in Nuuk. However, there is also car traffic in numerous small towns. Due to the glaciers and the inhospitable terrain, there are practically no roads outside of cities. Exceptions are some paths around Narsaq and Qassiarsuk, a connection between Grønnedal and Ivittuut (5 km), and around 70 km of slopes in the region around Kangerlussuaq. There are no rental cars in Greenland, but taxis are also available in small towns.
Dog sledges: Dog sleds with a guide can be rented in all larger towns along the east coast and north of the Arctic Circle on the west coast. The dogs have little in common with the image of a domestic dog, however, they are only half tame.
Money in Greenland
Local currency: 1 Danish Krone corresponds to 100 Øre
Currency abbreviation : dkr, DKK
Banknotes are issued to the value of 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 dkr, coins to the value of 25 and 50 Øre as well as 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 dkr.
Currency Exchange: In larger places in Greenland there are banks where you can exchange money. Often it is also possible to exchange Danish kroner in hotels.
Danish krone exchange rate
Currency converter at OANDA
Credit Cards: you can pay with major credit cards in numerous shops as well as upscale restaurants and hotels. With Visa and MasterCard you can get cash at the counters of Grønlandsbanken.
ATMs: in larger towns there are machines that accept international cards (including Diners, VISA, Eurocard / Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus). However, you should have a certain amount in Danish kroner with you, as ATMs are sometimes out of order on the weekend.
Travelers Checks: Grønlandsbanken converts travelers checks for cash, the commission is around US $ 5.
Foreign exchange regulations: There are no restrictions on the import and export of currencies when traveling within the European Union.
When entering and leaving the EU, cash and checks with an equivalent value of 10,000 euros must be declared.
Bank opening times: Mon – Wed and Fri 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
