At a glance
- Greenland is a polar destination that sits at the top of the globe, less than 500 miles from the North Pole
- Late spring and the start of summer are a top time to sail if experiencing the midnight sun is high on your bucket list
- Summer is peak season for wildlife spotting, from whales and walruses to polar bears, muskoxen and migratory birds
- Spring and autumn are great times to see the Northern Lights and take part in dog sledding, skiing and snowmobiling
- Cruises from November to March are very rare because so much of Greenland’s coast becomes inaccessible due to icy conditions
Why trust us?
World of Cruising, along with our sister publication, Cruise Trade News, has one of the UK’s most experienced teams of cruise journalists and contributors. Our experts have racked up hundreds of nights at sea with most cruise lines. Most weeks, one of our writers will be at sea or on a river. Here, that expertise shapes our advice on when to book your cruise to Greenland.
Where is Greenland, and who does it belong to?
Greenland, the largest island in the world, is perched near the top of the planet, between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. Its Kaffeklubben Island (Coffee Club Island) is the world’s northernmost undisputed point of land, lying less than 500 miles from the North Pole.
The vast territory's polar location means 80 per cent of it is covered by a huge ice sheet that spans hundreds of thousands of square miles. As a result, Greenland has very few roads between towns and cities, meaning it’s best suited to exploration by ship.
While many cruises begin in Iceland, its nearest inhabited neighbour is actually the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. As you can probably guess based on its proximity, Greenland is geographically considered part of the North American continent.
However, the island is proof that geography isn’t necessarily destiny. For more than a millennium, it’s been culturally and politically aligned with Europe, maintaining longstanding ties with Nordic nations. Today, it’s an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Even so, it’s not straightforwardly European either. Up to 90 per cent of its approximately 57,000 residents are of Inuit descent, and polling suggests a notable share of the public support independence – not just from Denmark, but any foreign power that seeks to assert dominance. That said, the question of Greenland’s sovereignty is far from settled, and one that Greenlanders will continue to wrestle with in coming years.
Top cruise ports: Ilulissat, Nuuk, Qaqortoq, Nanortalik, Sisimiut, Qeqertarsuaq (Disko Island), Paamiut (Frederikshåb), Kangerlussuaq, Maniitsoq and Uummannaq.
Best months for midnight sun
When to go: Late May, June and July
These are some of the best months to cruise Greenland, when ice begins to melt and days start to stretch. In some ports near the Arctic Circle, such as Ilulissat and Uummannaq, night vanishes altogether for months at a time.
This is officially the season of the midnight sun, which illuminates Greenland’s otherworldly landscapes in a dreamlike glow. Picture wildflower-strewn tundra, diamond-like glaciers and fjords shimmering against a backdrop of pink and purple skies.
The longest day of the year is June 21st, which is both the summer solstice and Greenland’s National Day. Expect high-spirited celebrations to mark the occasion, including singing, folk dancing, flag raising, kayaking and kaffemik.
Even if your sailing doesn’t coincide with the festivities, every polar day promises extraordinary experiences. You might spend time ashore hiking or cycling through lichen-rich wilderness, breathing in lungfuls of exceptionally clean air.
Or perhaps you’ll visit ancient Viking ruins and learn about Greenlandic Inuit culture – exploring arts like tactile Ammassalik maps crafted from wood and tupilaq, which refers to carved figures rooted in shamanic tradition.
Top tip: Greenland is big – nine times the size of the UK – and as such, the weather varies wildly across the island, especially as spring turns to summer. In the south, temperatures in sheltered fjords may reach the dizzying heights of 20C, while northern ports can drop to freezing. In other words, pack layers.
Who to sail with:Ponant is an ultra-luxury line with plenty of options in spring and summer, such as an expedition combining Greenland with the Geographic North Pole. If you plan to sail solo, look out for select sailings with no single supplement.
Holland America Line is a great option if you want to experience Greenland’s midnight sun at a more affordable price point. While the experience is still a premium one, you can find three-week summer voyages for under £4,000 if you book well in advance – considerably cheaper than the highest-end expedition cruises.
Best months for wildlife spotting
When to go: July, August and September
Summer is peak wildlife watching season in Greenland. During these months, up to 15 species of whales move through its glacial waters, including humpbacks, minkes, belugas, fins, bowheads and the elusive narwhal, which is truly the unicorn of the sea in every sense.
Blue whales are even rarer, but if you do have the infinite luck to witness one, it’s most likely to be in the summer in areas like Disko Bay, where they sometimes join fellow whales and pods of orcas to feast on krill.
The wonders don’t cease on shore, either. Polar bear sightings are by no means guaranteed, but your best chance to catch sight of one is in July or August in northern Greenland.
Much more likely sightings include majestic muskoxen, huge horned creatures with shaggy coats that feast on willow, lichen and moss across the tundra. Just as magical are Arctic foxes, and you can spot pups in July and August. Seeing these resilient youngsters play and learn to hunt is an incredible experience. Other summer highlights include reindeer grazing on fresh shoots, walruses hauling themselves onto land and seals gathering in large groups to eat and rest.
Don’t forget to look to the skies, too, where you can see scores of species of migratory birds that visit for the summer months – examples include snow bunting and two species of falcon: peregrine and gyr.
Beyond spotting Greenland’s mammals and bird populations, look out for ‘calves’ of a very different kind. Glacier calving – when mammoth slabs of ice shed into the sea – is an exhilarating and thundering thing to see and hear in the late summer.
Top tip: As well as minkes and muskoxen, unfortunately, mosquitoes are among the creatures that come out to play. Bug spray is a must-pack.
Who to sail with: HX is an industry leader in Arctic expedition travel. As well as having intrepid experts on board, its ships have state-of-the-art science centres that add new dimensions to wildlife spotting. It also offers guests a chance to contribute to vital Citizen Science projects.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is another top choice thanks to the world-class naturalists, regional specialists and wildlife photographers that accompany its ships. Kids and teens are welcome on select sailings, with a National Geographic Explorers-in-Training programme.
Best months for the Northern Lights
When to go: September, October and April
Greenland, which is directly under the auroral oval, is one of the best destinations in the world to see the Northern Lights. Its long polar nights create an inky canvas for the ribbons of violet and emerald, and because it’s one of the most scarcely populated places on the planet, there’s minimal light pollution to detract from the jaw-dropping natural displays.
In fact, it’s such a well-known and common phenomenon that you’ll even find an old Greenlandic Inuit word for the Aurora Borealis: Arsarnerit, which translates to “the ones who play ball.” According to myth, the Northern Lights are spirits playing a friendly game in the sky – though with a walrus skull rather than your classic football.
These months are the best ones to chase the aurora because they fall in the ideal window, when nights are long but before (or after) the big freeze of November to March, which makes many fjords and bays inaccessible to cruise ships.
As a bonus, these times of year are excellent for those who want to spend their time off ship on outdoorsy pursuits. Thanks to ample snow and enough daylight to actually enjoy it, you might spend time on land sledding with huskies or reindeer, cross-country skiing and exploring by snowmobile.
Sisimiut, the adventure capital of Greenland, is a great port to take part in such activities and go aurora hunting, thanks to its position near the Arctic Circle.
Top tip: Greenland during these months is bitterly cold, so you must wrap up warm. However, you may not need to invest in all the weather-appropriate kit yourself. Some cruise operators, such as Quark Expeditions, provide gear like waterproof muck boots and a suitable parka, so check before you purchase.
Who to sail with: Quark Expeditions has specialised in polar travel since 1991 and offers ‘Under the Northern Lights’ expeditions in Greenland in September and October. Aboard Ultramarine, you’ll also be able to embark on flightseeing adventures thanks to the ship’s twin-engine helicopters.
Aurora Expeditions also has specialist aurora-seeking itineraries in Greenland. Plus, it’s a certified B Corp, thanks to its dedication to inclusivity, sustainability and regenerative travel.
What else to read before booking your Greenland adventure:
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