📅 Best time to visit

Best time to visit Greenland: month by month, for every kind of trip

When to go for boat trips and whales, for the northern lights, for dog sledding, for hiking or for a quiet trip. With daylight, weather and the tours that run in each season.

☀️ Summer: Jun – Aug🍂 Autumn: Sep – Oct❄️ Winter: Nov – Apr

⚡ Short answer

For most first visits, June to September is the best time to visit Greenland: long days, boat trips, whales, icebergs and open hiking trails. For dog sledding and snow, go from February to April. September is the month that combines both worlds, with whales, autumn colours and the first northern lights.

• Boats, whales, hiking ☀️ Jun – Sep
• Northern lights 🌌 Sep – Mar
• Dog sledding 🐕 Feb – Apr
• All-round pick 🍂 September

See the Nuuk fjord trip 🎫

Greenland changes more between seasons than almost anywhere you can travel to. In June the sun barely sets and boats push between icebergs under a sky that never gets dark. In December the far north doesn’t see the sun at all. In March the sea in the northern bays is frozen hard enough for dog sleds. Which month is best depends entirely on what you want to do, so this guide starts with a short answer, then lets you pick an activity and see its best months, and then goes through the year month by month.

What are the seasons in Greenland?

In short: Greenland has a short summer from June to August, a brief autumn in September and October, a long winter from November to April, and a snowy spring in May. Daylight swings from about 21 hours in Nuuk in June to about 4 hours in December.

The daylight figures are for Nuuk, which lies just south of the Arctic Circle. North of the circle the swing is bigger: Ilulissat has midnight sun in summer and polar night around Christmas. In the south, around Qaqortoq, summer nights get a little darker and winter days are a little longer. Temperatures depend on distance from the sea as much as latitude: the coast is milder, and inland Kangerlussuaq is warmer in summer and much colder in winter.

Best time to visit Greenland by activity

In short: northern lights from September to March, whales from July to September, icebergs by boat from June to August, dog sledding from February to April, hiking in July and August, and midnight sun in June. Pick what you want to do below to see its best months.

If you want several things on one trip, look for the months where the bars overlap. September is the clearest example: whales are still in the fjords, boats still run daily, the tundra turns red and gold, and the nights are dark enough again for the northern lights. March is the winter equivalent: dog sleds on firm sea ice by day, aurora by night, and around eleven hours of sun in between.

Greenland month by month

Daylight hours are approximate sunrise-to-sunset figures for Nuuk in the middle of each month; twilight adds usable light before and after. The orange months are the strongest for a first visit, depending on whether you want summer or winter.

Greenland in summer (June to August)

In short: summer is the main travel season. Days are long, boats run daily, hiking trails open, and icebergs and whales are easiest to see. It is also the busiest and most expensive time, with cruise ships in port and hotels filling up.

Summer in Greenland is cool rather than warm. In Nuuk, days are usually between 5 and 10 °C, and it feels much colder on a boat. Inland, around Kangerlussuaq, summer days can be warmer and sunnier, but early summer brings mosquitoes and black flies, so pack a head net if you plan to hike there in June or July. The light is what makes summer special: in Nuuk the sky stays light all night around midsummer, and north of the Arctic Circle the sun doesn’t set at all. Greenland’s National Day on 21 June, the longest day of the year, is celebrated with flags, music and kaffemik.

This is the season for the water. The 2-hour Nuuk Fjord sightseeing tour takes you past Sermitsiaq and seasonal ice; the picnic cruise and the fishing trip stay out longer. Further north, Ilulissat’s boat trips go among the icebergs of Disko Bay. Read about each trip on our Nuuk Fjord Sightseeing Boat Tour and Nuuk Fjord boat tours pages.

Greenland in autumn (September and October)

In short: autumn is short but rewarding. In September whales are still feeding, boats still run, the tundra turns red and yellow, and the northern lights return. By late October it is cold and dark, and the tourist season is over.

September is our first recommendation for anyone who can travel outside the school holidays. The cruise ships thin out, hotels have space again, and the weather is often settled and clear, which is good both for boat trips and for the night sky. The low tundra plants, dwarf birch, willow and blueberry, turn deep red and gold, and the first snow lands on the mountain tops while the valleys stay green. Whales are still around in the fjords. October is colder and quieter, with the first snow in town and long dark evenings. Many outdoor tours reduce their schedules, but the Nuuk city tours, museum walks and food tastings run as usual.

Greenland in winter (November to April)

In short: winter has two halves. November to January is dark, with polar night in the north and Christmas in Nuuk. February to April is bright and snowy, with firm sea ice for dog sledding and still-dark nights for the northern lights.

Early winter suits travellers who come for the aurora, the Christmas atmosphere and the quiet. Nuuk has about four hours of daylight around the shortest day, and Ilulissat none at all. Boat trips run only on calm days. Late winter is the more active season: by March the days are as long as in Europe, the snow is deep and dry, and the sea ice in the north is thick enough for dog sleds and snowmobiles. Dog sledding is only possible north of the Arctic Circle and in East Greenland, in towns like Ilulissat, Sisimiut and Tasiilaq. Read more in Greenland in winter and Greenland in December.

Greenland in spring (May)

May is Greenland’s least-known season. Snow still covers the land, but the sun is up for around 18 hours in Nuuk and the light on the snow is bright and clean. Sea ice in the north starts to break up, so sledding is ending and the boat season hasn’t fully started. Few visitors come, which makes it a good month for photographers and anyone who wants the towns to themselves. Pack winter clothing: May in Greenland is colder than most people expect.

Which tours run in each season?

In short: all tours you can book online start in Nuuk. City tours, museum walks, kaffemik and food tastings run all year. Boat trips run all year on calm days but are best from June to September. Filter by season to see what fits your dates.

Dog sledding, snowmobile and ice sheet tours in the north are sold by local operators directly, so they are not in the table. Every bookable tour in Greenland is on our Greenland tours and tickets page, and the sights in the capital are in things to do in Nuuk.

Best time to visit by region

In short: Nuuk works all year. Ilulissat and Disko Bay are best from June to August for icebergs by boat and from February to April for sledding. South Greenland is a summer destination. Kangerlussuaq is good in winter for the aurora and in summer for hiking.

Most first trips combine Nuuk with one other region. In summer, Nuuk and Ilulissat give you the capital and the icebergs. In late winter, Nuuk and Sisimiut or Ilulissat give you the city and the sled dogs. Domestic flights connect them; see getting to Nuuk.

Holidays and events through the year

A few dates shape the Greenland calendar. National Day on 21 June is the biggest public celebration, with flags on every house, speeches, music and kaffemik, the Greenlandic open house with coffee and cake. In Nuuk, many people gather in the old town and by the harbour. Christmas is celebrated on the evening of 24 December, Danish style, and lit stars hang in almost every window from late November. On New Year’s Eve, many Greenlanders set off fireworks twice: when the new year reaches Denmark, a few hours before local midnight, and again at midnight in Greenland. Shops, restaurants and tour operators close or shorten their hours around these holidays, so book ahead if your trip overlaps with them.

Best time for photography

Each season gives photographers something different. In June and July the sun stays low for hours in the evening and around midnight, so you get long golden light on icebergs and mountains, and you can shoot at any hour. In September the tundra turns red and gold below fresh snow on the peaks, and the first auroras appear in the sky. In March and April the snow is clean, the sun is bright and low, and icebergs frozen into the sea ice stand out against a blue sky; bring sunglasses and protect your batteries from the cold. December has the softest light of all, with hours of blue and pink twilight around a short midday, which suits moody photos of Nuuk’s coloured houses under snow.

How long should you stay?

Two days in Nuuk cover the old town, the National Museum, a fjord boat trip and a kaffemik. A week lets you add a second region, such as Ilulissat for icebergs or dog sledding, or Kangerlussuaq for the ice sheet. In any season, add one spare day before your flight home, because weather can delay planes and cancel boats. In winter, plan your outdoor activities for the middle of the day, when the light is best; in summer, you can stay out late in the bright evenings.

Crowds, prices and when to book

In short: July and August are the busiest months, with cruise ships in port and the most expensive flights and hotels. Book summer trips several months ahead. October to February has the fewest visitors, except around Christmas, when flights fill with Greenlanders flying home.

Greenland has few hotels, and in summer they fill up fast. Nuuk and Ilulissat in particular can run short of rooms in July and August, so book accommodation and domestic flights as soon as your dates are fixed. Tours are small, often limited to six people, and popular summer dates sell out too. On days when a cruise ship is in Nuuk, the old town and harbour get busy for a few hours; a boat trip or a hike is a good way to escape them.

Tour prices on GetYourGuide don’t change much with the season, but availability does. In winter, some tours run on fewer days, and boat trips are more often cancelled by wind. Whatever the season, plan at least one spare day in your trip, because weather delays domestic flights and boats more often than in most destinations. Check what to pack for each season on our what to wear in Greenland page.

Our recommendation: for a first trip, go in late August or September. You get long enough days, boats and whales, autumn colours, the first northern lights, and fewer people than in July.

Questions about the best time to visit Greenland

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