With an abundance of wildlife, Inuit culture, and breathtaking scenery, Greenland is the ideal location for anyone wanting to explore a land full of extremes.
When you fly to Greenland with Icelandair, you can also choose to add a 1-to-7-day stopover in Iceland at no additional airfare. This means that alongside all Greenland has to offer, travellers can enjoy an authentic Icelandic experience in a single trip – because we know how precious those vacation days can be.
So, whether you’re planning on travelling by foot, skis, boat or perhaps even dogsled, we’ve picked out some unmissable sights and activities to help you navigate the northern wilderness of Greenland, following your Icelandair Stopover in Iceland.
Greenland
Witness awe-inspiring nature
If you simply want to revel in the beauty the landscape has to offer, the Ilulissat Icefjord happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to some hiking paths that need to be experienced to be believed. The three main trails in Ilulissat all offer different experiences of the iceberg-filled icefjord, converging at the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre, an architectural wonder that opened in 2021 and offers incredible views and exhibitions about the icefjord itself. The centre is about a 20-minute walk south from Ilulissat’s central area.
The extraordinary and unmissable ice sheet (or ice cap) of Greenland sits behind the icefjord – it’s the source of all the icebergs that Ilulissat is named for (fittingly, the Greenlandic name of the town means ‘icebergs’). The ice covers 80% of Greenland’s land surface, a total of 1.7 million km2, so be sure to factor in some time to view and admire it from as many angles as you can! You can hike to the ice sheet, or take a boat trip, or fly over it for mind-blowing vistas.
Alternatively, Greenland’s towns and villages offer some distinctive, colourful architecture. Though nowadays the colour of the houses is chosen simply for decoration, the colour-coding offers an insight into the island’s rich cultural heritage: red buildings used to signify stores and churches, yellow houses were hospitals, and blue houses were factories and fish plants.
Heli-ski down mountains
Seeking an adventure that you’ll never forget? Heli-skiing allows you to explore unspoiled, hard-to-reach terrain while taking in the magnificent views from the top of mountains.
A popular destination for thrill-seekers is the Ammassalik region in East Greenland. It’s considered to be one of the most remote places to heli-ski in the world, and it incorporates fjords, icebergs, and the Greenland Ice Sheet. During the heli-skiing season you can add dogsledding and snowmobiling experiences to really get you out into the wilderness.
Whale watching
If travelling by sea is your preferred method of transportation, then Greenland offers incredible opportunities to see the world’s largest mammals – whales – by boat.
From humpbacks and minke whales to rare narwhals and beluga whales, Greenland is home to an impressive 16 different species, which can be seen throughout the year. For the best chances of seeing these majestic creatures, head to Nuuk, Sisimiut or Disko Bay and board a ferry cruise. Or, if you want a more up-close and personal experience, why not jump into a kayak and explore the Arctic landscape from a unique perspective.
Explore Nuuk
Nuuk is the capital city of Greenland, located on the country’s west coast. The city houses several popular tourist attractions, including the Greenland National Museum, with collections featuring hunting equipment, kayaks, carvings, and Viking finds, and the Nuuk Art Museum, with a notable array of Greenlandic art and crafts. In addition to the town’s landmark colourful houses – particularly photogenic around Old Nuuk – there’s a surprising selection of restaurants, fashion boutiques and lots more.
Iceland Stopover
If you are transiting through Iceland on the way to Greenland, make the most of a stopover in Iceland and follow one of Icelandair’s ready-made Stopover itineraries which will help you get the most out of your time. From spa stopovers to adrenaline-filled week-long trips, there is an itinerary for every traveller.
In summer, Icelandair offers flights to four destinations in Greenland: Ilulissat, the ‘city of icebergs’ on the west coast (five times per week), Narsarsuaq, the ‘garden of Greenland’ in the south (twice a week), the east-coast village of Kulusuk (five times per week), and the capital city of Nuuk (three times per week).
You can book your Icelandair Stopover in three simple steps
- Decide where you want to go.
- When booking your flight, simply select the option to ‘Stopover in Iceland’. You can then choose how many days you’d like to spend in Iceland and explore your booking options.
- Enjoy both destinations!
