I have started thinking about a visit here, maybe in combo with Iceland since they are reasonable close to each other and I can get to them easily from Frankfurt.
If I just stay in one city, is that enough, or should I plan tours? Any recommendations? How many days and when is the best time to visit?
Have looked at the TA forums, which are kind of helpful, but thought it would be good to ask here too.
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
36566 posts
I have a friend who lived near Nuuk for about 15 years. I see her two or three times a month on zoom and when I see her next I'll ask. I do remember her telling me it is not warm at any time.
Posted by
9862 posts
Haven't been to Greenland, but Iceland is fantastic. Do the Ring Road tour. We used Arctic Visitor.
Posted by
new york
1389 posts
I've seen a couple of cruises that visit both Iceland and Greenland.
And this:
Posted by
OP
Frankfurt, Germany
9734 posts
I have been to Iceland and loved it. Happy to go back there again.
Not interested in cruises. They just are not for me.
Thanks, Nigel. There is a YouTuber in Greenland that I have been watching for a while and it just looks like a cool place to visit.
Posted by
Lake District, England
11452 posts
The problem with Greenland is that there are no inter city roads, so everything is by air or their version of the Hurtigruten.
I did a cruise to several different destinations, and they were all very different to each other. Stunningly so.
Nuuk is the only town of any size. It is a breath of civilisation after being out in the boonies for so long. But it is not in my view not that representative of the country.
So I would certainly do a multi destination tour, and in this case I think a tour is probably best. A small ship expedition style cruise would certainly makes life easier - that's what I did
I went in July, in a heatwave, but we still had a diversion due to icebergs blocking a key channel. We were on an ice class ship with ice pilots but still had to make the diversion.
At one stage in shirtsleeves on a glacier- surreal and a bit worrying.
The further north you go beyond Disko Bay the more fragmentary the transport to the extent of the air services being unscheduled - they happen when they happen.
A fascinating and wonderful place.
Posted by
Freedonia
18665 posts
I'm planning a trip this summer now that there are direct flights between Newark and Nuuk.
The big problem is lack of hotel rooms in Nuuk. They fill up fast.
Posted by
West Coast
446 posts
I absolutely loved my trip with Swoop (UK). They offer at least several itineraries. The ship holds 200ish passengers and is absolutely not a "cruise". There were educational presentations each evening for the next day. We were able to visit some remote villages with zodiak landings. It was a charter flight from either Copenhagen or Reykyavik there and back, landing at Kangerlusuaq.
I wanted to see Nuuk very much but at the time there weren't direct flights to the US and apparently, even in summer ( this was July, 2023) there can be cancellations or delays.
Summer, definitely! Not just for the cold, but for the feasibility of landings.
Posted by
OP
Frankfurt, Germany
9734 posts
Darn it Frank II, it would be fun to be there at the same time. Thinking more about early Oct. (spending Sept. walking the Portuguese Camino.)
Posted by
Lake District, England
11452 posts
Accommodation would certainly be an issue anywhere outside Nuuk, as just about anywhere except Kangerlussuaq (where the former international airport is) will only have one or at most two options. Kanger. airport is still very much open, but now a secondary airport.
That is a prime case where the journey in by sea, up the fjord is one of those amazing journeys, if hard to do. Just flying in misses that fjord experience.
Unless you are on a cruise the local passenger/supply ship does that voyage just twice a year normally.
There is even a 'city' bus service in Kanger. (a bit of overkill really for a population of 400), and some stunning scenic wildlife tours. Don't expect luxury- the tours are mainly on clapped out American school buses.
I used the City bus mainly for the sake of it, but also to visit the little ( and very good) museum to when Kanger. was a US base, which is on the far side of the airfield.
The museum is someone's labour of love.
Posted by
Freedonia
18665 posts
October is a little late in the year for me weather wise. But probably less crowded However, will the tourist season be considered over and less excursions offered?
Another international airport is being completed in Ilullissat that will be able to handle medium sized jets and should be completed sometime this year. The town has more hotels than Nuuk.
I'm hoping to base in those two cities but I'm still in the very early planning stages.
I'm probably going to be using a combination of flights and ships with the latter being mostly day trips from the two bases. I'm also looking into the possibility of using a travel company in Greenland to plan this for me.
I need to decide soon. My problem is I'm. still planning my spring trip that starts in three weeks.