Nuuk offers more tours than most visitors expect. The fjord system surrounding the capital — Nuup Kangerlua, the second-largest in the world — is the main event, and getting out on the water is what most people remember longest (in our opinion, it’s also spectacular from the top of nearby mountains). Add guided city walks that give the colonial quarter and the Greenland National Museum genuine depth, northern lights excursions in winter, and a solid selection available on the major booking platforms, and Nuuk turns out to be one of the more tour-rich destinations in Greenland. This guide covers everything bookable, how to do it, and what to expect in one of our favorite Arctic cities.

Ilulissat has a small but focused tour offering — which suits the destination. The town is compact, the Icefjord is the main event, and the best experiences here are the ones that get you on the water or into the landscape rather than in a bus. Most of what's worth doing is booked directly with local operators rather than through the big international platforms, and this guide covers exactly what exists, how to book it, and what to expect based on our own experience.

Ilulissat has roughly a dozen hotels, guesthouses, and self-catering cabins for a town of 4,500 people. We've stayed here ourselves — at Cabin Jomsborg, a self-catering cabin sitting ten meters from the water, which turned out to be one of the best accommodation decisions we've made anywhere.

Every property in this guide has icefjord or Disko Bay views in some form. In a town built above a UNESCO World Heritage glacier, there is no such thing as a bad location — only different ways to experience it.

Most people chasing the aurora fly to Iceland or Norway. A smaller group goes to Lofoten. Almost nobody thinks of Greenland for the northern lights — which is, depending on how you weigh the variables, one of the best decisions any aurora hunter could make. The country spans from 60°N to 83°N, sits squarely inside the auroral oval across most of its territory, has almost no light pollution, and offers a sky backdrop that no other northern lights destination in Europe can match: icebergs the size of apartment buildings, lit green from above.

The reason Greenland doesn't dominate aurora travel lists is the same reason it doesn't dominate any travel list — getting here requires a deliberate decision, not a budget flight from London. But for those who make that decision, Greenland northern lights are a different category of experience.

So what does it actually take to see the northern lights in Greenland — and is it worth the effort compared to Iceland or Norway? Here’s how to think about it, and how to plan it properly.

Greenland isn’t a “summer vs winter” destination. It’s:

• Ice vs open water
• Midnight sun vs polar night
• Hiking season vs sea ice season
• Ferry running vs ferry closed

We’ve experienced Greenland in spring — ferry between Nuuk and Ilulissat, iceberg-filled waters, long Arctic evenings — and the timing shaped every single part of the trip. And we’ve experienced every season in the Arctic. Here’s how to choose yours.

If you’re planning a trip to Greenland, one of the first real decisions you’ll face is this:

Do you base yourself in Nuuk, or Ilulissat?

They’re both spectacular.
They’re both pretty expensive.
They feel completely different.

And your choice will shape the entire rhythm of your trip.

Spoiler alert: the best answer is usually to combine both.
But let’s break it down properly.

Nuuk is overlooked by many visitors, who go straight on a ferry or a plane to Ilulissat. And that’s a shame, because we absolutely fell in love with it — read our Nuuk Travel Guide!

Nuuk is a one-of-a-kind capital where snow-capped mountains meet the sea and the rhythm of everyday, modern life blends seamlessly with the raw, untamed beauty of Greenland.

Greenland’s tiny but mighty capital isn’t just a gateway to glaciers and fjords, it's a vibrant, growing city full of character. The vibe there is just… cool, in every sense of the word!

From intimate guesthouses and self-catering apartments to upscale hotels, Nuuk’s accommodations reflect the city’s unique charm and mix of modernity with traditional Greenlandic influences. Whether you're looking for luxury or simplicity, there’s a place for everyone to rest their head after a day of Arctic adventure.

So why Nuuk, Greenland? Because it’s not trying to impress you. Nuuk doesn’t show off. It just is. It’s a capital without the stress, and without the tourist groups of Ilulissat. A city that feels like a village — if that village had sushi, mummies, arctic fjords, and some of the most grounded, generous people you’ll ever meet.

We had seen Nuuk in Conan O’Brien Must Go, we knew about the new airport, and we landed here with a few vague expectations about “Arctic vibes.” What we got was something else entirely: a crash course in Greenlandic calm, a boatload of icebergs, and an accidental royal sighting (more on that later). And honestly, we were very surprised on many levels.

Nuuk is not just a place. It’s a reset button. And we can’t shut up about it.

If you’re searching for the best places to see northern lights, here’s the short answer: northern Norway, Iceland, Finnish Lapland, Sweden’s Abisko region, Greenland, Alaska, and parts of northern Canada consistently offer the highest visibility rates. The best months run from September to March in the northern hemisphere.

The northern lights don’t understand borders (and sometimes, neither do we).

If you’ve already dreamed your way through Iceland or Norway (see our Europe guide), here’s the global bucket list: the best places in the world to chase the aurora borealis — and even its southern twin, the aurora australis.

You’ve seen the photos. The swirls of green and purple. The ice hotels and starry skies. But how do you actually plan a Northern Lights trip in Europe without blowing your budget, freezing your face off, or ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time?

We’ve chased the aurora across Scandinavia and beyond — from cozy Finnish cabins to Swedish frozen lakes. We’ve waited hours in the cold, sometimes with a reward and sometimes with nothing except frostbite. We’ve tested apps, gear, and all the local tips we could get.

So, here’s our not-boring, fully practical guide to the best places to see the Northern Lights in Europe — and how to pick the one that matches your vibe.

If you’ve been reading us for a while, you know we’re in love with Arctic regions. And a lot of people turn to us for advice, and even want us to go with them on an Arctic trip!.

We’ve been there. We’ve hiked across frozen tundras, stood under the shimmering Northern Lights in absolute silence, and yes, once questioned our life choices while knee-deep in snow, miles from civilization.

The Arctic isn’t just a place — it’s a feeling, a test of resilience, and a reward for those who seek the extraordinary. So, this guide is for you, adventurous penguins, and all of our friends and relatives who keep asking us stuff (we love you)!

Packing for Greenland is like dressing for mood swings — sunshine, snow, wind, and rain all before lunch. We’ve lived it, felt it, and nearly froze our eyelashes off. Take this as your Arctic survival script (with a side of style… or not).

And yes, read our Ultimate Arctic Travel Guide for even more cherry-picked wisdom!

here’s something quietly radical about sailing down the coast of Greenland. In a world obsessed with faster, flashier, and flatter, boarding the Sarfaq Ittuk ferry from Ilulissat to Nuuk felt like a deliberate act of slowing down. Like trading in your high-speed train for a wandering polar bear. Or, say, skipping the flight in favor of a three-day odyssey past glaciers, fishing villages, and the kind of endless horizon that recalibrates your sense of scale.

We hate cruises. This has nothing to do with one. Welcome aboard!

Icebergs that groan and crack like thunder. Midnight suns that never set. Sled dogs howling across the frozen fjord. Welcome to Ilulissat: Greenland’s jaw-dropping, iceberg-studded west coast town where nature doesn’t just whisper—it roars.

Nuuk might be Greenland’s capital. But Ilulissat? Ilulissat is the showstopper. The drama queen. The main event. It’s the number 1 tourist destination in Greenland, and there’s a good reason for that.

At a young age, I (Eli) saw a documentary about Disko Bay and always remembered. So, seeing these icy giants 3 decades later was a dream come true. And there’s no word to describe a feeling like that, but we will try our best.

Greenland was a childhood dream for us, and the only Arctic destination we hadn’t explored (with the exception of Siberia, but not happening right now). So, when we heard about Nuuk’s new international airport and direct flights from the US, we HAD to go before everyone else does.

We just came back from Nuuk and Ilulissat — with a ferry ride in between — and we’re still thawing out emotionally. If you’re even slightly tempted to go, this is your sign. Here’s everything that might be useful if Greenland is on your bucket list (don’t worry, we’ll leave a few surprises). Adventure ahead!