Disko Bay
In the middle of Disko Bay on the western coast of Greenland lies the town of Ilulissat, or Jakobshavn as it is known in Danish. Despite its location 250 km north of the Arctic Circle, it is a thriving, hospitable and colourful town in every way. In the summer, you can travel here to see Disko Bay’s impressive icebergs bathed in the rays of the midnight sun. Disko Bay and the gigantic icebergs of Isfjorden (“the ice fjord”) can be experienced from the land side, from the water and from the air. Everyone who visits the town in winter can reckon with an equally fantastic phenomenon: a trip to the world’s largest cinema, the northern hemisphere’s host of stars, where the dancing Northern Lights are very often the protagonists. The town of Aasiaat is located on an island in the southern part of Disko Bay in a very beautiful archipelago, often referred to as “the land of a thousand islands”. In the old part of the town you can visit a museum and a parish hall that is decorated with 24 paintings by the famous Danish artist Per Kirkeby. However, as with most other places in Greenland, the scenery is the main attraction. Many of the islands in the region are protected and offer good opportunities for studying the unique birdlife and the whales in the area. You can see lots of whales by Uummannaq north of the Nuussuaq peninsula – a district also dominated by high mountains and glaciers.
Southern Greenland
Continue your journey into Southern Greenland, where, in the towns of Narsaq, Qaqortoq, Nanortalik and the gateway of Narsarsuaq, you will find excellent opportunities for hiking, angling and farmhouse holidays. You can also visit the Nordeners’ church ruins and farms, or try your hand at more challenging experiences like kayaking and climbing.
Eastern Greenland
In Eastern Greenland, in the summer, it is possible to sail among the icebergs, take a helicopter ride across the glaciers or inland ice, go kayaking, join a whale safari or indulge in a little angling. In the winter season, favourite activities are skiing, enjoying the reflection of the Northern Lights on the snow-clad mountain peaks or taking part in a musk ox safari. And, of course, you can travel by dog sled. The sled dogs are directly descended from the wolf and have acclimatised to the Arctic world and climate. The dogs are tough – a sled team of 12–15 dogs can pull several hundred kilos of fish from the fishing grounds to the factory and are an invaluable resource for the fishermen and hunters of Greenland. Dog sled trips are not just for fun, but as a traveller, you may be allowed to join in the fun.
Western Greenland
Western Greenland is Greenland’s most populous region. About half of Greenland’s 57,000 inhabitants live here in the towns along the coast, especially in Sisimiut and Maniitsoq in the north and in Paamiut and the capital Nuuk in the south. With a population of 15,000, Nuuk is one of the world’s smallest capital cities. Here, you can see the development of the country’s history at Greenland’s national museum and, among other things, discover the well-preserved Qilakitsoq mummies from 1475. There are also lots of nature experiences in this area – musk ox safaris and dog sled rides near Kangerlussuaq, or tours of the inland ice. In the sea off Paamiut and Nuuk, you can see whales, and Sisimiut is a superb starting point for hiking. If you fancy a skiing challenge, these are the slopes where the popular cross-country races Arctic Circle Race take place.