Americas · North America

Greenland

Flag of Greenland
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC-04:00
🏛️ Capital
Nuuk
👥 Population
56,542
📐 Area
2,166,086 km²
💱 Currency
krone (kr.)
🗣️ Languages
Greenlandic
📞 Calling Code
+299
🕐 Time Zones
UTC-04:00, UTC-03:00, UTC-01:00, UTC+00:00
🌐 Region
Americas / North America

About Greenland

Greenland is the last great frontier of Arctic travel — a land of superlatives so extreme they border on the unbelievable. As the world's largest island, it stretches across an area larger than Western Europe, yet its population of just 56,000 people clings almost entirely to a narrow coastal strip around a landmass buried under up to 3 kilometres of ice. Visiting Greenland means entering a world of raw, elemental beauty on a scale that makes human presence feel genuinely small — and that is precisely the point.

The Greenlandic ice sheet, the second largest body of ice on Earth after Antarctica, is not merely a landscape feature but a living, dynamic force that shapes everything. From the observation point above the Ilulissat Icefjord on the west coast, you watch continent-sized bergs that have calved from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier drift in slow procession toward the open sea. The sound — deep grinding groans, rifle-crack splinterings, and the occasional explosive collapse that sends spray hundreds of metres into the air — is unlike anything you will hear anywhere else. This is the planet's geology happening in real time.

Beyond the ice, Greenland reveals an extraordinary human story. The Inuit people who have lived here for over 4,500 years developed one of the most sophisticated survival cultures in human history, adapted to conditions that seem incompatible with human life. Their traditions of dog sledding, kayaking, hunting, and the spiritual practice of drum dancing are not museum pieces here but living parts of contemporary Greenlandic identity. The settlement of Nuuk, the world's smallest national capital, balances modern infrastructure with traditional culture in a way that feels entirely authentic rather than staged.

History & Background

Greenland's human story begins with the migration of the Saqqaq culture across the Arctic from North America around 2500 BC, the first of several Paleo-Eskimo cultures that inhabited the island over millennia. The Thule culture — direct ancestors of today's Greenlandic Inuit — arrived from the north around 1000 AD, simultaneously with Norse explorers. Erik the Red, exiled from Iceland for manslaughter, famously gave the island its optimistic name in approximately 985 AD when establishing the first Norse settlement — a deliberate marketing exercise to attract settlers from Iceland. Norse colonies on Greenland's southwest tip survived for nearly 500 years before mysteriously disappearing around 1400, possibly due to climate deterioration and conflict with the expanding Inuit population.

Danish-Norwegian colonial activity began in earnest with the missionary Hans Egede's arrival in 1721, establishing a permanent European presence that would shape modern Greenland. The island's strategic importance was highlighted dramatically during World War II when the United States occupied Greenland with Denmark's permission to prevent German control, establishing military bases including the still-operating Thule Air Base in the northwest. Greenland voted in a 1979 referendum for home rule from Denmark, becoming the Faroe Islands' model for Scandinavian autonomy. Further self-governance was granted in 2009, with Greenland controlling its own domestic affairs while Denmark retains responsibility for foreign policy and defence — an arrangement the Greenlandic government is increasingly seeking to renegotiate.

Culture & People

Greenlandic culture is rooted in the Kalaallit Inuit tradition — one of the world's most distinctive and resilient cultural expressions, developed over thousands of years of life in the Arctic. Hunting and fishing remain not just economic activities but cultural practices imbued with deep spiritual significance. The Inuit relationship with the natural world is one of profound interdependence rather than dominance, shaped by the understanding that survival in this environment depends entirely on reading ice, weather, and animal behavior with unfailing precision. Dog sledding, still practiced in northern and eastern settlements, is both a transport method and an art form requiring years of skill development.

Danish colonial influence arrived in the 18th century and left lasting marks on governance, religion, and language, but a powerful cultural renaissance since the 1970s has revitalized Greenlandic language, arts, and political self-determination. Greenland gained home rule from Denmark in 1979 and extended autonomy in 2009. The Greenlandic language — Kalaallisut — is now the official language, and the national museum system, traditional craft production, and drum dance performances reflect a culture actively engaged in its own preservation and evolution. The contemporary Greenlandic art scene in Nuuk, particularly in painting and sculpture, combines Arctic imagery with modern sensibilities in ways that attract international attention.

Food & Cuisine

Greenlandic food is shaped by the Arctic environment with a directness that can be confronting for visitors accustomed to supermarket-mediated diets. The traditional Inuit diet — centered on marine mammals, Arctic caribou (reindeer), musk ox, and fish — reflects centuries of subsistence necessity and nutritional wisdom adapted to an environment almost entirely lacking in plant agriculture. Mattak — raw strips of whale skin with attached blubber — is a traditional delicacy eaten at celebrations and considered a nutritional powerhouse by those who grew up with it. Dried and fermented meats and fish are preserved by wind and cold in traditional methods still practiced in smaller settlements.

In Nuuk and the larger towns, restaurants have developed a sophisticated approach to Greenlandic ingredients. Reindeer prepared as steak or slow-braised stew, Arctic char grilled with Nordic herbs, and musk ox burgers appear on modern menus alongside more international dishes. The growing eco-tourism sector has encouraged a farm-to-fjord approach that showcases truly wild, sustainably harvested ingredients. Danish pastry and bread culture has also embedded itself deeply, and a good "kaffemik" — the traditional Greenlandic open house celebration where guests are welcomed with coffee and homemade cakes — is one of the warmest social rituals you can participate in. Locally caught shrimp are exported worldwide as a Greenlandic delicacy, but eating them fresh near the source is incomparably better.

Top Attractions

  • Ilulissat Icefjord — A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's most active glaciers, where titanic icebergs calve from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier and drift through a fjord in extraordinary concentration.
  • Northern Lights, West Greenland — The aurora borealis above the dark Arctic sky, visible from October through April across the country, is among nature's most overwhelming spectacles.
  • Nuuk & Greenland National Museum — The charming capital contains the world's finest collection of Greenlandic and Inuit heritage including mummified remains from Qilakitsoq.
  • Dog Sledding, Sisimiut or Ilulissat — Multi-day dog sled expeditions across frozen fjords and tundra offer one of the most authentically Arctic travel experiences available anywhere.
  • Russell Glacier Hike — A relatively accessible day hike from Kangerlussuaq to the face of the Greenland ice sheet, one of the few places where visitors can walk to the continental ice edge.
  • East Greenland Fjords, Tasiilaq — The remote east coast, accessible by helicopter or summer boat, offers the most dramatic Arctic scenery and the most isolated and traditional Inuit communities.

Practical Travel Tips

  • Flights into Greenland operate primarily through Copenhagen; book well in advance as capacity is extremely limited and prices spike on popular summer dates.
  • Greenland has no road network connecting settlements — all inter-town travel requires domestic flights, helicopter transfers, or boat, so build extra time and budget for connections.
  • Layer clothing in a system: a moisture-wicking base layer, insulating mid-layer, and fully waterproof and windproof outer shell are essential for any outdoor activity.
  • Always hire a licensed local guide for any expedition onto the ice sheet, glacier, or into the backcountry — conditions can change lethally fast.
  • Respect traditional hunting and fishing activities; these are legal, culturally significant, and not subject to outside protest — observe with respect and without interference.
  • The Danish krone is the currency; card payments are accepted in Nuuk and larger towns, but bring cash for smaller settlements.
  • Altitude, extreme cold, and physical exertion make comprehensive travel and medical insurance with evacuation coverage absolutely essential.

Visa Overview

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark but outside the European Union and the Schengen Area. Citizens of Denmark and the Nordic countries may enter freely. Most other nationalities, including citizens of the EU, United States, Canada, and United Kingdom, can visit without a visa for tourism purposes. Entry is via Denmark, and Danish immigration rules apply at Copenhagen airport for international arrivals connecting to Greenland. A valid passport is required. Check current entry requirements with the Danish embassy relevant to your nationality before travel.

Getting Around

All international flights to Greenland connect through Copenhagen Kastrup Airport. Air Greenland operates domestic flights and the sole international route to Greenland, landing primarily at Kangerlussuaq (which serves as the main hub), Nuuk, and Ilulissat. Helicopter services connect many smaller settlements. Between May and October, the Arctic Umiaq Line ferry service connects west coast settlements seasonally. There are no roads between towns. Within Nuuk, minibuses and taxis operate. In smaller settlements, walking is the primary transport. Dog sledding is a legitimate transport option in northern and eastern regions during winter.

Safety Notes

Greenland is an extremely safe destination in terms of human threat, with very low crime rates. The primary risks are environmental: extreme cold, rapidly changing weather, crevassed glaciers, polar bears (in eastern and northern regions), and the genuine remoteness that makes evacuation in an emergency extremely difficult and expensive. Always travel with a local guide outside of towns. Register your itinerary with the local police or tourism office before backcountry expeditions. Carry emergency signalling equipment. Comprehensive travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover is not optional — it is essential.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in Greenland.

krone (DKK) kr.
Updated: 2026-08-20
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 1.805582
AAVE 0.001633
ADA 0.839352
AED 0.573852
AFN 10.227099
AGIX 2.746092
AKT 0.303950
ALGO 1.898109
ALL 12.398055
AMD 56.720222
AMP 407.329449
ANG 0.279889
AOA 143.503414
APE 1.215048
APT 0.279333
AR 0.084070
ARB 1.786517
ARS 233.928302
ATOM 0.104706
ATS 1.840651
AUD 0.219823
AVAX 0.023067
AWG 0.279699
AXS 0.173358
AZM 1,328.147571
AZN 0.265630
BAKE 224.634682
BAM 0.261622
BAT 2.498987
BBD 0.312513
BCH 0.000740
BDT 19.012828
BEF 5.396079
BGN 0.261622
BHD 0.058752
BIF 464.757498
BMD 0.156256
BNB 0.000250
BND 0.198685
BOB 1.794750
BRL 0.809168
BSD 0.156256
BSV 0.009759
BSW 431.160128
BTC 0.000002
BTCB 2.639920
BTG 0.356105
BTN 14.941448
BTT 574,339.196986
BUSD 0.156153
BWP 2.101773
BYN 0.472442
BYR 3,062.171131
BZD 0.313866
CAD 0.215674
CAKE 0.096962
CDF 358.203462
CELO 2.496828
CFX 3.567585
CHF 0.124800
CHZ 12.223451
CLP 144.002775
CNH 1.050890
CNY 1.050943
COMP 0.008479
COP 477.017364
CRC 70.348265
CRO 3.135864
CRV 0.598897
CSPR 58.505736
CUC 0.156233
CUP 4.140180
CVE 14.750299
CVX 0.096600
CYP 0.078289
CZK 3.233052
DAI 0.156237
DASH 0.004917
DCR 0.013226
DEM 0.261622
DFI 157.033710
DJF 27.752902
DOGE 2.081300
DOP 9.125770
DOT 0.197424
DYDX 1.420468
DZD 20.737413
EEK 2.092977
EGLD 0.055003
EGP 7.914626
ENJ 6.175140
EOS 2.367569
ERN 2.343846
ESP 22.256672
ETB 25.394132
ETC 0.023684
ETH 0.000069
EUR 0.133765
EURC 0.134714
FEI 0.156059
FIL 0.232113
FIM 0.795332
FJD 0.343820
FKP 0.114839
FLOW 5.404390
FLR 24.302413
FRAX 0.157591
FRF 0.877443
FTT 0.752835
GALA 108.440843
GBP 0.114839
GEL 0.407111
GGP 0.114839
GHC 17,290.245183
GHS 1.729025
GIP 0.114839
GMD 11.579224
GMX 0.022966
GNF 1,371.257501
GNO 0.001289
GRD 45.580524
GRT 11.167571
GT 0.022452
GTQ 1.189350
GUSD 0.156514
GYD 32.502152
HBAR 2.204791
HKD 1.225372
HNL 4.177392
HNT 0.901501
HOT 462.712068
HRK 1.007855
HT 1.375889
HTG 20.323072
HUF 48.678816
ICP 0.067376
IDR 2,781.666607
IEP 0.105349
ILS 0.465394
IMP 0.114839
IMX 1.493597
INJ 0.033641
INR 14.941448
IQD 203.514930
IRR 214,758.185533
ISK 19.022864
ITL 259.005726
JEP 0.114839
JMD 24.546820
JOD 0.110786
JPY 24.744145
KAS 5.859938
KAVA 3.796251
KCS 0.021421
KDA 33.277576
KES 20.226152
KGS 13.679345
KHR 629.304977
KLAY 6.357078
KMF 65.808211
KNC 1.476560
KPW 140.609945
KRW 217.759695
KSM 0.050749
KWD 0.048165
KYD 0.129801
KZT 72.076777
LAK 3,503.142518
LBP 13,966.729990
LDO 0.461148
LEO 0.016805
LINK 0.014908
LKR 51.415038
LRC 19.641214
LRD 28.292014
LSL 2.515840
LTC 0.003326
LTL 0.461865
LUF 5.396079
LUNA 3.533999
LUNC 3,092.851854
LVL 0.094010
LYD 0.988751
MAD 1.446098
MANA 2.330778
MBX 7.556060
MDL 2.678545
MGA 669.273655
MGF 3,346.368274
MINA 3.656450
MKD 8.249906
MKR 0.000108
MMK 328.053143
MNT 562.119388
MOP 1.262133
MRO 62.234056
MRU 6.223406
MTL 0.057425
MUR 7.339358
MVR 2.415521
MWK 269.706713
MXN 2.648171
MXV 0.302289
MYR 0.631710
MZM 9,971.395395
MZN 9.971395
NAD 2.515840
NEAR 0.089629
NEO 0.085848
NEXO 0.209244
NFT 554,819.555645
NGN 210.430515
NIO 5.733374
NLG 0.294780
NOK 1.457563
NPR 23.917523
NZD 0.262872
OKB 0.001526
OMR 0.060142
ONE 216.580229
OP 1.759302
ORDI 0.042444
PAB 0.156256
PAXG 0.000035
PEN 0.523577
PEPE 53,941.345297
PGK 0.701512
PHP 9.628317
PI 1.738777
PKR 43.196641
PLN 0.577714
POL 1.914221
PTE 26.817534
PYG 934.977372
QAR 0.568773
QNT 0.002644
QTUM 0.216475
ROL 7,017.836582
RON 0.701784
RPL 0.100480
RSD 15.697044
RUB 13.124045
RUNE 0.366358
RVN 59.940256
RWF 229.129237
SAND 3.783036
SAR 0.585961
SBD 1.250108
SCR 2.266602
SDD 9,377.921591
SDG 93.779216
SEK 1.474645
SGD 0.198685
SHIB 32,977.998991
SHP 0.114839
SIT 32.055515
SKK 4.029813
SLE 3.580214
SLL 3,580.213553
SNX 0.762304
SOL 0.001842
SOS 88.617663
SPL 0.026043
SRD 5.907350
SRG 5,907.349768
SSP 885.811644
STD 3,298.629445
STN 3.298629
STX 1.197879
SUI 0.221408
SVC 1.367243
SYP 2,031.344324
SZL 2.515840
THB 5.130508
THETA 1.039625
TJS 1.433257
TMM 2,733.915512
TMT 0.546783
TND 0.452842
TOP 0.372224
TRL 7,493,198.351368
TRX 0.467796
TRY 7.493198
TTD 1.056257
TUSD 0.156491
TVD 0.219823
TWD 4.974708
TWT 0.390710
TZS 413.571061
UAH 6.978849
UGX 580.575161
UNI 0.042672
USD 0.156256
USDC 0.156221
USDD 0.156326
USDP 0.156422
USDT 0.156315
UYU 6.251884
UZS 1,835.282417
VAL 259.005726
VEB 12,129,711,336.3563
VED 121.025438
VEF 12,102,543.766183
VES 121.025438
VET 32.191964
VND 4,081.814246
VUV 18.481885
WAVES 0.792368
WEMIX 0.807396
WOO 14.165775
WST 0.420824
XAF 87.744281
XAG 0.002336
XAU 0.000035
XAUT 0.000035
XBT 0.000002
XCD 0.422977
XCG 0.279889
XCH 0.110295
XDC 5.617316
XDR 0.114108
XEC 22,285.293317
XEM 333.748490
XLM 0.909764
XMR 0.000366
XOF 87.744281
XPD 0.000118
XPF 15.962446
XPT 0.000087
XRP 0.140820
XTZ 0.717287
YER 37.043856
ZAR 2.515840
ZEC 0.000278
ZIL 64.282680
ZMK 2,927.143060
ZMW 2.927143
ZWD 56.549182
ZWG 4.167406
ZWL 10,413.199250

No currencies match your search.

Other Time Zones in Greenland

Detailed local time across various regions of the country.

Local Time
--:--:--
UTC-03:00
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC-01:00
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+00:00

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of Greenland needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Greenland?
The capital of Greenland is Nuuk.
What currency does Greenland use?
Greenland uses the krone (kr.) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Greenland?
The official language(s) of Greenland include Greenlandic.
What is the population of Greenland?
Greenland has a population of approximately 56,542 people.
What region is Greenland in?
Greenland is located in Americas, specifically in the North America subregion.
What is the international calling code for Greenland?
The international dialing code for Greenland is +299.
What time zones does Greenland observe?
Greenland observes the following time zone(s): UTC-04:00, UTC-03:00, UTC-01:00, UTC+00:00.
What is the current time in Greenland?
The local time in Greenland is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Greenland?
Greenland covers a total area of 2,166,086 km².
How many states or provinces does Greenland have?
Greenland is divided into 19 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Greenland in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Greenland in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Greenland?
Visa requirements for citizens of Greenland vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.