day trip iceland to greenland

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Greenland Day Trip from Iceland: Is it Worth It?

There are only two ways to fly to Greenland—that icy remote country that many of us jet over but few of us land in, that monster of the Mercator projection.  You can fly there from Copenhagen, Denmark, or from Reykjavik, Iceland. So, if you’re in Iceland, it’s natural to consider popping up to Greenland (it’s just a two-hour flight) for a glimpse. After my husband surprised me with a trip to Iceland last week, he surprised me all over again a couple of days later with a day trip to Greenland.

Air Iceland runs a daily eight-hour tour where you leave Reykjavik at 10:15 am for Kulusuk, Greenland, landing back in Reykjavik at 6:15 pm. You spend four hours in the air and only four on the ground in Greenland, but that’s enough to get a taste of East Greenland’s scenery and the local way of life.

It’s expensive, though: The tour price is $800. That includes airfare and the guide in Kulusuk but does not include the reservation fee for airline seats (I paid $11 to reserve a window seat on both flights); taxi fare between your hotel and Reykjavik Airport, 1.2 miles from the city center (I paid $26 roundtrip); lunch (I bought a sandwich at RKV pre-security and two bottles of water post-security; fellow tour members wished they had); the $40 boat ride in Kulusuk from the town marina back to the airport (this photogenic icebergs-and-glaciers boat ride was not part of the Air Iceland tour but was a highlight of the day); or the tip for the guide.

In the end, this day trip easily cost $900. Was it worth it? Well, here were the biggest pros and cons:

The cons: The Air Iceland tour was bare bones. It did not include most of the professional niceties or advance instructions that are par for the course on trips designed by my WOW travel specialists . There is no tour vehicle in Kulusuk; you walk the 1.8 miles from the airport into town. No lunch is included, nor are you told ahead of time where and how to get lunch. None of these things bothered me (I mention them because they might bother you), but what did disappoint me is that we did not get to interact with any locals, aside from our guide, the curator in Kulusuk’s museum, and the cashier in Kulusuk’s one store. I felt very much like the tourist I was. In my mind, I kept comparing this experience to the week I spent in the tiny town of Point Hope, in remote Arctic Alaska. That trip was far more interesting and enjoyable because I got to know the local people—tribal elders, whale hunters, schoolteachers, students, artisans, the pastor and his wife, and storytellers galore. In Kulusuk the only person we got to know was our guide. Then again, I’m comparing a week-long trip to a four-hour one.

The pros: We couldn’t have asked for better weather: It was sunny and clear, which I was told is the summertime norm in Kulusuk. And we lucked out with our charismatic guide, 25-year-old Massanti Riel, who grew up nearby in Greenland, lives in Kulusuk in the summertime, and works for Icelandic Mountain Guides (the tour firm used locally by Air Iceland). Massanti and I are now Facebook friends, and you can spot him in the boat-ride video below (he’s the one in a hat).

Hopefully these photos and videos from my day in Greenland will help those of you who are Iceland-bound determine whether such an excursion would be worth the price tag for you. In my case, my husband made that determination for me. I would never have splurged like this on my own…but, in the end, I’m glad I can say I’ve been to Greenland.

If you have questions about the trip, feel free to ask me in the comments.

#Kulusuk #Greenland, pop. 250 A photo posted by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on Jul 17, 2015 at 12:29pm PDT

Not all houses here have running water, but you can get it from the town tap. #Kulusuk #Greenland A photo posted by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on Jul 17, 2015 at 1:23pm PDT

  Boats can access this part of the world only 5 months of the year. #Kulusuk #Greenland   A photo posted by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on Jul 17, 2015 at 4:36pm PDT

These boots are made for dogsledding. (That’s an attempted quip/allusion to the Nancy Sinatra song “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.” Actually, these boots are used for special occasions.) #Kulusuk Museum, #Greenland A photo posted by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on Jul 18, 2015 at 6:39am PDT

In the museum, tools made from animal bones and driftwood. Most of the men in the community hunt and fish for a living. They hunt whales (in a kayak, with a harpoon) and seals and polar bears (mainly from boats). It takes about three whales (narwhals of 3 to 5 meters, not counting the horn) to feed a family all winter. #Kulusuk #Greenland A photo posted by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on Jul 18, 2015 at 6:14am PDT

The town of #Kulusuk in #Greenland is only about 100 years old. The #church (which is the spiffiest building in town) was built from the remains of a Danish sailing ship that ran aground here 100 years ago. A photo posted by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on Jul 17, 2015 at 1:04pm PDT

  #Greenland   A photo posted by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on Jul 18, 2015 at 7:50am PDT

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Greenland is on my bucket list. Did you get your passport stamped? I want that Inuit passport stamp bad!

so it is worth the money for the excursion frpm iceland? is that all? = the museum and boat ride?

Do you know if this 1 day tour still exists with Iceland Air? Their site did no allow me to select any dates. Thanks for all your good information!

Sweet! What kind of plane were you on to Greenland?

Hi Johnny! A Fokker 50.

Wow! Another one for the wander list!! What a treat to get to go there!

How exciting! I adore Greenland, and after my visit a couple years ago I felt it is one of the most underrated places I’ve ever been. My trip was a bit different, in that I was onboard an expedition ship and was able to spend a bit more time exploring the impressive fjords, appreciating the magnificent ice, and watching for whales as we traveled from point to point. Since we had a charter flight back to Ottawa, it was surreal to be walking on the Greenland ice cap one day and back at home in Seattle the next! While I generally prefer time for more in-depth exploration, my take on a one-day trip from Iceland is GO FOR IT! Whether you experience Greenland for a day or for a week, it’s worth it!

I’m with you, Shelley. A small expedition ship hugging the coastline, stopping in settlements that would otherwise be very hard to access, sounds like a smart way to see Greenland.

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Home » Europe » Greenland » Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Greenland From Iceland

Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Greenland From Iceland

By Author Lance Longwell

Posted on Last updated: September 28, 2022

In researching our trip to Iceland, I heard that a day trip to Greenland from Reykjavik might be possible. Visiting Greenland? I was intrigued.

This brought up several other questions for me. How can you visit Greenland? Specifically, how do you get to Greenland? And who goes to Greenland anyway?

I immediately became captivated with the idea of visiting Greenland and I knew that we HAD to go. Convincing Laura that this was a good idea would be another story. Here’s everything we learned about trips to Greenland from Iceland.

How to Get to Greenland

Our first real decision was how to get there. We found some airlines offering day trips from Iceland to Greenland. Alternately, if we’re going, we could add a couple of days and really explore, however the trip was proving to be long enough with our limited vacation time. Most of our long discussions came down to whether we would like take the quick trip from Iceland to Greenland.

Once before, I wanted to do a day trip to somewhere crazy (from Spain to Gibraltar ). At the time, I was accused of just wanting to collect a passport stamp (which, since Greenland is a partially autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark, it’s a Denmark stamp).

And it went much that way this time. I’ll admit, that was part of it. But how often do you have the opportunity for visiting Greenland? We don’t have a lot of vacation time, and tacking the quick trip on to our time in Iceland just made sense (to me, anyway).

There’s really only two ways to get there. The first is to fly from Iceland to Greenland. There are flights to Greenland from Iceland (via Air Iceland Connect) and Denmark (via Air Greenland). However, there are still no direct air service from the United States.

So, if you’re wondering how to get to Greenland from the US, most people fly to Reyjavik with IcelandAir and then take an Air Iceland Connect flight on to either Nuuk or Kulusuk, which is actually kind of strange since Greenland is part of North America and you’d think you could fly direct.

The second option is that there are a number of cruise lines that are beginning to add the country to their sailings. Contrary to popular belief, there is no Iceland to Greenland ferry. The good news for travelers is getting to Greenland is getting easier every year with more travel options available.

We opted for a day trip offered by Air Iceland Connect. Yes, it is quite expensive – at about $525 per person, this would be an investment. Unfortunately, it was difficult to find detailed specifics about the Air Iceland Connect package. So, with a leap of faith, we booked the trip. [Note: Hearty travelers can overnight in Kulusuk at either of the hotel or hostel in town. Check current prices/options on accommodations here .]

Why Visit Greenland

My motives in this Greenland vacation were more about country collecting or getting that passport stamp. Before we left on the trip, the cover of National Geographic was about this island being Ground Zero for global warming . I wanted to see it for myself. Laura finally gave in.

We got up early and headed to the tiny Reykjavik city airport for the flight. The Air Iceland Connect flight from Reykjavik to the hamlet of Kulusuk took a little under two hours and covered a distance of just over 450 miles (725 kilometers).

Once in Greenland, we crossed through security and found the guide, a gent from Iceland who had lived in Greenland for some time. He originally came to the island as a sociologist to study the indigenous population and ended up seeing a money-making opportunity and stayed.

In Kulusuk, we walked from the airport down into the town, stopping at the cemetery ridge for a view of town. At about this time, the midges found us. These crazy little bugs are attracted to CO2 and fly into your mouth and up your nose. They made us miserable, but there was nothing we could do to keep them away. I wished we had had  netting to get the bugs out of our faces.

Kulusuk is a small village where all of the little buildings clinging to the rocks are painted in picturesque reds and greens and blues. It was very charming…from afar.

The locals in this part of the country have progressed rapidly. In just over 150 years, they have moved from tribal hunter/gathering in seal skins to driving ATVs and wearing North Face. But, like most native peoples, they have over 80% unemployment and an extremely high level of alcoholism.

When we were in Kulusuk on a Saturday, the few locals with a job had been paid the day before and the entire town was drunk – including some boys as young as about 10 or 12. Our guide explained that this was pretty typical right after pay day. It was quite sad. We wondered if this was typical for the entire 57,000 population of Greenland, or whether it was specific to this island.

Our first stop was the town’s all-purpose store. It carries everything from groceries to clothes to guns and ammunition. An unusual mish-mash of merchandise, but it gave us a glimpse into the sparse lifestyle of the people and was a strong reminder of how remote Kulusuk is.

There is one gift shop in town, which our guide opened up for us. The store sells exactly the same merchandise as the Kulusuk Gifts store in Reykjavik – t-shirts and expensive bone carvings. He then took us over to the brightly-colored church for a brief 10-15 minute history lesson on the island.

We then went into a woman’s house for a drum ceremony demonstration – it could have been really good, however, without providing any cultural context, it was just kind of weird. And somehow Laura got roped into participating.

Actually, that really sums up our trip. Our guide studied the local people for his degree and could have provided a really rich cultural discussion and been really informative. Instead, he seemed to be more focused on wanting to open the gift shop and sell things.

The most rewarding part of visiting Greenland was boarding the boats from the town of Kulusuk and taking them out into the bay and past some MASSIVE icebergs. That was very cool!

Yes, we got our Greenland passport stamp. Yes, we went to Greenland. And who goes there? It’s one of those places in the world that is very far off the beaten track and I’m glad we took this opportunity to go. But for cost of about $525 per person, we expected more. It was not the educational and enriching experience that we were hoping for, but I’m glad we did it.

That night, after our flight back to Iceland, we went out for dinner in Reykjavik. We had selected Argentine, one of the most popular restaurants in all of Iceland and one of the better steakhouses we’ve ever been to. The restaurant was excellent. However, the whole Greenland vs Iceland moment was a very odd juxtaposition. Here we were enjoying a fabulous meal after having spent much of the day with people who were really struggling.

Visiting Greenland was one of the most remarkable experiences of our lives, but it was both intellectually and emotionally challenging. Perhaps more than any other destination we’ve ever visited, our journey has stuck with us.

There are times I can still see the faces of some of the native children in Kulusuk. It is an island that is being rapidly transformed by climate change. But in many ways, the real change was within us. This trip changed us in ways we didn’t realize at the time.

Lance Longwell is a travel writer and photographer who has published Travel Addicts since 2008, making it one of the oldest travel blogs. He is a life-long traveler, having visited all 50 of the United States by the time he graduated high school. Lance has continued his adventures by visiting 70 countries on 5 continents – all in search of the world’s perfect sausage. He’s a passionate foodie and enjoys hot springs and cultural oddities. When he’s not traveling (or writing about travel), you’ll find him photographing his hometown of Philadelphia.

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Sunday 7th of January 2024

This sounds awesome! I'll be visiting Iceland in July and would love to add a day trip to Greenland! How did you book the tour in Greenland? Was there a specific website?

Lance Longwell

Sunday 14th of January 2024

They were offered by Air Iceland, which eventually became IcelandAir Connect. They ceased operations as an independent entity in 2021, and were absorbed into Iceland Air. The website for the Greenland flights is: https://www.icelandair.com/en-us/flights/flights-to-greenland. Use Keflavik (KEF) as your departure airport.

Michael ACE Blackburn

Wednesday 1st of February 2023

Interesting read. I’m watching a documentary on the Vikings from Scandinavia to Germany, Russia, Italy, France and UK … then one family sails to Iceland to settle. Later Canada. Sept 2002, I went to Iceland. In 4 days I had seen almost everything. The next day me & 5 others and our guide flew to Kulusuk. Your description was exactly the same as my trip, except 6 things. 1. I didn’t get to go on a boat 2. You didn’t mention the 5ft iron square with hooks. Townspeople would catch fish and hang it for anyone who wanted it. 3. Dogs were chained to the house. We’re told to stay away. The dogs were transportation, not pets 4. It took 45 mins to walk the dirt road into town. 5. In 2002 there were no hotels or Restaurants, so a day trip. 6. No gift shops in Reykjavik or in Kulusuk. The airport had one small t shirt that said KULUSUK and one XXLg GREENLAND sweatshirt. Still have them, still can’t wear them

Our guide half way to town, amongst the barren rolling landscape stops. Forgot to mention, IF we encounter a Polar Bear, Run, Run ! We all looked at each other and this woman next to me was smiling. I asked her why. She said, “I won’t be able to out run a Polar Bear, but I should be able to outrun everyone but you and the guide. I like my chances”

My Best Vacation … ever !

Richard Weil

Saturday 30th of July 2022

An old thread but very informative and will illustrated, thank you. I admit to being a country collector--122 and the 7 continents too--with some long trips to weird places (overland France to Nepal when things were calm enough in the Middle East, more recent visits to Andorra, Haiti, Albania, etc.). And my wife thinks I'm nuts that every time we get to a new port I jump off the cruise ship and look for that passport office. (Often find one for a stamp too.)

But for all that I agree that swooping in is both emotionally jarring for the visitor and does not do the locals justice. But if you treat them with respect (I try to learn a few local words first), study their history a bit, know about the local sights, and just gear into how things are done then you will learn something and do fine with the people. (I learned the latter in India where if you push then everything locks up. Take your time and things usually work.) What drives me nuts is people who just stay in a resort or expect things to be exactly like they are at home. One learns nothing and sees little.

On the other hand a lot of people are curious about the world. I teach college level geography and do a lot of ham radio, and in both these ways one finds much general interest about other places. And perhaps with so many people communicating online we're making a little progress that way too. So my thought is that if enough people travel without preconceptions, and meet enough folks from elsewhere, then it will be a better world. Keep on moving, friends.

Sunday 31st of July 2022

Richard, thanks so much for your thoughtful note. I agree that the world can teach us so much. And I really push back on the idea that there is only ONE right way to travel (and the stupid traveler vs tourist crap). Every needs to experience the world - sometimes we just do it differently. I dabbled in ham back in the 1980s and wished I would have stuck with it.

Tom Fletcher

Sunday 1st of May 2022

Great information. When I go there, it will be a multi-day trip. One day just allows you (as you said) to visit the gift shop and grocery store, see a few munities of music, and take a boat ride, but even that you got an experience.

Sunday 6th of February 2022

Thank you for the information. I stumbled on your story tonight while talking to my grandkids about the north pole. We will be in Iceland in June and is planning to go to Greenland.two says in Greenland sound like more than enough, should he leave on say two or go on to day three there? Thank you.

One day is plenty for Kulusuk (or a day and a night, fly back the second day). Two days would be good for Nuuk.

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Greenland Tours & Cruises from Iceland

Add a trip to Greenland to your Iceland holiday and double your Arctic experience! For the best Greenland tours from Iceland, look to the local travel experts at Nordic Visitor.

Expert tips for Greenland tours from Iceland

Are you looking for bucket list worthy tours including spotting icebergs and learning about new cultures? You could add an extra wow factor to your itinerary by combining a trip to Iceland with a tour to Greenland .

Imagine sailing between the floating ice at Iceland’s Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and then repeating the experience among even bigger icebergs at  Greenland’s UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord.  Beside the bragging rights, you’ll also get to witness ancient volcanoes, hot springs, waterfalls, and more.

Nordic Visitor makes it simple for you to combine a tour of Iceland with a trip to Greenland. Our Icelandic staff is well versed in crafting combo tours of both islands. Located in Reykjavík, we handle all your local arrangements, from your accommodation to flight reservation to Greenland from Reykjavík.

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Greenland has very limited international flight connections, so plan to start your journey in Iceland . From Europe and North America there are many airlines with flights to Keflavík International Airport in Iceland, which is just 45 minutes by car from Reykjavik. Then from Reykjavik Domestic Airport in Iceland you can fly direct to towns in southern and western Greenland, including the iceberg town of Ilulissat.

How long does it take to fly to Greenland from Iceland? From Reykjavik it’s just 3 hours and 20 minutes to Nuuk, Greenland’s capital city. When you consider that Greenland is the largest island in the world – and that Iceland and Greenland are both fairly remote – that’s not so long!

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Nordic Visitor’s Iceland tours generally start and end in Reykjavik, so we recommend spending the first leg of your trip in Iceland. On a multi-day tour with day trips , or on a self-drive tour around Iceland , you can start off by taking in the top attractions of Iceland. Make sure to include day tours or a drive with your rental car along Iceland’s south coast so you can visit the glacial sites that are comparable to Greenland.

• What can you do with all that ice? Check out these 7 ways you can experience glaciers in Iceland

Another advantage of starting your Arctic adventure in Iceland is the relaxing, convenient amenities available to you after an international flight. Soak off your jet lag in the Blue Lagoon , the famous geothermal spa surrounded by lava fields on Reykjanes Peninsula, close to Keflavik Airport.

Then spend some time in the Reykjavik city centre, sampling the variety of local and international cuisines. To get into adventure mode, take a day trip to the Golden Circle route , where you can visit iconic highlights like Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir hot springs and Þingvellir National Park.

• Why not drive the full circle about Iceland? See how long it takes to drive around the Ring Road

Short on time with your travel plans? You can just do a day trip to Greenland! From Reykjavik the flight to to the small village of Kulusuk in East Greenland is just 2 hours, and on an 8-hour day tour you’d have some time for hiking, checking out Greenlandic handicrafts and getting insights into Inuit culture and traditions.

When is the best time for Greenland tours from Iceland?

Iceland and Greenland both have extreme seasonal differences in daylight hours and weather conditions . So the attractions and activities you can enjoy will vary quite a bit by month, but especially so in Greenland.

In Iceland you can enjoy most of the famous attractions year-round, as most highlights are located just off the Ring Road, Iceland’s main highway. Of course, the pavements can get slippery in winter – and the daylights hours are short between November and January – but this is prime northern lights season in both countries. Furthermore, in Greenland the winter months – namely February to April – offer the best snow for dog sledding .

• Wondering about the best time to visit Iceland? Read our complete guide

Please note, however, that Greenland tours from Iceland in wintertime require a lot of flexibility with travel dates . Due to unpredictable and fast-changing winter weather conditions over both Greenland and Iceland, there’s a higher likelihood of flight cancellations in wintertime. That being said, we highly recommend the summer months, primarily June through August, for combining Iceland and Greenland in one holiday .

Summertime is, ironically, the best time for enjoying the ice in Greenland. With the nearly 24-hour daylight at this time of year, you’ll have plenty of time to watch huge icebergs floating off the coasts of small villages. And nothing beats the experience of getting close up to these massive chunks of ice on a guided boat tour, which is only possible in summer. You can even sail on the Ilulissat Icefjord, a World Heritage Site, under the midnight sun!

• What exactly is this midnight sun? Learn all about this Arctic summer phenomenon

Is the Greenland Ice Cap on your bucket list? As it covers about around 80% of the island’s landmass, It’s pretty hard to miss on a trip to Greenland! This massive glacier, the second largest ice sheet in the world, can be experienced via guided day tours in many of Nordic Visitor’s summer travel packages in Greenland.

If your heart is set on whale watching , then you’re in luck! Both destinations are rich in marine life, with June through August being the peak whale watching months in Iceland and Greenland. For a glimpse of minke, fin and humpback whales in Greenland, we recommend taking a whale watching day tour in the Nuuk Fjord from the city of Nuuk. Whale watching tours are also available from the harbours of Reykjavik and Húsavík in Iceland.

• A whale of a time! See what an icefjord cruise is like in Greenland

Nordic Visitor offers a wide range of tours in Iceland and Greenland that can be combined and customised to your liking, such as with extra nights and optional activities added to your itinerary.

What do our customers say?

The reviews speak for themselves. See what Nordic Visitor travellers said about their experience with us.

Elizabeth, Australia

From vikings to icebergs, august 2023, excellent tour arrangements.

We had two different countries in our tour package. Iceland and all the tour arrangements from Nordic Visitor were excellent. The quality of the hotel accommodation was very good. We would have liked to stay at small guest houses sometimes rather than the large hotels, but maybe they were not available. Our car hire experience was mostly good. Our holiday in Greenland was also very good, but there were a couple of things we wanted to pass on to you. Flying from Ilulissat to Nuuk, we didn't realise there were two flights with a change at Kangerlussuaq. It was the same when we flew to Narsarsuaq. We had to take another flight from Paamiut. That was ok but we didn't know and the notes didn't tell us!

Joli, Hong Kong, SAR

From vikings to icebergs, july 2023, arctic winter adventure, march 2016, awe inspiring, carol and dawna, united states, west greenland by land and sea, july 2015, a fabulous experience.

It was a fabulous experience and loved everything about Greenland, especially the Ilussiat Ice Fiord and sailing among the icebergs at midnight.  The local people were very friendly and welcoming.  The helicopter ride to the Ilulissat glacier was also a highlight and standing on the ice cap by the glacier was an unforgettable experience.

Icefjord Adventure, August 2014

Wonderful to work with.

Hotel Icefjord was great. We were given an unusually large room, with a small kitchen. We were pleased. Alexandra was wonderful to work with. She answered all my questions promptly, and was very helpful.

Arctic Winter Adventure, March 2013

Greenland's wild west.

We booked the 5 day/4 night Greenland's wild west tour for mid-March 2013. Alexandra, our contact at Nordic Visitor, was incredibly helpful throughout the booking process and provided great information. Our trip to Ilulissat, Greenland and all activities and accommodations while there went off without a hitch and was an amazing experience we will never forget. Highly recommend!!!

Greg, United States

Great experience.

It was a great experience I would repeat and do more. Everyone was so helpful and kind.

Thomas, United States

From vikings to icebergs, june 2023, we value nordic visitor's expertise.

This our 4th tour with Nordic Visitor, and we value and appreciate NV's expertise in the local areas and ability to coordinate the various itineraries and facilities. The Greenland tour required a great deal of coordination; logistics for hikes, weather, transportation and lodging were challenging, and NV did a great job putting it all together. There is always room for improvement; as we said previously, it would have been nice to be able to speak directly with or to received detailed information from the local subject matter experts regarding the hikes and tours prior to the trip.

Dan and Elaine, China

Nuuk - heart of greenland, september 2015.

In September, hiking in Ice fiord area is wonderful. The area turned from green to reddish colours within two weeks. A lot of wild berries lied along the undulating hillside. On the far hillside, we saw the first snow and winter was round the corner.

Margarete, Sweden

Custom booking, june 2015, good service.

You provide a good service to people like us who come from so far away and don't know how to get accommodation etc., and so we depend on your advice. We decided to go to Greenland because we saw a blog on your website written by Alexandra who had been there herself. We wanted to do what she had done. Alexandra had booked and organised a self drive holiday around Iceland for us in 2011 

Wonderful West Greenland, August 2014

Right in front of wonderful disco bay.

We had chosen the "quality" option for hotels, so we thought we'd be staying at the Arctic hotel in Ilulissat, but we were given the Icefiord hotel. In the end we concluded it was much better, since it's a small hotel, has its own charm, and is in an excellent position right in front of wonderful Disco bay. Everything worked out very well and Alexandra Thorisdottir took very good care of us!

Seline, Netherlands

Amazing ammassalik, august 2011, planning to go back next year.

I received good practical information, hotel was very nice, friendly people, excellent food. My stay was too short, I´m planning to go back next year to see the West coast as recommended by Erla Sonja, and stay much longer.

Ron, United Kingdom

Susan, united states, icefjord adventure, july 2017, wonderful experience.

Thank you for a wonderful experience. We are already working with our travel consultant to book a return trip to Greenland!

Nancy and Charles, United States

From vikings to icebergs, august 2015, professionalism, william and betty, united states, icefjord adventure, september 2014, truly memorable and treasured trip.

Because it was necessary to change the dates of the Extra Services (cultural walks/boat trips/etc) of our prepaid tour; we were not adequately dressed for the boat trip thru the icebergs. This was only due to time limitations after arriving from our Iceland flight. Otherwise, everything was wonderful; especially our beautiful view at Hotel Artic!!!!! Erlas Sonja was very nice to work with; we had no issues with any vouchers. Many thanks for making our adventure to Greenland a truly memorable and treasured trip. Our experience was a very positive one. Got your contact from an article in International Travel News written by someone we had met on a trip to Svalbard with several years earlier.

Weyland, United States

The islands of fire & ice - iceland & greenland, august 2014, wonderful support.

Nordic Visitor is a great tour agency. We first contacted them, Alexandria listened to what we wanted to do and arranged exactly what we wanted for our trip. They do a wonderful job of providing information, not only general information on the area but also you get a personalized itinerary and a cell phone to use. We did a ring road trip and a two day excursion to Greenland. We have traveled all over the world and I would recommend this agency to anyone planning a trip to the Nordic countries.

Yolande, Australia

The islands of fire & ice - iceland & greenland, august 2023, everything went smoothly.

Everything went smoothly from arrival to departure. Pre-arrival experience was good too once the payment went through.

Mary Taylor, United States

Arctic winter adventure, march 2017, greatly appreciated.

I had a two day weather delay in Iceland getting to Greenland, and Dagny my travel consultant was fantastic! She made sure that I knew what was happening with the airline, helped to make arrangements with the hotel, and made great suggestions for things for me to do while waiting on a flight. The second day you even sent me to a massage, which was greatly appreciated! 

Brandon, United States

Island hopping - iceland & greenland, august 2015, best booked tour i've taken.

The service from your company was extraordinary.  We appreciated all of the materials provided. All in all, this was the best booked tour I've taken anywhere in the world. Great job! 

Arranged everything very well

All excellent. Erla promptly answered my questions and arranged everything very well.

Fred, United States

Island hopping - iceland & greenland, july 2014, greenland and southern iceland - july/aug 2014.

My wife and I did the 4 day Greenland trip to Ilulissat and then the South Iceland trip. They were flawless. Everything was as planned, the trip to Greenland was definitely the highlight. The self drive tour in Iceland was also great, no issues with any logistics. Recommend!!

Travel Guide

Be prepared for just about anything on your Icelandic adventure.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

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Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is probably Iceland’s most famous attraction and has become considered a...

Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir was declared a national park in 1930. A law was passed designating Þingvellir as “a...

What to pack

Layers, layers, layers! Come prepared for all type..

Driving in Iceland

Are you prepared for your road trip? Learn the rul..

Climate & weather conditions

How icy is Iceland? You might be surprised

Time & Daylight

When to expect sunrises, sunsets, northern lights ..

Our services

Whether you choose a guided tour or a self-drive vacation, all customers receive personalised service with a designated travel consultant , tailor-made quality travel documents, and our self-drive clients receive a hand-marked map that outlines their route, overnight stays and highlights along the way. Furthermore, Nordic Visitor has long-standing professional relationships with local tour operators , which are carefully selected by our staff and are recognized for consistent, quality service.

Book with confidence

• Protect your money & plans with our  flexible booking terms    .
• Get peace of mind with a 24/7 helpline during your stay.
• Enjoy personal service from Iceland-based travel experts.
• We’re here for you in case of unforeseen circumstances.
• 97% of customers say they’d recommend us to friends.
• As a local agency, we work closely with trusted suppliers.
• We’re a fully licensed and insured company in Iceland.

Whether you have queries about our tours or want to add activities to existing bookings, we’re here to help. Get in touch with our friendly team for any of your travel questions.

Our Icelandic phone number is +354 578 20 80

How about a live chat with one of our local travel experts?

Blog posts you might like

5 best road trips in iceland: a local expert's view, 8 ways to experience glaciers in iceland, in brief: nuuk, greenland, my greenland: alexandra's adventures in ilulissat.

Whether you have a single question or a special request, we're here for you.

• Iceberg Spectacle
• Glacier and Inuit Village
• Icebergs and Whales
• Discovery Tours
• Hiking and Trekking Tours
• Kayaking Tours
• Dog Sledding Tours
• Skiing Tours
• Expeditions
• Winter Tours
• Iceland Tours
• Practical information
• Kulusuk Hostel

Short Breaks

Choose from the following Greenland Short Breaks which include tours from one to three days.  All tours originate from Reykjavik and include airfare to and from Iceland. All overnight tours include accommodation and more. Click on a tour for more information.  These short break tours are an excellent way to experience the majesty and magic of Greenland in a shorter period of time.

Iceberg Spectacle - GRL227

Explore a charming Inuit town on a guided sightseeing tour and spend a full day on the most amazing boat excursion to an impressive glacier or through huge icebergs to the Sermilik Icefjord.

Price from: 293000 ISK

Glacier and inuit village - grl225.

2 day tour to Kulusuk in east Greenland. Enjoy the peace and quiet of the untouched nature and explore Kulusuk’s more traditional attractions.

Price from: 213486 ISK

Icebergs and whales - grl201.

A 3 day self guided tour to Ilulissat in the Disko Bay. Enjoy hiking along the amazing UNESCO protected Kangia Icefjord filled with floating icebergs of all shapes and sizes and go on a guided Whale watching boat tour. Accommodation in a 3 star hotel.

Price from: 313000 ISK

Greenland adventures by img.

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Stórhöfði 33 110 Reykjaví­k, Iceland Tel: +354 587 9999 [email protected]

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Getting from Iceland to Greenland (And Other Options)

Greenland is an adventurous destination. However, as you might already know, it’s not one of those easiest destinations to reach.

Of course, it will definitely be one of the most unforgettable and unique trips you have ever made, so why not make the effort!

So, if you’re on a trip to Iceland, might as well plan to visit this remote land of ice and snow. The big question is though, how you can get from Iceland to Greenland? Read on to find out…

How to Get to Greenland

There are only be 2 ways to reach Greenland: by plane or cruise ship.

Flying to Greenland

If you want to fly to Greenland, you can actually get there from either Copenhagen, Denmark, or Reykjavik, Iceland.

And if you fly from Copenhagen or Denmark you are going to arrive in Kangerlussuaq. This is a very small town in the west of Greenland containing Greenland’s major international airport (the only one big enough)

From there, you can transfer to a smaller plane or helicopter to get to the other towns and villages in various parts of Greenland.

Flying to Greenland From Iceland

If you fly from Reykjavik, Iceland you will either go to

• Nuuk or Ilulissat (direct) on the west coast
• Narsarsuaq in the south
• or Kulusuk in the east

Cruise Ships To Greenland

There is a range of cruise ships to Greenland, including many of the more famous cruise companies you know and love. Most offer Greenland as a stop in combination with Iceland or Norway (as they are relatively close).

These cruise lines include:

• Holland America Line
• Hapag Lloyd
• Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten is perhaps the most popular cruise operator in Greenland. Their offers include both Greenland and Arctic Canada.

Flying with Air Iceland

Air Iceland is the obvious choice when you are in Iceland and wish to reach Greenland. They offer the most options when it comes to flying to Iceland. Below are the main ones, including flight times.

Reykjavik to Nuuk

Flight time: 3 hours and 20 minutes

The official flight time, according to Air Iceland is 3 hours and 20 minutes. But it depends on the weather and wind, so anything between 3 to 4 hours is normal. Tickets are not cheap and range between 200€ and 600€ – depending on the time of year you’re planning to travel (summer is a lot more expensive than winter) and when are you actually going to book the ticket.

Reykjavik to Ilulissat

Flight time: 3 hours and 15 minutes

You can also reach Ilulissat from Reykjavik. The city is actually named “iceberg” and is situated at the Ilulissat Icefjord in Disko Bay. This is quite famous and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Reykjavik to Narsarsuaq

Flight time: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Narsarsuaq is another destination in Greenland that can be reached directly from Reykjavik you can also reach Narsarsuaq in Greenland. owing to its easy-to-reach southern location it’s a bit warmer there with -7 degrees Celsius in January and 10 degrees Celsius in July (on average).

Reykjavik to Kulusuk

Flight time: 2 hours

Air Iceland also offers direct flights to the Greenland village of Kulusuk. This is a small settlement in Sermersooq in the southeast of Greenland. Many people enjoy coming here on a day trip from Iceland. Many enjoy visiting here on a day trip option to  visit Greenland from Iceland.

Greenland Tours from Iceland

You could also choose to join a tour from Iceland to Greenland. If that is the case, here are some of the many tour operators to choose from:

• Iceland Unlimited 12 day tour
• Greenland Adventure Tours (lots of options)
• Iceland Travel
• Guide to Greenland

A transfer between the airport and the actual village is not included in these tours, which means you’ll have to walk the 3 km to the village (and back). Once you reach your destination, you’ll be toured by a local guide around the village, and you may also watch a traditional Greenlandic drum dance (depending on the weather).

About the Author Anna Timbrook

Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.

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