From the airport to the city centre Greenland
There are several airports serving international flights throughout the country: Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq and Ilulissat on the west coast, Narsarsuaq in the southern region and Kulusuk on the east coast. However, Kangerlussuaq was the largest of these airports until 2024, and remained the international hub for flights to Greenland, since it was the only one with a runway long enough to accommodate airliners, and also to benefit from a more favorable climate, conducive to landing in bad weather. In 2025, Nuuk opened a new airport, becoming the country's main airport for international flights and replacing Kangerlussuaq, then Greenland's former gateway. Air Greenland plans two flights a day between Copenhagen and Nuuk, in the morning and afternoon.
Other new international airports are planned for the coming years: Ilulissat in the north-west, Qaqortoq in the south (to replace Narsarsuaq), Tasiilaq in the east (to replace Kulusuk). Renovations and expansions are also planned for the Nuuk and Ilulissat airports.
Cabs to the city centers of the larger towns are readily available at reasonable prices. Free shuttles are also usually provided by hotels if you give them advance notice of your arrival time. Otherwise, once you're here, you'll soon realize that nothing is ever far away in Greenland's towns and villages! The latter are quite small.
Arrival by train Greenland
Arrival by boat Greenland
While there are no ferry links between Greenland and other countries, it is possible to reach the icy island via a growing number of cruise lines. Although the first Arctic cruise between Scandinavia and Spitsbergen dates back to 1871, travel to Greenland remained confidential until the 1990s. In particular, the chartering of disarmed former Russian icebreakers profoundly changed the market. Most places are now accessible, provided you have the financial means! The best-known cruises are those of Compagnie du Ponant (www.ponant.com), Hurtigruten (www.hurtigruten.com) or aboard MS Astoria with Grand Nord Grand Large (www.gngl.com). It's also possible to travel on smaller, more intimate sailing ships like Thierry Dubois' La Louise, or even, why not, come to Greenlandic waters with your own boat, like the famous explorer Mike Horn...!
Public transport Greenland
There are no roads between towns in Greenland. Getting around the country is always an adventure in itself! One of the most common ways is by plane - or helicopter - with Air Greenland (www.airgreenland.com), which operates the majority of domestic flights throughout Greenland, whether by plane or helicopter. In some regions, such as the south and Disko Bay on the west coast, you'll also find Disko Line (https://diskoline.gl). Helicopters generally serve towns in the south, north and east of the country, as well as small, isolated villages.
Tip: due to the frequent cancellation of certain flights due to weather conditions, it's possible to miss your connections. So remember to book all your flights at once, so as to obtain a single ticket for a multi-stop trip. This will allow you to be reimbursed for the entire journey if necessary, including connections, or simply to leave later for free when the weather improves. However, the fastest (and often only) way to reach your destination is by plane or helicopter. It's ideal, but also very expensive!
Boats are the other common means of transport in Greenland, both for locals, most of whom have their own boats (the Greenlandic car!), and for local Greenlandic shipping companies such as Disko Line, which operates in Disko Bay and the entire southern region, and Blue Ice Explorer (https://blueiceexplorer.gl), which operates only in the south of the country, and connects several towns and villages. There is only one long-distance ferry company in Greenland, Arctic Umiaq Lines (https://aul.gl), which makes a multitude of ferry stops on the west coast between Ilulissat (north) and Qaqortoq (south) between April and December, taking 4 days. We therefore recommend that you contact the local operators directly if you need to travel in the vicinity of a particular town. To do so, please refer directly to the town details in the guide. Always use approved boats, both for your own safety and to comply with the law.
While living conditions have changed a lot and snow scooters have made their appearance in towns, horse-drawn carriages are still the most reliable and economical way to travel between villages in winter. Of the four species of sled dog found in the Arctic world, the most authentic and robust is undoubtedly the Greenlandic breed. See each town in the guide for more details.
The southern region. Greenland's southern region has several gateways:
Narsarsuaq international airport (Air Greenland, Iceland Air) via Copenhagen or Reykjavik for international flights, or a number of major Greenlandic cities for domestic flights (Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq...). Of note: the future construction of an airport at Qaqortoq.
The Umiaq Arctic Lines coastal express from northwest Greenland stops once a week in Narsaq and Qaqortoq (terminus) from April to early January.
Tourist cruises stop off in the region during the summer months via Iceland or Norway.
You can get around the region using a variety of modes of transport:
The Blue Ice Explorer boat company offers shuttles throughout the region, as well as tailor-made tours during the high tourist season.
The Disko Line boat and helicopter company offers year-round transport by sea and helicopter to towns and villages throughout the region.
Orwhy not ask a local boat owner to take you...?
The West Coast. Greenland's west coast has several points of entry:
Kangerlussuaq international airport (Air Greenland, Iceland Air) via Copenhagen or Reykjavik for international flights, or a number of major Greenlandic cities for domestic flights (Nuuk, Ilulissat, Sisimiut...).
The Umiaq Arctic Lines coastal express runs between the south and west coasts, stopping once a week from April to early January in the following towns and villages: Qaqortoq, Narsaq, Arsuk, Paamiut, Qeqertarsuatsiaat, Nuuk, Maniitsoq, Kangaamiut, Sisimiut, Aasiaat and Ilulissat (terminus).
Tourist cruises stop off in the region during the summer months via Iceland or Norway.
You can get around the West Coast using a variety of modes of transport:
Disko Line offers year-round boat and helicopter services in the Disko Bay region, as well as along the entire west coast around the capital Nuuk.
Other local boatcompanies can also arrange tours between Nuuk and Paamiut, Nuuk and Maniitsoq, Sisimiut and Kangaamiut, and so on. Find out more about each city.
The more expensiveAir Greenland flights connect local towns and villages if required. The main flights are to Nuuk, Sisimiut, Kangerlussuaq, Aasiaat and Ilulissat.
Or why not ask a local boat owner to take you? And don't forget the local tour operators.
The northwest coast. Greenland's northwest coast has several gateways:
Air Greenland flies from Ilulissat to several towns in the region, including Ummannaq, Upernavik and Qaanaaq in the far north. There is no international airport in the region, so you'll need to transit via Ilulissat to get there.
Some touristcruises call at Ummannaq or Qaanaaq. Find out more.
You can get around the Northwest Coast by various means of transport:
Air Greenland provides helicopter service to a number of villages close to the larger towns.
Local tour operators offer excursions by boat (in summer) or dog sled and snowmobile (in winter). Or why not ask a local to take you?
The east coast. Greenland's northwest coast has several gateways:
Kulusukinternational airport (Air Greenland, Icel And Air) via Reykjavik for international flights, or via the capital Nuuk (or sometimes Kangerlussuaq) for domestic flights. Of note: the future construction of an airport at Tasiilaq.
Nerlerit Inaat or Constable Point airport (Air Greenland, Icel And Air and Norlandair) via Akureyri in Iceland for international flights, or via Kulusuk for domestic flights. This airport is also the gateway to Ittoqqortoormiit, close to the North-East National Park.
Some touristcruises call at Tasiilaq or elsewhere in the region. Find out more.
You can get around the East Coast by various means of transport:
Air Greenland provides year-round helicopter service to a number of villages near the larger towns.
Local tour operators offer excursions by boat (in summer) or dog sled and snowmobile (in winter). Or why not ask a local to take you?
With a driver Greenland
As Greenland's towns and villages are small, you won't need a cab. However, you'll find them almost everywhere in the country, even in the villages.
By car Greenland
Greenlanders only use cars in town. It's possible to rent one in a few major cities, such as Nuuk (Europcar, Sixt) or Sisimiut, but the most convenient solution is undoubtedly cabs or buses. See each city in the guide for more details. Of particular note: the probable construction of a future road between Sisimiut and Kangerlussuaq, the first in the country to link two towns!
