Greenland isn’t far from Iceland, but up until recently, it was much harder to reach. In 2024, a new international airport opened in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, and in recent years, expedition cruise lines started offering more sailings to the country.
Still, Greenland feels more remote. Compared to Iceland, the country “remains less crowded and more of a true expedition destination,” explains Karin Strand, vice president of expeditions development at HX Expedition, which sails to both Greenland and Iceland, and executive committee chair of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators.
During my trip, I was left with the feeling that this is the golden age of Greenland travel. The country receives enough visitors each year that there are sufficient flights, cruises, hotels, restaurants, and tours to make travel at different price points and activity levels not only possible, but comfortable. Yet, Greenland still feels unexplored and wild compared to Iceland. In Greenland, it’s still possible to spend a day or more without seeing any other visitors, which is something I haven’t experienced anywhere else in the world.
Anyone after a quieter environment with a true expedition feeling should choose Greenland. Exploring Greenland felt novel and new, in a way that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. If you have ever wistfully thought about what it would have been like to visit a destination before it became popular, plan a trip to Greenland before it’s too late.
