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travel Greenland

Greenland - Places to see and things to do.

Situated between the Atlantic and the Arctic Oceans, Greenland is a self-governing Danish province that is responsible for its foreign affairs itself. Politically and historically, Greenland is close to Europe and more specifically to Norway, Iceland and Denmark. Greenland is set on the largest island on the world, divided into several regions, namely Southern Greenland which is the part that is most easily accessible, the Western Greenland where the capital is, plus the Midwest, the Eastern and the Northern Greenland, as well as the largest national park in the world named Northeast Greenland National Park. The major cities in Greenland are several: the capitak Nuuk, Aasiaat, Tasiilaq, Ilulissat, Qaanaaq, Qaqortoq and Sisimiut. Greenland is about the size of Mexico and has the smallest population density in the world. It is well accepted when tourists ask for directions of places to eat and sleep. The settlements are small and people know where everything is, so usually there are no signs. The official languages used in Greenland are Greenlandic and Danish. English is widely spoken and understood. In order to enter Greenland, Danish and Scandinavian citizens do not need visas.

Tourists should know that visas for entering the Schengen area which includes Denmark do not apply automatically for Greenland. When coming to Greenland for a short holiday, tourists do not need visas, however if coming on expeditions people need special permit. There are two airports in Greenland, Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq, from where the local flights and boats take tourists to their final destinations. The national carrier Air Greenland offers several flights a week from Copenhagen. Besides that Air Iceland offers regular flights from Reykjavik, while Atlantic Arways offer flights from the Faroe Islands and SAS opened a new route to Kangerlussuaq. Another way to enter Greenland is by boat. There are no ferries that connect the country to North America and Europe; however there are cruise ships that offer these services from both continents. No rail and road systems are available in Greenland.

The main reasons for the tourists for visiting Greenland are the icebergs and glaciers, the rich animal life that features whales, seals and polar beers, as well as the Midnight sun. The Midnight Sun is a very appealing natural phenomenon which could be best seen from the northern parts of Greenland. During a period in the summer the sun stays above the horizon for several days. In the weeks around the summer solstice, the sun goes below the horizon but still the sky is not dark. During the winter however, the sun does not go out and it is very dark, even during the day. Besides enjoying the above mentioned natural resources of Greenland, the country is also visited by those who love hiking, kayaking, and mountain climbing. Driving a dog-sled could also be experienced.

The capital of Greenland, Nuuk, has a population of 15 000 people and is the administrative centre of the country. Among the tourist estinations in Nuuk are the old colonial town, which is cose to the town centre; the statue of Hans Egede and his house, the national museum and the Santa Clauss post office. Another interesting place is Braedtet where tourists could buy fresh fish, whale and seat meat. Every year in Nuuk are organized a Snow Festival and a Marthon. Among the favourite things for the tourists in their free time is hwae watching by boat and helicopter rides. Several hiking routes start from Nuuk, most of them marked. Tourists should know that some rocks are quite steep.

Another beautiful place to visit in Greenland is the village of Ammassalikk, which is set on the east coast of the country, surrounded by high mountains. The locals are eighter fishermen or hunters, though some of them work in the local administration. The village is quite small but here are available a hotel and a restaurant, a bakery and a book shop, as well as a museum. The place is ideal starting point for those who love alpine climbing and hiking, as well as kayaking.

The third settlement we will present here is Ilulissat, which is set in Northern Greenland. The main attraction here is the Ice Fiord. Some thirty-five kilometres outside the city there is a glacier that is providing icebergs into the Fiord. This place could only be reached by boat or by foot and is an impressive sight.

The last settlement to be presented here is Qaanaaq, which is set in the northen part of Greenland and is the northernmost settlement in the entire world. Tourists should know that getting to Qaanaaq could be quite difficult as visitors require permits that are issued by the Thule Airbase which is under the control of the United States.