Do you want to travel to Greenland and discover the ice and snow landscapes, but ask yourself: when is the best time to travel to Greenland? Then we have the answer for you here!
Greenland - the largest island on earth, politically belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark. In total, the island is home to only about 55,000 people on its 2 million square kilometers, which is due to the fact that more than 80 percent of the total island area is permanently covered with ice. In the north, Greenland borders the icy Arctic Ocean and in the south it lies on the so-called Greenland Sea.
Best travel time and climate
Greenland has a subpolar and polar climate, which means that even in the summer months the thermometer rarely cracks 10 degrees. Only in the southern part of the island and in the fjords do temperatures rise to as high as 20 degrees between June and early September. However, most of the island, more than 80 percent, remains icy all year round. Only the coastal regions are truly ice-free. In the south, this area extends over 150 kilometers, but towards the north it becomes smaller and smaller as it gets increasingly colder, sometimes down to -33 degrees.
The summer in Greenland
In general, it can be said that summer is optimal for a trip, but depending on the season, the activities are somewhat different. The months of May to September are best for all outdoor activities or whale watching. In the summer months of June, July and August, the average daily temperature in the capital Nuuk is around 11 degrees, but do not forget about the fresh winds due to the inland ice.
Since most of the island lies above the Arctic Circle, the sun does not set there in the summer and it remains light 24 hours. This is what makes the island interesting for canoeing, hiking or boating in this season.
If you are interested in tours to the inland ice, it is best to come to Greenland between March and May. Here you can enjoy expeditions with snowmobiles or dog sleds in less icy weather.
The climate on the coast
The Greenland Current transports warmer water northward along the west coast. This ensures a largely ice-free coast and milder temperatures. Here in the southwest, temperatures can even rise to 20 degrees between May and August. As a rule, however, the summers remain very short and cool, at the latest at the end of August it becomes cooler again and then in October the 6-month Arctic winter sets in.
The climate in the interior
Due to the continental climate, it is significantly colder inland than on the coastal strip. Minimum temperatures of -60 degrees are measured here in winter, with temperatures approaching freezing in summer. Winter snowstorms from the interior to the coast make the already freezing temperatures feel even colder.
Sunshine hours in Greenland
For us, it is nothing special that sunrise and sunset regulate the sequence of day and night. But this self-evident understanding of time is discarded every summer north of the Arctic Circle. Thus, the sun remains visible around the clock in summer.
"If you haven't seen the midnight sun behind a wall of icebergs, you've missed something important in your life!"
You don't want to miss this experience? Then come with us to our 8-day Greenland Expedition and let the icy nature enchant you.
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