The ultimate Greenland packing list - The most important things for your luggage.

If you are still unsure what to pack in your suitcase for a trip to Greenland, we have the solution for you. Our packing list will help you not to forget anything important for your trip. Greenland adventure to forget 

Travel documents

1. Valid passport (check the validity and renew it if necessary)
2. Copy of passport (save digitally or keep separately from original)
3. Visa if necessary (not required with German or European passport)
4. Insurance policy Health insurance abroad (online)
5. Vaccination card (check if you need to refresh your vaccinations)
6. Flight ticket (printout or e-ticket)
7. Travel credit card
8. Cash
9. List of emergency contacts and allergies, if applicable.

Electronics

1. Mobile phone with charger
2. Headphones
3. Powerbank* or Solar charger*
4. Flashlight*/Headlamp* (if available)
5. Camera with charger
6. Optional: Spare batteries (are quickly empty in cold temperatures)
7. Optional: Rain cover for your camera
8. Optional: Tri-pod for northern lights
9. Optional: Laptop/ Tablet/ E-Reader*/ Kindle with charger
10. Optional: Multiple socket

Toilet bag

1. Toothbrush*
2. Toothpaste*
3. Dental floss*
4. Deodorant*
5. Hairbrush*
6. Shaver*
7. Nail care
8. Face lotion (very cold and dry air)
9. Lip protection with UV protection*
10. Tweezers*
11. Hygiene articles
12. Contact lenses (glasses sometimes freeze)
13. Optional: Make-Up

First Aid Kit

1. Hand disinfectant* or cloths
2. Painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen, aspirin)
3. Diarrhoea medication (e.g. Imodium Akut, charcoal tablets)
4. Wound cream (e.g. Bepanthen)
5. Plasters and blister plasters
6. If necessary, tablets against travel sickness

Personal comfort:

1. Backpack 25-40L (Pay attention to hand luggage dimensions: 55x40x20 cm for the plane
2. Sunscreen*
3. Sunglasses
4. Earplugs*/Earplugs*
5. Books/Magazines
6. Headgear/Cap
7. Sleep mask*
8. Microfiber towel*
9. Travel pillow* (for flight and longer trips)
10. Optional: Ski goggles
11. Optional: Knee pads (helps to keep warm)

Environmentally conscious travel

With these little things you can actively help to avoid plastic in Greenland and simply do your bit for the environment:

1. Reusable Silicone tubes* Filled with your shampoo, conditioner, shower gel.
2. Reusable bottle (preferably stainless steel for hot and cold)
3. Optional: Reusable cup (preferably stainless steel for hot and cold)
4. Optional: Stainless steel Outdoor cutlery* (knife, spoon, fork, chopsticks, straw)

Climate in Greenland: packing list for each season

Greenland is located in the polar and subpolar climate zone. This means that it generally stays cool all year round and gets very cold in winter. Nevertheless, there are big differences from region to region. Temperatures in the north of the island average -33 °C, while in the south the average is -3 °C.

Greenland is covered with nearly 80 % of ice. The ice-free areas are located exclusively on the coast. The reason for this is the different ocean currents. The Greenland Current on the west coast transports warm water, resulting in a mostly ice-free zone, as well as temperatures in the summer months of up to 20 °C in the southwest.

Greenland summer

The Greenlandic summer begins in June and ends in early September. The snowmelt can begin as early as April and brings with it a noticeable change in temperature.

On the north coast of Greenland, temperatures are around freezing in the warmest months.

On the south-central coasts, on the other hand, average temperatures rise above freezing in the summer months, yet are usually below 20 °C.

Finally, there is the vast inland area. Here, the temperature is around or below freezing even in the summer months.

The sun rarely shines, at least on the coasts. Nevertheless, in spring and summer the sun comes out, also because of the long days. Taking sunscreen, lip balm and sunglasses with you is accordingly recommended. Another special feature of Greenland is the low humidity. Due to this, the low temperatures do not feel so cold.

So the likelihood of you being able to wear a T-shirt in the summer is not as low as you might think. However, the dry air makes it even more important to drink plenty of water and have a good moisturizer in your luggage.

Summer: clothes and shoes

1. Underwear
2. Thermal laundry
3. Thin socks
4. Wool socks / hiking socks
5. T-shirts
6. Thin and thick sweaters
7. Jeans/long pants
8. Shorts
9. Hiking pants
10. Pajamas/sleepwear
11. Swimwear 
12. Wind and rainproof jacket 
13. Rainproof (overcoat) pants
14. Fleece jacket
15. Cap
16. Scarf/multi-functional scarf
17. thin gloves
18. Waterproof (hiking) shoes
19. Sneaker
20. Slippers and/or FlipFlops 
21. Very important: Sleep mask and sunglasses

Greenland winter

In central and northern Greenland, the coldest month is usually February. This is because in these latitudes the sun never rises in winter, and even when it does rise above the horizon, it remains very low at first. Temperatures in winter are arctic. In the south the temperatures go down to -20 °C, in the north even down to -40 °C. A highlight, which can be seen especially in the long winter months, are the spectacular northern lights (Aurora Boreales). The blue/yellow/green play of colors in the sky is a very special bonus during your Greenland trip in winter.

Winter packing list: Clothing and shoes

1. Underwear
2. Thermal underwear (synthetic or wool)
3. Thin socks
4. Wool socks / hiking socks
5. T-shirts
6. Thin and thick sweaters
7. Jeans/long pants
8. Sportswear (for under winter clothes)
9. Pajamas/sleepwear
10. Swimwear
11. Warm wind and rainproof (ski) jacket 
12. Warm wind and rainproof (ski) pants 
13. Fleece jacket
14. Cap and scarf/multi-functional scarf
15. Ski and wool gloves
16. Warm waterproof (hiking) shoes
17. Sneaker
18. Slippers and/or FlipFlops
19. Optional: Wool sweater

Recommended vaccinations

There are no compulsory vaccinations for direct entry from Germany.

In addition to the standard vaccinations according to the RKI, travel vaccinations against hepatitis B and, when staying on the island of Bornholm, against TBE are recommended.

Make sure that your standard immunizations are according to the vaccination calendar of the Robert-Koch-Institute are up to date.

Conclusion

Basically, less is more. The important documents, such as the passport, must not be missing, of course. On a round trip with many stops it is simply easier to travel with light luggage. In addition, with a light suitcase on the outbound flight, there is also more space for travel souvenirs. Don't forget to take a comfortable backpack for your excursions.

Download packing list PDF

Here you can download the Greenland packing list conveniently as PDF.