Greenland travel and eSIM guide

Key takeaways

Greenland is the world's largest island: 2.1 million square kilometres, 80 percent covered by the vast Greenland Ice Sheet, and home to only 56,000 people in a handful of coastal towns connected by air and boat rather than roads. Tusass (formerly TELE Greenland, rebranded 2021) is the sole mobile network operator, a state monopoly providing 4G to all inhabited towns and settlements. There is absolutely no mobile coverage on the ice cap, between towns, on dog-sledding routes or at sea. A Roamix Greenland eSIM on Tusass activates before you fly and connects automatically at Nuuk Airport, where a new international terminal opened in November 2024.

• Tusass is the only mobile operator in Greenland. There is no competition and no alternative. A Roamix Greenland eSIM connects to Tusass 4G in all inhabited towns.
• There is NO mobile coverage outside inhabited areas. The ice cap, glacier hikes, dog-sledding routes between towns, fjords and open sea have zero signal. Offline maps, satellite communicators and proper expedition planning are essential for anything outside town.
• Nuuk Airport (GOH) opened a new international terminal in November 2024, replacing the former domestic runway. Air Greenland now flies direct routes to Copenhagen, Reykjavik and Canadian airports.
• Towns in Greenland are not connected by road. All inter-town travel is by Air Greenland prop aircraft or by coastal ferry (Arctic Umiaq Line in summer). Plan connections carefully as weather delays are frequent.
• The Danish krone (DKK) is the currency. Card payments work in all town shops and hotels. Cash is less necessary but useful for remote lodge settlements and village purchases.

Wi-Fi in Greenland exists at hotels, guesthouses and some restaurants in main towns. In Nuuk quality hotel Wi-Fi is reliable. In Ilulissat and Sisimiut it is adequate. In very small settlements like Qaanaaq or Ittoqqortoormiit it may be intermittent at best. Mobile Tusass 4G is typically faster than guesthouse Wi-Fi in Nuuk and Ilulissat.

• 4 GB

  Nuuk and Ilulissat icefjord visitor

  A standard Greenland trip of one to two weeks with most time in towns and day excursions needs only 4 GB: connectivity in town, offline maps pre-downloaded, evening uploads.

• 5 GB

  Arctic Circle Trail hiker

  Download all trail maps, emergency contacts and weather apps at both ends of the trail (Sisimiut and Kangerlussuaq). 5 GB covers the pre-download plus a few days in town at each end.

• 8 GB

  Extended Greenland expedition (two to four weeks, multiple towns)

  Moving through multiple towns with regular fresh map downloads, Air Greenland booking management, accommodation research and social media uploads from each town justifies 8 GB.

1. 1

   Purchase a Roamix Greenland eSIM plan at roamix.app and receive the QR code by email.

2. 2

   Go to Settings, then Cellular or Mobile Data, then Add eSIM, and scan the QR code.

3. 3

   Set the Roamix eSIM as your data line; keep your home SIM for calls and texts if needed.

4. 4

   Enable data roaming on the Roamix eSIM in your cellular settings.

5. 5

   On arrival at Nuuk Airport your eSIM connects to Tusass 4G automatically.

Visa on arrival

Available

eVisa or ETA

No e-visa or ETA required for most Western nationalities. Check the Danish Immigration Service website for your specific nationality, as Greenland follows Danish visa rules while not being part of Schengen.

Passport validity

Passport should be valid for the duration of your stay plus a reasonable margin. Six-month validity recommended.

Onward ticket

Onward or return ticket recommended. Given the limited and expensive flights out of Greenland, having confirmed return bookings is strongly advisable before arrival.

Download your Air Greenland booking confirmation and accommodation details offline before flying. Connectivity at Kangerlussuaq (the former international hub) is limited; Nuuk Airport (GOH) is now the main international gateway.

Greenland's entry requirements follow Danish law. Verify current requirements at the Danish Immigration Service website before travel.

Greenland has no internet censorship or app blocks. All mainstream apps and platforms work freely where coverage exists.

• WhatsApp, works

  Works fully in all towns with Tusass 4G. No signal outside settlements.

• Google Maps, works

  Works in towns. Download offline maps for all areas you plan to visit before leaving town.

• Air Greenland, works

  Essential for flight bookings and real-time status on domestic flights, which are frequently weather-delayed.

• Arctic Umiaq Line, works

  The coastal ferry app for summer sailings along the west coast. Download schedules offline as connectivity at sea is zero.

• FaceTime, works

  Works fully in Nuuk and other covered towns.

• Instagram, works

  Works in towns. Upload your glacier photos when back in Nuuk.

• Garmin Earthmate, works

  Companion app for Garmin inReach satellite communicators. Essential for off-town excursions beyond mobile coverage.

• Air Greenland domestic flights

  The only year-round inter-town transport. Air Greenland flies Dash 8 and ATR aircraft between Nuuk, Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Qaqortoq, Aasiaat and other towns. Book well in advance: seats are limited and weather delays are common. Use the Air Greenland app with offline bookings cached.

• Arctic Umiaq Line coastal ferry

  The summer coastal ferry sails the full west coast of Greenland from Nuuk to Upernavik. Sailings have no mobile coverage for most of the route. Download offline entertainment and maps before boarding. The ferry is the most spectacular way to experience Greenland's fjords.

• Dog sled (winter, north of Arctic Circle)

  Traditional travel north of Sisimiut in winter. Routes are entirely outside any mobile coverage. A Garmin inReach or similar satellite communicator is essential. An experienced local guide is required for multi-day routes.

• Helicopter (Air Greenland and chartered)

  Air Greenland operates helicopter services to settlements not served by fixed-wing aircraft. No coverage in transit. Essential for reaching places like Ittoqqortoormiit in East Greenland.

Cards and cash

Card payments are standard in Nuuk and main towns. Carry DKK 500 to 1,000 in cash for small village purchases, tips and any remote lodge payments. ATMs are available in Nuuk and Ilulissat; not in very small settlements.

ATMs

Nuuk has the most reliable ATMs (GrønlandsBANKEN on the main shopping street). Ilulissat also has a bank ATM. Withdraw enough cash in Nuuk before heading to smaller towns. Credit card acceptance in remote settlements is unreliable.

Payment apps

MobilePay (the Danish and Greenlandic standard mobile payment app) is widely used in Greenland for peer-to-peer and some merchant payments. Download MobilePay and link a card before your trip if you have a Danish bank or a compatible European card.

Tipping

Tipping is not a strong tradition in Greenland, following Danish cultural norms. In restaurants a small tip of five to ten percent is appreciated but not expected. Tip your guide on multi-day expeditions: DKK 200 to 500 for a full-day tour is appropriate.

Language

Greenlandic (Kalaallisut) is the official language and the first language of Greenlanders. Danish is widely spoken, particularly in Nuuk and in professional contexts. English is spoken by most people working in tourism, hotels and the airport. In very remote settlements only Greenlandic and Danish may be present.

Food

Greenlandic cuisine is built on Arctic produce: Greenlandic lamb (world-renowned for its quality from the southern fjords), reindeer, musk ox, whale (contested but traditional), Arctic char, Greenlandic shrimp and halibut. Nuuk has excellent restaurants including Sarfalik at Hotel Hans Egede and the innovative Brasserie Nansen. In small settlements, expect simpler local food or self-catering.

Plugs

230V, Type C and K plugs

Apps worth having

• Air Greenland

  Transport

  Essential for booking and managing domestic flights between Greenland towns. Download booking confirmations offline before departing Nuuk.

• Maps.me

  Navigation

  Offline map app that works without internet. Download Greenland map tiles in Nuuk for use during coastal ferry trips and between-town transitions.

• Garmin Earthmate

  Safety

  Companion app for Garmin inReach satellite communicators. Essential for any travel beyond mobile coverage including all hiking, boat tours and glacier excursions.

Stay reachable

A Roamix eSIM works in town but provides zero safety benefit outside settlements. For glacier hikes, fjord boat trips, dog-sledding routes and any backcountry activity, a Garmin inReach or similar satellite two-way communicator is not optional: it is essential safety equipment in Greenland.

Health

Medical facilities are limited. Nuuk has Dronning Ingrids Hospital, the only full hospital in Greenland. Smaller towns have health centres. Serious injuries or illnesses require medevac to Nuuk or Copenhagen. Comprehensive travel insurance with emergency evacuation cover is mandatory for any Greenland trip.

Tap water

Running glacier meltwater in Greenland is among the cleanest water on Earth and can be drunk directly from glaciers and many mountain streams with very low risk. Tap water in all towns is safe to drink. Bottled water is unnecessary.

Typical speeds

Nuuk offers 10 to 50 Mbps on 4G. Ilulissat and Sisimiut deliver 5 to 30 Mbps. Smaller settlements may have only 2G to 3G speeds.

5G

5G has not yet been deployed in Greenland. Tusass is planning 5G infrastructure as part of a modernisation programme with Ericsson.

This is the most important connectivity caveat of any country in this guide. Greenland's coverage exists only in settlements. Step outside the edge of any town and signal disappears immediately. The Ilulissat Icefjord, Disko Bay open water, dog-sledding routes, all glacier hiking and the entire Greenland Ice Sheet have absolutely zero mobile coverage. Carry a satellite communicator (Garmin inReach, SPOT or Iridium device) for any travel outside towns. Greenland uses standard European LTE bands. Most modern unlocked smartphones including iPhone and recent Android devices work on Tusass 4G. Older budget phones may fall back to 3G or 2G in smaller settlements.

Off the beaten path

1. March

   Nuuk Snow Festival

   Nuuk

   The Nuuk Snow Festival transforms the capital's central areas into an open-air gallery of monumental snow and ice sculptures carved by international artists. The festival coincides with the last of winter and the return of the sun, creating a celebratory atmosphere. Live music, traditional Greenlandic performances and the spectacle of the sculptures under the low Arctic sun.

2. April

   Greenland Sled Dog Race (Avannaata Qimussersua)

   Upernavik region, North Greenland

   One of Greenland's oldest dog-sled racing traditions, the Avannaata Qimussersua is a competitive dogsled race in the Upernavik district of northwest Greenland. Traditional Greenlandic sled dog teams race across frozen sea ice in what remains a living part of Inuit culture rather than a tourism show.

3. June to July

   Greenland Midnight Sun Season

   All of northern Greenland above the Arctic Circle

   Above the Arctic Circle, the sun does not set from approximately late May to late July. Ilulissat experiences continuous daylight for 51 days. This transforms the icefjord at midnight into one of the most remarkable spectacles on Earth, with golden light illuminating drifting icebergs. Nuuk also has very long days but does set briefly in midsummer.

4. June to September

   Whale Watching Season

   South Greenland fjords and Disko Bay

   Greenland's waters host some of the highest concentrations of humpback, minke, fin and bowhead whales in the North Atlantic. Disko Bay and the southern fjords around Qaqortoq and Narsarsuaq are the prime whale-watching areas. Day-trip and multi-day boat tours from Ilulissat, Sisimiut and Qaqortoq run throughout summer.

5. June 21 (Ulloriarsuaq, the longest day)

   Greenland Independence Day (National Day)

   All of Greenland (main events in Nuuk)

   Greenland's National Day is celebrated on June 21, the summer solstice. It marks the advent of Greenlandic self-government and cultural pride. Nuuk hosts parades, outdoor concerts, traditional Inuit games (Kalaallit Nipaat) and the raising of the Greenlandic flag (Erfalasorput). The day coincides with the midnight sun season.

6. August

   Qooqqut Festival

   Qooqqut fjord settlement near Nuuk

   An intimate outdoor music festival held at the remote Qooqqut mountain lodge in the Nuuk Fjord, reached only by boat from Nuuk. Greenlandic and international artists perform against a backdrop of mountains and Arctic wilderness. Attendance is limited to a few hundred people, making it one of the most exclusive and atmospheric music experiences in the world.

7. August

   Nuuk Marathon

   Nuuk

   The Nuuk Marathon is one of the world's most unique road races, run partly along Nuuk's spectacular fjord coastline and through the colourful city streets. The route offers views of icebergs floating in the fjord, and the clean Arctic air and moderate August temperatures make for excellent running conditions.

8. August to October

   Musk Ox Hunting Season

   West Greenland and East Greenland (Tasiilaq region)

   Greenlandic musk ox hunting is a regulated traditional practice that continues as both subsistence and cultural activity. For visitors, guided musk ox watching safaris (non-hunting) in the Kangerlussuaq area and around Tasiilaq provide extraordinary wildlife encounters with these prehistoric-looking Arctic mammals in their natural tundra habitat.

9. September to March

   Northern Lights Season

   All of Greenland (best in clear-sky areas away from Nuuk light pollution)

   Greenland's dark winter skies and distance from urban light pollution make it one of the world's premier Northern Lights destinations. The auroral activity is frequent from September through March. Nuuk, Ilulissat and Tasiilaq all offer aurora viewing, with Tasiilaq's mountain backdrop providing the most dramatic setting.

10. October

    Nuuk Culture Night

    Nuuk

    Nuuk Culture Night opens galleries, museums, cultural institutions and private studios to the public in one evening of free events across the capital. The Greenland National Museum, Katuaq Cultural Centre and commercial galleries all participate. Local artists, musicians and craftspeople present their work to a festive city crowd.

Through the year

Spring

March to May brings the return of the sun, still-frozen fjords and the last of the dog-sledding season. Temperatures rise slowly from minus 15 to plus 5 degrees Celsius. March and April are ideal for ice-fishing, dog-sledding and the last of the winter activities. May sees the first flowers on the southern tundra. The Nuuk Snow Festival is in March.

Summer

June to August is Arctic summer in Greenland. Days are endless north of the Arctic Circle (24-hour sun in Ilulissat for 51 days). Temperatures in Nuuk reach 12 to 17 degrees Celsius; Ilulissat may see 15 degrees on calm days. Hiking is accessible, icefjord tours are spectacular, whale watching peaks and all coastal ferry services operate. This is peak season; book everything well in advance.

Fall

September and October bring the first darkness back to Greenland after months of midnight sun. The Northern Lights begin appearing in September. Temperatures drop: Nuuk averages 5 to 10 degrees in September, minus 2 to 5 degrees in October. Colours on the tundra turn briefly vivid before the freeze. Fewer tourists than summer but most activities still operating. An excellent shoulder season.

Winter

November to February is deep Arctic winter. Nuuk averages minus 8 to minus 12 degrees Celsius; the north is much colder. Polar night (total darkness) is experienced north of the Arctic Circle from November to January. Dog-sledding is at its peak in the north. The Northern Lights are at their most dramatic. Very few scheduled flights; the territory enters a quieter, more local rhythm.

Connection

Nuuk offers the most reliable Tusass 4G and hotel Wi-Fi sufficient for video calls and cloud work. Ilulissat has adequate but slower connectivity. Anywhere else in Greenland is too unreliable for regular remote work.