How Do You Choose Between Visiting Greenland or Iceland?

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.

Although a persistent belief is that Iceland is green and Greenland is icy, that isn’t quite true. Depending on the time of year you visit and where you go, it’s possible to find ice-covered peaks and green fields in both countries. However, it is true that 90% of Greenland is covered in ice compared with Iceland’s 11%. That makes ice one of Greenland’s main attractions in the best possible way.

Greenland’s vast ice sheet, the largest in the world outside of Antarctica, creates vast fjord systems and some of the world’s largest icebergs, Strand explains.

“Places like Ilulissat Icefjord offer towering ice, which is something you simply do not experience in Iceland in the same way,” she explains.

In Greenland, I hiked for hours on the Russel Glacier and walked on the Greenland Ice Sheet, parts of which are believed to be over a million years old. I also saw massive icebergs on hikes and boat rides, experiences which were more like those I had in Antarctica than anywhere else in Europe, including Iceland.

From camping on the ice cap to dog sledding and sailing through glacier-lined fjords on an ice breaker, opportunities for adventure are endless in Greenland. Moreover, many of these adventures are hard to replicate anywhere else on earth, especially in the same place. Albatros Arctic Circle has experience planning adventures throughout Greenland.

Greenland is a perfect destination for those seeking slow travel. No roads connect Greenland’s towns, so visitors must fly on a small plane with Air Greenland, sail, or take a helicopter to get from place to place. Other than northern-lights hunting followed by a glass of Greenlandic Coffee spiked with Grand Marnier or watching the midnight sun, there isn’t much of a nightlife in most Greenlandic towns.

The lack of developed infrastructure and a still-new tourism industry make travel in Greenland feel slower, more immersive, and more intentional by default.

Unlike Iceland, Greenland’s original settlers were not Norse Vikings. Instead, they were Inuit who traveled over a frozen land bridge from Canada.

“Culturally, Greenland remains deeply connected to Inuit traditions, where hunting and fishing are still an essential part of everyday life,” Strand says. “In many communities, these practices are not just cultural heritage but a way of sustaining families and preserving knowledge passed down through generations.”

During my trip to Greenland, I enjoyed learning about Inuit traditions, such as never whistling under the northern lights lest you attract the attention of the spirits, exploring a UNESCO-protected site where the Inuit once lived near the sea, and hunting Musk Ox for survival. I also traveled to a remote modern-day settlement where descendants of Greenland’s original settlers live today, blending old and new traditions.

“Greenland offers a unique blend of Inuit heritage, Norse history, and contemporary Arctic life, which together shape a living culture that is both diverse and deeply rooted in place,” explains Ann Sophie Dorph Andersen, a spokesperson for Visit Greenland who has Greenlandic heritage.

Travel to Greenland is now easier than ever. Icelandair offers several flights a week to Nuuk. Air Greenland offers flights to Greenland from Copenhagen. United Airlines offers seasonal flights from New York to Nuuk. Because traveling around the country can be difficult, an expedition cruise, such as one offered by HX Expedition, is a good choice. HX offers several options, including one that leaves from New York.

Many travelers to Iceland enjoy traversing the country on their own. Unlike Greenland, where visitors are prohibited from renting cars in some towns due to dangerous road conditions, Iceland is the perfect choice for travelers who want to explore the country independently.

Iceland’s Golden Circle and Ring Road are both popular routes. The Golden Circle is a one-day drive featuring several of Iceland’s most popular sites, including a national park, a massive waterfall, and a geyser. The Ring Road is a longer highway that circumnavigates the country, taking visitors past waterfalls, black-sand beaches, volcanoes, fjords, and small towns. Other visitors rent a car or campervan for a day or weeks at a time to create custom itineraries.

Iceland is the better choice for independent travelers who want to traverse the country on their own terms.

Iceland’s well-developed tourism industry also means it’s easier to be spontaneous. In Iceland, getting from place to place requires less planning. Moreover, because Iceland’s tourism industry is firmly established and the country has more inhabitants than Greenland, it’s easier to book hotels and tours at the last minute.

Although we still recommend booking as much as possible in advance, it’s far easier to be spontaneous in Iceland than in Greenland. Travelers who prefer to follow their whims rather than create a detailed itinerary will likely have a better time in Iceland.

One of my favorite parts about visiting Iceland is spending time in the country’s natural hot springs and thermal pools. Several places in Iceland, such as the Sky Lagoon, incorporate naturally occurring hot springs into wellness experiences that include saunas and cold plunges. Other geothermal hot springs, such as the Blue Lagoon, offer add-ons such as massages or meditation.

Iceland’s naturally warm waters are created by volcanic activity and shifting tectonic plates, which are not present in Greenland. Although I enjoyed my visit to Greenland very much, I missed soaking in hot springs, especially after a long day of hiking. Anyone hoping to visit hot springs or experience a Nordic wellness ritual should choose Iceland.

Because nearly all of Greenland is covered in ice, it lacks the geographic diversity of Iceland. Greenland has some geographical features aside from ice, including a few waterfalls and meadows, but not on the same scale as Iceland.

In Iceland, it’s possible to hike on glaciers and visit ice caves. However, the country also has an abundance of massive waterfalls, volcanoes, national parks, and geothermal hot springs. Travelers seeking a more varied experience will likely prefer Iceland.

Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, is a lively European city. Although small, Reykjavik has an abundance of cafes and restaurants and a thriving nightlife. The city’s bars include an upscale speakeasy, a traditional British pub, and one that pays homage to the cult-classic movie The Big Lebowski. Elsewhere in the country, local restaurants and hotel bars serve as a hub for nightlife, although it’s not quite as lively as in Reykjavik.

Reykjavik also has a surprising number of museums, including several art museums, a museum dedicated to telling the story of Iceland’s original settlers, and quirky options, such as a phallic museum, a punk rock museum, and a museum where all exhibits are made from synthetic hair.

Although Greenland has some small bars and museums, the nightlife and culture don’t come close to what I experienced in Iceland. Travelers who want a robust nightlife and the ability to museum-hop will likely be happier in Iceland.

The easiest way to get to Iceland is to fly Icelandair, which operates from over 20 airports in the United States.

If you still can’t decide whether Greenland or Iceland is right for you, consider a trip that takes you to both countries.

Combine a trip by taking an expedition cruise that sails to Iceland and Greenland. Or take advantage of Icelandair’s stopover program and spend up to a week in Iceland en route to Greenland.