How to Visit Greenland from Iceland

Iceland is only a few hours by plane from New York or London, but a lot of people still think of it as the edge of the world. If you've come this far, Greenland is closer than you'd think. From Keflavik, it's under two hours to East Greenland and a little over two hours to the capital, Nuuk. Icelandair says flying via Iceland or Denmark is the most common way in.

Greenland in brief

Greenland is the world's largest island, and about 80% of it is covered by ice. Only about 57,000 people live there, according to Statistics Greenland, most of them in towns along the west coast. It's part of the Kingdom of Denmark but runs its own affairs. It isn't in the EU or the Schengen area, so check entry rules for your passport before you go.

There are no roads between towns. You get around by plane, helicopter or boat, and the weather decides a lot.

Flights from Iceland

A lot has changed since 2010, when Air Iceland flew to Greenland from Reykjavik's city airport. Air Iceland is now part of Icelandair, and Greenland has new airports.

Icelandair

Icelandair flies from Keflavik to four airports in Greenland:

• Nuuk (airport code GOH), the capital, all year. The flight takes about 2 hours 20 minutes, and most flights now use a Boeing 737 MAX with Wi-Fi. Don't be thrown by the timetable: Nuuk is 2 hours behind Iceland in winter and 1 hour behind in summer, so a winter flight that leaves Keflavik at 9:45 lands in Nuuk at 10:05 local time. You may see the trip listed as nearly 4 hours elsewhere; the time in the air is the 2 hours 20.
• Ilulissat (JAV), on Disko Bay and the Ilulissat Icefjord, June to September. About 3 hours 20 minutes.
• Kulusuk (KUS), a village in East Greenland, March to September. About 1 hour 50 minutes. Tasiilaq, the largest town in the east, is 15 minutes away by helicopter, or about an hour by boat in good weather.
• Qaqortoq (JJU), in South Greenland, seasonal. Its new airport opened in April 2026 and replaced Narsarsuaq as the region's gateway.

The flights to Ilulissat, Kulusuk and Qaqortoq mostly use smaller Dash 8 planes, with no Wi-Fi or entertainment and a limited menu. Bags have lower weight limits than on Icelandair's transatlantic flights. Pack snacks and water, because small Greenland airports have little or no food.

If you're coming from North America or Europe on Icelandair, you can connect straight through Keflavik, or add an Iceland stopover on the way.

Air Greenland

Air Greenland, the national airline, flies between Nuuk and Keflavik in summer, according to Keflavik Airport. It also flies to Copenhagen, and it runs the domestic flights that connect Greenland's towns.

Norlandair

Norlandair flies small planes to Nerlerit Inaat (Constable Point) in east Greenland, from both Reykjavik's city airport and Akureyri, on a seasonal schedule.

Note which Reykjavik airport you're using. Icelandair's and Air Greenland's Greenland flights leave from Keflavik; Norlandair's leave from the city airport. See Iceland's airports and transportation.

New airports, new schedules

Greenland is in the middle of a big airport build-out, and it's changing how you get there:

• Nuuk opened a 2,200 m runway on 28 November 2024, which lets bigger jets land in the capital. Nuuk Airport is now the main hub.
• Qaqortoq opened on 16 April 2026. Narsarsuaq, the old gateway to the south, was downgraded to a heliport.
• Ilulissat is getting new facilities, expected to open in October 2026, according to Icelandair.

Icelandair says itself that flight schedules will look different once all this work is done, so check its schedule for your dates rather than trusting last year's.

Day trip or longer stay?

The Air Iceland day tours this page used to recommend went with the Air Iceland brand. Whether you can fly out and back on the same day now depends on that season's timetable, so check before you plan a day trip.

My advice is to go for at least a few nights. Greenland isn't a place to rush. A day in Kulusuk gives you a taste. Three or four nights in Tasiilaq, Nuuk or Ilulissat lets you get out on the water, walk, and wait out the weather if you have to.

Things to do

Hiking, glacier walks, kayaking, boat trips, whale watching, fishing and village visits are the staples, much as they were when I first wrote this. The best-known sight is the Ilulissat Icefjord: Icelandair notes that icebergs drift past Ilulissat all year, and the town's name means "icebergs" in West Greenlandic.

For local operators, Visit Greenland, the government's tourism board, lists local tour providers and destinations.

When to go

Summer, June to September, is the most popular time, with long days and the most flights. Ilulissat flights only run then. Spring and autumn are quieter and often cheaper, Icelandair says, and Nuuk is served all year. Winter is cold and dark, and weather delays are common. Icelandair notes that a flight to Nuuk can be held up by bad weather at Kulusuk, because there must always be an open diversion airport.

For Iceland's side of the trip, see when to go to Iceland.

Practical tips

• Get a local SIM or an eSIM that covers Greenland. EU roaming deals don't apply there, and roaming is expensive.
• Pack essentials in your carry-on. In bad weather, bags are sometimes offloaded and sent on the next flight.
• Leave slack in your plans. Build a spare day into your trip before any connecting flight home.
• Budget carefully. Flights, hotels and tours in Greenland aren't cheap. Check fares on Icelandair's site for your dates before you plan the rest.

FAQ

How long is the flight from Iceland to Greenland?

From Keflavik, about 1 hour 50 minutes to Kulusuk, 2 hours 20 minutes to Nuuk and 3 hours 20 minutes to Ilulissat, according to Icelandair. Greenland's clocks are 1 to 2 hours behind Iceland's, so local arrival times make the flights look shorter than they are.

Do I need a separate passport check for Greenland?

Greenland is outside the Schengen area, so expect to show your passport. Check the entry rules for your nationality before you book.

Can I fly to Greenland from Reykjavik's city airport?

Only to Nerlerit Inaat, with Norlandair. Everything else leaves from Keflavik.

Photo by chrissy575