Iceland vs Greenland: How to decide between these two Arctic adventures

Looking to catch the Northern Lights and magnificent natural vistas of the Arctic? The Nordic countries Iceland and Greenland are two top contenders for wildlife lovers and those looking to get away from busy city life, but how do you decide which Arctic adventure to pick? We give you the lowdown on the differences between Iceland and Greenland and what each country is famous for to help you choose your next vacation spot.

Iceland is famously known as the land of fire and ice for its combination of active volcanoes and magnificent glaciers. This remote island in the North Atlantic Ocean has a population of just over 360,000 people but occasionally makes waves on the international stage as the home country of singer Björk, its underdog football team and the idyllic setting of 2020’s Netflix movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

Greenland is the largest island in the world that’s not a continent–it’s more than 20 times the size of Iceland. With a population of just over 56,000 people, Greenland is the least densely populated place in the world. Fun fact: Iceland and Greenland were both part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but while Iceland became independent in 1944, Greenland, along with the Faroe Islands, remains a constituent country of Denmark.

Despite its name, only 11% of Iceland is covered with a permanent ice cap. Iceland is located at the meeting point of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates–the divide runs right through Thingvellir–and sees a lot of active volcanic activity that results in natural phenomena throughout the country like black sand beaches, ice caves, geysers, geothermal hot springs and fjords.

On the other hand, while the southern tip of Greenland is indeed quite green thanks to Qinngua Valley, Greenland’s only forest, about 80% of its land is uninhabitable. The center of Greenland is perpetually covered with a large ice sheet, second only to Antarctica’s ice sheet. Greenlandic towns are scattered along the coastline, and much of the remaining landscape is treeless Arctic tundra.

Iceland’s weather is generally quite mild throughout the year, but can change very suddenly within a single day. There are four seasons in Iceland: summer from June to August is about 41-77ºF on average, while winter from November to March can see temperatures plunging to 14-23ºF.

The majority of Greenland lies above the Arctic Circle so temperatures are frigid year-round. Greenland has two seasons: a short summer from June to September ranging around 30-50ºF on average, and a long winter from October to May where temperatures can plunge as low as -40ºF.

The best time to visit Iceland depends on what you want to see. Summer is the busiest with the most tours and festivals–expect crowds and make your bookings early. Winter is perfect for exploring ice caves and seeing the Northern Lights, while the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn are ideal for those who prefer milder temperatures and fewer tourists.

Greenland’s peak tourist season is also summer; the thick snow cover melts away and long midnight sun days are great for wildlife spotting, cruises and hiking but be warned that mosquitoes can be a real pest in inland areas when it’s warmer. The long winter months spanning December and January are extremely cold and many tours don’t operate then; February to April is less cold and still great for Northern Lights and dog sledding.

Iceland is an increasingly popular destination with around 20 airlines flying regularly from all across Europe and North America to the international Keflavik Airport.

You can also take the car ferry M/S Norröna from Denmark or the Faroe Islands to Seyðisfjörður. Iceland is also an increasingly popular cruise port. Iceland is also cheaper to fly to compared to Greenland because there are more airline options available.

Greenland is much less accessible with only three airlines that fly from Denmark and Iceland: Air Greenland flies from Copenhagen and Keflavik while Icelandair and Norlandair connect Keflavik, Reykjavik and Akureyri to various airports across Denmark. There are no international ferry services, though some cruise ships may stopover in July and August when the sea is less frozen.

Iceland has a pretty good network of roads, with the famous Ring Road encircling the island and many popular road trip routes like the Golden Circle, Arctic Coast Way and South Coast for those who enjoy self-drive exploration. There are many guided tours available if you’d rather not worry about driving. You can also ride Strætó, the Icelandic public bus network that connects selected towns across Iceland, but plan ahead as there are limited routes and runs. Ferry services and regular domestic flights connect Iceland’s various towns, too.

In Greenland, on the other hand, there are no roads connecting its scattered communities. Getting around Greenland typically involves domestic airplane and helicopter rides for longer distances, or ferries and chartered boats for shorter connections.

Iceland’s best season for Northern Lights is from September to March when the nights are colder, longer and darker. Avoid June to July as that’s when there’s midnight sun and the skies stay bright even at dusk. Visitors usually take a Northern Lights tour or a cruise to a remote location, away from the city lights to better catch this natural phenomenon.

In Greenland, light pollution is generally very low, so you can actually spot the Northern Lights from just about anywhere in the country, even in the capital city of Nuuk. The airport town of Kangerlussuaq on the southwest tip of Greenland is one of the best locations for Northern Lights-spotting in Greenland, with more than 300 clear nights in a year.

Marine animals and birds form the bulk of Iceland’s fauna. Seabirds and ducks are abundant; the Atlantic puffins with their colorful beaks are the most popular birds in Iceland—puffin-spotting is a top activity during summer months.

Offshore, over 20 species of whales can be spotted alongside a variety of seals. The only native land mammal found on Iceland is the Arctic fox, though you can spot reindeer, mink and even the odd visiting polar bear in the wild. Icelandic sheep and the pint-sized Icelandic horses have adapted over millennia and become a key part of the local culture.

In Greenland, the polar bear is the most well-known native animal, though you will only spot them out on the ice if you take a cruise to the east coast. The Arctic hare is an endemic creature to Greenland, and you may also spot Arctic foxes, reindeer and musk oxen. Up to 16 species of whales live off Greenland’s coasts alongside dolphins, seals and walruses. Snowy owls, white-tailed eagles and rock ptarmigans are some of the iconic birds among the many that can be found in Greenland.

Both Iceland and Greenland have relatively simple food cultures, limited by the remote locations and harsh conditions of the region, but each country has developed their own unique dishes.

Fish and seafood is an integral part of Icelandic culture–stockfish or hardfiskur and plokkfiskur fish stew are staples, though fermented shark (hakarl) and skate are traditional foods more notorious for their unique taste. Lamb is another must-have Icelandic dish–smoked hangikjot or ‘hung meat’ is one of the more traditional methods of cooking lamb. Take a food tour to try these Icelandic specialties.

In Greenland, most of the traditional food came from hunting the local wildlife–meat, birds and fish. Seal and musk ox can be found on traditional menus. Fish is another staple–lumpfish and its roe are local favorites, along with other Arctic fish like halibut and wolffish.

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