Are you planning a trip to Greenland? Or else, are you looking for the unusual part of this ice country to go? If so, write down Narsaq on your list, and you will not regret it. 

We prepared for you a complete list of useful tips and information you need to know for planning a successful and enjoyable trip to the off the beaten path little village in South Greenland. Narsaq. 

When we were planning a trip to Greenland, we found it very difficult to gather information as not that many travellers go there and share their experiences. So we decided to create this ultimate travel guide for you, including general information, how to get there, where to stay, and our five-day itinerary. 

Narsaq is one of the most peaceful places we have ever travelled to. Laid back, tranquil, and the feeling of absolute harmony which we felt is hard to describe. Even though this trip was not very long, trust me. It’s an adventure of a lifetime. 

COVID – 19 travel restrictions for Greenland

As of May 2022, Greenland lifted all Covid 19 entry restrictions.

VISA

EU members, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and USA passport holders do not require a visa for a stay up to 90 days.

---

HOW TO GET TO NARSAQ

Narsaq is not one of the typical tourist destinations in Greenland, and, likely, you have never heard of this place before. Especially for this reason you should come and visit its untouched nature and experience the real-life in Greenland in a village which is still authentic and isn’t disturbed by mass tourism and commercial shops. And don’t worry, you will see the spectacular icebergs here as well! 

This little village of Narsaq, with a population of over 1500, is located on the south coast of Greenland in Tunalliarfik fjord. Narsaq does not have an airport for international flights, so the best way to get here is to fly to Narsarsuaq, one hour away by boat. 

A good flight connection is either from Keflavik, Iceland, or Copenhagen, Denmark. 

Find your flight with Skyscanner

Once you arrive at Narsarsuaq airport, you just grab your bag and make your way towards the local port from where the boats regularly leave to the villages along the fjord. 

You can book your ticket for 600 DKK ($92) in advance with Diskoline.

Another option is a helicopter which you can book with some tour providers in the area (Disko Line, Blue Ice Explorer). Prices are slightly higher than a boat, and they will automatically book you for the next boat transfer with no refund if the weather is not good.

---

GETTING AROUND

Those two options mentioned above are the only ones you can use while travelling in Greenland as there are no roads or railways connecting towns in Greenland. 

But one doesn’t need transport in a village of 1500 people. It is very easy to do all the activities by just walking around. It is the best way to enjoy local culture and see the details this colourful village can offer. 

The easiest way to get to the glacier is by boat. You should book either directly with your accommodation or with Blue ice explorer, the only company offering iceberg tours from Narsaq.

---

WHERE TO STAY

There are not many options of accommodation in Narsaq. You can choose a hotel or hostel type but bear in mind that none of these options will make you happy if you search for a luxury experience. But whatever you choose, it is always clean, comfortable, and within walking distance of the centre. 

We stayed in the Igdlo guesthouse, and we couldn’t be happier about it. It is located on the higher ground, so our room’s view was out of this planet. We overlooked the fjord with floating icebergs and enjoyed afternoon tea outside on the terrace. There is also a fully equipped kitchen which is free to use, and breakfast is included and served as continental buffet-style in nearby restaurant Klara. 

Check availability for Igdlo Guesthouse

Another option is Hotel Narsaq which is located in the same building as the restaurant Klara and also has the same owner Fridrick who is very helpful. This option does not include a kitchen. 

Check availability for Hotel Narsaq on phone +299 497728.

---

FOOD

Restaurant

When we were planning a trip to Greenland, we did not think much about cooking ourselves as we know there is a restaurant called Klara that serves local food for their guests daily in the summer season. We ate in here on our first night in Narsaq and were stoked about how good the food actually is as we did not expect much, to be honest (if we consider the remote location and the fact that there were like six tourists in the whole village). 

We ordered halibut fish with sauce and potatoes and also the local beer. The menu is not huge but consists of starters, main courses, and dessert – maybe four of each. You can have some seafood, reindeer meat or burger, and the price varies from 139 DKK ($21) for a burger to 210 DKK ($32) for a reindeer. There are no vegetarian options on the menu.

Supermarket

The same evening, we checked what they were selling in the local supermarket and could not be shocked anymore. 

Both supermarkets here are full of everything. And if we say everything, we mean it. Papaya in the tiny village in the middle of nowhere? No problem, we got you covered. An entire room of wines, beers, and other imported alcohol? Yes. Any kind of food, vegetable, fruit? Yes. Guns, Apple TV, clothes? Yes. All in one place. We could not believe our own eyes as we did not expect this kind of luxury in a small village of Greenland! 

That is when the idea came to our mind. We are going to use the kitchen and enjoy cooking ourselves! Local halibut fish every day. And that’s what we did. 

Cafes

If you are not into cooking yourself, there is also an Arctic cafe or Cafe Inugssuk where you can also get a small free beer if you show your Hotel Narsaq key. They both are more like a bar but also sell some small snacks. They had some local bread and fish, waffles, sandwich, and similar when we visited. 

Water

Tap water in Greenland is safe to drink. 

---

INTERNET

We did not buy any special sim-card for Greenland as we were coming for five days only, and we thought we would take a break from the digital world. But of course, we live in the modern world, and there is wifi in the hostel/hotel, which is free to use. 

However, if you need a good internet connection, I don’t have good news for you. It is a really bad connection, and the internet is very slow most of the time. But for sending messages and checking some essential news, it’s good enough. I even managed to upload a few photos to our Instagram account, but it took a good half an hour. 

---

MONEY

The official currency in Greenland is the Danish krone (DKK). 

Since we came to Greenland on a special package from Icelandair, we paid for the whole stay beforehand online. The trips to see the Icebergs were also paid for in advance, and we knew we could pay in our hostel/restaurant Klara by card, so we did not exchange any money to bring with us. 

You can pay everywhere by card in Narsaq – grocery stores, little supermarkets, restaurants, and cafes. There is ATM in the village.

If you plan your trip for longer and want to explore other villages around, we recommend bringing cash with you. 

---

INSURANCE FOR TRAVELLING IN GREENLAND

Greenland is not a typical destination where you have access to medical services in case something goes wrong. For this obvious reason, your travel insurance should have a big coverage as the costs can climb up to massive amounts.

True Traveller is a perfect choice for Europeans. They provide excellent coverage and customer service.

Regardless of country of residency, IATI is a great insurance option for Greenland. Readers of Broken Navigation get an exclusive 5% discount.

Get your 5% discount with IATI.

---

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The summer season is from middle June to middle September. Days are long, and it is lovely weather – you can wear a t-shirt most of the day if the sun is out. 

Many people probably don’t expect it is also mosquitoes season. We arrived in Narsaq on 17th September, and luckily there were no more. The weather was still fabulous, and it was getting darker, so we even saw weak Northern lights on our first night. 

Sadly, some of the local businesses close by 15th September. We arrived two days late, so even the tourist office/information was closed for tourists, and we managed to book the last boat of a season for iceberg tours from Blue Ice Explorer. They waited for us since they also officially closed on the 15th. We were also the last guest before closing for winter in our hostel. 

If you want to spend the winter holidays here, it will be more challenging to plan activities; it will require contacting the owners of ho(s)tels directly to see the options. 

---

5 DAYS ITINERARY

Day 1 Narsaq

After landing in Narsarsuaq, take a boat transfer to Narsaq, which takes approximately one hour. Meet Fridrick, the friendly owner of Igdlo guesthouse and Klara restaurant/Hotel Narsaq, and get all the useful tips and maps you will need to explore the area. Then get the first glimpse of Narsaq village by walking its peaceful streets with colourful houses. It is tiny and easily walkable on foot. End the day in Klara restaurant and try some local food.

Day 2 Hike & Beer

I bet you did not expect this combination in Greenland. After your breakfast, hike to the Narsaq point. If you arrive in September, you can go blueberry picking in hills with the perfect view of the fjord and mountains. Another hike that you can complete today is a hike to Dyrnaes. 

Narsaq is actually home to a brewery, and they have a pretty big selection of beers. It’s worth a try. You can either just get their beers in a local supermarket or go to the brewery and ask workers if you can buy some beers in their little store. That is what we did, and if you come at the right time, you can even have a look around to see how they make beers here. 

Day 3 Iceberg safari and Twin glacier tour

The day we will never forget as these trips are out of this world. The boat takes you very close to the majestic blue and white icebergs, and if you are lucky, watch some whales on the way back. 

Day 4 Hike to Qaqqarsuaq

Your last full day in Narsaq. It is a perfect time to either arrange a boat which takes you to nearby villages or do another hikes&explore the village deeply. We hiked to a local landmark mountain Qaqqarsuaq which took us 3 hours to complete, including some breaks along the way. The rest of the day we spent wandering around the village. 

Day 5 Narsarsuaq

Although you are leaving today, we recommend exploring Narsarsuaq as it is so much more than just the airport. 

---

BEST THINGS TO DO IN NARSAQ

If you arrive in the summertime (15th June – 15th September), we would definitely start by visiting the local information centre. 

There is also a fish market but for some reason was always closed when we were there. 

Other places to visit in Narsaq

Narsaq church, Narsaq museum, Landnáma farm, A-21 culture house, or sports area.

Other places to visit around Narsaq

Day trip to Hvalsey church, Uunartoq hot spring, boat trip to villages around – Qaqortoq, Ipiutaq, Itileq, Igaliku, Sillisit, Qassiarsuk

The best way to arrange any of these trips is with your accommodation as they work with locals with boats who can take you where you want. Or just contact Blue Ice Explorer or check the boat schedule with Diskoline. 

---

USEFUL TIPS

As Greenland doesn’t issue passport stamps, and I bet you want to have one, there is a way to do it. Stop by the museum in Narsarsuaq and ask for a stamp for your passport. It is roughly 200 m from the airport. Talking about Narsarsuq. It is worth the time to explore this little village. 

This is important. No matter the price, get that freaking window seat in the plane. There is not a better feeling than to see Greenland from above. It’s fascinating. 

Last but not least. Don’t forget to send a postcard home from the local post office.

What do you think? Is Narsaq your next destination? 

---

EXPLORE MORE OF BROKEN NAVIGATION

Travel to Maldives for $39 per day including flight ticket!

How to visit Syria & Is it safe?

Hiking in Kazakhstan: Kolsai Lakes

Epic train rides in Uzbekistan: Need to know