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Thanks to the newest round of President Trump’s saber-rattling, Greenland has been yanked from icy anonymity and placed directly into the global spotlight.
As the world’s largest island, Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark with fewer than 60,000 residents, most of whom live in small, coastal communities. Lately, though, the territory has been in the headlines following Trump’s renewed push for the United States to take control of the island, citing its strategic and security importance in the Arctic.
This week, Danish and Greenlandic officials met with top U.S. leaders after Trump again insisted that anything short of American control of Greenland was “unacceptable.” Greenland, unsurprisingly, is not interested.
Politics aside, the sudden attention has sparked a simpler, very American question: can we actually go there? The answer is yes—and you should.
Can Americans travel to Greenland?
Yes. U.S. passport holders can visit Greenland for up to 90 days without a visa, provided their passport is valid for at least three months beyond their departure date. No special vaccinations are required and there are no currency restrictions on entry.
Greenland may be part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but it’s self-governing, majority Inuit and very much its own place, culturally, politically and geographically.
How do you get there?
Until recently, getting to Greenland required a lot of patience and connections in Copenhagen, but that’s quickly changing.
Nuuk opened a long-delayed international airport in late 2024 and, in June 2025, United Airlines launched twice weekly direct flights from Newark to Nuuk. Flight time from the U.S. East Coast clocks in at roughly four to five hours, making it shorter than flying to much of Europe.
More airports are coming, too, including a major update to Ilulissat (the Icefjord gateway) later this year.
How long can you stay?
American tourists can stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa. That’s plenty of time to chase whales in Disko Bay, hike above Nuuk, dog-sled across frozen terrain or sit very still watching icebergs drift past the world’s quietest bars.
What is there to actually do in Greenland?
Greenland is less about ticking off attractions and more about being dropped into an environment that feels genuinely otherworldly.
In summer, there’s whale watching in Disko Bay, where humpback and fin whales feed near Ilulissat and travelers can visit the UNESCO-listed Icefjord, where massive icebergs calve off the ice sheet and drift into the ocean.
Around Nuuk, the island’s capital and most populous city, hiking trails and fjord cruises offer surprisingly accessible adventures, with boat trips passing waterfalls, abandoned settlements and mountains that seem to rise straight out of the water.
In winter, the focus shifts to dog sledding, skiing and Northern Lights watching. The minimal light pollution makes Greenland one of the darkest—and best—places in the world to see the aurora.
Is Greenland expensive?
Yes and no. Similar to Iceland, food prices can be eye-watering (some travelers report a head of lettuce costing close to $10), but getting around via the coastal ferry Sarfaq Ittuk is relatively affordable. Credit cards are widely accepted in towns, but carrying some Danish kroner is smart if you’re heading off the beaten path.
Will the rules change because of Trump?
Despite the noise, the island’s travel rules aren’t expected to change. Greenlandic leaders have been clear: they don’t want to be recolonized, annexed or “acquired.” While the island’s strategic importance has made it a geopolitical chess piece, it remains open, stable and very much welcoming to visitors.
In other words, while the headlines have been dramatic, Greenland is still Greenland on the ground: raw, beautiful and quietly minding its own business.