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Greenland🇬🇱 | villagesIttoqqortoormiitScoresby Sund, colored hillside, musk oxen ridges, flight-only access | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Ittoqqortoormiit
🌟 Highlightvillage ranked #3
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Ittoqqortoormiit sits closer to Iceland than to most of Greenland’s own towns, and the only scheduled way in is an Air Greenland helicopter hop from Nerlerit Inaat airport, 38 km away, with a boat transfer for a few months a year. The settlement lies on the east coast of Greenland, on the shore of the Scoresby Sund fjord system, the largest in the world. Colorful wooden houses climb a rocky slope, sled dogs howl from chains on the hillside, and the air smells of sea ice and diesel. Roughly 350 people live here. Walks end at ridgelines with icebergs stranded in the fjord below. Evenings are quiet: a hunter’s snowmobile, a kettle in the guesthouse, a few other visitors comparing notes. Meeting travelers is easy because there are so few of you. Bad sides are cost, weather delays and almost no nightlife. Book flights and lodging well ahead, because seats and beds are scarce.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #3 village in GreenlandWhy visitors keep coming back

Ittoqqortoormiit is a place backpackers choose when they want the remote east coast without paying for a full expedition cruise. The appeal is the setting: the town faces a maze of fjords where musk oxen graze and icebergs the size of apartment blocks drift past the shore. In summer, hikers walk straight out of the last house onto tundra, and boat trips push deep into Scoresby Sund. In winter, the pull is dog sledding and hunting culture that still shapes daily life, not a staged show. Most people stay four to seven days, partly because flights and boats dictate the schedule, and partly because the town needs time to reveal itself. It is social in a small, guesthouse-table way, and quiet otherwise. Solo travelers who like silence, photographers, and hikers comfortable with weather changes … read more 👉
Ittoqqortoormiit is a place backpackers choose when they want the remote east coast without paying for a full expedition cruise. The appeal is the setting: the town faces a maze of fjords where musk oxen graze and icebergs the size of apartment blocks drift past the shore. In summer, hikers walk straight out of the last house onto tundra, and boat trips push deep into Scoresby Sund. In winter, the pull is dog sledding and hunting culture that still shapes daily life, not a staged show. Most people stay four to seven days, partly because flights and boats dictate the schedule, and partly because the town needs time to reveal itself. It is social in a small, guesthouse-table way, and quiet otherwise. Solo travelers who like silence, photographers, and hikers comfortable with weather changes will do well. Anyone needing restaurants, nightlife or flexible plans should look at western Greenland instead. Bring a flexible mindset, because fog and wind can reorder your whole week.

💡 HighlightsMust-see experiences and standout moments

  1. Walk the colored-house hillside and harbor: This is the town’s heart, with wooden houses in red, yellow and blue, drying racks, hunters’ boats and sled dogs on the slope. Go in the evening or early morning when residents are out and the light is low. Free, 1 to 2 hours.
  2. Ittoqqortoormiit Museum: A small local museum covering Inuit hunting heritage, tools, kayaks and the founding of the settlement in the 1920s. It gives context for what you see outside. Opening hours vary, so ask at your guesthouse. Entry is roughly US$5 to 10, about 45 minutes.
  3. Hike the ridges above town: Marked and unmarked routes climb the headlands behind the houses for views over Scoresby Sund, icebergs and distant mountains. July and August are best, when the tundra is snow-free and you may spot musk oxen. Free, 2 to 5 hours
… read more 👉
  1. Walk the colored-house hillside and harbor: This is the town’s heart, with wooden houses in red, yellow and blue, drying racks, hunters’ boats and sled dogs on the slope. Go in the evening or early morning when residents are out and the light is low. Free, 1 to 2 hours.
  2. Ittoqqortoormiit Museum: A small local museum covering Inuit hunting heritage, tools, kayaks and the founding of the settlement in the 1920s. It gives context for what you see outside. Opening hours vary, so ask at your guesthouse. Entry is roughly US$5 to 10, about 45 minutes.
  3. Hike the ridges above town: Marked and unmarked routes climb the headlands behind the houses for views over Scoresby Sund, icebergs and distant mountains. July and August are best, when the tundra is snow-free and you may spot musk oxen. Free, 2 to 5 hours depending on the route.
For day trips, arrange a boat with a local operator to see Hekla Havn or the glacier fronts of Scoresby Sund, or a hunters’ camp in winter. All three highlights fit comfortably into one full day, with a second half day if you linger on the ridges.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Late July to early September: Ittoqqortoormiit has its only dependable ice-free window, with highs of 4 to 8°C (39 to 46°F) and the sun up most of the day in July. Hiking, boat trips in Scoresby Sund and the cheapest-to-reach conditions all sit here, but so do the mosquitoes and the few cruise ship visits.
  • September to October: Daylight shrinks fast, temperatures drop to around -5 to 3°C (23 to 37°F), and the first auroras show on clear nights. Boats thin out and supply deliveries wind down.
  • November to February: Dark and brutally cold, -15 to -25°C (5 to -13°F) is normal. The sun is gone for weeks. Northern lights are at their best, and few visitors come.
  • March to May: Sunlight returns quickly, temperatures run -20 to -5°C (-4 to 23°F), and the sea ice holds for dog sledding and snowmobile trips.
… read more 👉
  • Late July to early September: Ittoqqortoormiit has its only dependable ice-free window, with highs of 4 to 8°C (39 to 46°F) and the sun up most of the day in July. Hiking, boat trips in Scoresby Sund and the cheapest-to-reach conditions all sit here, but so do the mosquitoes and the few cruise ship visits.
  • September to October: Daylight shrinks fast, temperatures drop to around -5 to 3°C (23 to 37°F), and the first auroras show on clear nights. Boats thin out and supply deliveries wind down.
  • November to February: Dark and brutally cold, -15 to -25°C (5 to -13°F) is normal. The sun is gone for weeks. Northern lights are at their best, and few visitors come.
  • March to May: Sunlight returns quickly, temperatures run -20 to -5°C (-4 to 23°F), and the sea ice holds for dog sledding and snowmobile trips. Prices for guided tours peak.
Book flights and guides months ahead, since seats on the small aircraft sell out for both summer and late winter.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: below average for travelingFEBFebruary: below average for travelingMARMarch: below average for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: good for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: below average for travelingDECDecember: below average for traveling
greenland-city-ittoqqortoormiit
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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

Ittoqqortoormiit has a handful of small places rather than a hostel scene, and the most practical base is the guesthouse run by Nanu Travel, the only one in the village, with simple private rooms at about US$150 to 200 a night including breakfast in high season. It sits on the hillside above the harbor, so you walk everywhere in minutes. Book early, because summer and spring capacity is tiny.

Cheaper beds exist in rooms let by local operators, usually shared rooms at roughly US$70 to 110 a night with a shared kitchen or bathroom. Some come bundled with tour packages, so ask what is included before … read more 👉
Ittoqqortoormiit has a handful of small places rather than a hostel scene, and the most practical base is the guesthouse run by Nanu Travel, the only one in the village, with simple private rooms at about US$150 to 200 a night including breakfast in high season. It sits on the hillside above the harbor, so you walk everywhere in minutes. Book early, because summer and spring capacity is tiny.

Cheaper beds exist in rooms let by local operators, usually shared rooms at roughly US$70 to 110 a night with a shared kitchen or bathroom. Some come bundled with tour packages, so ask what is included before you pay twice.

In the long summer days a tent is possible on the open ground near the edge of town, but arrange it with the local tourist office or your guide first, since polar bears are a real risk and you will need a rifle-carrying guide for anything beyond the last houses. Food is pricey and shipments are infrequent, so budget travelers do best bringing some supplies and cooking in a self-catering kitchen. Rooms fill with researchers and expedition groups, so confirm your bed before boarding the flight.
Best hostels in Greenland


Best quality hotels in Greenland

🚌 Day tripsBest day trips from Ittoqqortoormiit

Ittoqqortoormiit works as a base for local excursions, but nothing here is spontaneous: every trip needs a boat, snowmobile or dog team, and you should plan on hiring a guide with a rifle because of polar bears.
Hiking Hotspot Above the Village:
The ridges behind the houses give wide views over Scoresby Sund and the icebergs grounded in the fjord. Allow three to five hours round trip on rough tundra, around US$50 to 100 with a local guide you arrange through the tourist office. July and August are best. First-timers often head up without a guide, which is a serious risk here.

Hekla Havn:
A long boat trip of about 160 km west through Scoresby Sund reaches this old Inuit settlement site on Danmark Ø and the Hekla Havn coast, with lots of birdlife and ice. Expect to pay about US$150 to 300 per … read more 👉
Ittoqqortoormiit works as a base for local excursions, but nothing here is spontaneous: every trip needs a boat, snowmobile or dog team, and you should plan on hiring a guide with a rifle because of polar bears.
Hiking Hotspot Above the Village:
The ridges behind the houses give wide views over Scoresby Sund and the icebergs grounded in the fjord. Allow three to five hours round trip on rough tundra, around US$50 to 100 with a local guide you arrange through the tourist office. July and August are best. First-timers often head up without a guide, which is a serious risk here.

Hekla Havn:
A long boat trip of about 160 km west through Scoresby Sund reaches this old Inuit settlement site on Danmark Ø and the Hekla Havn coast, with lots of birdlife and ice. Expect to pay about US$150 to 300 per person in a shared boat, depending on group size. Go in August when the water is clear of pack ice.

Sea Ice and Dog Sledding Day:
From March to May, local hunters run day trips on the frozen fjord by dog team, taking four to six hours with a hot-drink stop on the ice. Budget about US$200 to 350. Bring far more insulation than you think: sitting still on a sledge is much colder than walking.

Iceberg Cruise in Scoresby Sund:
Short boat runs among the giant bergs take two to four hours and cost about US$100 to 200. They run in summer, and the best light comes in the calm evenings of August.

FAQFrequently asked questions about Ittoqqortoormiit

Ittoqqortoormiit is reached by an Air Greenland helicopter from Nerlerit Inaat airport, 38 km away, or by boat for a few months a year; Norlandair flies to Nerlerit Inaat from Reykjavik and Akureyri in Iceland. Expect a trip of one to two days from Reykjavik with fares often from US$800 to 1,500 return. Winter and shoulder-season flights are limited, so book months ahead.
Ittoqqortoormiit is worth it if you want one of the most remote inhabited towns in the Arctic, with about 350 residents, giant icebergs in Scoresby Sund and the world’s largest fjord system on your doorstep. Plan at least four to seven days, since weather delays are common and trips need a guide. It is expensive, with a week typically running US$1,500 to 3,000 on top of flights, so it suits travelers who value solitude over comfort.
Ittoqqortoormiit can’t realistically be done as a same-day outing from anywhere else, because the nearest airport is a transfer away and flights are infrequent. Plan at least two to three nights so you can absorb weather delays and fit in a boat or dog sled trip. Cruise passengers stop for only a few hours in summer, which is enough for a village walk but not for the fjord.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Greenlandic villages near Ittoqqortoormiit

Explore more nearby:

  • Tiniteqilaaq—Sermilik Fjord island, dog yards, grounded icebergs, rock viewpoint| 825 km away
  • Kulusuk—Airport island, drum dance, drifting bergs, sled dogs| 833 km away
  • Tasiilaq—Ammassalik Island, Blomsterdalen, East Greenland museum, quay catch| 843 km away

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We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

Many travelers book Ittoqqortoormiit with a tight flight schedule and then lose a day to fog or wind. Leave at least two spare days at the end of your trip and book weather-flexible onward travel. Bring your own snacks and a good rain shell, because shop stock and the sky are both unpredictable.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Greenland. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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