Greenland

North America > 🇬🇱 Greenland

The city by city Car or no Car advice for Greenland can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Greenland;  is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).

🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Greenland?

These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.

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💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Greenland?

These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.

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🏙️ Main Cities in Greenland

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Greenland is one of the most extraordinary places on Earth — vast, icy, remote, and built around small coastal towns that are not connected by roads. Because of this, many travellers ask: should you rent a car in Greenland? ❄️🚗

The short answer is almost always no, because Greenland simply doesn’t have an interconnected road network. Towns sit hundreds of kilometres apart, separated by glaciers, fjords, and the ice sheet. However, renting a car can still make sense within a few individual towns, depending on your plans.

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🚫 Why renting a car in Greenland rarely makes sense

🛣️ No roads between towns

Greenland’s settlements are completely isolated from one another. There is no road linking Nuuk to Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Kangerlussuaq, or Qaqortoq. The interior ice sheet makes road construction impossible.

Because of this, you cannot drive between towns the way you might in Iceland, Norway, or Canada.

✈️ Travel happens by plane or boat

To move around the country, travellers rely on:

• ✈️ Air Greenland flights between major towns

• ⛴️ Coastal ferries operated seasonally

• 🚁 Helicopter transfers in remote areas

• 🚤 Small boats for fjords and local excursions

Consequently, a rental car will not help you see more of Greenland as a whole.

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🚗 When renting a car can make sense

Although you can’t travel between towns by road, several settlements do have small local road networks where a rental car becomes useful.

🚙 1. Kangerlussuaq

The town sits inland and has Greenland’s only long runway capable of taking big aircraft. It also has the longest road network in the country, including a rough road leading toward the Russell Glacier. A 4×4 gives access to:

• Russell Glacier

• Ice Sheet viewpoints

• The surrounding tundra

This is the one place where a rental car is truly practical for sightseeing.

🚕 2. Nuuk

Greenland’s capital has taxis, buses, and some car rental options. A small car can help you reach:

• Suburbs and viewpoints

• Trailheads outside town

• Supermarkets and hotels

However, Nuuk is compact, so a car is convenient rather than essential.

🚘 3. Ilulissat

A few roads link the town centre to hotels, the airport, and UNESCO-listed Icefjord viewpoints. Renting a car speeds up access to walking trails but isn’t strictly necessary.

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🛶 Alternatives to renting a car in Greenland

Because Greenland is built around sea and air transport, most travellers get around by using:

✈️ Flights

The only way to cross long distances quickly. Almost all visitors use internal flights at least once.

⛴️ Coastal ferries

Seasonal ferry routes offer slow, scenic travel between towns. They’re perfect for photography and relaxed exploration.

🛥️ Boat tours

Ideal for:

• Icebergs

• Fjord cruising

• Whale watching

• Access to remote settlements

🚶 Hiking

Greenland is a dream destination for hikers, especially near Ilulissat, Sisimiut, and Kangerlussuaq.

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⚠️ Practical notes about driving in Greenland

If you do rent a car:

• Roads are short and sometimes unpaved

• Winter driving can be extremely challenging

• Fuel is limited to specific towns

• Prices are higher than mainland Europe

Most tourists hire a car for half a day or one full day rather than an entire trip.

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🧭 Summary — Should you rent a car in Greenland?

✔️ Yes, if…

• You are staying in Kangerlussuaq and want to reach the Ice Sheet

• You prefer complete independence for short-distance travel

• You like to explore viewpoints and trailheads quickly

❌ No, if…

• You hope to drive between towns

• You want to travel across Greenland

• You plan to rely on flights, ferries, and organised tours

Conclusion: Greenland is a spectacular place, but it simply isn’t a “car country.” Renting a car only makes sense in a few towns, and even then, only for short excursions. Most travellers explore by plane, boat, and foot — and they don’t miss out on anything.

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🚗 ✅ ❌ Summary Table

This summary brings together taxis*, how much you really need a car, whether it’s worth it, driver options, local driving rules, and an overall recommendation. *Taxis act as a hybrid between private cars and public transport, so they aren’t counted in the overall public-transport or non-car scores. 🚕  This site is planned for full launch on 1st January 2026. Full terms, advice, FAQs, disclaimer etc to follow.