North America > 🇬🇱Greenland
Should You Hire a Car in Greenland? This can be broken down into two similar questions - do you need a car in Greenland (in other words, will your holiday be ruined without one), and is it worth hiring a car in Greenland - i.e. is a car better value than using public transport? We'll weigh up both questions and give you a response generated by Chat GPT, together with our own curated opinion before finally giving a yes or no verdict at the end.
| CITY | IATA | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Nuuk | GOH |
Should You Rent a Car in Greenland? 🚗🧊
Greenland is unlike any other destination on Earth. With vast Arctic landscapes, glaciers, icebergs, and remote Inuit communities, it has no road network linking towns. Travel happens by boat, plane, helicopter, or snowmobile, not by highway. So, should you rent a car in Greenland? In almost all cases, no—because cars are only useful in a very limited local context, and often not necessary at all.
🚶 When You Don’t Need a Car
Most visitors travel between towns and attractions using guided excursions, boats, and domestic flights. Even within settlements, distances are small.
| Location | Why a Car Isn’t Needed | Best Transport Option |
|---|---|---|
| Nuuk (capital) | Small, walkable, local buses available | Walking, bus, taxi |
| Ilulissat | Most attractions accessed by boat | Guided boat tours |
| Kangerlussuaq | Wildlife excursions provided | 4×4 tour vehicles (not self-drive) |
| Sisimiut & Qaqortoq | Compact towns | Walking or taxi |
âž¡ Excursions to glaciers, fjords, and ice caps are done by organised tour, not by private vehicle.
🚗 Is It Possible to Rent a Car?
Technically, you can rent a car in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq, but driving is limited to very short road networks that do not connect to any other towns.
| Location | Car Rental Availability | Driving Usefulness |
|---|---|---|
| Nuuk | Yes (local companies) | Short drives only within town |
| Kangerlussuaq | Yes | Used mainly for tours to the ice cap |
| Ilulissat | Limited | Rarely necessary |
➡ Cars here are practical only for local errands—not for tourism or scenic exploration.
🚦 What to Expect if You Do Drive
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You drive on the right-hand side
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Roads are short and isolated
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No highways between towns
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Off-road driving is not allowed to protect the environment
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Weather conditions can change quickly
🚕 Best Ways to Get Around Greenland
| Mode of Transport | Best For | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Boat | Fjords, icebergs, villages | Primary transport method |
| Helicopter | Inter-settlement travel | Common domestic transport |
| Plane | Between main towns | Operated by Air Greenland |
| Snowmobile/Dog sled | Winter travel | Guided tours only |
| Bus/taxi | Only in Nuuk | Short distances |
🧠Conclusion
Renting a car in Greenland is not necessary for most travellers and is only useful for very limited local driving in Nuuk or Kangerlussuaq. The country is designed for exploration by air, sea, or guided excursions, not by road. The true experience of Greenland lies in its ice fjords, glaciers, and Arctic wilderness, all of which are accessed through organised transport. A car simply isn’t part of the Greenland adventure.
Should You Hire a Car in 🇬🇱 — or Not? Advice on this page has been written using Chat GPT, backed up by 20 years experience in the travel industry. This site is planned for full launch on 1st January 2026. Full terms, advice, FAQs, disclaimer etc to follow. UN flag is a placeholder
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