As a travel photographer, I love jet-setting to picturesque destinations—and few places make my job as easy as photogenic Greenland. This far-north locale brims with natural beauty, from towering icebergs and peaks to dramatic fjords and northern lights. These and many of the island’s backdrops will soon become easier to reach.
In summer 2025, United Airlines will provide a long-awaited link between Newark, New Jersey, and Greenland’s capital city, Nuuk. This route, as well as several new flight paths between Greenland and Europe and Canada, will make reaching the island’s far-flung tundra and ice more doable. And trust me: photographers who make the journey are in for quite a treat.
I’ve traveled to Greenland three times, with trip number four on the horizon. The culture, nature, adventure, and, of course, photography keep me coming back—but it’s critical to note that any trip to Greenland requires some prep work, especially if you’re traveling on your own.
In this article, I’ll share the ins and outs (and watch-outs) of a photography trip to Greenland, from must-have gear to landscape scouting and, of course, what to photograph while you’re there.
1. How to travel around Greenland
Greenland is an appealing destination for people who’ve fallen in love with Iceland, but it’s important to know that, especially transit-wise, the two islands are hardly the same. In Iceland, it’s easy to get a rental car and loop around the land of fire and ice, stopping to photograph various landscapes at your leisure. Greenland is a different, more dramatic beast.
Virtually no roads connect the towns across Greenland, a land mass that’s over 20 times larger than Iceland. Plus, the world’s second-largest ice sheet covers 80 percent of the island’s center. Your best option to get from place to place is ferry, cruise, or plane; these often come with delays due to weather, so it’s important to be flexible.
Instead of trying to hit all of the Greenland highlights in one trip—that’s downright impossible unless you move there or have a hefty budget and generous vacation time—I’d recommend choosing one or two areas to focus on. Fortunately, everywhere is picturesque, with landscapes and nightscapes that frequently change with the moody weather.
2. Photogenic spots in Greenland
When it comes to photographing in Greenland, you really can’t go wrong with your destination. Even former international transit hub Kangerlussuaq, which can feel largely industrial in the main part of town, is photo-worthy once you go beyond the city limits. I had a bucket-list chance to photograph musk oxen on a seven-mile hike from town, for example. Plus, Kangerlussuaq provides arguably the best access to the ice sheet. I went camping on the ice sheet with Albatros Arctic Circle in 2022, and, while that was the coldest I’ve ever been, the resulting adventure images are still among my favorite.
In Nuuk, the site of the new international airport, travelers have a bevy of photographic backdrops. Take a boat trip out into the fjords with Nuuk Water Taxi, or spend the night in a glass igloo at Inuk Hostel to watch the fjord change hues as the day wears on. Nuuk’s old town is equally picturesque, with colorful houses, old buildings, and a waterfront with icebergs floating by.
Last year, I also found myself in South Greenland, a topographical treat of snowy mountains, vast fjords, and myriad sheep farms—a staple of the region’s culture. Of all the regions I’ve visited, South Greenland had the most dramatic and mountainous scenery. In fact, I pulled out my camera to photograph through the window on the flight into transit town Narsarsuaq. While you’re here, consider partaking in a backcountry sheep-farm trek; my overnight backpacking trip with icefjord kayaking, sheep-dotted trails, and surreal auroras sent me home with tens of thousands of images.
3. What to photograph while you’re here
I adore the diversity of photography subjects in Greenland—it makes each trip so different. One day I’m photographing reindeer, the next a forest or fjord, and by night, there’s a good shot I’ll be capturing some auroras—or an entire night’s worth.
What you photograph will vary by destination, but as a general rule of thumb, be ready for jaw-dropping landscape shots, interesting icebergs (try to capture these around golden hour—the lighting is surreal), wildlife, colorful towns, northern lights, and stars. Nearly everywhere, even the capital city, sees skies dark enough for auroras and stars to shine. I photographed some of my favorite Greenland aurora snaps right from the Nuuk waterfront.
If you want some inspiration for Greenland photography, I recommend following local Greenlandic photographer Emil Stach on Instagram.
4. Don’t skimp on gear
Greenland is not for the faint of heart, especially when it comes to weather. Be ready for nearly four seasons in one day (minus summer—the temperatures here rarely get above the 60s). Bring warm base layers, an insulated hat and gloves, a water- and wind-proof jacket, warm socks (or waterproof if you’re hiking the ice sheet), and waterproof gear like dry bags or a waterproof backpack.
Your camera gear will largely depend on what you’re hoping to photograph, but if you’re a generalist, I would say be ready for anything. I bring my entire kit on every trip because I don’t want to miss a Greenland moment. This includes:
- Sony A7RIV and Sony A7III
- Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 lens; Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 lens; Sony Sonnar 55mm f/1.8 lens; Sony FE 100-400m lens
- A travel tripod and Joby Gorillapod
- Plenty of extra memory cards
- External hard drive for photo dumping
- Spare batteries
- Lens warmer for colder nights
- Shimoda backpack because it’s built for the elements
5. Travel with local people
The tourism industry is relatively new in Greenland; many hope it can provide an alternative path to more destructive revenue avenues like mining. But in order for it to yield a positive impact, we as travelers need to visit with sustainable and responsible tourism in mind—and more than anything, that means traveling locally.
While there are many cruise ship options to visit Greenland, I’d highly recommend visiting by land for the photographic freedom (especially if you’re hoping to photograph the northern lights). Plus, doing this means you can work with local tourism outfitters who will directly benefit from your visit. For that, I have plenty of recommendations.
In Nuuk, Two Ravens runs incredible adventure tours into the mountains and fjords just outside the capital. They have day and multi-day tours that show you the best of the region—including a sleepover in a real igloo or snoozing atop a mountain.
In Qaqortoq, South Greenland’s main city, try female-owned Pink Peak Tours for hiking, aurora hunting, or a cultural immersion where you can see (and responsibly photograph) elements of Greenlandic culture like traditional dress, design, and food.
And if you find yourself in South Greenland, I cannot recommend a stay at Sermilik Hostel—a working sheep farm with a cozy guesthouse—enough. The farm sits beside an iceberg-dotted fjord, with hiking trails, kayaking, and Viking ruins to explore and photograph, although my favorite thing outside of getting to know the farm owners was watching the auroras sashay across the inky sky all night.
If you’re to up your photography game before your Greenland getaway—or any vacation—don’t miss our guide with expert travel photography tips from Ana Linares.
