Can you see the Northern Lights in Greenland?

Yes. Ilulissat sits at 69 degrees north - well inside the auroral oval. The aurora season runs from September to April. What makes Greenland unique is that you can watch the Northern Lights AND icebergs drifting past simultaneously - an experience not available anywhere else on Earth.

When are the Greenland igloos available?

Hotel Arctic igloos are available from May to October. For Northern Lights viewing the best overlap is September and October - aurora season begins and the igloos are still open. November to April offers better aurora but the igloos are closed for winter.

Glass Igloo in Greenland 2026-2027 - Hotel Arctic Ilulissat Icefjord

Why Greenland

Unlike Anything Else on Earth

Greenland is the ultimate glass igloo destination for travellers who want to go further than Finland or Norway. There is only one property - Hotel Arctic in Ilulissat - but the setting is incomparable. The hotel sits on the edge of the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier calves approximately 10% of all the icebergs drifting out of Greenland into Disko Bay.

The glacier moves forward approximately 40 metres every day - making it one of the most productive in the world. Some of the icebergs that drift past the hotel's igloo cabins are over a kilometre in height, their tips rising 100 metres above the water. This is the only place in the world where you can lie in an igloo and watch kilometre-tall icebergs drift silently past your window.

Ilulissat itself - the name means "icebergs" in Greenlandic - is a town of around 5,000 people and one of the most visited destinations in Greenland. It sits at 69 degrees north, well inside the auroral oval, making it an excellent location for Northern Lights viewing in the darker months.

Hotel Arctic is officially the world's northernmost 4-star hotel. The igloo cabins are built on a wooden bridge extending over the clifftop at the edge of the icefjord - giving you an unobstructed front-row view of the passing icebergs from the moment you step inside. No other glass igloo hotel in any other country offers anything remotely like this.

The Only Place to See Icebergs and Northern Lights Together

In September and October - when the Greenland igloo season overlaps with the start of aurora season - you can experience something that simply does not exist anywhere else: lying in a heated igloo cabin watching enormous icebergs drift past in the darkness while the Northern Lights flicker overhead. The sound of distant calving - a deep crack followed by a low rumble - is an experience guests consistently describe as one of the most powerful of their lives. This is not a glass igloo experience. This is something else entirely.

The Hotel

Hotel Arctic Ilulissat

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Important - Igloo season: May to October only. The igloo cabins at Hotel Arctic are available from May to October. For Northern Lights viewing the best window is September and October when aurora season begins and the igloos are still open. November to April has better aurora but igloos are closed - hotel rooms with icefjord views are available year-round.

Hotel Arctic

Ilulissat, Greenland - UNESCO Ilulissat Icefjord - 69N

Hotel Arctic offers 5 igloo cabins perched on a wooden bridge at the edge of the Ilulissat Icefjord. The igloos are inspired by the traditional Inuit igloo in shape but built with an aluminium frame and modern interiors - electric heating, private bathroom, TV and coffee facilities. Each cabin accommodates 2 persons and looks directly across the fjord at the drifting icebergs.

The main hotel building - a 4-star property - has rooms and suites with icefjord views, a restaurant serving local Greenlandic ingredients including reindeer, musk ox and freshly caught fish, and a range of organised excursions. The igloo experience is separate from the hotel's main 4-star rating but shares all its facilities.

Igloo capacity

2 persons per cabin. 5 cabins total - book early as demand is very high.

Facilities

Electric heating, private bathroom with shower, TV, tea and coffee making.

View

Direct unobstructed view of Disko Bay and the Ilulissat Icefjord from the cabin.

Season

May to October. Best for aurora overlap: September and October.

Glass roof

Aluminium dome with windows - not a fully transparent thermal glass roof like Finnish igloos. The view is through the cabin window, not overhead.

Price

From 218 per night - significantly lower than comparable Finnish igloo experiences.

Activities

What to Do in Ilulissat

Greenland offers experiences that simply do not exist anywhere else. Hotel Arctic can arrange most activities directly.

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Year round

Icefjord Hiking

Walk the marked trails along the edge of the Ilulissat Icefjord - one of the most dramatic hikes in the Arctic. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is accessible on foot from the hotel in under 30 minutes.

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Summer

Helicopter Tours

Fly over the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier and the icefjord by helicopter for an aerial view of the ice. One of the most dramatic flights available anywhere in Greenland. Book through the hotel or Air Greenland.

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May to October

Iceberg Sailing

Boat tours among the icebergs of Disko Bay get you close to the ice in a way that hiking cannot. Some icebergs are cathedral-sized. Whale sightings - humpback and minke - are common in summer.

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September to April

Northern Lights

Ilulissat at 69N is well inside the auroral oval. September and October are the best months when aurora season begins while temperatures are still manageable. The icebergs provide an extraordinary foreground for aurora photography.

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November to April

Dog Sledding

Greenland is one of the last places where dog sledding is still a working tradition rather than a tourist activity. The Ilulissat area has some of the best dog sledding in the Arctic - teams of 12 to 16 Greenlandic huskies pulling traditional sleds across the sea ice.

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June to September

Whale Watching

Disko Bay is one of the best whale watching locations in the North Atlantic. Humpback whales feed in the bay from late spring through autumn. Minke whales are present almost year-round. Fin whales and beluga are also sighted.

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Winter

Ice Fishing

Fish through the sea ice for Arctic char, cod and halibut. A quintessential Greenlandic winter activity available through local guides. The experience of sitting on the frozen ocean drilling through a metre of ice is something you will not find in Scandinavia.

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Year round

Inuit Village Visits

Guided visits to traditional Greenlandic settlements around Ilulissat - including boat trips to Oqaatsut and Ilimanaq, small communities accessible only by boat or helicopter. A rare window into contemporary Inuit life.

Getting There

How to Get to Ilulissat

Greenland requires more planning than Scandinavia - but the journey is part of the experience. There is no overland route; all travel to Ilulissat is by air.

CPH

Copenhagen to Nuuk

Air Greenland flies Copenhagen to Nuuk (the capital) several times per week. Flight time approximately 4.5 hours. From Nuuk connect onward to Ilulissat by Air Greenland domestic flight - about 1 hour.

JAV

Ilulissat Airport

Ilulissat Airport is served by Air Greenland from Nuuk and other Greenlandic towns. Hotel Arctic is approximately 3km from the airport - a short taxi ride. The hotel can arrange airport transfers on request.

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Plan Ahead

Flights to Greenland fill up quickly, especially in summer and September. Book flights and igloo cabin 3-6 months in advance. Budget extra time in Copenhagen in case of weather delays - fog can close Greenlandic airports unexpectedly.

FAQ

Greenland Igloo Questions

When are the Greenland igloos open?

Hotel Arctic igloos are available May to October only. The igloos close for winter due to extreme weather conditions. For the best combination of igloo availability and Northern Lights, book for September or October - aurora season begins and the igloos are still open. If you want maximum aurora viewing, hotel rooms with icefjord views are available year-round from November to April.

Is a Greenland glass igloo different from Finnish igloos?

Yes - significantly different in one important way. Hotel Arctic's igloos have an aluminium dome with windows rather than a fully transparent electrically heated thermal glass roof like Finnish igloos. You watch the icefjord through the cabin window, not through an overhead glass ceiling. This is still an extraordinary experience - but if lying in bed looking directly up through a glass roof is your priority, Finnish igloos are the better choice. For icebergs, Greenland is unmatched.

Can you see Northern Lights in Greenland?

Yes. Ilulissat at 69 degrees north is well inside the auroral oval with excellent aurora statistics. The unique experience in Greenland is watching the Northern Lights above icebergs - something that does not exist anywhere else. September and October are the optimal months when aurora season overlaps with the igloo season. November through March has better aurora frequency but the igloos are closed.

How expensive is a trip to Greenland?

Greenland is one of the more expensive Arctic destinations due to its remoteness. Return flights from Europe typically cost 800-1500 depending on origin and season. The igloo itself starts from 218 per night - actually cheaper than many Finnish igloo hotels. Budget total trip costs of 2000-4000 per person for a week including flights, igloo stay and activities. Helicopter tours and boat excursions add significantly to the cost.

Is Greenland worth it compared to Finland or Norway?

They are completely different experiences and not really comparable. Finland and Norway offer more choice, easier access and a wider range of glass igloo hotels. Greenland offers something you simply cannot get anywhere else: icebergs the size of city blocks drifting past your window, a UNESCO World Heritage icefjord on your doorstep, authentic Inuit culture, and the combination of Northern Lights and glacier scenery. For serious Arctic travellers who have already done Scandinavia, Greenland is the logical next step.

What is the best time of year to visit Ilulissat?

It depends what you want. June and July offer the midnight sun - 24-hour daylight for hiking, sailing among icebergs and whale watching. September and October are the sweet spot - aurora begins, temperatures are manageable (-5 to -15), the icefjord is active and the igloos are still open. March is spectacular for dog sledding and aurora with beautiful Arctic light - but igloos are closed, stay in hotel rooms instead.

Glass Igloo in Greenland