

Northern Lights in Greenland – the Midnight Sun
Published: 25/06/2020
Reading time: 3 minutes
The dancing Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) is a big draw-card for visitors to Greenland during the darker, colder months of the year. However, summer also brings its own special lighting show.
When you are tucked up in your warm sleeping bag, the last thing you feel like doing is attending to a call of nature at 2 am! For a start, there is the need to squirm your way out of your comfortable cocoon and then wriggle back in again afterward. And in places like Greenland, there is the additional requirement of finding some protective footwear and outer clothing, as the temperature is usually much brisker outside than in!
However, despite these inconveniences, there is a bonus when you head outside in the middle of the night during summer in Greenland.

2 am twilight over the Karale Glacier in East Greenland
The Midnight Sun
Depending on which month you are visiting and exactly where you are, the midnight sun may or may not be visible from your location. This phenomenon is only seen north of the Arctic Circle (or south of the Antarctic Circle) during summer and is where the sun does not dip below the horizon at all during a 24 hour period. In northern Greenland, it is typically visible May-August, while closer to the Arctic Circle (Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Kangerlussuaq) the midnight sun is only visible from June to the first part of July.

2 am twilight over our campsite in the Tasiilaq Fjord in East Greenland
I haven’t yet made it above the Arctic Circle, so haven’t technically seen the midnight sun – but I did get to experience several beautiful and seemingly never-ending twilights while I was exploring Greenland last year.

2 am twilight over an unnamed glacier in East Greenland
Greenland’s perpetual summer twilight
The above three images were taken while camping in East Greenland on the 12-day Unplugged Wilderness Trek with Greenland Adventures by Icelandic Mountain Guides, but I also enjoyed other eternal twilights from the Kulusuk Hostel (which, in my opinion, has one of the best views ever from its living room window, complete with Greenlandic sled dogs!)

A Greenlandic sled dog outside the Kulusuk Hostel watches the twilight with me at 11 pm.
and on a midnight stroll around Nuuk, the capital.

Colorful houses lining Nuup Kangerlua (Nuuk fjord) at midnight
Set your alarm
The midnight sun (or midnight twilight) is far beyond the experience of most of us. So, no matter where you are in Greenland during summer, set your alarm (assuming you aren’t still up exploring anyway), rug up, and head out in peace and tranquility for natural beauty at its best.

A midnight stroll near the old part of Nuuk
Oh, and if you don’t sleep well when it is bright, I highly recommend bringing a sleeping mask with you when you visit Greenland during summer 🙂
Read more travel blogs from Lisa Germany
-
Private charter!
Midnight Sun Cruise | Maniitsoq | West Greenland
Tour startsManiitsoqDuration2 hoursFrom 3700 DKKSee more -
Whale Watching and Iceberg Safari | Tasiilaq | East Greenland
Tour startsTasiilaqDuration3 hoursFrom 1400 DKKSee more -
Accommodation and tours included!
3 Days with Glacier Hiking, Ice Camping & Local Flavors | Kangerlussuaq
Tour startsKangerlussuaqDuration3 daysFrom 5500 DKKSee more -
The Ilulissat Experience | 5 Days | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration5 daysFrom 10500 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)1 To 6 Passengers Included
The Calving Glacier Eqi & Paakitsoq | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration8 hoursFrom 15000 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)
Ukkusissat Mountain Hike | Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration5 hoursFrom 2195 DKKSee more -
Hike to Oqaatsut settlement | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration10 hoursFrom 7580 DKKSee more -
Boat tour to Saattut Settlement | Uummannaq | North Greenland
Tour startsUummannaqDuration2 hoursFrom 1300 DKKSee more -
Sailing tour with Photographer!
Photo Excursion | Disko Bay and Uummannaq | 8 days | Guide to Greenland
Tour startsIlulissatDuration8 daysFrom 58500 DKKSee more -
Includes 7 passengers!
Whale Safari | Private Charter | Qasigiannguit | Disko Bay
Tour startsQasigiannguitDuration3 hoursFrom 3800 DKKSee more -
Sea Safari | Sisimiut | North Greenland
Tour startsSisimiutDuration2 hoursFrom 1000 DKKSee more -
1 TO 6 PASSENGERS INCLUDED
Northern Lights Private Boat Tour | Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration3 hoursFrom 8500 DKKSee more -
New tour!
Catch of the Ice: Arctic Ice Fishing in Ilulissat | West Greenland
Tour startsIlulissatDuration3 hoursFrom 2100 DKKSee more -
5.00(3)
Ghost Village Boat Cruise | Sisimiut | West Greenland
Tour startsSisimiutDuration3 hoursFrom 1040 DKKSee more -
New tour!
Experience Life on a Reindeer Station | 7 days | South Greenland
Tour startsNarsarsuaqDuration8 daysFrom 26400 DKKSee more -
Whale Safari | Uummannaq | North Greenland
Tour startsUummannaqDuration4 hoursFrom 2900 DKKSee more -
Dogsledding – 2 hours | Uummannaq | North Greenland
Tour startsUummannaqDuration2 hoursFrom 2400 DKKSee more -
5.00(2)
SUP amongst Icebergs originated from UNESCO World Heritage Site | Ilulissat
Tour startsIlulissatDuration3 hoursFrom 995 DKKSee more -
Luxury Multi-Day Tour
7-Day Exclusive Luxury Escape: A Premier Greenland Adventure | West Greenland
Tour startsNuukDuration7 daysFrom 78350 DKKSee more