Greenland in May

Thaw and slush; icebergs and sea ice breaking; few tours yet.

May is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• JuneGreatMidnight sun north of the Arctic Circle; National Day on 21 June; boat season starts.
• JulyGreatPeak: boats, whales, hiking; hotels full; mosquitoes and blackflies.
• AugustGreatStable weather, whales in Disko Bay, the first dark nights return.
• SeptemberGoodAutumn colour on the tundra, northern lights and the last boat trips.

• Nuuk and the southwest coast · Nuuk, Maniitsoq, Paamiutfine

  Maritime: winters around −8 °C (18 °F), summers 5–10 °C (41–50 °F); fog and wind can ground flights any time.Maritime: winters around 18 °F (−8 °C), summers 41–50 °F (5–10 °C); fog and wind can ground flights any time.

• Disko Bay · Ilulissat, Qeqertarsuaq, Aasiaatfine

  North of the Arctic Circle: midnight sun late May to late July, polar night in December; March–April for sledding with light.

• Kangerlussuaq and the inland · Kangerlussuaq, Sisimiut hinterlandfine

  Dry continental climate: −30 °C (−22 °F) in winter, clear skies for northern lights, 15–20 °C (59–68 °F) on summer days; mosquitoes in July.Dry continental climate: −22 °F (−30 °C) in winter, clear skies for northern lights, 59–68 °F (15–20 °C) on summer days; mosquitoes in July.

• South Greenland · Narsarsuaq, Qaqortoq, Narsaq, Nanortalikfine

  The mildest and greenest region; sheep farms and Norse ruins; föhn winds can be violent.

• East Greenland · Tasiilaq, Ittoqqortoormiitfine

  Sea ice can block the coast into July; polar bears; reached via Iceland.

• Nuuk5 °C (41 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 11 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 11 rain days
• Aasiaat8 °C (46 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 8 rain days
• Igaliku8 °C (46 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 8 rain days
• Ilulissat2 °C (36 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 7 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 7 rain days
• Ittoqqortoormiit3 °C (37 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 6 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 6 rain days
• Kangerlussuaq7 °C (45 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 8 rain days
• Kulusuk5 °C (41 °F) / -8 °C (18 °F), 7 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 18 °F (-8 °C), 7 rain days
• Nanortalik9 °C (48 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 8 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 8 rain days
• Narsaq8 °C (46 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 7 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 7 rain days
• Narsarsuaq7 °C (45 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 8 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 8 rain days
• Oqaatsut7 °C (45 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Qaanaaq0 °C (32 °F) / -10 °C (14 °F), 0 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 14 °F (-10 °C), 0 rain days
• Qaqortoq9 °C (48 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 8 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 8 rain days
• Qasigiannguit5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
• Qassiarsuk9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 8 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 8 rain days
• Sisimiut9 °C (48 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 5 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 5 rain days
• Tasiilaq6 °C (43 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 8 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 8 rain days
• Upernavik5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Uummannaq5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 2 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 2 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Ascension Day and Whit Monday

  May–June (varies)

  Public holidays; closures.

Crowds · Greenland

Low

Prices · Greenland

Medium

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Greenland, side by side.

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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Rated best or good this month

• Uummannaq

  Best months: May–July (midnight sun); July–Oct (whale watching); Feb–Apr (dog sledding)