When to go · Greenland
Greenland in November
Mixed month. Dark and windy; polar night starts in the north.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Low
- Greenland
- Prices
- Low
- Greenland
Verdict
Dark and windy; polar night starts in the north.
Is another month better than November?
November 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.
- MarchGoodBest winter month: light, snow, sledding and northern lights; the Arctic Circle Race in Sisimiut (check).
Weather in November
- Nuuk and the southwest coast · Nuuk, Maniitsoq, Paamiutcool
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, Aasiaatcool
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 hinterlandcool
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, Nanortalikcool
The mildest and greenest region; sheep farms and Norse ruins; föhn winds can be violent.
- East Greenland · Tasiilaq, Ittoqqortoormiitcool
Sea ice can block the coast into July; polar bears; reached via Iceland.
- Nuuk-1 °C (30 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 12 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 12 rain days
- Aasiaat0 °C (32 °F) / -12 °C (10 °F), 6 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 10 °F (-12 °C), 6 rain days
- Igaliku1 °C (34 °F) / -11 °C (12 °F), 6 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 12 °F (-11 °C), 6 rain days
- Ilulissat-6 °C (21 °F) / -12 °C (10 °F), 9 rain days21 °F (-6 °C) / 10 °F (-12 °C), 9 rain days
- Ittoqqortoormiit-4 °C (25 °F) / -11 °C (12 °F), 9 rain days25 °F (-4 °C) / 12 °F (-11 °C), 9 rain days
- Kangerlussuaq-1 °C (30 °F) / -12 °C (10 °F), 6 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 10 °F (-12 °C), 6 rain days
- Kulusuk-3 °C (27 °F) / -17 °C (1 °F), 5 rain days27 °F (-3 °C) / 1 °F (-17 °C), 5 rain days
- Nanortalik0 °C (32 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 5 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 5 rain days
- Narsaq1 °C (34 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 9 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 9 rain days
- Narsarsuaq-2 °C (28 °F) / -10 °C (14 °F), 6 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 14 °F (-10 °C), 6 rain days
- Oqaatsut-2 °C (28 °F) / -12 °C (10 °F), 6 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 10 °F (-12 °C), 6 rain days
- Qaanaaq-15 °C (5 °F) / -25 °C (−13 °F), 0 rain days5 °F (-15 °C) / −13 °F (-25 °C), 0 rain days
- Qaqortoq1 °C (34 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 6 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 6 rain days
- Qasigiannguit-3 °C (27 °F) / -9 °C (16 °F), 9 rain days27 °F (-3 °C) / 16 °F (-9 °C), 9 rain days
- Qassiarsuk1 °C (34 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 9 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 9 rain days
- Sisimiut0 °C (32 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 5 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 5 rain days
- Tasiilaq-1 °C (30 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 10 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 10 rain days
- Upernavik-3 °C (27 °F) / -12 °C (10 °F), 6 rain days27 °F (-3 °C) / 10 °F (-12 °C), 6 rain days
- Uummannaq-4 °C (25 °F) / -12 °C (10 °F), 5 rain days25 °F (-4 °C) / 10 °F (-12 °C), 5 rain days
Festivals and holidays
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.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Greenland
- Low
- Prices · Greenland
- Low
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Greenland, side by side.
Verdict
Nov: Mixed
Jun: Great (better)
Crowds
Nov: Low
Jun: Medium
Prices
Nov: Low
Jun: High
Festivals listed
Nov: 2
Jun: 4
November: Dark and windy; polar night starts in the north.
June: Midnight sun north of the Arctic Circle; National Day on 21 June; boat season starts.
Greenland: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket
Where to go in November
Rated best or good this month
Best months: Jun–Aug (festivals, milder weather) and Sep–Feb for Northern Lights