The midnight sun of Greenland - a beautiful, Arctic phenomenon

Imagine that our traditional perception of time ceases to exist and it's light more or less twenty-four hours a day. On a sailing trip amongst icebergs at around midnight in Ilulissat, the soft warm glow and the long shadows from the sun hanging low in the sky give the white ice sculptures a dreamlike quality and an almost divine beauty.

The colours are completely different to those during the day as the white icebergs obtain a yellowish and reddish tinge. When the ship approaches the harbour once more, the quay is still full of life. There are customers in the kiosk, which otherwise ought to have closed many hours ago, and people stand around chatting and enjoying themselves. Is it difficult to imagine? Perhaps, but it's a unique experience.

White nights
The midnight sun can be experienced north of the Arctic Circle - i.e. north of Kangerlussuaq in the west and Tasiilaq in the east - for a period which ranges from a single day to five months. The further north you go, the longer the period with midnight sun. In Qaanaaq in the far north of the country the period of midnight sun lasts from the middle of April until the end of August, whilst in Ilulissat the sun's in the sky 24 hours a day from the end of May until the end of July.

Blackout curtains
It can be difficult to sleep, as the combination of a wealth of impressions and the midnight sun can keep you awake into the early hours. However, accommodation venues are fitted with blackout curtains in order to help you sleep and to ensure that the following morning you're ready to tackle a new day. South of the Arctic Circle, the phenomenon of the midnight sun does not occur, although there are plenty of so-called white nights, which are a defining characteristic of these latitudes.

Facts about
Midnight sun

The midnight sun rules north of the Arctic Circle from May to July. During this time the sun never sets over the horizon.

Practical info about Midnight sun

Adventure level

Easy:
No physical requirements. No previous experience needed.
Moderate:
Little or no requirements on physical condition or previous experience.
Demanding:
Some requirements on physical condition. Previous experience may be needed for some activities.
Strenuous:
Highly demanding activities, requiring good physical condition and endurance. May involve extremely low temperature, rough terrain, etc. Previous experience needed.
Please note that some activities can be found on several adventure levels, and offerings may vary by location.

Available in...

What time of the year?
The green bars show when you can experience the place or the phenomenon, or do the activity or the event.