Greenland and the Faroe Islands have long been compelling destinations for those seeking a Nordic adventure beyond the ordinary, each home to an abundance of wildly dramatic landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Both have recently been named by Condé Nast Traveller among ‘The 25 Best Places to Go in 2025’ – and we certainly concur. Here’s why these spectacular, far-flung corners of the Danish Realm should be firmly on your radar when planning your adventures for the new year.
Visit Greenland in 2025
Gigantic icebergs floating past Ilulissat, Greenland
It’s difficult to overstate the sheer magnitude of Greenland; it’s the world’s largest non-continental island, stretching 2,670 kilometres from north to south. Its southernmost point, Cape Farewell, lies at 59.46°N, further south than the Shetland Islands, while its northernmost point, Kaffeklubben Island, is the northernmost piece of land on Earth, at 83.39°N. Around 80 percent of Greenland is covered in a gigantic ice sheet, while the vast majority of its 56,000 human inhabitants live in tiny, timber-clad settlements dotted along the west coast – none of them connected by road.
Although much of its allure is bound up in its vast swathes of pristine nature, from deep fjords and majestic glaciers to rugged granite mountains and coastal tundra, it’s also a fascinating place to learn about the indigenous Inuit culture. In fact, around 88% of Greenland’s population are Inuit (predominantly Kalaallit), descending from the Thule people who arrived in Greenland from Alaska, via Canada, in the 13th century. Opportunities for wildlife viewing, meanwhile, are abundant; Greenland’s residents include polar bears, musk oxen, reindeer, Arctic foxes, beluga whales and narwhals.
Nuuk, the capital of Greenland
Until now, getting there has been a rather convoluted and time-consuming process, typically requiring a flight to Kangerlussuaq, an overnight stop there and a further internal flight to your final destination. But with a brand new international airport opening in Nuuk on 28 November, there will be regular direct connections between Copenhagen and Greenland’s capital – a journey of four hours and 50 minutes. This presents the option of basing yourself in Nuuk, making the most of its plentiful accommodation, dining options and cultural attractions, or heading further north to Ilulissat, Greenland’s primary tourism hub and the best place to see enormous icebergs floating past all year round. Alternatively, you could embark on a coastal cruise, allowing you to visit numerous isolated settlements where ancient hunting traditions remain the primary way of life.
Whether it’s a winter escape to see the Northern Lights, go husky sledding and experience otherworldly Arctic landscapes cloaked in snow and ice, or a summer adventure with the chance to go hiking and kayaking beneath the Midnight Sun, a trip to Greenland is packed with epic possibilities.
Browse Greenland holiday ideas
Visit the Faroe Islands in 2025
Gjógv, Eysturoy Island
It’s easy to find yourself captivated by the Faroe Islands, an archipelago of 18 windswept, basalt outcrops in the North Atlantic, where sheep outnumber people – hence their name, Føroyar, which translates to ‘Sheep Islands’, a name given by Vikings who arrived in the ninth century. Indeed, the Faroese language descends directly from Old Norse, spoken by the Vikings during the Middle Ages.
While the Faroe Islands bear a strong visual resemblance to parts of Iceland and northern Scotland, they very much feel like a world of their own. Steep-sided, serrated-edge mountains soar above treeless moorlands and fjords shrouded in fog, colourful villages with turf-roofed houses cling to grassy slopes, and towering cliffs and jagged rock formations punctuate rugged coastlines lashed by frothing ocean waves.
Tórshavn, capital of the Faroe Islands
Undoubtedly, the best way to explore the Faroe Islands is by renting a car, allowing you to take advantage of the extensive network of mountain and sub-sea tunnels that burrow between the islands. This way, you can easily access the archipelago’s seemingly endless array of scenic hiking trails and picturesque villages, such as Gjógv, Funningur, Kirkjubøur, Tjørnuvík and Saksun – just to name a handful. The Faroese capital, Tórshavn, meanwhile, is a compact delight, with its colourful harbour, flourishing culinary scene and beautifully preserved historic core, where black-tarred, turf-roofed houses and red parliament buildings are dotted among narrow, car-free cobbled alleys. Tórshavn makes an excellent base for exploring the Faroe Islands, with many of the top sights within easy driving distance, or you could opt to stay in several smaller settlements as you make your way around the archipelago.
Summer is arguably the best time to go, as the weather is at its most settled and it barely gets dark at all, meaning maximum time for exploring. From 31 May – 30 August 2025, you can fly direct to the Faroe Islands from London Gatwick with Atlantic Airways (a journey of around two hours); at other times of the year, Edinburgh and Copenhagen are the most convenient gateways.
