Understand

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Although maps with flat projections of the globe tend to make Greenland look the size of Africa, it is actually "only" about the size of Mexico. Despite being a little bigger than Mexico Greenland has the world's smallest population density.

It represents some 97% of the area of the Kingdom of Denmark, a territorial claim with roots in the 10th-century explorations of the Vikings, changing hands several times over the centuries due to developments in Europe. The local Inuit (also known as Kalaallit, but don't call them Eskimo; it's considered an insult) have closer cultural ties to the inhabitants of northern Canada (also Inuit) than to any of their European associates.

According to legend, the name was chosen to entice people to settle here rather than Iceland. Ironically, Greenland contains phenomenally more ice (about 84% of its immense surface area), and Iceland's climate – punctuated by geothermal hotspots – is generally more mild and hospitable to green plants. In fact, it is more likely that Greenland was named simply because its southern coasts (the first part of land sighted by the Vikings) appeared green and fertile during the Medieval Warm Period.

Be careful with maps of Greenland, as many Greenlandic names simply reference a particular geographical feature. Thus, a name like "Kangerlussuaq" is more common than you might otherwise expect, as it simply means "Big Fjord".

When visiting a city/village don't be afraid to ask for directions of shops, places to eat or somewhere to sleep, even though you think, there might not be any. Most places (even Nuuk) are small enough for everyone to know where everything is, and therefore noone bothered to put up a sign. Don't be surprised to find a fully equipped supermarket inside a grey factorylike building somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

Eat

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Food in Greenland is generally not that different from American or continental European tastes. Restaurants carry typical European fare. Local food can be purchased at local markets in each town. Many Greenlandic restaurants combine traditional foods (locally-caught fish, shrimp and whales; also muskox and reindeer) with more familiar dishes. Expect to find whale meat at a Thai restaurant and caribou in a Chinese joint. Nuuk also has several burger joints and a couple of very high-end restaurants, most notably Nipisa, which specializes in (very expensive) local delicacies. Prices are high everywhere, but servings are generally large, especially with fries.

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