Ferries, aside from trains, have remained one of the top means of transportation in Europe. It is a convenient, fun, safe, and cheap way to travel from one waterside city or country to the next, serving a gateway to different islands for people from other parts of the world.

Aside from being a form of transportation, ferries or cruise ships serve as an option to a relaxing vacation. People sometimes book cruise trips that lets them see various sights and experience different culture in a ride that is a welcome part of the vacation.

Ferries service areas such as Greenland, United Kingdom, Norway, Poland, Holland, Paris, Sweden, and other countries in the west such as the United States and around the globe.

Vacation via Ferry to Greenland

Greenland is the largest island and the largest dependent territory in the world. It is part of the Kingdom of Denmark though it enjoys the freedom to manage internal affairs and make internal decisions. Greenland is surrounded by big bodies of water; namely the Greenland Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and Baffin Bay making it one of the favorite stops to visit during a cruise trip.

But aside from vacation cruising, ferry to Greenland trips are also an ideal way to get to Greenland and stay awhile with its numerous ports scattered around its huge coastline.

Before the World War II, Greenland can only be reached through boats. It was only after the WWII that airports were constructed. They say Greenland is best discovered through the sea. These days, Greenland is one of the favorite vacation spots for nature lovers of the world. It is also best to tour the island by ferrying around the coast of Greenland in a classic Greenlandic coastal vessel and see the wonders of nature unfold before your eyes.

Riding a ferry to Greenland is also a fun way to experience the whale safari, one of the tourist attractions of the island. Aside from the whales, musk ox is also a must see in the island. There are other unique experiences for tourist in Greenland like watching the Northern dancing lights also known as Aurora Borealis which can be seen during winter, watching the midnight sun, and, of course, taking in the wonders of the Greenland Ice Caps.

Travelers can also enjoy great hiking trips, from short hikes to week-long hikes with guides, dog sleighing, skiing, and snowmobiling.

Ferry to Greenland – A Fun Way to Travel

Although some ferries carry freight, they mostly carry tourist and travelers. Ferries are a nice way to travel especially for those with time to spare. There are different kinds of ferries. These are the double-ended whose bows and stern can be interchanged when needed; the hydrofoil whose advantage is higher cruising speed; the catamaran that is known for high speed; the roll on-roll off ferries, also known as RoRo that has easy loading and unloading of vehicles; the cruiseferry which combines the features of a cruise ship and a RoRo; the fast Rofax which has a relatively large garage and passenger capacity; and the cable ferry which is used only for short distance traveling.

Local travel agencies or the World Wide Web can provide booking services and information as to what type of ferry is available from the place nearest you to a trip to Greenland.

Author Rolf Karlsen is very much into ferries and other forms of transportation. He maintains the Danish website http://www.findtransport.dk, where you can read about different types of transportation.

If you are still undecided about making that trip to Greenland, do not let the harsh cold dissuade you from visiting because you will surely miss out on a lot of wonderful things unique only to Greenland. In fact, now is the best time to visit Greenland because scientists predict that in a couple more years, a large part of it will have already melted and its brilliant glaciers and bergs will only be part of its history. Aside from those mentioned, here are some ten things that you need to see and do in Greenland.

1.) National Museum

When visiting any country or city for the very first time, it is always a good part of the itinerary to include its National Museum. In this particular museum, you will see the mummified bodies of what is believed to be those of the people who died when their boat turned over back in the 1400s. You can also find here other artifacts as well.

2.) Festival of Snow Sculptures

This is an annual festivity attended by locals and foreigners. Here, you will see a magnificent showcase of some of the world’s best snow sculptures on parade. Go to the country’s capital, Nuuk, to witness this yearly event.

3.) Greenland Tours

In order to fully enjoy your stay in Greenland and see as much as possible during your trip, it is best to take guided tours that will take you to Kangerlussuag and then to Ilulissat. These tours will take you around the cities. Here, you will experience native life in Greenland including the traditional welcome coffee drink from a local.

4.) Hiking and mountain climbing

One of the best hiking and mountaineering experiences you can ever have is in the mountains of Greenland. The best place is said to be Ice Cap. However, you should always have an experienced guide with you as you can easily get lost or injured if you don’t know your way around.

5.) Qaqortoq

This is located in the southern part of Greenland. This is where you will find the oldest recorded fountain of the country as well as old building structures, and these buildings go as far back as two centuries ago. You will also see here a mini Eskimo Museum.

6.) Dog sleds

What is a visit to Greenland without trying its famous dog sledding down its icy slopes? Skiing is also a must. You can go skiing across the country provided you have a guide, and you are well-versed in the sport.

7.) Disko Bay

It is said that one iceberg here can weigh approximately more than 6 million tons! One of the most breathtaking sights you will ever witness here or perhaps anywhere in the world is the sun touching the icebergs illuminating their brilliance. Be prepared to be enthralled by this magnificent sight.

8.) Old Town Museum

This is located in Upernavik. It is a place considered to have a friendlier climate than most places in Greenland. The Old Town Museum houses historical mementos of the country including those about the earliest people who have inhabited the place.

9.) Polar Bears

Definitely not to be missed, polar bears are only seen in the cold regions, hence, they are a sight to behold in Greenland. Although fiercely wild and can seriously injure anyone he comes across with, the sight of this white bear is enough to entice any tourist to catch a glimpse of this wild animal. You will surely be amazed at the power and beauty these animals possess.

10.) Musk ox and other animals

After polar bears, tourists also come to this icy country to catch glimpses of musk oxen. You can also see in Greenland a few of Santa’s reindeer and walruses. Whales are also abundant including the majestic white whales.