Key facts
- COVERAGE
- Greenland
- NETWORKS
- Tusass
- PLAN TYPE
- Data only
- IP ADDRESS LOCATION
- Netherlands
- DELIVERY
- QR code by email
How it works
- 1Choose a plan and pay.
- 2Scan the QR code we email you. You can install it before you fly.
- 3When you land in Greenland, turn on data roaming for the Spidot line.
Questions about the Greenland eSIM
Which networks does it use?
Do I get a local phone number?
Can I use it outside Greenland?
How do I install it?
Will my phone work with an eSIM?
Does my Danish SIM work in Greenland at home prices?
Will I have signal on the Arctic Circle Trail?
Can I see the northern lights forecast with mobile data?
Will my eSIM work on an expedition cruise?
Does cold weather affect the eSIM?
Can I add data while I am in Greenland?
Greenland eSIM guide: mobile data for travellers
Greenland is the world's largest island, and most of it is covered by the ice sheet. Its towns and settlements cling to the coast, separated by fjords, mountains and ice, and there are no roads linking them. Visitors come for the icebergs of Disko Bay and the Ilulissat Icefjord, for hiking around Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut, for the colourful houses of Nuuk, for the Norse ruins and green valleys of the south, and for the dramatic, remote east coast around Tasiilaq. In summer the midnight sun lights the landscape around the clock; in winter the northern lights take over.
Connectivity in Greenland works very differently from mainland Europe or North America. Signal is focused on towns and settlements, and the spaces between them are vast. A Spidot eSIM gives you mobile data in Greenland where a network is available, without buying a local SIM, and you keep your own SIM for calls and texts. This guide explains what to expect, how to plan your data, and how to stay safe when you are beyond the reach of any network.
eSIM, roaming or a local SIM in Greenland
Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but is not part of the European Union. That surprises many travellers, especially those flying in from Copenhagen.
Roaming with your home SIM
Because Greenland is outside the EU, the EU's "Roam like at Home" rules do not apply there. A Danish or other EU SIM that works at domestic rates in Copenhagen will not automatically do so in Nuuk or Ilulissat. SIMs from the UK, North America and elsewhere follow their operator's terms, and Greenland is not always included in standard roaming packages. Check your operator's terms for Greenland before you fly.
A Greenlandic SIM
Prepaid SIMs are sold in Greenland's larger towns. They can be practical for long stays, such as research fieldwork or seasonal work, but for most holidays it is simpler to arrive with data already set up.
A Spidot eSIM for Greenland
A Spidot eSIM adds a separate data line alongside your home SIM. You buy a Greenland plan online, receive the QR code by email straight after payment and install it at home. Plans start from $35.90. Most plans are data-only and do not include a Greenlandic phone number; if you need local calls, see our Data + calls plans.
How mobile coverage works in Greenland
In Greenland, mobile coverage is built around where people live. Towns such as Nuuk, Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Kangerlussuaq, Qaqortoq, Aasiaat and Tasiilaq generally have mobile data in and around the town. Smaller settlements may also have a signal, but this varies.
Once you leave a town, coverage can disappear quickly. There are no roads between towns, and the hiking routes, fjords, ice sheet and open sea between them are largely outside mobile coverage. On boats, you may keep signal near a town and lose it as you head into a fjord or out along the coast.
- Towns: expect data to work for messaging, maps and browsing in and around the centre.
- Settlements: coverage varies; some small communities are connected, others have limited service.
- Hiking routes: treks such as the Arctic Circle Trail between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut pass through long stretches with no signal.
- Fjords and boat trips: iceberg cruises from Ilulissat or fjord trips in the south may have signal near town and none further out.
- The ice sheet: excursions to the edge of the ice near Kangerlussuaq leave mobile coverage behind.
Speeds and capacity
Greenland's internet connections have to cover enormous distances, and capacity in smaller places can be limited. Be patient with large uploads, and save big downloads such as films and app updates for when you have good Wi-Fi at home.
Tusass are among the networks your Spidot plan can use in Greenland.
How much data to plan for
Because you will spend a lot of time out of coverage, many Greenland travellers use less mobile data than they expect. The figures below are rough guides:
- Maps: a few megabytes per hour when online; download offline maps before you go.
- Messaging: light, and the main way to keep in touch with family, tour operators and guesthouses.
- Photo sharing: moderate to heavy; icebergs and northern lights photos are large.
- Weather and sea-ice forecasts: light, but important if you are hiking or kayaking.
- Video calls and streaming: heavy, and best saved for strong signal or Wi-Fi.
Typical choices
A week split between Kangerlussuaq and Ilulissat, with time on tours and hikes, usually fits a small or mid-sized fixed data plan. Travellers who spend longer in Nuuk, or work remotely, may want a larger plan or an unlimited plan, keeping in mind that speed may slow after heavy use.
A no-expiry plan suits people who return to the Arctic or plan to stretch a small amount of data over a long expedition. You can check how much data is left and add more data when you are back in a town.
Before you go
Install your eSIM at home over Wi-Fi. First check your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked. Then follow the install guide for iPhone, Samsung or Pixel, label the line "Greenland", keep your home SIM as default for calls and texts, and set the Spidot line for mobile data.
- Download offline maps of every area you plan to visit, including hiking routes.
- Download tickets, booking confirmations and tour details so you can show them offline.
- If you are hiking or kayaking away from towns, consider carrying a satellite communicator or personal locator beacon; a phone is not enough.
- Pack a power bank and keep it warm; cold weather drains batteries quickly.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM before your flight.
Arriving in Greenland
Most visitors fly in from Copenhagen, and there are also routes from Iceland and, seasonally, from other places. Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq are important gateways, and domestic flights and helicopters connect them with towns along the coast. Expedition cruise ships also visit many communities in summer.
When you land, select the Spidot line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it; our data roaming guide shows how. It may take a minute or two to connect.
Changing planes
Many itineraries involve a connection to a smaller domestic flight. Weather delays are common in the Arctic, so having data at the airport helps you check updates from your airline and message your accommodation if you are held up.
Arriving by cruise ship
On expedition cruises, onboard connectivity can be limited and expensive. When the ship visits a town, your eSIM may connect to the local network. Keep data roaming off on your home SIM to avoid charges from maritime or satellite networks, and switch on the Spidot line once you see a local network.
Data on flights, boats and hiking routes
Travel between towns in Greenland is by air or sea. Domestic planes and helicopters link the main towns, and in summer a coastal passenger ferry runs along part of the west coast. Within towns, distances are short; Nuuk has buses and taxis, while smaller places are walkable.
On the water
Boat trips among the icebergs, whale-watching tours and coastal ferries may keep signal near a town and lose it in open water. Download what you need before boarding and enjoy the time offline.
Hiking safely
Hiking in Greenland is rewarding but serious. Weather can change fast, rivers can rise, and help can be a long way off. Tell your accommodation or a tour operator your route and expected return time, carry suitable equipment and a satellite device for emergencies, and treat any mobile signal as a bonus rather than a safety plan.
Sharing data with a hotspot
If your accommodation has slow or no Wi-Fi, your phone's personal hotspot can share your Spidot data with a laptop or tablet. It uses whichever line is selected for mobile data, so make sure that is the Spidot line.
Laptops can use a lot of data in the background. Turn off automatic updates and cloud sync before connecting, especially where capacity is limited.
Using public Wi-Fi safely
Hotels, cafés and some public buildings in larger towns offer Wi-Fi. It is handy for downloads but can be slow or insecure.
- Use your eSIM data for banking and sensitive logins.
- Confirm the correct network name before connecting.
- Turn off automatic joining of open networks.
- Update your phone and apps before you travel, not on hotel Wi-Fi in Greenland.
Practical tips for Greenland
A few local details that help:
- Currency: Greenland uses the Danish krone (DKK). Cards are widely accepted in towns, but carry some cash for small settlements.
- Language: Greenlandic (Kalaallisut) is the official language, and Danish is widely used. English is understood in tourism, especially in the larger towns.
- Cold and batteries: phone batteries drain fast in the cold. Keep your phone in an inside pocket and carry a warm power bank.
- Light: in summer the midnight sun can make it hard to sleep; in winter, days are short. Plan your activities and charging around this.
- Weather delays: flights and boats depend on the weather. Leave buffer days before international connections and keep booking details downloaded.
- Respect local communities: ask before photographing people, and follow local guidance on wildlife and hunting areas.
Greenland on a multi-country trip
Most travellers pass through Denmark on the way to Greenland, and many combine Greenland with Iceland, which is a short flight away. Some Arctic expedition cruises also visit Canada.
The simplest approach is one eSIM per country. Most eSIM phones can store several eSIMs, so install a plan for each country before your trip and switch the mobile data line as you arrive. Only the selected line uses data.