Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland | A Guide to the World’s Most Remote Town

Welcome to the edge of the world. Perched on the fringes of Northeast Greenland, where the sea ice lingers for most of the year, and polar bears still outnumber tourists—lies a town few can pronounce—but many dream of: Ittoqqortoormiit.

The town of Ittoqqortoormiit sits at the entrance to iceberg-strewn Scoresbysund, the largest fjord system on Earth, and is a key access point to Northeast Greenland National Park—the world’s largest national park. 

This remote East Greenlandic outpost is a place of profound isolation, rugged beauty, and cultural resilience. If you're the kind of traveller who prefers satellite phones over Wi-Fi and true adventure over lounging poolside, hearty expedition fare over room service, then read on. 

This is your guide to visiting the world’s most remote town. 

Ittoqqortoormiit: overview and history

Ittoqqortoormiit recently marked 100 years of life on the edge of the world. Founded in 1925 by 80 Inuit families from Tasiilaq and guided by Danish explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen, this small Arctic town is one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth. Officially, it was about better hunting: the Scoresbysund region, with its iceberg-choked fjords and vast, silent horizons, promised rich marine life. But the deeper motive was political—Denmark sought to reinforce its territorial claim over East Greenland as Norway showed growing interest in the area.

What makes Ittoqqortoormiit unique

Set in East Greenland, near the mouth of Scoresbysund, Ittoqqortoormiit offers a rare, unfiltered connection to both nature and tradition. This isn’t a town built for tourists—it’s a living community shaped by self-reliance and the seasons.

The surrounding wilderness is breathtaking: colossal icebergs, shifting sea ice, and Arctic wildlife like polar bears, musk oxen, and nesting seabirds. It’s one of the best places in Greenland for raw wildlife encounters.

What makes Ittoqqortoormiit truly unique, though, is its way of life. Inuit hunters still follow traditional subsistence practices, including regulated polar bear and narwhal hunting. These aren’t performances—they are part of a culture that endures where modern supply chains don’t reach.

For those seeking more than just scenery, Ittoqqortoormiit offers something rare: authenticity. A place where nature shapes daily life, and ancient knowledge still leads the way.

Life in Ittoqqortoormiit

Home to roughly 350 hardy souls, Ittoqqortoormiit is less a town and more a tight-knit Arctic enclave. Daily life is deeply tied to the rhythm of nature and the ancestral customs of the Inuit.

The community relies heavily on subsistence hunting and fishing for their livelihood—seals, musk oxen, narwhals, and the occasional polar bear still provide food, clothing, and fuel. These ancestral practices remain essential in a place where modern supply chains rarely reach. 

Colourful homes dot the landscape, their cheerful paint standing in stark contrast to the frozen wilderness that surrounds them. Sled dogs are still essential and ever-present, chained near homes, their howls carrying across the tundra, alerting the town to danger or simply announcing their presence. Dog sledding isn’t a winter novelty here—it’s a lifeline.

Despite its diminutive size, Ittoqqoortormiit supports a surprising array of services. There’s a church, a school, a kindergarten, a town hall, and even a modest museum. Health and safety are covered by a hospital, a police station, and a fire station. A sports hall and football field offer recreation, while a small tourist office welcomes the rare but curious visitor.

Life here is hard, but not joyless; it’s vibrant and communal. Residents take pride in their independence but lean on one another when needed—a harmony forged by necessity and bound by tradition. It’s a rare kind of strength, the kind you don’t often see in more connected parts of the world.

Culture and traditions 

The town is a treasure trove of Inuit tradition. Locals still craft tupilaks, spirit figurines carved from bone or tusk and heavily rely upon ancestral subsistence hunting that still shapes daily life. 

Best time to visit

And no matter when you go, know this: only around 500 to 700 people visit Ittoqqortoormiit each year. It’s one of the least-visited settlements on Earth, offering a truly rare chance to witness Arctic life, untouched landscapes, and cultural resilience at the edge of the world.

Learn more about the weather and climate in Greenland.

How to get to Ittoqqortoormiit 

Getting to Ittoqqortoormiit is part of the adventure.

Where to stay in Ittoqqortoormiit

Accommodation in Ittoqqortoormiit is limited but welcoming, reflecting the small scale of the town itself. While you won’t find luxury hotels, there are a few guesthouses and homestays offering simple, clean, and comfortable lodging.

Guesthouses and local options

The town has a handful of locally run guesthouses—some operated by families, others supported by community tourism initiatives. These typically offer:

• Private or shared rooms

• Shared kitchen or dining facilities

• Basic amenities (Wi-Fi may be intermittent)

Booking ahead is essential, especially during the short summer season, as space is limited and supply flights affect provisioning schedules. Some options may also be arranged via local tour operators or Greenland-based agencies.

No public camping or hostels are available, and due to polar bear activity, independent camping is not advised.

What to do in Ittoqqoortormiit in summer 

Summer in Ittoqqortoormiit is short but radiant. The midnight sun bathes the Arctic landscape in golden light, transforming the tundra, cliffs, and fjords into a living canvas. With ice retreating and wildlife on the move, this is the season for exploration.

Cultural encounters

• Visit the local museum and learn about the community’s Inuit heritage, from early settlement artefacts to modern-day traditions.

• Spend time with local craftspeople and hunters, gaining insights how life here adapts with the seasons. 

Summer in East Greenland is more than a backdrop—it’s a brief and vibrant awakening. Whether you’re walking quietly through the tundra or paddling under a golden sky, every moment feels rare, earned, and deeply alive.  

Visit 'Guide to Greenland' for more inspiration.

Things to do in Ittoqqortoormiit in winter 

Winter in Ittoqqortoormiit is deep, silent, and extraordinary. The fjords begin to freeze as winter approaches, and the atmosphere becomes even more otherworldly. Northern Lights dazzle especially when your ship lodges slowly into a piece of thin ice and rests.

Want to experience the aurora in the most remote place on Earth?

Daily life and ice activities

• Try ice fishing, a practice still central to winter survival

• Learn about how locals manage food storage, heating, and transportation when cut off from supply routes for months

• Join in community events and gatherings

Ittoqqortoormiit in winter isn’t about checking off activities—it’s about entering a different way of life. The cold is real, the light is fleeting, but the experience is unforgettable. For the well-prepared and curious, this season offers one of the last frontiers of true Arctic living.

Visit Guide to Greenland for winter tour ideas.