Qaqortoq is southern Greenland’s largest town, though with just 3,000 inhabitants it’s hardly crowded. A trip to the nearby hot springs at Uunartoq is recommended; relaxing in the 38°C water and watching icebergs drift across the bay is quite something.

Maniitsoq means ‘the rugged place’ in the Greenlandic language, and it’s an apt description. This colourful settlement is situated amongst deep fjords, towering mountains and islands separated by narrow natural canals, and the nearby Eternity Fjord is one of the most beautiful in Greenland.

The name Sisimiut means ‘the people living in a place where there are fox dens’, though these days the town is better known for being Greenland’s northernmost year-round ice-free port. Around 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle, it’s a common stop for ships making the journey north to Disko Bay.

Uummannaq is one of the most northerly towns in Greenland, situated on an island at the foot of a jagged mountain. Learn more about Inuit culture at the small museum, or explore the spectacular natural surroundings in 24-hour daylight; for three months every summer, the sun never sets.

The spectacular Ilulissat ice fjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it's the source of the many icebergs that float out across Disko Bay. The town of Ilulissat itself is Greenland’s third largest settlement, and activities on offer here include dog sledding and whale watching.

Greenland’s capital and largest town, Nuuk is positively cosmopolitan compared to the rest of this remote and isolated country. The setting amongst mountains and fjords is striking, and attractions include the Greenland National Museum and the picturesque Old Harbour.

The abandoned mining settlement of Ivittuut played an important role in World War II thanks to its rich deposits of cryolite, used in the manufacture of Allied fighter planes. Today you can wander amongst deserted but well-maintained buildings, and you may see musk oxen grazing nearby.

The sheep farming settlement of Igaliku is home to fewer than 30 permanent residents, in a picturesque spot surrounded by mountains in the south of Greenland. The village is notable for its Norse ruins and sandstone architecture, quite different to the wooden houses you see elsewhere in Greenland.

The spectacular Prince Christian Sound provides a protected passage for ships rounding the southern tip of Greenland, at times narrowing to just 1,500 feet across. Waterfalls cascade down the rugged mountain sides, and you can often spot whales and seals amongst the icebergs.