Ilulissat

Greenland's third-largest town, where the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord calves giant icebergs every day; cruise among the bergs, watch whales and enjoy the midnight sun.

Ilulissat (formerly Jakobshavn in Danish) lies on the east shore of Disko Bay on Greenland's west coast, about 250 km north of the Arctic Circle. With around 4,700 residents, it is Greenland's third-largest town and its most popular destination. Just south of town is the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004; its source, the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, is one of the most active glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere, and huge icebergs drift offshore all year round. Seasons: the midnight sun shines from late May to late July; in Jun–Aug temperatures are around 5–10°C, peak season for boat trips, hiking and whale watching; from September the northern lights appear after sunset; Feb–Apr brings lengthening days and reliable snow, ideal for dog sledding and aurora viewing, though temperatures can drop to -20°C. The main experiences fall into three areas: the town itself (harbour, Zion's Church, museum); the World Heritage icefjord area south of town (Icefjord Centre, the Sermermiut boardwalk and the blue and yellow trails); and the sea and sky (iceberg cruises, day trips to the Eqi Glacier, whale watching, the settlements of Oqaatsut and Ilimanaq, and glacier flightseeing). Getting there: no roads link Greenland to the outside world. Usually you fly from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq or Nuuk (about 4.5 hours), then connect on an Air Greenland small plane to Ilulissat Airport (about 1 hour). Nuuk's new international airport opened in late 2024, and Ilulissat Airport's runway extension is planned to receive international flights from around 2026 (check airline announcements). In summer there are also coastal passenger ships. The airport is about 3 km from town, reachable by taxi or hotel shuttle. The town is walkable; sights are linked by foot, taxi and boat. Plan 3–5 days, with 1–2 spare days in case flights or boat trips are cancelled due to weather. Tips: prices are high, and boat trips and flights should be booked in advance; mosquitoes are plentiful in summer, so bring a head net; proper polar clothing is essential in winter; keep away from sled dogs.

Top sights

• Ilulissat Icefjord – A UNESCO World Heritage icefjord. The most active glacier in the Northern Hemisphere pushes giant icebergs into Disko Bay every day, and th…
• Sermermiut Valley & Icefjord Trails – An ancient Inuit site valley 1.5 km south of town, with wooden boardwalks and blue and yellow trails leading to viewpoints over the icefjor…
• Ilulissat Icefjord Centre – A boomerang-shaped visitor centre opened in 2021, with a roof you can walk on for views, and exhibits on glaciers, climate and Inuit cultur…
• Disko Bay Iceberg Cruise – Take a small boat from the harbour out to the icefjord mouth and weave among icebergs rising tens of metres high. The midnight sun sailings…
• Eqi Glacier – A tidewater glacier about 80 km by boat north of Ilulissat, with an ice face tens of metres high. From the boat, you can watch chunks of ic…
• Disko Bay Whale Watching – In summer, humpback, fin and minke whales come to Disko Bay to feed, and boat trips often spot whales tail-slapping.
• Sermeq Kujalleq (Jakobshavn Glacier) Flightseeing – Fly over the front of the fastest-moving glacier in the Northern Hemisphere and the endless Greenland ice sheet in a small plane or helicop…
• Ilulissat Dog Sledding – Ilulissat is Greenland’s sled-dog heartland, where in winter and spring you can ride dog sleds driven by local hunters across the ice sheet.
• Ilulissat Museum (Knud Rasmussen's House) – The red house where polar explorer Knud Rasmussen was born, showcasing the history of exploration, Inuit life and the history of the Icefjo…
• Zion's Church – A wooden church completed in 1782, one of Greenland’s oldest buildings, set on a rocky slope with icebergs drifting on the sea behind it.
• Ilulissat Art Museum – A small art museum converted from a former colonial administrator’s residence, with paintings of Greenland by Emanuel Petersen and others.
• Ilulissat Harbour – A fishing harbour lined with colourful wooden houses, known for its halibut boats, small icebergs and fish market, and the departure point…
• Oqaatsut (Rodebay) – A small Inuit fishing village about 15 km north of Ilulissat, home to just over thirty residents and a restaurant in a converted old whalin…
• Ilimanaq – A small settlement on the south shore of the Icefjord, preserving 18th-century colonial buildings, with a newly built cabin hotel for icebe…

Where to eat

• Ulo Restaurant (Hotel Arctic) – A tasting-menu restaurant inside Hotel Arctic, widely regarded as one of Greenland's best, with views over icebergs in…
• Hotel Icefiord Restaurant – The restaurant at Hotel Icefiord, known for its house-smoked halibut, with icebergs in Disko Bay visible through the wi…
• Inuit Café – An affordable city-center café serving reindeer, musk ox and Thai dishes, and one of the top-rated casual restaurants i…

Itineraries

• Greenland West Coast Coastal Ferry & Icefjord – Sail from Nuuk to Sisimiut on a coastal ferry, then fly to Disko Bay to see the icefjord.