Ilulissat

Ilulissat means the town by the icebergs, and the Icefjord is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Sail among icebergs in broad daylight or under the midnight sun, go hiking along the Icefjord or see it all from above on a helicopter tour.

Ilulissat is Greenland’s best-known town, and when you stand here, you understand why. The bustling town lies by the Ilulissat Icefjord, the first place in Greenland to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is not without reason that the Icefjord is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and it is indeed the Icefjord that most people travel to Greenland to experience. The Icefjord gives you unique moments and forms the setting for a great many experiences in and around Ilulissat. Here you can sail among icebergs in a thousand shapes in both broad daylight and the magical midnight sun, you can hike along the Icefjord and see an abandoned settlement, and you can see all its splendours from above on a helicopter tour – and perhaps even fly in to the glacier at the head of the Icefjord that ‘gives birth’ to all the icebergs. Almost everywhere there is a view of the Icefjord, and you will never tire of gazing out over it. And nowhere else in the world will you find an icefjord with such impressive icebergs within walking distance of restaurants, cafés and shops!

The Ilulissat area has been inhabited for 4,000 years because of the unique hunting opportunities created by the impressive Ilulissat Icefjord. The Icefjord is the focal point of your stay in the town, but also of life in the town. It is not only incredibly beautiful; it also has a wide-ranging wildlife with plenty of fish, seals, birds and whales. And then we must not forget the sledge dogs!

The fjord’s icebergs can be seen from almost anywhere in town. They come from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier. Sermeq Kujalleq is the largest glacier in the northern hemisphere and one of the fastest glaciers in the world and the fastest in Greenland – approx. 40 metres a day.

Ilulissat is the third-largest town in Greenland with more than 4,500 inhabitants. And then there are the sledge dogs. It is said that there is one sledge dog for every person in Ilulissat – unfortunately that is no longer quite true, but regardless, there are still 2,500 sledge dogs in the area to this day.

If you get the chance to visit Ilulissat, you can look forward to being met by friendly and welcoming locals, where old traditions live side by side with a modern society. Ilulissat is also known as Jakobshavn in Danish.

Ilulissat is something quite special

What must it have been like for the early inhabitants who came to the Sermermiut area by the Ilulissat Icefjord as long as 4,000 years ago? Were they just as captivated by the beauty of the area, or was it more the thought “look, there’s a seal and a fish” that went through their heads? Today it hardly matters, but the place has always been popular, and rightly so.

Already as you fly in to Ilulissat, you will understand that this is something quite special. As you fly up along the coast from Kangerlussuaq, you cross Disko Bay, and gradually you will see more and more, and bigger and bigger, icebergs in the water (tip: sit on the right-hand side of the plane when you board Air Greenland’s Dash-8 aircraft in Kangerlussuaq). The Icefjord is an absolutely fantastic sight, and if you look towards the head of the fjord, you will see the Kangia glacier itself, the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere.

Excursions all year round

Ilulissat and the surrounding area offer many fine excursion options. On the water you can go on trips to see whales, to settlements, among the icebergs and to calving glaciers. On foot, the Icefjord and abandoned settlements in lovely mountains await. From the air by helicopter you can get all the way in to the Ice Sheet and the glacier front and experience an incomprehensible spectacle. If you dream of spending the night in comfort in the great outdoors, we have both the popular Glacier Lodge Eqi north of Ilulissat and the new luxurious Ilimanaq Lodge south of the Icefjord. You can see many different excursions at our subsidiary, Arctic Excursions.

Ilulissat Icefjord

Seeing the Ilulissat Icefjord is an incredibly beautiful experience, and when you are here, you owe it to yourself to experience the Icefjord in every conceivable way. You have travelled far to experience this place, which is rightly inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, so make the most of it while you are here.

Walk out to the old settlement at Sermermiut, experience Kællingekløften and see the ice from land. Walk around town and see the enormous icebergs out at the mouth of the fjord. Take a boat trip out to the mouth of the fjord and see the enormous icebergs up close. Do it again in the evening and experience the ice once more, now shining in the most beautiful golden colour in the glow of the midnight sun.

The Ilulissat Icefjord is pure magic and it changes all the time. Ice comes and ice goes, but you can always be sure that there are lots of large icebergs that have run aground at the mouth of the fjord. The fact that they have run aground means that the boats can sail out there safely.

But Ilulissat is also much more than ice, which you will hear several times a day when the dogs howl at the sky.

Dog sledges

There are an incredible number of sledge dogs in Ilulissat, and the dog-sledging culture is truly cherished here. The dog sledges are used by the many fishermen who go out on the icefjord in winter and load the sledges with large Greenland halibut. The sledge is a practical working tool, as it has been for over a thousand years, but fortunately it is also possible for you – when the fishermen are not on the fjord – to join dog-sledge trips.

In winter you can try joining short trips lasting as little as an hour, or perhaps you would like to try a longer trip over several days, where you get to experience life almost as it has been lived for centuries – though with some modern comforts, so it is not a survival trip but an experience trip.

Hiking

When you hike in Greenland, you should expect the paths to be often a little uneven and not always well marked. However, there are some fine paths in Ilulissat and some well-marked routes that run along the Icefjord. We recommend two walks, a short version and a longer day trip. Both walks can currently also be bought as a guided tour from World of Greenland, giving you a wealth of knowledge from the guide at the same time.

Easy walk to the former settlement of Sermermiut

This short walk is relatively easy and takes approx. 30-45 minutes on foot from the town centre. You head a little outside town and down to an incredibly beautiful spot by the Icefjord, where there used to be a settlement, “Sermermiut”. It can be an advantage to have a guide with you who can tell you about the area and the settlements, but you can also easily do the walk yourself – the place is magnificent whatever you do. You can do the walk during the day or in the evening. Pack your rucksack with a little lunch, your camera and perhaps a good book, and enjoy the fantastic view. There is a boardwalk all the way down to the fjord, but if you come in winter it can be hard to see. When you reach the fjord itself, you can choose to climb a little higher and get an even better view over the whole Icefjord. This last part is not for people with walking difficulties or limited mobility.

The long day hike along the Icefjord

This walk is a day trip for those in reasonably good shape. You start by following the green route down to the settlement by the Icefjord, and then you simply continue along the marked blue route. Take food and water with you and also pack your rucksack with some extra warm clothing, a sitting mat and whatever else you need for a day in the “mountains”. The walk is relatively easy, but the last part goes through a ravine with many large boulders to be negotiated. You can choose to go a little higher up to the right rather than walking down in the ravine. As a bonus you get a very fine view. We recommend this walk for those who can walk on uneven terrain, are in reasonably good shape and have a little experience of walking in mountain terrain.

Cultural experiences on your own in Ilulissat

Culturally, Ilulissat is an exciting and very cultural town. It is here that the great polar explorer of the Danish Realm, Knud Rasmussen, spent his childhood. In Knud Rasmussen’s childhood home you can today visit the town’s museum, and it is well worth seeing. Knud Rasmussen was born here in 1879. Right opposite the house is Zion’s Church, one of the most photographed churches in Greenland. Your fingers will be itching to snap away and take pictures of the brown wooden church with the large icebergs in the background. There is also an interesting art museum in Ilulissat.

It is possible to join the guided tour “cultural-historical town walk”. The tour is an introduction to the town and its history, and you get an insight into all the things you might overlook on your own. You also get an insight into Greenlandic culture and history. And of course you can ask the guide about anything and everything along the way.

The Icefjord Centre

The Icefjord Centre is located where the boardwalk to Sermermiut begins. The Icefjord Centre is housed in a very beautiful building that opened in the summer of 2021 and was designed by Dorte Mandrup. Here there are exciting exhibitions about the Icefjord area and the Arctic.

Ilulissat Museum

Absolutely worth a visit! The Danish polar explorer Knud Rasmussen grew up in the house that today houses the museum. He was born in Ilulissat in 1879. The visit can be done in a good hour, but you can easily spend longer.

Zion’s Church and church services

The church is next to Ilulissat Museum. The church is not open on weekdays, but on Sundays you can attend a service where people sing at the top of their lungs. If you are lucky, there may be a baptism, confirmation or wedding.

Ilulissat Art Museum

Another lovely place to visit is the small local art museum, which houses a large exhibition of the Danish artist Emanuel A. Petersen. In the summer period there are often exhibitions with young Greenlandic artists. The house itself is a lovely place with a special atmosphere – you can almost sense the time hundreds of years ago.

The cosy and busy harbour

The harbour is a central place in every town in Greenland, and Ilulissat is no exception. Not only is the harbour centrally located, it is also where life buzzes from early morning.

Spend some time at the harbour. Sit down, relax and get a feel for the active life among the dinghy fishermen getting ready or coming in with the day’s catch or sitting baiting their longlines. There is plenty of life all year round. At the harbour there is a cosy little ship chandler/kiosk where you can buy everything for fishing and hunting. And coffee, not least.

“Brættet” – the local fish and meat market

Up the hill from the harbour lies Brættet. It is always an exciting experience to see what is on offer. This is the place where you can buy freshly caught fish and meat, smoked products and berries – in short, nature’s larder. The local hunters and fishermen come here with the day’s catch. It is a small market and the goods are sold in both large and small portions. Brættet is right in the centre and is normally open on weekdays 9 – 17 and at weekends 9 – 13.

Local arts and crafts

There are many places to see and buy Greenlandic handicrafts, and the selection in Ilulissat is huge compared with many other towns. There are many shops and tourism providers selling exciting souvenirs and applied art, and you can get everything from tupilaks and skins to locally inspired USB sticks. Start your visit at our subsidiary, World of Greenland, and hear about all the options.

The handicraft workshop

Local artists make beautiful arts and crafts and put them up for sale. You can simply walk in when the workshop is open during weekdays, when the locals are sitting working there. The workshop is very centrally located on the way down towards the harbour, not far from Brættet and the local excursion office “World of Greenland”. Just walk past Grønlandsbanken on your left, and you will find the workshop on your left-hand side. There is a sign outside.

Systuen

At Systuen (the sewing workshop) you will find lovely things made of sealskin and other local materials. Systuen usually accepts all common payment cards, so you can quickly be tempted. Systuen is also centrally located in town, close to the handicraft workshop.

Dining in Ilulissat

The town has several restaurants and cafés offering really good food, often with a fantastic view. Many Greenlandic restaurants have entered the international gastronomic scene in recent years. The combination of local produce and international cuisine makes eating at a restaurant in Greenland a delightful and flavourful experience. Some of Greenland’s best chefs and restaurants are found right here in Ilulissat.

Greenlandic buffet

During your stay in Ilulissat you should treat yourself to a Greenlandic buffet. All the larger restaurants offer a Greenlandic buffet once a week. Book a table in advance, especially in high season. A Greenlandic buffet consists of all kinds of Greenlandic specialities and dishes based on delicious local produce.

Hotel Arctic

Hotel Arctic is known for high gastronomic standards, and many of its chefs over the years have won several gastronomic awards. You are guaranteed a good culinary experience in Restaurant Ulo at Hotel Arctic. In addition to the restaurant, the hotel also houses Brasserie Ulo, which is a little more informal and offers simpler café-style meals, but with the same splendid view over the fjord.

Everyone is welcome at Hotel Arctic, so do not hesitate to drop by. The view is excellent and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. A Greenlandic buffet is served on Mondays, and there is a barbecue on Saturdays. In summer there is often a barbecue outside on the hotel’s terrace. Hotel Arctic is a little outside town. You can see it from town, a row of red buildings, and you can walk there (20 minutes).

Read more at www.hotelarctic.dk

Hotel Icefjord

Restaurant Icefjord at Hotel Icefjord offers a Greenlandic buffet every Thursday. The restaurant has large panoramic windows with a view of the Icefjord. The restaurant is open all week and offers both dinner and lunch menus. You can also get Thai takeaway from the restaurant. Read more at www.hotelicefiord.gl

Hotel Hvide Falk

Hotel Hvide Falk is centrally located in town and has an excellent view. At Hotel Hvide Falk you can try a Greenlandic buffet every week, where a great deal of the best of Greenlandic cuisine is served. We will not say that everything is good, because there are things in traditional Greenlandic cuisine that are so special that most tourists would faint at the mere thought of them. That is why the Greenlandic buffet is arranged so that it really appeals to visitors from outside. Read more at www.hotelhvidefalk.gl

Other places to eat in Ilulissat

In the centre of Ilulissat there are quite a few cosy little cafés where you can get traditional café food at prices comparable to an ordinary café in Copenhagen. Drop by and have a cup of coffee – in summer you can sit outside.

General travel literature about Greenland

• Politiken’s travel guide ‘Turen går til Grønland’ – Svend Erik Nielsen et al.
• Gyldendal’s book about Greenland – various authors
• Ilulissat Icefjord – a World Heritage Area (GEUS)
• Experience Kangia Ilulissat Icefjord – official guide to the World Heritage Site Ilulissat Icefjord