Avannaata · Greenland

Ilulissat and the Icefjord

The city of icebergs, beside the Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site: trails to viewpoints above the ice, boats in Disko Bay and the Eqi glacier.

Disko Bay and North Greenland

In the photo: Boats in Ilulissat’s harbor, among the colorful houses and granite slopes.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Ilulissat is on the west coast of Greenland, about 250 km north of the Arctic Circle, on the shores of Disko Bay. South of the town, the Ilulissat Icefjord receives ice from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, which flows from the ice sheet and calves icebergs of all sizes. The fjord has been a UNESCO natural heritage site since 2004.

The town is the country’s third largest and the gateway to the region. It has colorful houses on the rocks, a busy fishing port and thousands of sled dogs. In the center, the museum occupies the house where polar explorer Knud Rasmussen was born.

Marked trails start from the Icefjord Centre, at the town’s edge, and cross the Sermermiut valley, with remains of former settlements, to viewpoints overlooking the fjord entrance. Boats move among the bay’s icebergs and, in summer, continue up to the Eqi glacier to the north.

On the other side of the fjord entrance, the settlement of Ilimanaq preserves 18th-century wooden houses and welcomes those who want to sleep in silence facing the ice.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Ilulissat, Ilimanaq.

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Where Ilulissat and the Icefjord is

Dados cartográficos: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0); contorno terrestre: Natural Earth (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Ilulissat and the Icefjord

✈ Ilulissat Mittarfia (JAV) · 3 km to Ilulissat

Domestic flights connect Ilulissat to Nuuk and other towns, and there are direct flights from Copenhagen. In summer, regional boats link Ilulissat with towns around Disko Bay. There are no roads to other towns.

Suggested arrival point: Ilulissat

Avannaata · Ilulissat and the Icefjord Capital Suggested arrival point

Ilulissat

The third-largest town in Greenland, on Disko Bay beside the Icefjord. The name means “icebergs” in Greenlandic. It has colorful houses scattered across the rocks, thousands of sled dogs, a museum in the house where Knud Rasmussen was born, and trails that lead to viewpoints over the ice, plus boat trips out to the Eqi glacier.

Avannaata · Ilulissat and the Icefjord

Ilimanaq

A settlement of only a few dozen residents just south of the Icefjord entrance, founded in 1741 under the name Claushavn. It has two restored 18th-century wooden houses, a 1908 church and viewpoints over the icebergs that flow from the fjord. It is reached only by boat, and those who stay there sleep with the bay in silence, away from Ilulissat’s bustle.

The local experience

Things to do in Ilulissat and the Icefjord

Ilimanaq · Avannaata · Historical heritage

Colonial Houses of Ilimanaq

Two wooden 18th-century buildings, among the oldest in Greenland, restored in the settlement of Ilimanaq: the missionary Poul Egede’s house, from 1751, and the colonial warehouse, from 1778.

Ilulissat · Avannaata · Archaeological site

Sermermiut

A valley beside the Icefjord where Inuit settlements existed for about 4,000 years. A wooden boardwalk crosses the valley to a viewpoint over the ice.

Ilulissat · Avannaata · Visitor center

Ilulissat Icefjord Centre

Visitor centre at the town’s southern exit, with an exhibition about the ice, the glacier and life beside the fjord. It is the starting point for the trails to the viewpoints.

Ilulissat · Avannaata · Museum

Ilulissat Museum

A red house from 1848 where polar explorer Knud Rasmussen was born, now the town museum. It tells his life, Arctic expeditions and the history of Ilulissat and Sermermiut.

See 1 more place in Ilulissat and the Icefjord

Ilulissat · Avannaata · Fiord

Ilulissat Icefjord

A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004, the fjord connects the ice sheet to Disko Bay and receives the ice from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier. It fills with icebergs in all seasons and can be seen from viewpoints, by boat or from the air.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

June, July and August are the months of boats, trails and nights without darkness; the whale season in the bay generally runs from July to September. The end of winter brings firm snow for sleds, and the long winter nights bring the chance of auroras.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three days are enough for the trails, the museum and a boat trip around the bay. With four or five days, there’s time for Eqi and Ilimanaq, leaving margin for delays due to weather.

Which city to stay in

In Ilulissat, the center, near the port and the museum, leaves almost everything within walking distance. The southern part, toward the Icefjord Centre, is closer to the trails and has views of the bay. For an overnight away from town, Ilimanaq, on the other side of the fjord entrance, offers silence and views of the icebergs.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Ilulissat and the Icefjord

What is the best time to go to Ilulissat?

It depends on what you want. From June to August there are long days, boats and trails without snow; from February to April, sleds and snow with increasing daylight; from September to March, chances of auroras when the sky is clear.

Do you need a car to get around Ilulissat?

No. The town is explored on foot, and excursions to the ice, to the Eqi glacier and to Ilimanaq are by boat or on foot with local operators.

Can you see Ilulissat in one day?

Only the essentials: the boardwalk to the viewpoint and the center. The ideal is three days, because weather can delay flights and boats.

How long is the flight between Nuuk and Ilulissat?

About an hour and a half on direct flights. Confirm schedules before booking.

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Ilulissat and the Icefjord

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip