Ilulissat Kangerlua Greenland

Ilulissat: The Icefjord and What Surrounds It

Ilulissat is the third-largest town in Greenland, about 4,600 people, sitting at 69°N on the west coast. The name means “icebergs” in Greenlandic. That tells you what you’re there for.

The Ilulissat Icefjord (Ilulissat Kangerlua in Greenlandic) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the mouth of Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the fastest and most productive glaciers in the world outside Antarctica. The glacier produces around 20–40 billion tonnes of ice per year. The icebergs that calve from it are enormous — some tower 80–100 metres above the waterline, which means three to four times as much ice again below the surface — and they jam up in the fjord before eventually floating south into Baffin Bay. From the viewing path above the fjord, you look down on a landscape of broken white ice filling a fjord approximately 40km long and 6km wide.

Getting There

There’s no road connection to anywhere in Greenland. You fly to Ilulissat via Air Greenland, connecting from Copenhagen (the main hub, 4.5 hours) or from Kangerlussuaq, Nuuk, or a few other Greenlandic airports. Flights from Copenhagen start at around 4,000–6,000 DKK return, though prices vary significantly. Book months ahead in summer.

The town is entirely walkable — it’s compact and the main sights are close together.

The Icefjord

The Sermermiut walking route is the main access path to the fjord viewpoints, starting near the town centre. The walk takes 1–2 hours depending on how far you go and how long you stop. The ice changes constantly and no two visits look the same. Some sections of the path cross wooden boardwalks over the tundra (the permafrost makes ordinary paths impractical).

Boat tours into the fjord run from the harbour, typically 2–3 hours. This gives you scale that’s impossible to appreciate from land — standing in an inflatable Zodiac next to a 70-metre iceberg has a way of clarifying certain things. Several operators run tours; ask at Hotel Arctic or book through the town’s tourism office.

Dog Sledding and Winter Activities

From January to May (when sea ice and snow cover are reliable), dog sledding is possible. Greenland has its own breed of sled dog, still used for hunting and transport in some areas, and the experience of a multi-hour sled trip across sea ice is unlike anything available in most of the world. Prices run from around 1,000 DKK for a short introductory run to significantly more for full-day expeditions.

The midnight sun runs from roughly May 21 to July 24. Around the solstice, twenty-four hours of daylight is disorienting and spectacular.

Food and Accommodation

Restaurant Ulo at Hotel Arctic has the best kitchen in town — local halibut, Greenlandic lamb, and seafood from the surrounding waters, with views over the harbour. Prices are high by most standards (main courses around 250–350 DKK), which is standard for Arctic Greenland where everything is imported except the fish and game.

Hotel Arctic is the premium option; World of Greenland and a few smaller guesthouses provide more affordable rooms. All accommodation is limited relative to summer demand — book months ahead for July and August.