WHAT TO DO IN ILULISSAT?
Welcome to World of Greenland's universe. On this site you will find our take on the best experiences in Ilulissat. All lodges listes are owned by us and the tours listes are either operated by ourselves or other hand-picked local operators. We take responsibility for your trip from start to finish, and look forward to welcoming you in Ilulissat.
Welcome to Ilulissat
Ilulissat, formerly known as Jakobshavn, was established in 1741 and today serves as the main town of Avannaata Kommunia, the northern municipality in Greenland. The entire municipality houses around 10,650 inhabitants, of which Ilulissat alone has approximately 4,500 inhabitants and 1,500 sled dogs.
Located about 300 km north of the Arctic Circle, Ilulissat has midnight sun from approximately May 20th to July 20th. The winter darkness encloses the town from the end of November and lasts until January 13th. During this period, the sky presents itself in beautiful pastel colours, while some of the world's finest northern lights dance over the horizon.
Ilulissat is a pearl in Greenland, enriched with unique experiences such as the midnight sun, the Inland Ice Sheet, majestic icebergs and dramatic ice formations. Here you can also admire whales, seals, sled dogs, permafrost and the northern lights – a world so far from everyday life that it becomes an adventure.
Greenland is large and rich in beautiful places, but nowhere manages to deliver such a complete experience as Ilulissat by the Icefjord. With options for helicopter tours, boat adventures, dog sledding and hiking, we offer a palette of activities in an area so unique that it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007.
For the most unforgettable experiences, we move outside of Ilulissat and have created three unique lodges that should be at the top of every visitor's "bucket-list" in Greenland. Dive into the Greenlandic culture and history, which is embedded in the city and its surroundings.
The backcountry is incredibly beautiful, and during the winter when the rocks are covered with a blanket of glittering snow, it is possible to go dogsledding, snowmobiling, skiing and snowshoe hiking.
Welcome to Ilulissat – the land of adventurous souls.
Top 10 experiences in Ilulissat
1
Walk to Sermermiut and visit the Icefjord Center.
2
Stay at Glacier Lodge Eqi
3
Go on an Iceberg Sightseeing
4
Visit Igloo Lodge
5
Fly helicopter to the Icesheet
6
Stay at Ilimanaq Lodge
7
Go dog sledding
8
Hike the "Yellow Trail"
9
Go whale watching
10
Hunt for northern lights
Weather in Ilulissat
The weather in Greenland is very contrasting. From the midnight sun of summer to the complete darkness of winter.
Winters in Ilulissat are extremely cold, with temperatures that can dip below -20 degrees Celsius. The winter period is a good time to see the northern lights.
From March, the sun really begins to take hold, and the light intensifies. Spring is generally characterized by long days and lots of snow. The temperatures here are milder – around -10 degrees. On the other hand, the light means that spring is not the best time to visit if your highlight is to experience the northern lights.
The summer in Greenland runs from June to September. Here the climate is temperate with temperatures around 5 to10 degrees Celsius. In the summer there is no snow, but instead lots of ice in the bay, and good opportunities for sailing and hiking.
Autumn from October-November is characterized by long sunsets, dark evenings and lots of northern lights. There is not much snow at that time, but temperatures are often -5 to -10 degrees.
In Greenland, the weather decides, and you decorate accordingly. The weather is full of contracts and can change from one hour to the next.
Hotels in Ilulissat
Hotel Arctic
Hotel Ilulissat
How to get to Ilulissat
1
Air Greenland flies from Denmark to Kangerlussuaq. From Kangerlussuaq, you are diverted in smaller propeller planes to the final destination - eg Ilulissat. The flight time from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq is approx. 4.5 hours, and from Kangerlussuaq to Ilulissat it takes approx. 45 minutes. When you arrive at the airport, you can hail a taxi into the town - it's only 4 km.
2
Air Greenland and Icelandair flies from Keflavik in Iceland direct to Ilulissat during some periods of the year. The flight time is approx. 3.5 hours.
