On the shores of west Greenland’s Disko Bay, overlooking the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord (Ilulissat Kangerlua), Ilulissat offers a front-row seat to one of the world’s most awe-inspiring sights: colossal icebergs, calved from Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the world’s fastest and most-active glaciers, drifting through icy waters. Whether you want to get up close to the towering icebergs on a boat tour through the fjord or explore the frozen tundra on a dog sledding adventure, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Ilulissat.
The best time to visit Ilulissat depends on the activities you want to do there. The summer months are ideal for whale watching, cruising past icebergs on a boat tour, and paddling the icy water on a kayaking excursion. Winter offers dog sledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling adventures, and the best chances of seeing the northern lights (which are most visible between October and April).
Ilulissat is a compact city. While it has a few steep hills, most visitors can easily navigate Ilulissat on foot. If you’re in a hurry or walking is not an option, you can jump in a taxi to get around town. However, since there are a limited number of taxis in Ilulissat, booking in advance is a good idea. Water taxis can get you to some of the islands around Disko Bay.
Visitors to Ilulissat should make the Ilulissat Icefjord Center (Kangiata Illorsua) their first stop. This spectacularly designed building is home to an exhibition that blends science and art to immerse visitors in the cultural and environmental past, present, and future of the Icefjord. Outside, a wooden boardwalk leads walkers to an excellent close-up view of the Icefjord.
