Ilulissat: Ice Fjord, Trails and Culture

Ilulissat brings together the awe-inspiring sights of a vast ice fjord, hiking trails and a remarkable array of museums. You can tailor your trip to your own interests, whether you’re looking for nature experiences, art or insights into Greenlandic history.

Ice Fjord and Trails Through the Landscape

The Ilulissat Icefjord is a UNESCO-listed natural site associated with Ilulissat. It is a tidal fjord with drifting brash ice and large ice masses. Here, Sermeq Kujalleq calves into the sea. The fjord is the outlet of this glacier; Sermeq Kujalleq is one of the few glaciers through which the Greenland Ice Sheet reaches the sea.

A wooden boardwalk from the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre passes the old settlement of Sermermiut and ends at the ice fjord near Kællingekløften, where the blue hiking trail begins. The yellow and red hiking trails are also accessible from the Centre’s car park. Together with the blue trail, they offer longer and more challenging hikes than the boardwalk. The difference between the boardwalk and the longer trails gives you a practical point of reference for planning your day.

In spring, summer and autumn, you can see the Kangia Icefjord from the roof of the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre. In addition to its permanent exhibition, the Centre has art installations, a shop and a café serving coffee and light refreshments. The availability of individual facilities may vary.

Churches, Museums and Greenlandic Culture

Ilulissat’s church and museum district is located by the fjord, south of the hospital. The extensive valley, characterised by its houses, is home to Zion Church and the Ilulissat City Museum. The museum was originally the rectory and the childhood home of Knud Rasmussen. Zion Church, the Ilulissat Museum and the chapel are listed as cultural heritage under Greenlandic Parliament Act No. 11 of 19 May 2010.

Zion Church stands by the water, overlooking the large icebergs in Disko Bay, and is described as one of Greenland’s most photographed buildings. It is generally closed except for services. Check current visiting arrangements before planning to go inside.

At the Ilulissat Art Museum, international temporary exhibitions of contemporary art engage in a dialogue with the collection; up to six exhibitions are planned each year. Helge B. Møller designed the building in 1923 as the residence of the colonial administrator at the time. It has served as an art museum since 1995. The museum also offers a creative workshop for young people from the region and a library dedicated to Greenlandic art.

The Ilulissat Cultural History Museum offers further ways to explore cultural history. An exhibition on kayaks is based on more than 100 Greenlandic words relating to the design and use of kayaks and their equipment; there is also a room featuring traditional toys. In the museum grounds, an open-air museum displays traditional Greenlandic means of transport and a traditional turf house. Specialised guided tours on hunting traditions, clothing made from skins or life in a turf house can be booked; ask the museum about current availability. The kayak exhibition and toy room are exhibition offerings, so you should confirm that they are currently on display before visiting.

The Cultural History Museum shop sells products by local artisans made from stone, beads, sealskin and bone; the selection may change. An admission ticket to the Ilulissat Art Museum also grants entry to the Ilulissat Cultural History Museum. Check the current ticket conditions before your visit.

Planning Your Stay and Accommodation

When choosing a holiday apartment, it may help to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: are trails and the ice fjord your priority, are you particularly interested in art, or would you like to set aside more time for cultural history? This lets you consider the different offerings as options for your days away, without limiting yourself to just one side of Ilulissat.

In Ilulissat, you can get around by bicycle or car, taxi or bus. During peak traffic hours, the bus passes each stop approximately every 20 minutes; at other times, it runs about every 30 to 40 minutes. These intervals are approximate; check current local information before planning your journeys around them.

Discover more destinations: Rodebay.

Return to the main travel overview: Qaasuitsup.