Ilulissat is Greenland’s most famous destination: a town of 5,150 people (1 January 2026) on the shore of Disko Bay, about 300 km (190 miles) north of the Arctic Circle, whose name simply means “icebergs.” Just south of town, the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004, is packed with enormous icebergs calved by Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the fastest glaciers in the world, before they drift out into the bay. You can walk to the fjord on a boardwalk from the striking Icefjord Centre, hike marked trails past the ancient settlement site of Sermermiut, sail among the icebergs under the midnight sun, or fly over the glacier. In winter, Ilulissat is a sled-dog town, with dog sledding and northern lights. From 29 October 2026, its new airport brings direct flights from Copenhagen. Come from June to September for hiking, boat trips and 24-hour daylight, or from February to April for snow and sledding, and allow at least three or four days.
Right now in Ilulissat
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Top tours in Ilulissat
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Ilulissat at a glance
- Best for: icebergs and the UNESCO Icefjord, easy and moderate hiking, boat trips and scenic flights, the midnight sun, dog sledding and northern lights.
- How long: three to five days, with a buffer for weather.
- Best time: June to September for hiking, boat trips and the midnight sun (21 May–24 July); February to April for dog sledding and snow; September to March for northern lights.
- Getting there: domestic flights from Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq, flights from Keflavík, and from 29 October 2026 direct flights from Copenhagen; in summer, the coastal ship from the south.
- Site fee: from 1 June to 31 October, visitors not living in Greenland pay a €10 fee to walk the trails between town and the Icefjord (under-18s free).
- Before you go: entry rules, money, flights and the climate are in our Greenland travel guide.
Ilulissat’s areas and who each one suits
- The town center and harbor: shops, cafés, the museum and the busy fishing harbor, where boat trips leave. Best if you want to walk everywhere.
- The hill above town: hotels with views of Disko Bay and its icebergs, a short, steep walk from the center.
- Toward the Icefjord (south side): the road toward the Icefjord Centre and the trails; closest to the hiking, a longer walk from restaurants.
Top things to see in Ilulissat
The Ilulissat Icefjord
The Icefjord, Kangia in Greenlandic, runs about 55 km (34 miles) from the ice sheet to Disko Bay and is about 6 km (4 miles) wide. At its head, Sermeq Kujalleq, also known as the Jakobshavn Glacier, moves about 40 m (130 ft) a day and produces about 10% of all Greenland’s icebergs, according to Visit Greenland. The fjord was protected by Greenland’s government in 2003 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. Large icebergs run aground on a shallow bank at its mouth, so the view from the shore is a field of towering ice that changes every day. To protect the area, ships over 1,000 GRT and snowmobiles are not allowed in the World Heritage area.
Ilulissat Icefjord Centre
Opened in July 2021 at the edge of the World Heritage area, the Icefjord Centre (Kangiata Illorsua) is a visitor center with a long, gently curving wooden roof you can walk on, an exhibition about ice, climate and the people of the fjord, a cinema and a café. In 2026 it opens daily 10:00–17:00 from 16 June to 15 September and 10:00–16:00 from 16 to 30 September; from 1 October to 30 November it opens Wednesday to Friday 11:00–15:00 and at weekends 10:00–16:00, and it is closed in December except for a few special days. There is an entry charge; check current prices on the center’s site.
Sermermiut
Beside the fjord, the grassy valley of Sermermiut sheltered generations of Arctic peoples over thousands of years, and the remains of their houses can still be seen. The site and its graves are protected by law, so stay on the paths. The Icefjord Office counted 36,000 people walking toward Sermermiut in 2025.
Ilulissat Museum
The town museum is in the birthplace of the polar explorer Knud Rasmussen, born in Ilulissat in 1879, and tells the story of his expeditions across Arctic Greenland and Canada, alongside local history and Greenlandic culture.
Zion’s Church and the harbor
The 18th-century wooden Zion’s Church stands near the shore with icebergs behind it, one of Greenland’s most photographed views. Down at the harbor, fishing boats unload halibut and shrimp, and tour boats leave for the Icefjord.
Hiking the Icefjord trails
Four marked routes lead from town to the Icefjord. According to the Icefjord Centre:
- World Heritage Trail (boardwalk): 1.3 km (0.8 mile) each way, about half an hour, from the Icefjord Centre to the fjord near Sermermiut. Easy, and accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
- Red Trail: 1 km (0.6 mile) each way, about half an hour, from the Icefjord Centre to Holms Bakke (Holm’s Hill), with few climbs.
- Yellow Trail: 2.7 km (1.7 miles), 1.5–2 hours, from the power plant, with panoramic views of stranded icebergs; moderate.
- Blue Trail: 6.9 km (4.3 miles), 4–5 hours, from the quarry via Sermermiut to the Icefjord Centre; the most demanding, over uneven ground with climbs.
From 1 June to 31 October, visitors who do not live in Greenland pay a site fee of €10 to use the land between town and the Icefjord, including the Red, Yellow and Blue routes; under-18s are free, and the fee is waived in winter. Buy it online from the Icefjord Office and keep the email receipt; it does not include the Icefjord Centre. The terrain is hilly and can be wet, so wear proper boots, and tell someone your plans, as you cannot count on phone coverage. See our hiking guide.
Boat trips, flights and winter adventures
Boat trips sail to the mouth of the Icefjord among the stranded icebergs, and in summer midnight cruises sail in the low, golden light; whales are often seen in Disko Bay, especially in late summer and September. Full-day trips go north to the calving front of the Eqi glacier or to the small settlement of Oqaatsut. Helicopter and plane flights over the Icefjord to Sermeq Kujalleq and the ice sheet run all year. See our boat trips guide.
In winter and spring, dog sledding is one of Ilulissat’s great experiences, from short rides to multi-day trips with local mushers. Keep your distance from the sled dogs tethered around town: they are working animals, not pets. Northern lights tours go out to dark places near town on clear nights from September to March, and the polar night, when the sun does not rise, lasts from 26 November to 13 January.
Food and shopping
Ilulissat’s hotel restaurants and a handful of cafés serve local halibut, shrimp, snow crab, musk ox and reindeer, often with a view of the icebergs. Prices are high, and supermarkets sell alcohol only from Monday to Saturday, 10:00–20:00. Look for local crafts and art in the shops around the center.
Trips from Ilulissat
- Eqi glacier: a full-day boat trip to watch an active glacier calve into the sea.
- Oqaatsut: a small settlement north of town, by boat in summer or by dog sled in winter.
- Disko Island: Qeqertarsuaq, across the bay, for basalt mountains and black beaches.
- Nuuk: fly south to the capital; see our Nuuk guide.
- Iceland: flights to Keflavík for a stopover in Reykjavík.
Getting there and getting around
The new Ilulissat Airport
Greenland Airports opens Ilulissat’s new international airport on 29 October 2026, a few kilometers from town, with a longer runway for jets and a new terminal with separate domestic and international areas, three gates, check-in counters, self-service and bag-drop machines and a café. Air Greenland’s first direct flight from Copenhagen lands that day. After that, the Copenhagen–Ilulissat route runs once a week on Wednesdays, with a second weekly flight on Mondays over Christmas and New Year and from 1 to 27 March 2027; the flight takes about 5 hours, and Ilulissat is three hours behind Copenhagen. Until Air Greenland’s own Airbus A320neo takes over in spring 2027, a chartered Boeing 737-800 flies the route.
Ilulissat also has domestic flights to Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq and onward to Aasiaat, Uummannaq, Upernavik and Qaanaaq, and flights from Keflavík in Iceland with Icelandair and, seasonally, Air Greenland, according to Visit Greenland. There are no public buses to the airport: hotels often run shuttles, and Ilulissat Taxi answers on +299 94 49 44.
Arriving by sea
Arctic Umiaq Line’s coastal ship Sarfaq Ittuk ends its west-coast route from Qaqortoq in Ilulissat, sailing from April to December, and expedition cruises call in summer. Disko Line runs local boats around Disko Bay.
Getting around town
The town is compact and hilly, and most of it is walkable; the Icefjord Centre is at the southern edge of town, and the trails start from there and from the power plant and the quarry. Ilulissat Bussii runs a local bus, and taxis are easy to call.
When to go and how long to stay
According to the Danish Meteorological Institute’s 1991–2020 normals for Ilulissat Airport, July is the warmest month, with a mean daily temperature of 8.3 °C (47 °F) and afternoon highs averaging 11.5 °C (53 °F); February and March are the coldest, with means around −14.5 to −14.8 °C (5–6 °F) and nights averaging below −18 °C (0 °F). The year’s mean is −3.7 °C (25 °F). The Icefjord Office gives the midnight sun as lasting from 21 May to 24 July.
June to August is the busiest time, with hiking, boat trips and endless daylight; September is quieter, with autumn colors, whales and the first dark nights. The three-day Kangia Race is held every June, according to Visit Greenland. From February to April, sunny, cold days are ideal for dog sledding.
Allow three days for the Icefjord, a hike and a boat trip, four or five days to add Eqi or a scenic flight, and keep a spare day in case weather delays boats or flights.
Where to stay in Ilulissat
- Hotels with bay views: the larger hotels on the hills above town look over Disko Bay and its icebergs; best for a special trip.
- The center: guesthouses and apartments near the harbor, shops and restaurants.
- Camping: camping is allowed in many places in Greenland, but not at the protected Sermermiut site.
Rooms are limited and summer sells out early, so book months ahead for June to August.
What a trip to Ilulissat costs
Ilulissat is expensive, and boat trips, flights and dog sledding are the big costs. The boardwalk and trails cost only the €10 summer site fee, plus the Icefjord Centre’s entry charge. Our estimates for one person per day, sharing a double room, as of October 2026:
| Style | Estimated cost per day | What that looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | about DKK 900–1,400 | A hostel, guesthouse or camping, supermarket meals, the trails and the Icefjord Centre |
| Mid-range | about DKK 2,000–3,500 | A hotel, restaurant dinners and an iceberg boat trip |
| High-end | about DKK 5,000+ | A top hotel with bay views, scenic flights and private tours |
Practical tips for Ilulissat
- Buy the site fee online before hiking between 1 June and 31 October, and keep the receipt on your phone.
- Bring a card: the Icefjord Centre does not take cash; Ilulissat has ATMs, but carry a little cash in Danish kroner.
- Stay on the trails: Sermermiut is a protected archaeological site, and the Arctic tundra is fragile.
- Sled dogs: keep a safe distance from adult dogs and never pet them without the musher’s permission.
- Emergencies: dial 112; Greenland Police can be reached at any time on +299 70 14 48, and Ilulissat has a hospital.
What to pack for Ilulissat
Even in summer, pack warm layers, a down or fleece jacket, a windproof and waterproof shell, a hat and gloves for evening boat trips, and waterproof hiking boots with ankle support. Bring sunglasses and sunscreen for the glare off the ice, mosquito repellent or a head net for June to August, and an eye mask for the midnight sun. In winter, you need full Arctic clothing, insulated boots and ice grips. Bring a two-pin European plug adapter if you are coming from North America or the UK.
Ilulissat travel FAQ
Is Ilulissat worth visiting?
Yes. The Ilulissat Icefjord is one of the most spectacular natural sights in the Arctic, and it is reachable on foot from town.
Do you have to pay to hike in Ilulissat?
From 1 June to 31 October, visitors who do not live in Greenland pay a €10 site fee for the area between town and the Icefjord, including the Red, Yellow and Blue routes. Under-18s are free, and there is no fee in winter.
Can you fly directly to Ilulissat from Copenhagen?
Yes, from 29 October 2026, when the new airport opens. Air Greenland then flies once a week on Wednesdays, twice a week at Christmas, New Year and in March 2027.
When is the midnight sun in Ilulissat?
From 21 May to 24 July, according to the Ilulissat Icefjord Office. The polar night lasts from 26 November to 13 January.
How much does the Icefjord Centre cost?
There is an entry charge (check current prices on the center’s site). Opening days and hours vary by season, so check before you go.
Which Ilulissat trail is best?
The boardwalk (1.3 km each way) is easiest and accessible to wheelchairs; the Yellow Trail (2.7 km) gives great iceberg views in a couple of hours; the Blue Trail (6.9 km, 4–5 hours) is the most rewarding for fit hikers.
How many days do you need in Ilulissat?
Three to five days: time for the trails, a boat trip and a scenic flight or glacier trip, plus a spare day for weather.
Plan your trip
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Sources · last reviewed 6 October 2026
Researched and last reviewed on 6 October 2026. The population comes from Statistics Greenland (1 January 2026); climate normals from the Danish Meteorological Institute (1991–2020); the site fee, protection rules, visitor numbers, midnight sun and polar night from the Ilulissat Icefjord Office (Avannaata Municipality); trail lengths and Icefjord Centre hours and prices from the Icefjord Centre; glacier facts, the fjord’s size, the Kangia Race and flights from Visit Greenland; the new airport’s opening, terminal and transport from Greenland Airports; the Copenhagen route from Air Greenland; and the police number from Greenland Police. The airport’s runway length, the church’s age and Knud Rasmussen’s birth year come from general reference and are flagged for checking; daily costs are our estimates. Schedules, prices and rules change, so check the official sites before you travel.
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Sea temperature: NOAA CoastWatch · Rates: ECB · Wikidata (CC0)