Things to do in Ilulissat

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Greenland

Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO World Heritage Area

Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO World Heritage Area is located on the west coast of Greenland, approx. 250 km north of the Arctic Circle, and is the outlet where the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier flows into Disko Bay. This glacier pushes the ice sheet toward the sea at a speed of tens of meters per day, and the volume of ice that calves into the sea each year accounts for approx. one-tenth of all Greenland, more than any other glacier outside of Antarctica. Looking from the coast of the adjacent town of Ilulissat, the entire fjord is packed with icebergs of all sizes, and the muffled sound of ice cracking occasionally echoes from deep within the sea. Many newly formed icebergs are hundreds of meters tall, and because their draft is too deep, they often run aground on the shallows at the mouth of the fjord, where they can remain stuck for years until they are crushed and broken by the constant flow of ice from upstream, so the mouth of the fjord often looks like it is blocked by a wall of ice. Once free, the icebergs drift south with the ocean currents and do not gradually melt until they reach the Atlantic waters at the same latitude as New York. The ice layers preserved deep within the ice sheet record climate changes over the past 200,000+ years, and for two and a half centuries, this has been an important base for glaciologists to observe climate change.

Eqip Sermia

(Eqi Glacier) is located on the west coast of Greenland, approx. 80 km north of Ilulissat, and is one of the many active glaciers where the Greenland Ice Sheet extends into the ocean. The glacier front is approx. 4 km wide and approx. 60 to 100 m high, known for frequent large-scale calving—huge blocks of ice regularly break off and fall into the sea, accompanied by deafening roars and splashing waves, creating a spectacular scene. Humpback whales are occasionally spotted in these fjord waters, which, together with the floating blue and white icebergs, form a typical scene of the Greenland polar region. Due to its remote location, traveling here usually requires a boat, making it a representative destination for experiencing the pristine glacier scenery of Greenland.

Ilulissat Museum

Ilulissat Museum is located west of the town center in Ilulissat. It was originally a missionary school built in 1846 and later became a residence for clergy. The famous Greenlandic polar explorer Knud Rasmussen was born here in 1879, and a bust of him stands in front of the building. The museum's permanent exhibitions cover the life and Arctic expeditions of Rasmussen, the history of Ilulissat, and the impact of climate change on glaciers. The outdoor area also displays traditional Greenlandic transportation and reconstructed Thule winter dwellings, showcasing the traditional lifestyle and cultural heritage of the Inuit people.

Sermermiut

Ilulissat Icefjord

World of Greenland

Icefjord Centre

Ilulissat Isfjord

Harbor view point

Ilulissat History Museum