ILULISSAT

Greenland is the largest island in the world. More than 85 percent of its territory is permanently covered by ice, which is roughly 1.8 million square kilometres (for reference, the Czech Republic is less than 80,000 square kilometres). The ice reaches 3,000 metres in places, making it the second largest glacier in the world after the Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Greenland has a total of 56 villages with populations ranging from 2 to 439 and a total of 17 towns with populations ranging from 533 to 17 798. The largest city is the capital Nuuk. One of the three largest cities in Greenland is Ilulissat. It has a permanent population of 4 603 and is called Jakobshavn in Danish, which translates as Jakob's Harbour. It is named after Jakub Severin, a descendant of Czech emigrants who founded the town on a former Inuit village in 1741. The town is located in the west of Greenland, 300 km above the Arctic Circle.

More than 85 percent of Greenland is permanently covered by ice

Ilulissat is a very popular tourist destination. More than 20,000 tourists come here every year. By far the biggest attraction is the Ilulissat Glacier Fjord, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. Whale watching and dog sledding are also popular.

Thanks to the number of tourists that visit each year, a variety of hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes can be found in Ilulissat. In some of them you can taste typical Greenlandic specialties such as black halibut or reindeer, or several types of whale meat.

HOW DO I GET TO GREENLAND AND HOW DO I GET TO ILULISSAT?

There aren't many ways to get to Greenland, so getting to Ilulissat isn't easy either. There is only air travel with departures from Denmark and Iceland, or a cruise ship that usually includes multiple destinations. There is no regular interstate ferry.

By air

Air Greenland flies from Copenhagen Airport to Narsarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq. If you want to visit the capital city of Nuuk, you have no choice but to change to the next Air Greenland flight in one of these cities. A one-way ticket starts at DKK 2,500 (EUR 350), or DKK 3,900 (EUR 546) for a connecting flight to Nuuk. For tickets and more information on departures, visit the website https://www.airgreenland.com/. The airline is deploying a new Airbus A330neo with a total capacity of 305 seats in two classes (Economy and Premium) on the Narsarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq routes.

From Iceland, flights are operated to Narsarsuaq, Ilulissat, Kulusuk and Nuuk. The service is operated by Icelandair. One-way tickets start at ISK 82 000 (EUR 550). The easiest way to buy tickets is on the official website https://www.icelandair.com/. De Havilland Canada DHC-8-200 aircraft with a capacity of 37 seats and De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 aircraft with a capacity of 76 seats are deployed.

Cruise ship

Cruises are offered by a number of cruise companies (Hurtigruten, Royal Caribbean Cruises, MSC Cruises, etc.) with departures from various European and North American cities such as Copenhagen (Denmark), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Reykjavik, Akureyri (Iceland), Boston (USA), Halifax (Canada) and others. You can make reservations on the websites of the companies. Prices start at EUR 1 199.

Hurtigruten https://www.hurtigruten.com/en-us/expeditions/destinations/greenland-cruises/

Royal Caribbean Cruises https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-to/nuuk-greenland?&country=USA

MSC Cruises https://www.msccruises.com/int/our-cruises/destinations/northern-europe/greenland

It is also possible to use the price comparison tool of the companies that provide cruises to Greenland.

Seascanner https://www.seascanner.com/greenland-cruises?sortierung=6A,0A

TRANSPORT WITHIN THE ILULISSAT

Ilulissat is not a big city. It has less than 5000 inhabitants, so you can easily manage all the trips on your own. If you still want to take a break for a while, you can take a taxi, which, surprisingly, there are plenty of around town. Practically every fifth car is also a taxi. They are more likely to be used by locals than tourists, especially for journeys to work, home and shopping.

In most cases, your hotel will arrange your journey from the airport. Transportation for Ilulissat's most famous hotels is provided by a shared minibus that stops at the hotels. If you are staying at a private accommodation, you will need to contact them to arrange transport. You can also walk, it will take you 35 minutes to reach the nearest hotel and 1 hour to reach the centre.

ACCOMMODATION

As already mentioned, Ilulissat is Greenland's most visited destination, meaning that you will find a wide range of accommodation here. The largest part is taken up by hotels, which have the largest capacity. Prices range from 1 200 to 4 000 euros for 6 nights for 2 people.

The most famous hotels are:

Best Western Plus Hotel https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotels-in-ilulissat/best-western-plus-hotel-ilulissat/propertyCode.96100.html

Hotel Hvide Falk https://hotelhvidefalk.gl/

Hotel SØMA https://hotelsoma.gl/ilulissat/

Hotel Arctic https://hotelarctic.com/en/

ACTIVITIES - WHAT TO DO IN ILULISSAT?

Boat trip around a glacial fjord

During this trip around the glacial fjord, you will explore the giant ice floes that are typical of Ilulissat.

The huge icebergs are impressive, no matter which way you experience them. Some of their peaks rise more than 100 metres above the surface. Even so, that's only 10% of their total size. Viewed from a ship's perspective, you get a real sense of their massiveness. The cruise takes 2.5 hours and prices start at DKK 500 (EUR 70).

Kayaking

Kayaking is an experience in itself, especially in a destination like Greenland. Kayaking in close proximity to giant ice floes is something that should not be missed when visiting Ilulissat. The price is around DKK 1,300 (EUR 182) for a 3-hour cruise including an experienced guide. For this activity, more than for others, it depends on the current weather conditions, which are crucial for a safe cruise.

Whale watching

In summer, Disko Bay is a whale watching mecca. Humpback and minke whales visit its nutrient-rich waters while feasting on small fish. While whales are found throughout the Disko Bay area, Ilulissat is the most ideal spot for whale watching. With the backdrop of a glacial fjord and ice bushes, this trip is one of the most exciting activities you can do here.

The boat crew is in constant contact with local fishermen, so they have a great overview of where the whales are currently. So there is almost a 100% chance that you will see whales. If you're lucky, you might even see a humpback whale jumping! The cruise takes about 3 hours and prices start at DKK 1,200 (EUR 168).

Dog sledding

The ride is only possible in winter, as there is not enough snow in the summer season to make the ride possible. However, it is possible to visit the place where there are whole packs of dogs. The Greenland dog is considered the best friend of the local Inuit. It is a species that is independent, modest and content with little. It is mainly used as a draft dog or for hunting polar bears and seals.

Where to book excursions?

All can be ordered on the spot. There are several agencies all over Ilulissat that provide practically the same thing. So it's up to you which one you choose. From my own experience I can recommend Albatros Arctic Circle, which you can find right next to the Hvide Falk hotel. Link to the website here https://albatros-arctic-circle.com/excursions/ilulissat

TREKKING TO THE ILULISSAT GLACIAL FJORD

The breathtaking Ilulissat Glacier Fjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004, is 40 km long and 7 km wide. At its end is a glacier that is the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere. Ice floes from this glacier reach the Atlantic Ocean as far as the 45th parallel to the level of New York. The chunk of ice that the Titanic collided with in 1912 most likely came from this glacier.

There are only three official hiking trails in Ilulissat. They all start at the Isfjord Centre and lead to the Ilulissat Glacier Fjord. They vary in length, but none of them are strenuous.

The chunk of ice that the Titanic collided with in 1912 most likely came from the Ilulissat Glacier.

The construction of the centre began in 2019 and the opening took place two years later. The permanent exhibit that is part of the visitor centre covers the history of the Ilulissat Glacier Fjord, climate change and Inuit life. Admission is DKK 150 (EUR 21). For more information, visit the website https://isfjordscentret.gl/en/ilulissat-icefjord-centre/.

YELLOW TRAIL

The yellow hiking trail starts, like all the others, at the Isfjord Centre and then goes past the local cemetery and ends at the hydroelectric power station in the southwest of Ilulissat. The route is less than 3 km long and can be completed in 1 hour. This is the shortest trek you can do here.

BLUE-RED TRAIL

This is a circular route that combines the blue and red routes. It leads directly to the glacial fjord, where there is a small viewpoint with seating. The route is less than 4 km long and takes about an hour.

BLUE TRAIL

The Blue Trail is the longest official hiking trail in Ilulissat. It is about 7 km long and you should allow 3 hours to complete it. The route runs along the glacial fjord and offers the best views. The route ends in the southeast of the town.

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