From the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre, a wooden boardwalk passes the old settlement of Sermermiut and leads to the Icefjord near Kællingekløften, where the blue hiking trail begins. There are also trails of varying difficulty and museums dedicated to art and Greenlandic cultural history. During your stay in Ilulissat, you can focus on the landscape, outdoor activities or culture.
The Icefjord and trails around the Centre
The Ilulissat Icefjord is a UNESCO-listed natural site associated with Ilulissat. In the wider region, the Icefjord is the mouth of Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the few glaciers through which the Greenland Ice Sheet reaches the sea. This tidal fjord contains drifting brash ice and large ice masses; the glacier calves into the sea here.
At the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre, hiking options vary in length and difficulty. The wooden boardwalk leads from the Centre past Sermermiut to the Icefjord. The yellow and red hiking trails can also be accessed from the Centre’s car park. Together with the blue trail, they allow for longer and more challenging hikes than the boardwalk. From the Centre’s roof, visitors can see the Icefjord Kangia in spring, summer and autumn.
The Centre includes a permanent exhibition, art installations, a shop and a café serving coffee and light meals. The current availability of individual facilities may vary. If you are counting on visiting the shop or café, it is best to check in advance.
Church, town history and art
Ilulissat’s church and museum district is by the fjord, south of the hospital. The extensive valley, dotted with houses, is home to Zion Church and the Ilulissat City Museum. The museum building was originally a parsonage and was 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 and offers views of the large icebergs in Disko Bay; it is one of Greenland’s most photographed buildings. It is generally not open to visitors outside church services. If you are planning to visit the interior, check in advance for current visiting opportunities.
The Ilulissat Art Museum combines art with the history of its building: Helge B. Møller designed it in 1923 as a residence for the colonial administrator of the time; since 1995, it has served as an art museum. Each year, it presents up to six international temporary exhibitions of contemporary art, which enter into a dialogue with the collection. The museum also offers a creative workshop for young people from the region and a library on Greenlandic art. An admission ticket to the Art Museum also entitles you to visit the Ilulissat Cultural History Museum. As ticket policies may change, check the current conditions.
Cultural history at the museum
At the Ilulissat Cultural History Museum, exhibits range from everyday objects to kayak culture. An exhibition on the kayak is based on more than 100 Greenlandic words for the design and use of the kayak and its equipment; the museum also includes a room with traditional toys. The grounds serve as an open-air museum, with traditional Greenlandic modes of transport and a traditional turf house.
For a deeper insight, you can book specialist tours on hunting traditions, fur clothing or life in a turf house. Ask the museum about current availability. The museum shop sells products by local craftspeople made from stone, beads, sealskin and bone; its selection may change.
Getting around Ilulissat
Visitors can get around Ilulissat 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. As service frequencies may change, check current local information before relying on these intervals.
Discover more destinations: Rodebay.
Return to the regional travel overview: Qaasuitsup.
