Ilulissat
A town on Disko Bay at the mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord, where icebergs calved from Sermeq Kujalleq drift past the houses, and from this autumn a runway long enough for jets.
- Arrival
- Ilulissat Airport · JAV
- To the town
- About 3 km from the centre
- Private jets
- New 2,200 m runway, opening October 2026
- Best time
- June to August
The city
Where the icebergs come from.
Ilulissat stands beside the UNESCO-listed Icefjord, fed by Sermeq Kujalleq, the glacier also called Jakobshavn. The glacier itself is usually seen only from the air, so most visitors sail north to the calving front of Eqi instead. The explorer Knud Rasmussen was born here, and his house is now part of the town museum.
Come between June and August, when the midnight sun keeps the fjord lit through the night and the days reach about ten degrees. March is the month for dog sledding and nights in an igloo lodge; from late October a new runway and a direct flight to Copenhagen bring the town within one hop of Europe.
- Ilulissat Icefjord Icebergs from Sermeq Kujalleq packed into the fjord on their way out to Disko Bay.
- Sermermiut The valley above the fjord where Inuit lived for thousands of years, with remains shown on guided walks.
- Eqi The glacier front most visitors reach by boat, since Sermeq Kujalleq is hard to approach from town.
Arriving
A new runway on Disko Bay.
The airport lies about three kilometres from the centre. Its old 845-metre runway is being replaced by a new 2,200-metre one just to the north, due to open in October 2026, long enough for jets.
- Dublin 4 h 00
- Montreal 4 h 05
- Paris 5 h 00
- Athens 7 h 25 long-range jet
- Shanghai 11 h 40 long-range jet
When to go
June to August.
High-Arctic and dry, with little precipitation in any month. From June to August the sun barely sets and afternoons reach 8 to 11 °C. Winter is long and dark, with highs around -10 °C and no daylight in December.
- -10° J 12 -2°
- -10° F 13 -2°
- -12° M 12 -2°
- -5° A 13 -2°
- 3° M 16 -1°
- 8° J 22 1°
- 11° J 29 2°
- 10° A 26 3°
- 5° S 35 3°
- -1° O 26 1°
- -5° N 23 0°
- -8° D 17 -1°
Where to stay
Above the bay.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Where to dine
Two kitchens on Disko Bay.
No MICHELIN guide covers Greenland; tables chosen by National Geographic Traveller.
- Restaurant Ulo National Geographic Traveller Greenlandic tasting menu Hotel Arctic
- Restaurant Hotel Icefiord National Geographic Traveller Greenlandic, New Nordic Hotel Icefiord, above Disko Bay
Flying to Ilulissat?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.