GUIDE TO ILULISSAT Inside tips from Greenland Travel

Download free guide to Ilulissat with our tips to what to see and do. Download at greenland-travel.com/ilulissat

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Welcome to Greenland Travel

With more than 25 years’ experience and a professional staff, About this guide Greenland Travel holds a solid position as the largest tour There are numerous travel books on Greenland and Ilulissat that we operator and travel agency in the world specializing in tours can recommend. This guide is our in Greenland. very short complimentary guide to Ilulissat with a few tips on things We are dedicated to Greenland with our hearts and experi- to do and see, which you should ence. Some of us were born in Greenland, some of us have not miss out on while in Ilulissat. lived in Greenland for shorter or longer periods and others Some of them are free or cost very little. have been tour guides in Greenland for several years. Please note: From day one in 1985 we have dedicated ourselves to giving The word “Immaqa” means our customers the very best of Greenland and this dedication “maybe” and when you travel in has been and is our most valid promise to our customers. Greenland you should always bear a little “immaqa” in mind. Things change, the arctic weather You have come across our guide to Ilulissat – inside tips from changeable and you can never Greenland Travel. Use it while you’re in Greenland or be plan every minute in detail when inspired for your next tour to Ilulissat. in Greenland. We try to keep this guide as updated as possible but Best wishes things might change in Green- land – use our guide with a little Greenland Travel staff “immaqa” in mind. April 2013 Do we need to update? Please write us at marketing@ greenland-travel.dk if you have comments and updates to this guide welcome to ilulissat | 3

Welcome to Ilulissat

The town of Ilulissat has a ple live in the town Ilulissat, very impressive neighbour. and 500 people live in the four The world famous UNESCO remaining small settlements. site Ilulissat Icefiord with its Did we mention the sled huge icebergs can be seen dogs? There is a sled dog for from almost all over town. every person living in Ilulissat – that might not be entirely The Northern Hemisphere’s true, however there are many most productive glacier, Ser- sled dogs in the area. In sum- meq Kujalleq produces about mer they long for winter and 20 million tons of ice each in winter they long to go dog day, all floating into the Ilulis- sledding. sat Ice Fjord and the Disko Bay. If you ever get the chance ILULISSAT to visit Ilulissat you will be 69°13’N / 51°06’W Ilulissat is the third largest welcomed by a warm popula- town municipality in Green- tion where old traditions and land with more than 5000 modern society go hand in inhabitants. About 4500 peo- hand. 4 | welcome to ilulissat

Easy hiking on your own beautiful. Do the tour as an and extra clothing for a day Hiking in Greenland is mostly evening hike or during the day in the “mountains”. The route done on rugged unmarked time – bring some lunch, your is relatively easy but the last tracks however in Ilulissat camera and perhaps a book piece of the tour takes you there are a few very well and enjoy the view over the along a very stony track. We marked routes that take you Ice Fjord. recommend this tour for those along the Ice Fjord. of you who are used to rugged We recommend two tours, The route to the edge has a terrain and finding your way a shorter and a longer one walkway. When you get to the along marked paths. – both can be done as guided edge of the Ice Fjord you can tours where you also get walk up a little hill and get Download hiking map at insights from the guide. We an even more breath-taking greenland-travel.com/ do recommend these guided view. However to add this ilulissat tours, especially if your stay in last piece to your tour you Ilulissat is short. need good level of fitness and ­balance. It is not at all An easy hike to the old extreme but very rugged. settlement at the Ice Fjord This hike is relative easy and The long hike takes about 30-45 minutes along the Ice Fjord from the centre of town. It This is a day tour for those takes you to a very nice spot who are in normal good physi- at the edge of the Ice Fjord cal condition. You walk to the where a former settlement old settlement at the Ice Fjord was situated. You will need “Sermermiut” and the tour a guide to show you exactly continues along the marked where it is, but the place is route. You need to bring food 5 | cultural experiences

Ilulissat Museum not open on week days. You Cultural experiences Absolutely worth a visit! The might be able to ask kindly at Danish expedition leader and the museum, but we can- on your own polar researcher Knud Ras- not guarantee that this is an mussen was born in Ilulissat option. The church has to be Before you continue your reading let us just draw your atten- in 1879. Today his birthplace kept closed due to vandalism. tion to the “Cultural and Historical City Walk” guided tour. and childhood home is the This is a short introduction to the town and its history, and local museum. Opening hours Ilulissat Art Museum all the things you might miss out on when strolling along are daily from 10 am - 5 am, Another nice place to visit is and closed at week-ends dur- the local art museum with in town on your own. The tour also takes you by a lot of the ing low seasons. It costs 35 its major exhibition of paint- places we recommend, but not inside, so you will become DKK per person (approx. 4.6 ings by Danish artist Emanuel familiar with the town. euro). Children up to 15 years A. Petersen. In the summer go free. The museum is not period they often exhibit larger than you can cover it upcoming Greenlandic artists. within an hour. The building itself is lovely and has a great atmosphere – The Zion church you can almost sense life as it – church fair took place hundreds of years This church is situated right ago. next to the museum. On Sun- days you can join the church Open daily except Fridays and fair and if you are lucky you Sundays from 1pm - 4pm. might experience a baptism, www.ilukunstmus.gl confirmation or wedding. The church is to our knowledge cultural experiences | 6

The harbour meat and fish is sold in large All items can be purchased. Spend a little time at the portions and mainly bought by The Sewing Workshop is also harbour. Sit down and relax the locals. The market is situ- situated in the centre of town and get the feel of the active ated in the centre of Ilulissat. very close to the Handicraft life of the fishermen coming Open weekdays, 9am - 5pm, Workshop. in with fresh fish. Sitting down weekends 9am - 1pm. is mostly recommended in the summer time where the Handicraft Workshop temperature invites you to do Local artists produce beautiful such activities. Very close to handicraft for sale. You simply the harbour, actually on the drop-in at the workshop and way down, there is a little it is open weekdays when convenience store “Brugsen- the artists are working. The eraq” – on the right hand workshop is located in the you can buy food and freshly very centre close to the World baked bread and coffee – on of Greenland office. Simply the left you can buy all kinds go past the bank “Grønlands- of equipment for hunting and banken” and the workshop is fishing, including rifles. on your left side on the way to the harbour. Just ask people The local fish and meat on your way. There is a sign market outside the workshop. This is the place to go if you want real fresh meat or fish. Sewing workshop The local hunters and fishers This workshop produces bring their catch to this mar- very nice things in sealskin ket. It is a small place and the and other local materials. eating out | 7

Eating out in Ilulissat

This is our favourite part of our tips on Ilulissat. The town Greenlandic buffet ning view as the restaurant. offers various restaurants and cafés where you can enjoy During your stay in Ilulissat fabulous food – often with a spectacular view. Greenlandic you must treat yourself to a Everybody is welcome at Greenlandic buffet. All larger Hotel Arctic so do not hesi- restaurants have entered the international cooking arena in restaurants offer Greenlandic tate to pay the hotel a visit. recent years. The combination of local fish and meat and buffet once a week. Book The view is magnificent and international cooking make the experience of dining out in your table in advance, espe- the atmosphere is warm and Greenland a very enjoyable one. cially during the high summer welcoming. season. Some of the best chefs and restaurants in Greenland are A Greenlandic Buffet is served A Greenlandic buffet consists Mondays and Barbecues on situated in Ilulissat. of all kinds of Greenlandic Saturdays. In summertime specialities and is absolutely they often barbeque outside sumptuous. on the terasse. Hotel Arctic is situated on a hill just outside Hotel Arctic town. You can see the hotel, Chef Jeppe Ejvind Nielsen at a red building, and you can Hotel Arctic has won several either walk (20 minutes) or go gastronomic awards and is a by the shuttle bus from the guarantor for the high, culi- centre of Ilulissat. nary standard at Restaurant Visit hotel-arctic.gl Ulo in Hotel Arctic. Besides the restaurant Hotel Arctic Hotel Icefiord also has Brasserie Ferdinand Restaurant Icefiord in Hotel which is more informal, and Icefiord offers a Greenlandic offers simpler meals, but very buffet on Thursdays. The res- nice and with the same stun- taurant has enormous pano- 8 | eating out

ramic windows with a great by the couple Benedikte view to the Ice Fjord. The res- Aniella Christensen and Kim taurant is open all week with Sander Pedersen. Kim won an evening and lunch menu. silver in the Greenlandic Chef You can also get Thai take- Championship in 2007. The aways from the restaurant. restaurant offers meals at a Visit hotelicefiord.gl very high quality and many specialities. Hotel Hvide Falk Also situated in the centre All dishes are served using Hong Kong Grill of Ilulissat with a great view. local meat and fish. Even the During summer time you can The restaurant offers Green- spices are from their own garden. Restaurant Mamartut enjoy a simple meal from their landic buffet on Thursdays. terrace with a view to the Ice also offers a great Greenlandic Fjord and Ilulissat Museum and buffet. Book a table well in Restaurant Mamartut the Zion church. The food is This cosy little restaurant is advance. We currently do not simple and includes a grill with located on the way to the Ice know the exact weekday for Thai-inspired dishes. We recom- Fjord and you can drop in on the buffet. mend the whale in curry. Alcohol your way to or from the Ice Visit Mamartut.dk is not served. Fjord. The restaurant is owned (only in Danish) Other cafés At the heart of Ilulissat you will find some delightful cafés with tradional café dishes such as fish dishes, but also burgers and French fries. Drop in for a cup of coffee – in summertime you can enjoy food and drinks outside. 9 | excursions

Excursions

Ilulissat and the area offers a great variety of excur- sions, from sailing and whale tours to the Ice Fjord, tours to settlements and the full day excursion to the active glacier Eqip Sermia where you also find Glacier Lodge Eqi.

You will find much more information on these excur- sions either at

worldofgreenland.gl

greenland-travel.com

(under each tour we recommend an excursion package) maps and books | 10

Maps and books

Maps of Greenland can be bought locally in most places in Greenland. A great place on the internet is amazon.com

General travel literature about Greenland Greenland and the Arctic (Lonely Planet) Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland (Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson Ltd – 2004) A Nature and Wildlife Guide to Greenland (Gyldendals Forlag) Grönland (DuMont Reise Taschenbücher) Grönland Reisehandbuch (Conrad Stein Verlag)

Links to more information about Ilulissat • kangia.gl (about UNESCO site Ilulissat Icefiord) • worldofgreenland.gl • sermitsiaq.ag/icecam/ (webcam from Ilulissat Ice Fjord) • greenland.com/en/explore-greenland/nordgroenland/

ilulissat The largest tour operator in Greenland Visit our site for tours to Ilulissat This guide was last updated 15. April 2013 > greenland-travel.com Din rejsepartner i Grønland Your travel partner in Greenland Nunatsinni angalatitsiviit

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