Ilulissat (Greenland)

Ilulissat is a port town in western Greenland, located approx 350 km (220 mi) north of the Arctic Circle. The town covers a total area of approx 11 km2 (4 mi2). By population (around 5,000) it is ranksed Greenland's 3rd-largest city - after Nuuk and Sisimiut. Almost as many as the people are the sled-dogs.

The settlement was established in 1741 as trading post. Zion Church was built in late-18th century, as Greenland's biggest man-made structure at the time. Ilulissat Icefjord (UNESCO Site) with its pure white icebergs makes this port town a popular cruise ship tourist destination. Another major attraction is the enormous Disco Bay.

The town is served by Ilulissat Airport - located approx 3 km (2 mi) northeast of downtown. The airport was built in 1983 to serve flights to other towns in mid- and north-western Greenland. Flights are operated by the domestic airline Air Greenland. Since 2011, Air Iceland also offers flights from Ilulissat to Reykjavík (Iceland).

Ilulissat is a ferry port for Arctic Umiaq Line (freight and passenger shipping company). Arctic Umiaq serves the south-western Greenland route roundtrip from Nuuk. Next are listed route's ports of call (with arrival-departure times in brackets) - Nuuk (departure 8 pm)-Maniitsoq (6-630 am)-Kangaamiut (10-10:15 am)-Sisimiut (5-7 pm)-Aasiaat (6-6:15 am)-Qeqertarsuaq (10-10:15 am)-Ilulissat (3:30-5 pm)-Aasiaat (9:30-10 pm)-Sisimiut (9-11 am)-Kangaamiut (5:45-6 pm)-Maniitsoq (9:30-10 pm)-Nuuk (7-9 am)-Qeqertarsuatsiaat (4:30-4:45 pm)-Paamiut (11:45-12 midnight)-Arsuk (6:45-7 am)-Qaqortoq (4-7 pm)-Narsaq (9:9:30 pm)-Arsuk (6:45-7 am)-Paamiut (2-2:30 pm)-Qeqertarsuatsiaat (10:15-10:30 pm)-Nuuk (arrival 7:30 am).

On cruise shore excursions from Ilulissat are visited the Ilulissat Icefjord, Jakobshavn Glacier, and Sermermiut's archaeological site (Saqqaq culture/Inuit settlement).

Ilulissat was included as port of call in the Northwest Passage cruises of the following ships:

• Crystal Serenity - 32-day itinerary from Seward Alaska to NYC New York (2016/August 16 to September 16)
• Crystal Serenity - 32-day itinerary Seward to New York City (2017/August 15 to September 15)

Note: All Northwest Passage ship transits are assisted by a Canadian icebreaker or another vessel with an ice-strengthened hull.