Ilulissat Jacobshavn Greenland Cruise Port Guide

Location:

As ships are moored or anchored in this port, you will be tendered ashore in Zodiacs or regular tenders.

A wooden staircase will lead you to town.

You can walk the whole of Ilulissat in about an half hour.

Cruise calendar for this port.

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Monthly Climate Averages for Ilulissat Jacobshavn Greenland

Sightseeing:

Ilulissat means icebergs in Greenlandic, and the town has a beautiful location at the mouth of the 56 km long ice fjord that is filled with enormous icebergs from the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere, Sermeq Kujalleq.

The biggest icebergs end up getting stranded at the mouth of the ice fjord at a depth of 250-300 meters, and they do not work free until the tide is sufficiently high or until they are so eroded that the iceberg's center of gravity is altered. In 2004 Ilulissat Icefjord was admitted onto UNESCO's World Heritage List. Just a couple of kilometers from Ilulissat the idyllic Sermermiut valley lies out towards the ice fjord. In 1727 it was Greenland's biggest settlement and home to more than 250 people. Excavations have subsequently revealed that for thousands of years the beautiful valley has at various times been home to all of the cultures that have lived along the west coast of Greenland.

Tours Excursions Transportation:

In Greenland there are no roads connecting the towns, so all transport takes place by plane or by ship. The Arctic climate, which at times can be extreme, places great demands on safety during transport, demands which Greenland's transport companies satisfy in full. When travelling over shorter distances outside the towns the local population use their own boats, dogsleds or snowmobiles.

Nearby Places:

North of Ilulissat lies the settlement of Oqaatsut/Rodebay, where some of the old buildings from colonial times are today fitted out as restaurants.

Another couple of hours by boat further north is the Eqi glacier, where it is possible to spend a couple of days in a hut.

South of Ilulissat Icefjord is another charming settlement, Ilimanaq, which is one of the oldest settlements in Greenland.

Several of the tourist offices in Ilulissat organize these tours. Sled dog town In Ilulissat, which is also known as Jakobshavn, there are 4,500 people living today and at least 4,000 sled dogs, which underlines the importance of the dogsled as a means of transport even in a large modern town. The harbor is full of fishing boats and trawlers that bear witness to the great importance of fishing for Ilulissat.

Tourism is also an important business for the town and a great variety of excursions are on offer where the focus is on nature and culture.

Shopping and Food

Souvenirs from Greenland are unique, handmade works of art the like of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Each product is shaped and designed by a Greenlandic artist, who manages to follow tradition and custom, whilst at the same time creating unique works incorporating his or her own ideas and skills. As a visitor, you will have plenty of opportunity to find precisely what you are looking for.

Currency:

Credit cards can be used at many hotels, restaurants and shops, but it is recommended that you bring a small amount of Danish kroner with you to Greenland, as some ATMs may not be in service at the weekend.

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Communication:

As a visitor to Greenland you will find that you understand absolutely nothing when Greenlandic is spoken – or ‘kalaallisut', as it is called, which actually means ‘the Greenlanders' language'.

Danish is more or less the second language. English less so.

Internet and e-mail – take your laptop with you Hotspots have been established in most major hotels so that you can access the Internet. There are Internet cafés in a number of the bigger towns and at several tourist offices it is also possible to check your web mail.

The mobile phone system in Greenland is GSM 900/1800

Opening Hours and Holidays:

In the major towns supermarkets are typically open on weekdays from 10:00 – 17:30, on Fridays until 18:00 and Saturdays from 09:00 – 13:00. In many towns, however, there are corner shops and grocer's shops that have longer opening hours and which are also open on Sundays.

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