January in Ilulissat: expect compromises
Hardest · 2.4/10January sits at -13°C (9°F), firmly in deep-winter territory. Plan compact outdoor blocks with warm reset points between them rather than full days outside.
Only 24 mm of water-equivalent precipitation is expected (snow at altitude), leaving almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 0 hours of daylight.
That is 2.4/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 7.8/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Ilulissat — 5.4 points higher on the same scale.
February in Ilulissat — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 2.7/10February sits at -17°C (2°F), firmly in deep-winter territory. Plan compact outdoor blocks with warm reset points between them rather than full days outside.
Only 16 mm of water-equivalent precipitation is expected (snow at altitude), leaving almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 6.7 hours of daylight.
That is 2.7/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 7.8/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Ilulissat — 5.1 points higher on the same scale.
March in Ilulissat: expect compromises
Hardest · 3.6/10March averages -12°C (11°F) — deep-winter cold that dictates the whole trip: short outdoor stints, indoor plans on standby, and no expectation of long walking days.
Precipitation is light at 9 mm (mostly snow at altitude), with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11 hours of daylight.
It scores 3.6/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 7.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, footwear you can get muddy.
Flexible dates? July scores 4.2 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
April in Ilulissat — off-season conditions
Hardest · 4.9/10April sits at -5°C (22°F), firmly in deep-winter territory. Plan compact outdoor blocks with warm reset points between them rather than full days outside.
Only 23 mm of water-equivalent precipitation is expected (snow at altitude), leaving about 9 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 15.5 hours of daylight.
That is 4.9/10 on the same scale — 5th of 12 months, versus 7.8/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Ilulissat — 2.9 points higher on the same scale.
May in Ilulissat: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6.5/10May averages -2°C (28°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 53 mm of water-equivalent precipitation this is a snowy month at resort level — that is snowpack, not lost days — with about 20 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 20.5 hours of daylight.
It scores 6.5/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 7.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
June in Ilulissat — reliably good (2nd best month)
Good · 7.4/10At 4°C (39°F) this is proper winter weather in June: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
Budget for roughly 70 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 24 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 7.4/10 on the same scale — 2nd of 12 months, versus 7.8/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
July in Ilulissat — the year's strongest window
Best window · 7.8/10Expect 7°C (45°F) in July. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Budget for roughly 82 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 22 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 24 hours of daylight to work around it.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Ilulissat at 7.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Budget for peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
August in Ilulissat — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.3/10August averages 6°C (44°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 72 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 9 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 17.4 hours of daylight.
It scores 6.3/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 7.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
Flexible dates? July scores 1.5 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
September in Ilulissat — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.4/10September averages 3°C (38°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 97 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.8 hours of daylight.
It scores 4.4/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 7.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination. That combination — decent conditions at the lowest rates of the year — is the best value window on this page.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
Flexible dates? July scores 3.4 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
October in Ilulissat — off-season conditions
Hardest · 3.2/10At -2°C (28°F) this is proper winter weather in October: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
59 mm of water-equivalent precipitation makes this a snowy month at resort level; what falls stays as snow, with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 8.5 hours of daylight.
That is 3.2/10 on the same scale — 8th of 12 months, versus 7.8/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Ilulissat — 4.6 points higher on the same scale.
November in Ilulissat: expect compromises
Hardest · 2.5/10November sits at -6°C (21°F), firmly in deep-winter territory. Plan compact outdoor blocks with warm reset points between them rather than full days outside.
Only 25 mm of water-equivalent precipitation is expected (snow at altitude), leaving almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 3.2 hours of daylight.
That is 2.5/10 on the same scale — 10th of 12 months, versus 7.8/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Ilulissat — 5.3 points higher on the same scale.
December in Ilulissat — off-season conditions
Hardest · 2.5/10December averages -10°C (14°F) — deep-winter cold that dictates the whole trip: short outdoor stints, indoor plans on standby, and no expectation of long walking days.
Precipitation is light at 26 mm (mostly snow at altitude), with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 0 hours of daylight.
It scores 2.5/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 7.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, footwear you can get muddy.
Flexible dates? July scores 5.3 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
