Whether you are coming for business or pleasure, Iqaluit has lots to offer when you visit! 

If you love the outdoors, you will fall in love with our city for its year round activities. Frobisher Bay is a great kite-skiing destination in the winter, as well as a snowmobilers playground. In the spring and summer, fishing, kayaking, boating and even diving are all activities that will make your trip a memorable one. Our licensed outfitters can help you plan a day trip, a town tour, or even a camping adventure. 

If you'd prefer to explore some of our highlights on your own, here are the attractions not to miss:

Apex

Traditionally known as "Niaqunngut", Apex is part of Iqaluit and located approximately five kilometres from the core of the city. The view from Apex is stunning as it is surrounded by hills and water. The beachfront in Apex offers you an opportunity to dip your toes into Frobisher Bay and pose in front of decades-old Hudson Bay buildings. You can get to Apex by taxi, but the approximately 40-minute walk along the trail from Iqaluit is a hike you won't soon forget. 

Legislative Assembly

The home of the territory's government, the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut features a beautiful chambers that has worked traditional elements such as sealskin into the modern design. Look for unique features that show how proud we are of our traditional Inuit culture, including doorframes that look like qamutik rails and an iglu-inspired construction. 

Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum

The museum is housed inside a former Hudson Bay Company building and showcases examples of traditional Inuit tools, clothing and artifacts, along with being the place to showcase artwork in the gallery. The prints displayed in the museum change frequently, so be sure to check this out each visit. There is a gift shop that offers unique carvings, clothing and jewellery. If time allows, be sure to check out the binders full of old photographs upstairs, which offer insight into early Iqaluit. 

Unikkaarvik Visitor Centre

As soon as you enter the visitor centre, you'll be impressed by the beautiful carving of a drum dancer that takes centre stage in the lobby. This is the first stop you should make to help you book trips with outfitters offering dog sledding, boating and other activities. 

The Road to Nowhere

Every city has its most famous road and ours is the Road to Nowhere. Most tourists want a picture under the road sign. If you'd like to actually experience the Road to Nowhere, you can hike or walk it year-round, ski it in the winter or drive in the summer. This scenic route will take you just outside of town on a winding road that goes by lakes, rolling hills and tundra until it eventually ends, in the middle of nowhere! 

 

Events 

Toonik Tyme Festival

Iqaluit's celebration of spring is held every April. Toonik Tyme is a unique showcase of traditional Inuit games and activities such as iglu building and seal skinning combined with musical performances, scavenger hunts and ice golf.

Alianait Arts Festival

The coolest music festival North of 60 takes place in late June and runs into early July. For several days, the Big Top Tent dominates downtown Iqaluit as visitors and residents alike take in performances that feature not only Nunavut artists, but performers from around the world. Music, theatre, circus acts, storytelling and visual art are all featured. Throughout the year, Alianait also presents a concert series that features well-known and unique acts in the intimate concert environment Iqaluit can offer.

 

Parks

Qaummaarviit Territorial Historic Park

Ideal for a day trip, this small rock island offers a unique look through archaeological artifacts into the Thule culture that shows how adaptable they were. Contact one of our local outfitting businesses to arrange a trip to this spectacular place that means "the place that shines" in Inuktitut.

Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park

Situated within the city limits, Sylvia Grinnell is a popular picnic, hiking and fishing spot. The pavilion located in the park can be rented for special events and features a BBQ and wood stove. Deeper into the park are fire and BBQ pits located on the river's edge, which make it a popular spot in the summer for family gatherings. You cannot leave Iqaluit without knowing the answer to "Who was Sylvia Grinnell?" In 1861, American explorer Charles Francis Hall named the river that runs through the park after the daughter of his benefactor, Henry Grinnell, who was a good friend of Lady Jane Franklin, the woman who sponsored Hall to search for the lost 1845 John Franklin expedition. Hall camped here in 1861 and named also named the inlet where the river empties after his guide, Koojesse.