Iqaluit is the capital of Nunavut, the territory in northern Canada. It sits on the shores of Frobisher Bay, and the town's setting is the first thing most visitors notice: open tundra, water, and wide northern skies.
The community is largely Inuit, and its culture is part of everyday life here. Visitors can look for traditional and contemporary Inuit art, and can encounter throat singing, one of the region's distinctive vocal traditions. Local galleries give a sense of how artists in the town work today.
What a visit offers
- Arctic culture: art, music and the everyday rhythm of a northern community
- Local food: the chance to try Arctic cuisine
- Landscape: tundra and bay views in every direction
- Northern light: summer daylight that lasts long into the night, and the northern lights in winter
Planning your trip
Iqaluit suits travellers who want to see modern northern life alongside a landscape that feels far from the south. The seasons change the experience considerably: long daylight in summer, and dark, clear skies in winter when the aurora is most often seen. Because the town is remote, it is worth allowing time for travel and checking the current arrangements for getting there and for the weather before you set out.
