Practical Information

Business hours

In major towns, supermarkets are typically open from 10:00 to 17:30 on weekdays; until 18:00 on Fridays; and from 09:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays. In many towns, however, there are small shops that have longer opening hours and also open on Sundays.

Climate

Greenland has an Arctic climate, which means that you have toshould be prepared for sunny days, but also for cold, fresh mornings and evenings. The average temperature reaches a maximum of +10°C/ 50°F during the summer months. Nevertheless, you might experience days with temperatures of +15-20°C/ 59- 68°F. Therefore, it i’s important to bring warm as well as light clothes sothat you can layer.

Country

Greenland, autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, is home to approximately 56.000 people. With an impressive surface of 2.166.086 km² Greenland is the least densely populated country in the world and the world largest island at the same time. While the northern corner of the island is located only 730 km south of the North Pole, the South of Greenland lies on the same latitude as Oslo. With several climate zones Greenland offers both a diversity of sceneries and a variety of wildlife.

Credit cards

You can find ATMs in nearly every town. You can use following credit cards to withdraw cash: Dankort, Diners, VISA, VISA PLUS-card, VISA Electron, Eurocheque-card, Eurocard/Mastercard, Maestro and Cirrus-card. Many hotels, restaurants and shops accept credit cards. However it is recommended to bring some cash, as ATMs may not be in service on weekends.

Currency

AsGreenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland and uses the Danish Kroner (DKK) as its currency. We strongly advise that you to exchange money before arriving in Greenland. Most hotels and many shops accept all major credit cards,. bBut in several places, cash will be more useful as ATMs are only available in larger towns.

Drinking water

Water in Greenland is one of the purest in the world. You can drink water directly from the tap without any concern. You can also purchase bottled water at stores.

Export restrictions

Special permission is needed for taking souvenirs made from polar bear, walrus and some species of whales out of the country. The CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wile Fauna and Flora) certificate is available in shops and tourist offices. Make note of the regulations applicable for the import of foreign goods into your own country.

Foreign exchange

There are banks in all major towns, and it is often possible to change money at hotels. In bigger towns there may be a few places that accept foreign currency, but the exchange rate is usually unfavorable.

Health

There is a hospital in all towns, and usually a nursing clinic in settlements. However, it is recommended that visitors bring their own medicine particularly if they are on any medication, as some may not be available. Travel insurance is also recommended. In the event of acute illness, treatment is free of charge in Greenland.

Language

Kalaallisut (West Greenlandic) ishas become the sole official language. Danish is still widely used in the administration and in higher education, as well as remaining the first or only language for some people in Nuuk and the larger towns. The majority of Greenlandersthe population speaks both Kalaallisut and Danish. Although schools in larger communities generally teach English, inhabitants of small communities usually do no’t speak English.

Life onboard

Get more information about the life onboard.

Mobile phones

The mobile phone system in Greenland is GSM, and covers nearly all inhabited areas of Greenland except for one or two settlements. Tele Greenland has a list of countries and phone companies that have roaming agreements.

Passports and Visas

All travellers, except for Danes, to Greenland must be in their possession of a valid passport. If you need a visa to travel to Denmark, you will also need a visa to enter Greenland. However, a visa for Denmark does not automatically apply for Greenland and a separate visa has to be obtained. Please contact the embassy of Denmark in your country.

Post offices

Post offices are located in all major towns in Greenland.

Safety

Greenland is a safe place to visit. Crimes against foreigners are more or less non-existent.

Time

In summer, the southwest part of Greenland is 2two hours behind GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).

Tipping

Greenland does not have a tipping culture. Tipping is greatly appreciated but not expected.

Transportation

Taxis run in most towns. In big cities, there are also public buses.

Traveller’s cheques

They can be cashed at the Bank of Greenland in Nuuk, Qaqortoq, Maniitsoq, Sisimiut and Ilulissat.

Vaccinations

No vaccinations are required.