Íslenska
USEFUL INFORMATION FOR THE TRAVELLER
The currency in Greenland is the Danish Kroner (DKK).
Greenland is a part of the Danish Kingdom and as such the currency is Danish Kroner; DKK. We strongly advise you to exchange into Danish Kroner before arriving to Greenland. Most hotels and many shops do accept all major credit cards, but in several places “cash” will be more useful. In Ilulissat are banks with ATM. In general Pin-Codes are needed for all credit card transactions
You can check exchange rates on the European Central Bank website, www.ecb.int (click on “Euro foreign exchange reference rates” and see “Currency”-DKK or Danish Kroner.
Vaccine
You do not need to have any vaccinations for Greenland.
Language
Kalaallisut, the Western Greenlandic language, is the main language in Greenland. It is spoken by 40.000 people, which makes it the most important Inuit language in the world. Inuhumiutut is also spoken in the North, and Tunumiutut in the East Coast. Most people in Greenland speak some Danish, which is the second official language. Many, especially young people, speak English too, with various levels of fluency. Greenlandic has an agglutinating structure. It belongs to the Inuit-Aleut family of languages, and it is spoken by people in different areas, from the Aleutian Islands up to the west coast in Greenland. It is of Asian origin, as is the Inuit race.
The Country
Greenland is a massive island and autonomous Danish territory between the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans. Much of its land surface is covered in ice. Greenland is a huge island that includes a glacier measuring two million square kilometers in size, surrounded by a coastal mountainous belt, bathed by a sea which due to its Arctic climate remains frozen for most of the year.
Some 57.000 inhabitants, mostly Inuit depending on fishing, hunting and farming, live on the coast. Greenland is now semi-independent from Denmark. The most populated area is the west coast. 15.000 inhabitants live in Nuuk which is the capital of the country. Northern and Eastern Greenland are almost uninhabited.
The Arctic ecosystem
Please note that the Arctic ecosystems is vulnerable to alien species and invasive alien species are among the most significant threats to native biodiversity. Please make your contribution and prevent bringing alien species to the Arctic, follow the few recommendations at www.stoparcticaliens.com, thanks!
There are strict procedures and vetinary controls on the introduction of products of animal origin into the European Union. If you bring in meat or dairy products from outside the EU, you risk importing animal disease. If you do not declare such items, you may be fined or face criminal prosecution. These products will be seized and destroyed on arrival.
Transport
Roads are almost non-existent, except in towns. The most common means of transports are boats, planes, helicopters and dog sledges. In Ilulissat you will find taxis.
Food in Greenland
The Greenlandic diet consists to a large extent of fish, seafood and meat. The climate doesn’t allow for farming on an industrial scale therefore most fruits and vegetables are imported from Europe. During your stay in Greenland you may experience that whale is on the menu. The reason for this is that the Inuit – as an indigenous people – are allowed by the International Whaling Commission to hunt a (small) number of certain whale species to support their existence. Some of this meat is also sold to local restaurants who take pride in serving local dishes using local produce. However, GJ-Travel and our local tour partners appreciate that whale may not be everyone’s idea of a meal and we kindly request that you tell GJ-Travel or your travel agent (before departure) or alternatively your local tour representative at the destination if you would prefer NOT to have this type of meat. All other dietary needs should also be communicated to us as soon as possible to allow us to make the necessary arrangements. Please be aware that due to the remote location and Arctic climate vegetarian and/or vegan meal options are very limited!
Ilulissat Icefiord
The biggest icebergs end up getting stranded at the mouth of the Icefiord at a depth of 225-250 meters, and they do not work free until the tide is sufficiently high or until they are so eroded that the iceberg’s centre of gravity is altered. The Icefiord in Ilulissat was included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List at the 28th of The World Heritage Committee in the summer of 2004; and not without reason. The Icefiord contains one of the biggest and most active glaciers in the world. Its 3,000 square kilometer area advances at a rate of 20 meters per day. The glacier “calves” about 10 % of the inland ice that is pressed out into the sea from Greenland and there is nothing in the whole world that resembles it. All this means that the Icefiord – off Ilulissat – is like a park full of sculptures constantly changing. Shapes, colours and sounds from the ice mountains are hard to forget – you are an eyewitness to a totally enchanting natural phenomenon.
Health & Emergency
Emergency Service (Police/Ambulance/Fire): Dial 112
Visitors are urged to bring their own prescription drugs for the duration of their stay as certain types of medication may not be available in hospitals in Greenland. However, non-prescription medications like antihistamines or pain killers can be purchased at grocery stores.
Local time
Greenland is UTC/GMT minus 3 hours. This means that the time in Greenland is 4 hours “behind” Western Europe.
Shopping
Tobacco and liquor are extremely expensive in Greenland due to taxation. It is recommended buying such items duty free in your airport of departure or on board your flight. In larger towns shops are typically open Monday-Thursday 10:00-17:30, Fridays 10:00-18:00 and Saturdays 09:00-13:00. However, many towns have convenience stores that have longer opening hours, and which are also open on Sundays.
WE WISH YOU A PLEASANT TRIP TO GREENLAND
GJ Travel, Vesturvör 34, 200 Kópavogur / Iceland
www.gjtravel.is / email: info@gjtravel.is / Phone: +354-520 5200 / Emergency: +354-895 2007