South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands
Travel tips for South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: safety advisories, currency and cash vs. card, tap water, plugs, local phrases, food, and advice from travelers.
Cash and cards
Carry some cash. The territory's only onshore shop and post office at Grytviken accepts cards, but the remote connection is notoriously unreliable, so expedition operators strongly advise carrying GBP, USD, or EUR cash as a backup for souvenirs and postage.
Try the food
- Shipboard Buffet: Hearty, calorie-dense meals served aboard expedition vessels to fuel cold-weather landings.
- Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding: A traditional British Sunday roast often prepared by base station cooks or ship galleys.
- Fruit Cake: A dense, long-lasting baked good historically favored by Antarctic explorers and still enjoyed with tea.
Essentials
- Voltage
- 230V, 50Hz
- Driving
- Left side
- SIM tip
- There are no public mobile networks on the islands; visitors rely entirely on their expedition ship's satellite Wi-Fi.
Etiquette
Strict biosecurity protocols must be followed, including scrubbing boots and vacuuming clothes to prevent introducing non-native species.