The weather in Greenland can change very quickly.

Always make sure that you bring a windproof and waterproof coat with you into the country. Several layers are always a good idea, so that you can take clothes off if it's warm or put them on if it gets cold.

Always remember to wear good, strong shoes. This applies both in the towns and out in the wilderness.

There can be a lot of mosquitoes in the summer - in particular in July and August. It's not usually a problem in the towns, but remember to bring a mosquito net and mosquito oil anyway.

If it's windy, there aren't usually any problems with mosquitoes.

The climate in Greenland ranges from subarctic in South Greenland to high arctic in northwest and northeast Greenland.

Generally speaking, it feels warmer in the sun during the summer than the temperature shown on the thermometer, but you quickly feel the cold when in shade or if a cloud blocks out the sun. The wind is almost always cold and it's thus important to make sure that you're adequately dressed in order to avoid getting a chill.

See: link xxxx for average temperatures at selected destinations

The northern lights (aurora borealis) are present all year round in Greenland, but it has to be dark and clear if you want to see them with the naked eye. During the summer months it's too light to see the northern lights, but from the end of August it's possible in the southernmost part of Greenland.

Read more about the norther lights here: Observe the Northern lights

The midnight sun can be experienced north of the Arctic Circle from the middle of May until the end of July, depending on where you are. The further north you are, the longer is the period with midnight sun. In Disko Bay, the midnight sun lasts until 25 July.

South of the Arctic Circle it's more or less light 24 hours a day in May, June and July, even though the sun does actually briefly set.

During the summer months from June-October there are good chances of seeing humpback whales, minke whales and fin whales along the southwest coast of Greenland. Seals can be seen all year round, but often only briefly when they come up to the surface to breathe. In the area around Kangerlussuaq and in the National Park there are good chances of seeing muskoxen and reindeer.

There are many seabirds in Greenland. Several different species of gull and auk can often be seen.

Ravens, snow buntings and Lapland buntings are very common both in towns and in the fells.

In many places you may be lucky enough to see the white-tailed eagle or the rarer gyrfalcon and peregrine falcon.

At the majority of tourist offices and souvenir shops in the major towns tourists can pay by Visa, MasterCard and EuroCard, although only a few places accept American Express. In smaller towns, settlements and grocery stores, only local payment cards can be used.

It's therefore always a good idea to take cash with you when you go ashore. The currency in Greenland is Danish kroner (DKK), but many places also accept USD, CAD and Euro (although only notes). If you pay in currencies other than Danish kroner, you may find that the exchange rate in shops and at businesses differs somewhat from the official exchange rate.

Normal opening hours in Greenland are from 09.00-17.30 (Fri.-Sat.). However, always ask when onboard, as opening hours may vary from place to place. During the summer the majority of tourist offices and souvenir shops have longer opening hours and they may have extended opening hours when a cruise ship calls at port.

In several towns, local street-sellers peddling different sorts of handicrafts appear when a cruise ship is moored at the quay.

The choice of shops and goods is very different from one place to another, with the widest choice found in the bigger cities. The range of goods in the majority of major towns is comparable to small towns in Scandinavia. In remote small towns and settlements, in particular in North and East Greenland, there's a limited supply of fresh produce. Therefore please do not buy fresh fruit and vegetables at these places as it may mean that the local community will run short of these goods.

In the majority of towns and settlements there are good opportunities to buy Greenlandic art and crafts. Handicrafts are typically carved in soapstone, wood, bone, tooth or antler (jewellery and figures, etc.). At many places you can also buy traditional pearl and fur products.

It's important to find out in advance which products you may take back to your own country, as there are different import restrictions that you need to be aware of. Products that are made of wood, soapstone, precious stones, musk ox and reindeer antlers have no restrictions on them.

The import of products made from seal, walrus and narwhal may be prohibited in certain countries. When you buy an item made from one of these materials it's recommended that you buy it in a souvenir shop at which a CITES certificate can be issued. This certificate has to be shown to the customs authorities in your own country to prove that the product is made of materials that originate from a legal and sustainable hunt or catch.

See link about CITES.

If you buy fur products in Greenland, always remember to make sure that the fur is tanned. In Greenland it's common to make do with raw tanning due to the low humidity and cool climate. However, this form of tanning is not sufficient if the fur is brought to most other countries.

In general, price levels in Greenland are slightly higher than in Scandinavia. Vegetables and fruit are relatively expensive in Greenland, as almost everything has to be imported. Meat and dairy products cost about the same or are slightly cheaper than in Scandinavia.

Art and handicrafts are relatively cheap in Greenland in relation to the level of artistic quality and craftsmanship. The handicrafts are often one-off items and valuation is an individual matter. Just remember that you can't expect to find the same item elsewhere, so if you're interested in a particular item, then buy it where you find it!

Generally speaking, all prices are fixed in Greenland. We recommend that you say either yes or no to the price displayed. Always let the seller take the initiative.

Samples of Greenlandic food or a Greenlandic buffet are organised in several towns as an experience for visitors.

Greenland is known for fish and prawns of very high quality, but we can also recommend trying reindeer, musk ox and Greenland lamb.

If you're slightly more adventurous, we can warmly recommend mattak (small cubes of raw whale skin), ræklinger (semi-dried strips of Greenland halibut), nikkut (dried meat of whale, seal or reindeer) or dried fish.

Tips are not expected in Greenland, as service is included in the price. Tips are most commonly given when you wish to express your satisfaction with the food or the service. Around 5-10% of the total price is typically given as a tip.

Yes, Greenland is a very safe country to travel in. Street crime is practically non-existent, and the locals are helpful if you get lost in the town

Outside towns and settlements the wilderness dominates. For reasons of safety therefore, we recommend that you never go out into the fells alone and that you always travel with a local guide who's familiar with the area.

Greenland has a well-developed healthcare system with trained personnel and doctors in just about every town and nursing clinics in all settlements. Admission to a hospital in Greenland or evacuation to your home country will only take place following recommendation by the ship's doctor. Please note that the majority of nationalities have to pay for treatment and repatriation.

Before travelling, you should always find out which travel insurance you should take out for Greenland, since there are different rules for self-payment depending on which country you come from.

The most common non-prescription medicines can be bought over the counter in grocery shops (headache tablets, mild painkillers, etc.). Some types of medicine are available at hospitals in the towns, but if you have to take a particular type of medicine, we recommend that you bring it with you from home, as it may not always be possible to get hold of the same type of medicine in Greenland. If you're currently undergoing medical treatment, you should remember to take your prescription and a doctor's note - should you have one - to cover every eventuality.

The majority of ships offer a selection of local excursions which you can book and pay for onboard. These excursions are chosen by your cruise ship company and their quality is guaranteed. Check first with the personnel onboard about which excursions they have on offer. If excursions are not available in a particular town or you have particular wishes, such as playing golf, flying by helicopter, eating Greenlandic food or similar, we recommend visiting the destination pages at www.greenland.com, where you can find information about what's available in the different towns, as well as contact information to local tour operators.

There may be several reasons why excursions may occasionally have to be cancelled. The weather often plays a key role: rain can make a hike unsafe, while wind can mean flights or sailing trips have to be cancelled. Sometimes cancellations result from the fact that there's only a limited amount of plant available in Greenland. Often, all available buses, boats and helicopters are pressed into service when a ship calls at port, and if there are either technical problems or an emergency arises, whereby boats or helicopters need to be used elsewhere, then there may be nothing else to replace them.

In the event of cancellations, you should always ask as to the reason for the cancellation and hear which rules are applicable for refunds. In the vast majority of cases the price of the excursion will be refunded in full.

Greenland's National Day, Ullortuneq, is celebrated on 21 June - the year's longest day. Celebrations typically include processions and speeches in the morning, a gun salute and different social activities during the course of the day.

Schools in Greenland start the school year in the middle of August. It's common for first grade pupils to wear national costumes on this day, which is concluded by hundreds of kaffemiks that are held in private homes.

Always remember to ask before taking pictures of people. Most don't mind at all, but there may be some people who don't wish to have their picture taken.

Please exercise particular consideration at weddings, christenings and funerals, where many people will be wearing national costumes. Although the national costumes make a wonderful sight, these are still private occasions, so we recommend most strongly that as a visitor you remain discreetly in the background and ask politely whether you may take photographs. At funerals, we generally recommend that you don't take photos.