Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 36 written places.
Everyone waves, everyone knows the flight day; island time is set by ships and Saturdays.
✓ Considered polite
- Wave at every car and greet every walker - Saints notice who does not
- Plan around the weekly Saturday flight from Johannesburg - it sets St Helena's rhythm
- Book Tristan da Cunha up to a year out - the only way in is a ship from Cape Town, days at sea
- Arrange an Ascension entry permit before you travel - arriving unannounced is not an option
✗ Better avoided
- Rely on your bank card - most of St Helena runs on cash and the local tourist card
- Expect Sunday shopping - Jamestown closes and church bells set the pace
- Rush conversations at the shop counter - catching up is the point of the errand
- Treat the three islands as one stop - they are separated by days of open ocean
Worth knowing
- The St Helena pound is pegged to sterling and UK pounds are accepted alongside it
- There are no ATMs for international cards - preload the Bank of St Helena tourist card or bring cash
- Shops keep short hours - roughly 9:00 to 16:00 on weekdays, less on Saturday
- St Helena grows some of the world's rarest coffee - buy it on the island, exports are tiny
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Keep planning
Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.