CityUsable guide

Tristan da Cunha

Group of islands in the South Atlantic

Photo: Image courtesy of MODIS Rapid Response Project at NASA/GSFC, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Tristan da Cunha refers both to an archipelago of fairly small islands in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean and to the only inhabited island of the group. It is part of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha – a territory of the United Kingdom – together with Saint Helena and Ascension, which lie over 2,000 km to the north. Politically, Tristan da Cunha refers to Tristan da Cunha Island, Inaccessible Island, Nightingale Island, relatively nearby Gough Island, and a dozen or so islets near these islands.

Getting there and around

Getting there

By ship
Visitors are the lowest priority for passage on vessels and may be forced to forfeit their passage to persons with a higher priority (medical evacuation, officials on official business, even locals…
By yacht
Radio: Channel 14, 16 and 78. HFSSB 4000 / 4149 / 6230 / 8294mhz

Read in the guide

Getting around

By transport
There is a paved road (the M1) from Edinburgh (aka The Settlement) to the Potato Patches, which are about 3 miles away.

Read in the guide

Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

UnderstandTristan da Cunha is the most remote archipelago in the world, while the main island (also known as Tristan da Cunha) is the most remote inhabited island in the world.

Get inTravel to Tristan da Cunha requires careful planning, often more than a year before a visit. There is no airstrip on the island; all visitors must arrive by boat.

Get aroundWalking is the most common method of getting around Tristan da Cunha Island and the only way of moving about any of the outer islands.

SeeThere is generally rugged terrain, which has several types of more or less harsh beauty, as you can see from some of the photos on this page.

DoThe Island organizes fishing excursions, walks, climbs and even golf for visitors. Once again, consult their website for more information.

BuyThe currency of the islands is the Pound sterling (£); credit, Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted since November 2025. Personal cheques are not accepted.

Eat and drinkThe only public place available is the Prince Philip Hall which occasionally serves food, the building also houses the Albatross Bar, which is the island's only pub.

SleepStaying overnight is not allowed, as a change in weather can prevent your ship from picking you up in the morning. If you stay for several days, you need to sleep aboard and return in the morning.

Stay healthyTap water is filtered from a spring and is safe and pleasant to drink.

Connect

CopeVisitors are welcome to attend Sunday morning services at St Mary's Anglican Church (08:00) and St Joseph's Catholic Church (09:00).

NearbyDespite the name, it is possible to visit the island (in fair weather). Only visitors escorted by guides from Tristan da Cunha are permitted to visit the island, and most visitors come as part of a cruise ship itinerary.

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Tristan da Cunha" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Tristan da Cunha", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Image courtesy of MODIS Rapid Response Project at NASA/GSFC, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Improve this guide on Wikivoyage

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Tristan da Cunha" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Summary from the Wikipedia article "Tristan da Cunha", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia

Photo: Image courtesy of MODIS Rapid Response Project at NASA/GSFC, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Improve this guide on Wikivoyage