Iceland Travel Guide

Visa and Entry

Iceland is part of the Schengen area, which means that US and UK citizens, and members of most EU countries, can visit Iceland for up to 90 days without a visa.

Additionally, we advise you to have six or more months of validity on your passport from the time you intend to leave the country, as well as a return ticket and proof you can financially sustain yourself during your visit.

Cash and Currency

The currency of Iceland is the Krona (ISK), however, most Icelanders and visitors tend to use their credit and debit cards, so you should be able to purchase most things you need even if you don’t have cash. If you want to check the current rate of exchange, please click here: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=ISK&To=USD

Language

The official language of Iceland is Icelandic. It is an interesting, oddly beautiful language that is Scandinavian in origin. In fact, Icelandic is actually very similar to Old Norse, the language of the Vikings. Don’t worry about not being able to communicate with people though, English is the country’s official second language and is spoken almost everywhere. This is especially the case with people in the service industry and in cities. Aside from Icelandic and English, Danish is also spoken somewhat widely as is Polish.

Health Info including emergency contacts

In the unlikely event, you require medical assistance during your travels, there are some things you need to consider. While every resident and citizen is eligible for free healthcare, this does not apply to foreign visitors. So it is important to have health insurance.

In Iceland. Pharmacies are called “Apótek” and although they are found all over Iceland, they only operate during regular business hours.

If you require direct, but non-emergency medical assistance, you’ll be able to find health centres (or “Heilsugæslustöð” in Icelandic) all over the country, and of course, larger hospitals are in every city.

The healthcare facilities available in Iceland are of very high quality.

Useful phone numbers

In Iceland, the general emergency number is 112, This will put you in direct contact with police, ambulance services, fire, and search and rescue.

• For non-emergency police assistance, call: 444 1000
• For non-emergency medical assistance, call: 1770
• For general information, call: 118

Getting Around

If you truly wish to explore Iceland, then it may be advisable to consider renting or hiring a driver.
There is no rail network in Iceland, and although most cities and towns are linked by bus (STRÆTÓ), planning your journeys can be complicated. It is also possible to fly between cities in Iceland through IcelandAir, which can radically decrease travel time.

No trip to Iceland is complete without visiting the magnificent fjords or neighboring islands. The best way to do this is by ferry, this can be an enjoyable experience in itself, especially if you join one of the sightseeing tours which operate during the summer.

Tipping

In Iceland, unlike some countries, there is no real need to tip staff at restaurants, bars, and hotels, as they are paid a fair living wage. However, if you feel compelled to add a couple of extra Kronas on top of a restaurant bill, or want to reward quality service, then you are most welcome to do so and it will be appreciated.

With just a little attention to these details, your visit to Iceland can be smooth and easy, leaving you free to explore and enjoy all that this breathtaking country has to offer.