Useful Information for your Travel to Iceland
Iceland Guest is your travel guide to Iceland and our goal is to help you make your stay in our country as rewarding and effective as possible. Here you will find useful information’s for your traveling to Iceland, as well as some interesting statistics about our land of fire and ice.
Useful statistics for Iceland
- Population: 307,672 (Dec 2006).
- Religion: 86% Evangelical Lutheran.
- Total area: 103,000 km² / 39,756 sq. mi.
- Capital: Reykjavík.
- President: Mr. Olafur Ragnar Grimson (since 1 August 1996)
- Prime Minister: Mr. Geir H. Haarde (since 7 June 2006)
- Form of Government: Republic since 17 June 17 1944. Independent since 1 December 1918.
- Approximately 7,250 km2 of Iceland is covered with glaciers.
- Hvannadalshnjúkur is Iceland’s highest peak (2,119m).
- Öskjuvatn (near Víti) is Iceland’s deepest lake (220m).
- An average Icelandic male is 180cm tall, weights 88kg and is 33.9 years old.
- An average Icelandic female is 167cm tall, weight 73 kg and is 35.3 years old.
- For two to three months in summer there is continuous daylight in Iceland.
- The mean annual temperature for Reykjavik is 5˚C, the average in January temperature being -0.4˚C and July 11.2˚C.
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Where is Iceland?
Iceland is a North Atlantic island and the westernmost country in Europe. It lies about 800 km northwest of Scotland and 970 km west of Norway, and its northern coast is just below the Arctic Circle. Iceland is strategically located for air communications with either side of the Atlantic. Flight times are 2-3 hours to major gateways in Europe and 5-6 hours to the east coast of North America. Some 20 international gateways are served from Keflavik Airport, most on a daily basis and some with up to 3 or 4 flights a day. Flight frequency is 115 international flights a week.
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The history of Iceland in few sentences?
The first people believed to have settled in Iceland were Irish monks who came in the eighth century AD. They left, however, upon the arrival of pagan Norsemen, who came in 874 to seek freedom from Norway's oppressive king Harald Fairhair. In 930 the Icelanders founded the Althing, their supreme general assembly - the oldest parliament in the world. Christianity was adopted in the year 1000. In 1262, Iceland became subject to Norwegian control and in 1380 came under Danish control, along with Norway. After the granting of a constitution (1874) and with an improving economy, Iceland, in 1918, finally became an independent sovereign state under a common king with Denmark. The Republic of Iceland was formally declared on June 17, 1944. Read more about the history of Iceland.
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How is the weather in Iceland?
Iceland cannot be considered a warm place by any normal standards, but thanks to the Gulf Stream temperatures are usually moderate all year round. Average temperatures in July are about 12 degrees centigrade in Reykjavik; it is usually a bit warmer in the north and east of Iceland. It doesn't snow as much in Iceland as you may think either, especially in Reykjavik where there is usually very little snow to be seen, even over the winter. However in the north and east of Iceland and the West Fjords, there is more snow in the winter. The biggest factor in Icelandic weather is its unpredictability, you never know what is going to happen next. A beautiful day can suddenly turn windy and rainy (and vice versa), and you can expect to see every weather imaginable in a couple of days in Iceland, especially in late autumn and early spring, so be prepared for anything. We recommend that you buy some warm and comfortable outdoor clothing from 66ºNorth (www.66north.com) for your travelings in Iceland. For weather services in English visit the website, www.vedur.is/english.
| Month |
°C |
°F |
| January |
-1.3 |
29.7 |
| February |
1.0 |
33.8 |
| March |
2.1 |
35.8 |
| April |
4.0 |
39.2 |
| May |
7.2 |
44.9 |
| June |
13.1 |
55.6 |
| July |
15.2 |
59.4 |
| August |
13.3 |
55.9 |
| September |
13.0 |
55.4 |
| October |
6.1 |
43.0 |
| November |
3.7 |
38.7 |
| December |
-0.8 |
30.6 |
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How many people live in Iceland?
The Icelandic population was 307,672 in December 2006, there are around 4 times that many sheep in the country. Population density per square kilometer: 2,8. Iceland is the least populated country in Europe (seventh in the world). Most of the people are of Norwegian descent, with some admixture of Celtic blood from those who came from Ireland and the Scottish islands from the time of settlement. Read more about Iceland's polpulation.
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Tell me about Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland?
Reykjavik is known worldwide for its wonderful amalgamation of unique boutiques and shops. A sense of fashion is central to the charm of the city, and the creative products that consistently originate from Reykjavik ensure that is remains at the cutting edge of art, culture and style. Reykjavik means "steamy bay" in Icelandic. It received this moniker as a result of the geotherman steam witnessed by the country's first settler, Ingolfur Arnarson. Read more about Reykjavik.
- 61% of Icelandic population lives in the Reykjavik area
- There are 180 licensed pubs in Reykjavik
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How many people live in the capital area?
Two thirds of the island's population lives in the greater Reykjavík area and the city has many unique charms to offer.
- Reykjavík population: 115.420
- Greater Reykjavík area population: 191.030
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When is daylight in Iceland?
From mid-May to mid-August the sun only sets for around 3 hours a day, and it is effectively light for the whole 24-hour period. In midwinter, there are around 5 hours of effective daylight. These long and short periods of daylight add drama to the atmosphere with lingering twilight.
| DATE |
SUNRISE |
SUNSET |
| 14.1.2001 |
10:34 AM |
3:59 PM |
| 14.2.2001 |
9:05 AM |
5:38 PM |
| 14.3.2001 |
7:26 AM |
7:07 PM |
| 14.4.2001 |
5:37 AM |
20:38 PM |
| 14.5.2001 |
3:55 AM |
10:12 PM |
| 14.6.2001 |
2:42 AM |
11:32 PM |
| 14.7.2001 |
3.23 AM |
11:00 PM |
| 14.8.2001 |
4:58 AM |
9:22 PM |
| 14.9.2001 |
6:29 AM |
7:33 PM |
| 14.10.2001 |
7:55 AM |
5:48 PM |
| 14.11.2001 |
9:32 AM |
4:09 PM |
| 14.12.2001 |
10:50 AM |
3:12 PM |
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When should I travel to Iceland?
Iceland is beautiful in all seasons. In the summer season (from the beginning of June to the end of August), all tours run and campsites, hotels and youth hostels are open. In September there are progressively fewer tours and less countryside is accessible (generally around the 15th of September). But there are compensating attractions for the off peak traveller, the beauty of autumn colours, the changing skies and the northern lights. Reykjavik is a wonderful city for Christmas shopping with its Christmas lights reflecting in the snow.
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How can I get to Iceland?
Frequent flights operate to Iceland from main cities in Europe and North America and many gateways are served daily. Flight times are 2-3 hours to major gateways in Europe and 5-6 hours to the east coast of North America. Most flights connect at Iceland´s Keflavík International Airport (45 km from Reykjavík) to give good stopover opportunities for transatlantic travellers.
These airline carriers are all currently flying to Iceland:
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Where is Keflavik International Airport located?
The Leifur Eiríksson International Air Terminal in Keflavik (48 km from Reykjavik) is the gateway for most passenger flights and air-freight flights to and from Iceland. The airport is open 24 hours per day. All retail sale and services operated in the departure hall are located within the duty-free zone and are, therefore, duty- and tax-free. For further information about the airport visit the website, www.flugstod.is/english.
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Are there any domestic flights in Iceland?
Air Iceland (www.airiceland.is) has regular flights to many of the bigger towns in all parts of the island. If you need to get to one of the smaller villages, there is usually a flight to a nearby town and easy bus access to the village in question.
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Are there any buses services in Iceland?
Buses run from the BSÍ bus station (www.bsi.is) around the island all year round. However in the winter the bus service is less frequent. Buses can be few and far between so make sure you plan your bus trip thoroughly beforehand. BSÍ also offers bus tours ranging from a couple of days to a couple of weeks including accommodation. More information about these tours can be found on this website.
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How should I drive in Iceland?
Driving around Iceland in a rented car or your own vehicle gives you greater flexibility than the bus system. Most of Route no.1, which runs around the island is fully surfaced except for a gravel run between lake Mývatn and Egilsstaðir in the north-eastern part of Iceland. Many other roads are gravel surfaced, but in the summertime they should be fairly easy to drive, although they tend to slow the traveller down a bit. To get in-depth information about the roads in Iceland, go to the web page of the Icelandic Public Roads Administration (www.vegagerdin.is).
More information on How to drive in Iceland.
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When are stores open in Iceland?
Shopping hours are generally from 10:00 until 18:00 weekdays (Monday to Friday). On Saturdays, most shops are open from 10:00 until 16:00. Opening hours of stores vary greatly between places though, especially in the countryside. Office hours are generally from 09:00 to 17:00 and opening hours of banks and post offices are generally from 09:15 to 16:00.
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How are the general prices in Iceland?
- Water at bars, restaurants and cafés: Free
- Milk, 1 litre: 90 ISK
- Coca-Cola ½ litre: 110 - 125 IS
- Hot dog: 150 - 200 ISK
- A loaf of bread: 200 - 250 ISK
- ½ litre beer at a restaurant or bar: 500 - 700 ISK
- ½ litre beer at liquor store: 160 - 200 ISK
- Petrol 1 litre: 110 ISK
- Entrance to nightclubs: Free - 1000 ISK
The VAT (value added tax) on nearly all groceries, CDs, books, newspapers, magazines and restaurant and hotel services was lowered from 14 and 24.5 percent to seven percent on 1st of mars 2007. The VAT on sugar and sweets was though notlowered.
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Is there any tax-free shops in Iceland?
A refund of local Value-Added Tax (VAT) is available to all visitors in Iceland. The refund will result in a reduction of up to 15% of the retail price, provided departure from Iceland is within 3 months after the date of purchase. The purchase amount must be no less than ISK 4,000 (VAT included) per store. All goods (except woolens) need to be shown at customs before check-in. At Keflavik airport this applies only to tax-free forms whose refund value exceeds ISK 5,000. For general information about Tax Free, how to shop Tax Free and where to get your refund, visit the website www.eng.is.eurorefund.com.
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What kind of monetary unit does Iceland have?
The Icelandic monetary unit is the krona (plural kronur) (ISK).
Coins are in denominations of:
- 100 kr.
- 50 kr.
- 10kr.
- 5 kr.
- 1 kr.
Bank notes are in denominations of:
- 5000 kr.,
- 2000 kr.,
- 1000 kr.,
- 500 kr.
All major currencies can be exchanged at the airport, banks and currency exchanges. Visa and MasterCard are accepted almost universally, and ATMs are generally not hard to find. For the latest currency rate go to this Currency Converter.
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What time zone is Iceland on?
Iceland is on Greenwich Mean Time all year around, and does not introduce summer time. At 12 noon in Iceland the time is:
|
City |
Summer |
Winter |
|
Chicago |
06:00 |
07:00 |
|
Copenhagen |
14:00 |
13:00 |
|
London |
13:00 |
12:00 |
|
Los Angeles |
04:00 |
05:00 |
|
New York |
07:00 |
11:00 |
|
São Paulo |
10:00 |
11:00 |
|
Sydney |
22:00 |
21:00 |
|
Tokyo |
21:00 |
20:00 |
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What is the telephone code into Iceland?
The code into Iceland from overseas is +354 plus a seven-digit number. There are no area codes.
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What is the tipping policy in Iceland?
Service and VAT are invariably included in prices in Iceland and tipping is never required. However, if you are very pleased with provided service, Icelanders are generally not offended if they are offered tip.
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Are there any post offices in Iceland?
There are post offices located in all major communities in Iceland. General hours are: Mon-Fri 09:00-16:30. Many post offices in Reykjavik are also open during the weekends. Information on opening hours can bee found on Iceland Post website, www.postur.is.
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What are Icelander like?
Quite Scandinavian, exceptionally friendly, highly educated, sophisticated, attractive, honest and very modern. Their ancestors were predominately Norwegian, although some came from the British Isles. Read more about Iceland's population.
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When are the public holidays in Iceland?
| Holiday |
2007 |
2008 |
| New Year´s Day |
Jan. 1st |
Jan. 1st |
| Maundy Thursday |
Apr. 5th |
March 20th |
| Good Friday |
Apr. 6th |
March 21st |
| Easter Sunday |
Apr. 8th |
March 23rd |
| Easter Monday |
Apr. 9th |
March 24th |
| First Day of Summer |
Apr. 19th |
Apr. 24th |
| Labour Day |
May 1st |
May 1st |
| Ascension Day |
May 17th |
May 1st |
| Whit Sunday |
May 27th |
May 11th |
| Whit Monday |
May 28th |
May 12th |
| National Day |
Jun. 17th |
Jun. 17th |
| Bank Holiday Monday |
Aug. 6th |
Aug. 4th |
| Christmas Eve (from noon) |
Dec. 24th |
Dec. 24th |
| Christmas Day |
Dec. 25th |
Dec. 25th |
| Boxing Day |
Dec. 26th |
Dec. 26th |
| New Year´s Eve (from noon) |
Dec. 31st |
Dec. 31st |
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What kind of language do Icelanders speak?
The countrie's written and spoken language is Icelandic, a Nordic language very similar to that spoken by Iceland's first settlers. Icelandic is one of the oldest living languages in Europe. English and Danish are mandatory subjects in school. Literacy is 99,9%, the highest in the world.
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Do Icelanders speak English?
Most Icelanders (especially those from their teenage years through their fifties) speak fluent English. In fact, they welcome the opportunity - so never be shy about approaching an Icelander.
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Is There any electricity in Iceland?
Icelandic electrical standards are European (50Hz, 240 volts) so many North American electrical devices will require converts. Plugs are generally two-pin, so devices brought in from the UK and North America wil require adapters.
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What is there to see in Iceland besides nature?
Nature is obviously a big part of the Icelandic experience - but it´s by no means the only part. Reykjavík is one of the liveliest, safest, most sophisticated and modern cities there is, and its nightlife and cultural activities have earned an exciting reputation. Other towns such as Akureyri in the north are worth visiting in their right too. For those who want to see both city and nature, the wilds begin just outside urban communities and a wide range of sightseeing tours are on offer from most of them.
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Can I plug my modem?
Generally, yes, jacks are standard. As you should do anywhere, though, always ask a hotel it it´s safe to plug a normal modem into your room phone jack. By the way, Icelanders have the highest rate of computer use in the world.
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Where in Reykjavik can I access the internet?
To check your e-mail or surf the net, drop in at one of Reykjavik’s Internet cafés or café Hot Spots with free wireless Internet service. Internet service is also available at the Tourist Information Centre on Adalstraeti, and at all branches of the City Library.
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What kind of mobile phone system is there in Iceland?
GSM:
There are two GSM operators in Iceland: Iceland Telecom (www.siminn.co.uk) and Vodafone (www.vodafone.is). Together they cover most of Iceland including all towns and villages with over 200 inhabitants. These two telephone companies both sell pre-paid GSM phone cards and offer GSM/GPRS services. Pre-paid cards are available at petrol stations around the country. GSM phones may be rented from Iceland Telecom, Ármúli 27, Reykjavik.
NMT:
Iceland Telecom’s NMT long-range mobile service covers most of Iceland, including the interior highlands, and is suitable for those who travel much in rural areas. NMT telephones can be rented from Iceland Telecom, Ármúli 27, Reykjavik.
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What is the visas policy is in Iceland?
Western Europeans and citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore do not require visas. Tourist stays are permitted for up to three months, and can be easily extended at local police stations. If you do not live in Western Europe or one of the countries mentioned above, then contact the Icelandic embassy or consulate in your country to make sure you have a valid visa before entering Iceland If there is not an Icelandic embassy or consulate in your country, you approach the Danish embassy or consulate Otherwise you will need to contact the Icelandic directorate on immigration (www.utl.is).
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Do I need to bring my passport?
A passport or other travel document accepted by Icelandic authorities valid at least three months beyond intended stay is required for visitors to Iceland. Further information visit the website www.utl.is or send an e-mail to utl@utl.is.
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Is there any army in Iceland?
Iceland has no army but a helpful policy. If you have any emergency contact: The Reykjavík police, for information only, Tel: +354 569 9020 or the local policy station. The Emergency phone number in Iceland is 112. (24 hours).
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Is there any pharmacies in Iceland?
Icelanders enjoy a healthy life, thanks to clean air and water and quality fish. Water is safe to drink throughout Iceland. Pharmacies are called "Apótek" and are open during normal business hours. Many are open at night. Reykjavík has a great many general practitioners, as well as specialists, many of whom will receive patients at short notice. There are also many Health Centres in Reykjavík, with officially appointed family doctors who receive patients at short notice during the day.
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Can I get a medical help in Iceland?
There is a medical centre or a hospital in all major cities and towns in Iceland. The emergency phone number (24 hours) in Iceland is 112.
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What is the health insurance policy in Iceland?
Citizens of Scandinavia have to show passport in case of medical emergency. Citizens of EEA countries must have the E-111 form, otherwise the patient will be charged in full. Citizens of other countries must be charged in full. For further information contact:
State Social Security Institute
Laugavegur 114
IS-105 Reykjavík
Tel.: +354 560 4400 & +354 560 4520
Fax: +354 562 5053
Opening hours: 08:05 - 15:30
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Can I get any news in English while I stay in Iceland?
A short news broadcast in English is made on State Radio, FM 93.5 and FM 92.4, every morning Mon - Fri at 07:31, from June 1st to Sept. 1st. A telephone recording of the broadcast can also be heard, Tel.: +354 515 3690. There is also an online magazine, called Iceland Review that offers Icelandic News in English
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We have a long layover in Reykjavik, what can we do to pass the time?
Iceland's main airport, Keflavik International Airport, sits on the Reykjanes peninsula and is a 40-minute drive from Reykjavik -- a haul when you have a plane to catch. If you're hungry, in the mood to shop or just want to stretch your legs, the little town of Keflavik is only five minutes by taxi. An even better excursion, though, is to the Blue Lagoon (www.bluelagoon.com), the famed geothermal waters. Tour buses depart daily from the airport, but most visits are timed to afternoon arrivals. Reykjavik Excursions (www.re.is), for one, leaves for the lagoon at 4:30 p.m.; the trip lasts three to five hours and costs $58 (including bus fare and entry fee). Iceland Excursions (www.icelandexcursions.is) also has day tours departing from the airport.
If tour times are inconvenient, take a 20-minute cab ride to the lagoon, then spend your layover soaking in the waters and indulging in spa treatments. You can rent bathing suits (about $5), bathrobes and towels.
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What kind of outdoor clothing should I bring with me?
We advise that for your maximum comfort you wear good shoes or boots. Bring a hat and gloves and also a waterproof outer garment. Wearing three layers of lightweight upper body clothing is the most effective method for retaining warmth. For your outdoor traveling in Iceland we recommend that buy some comfortable outdoor clothing from 66ºNorth, online or visit their many stores located in Reykjavik and around Iceland.
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