General information on Iceland

Visa & entry requirements

Do you know which documents you'll need to travel to Iceland? Plan ahead and find out if you need your passport, visa, national ID or all of the above!

Weather

Spring, summer, autumn or winter: learn all about the weather in Iceland so you can decide when to travel and what to pack!

Prices

Discover how much it costs to travel to Iceland and create your budget. Plan ahead to save money on your trip!

Language

The official language of Iceland is Icelandic. This article is full of helpful advice and basic phrases you can use to make your trip easier.

Opening times

Learn when shops, museums and other tourist attractions open and close in Iceland, so you can plan to make the most of your trip!

Currency

The official currency of Iceland is the Icelandic króna (ISK). Discover where to exchange money, what the best rates are and more with our handy guide.

Public holidays

Find out when monuments will be open and what dates to visit to celebrate holidays like a local. Discover Iceland's public holiday dates.

History of Iceland

Explore the history of Iceland, the Land of Fire and Ice: discover who were its first settlers and delve into its Viking cultural heritage.

Geography of Iceland

Discover the geography of Iceland, the second largest island in Europe, and get to know the diversity of its landscapes and all their peculiarities.

Movies and TV filmed in Iceland

What movies and TV series have been filmed in Iceland? Discover iconic filming locations from Game of Thrones and more.

Reykjavik City Card

The Reykjavik City Card is a tourist pass that gives you free entry to the top museums and attractions, unlimited use of city buses and a ferry ride!

The basics...

Iceland in numbers

Iceland has a population of just over 362,000. There are more sheep (460,000) than Icelanders!

Geography

Iceland is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, west of Norway and north of the United Kingdom. As an island, it has no border with any other European country, although its closest territories are Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Iceland's geography is very particular, marked by volcanic landscapes and immense glaciers - they cover more than 15% of the island!

Time zone

Iceland is on GMT throughout the year: there is no daylight saving time.

Electricity and plugs

Iceland uses standard European plugs (two rounded prongs) and the electricity is 220V.

Currency

The official currency of Iceland is the króna (ISK).

Healthcare

Healthcare standards are high in Iceland and many doctors and medical staff speak English, although services are limited outside of towns and cities. No vaccinations are required to travel to Iceland, although it's always advisable to make sure your general vaccinations are up to date anyway. Tap water is perfectly safe to drink.

Citizens of Europe have access to emergency medical treatment with their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and are charged the same fee as locals for these services. The EHIC can be acquired online via each country's government health department website.

Citizens from other countries can obtain medical assistance but must pay in full. Whether you have an EHIC or not, we highly recommend that you have comprehensive travel insurance to cover all eventualities.