Meet in the Middle

Iceland is located right in the middle between the east coast of USA and Europe and is easily accessible.  Today 24 airlines are flying regularly with scheduled flights to Iceland. Two Icelandic airlines, Icelandair and PLAY are operating scheduled flights between the USA and Europe, on an annual basis.

Reykjavík

Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland and its surroundings, is the home of more than half of the country’s 372.500 inhabitants. Named after the steam from the geothermal areas the city is now known for its clean air and beautiful surroundings. In Reykjavík you have opportunities for historical sites, natural beauty, museums and galleries, public parks, excellent shopping, a wide range of leisure activities, hotels, restaurants and a remarkably lively artistic scene.

Passport & visa regulation

Iceland is an associate member of the Schengen Agreement, which exempts travelers from personal border controls between 22 EU countries. For residents outside the Schengen area, a valid passport is required for at least three months beyond date of entry.

For information on passport and visa requirements as well as the Schengen area regulations, visit the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration: www.utl.is/english

Healthcare

Medical care can be obtained by visiting  a Health care centre. Citizens of EEA countries must bring their EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card), otherwise they will be charged in full. Non-EEA citizens are not covered by the EEA regulations and will be charged in full,  we recommend you purchase travel and health insurance before you visit. Emergency number: 112

No vaccination certificates are required. There are no snakes or dangerous wild animals in Iceland.

Icelandic water & swimming pools

When travelling in Iceland you may notice an “eggy” smell when running hot water that is simply a naturally occurring smell from the geothermal water source. As for drinking water, it is perfectly safe to drink water from the tap in Iceland and we are known to have the best water in the world.

Iceland is privileged with many natural resources and geothermal water is one of them, filling our natural hot springs, nature pools, swimming pools and baths all around the country. We recommend that you go for a swim at least one time during your stay in Iceland.

Climate

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Iceland enjoys a cool, temperate maritime climate, cool in summer and fairly mild in winter. However, the weather is very changeable, and tourists should be prepared for the unexpected. View more at the Icelandic Met Office at en.vedur.is.

You can get sun, rain, heavy wind, calm wind and even sleet all on the same day.

Money

The Icelandic monetary unit is króna (ISK). You can use all major credit cards in Iceland. As cash is seldom used in Iceland we recommend that you do not exchange currency or withdraw Icelandic cash from an ATM. (ATM  = Hraðbanki)

NOTE FOR VISITORS FROM THE USA
Iceland uses cards with the chip-and-PIN system, which requires a 4-digit PIN for purchases. If you have a traditional “swipe and sign” card, you may wish to inquire about getting a chip-card from your bank or a major credit card issuer before traveling.

Electricity

Iceland uses Northern European electrical standards (50 Hz/220 volts) so converters may be required for small electrical appliances brought from home.

Iceland uses the standard Europlug socket with two round prongs.

Airport transfer - car rental

The distance from Keflavík International Airport to Reykjavík is 55 km, or 45 minutes drive. There are shuttle services between hotels in Reykjavík and Keflavík airport in connection with arrivals and departures. Taxi service is also available.

For further information:
See: https://igc.tourdesk.is/Transportation

If you want to rent a car; see here

https://igc.tourdesk.is/CarRental

Duty free - tax refund

Duty-free goods may be purchased both upon arrival and departure at Keflavík Airport. The duty-free allowance is 6 units of alcohol. It is prohibited to bring uncooked meat and various meat products (salami, smoked meat, etc.) into the country. Fríhöfnin – Duty Free Iceland

Upon departure, visitors to Iceland can reclaim the VAT tax paid on purchases in the country. The refund voucher should be presented to the Duty-Free shop at Keflavík Airport or other departure points.
See: Tax refund

shopping hours

There are many excellent shops in Reykjavík. Visitors will find a wide selection of goods both in the downtown area and at Kringlan and Smáralind shopping malls, offering woollen products, ceramics, jewelry and skin and fur products.

Stores are open from 10.00-18:00 on weekdays, but have variable opening hours on weekends.