More Iceland Info

A few good things to know about Iceland!

• The Icelandic Króna or ISK is the currency of Iceland. It is quite important that you have enough ISK coins with you because in some places you have to pay 100/200 ISK (69¢ to $1.38) to use the bathroom. For almost everything else credit, debit and Caxton type cards are accepted, even for small purchases such as a coffee. Other currencies are very rarely accepted. ATMs can be found in Reykjavík and in the small towns you will visit. Outside of the towns there are very few ATMs. (1 ISK = .0069 USD or about 7¢)
• Electrical devices: F-Type two prong plugs are used in Iceland; the power supply is 230V and 50Hz. You need to use an adapter if you are from the UK, USA or another country using different plugs, voltage or hertz.
• The mobile phone connection in Iceland is strong in most places. Some overseas mobile services do not work here, and their fees vary. An Icelandic SIM card will overcome these issues. We recommend getting an Icelandic SIM card if you wish to have signal throughout your trip. Iceland has the highest percentage of internet users in the world and the 4G connection is mostly excellent, although, there are a few places along the road where the connection is spotty.
• Bathing suits: Just bring one! With great swimming pools and hot tubs, you will regret it if you don´t.
• Drinking Water: Icelandic water is among the purest and best in the world, just use the cold tap.
• Hot Water: Icelanders make good use of their geothermal hot water to heat their homes and shower. Sometimes there is a sulfur smell, run the cold tap a little before you take a drink, and all will be fine!
• Swimming pools: Icelanders love their many outdoor swimming pools and hot tubs. Just remember to shower using soap/shampoo without your bathing suit before you swim!
• Emergency numbers: You just dial 112 and explain the service you need, everyone speaks English.
• Drinking laws: The legal drinking age is 20 years. You can ONLY buy alcohol from state liquor stores called Vínbúðin, opening hours are quite limited and vary between stores. If you see beer or wine in grocery shops, do not be fooled, the alcohol content of these drinks will be virtually zero!
• Smoking: You are not permitted to smoke in hotels, bars, restaurants, or other public buildings; some have smoking areas. It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under 18, proof of age is required.
• Manners: Take off your shoes if you visit someone, many hotels and guest houses also ask their guests to do so. Blowing your nose in company, particularly at the table, is bad manners in Iceland.
• Prices: A swim will cost you around 900 ISK ($6.23), a hot dog is even cheaper, a pot of yoghurt or Icelandic Skyr is around 350 ISK ($2.42), after that it gets a little more expensive! You should expect to pay 2000/3000 ISK ($13.85/$20.78) per day for lunch, and your evening meals will cost 2500/6500 ISK ($17.32/$45.03) each. So, on average you need to budget around 7000 ISK ($48.49) per person per day for lunch & dinner. A beer is about 1000/1400 ISK ($6.93/$9.70), and wine is about 1000/1500 ISK ($6.93/$10.39) per glass.

Weather and daylight in Iceland

• Iceland has a subarctic climate with relatively mild temperatures, compared to other countries of similar latitude. This is partly because of its position in the North Atlantic, lying at the top of the Gulf Stream which flows through the country moderating the climate. However, warm air mixing with the cold Arctic air coming from the north causes sudden and frequent changes in the weather. As you might know from reading about Iceland, the island is definitely very well-known for its unpredictable weather which changes frequently.
• They have a saying in Iceland: “If you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes!”. That does not necessarily mean that the weather will change for the better, though. However, we like to look at it, experiencing the weather here as an adventure in itself, an exciting and changeable one. It means you can visit the same place twice and experience it completely differently depending whether you saw it on a sunny summer day or a snow-covered winter day. The other factors playing a part in the weather are the seasons and which part of the country you are in.
• Daylight is another key factor when it comes to traveling around Iceland, there is almost 24/7 daylight during the summer months because the sun does not dip far enough below the horizon to cause darkness, this phenomenon is often referred to as midnight sun. In the darkest depths of winter there are a few hours of daylight each day, these times can be sunny and bright. Sunglasses are more useful in the winter months than you might imagine, the sun will not rise high above the horizon and reflected light from snow and ocean can be intense.
• Periods of daylight and many other factors have an influence on our itinerary but don’t worry, your experienced guides always have a plan to make the best of the situation. We kindly ask that you are show a little flexibility if circumstances make it necessary for us to alter the itinerary.