Top Iceland travel tips: Plan the perfect visit
Date
26. Feb 202626. Feb 26
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5 min
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Welcome to Iceland!
We’re a small, safe, and modern Nordic nation, known for our dramatic landscapes and endless adventure opportunities.
Despite its wild and rugged appearance, Iceland is easy to navigate and well set up for visitors who want to explore everything it has to offer, making it a popular choice for both first-time and seasoned travelers.
Thinking about exploring our beautiful country? Here are a few essentials that are good to learn about before you visit our North Atlantic home. From common questions to tips around safety and flying in, learn everything you need to know in our guide covering the essential Iceland travel tips.
Where is Iceland?
First things first: Wondering where Iceland is on a map?
Iceland is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Arctic Circle. You’ll find it to the east of Greenland, and northwest of mainland Europe.
The country is located between North America and Europe. In fact, while Iceland is considered part of Europe, strongly affiliated with northern Europe thanks to historical and cultural ties, it does straddle the tectonic plates of North America and Eurasia. In Iceland, you can see points where the plates meet – for example at the Bridge Between Continents landmark on the Reykjanes peninsula.
Iceland is a Nordic country, alongside Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Faroe Islands. The terms Scandinavia and Scandinavian are often used as synonyms for Nordic in English – but in fact, Iceland is not Scandinavia. Technically, Scandinavia refers just to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Key facts about Iceland
Getting familiar with a few facts about Iceland can make planning your trip easier and help you feel more confident once you arrive.
From population size to currency and time zones, these basics provide useful context for navigating a new country.
Iceland’s capital is Reykjavík, located in the southwest of the country.
The city’s name translates to ‘Smoky Bay’, because the first Norse settler, Ingólfur Arnarson, mistook the steam rising from the area’s abundant geothermal hot springs for smoke when he arrived in 874 AD.
The population of Iceland is relatively small, with 395,000 people living across the country.
The majority of residents live in the country’s southwest. The capital city, Reykjavík, is home to roughly 139,000, while the greater Reykjavík area is home to around 250,000 – almost two-thirds of the entire population.
Reykjavík itself feels compact and is easy to explore on foot. Its size makes it an ideal introduction to Icelandic culture and daily life, with plenty of museums, cozy cafes, and unmissable landmarks close together. You can get a sense of the city’s character by making the most of a guided Reykjavík walking tour.
Iceland covers approximately 103,000 square kilometers (39,770 square miles), making it the second-largest island in Europe (behind Great Britain, which is more than double the size of Iceland). England itself is 130,000 square kilometers, or 50,000 square miles.
A good comparison of country size is Ireland, at approx 85,000 square kilometers (33,000 square miles), including Northern Ireland. Other European countries of a similar size are Bulgaria and Hungary.
Across the Atlantic, Iceland is tiny compared to the United States. To give you an idea, it’s nearly the same size as the state of Kentucky.
The Icelandic flag features a Nordic cross design (a cross on a rectangular background), with a blue background and a red cross with a white outline. The other Nordic nations, like Norway and Denmark, share the same basic cross design, with different colors.
For Iceland, the three colors of the flag represent the landscapes and elements that Iceland is so known for: blue for the mountains, sea, and sky; red for the fire of the volcanoes; and white for the ice of the glaciers.
Iceland observes Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), putting it in the same time zone as the UK and Ireland, and an hour behind Western Europe.
For travelers from the United States and Canada, Iceland is usually five hours ahead of Eastern Time and eight hours ahead of Pacific Time.
Note: In Iceland, the clocks don’t move for summer (daylight saving) time. So, if you’re visiting from the UK, there’s no time difference during the winter, and Iceland is one hour behind during British Summer Time.
The local currency is the Icelandic króna (plural krónur), which is written as ISK and may also be seen as kr.
Iceland is almost a cashless society – most locals pay for everything by card, even for a coffee or parking. So, many visitors find that they rarely need to use cash. That said, carrying a small amount of krónur might be useful as a backup.
US travelers should also note that Iceland relies on chip-and-pin card systems, so swipe-and-sign cards may not always work. Mobile payments are common, and ATMs are usually easy to find in towns and cities, should you need access to cash.
It’s worth noting differences in the way numbers are written in Iceland, which can confuse some visitors. A comma (,) is used as the decimal separator and a period (.) is used to separate thousands. So, if you see a price of 10.499,00 ISK, reverse the punctuation! This would be written as 10,499.00 ISK in most English-speaking countries.
The national language is Icelandic, but English is taught from an early age, and you’ll find that most locals speak excellent English, especially in tourism-related roles.
Road signs, menus, and visitor information are often available in English, making Iceland an easy destination for first-time travelers.
While you’ll have no problem getting by using English, Icelanders are grateful anytime a visitor tries to use phrases like ‘góðan daginn’ (meaning good morning or good afternoon and pronounced goh-than dai-yin) or ‘takk’ (meaning thank you and pronounced tahk).
Iceland uses plugs with two round pins, similar to those used in most of continental Europe, so visitors from North America and the UK will need adaptors.
Electricity in Iceland operates at 220 volts, the same voltage as in Europe. If you bring electronics from the US or Canada, you’ll need an adapter for both the plugs and the current.
The Icelandic flag.
What is Iceland known for?
So, now we’ve covered some key facts, what is Iceland actually like? And what is it best known for?
Safety and practical tips
Iceland is ranked as one of the safest countries in the world, and it’s a great destination for solo travelers. Traveling to Iceland alone is popular with both female and male adventurers, thanks in part to the low crime rates and impressive tourism infrastructure, which make independent exploration easy.
In fact, most safety considerations in Iceland actually relate to nature and weather rather than personal security. Conditions can change quickly, with strong winds, sudden storms, and slippery terrain common in some areas. Remember to stay safe on your travels, and check out safetravel.is for lots of important information, including driving and hiking tips. Another top Iceland travel tip is to monitor weather forecasts via vedur.is. This will help you plan your day and keep you safe from the changing weather.
When exploring remote areas, following marked paths, respecting closures, and booking trusted guides for activities like glacier hikes or volcano tours can help minimize risks and ensure a safe experience.
Flying to Iceland
Not sure where to fly into Iceland? Well, most international travelers arrive into Keflavík International Airport (KEF), located about 45 minutes from Reykjavík. Keflavík is Iceland’s main international gateway and offers connections to cities across North America and Europe, as well as to Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
However, there are a handful of other airports in Iceland that make domestic travel easy. These allow you to reach other parts of the country more quickly, particularly if time is limited or if you’re visiting more remote regions.
Final tips to make the most of your trip
Here are a few final things to keep in mind when planning your trip:
- Pack smart It doesn’t get as cold in winter as you might think, but the weather can be unpredictable. Bring clothes to wear in layers – even in summer – and a good-quality windproof jacket. Most importantly, don’t forget your swimsuit! Visiting our geothermal pools is a highlight of most trips.
- Bring a reusable bottle There’s no need to buy bottled water when you’re here. Our tap water is pure, clean, tasty, and free. You may notice the hot water has a slightly sulfurous smell, but it’s plentiful; we even use it to heat our homes.
- Consider hiring a car To really experience all that Iceland has to offer, renting a car and driving yourself offers flexibility and access to lesser-known sites. Iceland’s infrastructure is designed for road trips, with Highway 1, also known as the Ring Road, looping around the entire island for 1,323 km (822 miles).
- Book in advance Booking accommodations, tours, and rental cars ahead of time is key, especially if you’re traveling in peak season. Consider traveling during the shoulder or winter seasons to avoid crowds and help stretch your budget further, and enjoy different perspectives on Iceland’s landscapes.
Ready to plan your Iceland trip?
Whether you’re after epic road trips or want to get up close and personal with the country’s natural wonders, Iceland is a destination that rewards curiosity and has something for every kind of traveler.
If you’re dreaming of waterfalls and glaciers or diving into hot springs and Icelandic culture, you can turn those ideas into reality with Icelandair. Our range of vacation packages makes planning your trip refreshingly simple. Choose from expertly curated itineraries that bundle flights, accommodation, and unforgettable experiences. It’s an easy way to explore more of Iceland, with the peace of mind that the essentials are already taken care of.
Looking for even more inspiration? Browse our planning articles for practical tips and seasonal ideas, including finding a great spot for northern lights gazing or experiencing Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. However you choose to experience Iceland, your adventure starts here.
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