FAQ

Iceland has opened up its borders. All travelers who have been vaccinated or those who have had Covid-19 and have antibodies can now travel to Iceland.

For our latest information please visit our page Travelling to Iceland.

While waiting for standardization of an international digital vaccination certificate, the usual international vaccination certificate (yellow) is primarily used as proof regardless of where you were vaccinated. You can get this certificate at your vaccination clinic or health center. However, it is of utmost importance that it is filled in correctly and has a vaccine stamp or sticker and passport number.
 
Updated information regarding terms and requirements for other types of certificates can be found at the Directorate of Health.

Vaccination certificates must fulfill the following criteria

Must be submitted in Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English, or French. 

• First name and last name (comparable to travel documentation).
• Date of birth.
• Name of the vaccinated disease (Covid-19).
• Where and when the vaccinations took place (date(s))
• Vaccination must be complete; the number of doses required to complete the vaccination for each vaccine must be according to manufacturer recommendations.
• Information on the issuer of the certificate (Healthcare Professional/Institution), along with a signature in the case of an international vaccination certificate.
• Name of the vaccine.
• Manufacturer of vaccine and batch number.

Our prices are per person and based on two people sharing a double room. ‘From prices’ (e.g. from $480) displayed on the website indicate the best possible price we can offer for a certain trip in a given period. When booking you will always be offered the cheapest possible price we can offer you for the dates you have requested.

While most hotels and apart-hotels can be booked directly through our platform, a few offer room bookings on request. We cannot guarantee that a room will be available at these locations. However, if your booking request is rejected by the hotel, we will always provide you with an alternative accommodation. If the alternative does not meet your requirements, you can cancel your trip without incurring any charges.

In the rare event that an excursion is cancelled, we will issue a full refund of the amount paid. While it is unusual for excursions to be cancelled, it can happen occasionally, particularly for whale watching tours in bad weather. If your excursion is cancelled, we will offer you the option to reschedule for a different day. If this is not possible or does not suit you, we will promptly process a refund for the full amount you paid.

Icelandair lets each passenger travel with 50 lbs checked in luggage, as well as one piece of hand luggage of up to 22 lbs.

If you experience significant delays while traveling by air, the airline is required to provide you with reasonable assistance. Specifically, if your wait extends for a considerable period, the airline must offer complimentary food and beverages appropriate to the length of your delay. Additionally, if you are delayed overnight or longer, the airline is obligated to cover the cost of your accommodations.

Furthermore, the airline is always responsible for arranging alternate flights for you, whether you choose to travel as soon as possible or on a later date that suits your schedule.

If you have booked a package holiday with us that includes a flight, and that flight is subsequently cancelled by the airline, we will provide you with assistance and support. We can offer to reschedule your holiday for a later date, or we can issue a full refund for the trip.

Please note that in order to be eligible for a free rescheduling or refund, the airline must cancel your departure flight entirely. This means that receiving notice of a strike or other circumstances that may pose a risk of cancellation is not sufficient grounds for requesting a free rescheduling or refund.

If you have purchased a package holiday from us which includes a flight that is subsequently cancelled by the airline, we will provide assistance and help you. We can either rebook your holiday for a later date or we can refund you the full amount of the trip. Note that in order for you to be entitled to a free rebooking or to a refund, the airline needs to cancel your departure flight entirely. 

Passenger rights in the case of an air strike are governed by an EU Regulation. You can find detailed information about this regulation here.

If your trip is cancelled because of a volcanic eruption then we can either rebook your trip for a later date or we can refund you the full amount of the trip.

When volcanic eruptions occur, we follow the recommendations put out by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as to whether or not travel to Iceland is safe.

It is very rare that volcanic eruptions affect air traffic or travel to Iceland. Since we launched our business in 1997, this has only happened once – when Eyjafjallajökull erupted in 2010 and prevented air traffic from operating to and from Iceland for a few days.

Iceland is located in the North Atlantic, between North America and Europe.

As of 2022, the population of Iceland is estimated to be approximately 366,130 inhabitants. (Source: World Bank)

Reykjavík remains the largest city in Iceland, with a population of 131,136 inhabitants as of 2021. (Source: Statistics Iceland) The capital and its surrounding municipalities of Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, Garðabær, Mosfellsbær, and Seltjarnarnes make up the most densely populated urban area on the island, with a combined total of approximately 220,000 inhabitants. (Source: Statistics Iceland) Over 60% of all Icelanders reside in the capital region.

Other notable towns in Iceland include Akureyri, located in the north of the country, with a population of 18,513 inhabitants as of 2021. (Source: Statistics Iceland) Reykjanesbær, located approximately 50 km from Reykjavík, has a population of 19,428 inhabitants as of 2021. (Source: Statistics Iceland) Vestmannaeyjar, located on the south coast of Iceland, has a population of 4,265 inhabitants as of 2021. (Source: Statistics Iceland)

The area of Iceland is 103,000 km².

Of this total area about 1% is cultivated, 20% is pasture, 11% is covered by lava and 12% is covered by glaciers.

The highest mountain in Iceland is Hvannadalshnjúkur, which stands at 6,920 feet (2,109 meters).
The largest glacier in Iceland and all of Europe is Vatnajökull, covering an area of 3,211 square miles (8,300 km²).
The largest lake in Iceland is Lake Thingvalla, with an area of 32.4 square miles (83.7 km²).
Mývatn, known for its sea bird populations, is one of the most well-known lakes in Iceland.
The longest river in Iceland is Thjórsá, which stretches for 147 miles (237 km).
The largest waterfall in Iceland is Dettifoss, located in northern Iceland, with a flow of approximately 53,000 gallons (200,000 litres) of water per second.

Iceland was named the cleanest country in the world in 2010, according to Forbes online. In a study conducted by Yale and Columbia Universities, 163 countries were ranked on the basis of 25 different environmental criteria such as water and air quality, emissions and greenhouse gases and how the environment affects the population’s health. The highest possible score in the study was 100 – Iceland had a score of 93.5. Iceland got full marks in 11 of the 25 indicators. 

Source

Direct flights from these cities and carriers:
 

Boston (BOS)
Icelandair: daily
Delta: daily (ends in Oct)

New York City (JFK)
Icelandair: daily
Delta: daily

New York  (EWR)
Icelandair: daily
United Airline: daily (from Jun-Oct)

Washington  (IAD)
Icelandair: daily

Chicago (ORD)
Icelandair: daily (except Tuesdays)
United Airline: daily (from Jul-Oct)

Minneapolis (MSP)
Icelandair: daily (from Jun-Dec)
Delta: daily (ends in Oct)

Denver (DEN)
Icelandair: daily (ends in Jan)

Portland (PDX)
Icelandair: sun, wen, fri (from Jul-Oct)

Seattle / Tacoma (SEA)
Icelandair: daily

Vancouver (YVR)
Icelandair: mon, wen, fri (Jun-Oct)

Orlando (MCO)
Icelandair: daily (starts in Jul)

Connecting flights from other airports in the US are also available.

Please note that all passengers to Iceland must have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for three months (six months recommended) from the date of departure. Each passenger is responsible for obtaining all necessary travel documents. 

Tourist visas are not required for stays less than 90 days. For more information please visit Iceland International Travel Information on the website of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs.

It is an advantage to exchange currency in Iceland. Bureau de Change agencies are not common, but it’s easy to exchange money in normal banks. There are two banks at the airport, one just before passport control on the 3rd floor, and one after the baggage claim hall. These banks are always open in connection to flight arrivals. It is also possible to get cash from cash point machines around Iceland. Most credit cards are accepted in Iceland, but American Express is not widely accepted.

Iceland has a relatively mild climate thanks to the Golf Stream. It is likely that you experience varying weather conditions during your stay in Iceland. The weather changes fast. Icelandic people have a saying about the weather: “If you don’t like the weather, just wait 15 minutes”.

The average temperature is about 11°C during summer, and about 0°C during the coldest period, January to February.

During autumn, winter and spring you should bring light fleece/wool clothing, a sweater or cardigan, wind and rainproof clothing and solid shoes/boots. If you are spending time in Reykjavík its wise to bring some casual clothing to wear for dinners out or going out. Icelandic people are fashion forward and dress with style. Don’t forget your swimwear! A popular pastime with visitors and locals alike is bathing in the hot springs you find all around Iceland. Don’t miss the chance to experience this!

The food served in Iceland is world class, using fresh produce and executed well. Especially fish and lamb are popular and not to be missed. Vegetarian and lactose free food is sometimes available, but not that common.

Internet connection is widespread in Iceland, and most hotels, cafés, restaurants, bookstores and bars offer this for free. Many public places in Reykjavik city have free Wi-Fi access.

There are 3 GSM phone operators in Iceland. The three main being: Síminn, Vodafone, and Nova. The GSM network covers the Reykjavík area and the Southwest of Iceland, as well as any area with a population over 200 people. Icelandic "pay as you go" cards can be purchased at petrol stations all over the country. Hotels are equipped with telephones, but phone booths are not common. The international code for Iceland is +354.

In Iceland they use 220 volts with sockets of type C and F. In the United States type A and B is used, so you will need to bring an adapter!

Keflavík international airport is located 30 miles from Reykjavík. There is a buss transfer in connection with each arriving and departing flight, and the journey takes approximately 45 – 50 minutes. It is possible to catch a transfer that takes you past the famous Blue Lagoon in connection with some arriving/departing flights.

You can buy tax-free alcohol and other goods upon arrival in Iceland. You can bring in 1 L of spirit and 1 L of wine, as well as 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of other tobacco types. It is not permitted to import snus to Iceland. Travellers spending more than ISK 4000 in one shop can get the VAT returned (up to 15%). Ask for a tax-free receipt while shopping, which you need to show along with the unopened packaging at the airport, where you will get the VAT paid back.

Please note that it is forbidden to bring snus, raw meat and used horse tack to Iceland, as well as horse riding clothes and fishing equipment that has not been demonstrably disinfected.

For more information see: www.icetourist.is

Shops: Mon – Fri 10 am – 6 pm. Sat 10 am – 2 pm. Shopping centres have longer opening hours on Saturdays and Sundays. During summer some shops are closed on Saturdays.

Grocery stores: Most grocery stores are open Mon-Fri 10 am-18.30 pm, Sat. 10 am- 18pm, Sun 11 am- 17pm. There are also nightopen grocery stores/supermarkets in Reykjavik.

Banks: Mon – Fri 10 am – 4 pm.

Restaurants, cafes, and bars: Usually open between 10 am and 1 am all week. Nightclubs are open until 1 am during the week, and until 5 am at the weekend.

You can use the NUMBEO database to check approximate prices for food, drink and more in Iceland.
Prices are typically given in Icelandic króna (ISK).
The exchange rate as of February 2023: 1,000 ISK = 6,91$