Iceland travel guide

Getting there

Keflavík International Airport, around 50 km from Reykjavík, handles almost all international flights; a weekly car ferry links Seyðisfjörður in the east with Denmark via the Faroe Islands.

Best time to visit: Jun–Aug for the midnight sun and open roads; Sep–Mar for northern lights.

Tougher months: No bad time – but December and January have only a few hours of daylight and stormy roads, best for northern lights and ice caves rather than road trips.

Weather by month in Reykjavík

• 3°J●●
• 3°F●●
• 4°M●●
• 6°A●
• 10°M●
• 12°J●
• 14°J●
• 14°A●
• 11°S●●
• 7°O●●
• 4°N●●
• 3°D●●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Africa/Abidjan. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 93 of 198 other passports can enter Iceland without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 105 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of the Schengen Area (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-05-05). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Iceland travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Iceland are based around Reykjavík, Þingvellir National Park or South Coast & Vík. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$90–130 for a backpacker and US$230–380 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Iceland page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +354.

Mobile data: read the eSIM for Europe before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Reykjavík (Southwest · capital): A compact, colourful capital with Hallgrímskirkja church, the Harpa concert hall, cafés and pools.
• Þingvellir National Park (Golden Circle · history & geology): The site of the ancient Althing, set in a rift valley between tectonic plates.
• South Coast & Vík (South · waterfalls & black beaches): Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss and the basalt columns of Reynisfjara line a classic road trip.
• Jökulsárlón (Southeast · glacier lagoon): A lagoon of floating icebergs at the foot of Vatnajökull, with seals often bobbing among them.
• Snæfellsnes Peninsula (West · Iceland in miniature): Lava fields, fishing villages, Kirkjufell mountain and a glacier-capped volcano.
• Akureyri (North · town): Iceland's northern capital, a gateway to whale watching and the Lake Mývatn area.
• Lake Mývatn (North · volcanic landscapes): Craters, lava formations, bubbling mud pots and a nature bath in a strange volcanic landscape.
• Westfjords (Northwest · remote fjords): Dramatic fjords, bird cliffs and the waterfall of Dynjandi in Iceland's least-visited region.

Things to do

• Drive the Golden Circle. See the rift valley of Þingvellir, the erupting Strokkur geyser and the thundering Gullfoss waterfall in one day.
• Chase the northern lights. Head away from city lights on a clear winter night to watch green ribbons dance across the sky.
• Soak in a geothermal pool. Join locals in a neighbourhood hot pot or a natural hot spring for the true Icelandic social ritual.
• Hike on a glacier. Strap on crampons with a certified guide to explore blue ice and crevasses on an outlet glacier.
• Explore an ice cave. In winter, enter a glowing blue cave beneath Vatnajökull, Europe's largest ice cap by volume, on a guided tour.
• Watch icebergs at Jökulsárlón. See icebergs drift through a glacial lagoon and wash up on the black sands of Diamond Beach.
• Walk behind a waterfall. Follow the path behind the curtain of Seljalandsfoss on the south coast.
• Go whale watching. Sail from Húsavík or Reykjavík to spot humpbacks, minke whales and dolphins.

Source: full Iceland guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Kjötsúpa – hearty lamb and vegetable soup
• Skyr – thick, creamy dairy similar to yoghurt
• Plokkfiskur – mashed fish and potato stew
• Pylsur – Icelandic hot dog with crispy onions

Source: RoamSun Iceland guide

Money and safety

Currency: Icelandic króna (ISK). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not expected.

Emergency numbers: 112 police, fire & ambulance.

• The currency is the Icelandic króna, but cards are accepted almost everywhere, even for small amounts.
• You may rarely need cash; contactless payment is the norm, though some fuel pumps need a card PIN.
• Check road conditions and weather warnings daily, as storms can close roads quickly.
• Never go onto glaciers or into ice caves without a certified guide.

Source: RoamSun Iceland facts