Practical A–Z

Visa

Iceland is part of the Schengen Area and the EEA (European Economic Area). For citizens from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland:

• No visa required — entry with ID card or passport (both must be valid)
• Stay up to 90 days without registration
• No border controls when entering from the Schengen Area (in practice: passport is often checked at the airport)

Customs

Important import restrictions:

• Alcohol: 1 liter of spirits + 0.75 liter of wine + 3 liters of beer OR 1 liter of spirits + 6 liters of beer OR 1.5 liters of wine + 6 liters of beer
• Food: Max. 3 kg, value max. 25,000 ISK. Raw meat, raw dairy products, and raw eggs are PROHIBITED
• Fishing: Own fishing equipment must be disinfected upon entry (or present a disinfection certificate). Riding clothing and saddles as well — to protect the Icelandic horse population from imported diseases!

Icelandic Króna (ISK)

The Icelandic Króna is the smallest currency in the world by circulation. Current rate (2025/2026): 1€ ≈ 150 ISK. The Króna fluctuates significantly — before the financial crisis in 2008, it was 1€ = 90 ISK, then it fell to 1€ = 190 ISK.

Coins: 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 ISK. Notes: 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 ISK.

Cashless — Iceland's Paradise

Iceland is practically a cashless society. Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted everywhere — even at hot dog stands, campsites, and the most remote gas stations. You hardly need cash!

• Credit card with PIN: Mandatory! Many gas stations are unmanned and only accept cards with a 4-digit PIN
• Contactless payment (NFC): Widespread, including Apple Pay and Google Pay
• ATMs: In all cities and larger towns. Not in the highlands!
• Exchanging currency: Unnecessary — just pay by card in ISK. Your bank will automatically convert

The Icelandic Highlands

The highlands (Hálendið) make up about 40% of the country's area and are Iceland's last wilderness: Uninhabited, without infrastructure, only accessible via F-roads (Fjallvegir = mountain roads). It is a landscape of lava fields, colorful rhyolite mountains, glacial rivers, and absolute solitude.

F-Roads — Rules

• ONLY with a 4x4 vehicle! This is law, not a recommendation. Anyone driving a 2WD on F-roads immediately loses insurance coverage and risks fines of 200,000–500,000 ISK (1,300–3,300€)
• Season: Most F-roads are only open from end of June to September. Check status on road.is and safetravel.is
• River crossings (fording): Many F-roads cross unbridged rivers. This is the greatest danger! Rules: Cross glacial rivers in the morning (lowest water level), never alone, always test depth on foot first (maximum knee-high!), drive in low gear and steadily — never stop!
• Off-road ban: Driving off marked roads is strictly prohibited — fines up to 500,000 ISK (3,300€)! The vegetation (moss, lichens) takes 50–100 years to recover. Tire tracks on Icelandic moss are an ecological disaster

Highlights in the Highlands

• Landmannalaugar: Colorful rhyolite mountains in red, yellow, green, and violet — like a painting. Hot spring at the campsite. F225/F208. Also accessible by highland bus!
• Þórsmörk: Green valley between the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull — spectacularly beautiful. F249 (challenging fords!). Endpoint of the Fimmvörðuháls trail from Skógafoss
• Askja & Víti: Huge volcanic crater with a warm, milky-turquoise lake for bathing. F88/F910. Full-day trip from Mývatn
• Sprengisandur: The longest highland track (F26), 200 km through absolute desolation between Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull. For experienced off-roaders
• Kerlingarfjöll: Geothermal highland area with steaming colorful mountains, hot springs, and glacier views. F35. One of Iceland's most spectacular landscapes

The World's Most Famous Thermal Bath

The Blue Lagoon (Bláa Lónið) on the Reykjanes Peninsula is Iceland's number 1 tourist magnet — and accordingly organized. No entry without prior booking!

Packages

Practical Tips

• When to book? At least 2–4 weeks in advance, in summer 4–6 weeks. Almost never available at short notice!
• Best time: The first slot of the day (often 7 or 8 am) is the least crowded. Alternatively: Evening slots (in winter: Northern Lights from the warm water — magical!)
• Hair: Apply plenty of conditioner BEFORE entering the water — the silica makes hair straw-like and dry. The lagoon provides conditioner in the showers
• How to get there? 20 min from Keflavík Airport, 50 min from Reykjavík. Perfect as the first or last stop of the trip. Luggage can be stored on-site
• Alternatives: Sky Lagoon (closer to Reykjavík, more modern, cheaper), Secret Lagoon (on the Golden Circle, more authentic), Mývatn Nature Baths (North Iceland, fewer tourists), Krauma (West Iceland, new facility)

Iceland's Weather — Expect the Unexpected

The Icelandic saying "Ef þér líkar ekki veðrið, bíddu í fimm mínútur" (If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes) is no exaggeration. In a single day, you can experience sunshine, rain, hail, snow, and storm — sometimes simultaneously.

The weather is determined by the collision of polar and tropical air masses over the North Atlantic. The Gulf Stream keeps temperatures milder than the latitude suggests (Reykjavík is at 64°N, but the average January day is 1°C — warmer than New York!), but it also brings constant moisture.

The Layer Principle

Dress in layers — the most important advice for Iceland:

• Base: Merino wool or functional underwear (NO cotton — gets wet and cools down). Merino regulates temperature and doesn't smell even after days
• Insulation: Fleece or lightweight down jacket (synthetic is better in rain than down)
• Outer layer: Wind and waterproof jacket and pants — the most important piece! Look for fully sealed seams and a hood that can be tightened in a storm
• Accessories: Hat, gloves, and buff/scarf — even in summer for mountain tours and glacier hikes

Shoes

Waterproof hiking boots with good tread are essential. Sneakers are enough for Reykjavík, but for everything else, you need sturdy shoes. For glacier hikes, high hiking boots are mandatory (crampons are strapped over them). Rubber boots are useful for fording, the Gljúfrabúi waterfall, and wet hiking trails.

Wind — The Underestimated Enemy

The wind in Iceland is brutal. Storm gusts of 100+ km/h are not uncommon, and even on "normal" days, it blows strongly. Consequences:

• Open car doors carefully and hold them! The wind rips off doors — the most common insurance event with rental cars in Iceland
• Fly drones only in calm conditions (max. 5 m/s)
• Lightweight items (tents, bags, hats) are immediately blown away
• Be careful in exposed places (cliffs, mountains): The wind can literally knock you over
• The vedur.is app shows wind speeds and warnings — check it every morning

Camping in Iceland

Camping is the cheapest way to travel in Iceland, and the campsites are well-equipped. There are over 170 official campsites across the country.

Campsites

• Price: 1,500–3,000 ISK (10–20€) per person/night
• Facilities: WC, showers (sometimes for an extra charge of 200–500 ISK), kitchen (not always), electricity (sometimes). Well-equipped in Reykjavík and at hotspots, simple in the highlands
• Camping Card: About 200€ for 28 nights at 40+ campsites — pays off after about 10 nights. Available online at campingcard.is or at the tourist office
• Season: Most campsites are open mid-June to end of August. Some year-round sites in Reykjavík and Akureyri

The Best Campsites

• Reykjavík Campsite (Laugardalur): Centrally located, next to the city's largest swimming pool. Large site, good facilities
• Þingvellir: In the national park, surrounded by history and nature. Reservation recommended
• Skaftafell: At the foot of the Vatnajökull glacier, in birch forest. One of the most atmospheric
• Ásbyrgi: In the horseshoe-shaped canyon, in birch forest. Mystical and quiet
• Landmannalaugar: In the highlands, next to the hot spring. Simple but unforgettable

Wild Camping — The Rules

Since 2015, stricter rules apply:

• Wild camping with a tent is allowed on uncultivated land, but ONLY with the landowner's permission and only for a maximum of one night. In practice: Always stay at official campsites
• Campervans and motorhomes may ONLY stay at official campsites — not by the roadside, not in parking lots! Fines up to 150,000 ISK (1,000€)
• Nature reserves: Wild camping is generally prohibited
• Toilet: Leave NO traces. Use campsite toilets or bury human waste at least 15 cm deep and 30 meters away from water bodies

General Safety

Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world — the crime rate is extremely low, there is no army, and the police do not carry firearms (they are locked in the car). Violent crime against tourists is practically unknown. The only shot ever fired by the Icelandic police in the country's history was in 2013 — a tragic isolated incident.

The dangers in Iceland come from nature:

• Weather: Sudden storms, whiteouts, temperature drops. Always check vedur.is (weather service), especially wind warnings (orange and red alert level = do not drive!)
• Waves: Sneaker waves on the south coast (Reynisfjara!) — deadly! Several fatalities in recent years
• Geothermal: Boiling water in hot springs — never leave marked areas. Burns are the most common injury among tourists
• Glaciers: Never enter without a certified guide (hidden crevasses, ice breakage)
• Rivers: Glacial rivers swell suddenly — never ford recklessly
• Cliffs: Often unsecured, windy, wet rock. Especially Dyrhólaey, Látrabjarg, and Dettifoss
• Volcanoes: Eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula since 2021. Current info on safetravel.is

Important Numbers & Apps

ICE-SAR — Heroes in Orange

The ICE-SAR (Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue) are Iceland's voluntary rescue teams — over 4,000 volunteers in 100 rescue teams across the country. They rescue tourists from rivers, glaciers, snowstorms, and cliffs — free of charge and without reproach. The teams are funded by donations. A donation on icesar.is is a nice way to say thank you — especially if you were rescued!

Mobile Network in Iceland

Iceland has a surprisingly good mobile network along the Ring Road and in all towns. The three providers are Síminn (largest coverage, also in the highlands), Vodafone Iceland, and Nova. 4G/LTE is standard in populated areas, and 5G is being expanded in Reykjavík.

Roaming or Local SIM?

Network Coverage — Where There Is No Network

Important to know: Away from the Ring Road and towns, there is no mobile reception. This particularly affects:

• The entire highlands — all F-roads are without network. Offline maps (maps.me, Google Maps offline) are mandatory!
• Westfjords — large stretches without reception, especially between Ísafjörður and Látrabjarg
• Hornstrandir Nature Reserve — completely without network
• Parts of the Eastfjords — often no reception in the fjords
• Hikes away from the road — even short hikes can be in radio shadow

Wi-Fi

Virtually all hotels, guesthouses, hostels, and cafés offer free Wi-Fi. The speed is usually good — Iceland's internet infrastructure is top-notch thanks to fiber optic expansion (average: 200+ Mbit/s). On campsites, Wi-Fi is often available but slow and sometimes chargeable.

Supermarkets

Food prices in Iceland are 50–100% higher than in Germany. The main supermarket chains by price:

Duty-Free — The Most Important Tip!

The Duty-Free shop at Keflavík Airport (in the arrivals area!) is the cheapest place in all of Iceland for alcohol, tobacco, and perfume. Alcohol is not available in supermarkets — only in state-run Vínbúðin stores (limited opening hours, high prices). A six-pack of beer in Vínbúðin costs about 2,500 ISK (17€), half in Duty-Free. So buy your alcohol supply upon arrival in Duty-Free!

Souvenirs — What Is Worth It?

• Icelandic Wool (Lopapeysa): The famous Icelandic sweater with the traditional yoke pattern is THE souvenir par excellence. Hand-knitted from 25,000 ISK (167€), machine-made from 12,000 ISK (80€). Genuine craftsmanship can be found at the Handknitting Association of Iceland (Handprjónasamband Íslands) on Skólavörðustígur in Reykjavík — Icelandic women knit in the shop here
• Omnom Chocolate: Iceland's craft chocolate from Reykjavík — award-winning, beautifully packaged, and the factory in Grandi offers tours. From 1,200 ISK (8€)
• Lava Salt (Saltverk): Hand-harvested sea salt from the Westfjords, smoked with Icelandic lava. Perfect cooking souvenir from 1,500 ISK (10€)
• Icelandic Music: From Björk to Sigur Rós to Of Monsters and Men — Iceland produces a disproportionate number of world-class musicians. Buy vinyl at the 12 Tónar store in Reykjavík (with coffee and listening samples!)
• Brennivín: The "Black Death" schnapps (caraway) is Iceland's national spirit. Best bought in Duty-Free upon departure
• Puffin Kitsch: Puffins on everything — mugs, magnets, socks. Tourism kitsch, but irresistible
• Books: Iceland has the highest book publication rate per capita in the world. Icelandic crime novels (Arnaldur Indriðason, Ragnar Jónasson) and the sagas in English translation are wonderful mementos

Shopping Streets in Reykjavík

• Laugavegur: The main shopping street — fashion, design, souvenirs, outdoor shops, cafés. This is the heart of the city
• Skólavörðustígur: The street leading up to Hallgrímskirkja — galleries, jewelry, crafts, the Handknitting Association
• Grandi Harbor District: The up-and-coming creative district — Omnom chocolate factory, Marshallhúsið art gallery, Saga Museum, fish restaurants. Less touristy than Laugavegur