Reykjavik

Currency

Iceland uses the króna and is genuinely cashless — you can complete an entire trip without withdrawing a single note. Do not bother exchanging money before you arrive.

ATMs & cards

Landsbankinn and Arion banki machines exist but you will rarely need one. Cards work at petrol pumps, campsites and remote cafes. Decline conversion if prompted.

You will barely need cash at all — cards work at petrol pumps, campsites and remote cafes.

Wherever you are: if the machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline. That is dynamic currency conversion and the rate is set by the ATM's operator, not your bank.

Safety

Extremely low crime, but nature is the danger. Never walk on glaciers unguided, respect closed road signs, check road.is and vedur.is daily in winter, and stay well back from sneaker waves at Reynisfjara beach.

Our own assessment, not a sourced index.

Entry & visa

Health & emergencies

Required to enter

No vaccinations are required for entry from Europe or North America.

Worth having

• Routine vaccinations up to date

Getting treated

Excellent and centralised, but almost all of it is in Reykjavík. In the interior you may be hours from a road, let alone a hospital, and search and rescue is volunteer-run — register your travel plans at safetravel.is.

Exposure and vehicle accidents on ice are the real risks. There are no dangerous animals and the tap water is among the cleanest anywhere.

Orientation, not medical advice. Entry rules change and what you need depends on your own history and where you have been — check with a travel clinic or your national health service four to six weeks before you go.

Food tip

Eating out is expensive — the famous hot dog stand Bæjarins Beztu is a genuine local institution and costs a fraction of a restaurant. Supermarket chains Bónus and Krónan are far cheaper than 10-11.

Getting around

• Rental car — essential for anything outside the capital, book far ahead in summer
• Walking — central Reykjavik is very small, about 20 minutes end to end
• Strætó bus — the city network, yellow buses, app-based tickets
• Tour buses — the practical option for Golden Circle and south coast without a car
• Airport: Flybus or Airport Direct from Keflavík (45 min, ~3500 ISK)

Must-see

Things to do

• Drive the Golden Circle
• Soak in the Blue Lagoon or the cheaper Sky Lagoon
• Chase the northern lights in winter
• Climb Hallgrímskirkja tower
• Whale watching from the old harbour
• Swim in a geothermal neighbourhood pool

Nearby day trips

Say a few words

Icelandic

• HelloHalló / Góðan dagha-LO / GO-than dahg
• PleaseTakk fyrirtak FI-rir
• Thank youTakktak
• Yes / NoJá / Neiyow / nay
• Excuse meAfsakiðAF-sa-kith
• How much is it?Hvað kostar þetta?kvath KOS-tar THET-ta
• The bill, pleaseReikninginn, takkRAYK-ning-in
• Cheers!Skál!skowl

Religion

Lutheran, and largely secular

The national church is Lutheran. Old Norse belief has a small formal revival, Ásatrú, which is officially recognised.

Do's and don'ts

Do

• Shower thoroughly and naked before entering any public pool — this is strictly enforced and not negotiable
• Take shoes off indoors
• Respect closed roads and warning signs absolutely; people die ignoring them
• Use first names — Icelanders do not use surnames as we do, and the phone book is by first name

Don't

• Do not walk on moss; it takes decades to regrow and off-road driving is illegal
• Do not tip — it is not expected and can confuse
• Do not ask about elves expecting a joke, or expecting a serious answer either
• Do not underestimate the weather; conditions change within the hour