Before You Book

PREPARING TO GO TO ICELAND

 

CAPITAL

Reykjavik

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

Icelandic

RELIGION

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) – 73.8%, Roman Catholic – 3.6%, Reykjavik Free Church – 2.9%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church – 2%, The Independent Congregation – 1%, other religions – 3.9% (includes Pentecostal and Asatru Association), none – 5.6%, other or unspecified – 7.2%

ELECTRICITY

In Iceland, the power sockets are of type F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. Electrical sockets (outlets) in Iceland (Lýðveldið Island) are one of the two European standard electrical socket types: The “Type C” Europlug and the “Type E” and “Type F” Schuko. If your appliance’s plug doesn’t match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance’s plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access the Travel & Visa Requirements Section on the top of this page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting. Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

Currency information:

The unit of currency used in Iceland is the Icelandic krona, ISK - Íslensk króna in Icelandic. Króna means crown.

The Icelandic word in the singular, “króna”, becomes “krónur” in plural. The international currency abbreviation is ISK, but in Iceland you will see “kr.” before or after the price of things. Coin denominations are: 1 króna; 5, 10, 50, and 100 krónur. Coins are in denominations of 100 kr., 50 kr., 10kr., 5 kr. and 1 kr. Banknotes are in denominations of 10,000 kr 5000 kr.,1000 kr., and 500 kr

Credit Cards:

Icelanders love credit and debit cards and will commonly whip one out just to buy an ice cream cone. Most shops and tourist establishments accept credit cards; you can even charge a taxi ride. Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted, though American Express and Diner’s Club are useful as well. Note, however, that many banks now assess a 1% to 3% “foreign transaction fee” on all charges you incur abroad.

ATM:

ATMs are the most practical and reliable way to get cash at fair exchange rates. Upon arrival at Keflavík International Airport, you’ll easily find ATMs, run by Landsbanki Íslands, which has fair exchange rates. Tip: Avoid exchanging money at hotels, which tend to have high transaction fees.

ATMs are found in most villages around Iceland, though not all ATMs are accessible 24 hours. Icelandic ATMs generally accept all major debit, credit and cash-only cards. Cirrus and PLUS cards are almost universally accepted in Icelandic ATMs.

Banking hours:

Banking hours are Monday – Friday, 09:15am – 4:00pm

Currency exchange:

It is better to pick up your kronur at the airport on the way into Iceland rather than at home, as rates and availability are usually poor in most countries. Head for the Landsbanki kiosk at Keflavik International Airport on entry as well as on exit, to exchange any kronur you may have leftover.

All Icelandic banks offer foreign exchange and are open on weekdays, plus most hotels, but you are likely to get a better rate at the bank. An easier way to get local currency is to use your ATM card; Cirrus-activated cards are generally accepted at most cash machines. Some shops catering to tourists will accept payment in US dollars or euro but not necessarily at the best rate. Almost every shop and most businesses accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards although American Express is not as common.

COMMUNICATION & EMAIL

Telephone

National Emergency is 112

National Enquiries is 118

International Enquiries is 171

Pre-paid Calls is 172

Direct calls can be made to all parts of Iceland. Iceland’s telephone code is +354 and all phone numbers are seven digits; there are no area codes within Iceland. Landline numbers are quite straightforward, with Reykjavik numbers all prefixed by 5 and all others by 4, while mobile phones are prefixed with a 6 or an 8. Phone cards are available in several denominations from post offices, petrol stations and selected stores, although not all payphones accept them.

Direct long-distance calls can be made to Europe and the USA by dialing 00 plus the country code, the area code and the telephone number you wish to reach. If assistance is required, dial 114 for information and 115 to place a call. Coin and Card Operated public phones are at post offices and telephone exchanges around the country. Phone charges vary when calling within Iceland depending on the time of day. Rates may also be higher at hotels that in public phones, as a long-distance service charge is added.

Internet

Wi-fi is common in Iceland. – Most accommodation and eating venues across the country offer online access, and often buses do, too. Access is usually free for guests/customers, but there may be a small charge. You may need to ask staff for an access coded. – Most of the N1 service stations have free wi-fi. – The easiest way to get online is to buy an Icelandic SIM card with a data package and pop it in your unlocked smartphone. Other devices can then access the internet via the phone. – Most Icelandic libraries have computer terminals for public internet access, even in small towns; there’s often a small fee. – Tourist information centres often have public internet terminals, often free for brief usage.

CLOTHING

When traveling in Iceland you should bring along lightweight woolens, a sweater or cardigan, a rainproof (weatherproof) coat, and sturdy walking shoes. The weather can change quickly in Iceland, and we recommend you dress warm and layer your clothes.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

Best time to visit: June to August. (July and August are the most popular months, the “high season.” September is good, but many hotels and campsites close about August 15, marking the end of the main tourist season.)

June to August: Summer. Cool, cloudy, frequent rain with mist and fog and occasional sunny days of pleasant weather. Average afternoon temperature, 14°C (57°F). July is the warmest month. Continuous daylight with as many as 20 hours.

September to November: Autumn. Frequent rain. The northern lights (aurora borealis) are often visible during autumn and early winter. Long twilights prevail in September and October. After September, afternoon temperatures begin dropping to about 1°C (34°F).

December to February: Winter. Much of the precipitation is snow. Violent windstorms occur. On the coast temperatures range 2 to -2°C (36 to 28°F). The interior is colder. Days are short with as few as 4 hours of light.

March to May: Spring. Frequent rain. Afternoon temperatures begin rising from 0°C (32°F) in March to 10°C (50°F) in May.

Rain occurs year-round but it is rainier in the south and southwest with an annual average of 2180mm (86in), less in the north, 300 to 560 mm (12 to 22in), and 2000mm (79in) in the mountainous regions.

Winds: The island is in a cyclonic area subject to cold winds from the Arctic which can blow from December to May, and the prevailing warm winds from the south and southwest. In the interior desert area, violent winds can occur at any time of the year.

Snowstorms can occur in the highlands at any time of the year. Some high areas are snow-covered year-round.

Reykjavik, Iceland: Altitude 61m (200ft)

 

MEAL COSTS

Restaurants                                                                            Cost    

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course                     12,000.00 kr     

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)                            1,590.00 kr       

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)                                                    1,100.00 kr       

Imported Beer (11.2 oz small bottle)                                              1,000.00 kr       

FOOD & DRINKS

Specialities:

Pylsur:         -Hot dogs made from lamb, beef and pork with optional accompaniments of onions, mustard and tomato ketchup.
Harðfiskur:   -A dried fish snack, often cod, haddock or ocean catfish, is usually dipped in salted butter.
Kjötsúpa:      -A lamb soup made with cabbage, root vegetables and occasionally a handful of oats or rice.
Skyr:             -A smooth and creamy kind of yoghurt made from pasteurized skimmed milk.
Hangikjot:     -Smoked lamb typically served with béchamel sauce at Christmas.
Svið:              -A sheep’s head cut in half, singed (to remove the hair), de-brained and boiled.
Pönnukökur: -Thin pancakes rolled up with jam, powdered sugar and/or cream.
Rúgbrauð:     -A moist and slightly sweet rye bread.
Brennivin:     -A potent variation of aquavit made from potatoes.

National drinks:

Brennivín is a clear, unsweetened schnapps that is Iceland's signature distilled beverage. It is a popular Icelandic liquor and special-occasion alcohol shot, and the traditional drink for the mid-winter feast of Þorrablót.

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE

Unlike in the US, tipping is not a widespread custom in Iceland. The reason isn’t that everything costs so much in Iceland (though it does), and it’s not because (contrary to popular belief) it’s considered an insult to tip in Iceland. It is simply because the tax and gratuity are already included in your bill. Whenever you receive a bill in Iceland, whether it be for a hotel room, a meal, a taxi ride, or a store purchase, you are only expected to pay the total amount listed, and nothing more.

If you do want to leave a tip for exceptional service in a nicer restaurant, it is perfectly acceptable to do so; the service person will certainly not be offended. Icelanders, though they don’t practice the tipping custom, are familiar with it and see a tip as just what it should be – a small token of appreciation for great service.

In general, if you want to tip in Iceland, just round up to the next even amount or leave about 10%. So, for example, if your meal cost 16800 ISK (about $145 US), you can round up to 18,000, which would be a tip of about $10, less than 10% of your total bill. At a cheaper place, if your meal costs, say, 2380 ISK (about $20), rounding up to 2600 ISK would equal a tip of about $2.

At very cheap places – take out counters, pizza joints and hot dog stands – there is no need to tip at all. Same goes for ordering a drink at the bar, taking a taxi ride, receiving help with your bags, and checking your coat at the bar. Not throwing a few coins into a tip jar (if there is one, which in nearly all cases, there won’t be) doesn’t make you stingy. Unlike in the US, service people in these capacities are making a living wage and are not relying on tips for the majority of their income.

Shopping

The shops in Iceland are of international standard and carry a wide variety of merchandise. Local specialties are woolen knitwear (for example sweaters, cardigans, hats, and mittens), handmade ceramics, glassware, and silver jewelry. Also available is a great variety of high-quality seafood.

Tax-Free Shopping

A refund of local Value-Added Tax (VAT) is available to all visitors to Iceland. The refund will result in a reduction of up to 15% of the retail price, provided departure from Iceland is within 3 months after the date of purchase. The purchase amount must be no less than ISK 4,000 (VAT included) per store. All goods (except woolens) need to be shown at customs before check-in. At Keflavík International Airport this applies only to tax-free forms whose refund value exceeds ISK 5,000. All other forms can be refunded directly in cash at Landsbanki Íslands in the departure hall. Further information on tax-free shopping: http://www.taxfreeworldwide.com/lang-en/iceland.html

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for the latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country’s health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.