61 questions about Iceland, answered by people who live here.
What visitors type into Google before they come and ask us at parties once they're here: is Iceland in the EU, is it always cold, do I need cash, can I see the northern lights from town. Short answers, no marketing, from the team behind the Icebreaker app and its editors at The Reykjavík Grapevine. If your question isn't here, the app has a local who never sleeps.
Where and what Iceland is
Is Iceland in the EU?
No. Iceland is in the EEA and in Schengen, so EU rules on trade, roaming and borders mostly apply, but the currency is the króna and Brussels doesn't get a vote. On 29 August 2026 Icelanders voted on whether to reopen membership talks and said no, 52.8% to 47.2%. The króna stays.
Is Iceland in Schengen?
Yes, since 2001. One Schengen visa covers Iceland, and if you don't need a visa you get 90 days in any 180 across the whole zone, Iceland included. There is no passport check between Iceland and the rest of Schengen; there is one from the UK and North America.
Is Iceland Scandinavian?
Nordic, yes. Scandinavian, strictly no: that's Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Icelanders let it slide at parties and correct you in writing.
Is Iceland in the Arctic Circle?
The mainland misses it by a few kilometres. The circle clips the island of Grímsey, where an eight-tonne concrete ball marks the line and is moved north every year because the circle drifts. It is expected to leave the island around 2050.
How big is Iceland, and how many people live there?
103,000 km², about the size of Kentucky, Hungary or two Denmarks, with around 390,000 people. Two thirds of them live around Reykjavík, which is why the rest of the country looks the way it does.
Is Iceland made of ice?
About a tenth of it. The rest is lava, moss, grass and wind. The name was a Viking marketing decision; the green one is Greenland, which is mostly ice. Nobody has corrected it in 1,100 years.
Money, food & nights out
How expensive is Iceland, really?
Expensive, but survivable. A coffee is 700–950 kr, a beer 1,500–2,000 (900–1,200 at happy hour), a hot dog 880, a swim 1,500, a restaurant main 3,500–7,000. The app has "How expensive is stuff?" cards with currency conversion, plus happy hour and cheap-eats countdowns, so you pay the local price, not the tourist one.
How do I do Iceland on a budget?
Shop at Bónus or Krónan. Swim in the local pool (1,500 kr) instead of a lagoon (about ten times that). Eat and drink inside the happy hour and cheap-eats windows. Drink the tap water. Take the Flybus (3,999 kr), not a taxi (22,000). Buy your alcohol at Keflavík duty-free on the way in. Get the Orkan card and pay 12 kr less per litre. The app tracks the pools and the happy-hour windows for you.
Do I need cash in Iceland?
No. Cards work everywhere, from fuel pumps to hot dog stands, and contactless is the norm. The currency is the króna (ISK), which looks like Monopoly money until the bill arrives. The app has a built-in currency calculator with today's exchange rates that follows you around, so you never have to do the maths.
Is tipping expected?
No. Service is included in the price. Rounding up for great service is kind, never expected.
Where do I buy alcohol?
At Vínbúðin, the state shop; supermarkets only sell beer up to 2.25%. Mostly weekdays 10–18, shorter on Saturdays, closed on Sundays. The legal age is 20. The cheapest bottle in the country is at Keflavík duty-free when you arrive, so buy it before you leave the airport.
How do I order the famous hot dog?
"Eina með öllu", one with everything: ketchup, sweet mustard, remoulade, raw and crispy onions. Bæjarins Beztu by the old harbour is the famous stand. About 880 kr, and worth the queue.
Do I need a restaurant reservation?
For the popular places at dinner in summer and over Christmas, yes. Kitchens often close by 21:00–22:00 even when the bar stays open, so eat before you drink.
When does Reykjavík nightlife start?
Late. Locals pre-drink at home and head out around midnight; bars are busiest from one to four and close around four or five at weekends. Happy hour is the affordable warm-up, and the app counts it down.
Is Iceland more expensive than Norway or Switzerland?
Same league. Eating out and alcohol are where Iceland hurts most; fuel, pools and a hot dog are cheaper than you fear. The budget page has what things cost, and the app converts it to your currency so the shock arrives faster.
Is Iceland tax free for tourists?
Partly. Non-residents can claim the VAT back on purchases of 12,000 kr or more per receipt: ask the shop for the tax-free form and have it stamped at Keflavík before you fly out. Duty-free on arrival is the other loophole, and it is for alcohol.
Is Iceland halal or vegan friendly?
Reykjavík is; the countryside is lamb and fish. Downtown has halal kebab and a solid vegan scene, and the app's Food tab has a Vegan filter. Outside the city, ask, and expect soup.
Getting in & around
How do I get from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík?
Flybus: about 45 minutes to the BSÍ terminal, 3,999 kr, timed to every flight. Strætó bus 55: cheaper and slower. Taxi: 22,000 kr and up. Rental cars are picked up at the airport. The app's Get Around screen has the Flybus, taxis and car rental.
Do I need a rental car?
Not for Reykjavík; it's walkable and the buses work. For the Golden Circle, the South Coast and anything beyond, you rent a car or join a day tour; buses out there are sparse, and in winter, rare. Both are in the app: car rental under Get Around, tours under Book.
What should I know about driving in Iceland?
Headlights on at all times. 90 km/h on paved roads, 80 on gravel, 50 in towns. Off-road driving is illegal and heavily fined. F-roads in the highlands need a 4x4 and are closed most of the year. Check road conditions every morning on umferdin.is.
Do I need to book the Blue Lagoon in advance? (And should I?)
Yes; there are no walk-ins, and the popular slots go weeks ahead in summer and over the holidays. Prices start around 13,500 kr and rise with demand. Honestly, though, we'd send you to Sky Lagoon: on the sea, ten minutes from downtown, a seven-step ritual, and locals actually go. Both are bookable right here.
What's open on Sundays and holidays?
Shops mostly 10–18 on weekdays, 10–16 on Saturdays, many closed on Sundays. Bónus and Krónan open around 10–11 and close around 18:30–20:00; a few 10-11 stores in Reykjavík never close. Christmas Eve shuts down by early afternoon, Christmas Day and Boxing Day fully, and Easter is a five-day weekend from Maundy Thursday. Vínbúðin closes on every holiday. The app shows opening hours.
What if I get sick? Do I need travel insurance?
Emergencies: 112. Everything else: the local health centre (heilsugaeslan.is) or a pharmacy, apótek, open weekdays 10–18 and Saturdays to 16. EU/EEA visitors pay resident rates with an EHIC card; everyone else pays full price, so get travel insurance, and make sure it covers glaciers and highland driving if you plan either.
What plug does Iceland use?
European two round pins (Type C/F), 230 V. UK and US visitors need an adapter; US hairdryers also need a converter.
Do people speak English?
Nearly everyone, and well. "Takk" is thanks, "skál" is cheers, and the app's phrases section has the weird ones.
Is Iceland good with kids?
Yes: pools with kids' areas, easy walks, and no crime to speak of. Car seats are required, winter days are short, and cliffs and waterfalls don't come with railings. The app marks family-friendly places.
Do I really have to shower naked before the pool?
Yes. Everywhere, lagoons included, because the water isn't chlorinated. There's a sign, and sometimes a person. Some of the bigger spas have private stalls. Then swimsuit on, and enjoy the best 1,500 kr you'll spend here.
Do I need a visa for Iceland?
Schengen rules. EU/EEA citizens walk in. US, UK, Canadian, Australian and most other Western passports get 90 days visa-free. Others apply for a Schengen visa at an Icelandic or partner embassy. Check the Directorate of Immigration before you book.
What is ETIAS, and do I need it for Iceland?
A pre-travel authorisation for visa-free visitors to Schengen, like the US ESTA. It costs a few euros, lasts three years and is done online. It has been delayed more than once and had no start date as of September 2026; check travel-europe.europa.eu before you fly. Until it starts, there is nothing to do.
Can I leave Keflavík airport during a layover?
Yes, if you have Schengen entry rights, and Icelandair sells a stopover on transatlantic fares at no extra airfare, from a night or three on the cheapest tickets to a week or more on the flexible ones. The Blue Lagoon is 20 minutes from the terminal, Reykjavík 45. Four hours is enough for a lagoon; a day is enough to regret not staying longer.
Does Iceland drive on the right?
Yes, since 06:00 on 26 May 1968, when the whole country switched overnight. Speed limits: 50 in towns, 80 on gravel, 90 on paved country roads. Headlights on always, phone down, seatbelts for everyone. Sheep have right of way by size.
How much is a speeding ticket in Iceland?
Painful. Fines start in the tens of thousands of krónur and climb fast with speed; the cameras are signed in advance and the rental company adds a handling fee when the letter arrives at home. Slow down; the view isn't going anywhere.
How many days do I need in Iceland?
A stopover: two. Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and the South Coast: five or six. The whole Ring Road: seven to ten, and in winter add a day for weather. Three weeks and you'll start correcting people about Scandinavia.
Which airport do I fly into?
Keflavík (KEF), 50 minutes from Reykjavík. Reykjavík's own airport is for domestic hops to Akureyri, Ísafjörður and Egilsstaðir, and to Greenland. Akureyri gets a few direct flights from Europe in winter for the aurora crowd.
Weather, nature & safety
When is the best time to visit, and how long?
Northern lights: September to March. Midnight sun and every road open: June to August, also the priciest and busiest. April–May and September–October are the quiet deal. Five to six days covers Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and the South Coast; the full Ring Road wants seven to ten.
What should I pack?
Layers: a base, something warm, and a waterproof, windproof shell. Waterproof boots. Summer tops out around 10–15°C, and yes, waterproof pants. Check the app's weather before you leave the house, not the night before.
How much daylight will I get?
Around the winter solstice about four to five hours, sunrise near 11:20 and sunset around 15:30. In June the sun sets just before midnight and is back by three; it never gets properly dark for weeks. Eye mask in summer, patience in winter. The app shows sunrise and sunset wherever you are.
When can I see the northern lights?
Late August to mid-April, on dark, clear nights. The app shows tonight's aurora forecast and cloud cover. Get away from city lights for the best view.
Can I see the northern lights from Reykjavík?
On a strong night, yes, even downtown. City light kills the faint ones, so drive ten minutes to Grótta lighthouse or up Öskjuhlíð, or out of town. A clear sky matters as much as the Kp number; the app shows both.
Is the tap water safe to drink?
Yes, some of the cleanest in the world. Hot water smells faintly of sulphur; cold water doesn't. Don't buy bottled water.
Is Iceland safe?
From people, very. From nature, only if you listen. Sneaker waves at Reynisfjara have killed visitors; stay well back from the water. Highland F-roads need a 4x4 and are closed most of the year. Wind can take a car door off; open it with both hands. Check safetravel.is, register your trip there if you're heading out of town, and 112 is the number for everything. The app has 112 one tap away.
Drones, moss, sheep: how do I not be that tourist?
Off-road driving is illegal, fines run to 500,000 kr, and a tyre track in the moss lasts decades. Drones are banned in the national parks and at most popular sites. Sheep roam free from May to October and are yours to pay for if you hit one; slow down when a lamb is on one side of the road and its mother on the other.
When can I see puffins and whales?
Puffins from May to mid-August. Whales from April to October, June being the sweet spot. Húsavík tours see whales over 95% of the time, and most operators let you go again for free if they don't.
Is Iceland always cold?
Cool, not Arctic. Reykjavík averages around 11 °C in July and hovers at freezing in January; the Gulf Stream does the heavy lifting. The wind is the real weather. A still 5 °C is a nice day; a windy 10 °C will end you.
Is Iceland dark in winter?
Around the shortest day Reykjavík gets about four hours of daylight, sunrise near 11:20 and sunset around 15:30, and a long blue twilight either side. The dark is the point: it's when the aurora shows. By late February the days grow by seven minutes each.
Is Iceland ever sunny or warm?
Yes, and everyone goes outside at once. Above 20 °C is a heatwave and makes the news; the record is 30.5 °C. In summer the sun sets just before midnight and is back by three, so the bars have terraces and nobody sleeps.
Are there dangerous animals in Iceland?
No. No bears, no snakes, no mosquitoes, one shy fox. The arctic tern will dive at your head in June for walking near its nest, and the sheep own the road. A polar bear drifts over from Greenland once a decade and everyone involved hates it.
Can I fly a drone in Iceland?
In many places, within the EU rules: registered, below 120 m, away from people and airports. National parks and most famous sites ban them outright, and the sign at the car park is the law. Fly over a whale-watching boat or a nesting cliff and you will meet a ranger.
Do I need a tour to see the northern lights?
No. A dark sky, a clear one, and patience are the requirements; the app's aurora page shows tonight's forecast and the cloud cover. A tour adds a driver who knows where the clouds aren't and a second night free if the first one fails, which for a week-long trip is worth the money.
Is the Blue Lagoon worth it?
It's the famous one and priced like it, from about 13,500 kr. It is also a pleasant place to sit in warm milk with a silica mask on. Locals go to Sky Lagoon, or to the 120 municipal pools, which cost about 1,500 kr and have the same water minus the marketing. All three are in the app.
What should I bring to the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon?
A swimsuit and your booking. Towels and robes come with most tickets; lockers are included; conditioner is provided and you will want it, the water is hard on hair. Leave the phone in the locker. Shower naked first, everybody does, nobody looks.
Can I see the main sights without serious hiking?
Yes. Gullfoss, Geysir, Þingvellir, Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara and Jökulsárlón are all a few hundred metres from a car park on paths a grandmother manages. The hiking is optional and the views are not. Winter paths ice over; bring crampons or hold the rail.
About the app
Is Icebreaker free?
Yes. No account, no subscription. We earn a commission on tours booked in the app (and here), the Síminn eSIM and the Orkan card. That's how it stays free.
Is it on Android or just iPhone?
Both. It's on the App Store and on Google Play.
Does it cover all of Iceland or just Reykjavík?
All of Iceland! All the best and most interesting places, hand-picked by our team of (sometimes overly) picky local experts.
Does it work offline?
Not yet, but we're looking into it. Weather, aurora and events are live and need a connection. Get an eSIM when you land; it's in the app, and it gives you the best coverage while you're here.
Who picks the places? Can I trust them?
The editors of The Reykjavík Grapevine, who have run the Best of Reykjavík awards since 2009. No review pile, no pay-to-play. Only places that we'd actually recommend to a friend coming to visit Iceland.
Can I book tours in the app?
Yes. Tours and activities from licensed Icelandic operators, booked through TourDesk, an Icelandic booking platform used by operators all over the country. You pay on TourDesk's safe and secure checkout with Apple Pay (on iPhone) or card, get your confirmation straight away, and see the cancellation terms before you pay. Icebreaker never sees your card.
How far ahead should I book tours?
We recommend booking with some advance, and in summer well in advance: glacier walks, whale watching and the lagoons sell out. If the weather cancels a tour, the operator refunds it; the terms are on the TourDesk checkout before you pay.
Do I need an account? What do you collect?
No account. Anonymous usage stats only. Your location is used to show what's near you and is never stored by us. The whole story is on the privacy page.
Do I need an eSIM for Iceland?
If you're coming from outside the EU/EEA, roaming usually costs a fortune. The app offers a Síminn eSIM during setup, so you have data from the moment you land. Síminn runs the widest mobile network in Iceland, which starts to matter the second you leave Reykjavík. EU/EEA visitors can normally roam as at home, but a local eSIM still gives you the best coverage possible, especially if you're heading into the wilderness.