Know before you go : Iceland Edition

In this article, I’ll make an overview of everything useful to know before going to Iceland, including some travel tips.

You’ll find : 

Iceland is a country located in the North Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Arctic Circle. It has no land borders, but lies between Greenland to the west and Norway to the east, surrounded by the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.

The capital is Reykjavík, which is also the largest city in the country. Reykjavík is known for its colorful houses, Viking heritage, and landmarks such as Hallgrímskirkja Church and the Sun Voyager sculpture.

Famous for its volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, and dramatic coastlines, Iceland offers a wide range of experiences – from geothermal areas to natural impressive canyons, and black-sand beaches. Its cuisine is also unique: bread bowl, seafood, rye bread baked in geothermal heat, and dairy specialties like skyr.

As of 2025, Iceland covers approximately 103,000 km² and has a population of around 390,000 people.

The best time to visit Iceland is usually June to September, when the weather is milder, roads are open, and daylight lasts long into the night. During this period, temperatures typically range between 5°C and 15°C, with occasional warmer days.

Note that July and August are the peak tourist months. Expect higher prices, busier attractions, and more traffic along popular routes like the Golden Circle and the South Coast. However, this is also when you’ll enjoy the best conditions for hiking, whale-watching, and exploring the highlands.

We went in late September and had great weather (cold but not a lot of rain or wind), very few tourists, no closed sites or roads due to snow, and enough daylight to enjoy the day until 7pm.

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The currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Króna (ISK).

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, shops, gas stations, and even small rural cafés. Iceland is actually one of the most cash-free countries in the world, so carrying cash is not necessary. If you do need to withdraw money, use bank ATMs (such as Arion Banki, Landsbankinn, or Íslandsbanki) and always choose to be billed in ISK rather than your home currency to avoid poor exchange rates.

Iceland is quite expensive compared to other European destinations. A meal at a casual restaurant usually costs more around 40-60€ per person, while quick options like hot dogs or fish and chips are usually between 15-30€. My recommendation: buy quick and cheap food at small groceries and eat on the road – there are not that many restaurants on the golden circle and they are very expensive, plus you’ll be free to eat wherever and often times in front of beautiful nature landscapes.

Entrance fees for sites are generally free, it is the parking that you have to pay, often around 1000 ISK (7€).

Accommodation prices depend on the region and season, but expect around 100-150€ per night for 2 people in guesthouses, around double for hotels with breakfast. Note that costs increase significantly during peak season (June–August).

Clothing: Iceland has a cold subarctic climate, with rapidly changing weather in every season. Even in summer, temperatures usually range between 5–15°C, so pack thermal layers, a warm sweater, a waterproof jacket, and windproof clothing. I would also recommend a beanie, gloves, and if you come in winter bring a warm insulated coat, thermal leggings, waterproof boots, and warmer gloves. Sunscreen and sunglasses are still useful in summer due to long daylight hours and strong UV levels.

No matter the season, pack comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots, as much of Iceland’s trails are rocky, or wet – especially around waterfalls, cliffs, and geothermal areas.

Adapter: Iceland uses Type C and F outlets (the standard in most of Europe). If you’re traveling from the UK, US, Canada, or elsewhere, you’ll need a plug adapter. A power bank is also handy to keep your phone charged while traveling.

There’s a lot to bring back from Iceland!

Traditional Items: The island is known for its lopapeysa which is an Icelandic wool sweater handmade from warm and water-resistant sheep wool. Other popular traditional souvenirs include wool blankets, hand-knitted hats and mittens, volcanic lava jewelry, and unique items made from lava rocks, obsidian, and geothermal salts.

Food & Drinks: Definitely consider trying and buying some skyr, Icelandic sea salt (like Saltverk), icorice candies, and geothermal-baked rye bread in vacuum packs (which are delicious!). You can also bring home hardfiskur (dried fish), Icelandic jams made from wild berries, and artisan hot sauces made with volcanic ingredients. For drinks, you’ll find Icelandic craft beers, Brennivín (Iceland’s famous schnapps), and small-batch local spirits.

The official language of Iceland is Icelandic. In most of the island, almost everyone speaks great English, especially in hotels, restaurants, shops, and major attractions.

Here are a few basic Icelandic phrases that might come in handy:

• Hello: Halló – [HAH-lo]
• Thank you: Takk – [tahk]
• You’re welcome: Gerðu svo vel – [GEHR-thu svo vel]
• I (don’t) understand: Ég skil (ekki) – [yeah shkeel (EH-kyi)]
• Sorry: Afsakið – [AF-sah-kith]
• My name is…: Ég heiti… – [yeah HAY-ti]
• Yes / No: Já / Nei – [y-OW / nay]

These phrases will help you connect with locals and show appreciation for the culture – even just a few words can go a long way!

If you’re traveling to Iceland from Europe, EU roaming does not apply, since Iceland is not in the EU (though it is in the EEA). Many European phone plans still include Iceland, but not all, so check with your provider. If you need a local SIM card, companies like Síminn or Vodafone Iceland offer prepaid options. A SIM with 10Gb of data usually costs around 30€, and you can buy them at Keflavík Airport, gas stations, or electronics shops. I personally consider that expensive for a SIM card, so I’d tend to recommend an e-SIM such as Jetpac which costs around 19€ for 10Gb.

If you plan to explore Iceland outside of Reykjavík, such as the South Coast or the Golden Circle, renting a car is almost mandatory. Note that some roads are only accessible for 4WD vehicles, so this is what I’d recommend booking. We rented one through Europcar and everything went smoothly, we got the car instantly after landing and the car was in perfect condition.

There’s a lot to see in Iceland! You can easily spend a week of two road tripping around the island, discovering waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, and black-sand beaches… You definitely won’t be bored!

Here’s a list of the best things to do in Iceland :

That’s it for my Iceland travel tips !

I have also made detailed posts about the top places to see in Iceland, best waterfalls, best glaciers, and much more!