Iceland is not considered a warm place by any normal standards, but thanks to the Gulf Stream temperatures are usually moderate all year round. Average temperatures in July are usually about 12 °C in Reykjavik and it is usually a bit warmer in the North and East of Iceland. It doesn’t snow as much in Iceland as many people think, especially in Reykjavik where there is usually very little snow to be seen, even during winter. However in the north and east of Iceland and the West Fjords, there is more snow during winter. A big factor in Icelandic weather is that it is unpredictable; you never know what is going to happen next. A beautiful day can suddenly turn windy and rainy (and vice versa), and you can expect to see every weather imaginable in a couple of days in Iceland, especially in late autumn and early spring.

• Western Europeans and citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore do not require visas. Tourist stays are permitted for up to three months, and can be easily extended at local police stations. If you do not live in Western Europe or one of the countries mentioned above, then contact the Icelandic embassy or consulate in your country to make sure you have a valid visa before entering Iceland If there is not an Icelandic embassy or consulate in your country, you approach the Danish embassy or consulate.

• Population: 329.740 (Jan 2015).
• Religion: 86% Evangelical Lutheran.
• Total area: 103,000 square kilometers / 39,756 square miles.
• Capital: Reykjavik.
• Form of Government: Republic since 17 June 17 1944.
• Independent since 1 December 1918.
• Approximately 7,250 square kilometers of Iceland is covered with glaciers.
• Hvannadalshnjukur is Iceland’s highest peak (2110 m).
• Jokulsarlon glacial reservoir is Iceland’s deepest lake (284 m).
• An average Icelandic male is 1,80 m, 88 kg and 33.9 years old.
• An average Icelandic female is 1,67 m, 73 kg and 35.3 years old.
• For two to three months in summer there is continuous daylight in Iceland.
• The mean annual temperature for Reykjavik is 5˚C, the average in January temperature being -0.4 ˚C and July 11.2 ˚C.

We advise that for your maximum comfort you wear good shoes or boots. Bring a hat and gloves and also a waterproof outer garment. Wearing three layers of lightweight upper body clothing is the most effective method for retaining warmth.

TRANSPARENT PRICES

The telephone code into Iceland from overseas is +354 and then a seven-digit number. There are no area codes.

The daylight in Iceland is from mid-May to mid-August and the sun only sets for around 3 hours per day, and there is effectively light for the whole 24-hour period. In midwinter, there are around 5 hours of effective daylight. These long and short periods of daylight add drama to the atmosphere with lingering twilight.

The first people believed to have settled in Iceland were Irish monks who came in the eight century AD. They left, however, upon the arrival of pagan Norsemen, who came in 874 to seek freedom from Norway’s oppressive king Harald Fairhair. In 930 the Icelanders founded the Althingi, their supreme general assembly – the oldest parliament in the world. Christianity was adopted in the year 1000. In 1262, Iceland became subject to Norwegian control and in 1380 came under Danish control, along with Norway. After the granting of a constitution (1874) and with an improving economy, Iceland, in 1918, finally became an independent sovereign state under a common king with Denmark. The Republic of Iceland was formally declared on June 17, 1944.The Icelanders
Are quite Scandinavian, exceptionally friendly, highly educated, sophisticated, attractive, honest and very modern. Their ancestors were predominately Norwegian, although some came from the British Isles.

The Icelandic monetary unit is the “krona” (plural “kronur”) (ISK).
Coins are in denominations of: 100 kr, 50 kr, 10 kr, 5 kr, 1 kr.
Bank notes are in denominations of: 5000 kr, 2000 kr, 1000 kr, 500 kr.
All major currencies can be exchanged at the airport, banks and currency exchanges. Visa and MasterCard are accepted almost anywhere, and ATMs are easy to find.

WERE WE WILL MEET

Pharmacies
Icelanders enjoy a healthy life, thanks to clean air, water and quality fish. Water is safe to drink throughout Iceland. Pharmacies are called “Apotek” and are open during normal business hours. Many are open at night. Reykjavik has many great general practitioners, as well as specialists, many of whom will receive patients at short notice. There are also many Health Centers in Reykjavik, with officially appointed family doctors who receive patients at short notice during the day.

Emergency numbers

There are so many reasons to travel to Iceland anytime of year. The nature on Iceland is world renowned and nature lovers and enthusiasts have flocked to Iceland steadily for the past decade or so to enjoy what Icelandic people have known for centuries. And now, even more so in our current global crisis of COVID-19, Iceland is still the best country in the world to visit after the coronavirus epidemic.

WHAT TO EXPECT