1. Travel guide
  2. Iceland

Taking a trip to Iceland is the guarantee of a permanent change of scenery. Here, all the elements come together or clash to create incredible paintings, unique, varied and unexpected landscapes where you can admire in a single day an iceberg, a fjord, then a volcano or a geyser and swim in the famous Blue Lagoon. Thus, the weather changes every five minutes - the skies multiply the special effects: incredible clouds, unexpected lights, intersecting or overlapping rainbows, northern lights. Rather young, the Icelandic population is also on the move, which translates into a tremendous creative and festive energy... A simple Friday evening in Reykjavík will be enough to convince you. Certainly, the idea of spending the summer (not to mention winter) around the Arctic Circle can put some people off... But in Iceland, 15°C does not have the same value as elsewhere. Following the instructions of the Icelandic tourist guide, you will discover a unique and multifaceted region, both in terms of its exceptional nature - as evidenced by the double falls of the Gullfoss - and its unique culture in the Nordic countries.

The must-see places in Iceland

Suggested addresses Iceland

The best travel agencies
More agencies
The best hotels
More hotels
The best restaurants
More restaurants

When to go to Iceland?

Iceland's high tourist season extends from June to August, when the climate is temperate and pleasant with long, sunny days. In May, between September and October, it is the low tourist season. More and more people are visiting the country and enjoying the benefits of the "off-season". Temperatures remain mild although always unpredictable. While campsites are closed, most guesthouses and hotels are open and more and more restaurants are opening. Bus lines do not operate regularly, but with a car rental, you can enjoy all the beauty of the countryside and travel almost everywhere without much difficulty. Between November and February, Iceland is reserved for those who are not afraid of difficult road conditions and cold weather because extreme weather conditions are sometimes harsh in the highlands. However, it should be noted that the country is developing its winter tourism and attracting a new clientele interested in winter sports (skiing, snowboarding, sledding, snowshoeing, etc.) or in observing the northern lights. The seasonality of tourism is therefore gradually fading.

  • Weather forecast
  • Budget
  • Procedures
  • Health
  • Discovery
Weather at the moment
Weather all year round

The climate in Iceland is of a temperate oceanic type. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Iceland enjoys relatively mild temperatures all year round. It rarely exceeds 20°C in summer, and in winter in Reykjavík, the average temperature in January, the coldest month, is -0.5°C. However, the high tourist season in Iceland corresponds to the summer period due to the better weather conditions.

Budget

Iceland is one of the most expensive countries in the world. The currency, the Icelandic krona, fluctuates regularly and prices continue to rise. Due to the variation in currency, hoteliers often indicate their rates in euros. The quality of the hotels is in line with international standards but the prices are high. The exchange is easy, and withdrawals and credit card payments are widespread everywhere. Service and taxes are included in the price so gratuity is not mandatory.

Procedures

No visa is needed to go to Iceland. For European Union citizens, for stays of less than 3 months, a national identity document or a passport is enough to go to Iceland. For Swiss and Canadian citizens, a passport is also sufficient. For a stay longer than 90 days, in addition to a valid passport, it is necessary to have a certificate of employment from a local employer. It takes about 10 days for the Ministry of Social Affairs to issue a residence permit.

Health

There are no special precautions to take before departure. No vaccinations are required to travel to Iceland. However, check that your vaccinations are up to date.
Tap water is considered one of the best in the world in Iceland. Do not deprive yourself of this pure and fresh water... especially since bottled water is (obviously) very expensive. However, the water can often smell unpleasantly of sulphur, especially in hotel showers. In summer, you should watch out for the appearance of the simulie, a small midge that looks like a mosquito, but don't worry, it doesn't bite. On the other hand it can become very annoying when they land by thousands around you. You will find them mainly around Myvatn and other inland lakes.

How to go to Iceland? Our advice & tips

  • Organised trips
  • Going alone
  • Moving around

Iceland can be discovered in a 4 to 8 day tour, mainly by car. Iceland being a very expensive country, it may be more profitable to favour tours over autonomous trips in order to better budget your stay. However, it is necessary to study carefully the different offers of tour operators and make sure that there are not too many additional costs because in Iceland this can quickly increase the bill!

Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destination

Well served, Iceland is an extremely safe country with one of the lowest crime rates in the world. The only potential dangers are related to alcoholism during the evenings that are watered in the capital, on Friday and Saturday evenings. The other instructions that can be given are those related to a sometimes dangerous nature, so there are risks of injury when hiking and it is safer to be accompanied by a guide.

Flying is a means of transport widely used by Icelanders in the interior of the country. During the winter, when the roads are unusable, flying is the only real means of transport in Iceland. There are also various ferry lines in Reykjavík-Viðey, Stykkkishólmur-Flatey-Brjánslaekur, etc. Icelandic buses, often 4x4, are comfortable and reasonably priced. Please note: the price of car rentals is quite high.

Prepare for your trip Iceland

Transportation
  • comp_pv_maritime
Accommodations
  • Find a hotel
  • Holiday rental
  • Airbnb rental
Stays
  • Tailor-made trip
Services / On site
  • Airbnb experiences
  • Book a table
  • Activities & visits

Iceland travel inspiration

3 days
Low budget
Large budget
  • When to go?
    Printemps, Eté
  • With whom?
    Solo, Couple, Famille, Amis, Groupe
  • Themes :
    Culture / Patrimoine , Découverte

Extended stopover in Reykjavík
Quotatrip
All tours
8 days
Average budget
  • When to go?
    Printemps, Eté
  • With whom?
    Solo, Couple, Famille, Amis, Groupe
  • Themes :
    Culture / Patrimoine , Découverte, Aventure / Sports et loisirs

Discovery of Iceland, itinerary in Viking territory

Pictures Iceland

More pictures

Discover Iceland

Practical information
When to travel?

Iceland's high tourist season extends from June to August, when the climate is temperate and pleasant with long, sunn...
Read more about it

Weather forecast

The climate in Iceland is of a temperate oceanic type. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Iceland enjoys relatively mild temp...
Read more about it

Budget

Iceland is one of the most expensive countries in the world. The currency, the Icelandic krona, fluctuates regularly...
Read more about it

Formalities

No visa is needed to go to Iceland. For European Union citizens, for stays of less than 3 months, a national identit...
Read more about it

Health

There are no special precautions to take before departure. No vaccinations are required to travel to Iceland. However...
Read more about it

How to travel by yourself?

Well served, Iceland is an extremely safe country with one of the lowest crime rates in the world. The only potential...
Read more about it

How to get organized?

Iceland can be discovered in a 4 to 8 day tour, mainly by car. Iceland being a very expensive country, it may be more...
Read more about it

Getting around

Flying is a means of transport widely used by Icelanders in the interior of the country. During the winter, when the...
Read more about it

Featured articles Iceland

Vous êtes vaccinés ? Direction l'Islande !

Are you vaccinated? Let's go to Iceland!

The Vikings called it "the land of ice", the tourist brochures added fire: here, we will allow the wind to blow. This trio was needed to create these unique landscapes that attract travellers from all over the world to contemplate what can be seen nowhere else. The earth takes on multiple forms, unknown colours dress it up when powerful or discreet sounds animate it. And the sky changes at a crazy pace, lights up, darkens... This nature is a ...

Read more about it
Utilisation d'un drone lors d'un voyage en Islande : législation et spots incontournables

Use of a UAV during a trip to Iceland: legislation and must-see spots

For several years now, Iceland has seen the number of tourists who have come to discover its lands soar. And for good reason, this Northern European island is full of breathtakingly beautiful landscapes and colourful little towns full of charm. For lovers of photos and videos, the UAV has become an essential camera to immortalize the landscapes from the heights. The user remains on the ground and controls the camera. To all those who wish to ...

Read more about it
10 feux d'artifice du Nouvel An qui vous en mettront plein la vue

10 New Year's Eve fireworks that will blow your mind

New Year's Eve is fast approaching and you still don't know where to celebrate it? And then, who said this party was over? Certainly not Little Smartass who, with strong advice and good plans, is campaigning for your New Year's Eve to be beautiful: pack your bags and fly abroad! Some cities offer a spectacular sound and light show every year. Just enough time to fall back into childhood, that you already hear yourself say.... Oh! The ...

Read more about it
More articles
Read the interview with the fairmoove expert Iceland
To discover on Petit Futé
Review