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.
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.
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.
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.
No visa is required to travel to Iceland. For EU nationals, stays of less than 3 months, a national identity document or a passport are sufficient to travel to Iceland. For Swiss and Canadian citizens, a passport is also sufficient. For a stay of more 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 provide a residence permit.
There are no special precautions to take before departure. No vaccinations are required to travel to Iceland. However, make sure your vaccinations are up to date.
Tap water is considered one of the best in the world in Iceland. Don't deprive yourself of this pure and fresh water... especially since bottled water is (obviously) very expensive. However, water can often smell the unpleasant smell of sulphur, especially in hotel showers. In summer, it is necessary to watch out for the appearance of the simulium, a small midge with an appearance similar to that of a mosquito, but don't worry, it doesn't bite. On the other hand, it can become very annoying when they arrive by the thousands around you. You will find them mainly around Myvatn and other lakes in the interior of the country.
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 destinationWell 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.
Extended stopover in Reykjavík
Discovery of Iceland, itinerary in Viking territory
Iceland's high tourist season extends from June to August, when the climate is temperate and pleasant with long, sunn...
Read more about it
The climate in Iceland is of a temperate oceanic type. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Iceland enjoys relatively mild temp...
Read more about it
Iceland is one of the most expensive countries in the world. The currency, the Icelandic krona, fluctuates regularly...
Read more about it
No visa is required to travel to Iceland. For EU nationals, stays of less than 3 months, a national identity documen...
Read more about it
There are no special precautions to take before departure. No vaccinations are required to travel to Iceland. However...
Read more about it
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
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
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
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