Iceland Travel Tips & Useful Info

You should seek medical advice from your local health practitioner before travelling to Iceland and ensure that you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guide, vaccinations against tetanus are recommended. The medical facilities and healthcare in Iceland are great and available for free to European Union citizens with a valid EHIC form or its replacement ID card.

Considering its wealth of glaciers, lakes and other natural wonders, it is no surprise that the tap water in Iceland is among the cleanest found anywhere in the world, as it all originates from clear mountain brooks. It is perfectly safe to drink and is sure to taste as good as any bottled water.

Tipping is not a standard custom in Iceland and service charges are included in the bill whenever you eat at a restaurant. Locals don't tip as it is generally accepted that all service staff are paid a fair wage in the country. However, if you have received particularly standout service and would like to express your gratitude with a tip, then this is absolutely fine.

The following goods may be imported into Iceland without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 250g of other tobacco products
• 1 litre of spirits and 0.75 litre of wine and 6 litres of beer; or 3 litres of wine and 6 litres of beer; or 1 litre of spirits and 9 litres of beer; or 1.5 litre of wine and 9 litre of beer; or 12 litres of beer

The minimum age for bringing alcoholic beverages into Iceland is 20 years and 18 years for tobacco products.

The official currency in Iceland is Icelandic Krona. The vast majority of banknotes in circulation are of the 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 denominations. Check OANDA for the latest exchange rates.

Pound Sterling, US Dollars and other major currencies can be exchanged in Iceland, and you'll get a better rate of exchange if you buy and sell in destination. Just about every establishment in Iceland will accept credit card, including taxis, gas stations, souvenir stands, and even the most remote guest house, so it is not necessary to carry large amounts of Icelandic currency. However, due to the currency's instability some credit cards are still wary of Krona transactions, so check with your bank before you go and don't rely entirely on plastic. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases.

You'll find ATMs in the vast majority of towns in Iceland as pretty much every town that has a bank has an ATM. Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted. Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees.

Before the currency crash of 2008, Iceland was known as a particularly expensive travel destination and although it has become more affordable since, it's certainly not a cheap destination. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant will be in the region of $15 per person while a three-course meal at a more upmarket restaurant will be around $45 per person.

Alcohol is certainly not cheap with a half litre of beer costing $7 while a bottle of mid-range wine bought from a store costs around $25. Those who fancy a tipple while on holiday would be wise to take advantage of their duty free allowance. A bottle of water is close to $2 so those on a budget should stick to tap water.

Surprisingly, despite the lure of the Northern Lights, winter is a cheaper time to travel to Iceland than during the summer months with prices a fair bit cheaper. Icelanders take their holidays during the summer months, which coincides with the high season. For a double en suite room at a decent hotel you can expect to pay anywhere between $100-250 per night during high season, depending on whereabouts in the country you're staying.

The standard voltage in Iceland is 220 volts, 50Hz AC. Primary sockets generally require Continental or European plugs of the two round pin variety. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor. You will need a voltage converter and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances.

Like many modern, western nations, Wi-Fi availability is widespread across Iceland. The majority of cafes, restaurants, bars and hotels will have complimentary internet access, and even more rural settlements and B&B's are likely to have Wi-Fi, though a small fee may be charged in certain circumstances. So, wherever you travel in Iceland you'll have plenty of opportunities to post those Northern Lights pics on Instagram!

Iceland works on Greenwich Meantime and does not observe Daylight Saving. This means that between October and March Iceland is on the same time zone as London in the UK.