Amazing Iceland : Everything you need to know

Iceland, the Land of Fire and Ice is a once in-a-lifetime Travel Experience. A land of untamed splendor and is one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth. Iceland is both forbidding and alluring. It offers uninhabited beauty in both its icy stillness as well as its volcanic ash-laden turmoil. An island nation situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, and about 750 miles from the coast of Greenland. Iceland lies just south of the Arctic Circle, to the north-west of Scandinavian Europe.

Iceland horses and setting sun
Iceland horses and setting sun

Iceland : A once in-a-lifetime Travel Experience !

Home to unrestrained beauty, Iceland, with its out of this world backdrops ,creates an unforgettable and striking image of beauty and splendor . Well known for its dormant volcanoes, erupting geysers, lofty waterfalls, tranquil lakes, sprawling glaciers and raging oceans, Iceland is not a journey for the faint-hearted or the fancy holidaymaker.

Travelling to this island nation needs mental strength to bear its icy coldness. Bare and barren wilderness, rugged landscapes and the dangers that ice, sleet or snow can bring to the casual wanderer. It is but, a heaven for nature lovers and landscape photographers. Iceland offers a challenge in its diversity, a deceitful simplicity and forbidding natural beauty.

Iceland, the land of the midnight sun is a destination to cherish for travel lovers, nature lovers and photography enthusiasts. Home to unrestrained beauty, Iceland, with its eerily beautiful backdrops , it creates an unforgettable and striking image of beauty and splendour.

Travelling to this island nation needs preparation fpor bearing with its icy coldness, bare and barren wilderness. Iceland’s rugged landscapes and the dangers that ice, sleet or snow can post a real challenge to a casual traveller .

Iceland, as a tourist’s dream destination, and is visited in both the seasons, winter and summer.

Travelling to ICELAND is an adventure by itself. When I visited Black Beach it looked like a scene from the moon. When I visited Jokulsarlon it felt ethereal and dreamlike. When I walked along the glacier and Solheimajokull it was hair-raising experience. You need to visit Iceland to feel its beauty. No wonder some of the major blockbusters of the last couple of decades have used Iceland for its other-worldly view.

If you have plans to visit this majestic and stunning country, here you will find everything needed to prepare you for your tour. Information you need to plan for an Iceland Road Trip is here, and so are some of its Secrets. I hope you find them valuable.

Sólheimajökull Glacier waterfalls

Iceland-Unforgettable Activities & Excursions you will love

Set up your list of Not to Miss Attractions

During winter, people visit Iceland for the Northern Lights, Husky-Dog sledging (mostly around northern Iceland) and Glacier and Ice Cave Treks. During the summer months, tourists pour into Iceland for the “Midnight sun”, Horse Riding, Sea Puffins and Off-Road Highlands driving. During winter temperatures can drop south of minus 20 degree Celsius in many parts of this Island nation. This can pose serious challenges for the habitual traveller to beat such unbearable temperatures.

Summer begins officially on the first Thursday after 18th of May, when they have the ‘Gleðilegt Sumar ’ or Happy Summer parades. This lasts till September 31st . The temperatures are much warmer during these summer months.

If you have made up your mind to visit one of the most beautiful countries in the world, here are the details about Iceland that you have always been searching for . It has all required information about Iceland and the best tips for you to follow. Enjoy reading !!

Iceland is an ultimate Road Trip Destination.

Landscape Iceland
WINTER IS COMING

Iceland has some eerily haunting locales and an alien skyline . You may be aware that some of the most scenic blockbusters have used Iceland for its locations. THese include Game of Thrones, Interstellar, Thor the Dark world, Batman and Inception.

The distance between towns and villages, and the unavailability of human habitat for long distances makes a road trip one of the best options to trael around this desolate country. You can join the numerous itineraries offered by travel operators in or around the capital Reykjavik. You can also opt for a self driven road trip , or even a RV style-  motor-home if you would like to take up the challenge.

You may also like our Full Travelogue on Iceland !

About Iceland

Iceland is a Nordic country, a geographical and cultural region of Northern Europe.  It is one of the most fascinating countries in the world, with its dormant volcanoes and  erupting geysers.  It is home to the midnight sun , where the sun is visible most times of the day and even during midnight..

The country of Iceland has an area of 103,000 square kilometers, most of which is uninhabited . The population of Iceland is about 350000 , and holds the 177th place among 211 countries of the world.

Skogafoos Waterfalls, Iceland

Essential Iceland info before you travel.

Iceland Travel : Local information and Emergency Numbers

There are a few websites and contact numbers you need to know before you travel.

For emergencies, dial 112 for Iceland Police.

Modern Smartphone users should also download and install the 112Iceland Mobile App before you land in Iceland. This is available in both iOS and Android versions..

For local weather predictions, driving and road conditions please check with http://www.road.is (https://umferdin.is/en)
which is available in English and Icelandic
You can also Call 1777 (+354 522 1100) which is open till 4 pm in the afternoon.

For Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis sighting, keep checking the Icelandic Met Office – Vedur (https://en.vedur.is/) website .This is available in English and a scale on the right of the page forecasts the chances of Aurora. Remember that white swatches on the map means no cloud cover or clear skies, and increases the chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis.

ICELAND : FAQ

WHERE IS ICELAND

Iceland is an European country, and geographically an island situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. Iceland,  lies between latitudes 63 and 68°N, and longitudes 25 and 13°W. It is an island situated in the juncture of the Arctic Ocean and the  North Atlantic Ocean. The country of Iceland lies south of the Arctic Circle, about  1250 kms  from the south eastern coast of Greenland. It is also a two hours flight from Oslo, the Norwegian capital . The Nordic region includes the countries of Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.

ICELAND DEMOGRAPHICS : AREA, POPULATION, LANGUAGE AND TIMEZONE

The country of Iceland has an area of 103,000 square kilometers, most of which is uninhabited .

The population of Iceland is about 350000 , and holds the 177th place among 211 countries of the world. Out of this nearly three fourths  of the population lives in the capital of Reykjavik or in the second largest city of Akureyri in the North.

The population is very thin, especially outside of Reykjavik. In the villages and the outlands, human habitats are very thin you may drive a dozen kilometers before you see another house . Its just ice and snow around you, over the tarmac roads, in icy fields around lakes and down the mountain slopes.

Iceland speaks the Icelandic Language, which is the language of Iceland. Being part of the Nordic countries, Icelandic language has similarity to Norwegian, which itself is a Indo-German Language.  Almost 97% Icelander have Icelandic language as their mother tongue.

But it is good to know that most Icelanders understand and speak English. This is because, hardly anyone outside of Iceland would you find speaking Icelandic. The comparative insulation has helped Icelanders to keep the middle aged flair of their language in force. It has also forced them to pick up other languages, mostly English, Norwegian and German.

Aurora Borealis Iceland
Aurora Borealis – Northern Lights – Iceland

As a tourist , travelling through Iceland, I did face less difficulty in and around Iceland to converse in English. The younger generation know and speak English, while the older people do pick up few words and so.  There are in fact quite a few words between the English and Icelandic language which are similar. Thus as an English language  speaker you will be able to get by, and enjoy your travel in Iceland.

Iceland’s observes the Greenwich Mean time or GMT , also known as Western European Time or the Coordinated Universal Time  UTC±00:00. The Island of Iceland is absolutely on the GMT time zone or the Greenwich Mean Time Zone. Its time is exactly the same as in UK. Thus it is 5 hours ahead of New York as well as 7 hours behind Singapore. To find the Current Local time at Reykjavik Iceland 

WHAT IS THE CAPITAL OF ICELAND AND ITS MAIN CITIES ?

The capital of Iceland is Reykjavik. The city of Reykjavik lies on the south western part of the country. With an international airport at Keflavik , the capital of Reykjavik serves as a great base for travellers to explore this breathtakingly beautiful country. Reykjavik is also the business capital of Iceland. It is well connected to the rest of the country through public and private Buses, Cruises , regular and charter flights.

Sun Dial Reykjavik

Reykjavik is a small but beautiful city . But despite its smallness it has two airports:  Keflavik ( KEF) the international airport and Reykjavik ( RVK)  the domestic one. Now if you plan to fly into Iceland, your target airport would be Keflavik, and it takes about an hour and a half from Oslo, about 2 hours from London, About 3 hours from Paris, and about 6 hours from New York.

Here in Reykjavik you will find hotels, apartments and hostels for all types of travellers. A variety of touristy accomodation options, tour sightings , adventure travels, and activity packages are available at Reykjavik through travel companies and tour agents as well as adventure specialty organisations.

The other big city in the north is Akureyri . Akureyri has one of the 4 international airports in Iceland. There are regular flights to UK, Norway, USA and other Northern European countries. It also runs local flights to the capital Reykjavik and other airports to the south of Iceland.

Apart from Reykjavik and Akureyri, there are a few towns mostly along the southern and warmer Southern Iceland. These are Vik, Jokulsarlon and Hofn which serves as a very important fishing harbour.

WHICH IS THE BEST TIME AND CLIMATE TO GO TO ICELAND?

Everyone planning to travel to Iceland , especially on a Road trip would need to be aware of the best time to plan a trip to Iceland. Thus a common question everyone asks is  “What is the weather in Iceland ? “.

Though Iceland officially has four seasons, as a tourist’s destination,  it is visited in both the main seasons, winter and summer.

Rainbow over Mountain Iceland

During winter, people visit Iceland for the Northern Lights, Husky-Dog sledging (mostly around northern Iceland) and Glacier and Ice Cave Treks. During the summer months, tourists pour into Iceland for the “Midnight sun”, Horse Riding, Sea Puffins and Off-Road Highlands driving. The bitingly chilly wind would force you to hug your jacket and push your palms inside the pockets while the sun warms your face as it spreads its artisitic colours on the tufts of clouds over the horizon.

Summer begins officially on the first Thursday after 18th of May, when they have the ‘Gleðilegt Sumar ’ or Happy Summer parades, and lasts till September 31st . The temperatures are much warmer during these summer months. During winter temperatures can drop south of minus 20 degree Celsius in many parts of this Island nation, and it becomes a daily challenge to beat such unbearable temperatures.

Seasons and weather in Iceland

The summers are short usually from end May to mid August. Winter starts from mid September and lasts till March . Thus Summers are cool and mostly cloudy, winters are icy, wet and very windy.  By meaning wet, it includes rain, snow as well as a combination of the two. The annual temperature varies between 15 degrees Fahrenheit to 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the livable plains and cities. Over the central Iceland, which includes the highlands and Vatnajokull mountain glacier, temperatures can dip to much lower ones too.

The month of May witnesses around 12 hours of sunlight, the month of July around 18 while January about a couple of hours or so. Though December and January is favoured by some travelers due to the absolute ice and snow everywhere which adds a deceptive simplicity to its beauty, they are the toughest months to travel to Iceland.

The weather at Reykjavik, and most of Iceland, is vacillating and fickle. It never stays the same over a couple of days or sometimes even hours. Thus it is very difficult to distinguish the change of seasons all around the year. Some days would start with a menacing blizzard, others may start with a glorious golden sun. A bit of sun, and then a bit of snow seems to be the order of most days. Rain and sleet can mar a great day marked for travel, and then can clear off in half an hour. Iceland is mostly known for its changing weather all year long.

But owing to the warm south eastern Gulf Stream , which flows around the west and south of Iceland, the weather of Iceland is not really as deadly as its name seems to indicate. In fact it is mostly warmer than most of  Norway,  Finland and Canada. Much of Iceland’s natural sights are located along the southern coast and thus makes for an enjoyable travel to these locations. Iceland also sits on strong geothermal pools and geysers, and these natural sources of heat also helps in keeping the country warm.

Samit in front of Jokullsarlon Glacier Lake, Iceland

June through August can be considered as the warm season in Iceland.  These are the months which the Icelanders refer to as Summer though there really is nothing like a summer in Iceland. It is just a shade warmer over winter for most of Europe. Cloud covers over and around Reykjavik starts lightening from April and stays such till November. The months between November to March usually witness a larger part of the day covered by clouds in the sky.

The weather changes every couple of hours in Iceland. A bright sunny day can transform into a menacing, icy, windy, cloudy day in a short span. Whatever it may be, do not feel dejected on opening your eyes to a rainy, snowy morning. Be ready, plan well and take your precautions: nature can invite you out at any time.

WHERE TO FLY INTO ICELAND ?

There are four international airports in Iceland, but the most common ones are in Reykjavik , the capital and Akureyri, the largest city in the north of Iceland.

There are two airports in Reykjavik. Keflavik (KEF) is the larger one which flies international routes. Remember, you always fly into Keflavik Airport and NOT to Reykjavik airport which is the domestic and smaller one . Reykjavik (RKV) is mostly used by chartered and other private flights and flights into Greenland, further north west .

So , you can either fly into the airports at Reykjavik or Akureyri , the second largest city of Iceland situated in the north of Iceland. Between these two, Reykjavik being the capital, is far more well connected to the European and American cities than the one at Akureyri.

But in Reykjavik, there are two airports. Keflavik (KEF) is the larger one which flies all international routes.  Reykjavik (RKV) Airport is the domestic and smaller one, mostly used by local and chartered or private flights, and flights into Greenland. The Keflavik Airport at Reykjavik is located about 45 kms west of capital and is a nice 40 minutes drive across prawling snovy vistas dissected with a long grey tarmac. Driving into the capital from Keflavik airport is a pleasure as you slowly get aquainted with the sights beholding them as you drive from one locale to another.

So in case you are pre-booking your rental cars, as you should be, your pickup location needs to be Keflavik airport and not Reykjavik Airport. Many of the rental car agencies offer services at the KEF Airport itself, while a few are located about 2 kilometers away from it.

You can also sail from Seyðisfjörður in Iceland’s eastern side to Norway, Denmark or Scotland. There are a couple of cruise lines which frequent Iceland and include it in their longer itineraries across Western Europe. There are also plenty  of local cruising options in and around Iceland. Most , if not all, of them start from the capital Reykjavik and include from a week to a two week long trip around the Island. There are also cruises which cover Iceland and Greenland.  

WHICH AIRLINES’ ARE BEST TO REACH ICELAND?

The easiest and quickest way to travel to Iceland is flying. Keflavik is the international airport and has regular flights from all over Europe and the United States as well as Canada. All major airlines flies into Keflavik, from where the capital of Reykjavik is a short 40 km drive. Reykjavik is well connected from Keflavik Airport by Express Bus routes and private taxis also ply the distance. These and private car rental services are available from one end of the Terminal building and is an easy find.

Some of the major Airlines which fly into Keflavik Airport operate all year round while the rest fly into Iceland during the summer months . Iceland Air, Easy Jet and Wow Air, American Airlines, KLM, Finnair, Air Canada and Emirates fly all year round multiple weekly or daily flights into Keflavik. Air Berlin, Air France, Delta Airlines, Transavia,  Scandinavian Airlines SAS, Iberia, Vueling, Edelweiss and Austrian Airlines  fly during Summer.

There are a few international flights, mostly from Scandinavian Europe and Greenland which flies into Reykjavik Airport and Akureyri too.

HOW TO TRAVEL AROUND ICELAND?

Iceland is an ideal country to go on a Road Trip. Dazzling sunsets and breath-taking waterfalls will force you to stop your car at every nook and corner. You should preferably book an SUV or a 4X4 vehicle if you do not have prior experience in driving on snowy roads and icy terrain. And always purchase a  comprehensive insurance cover: the risks of sand gravel water and ice damages are high. I would suggest you to book your car only from those who have offices inside the KEF ( Keflavik) Airport Terminal, like Avis or Hertz. Campervans and Motorhomes are for the more adventurous roadies, to travel between May and October. There are many parks available to pitch a camper  and use the water and washroom facilities, but during winter it is better to check ahead to identify the ones which stay open based on your route.

DRIVING RULES AND RESTRICTIONS IN ICELAND

The maximum speed when driving inside Reykjavik and towns is about 50 kmph while the maximum speed on highways is 90 kmph. Be courteous to the other driver when you are passing through single-lane bridges. You never hurry on Icelandic roads. For any road trip, you need to acquire the knowledge of changing your flat tires. Since you will be travelling miles and miles out into the outlands on your own, there are no immediate auto service garages that you may find.

ICELAND TRAVEL READINESS : WHAT TO WEAR?  WHAT TO PACK?

Iceland has one of the harshest temperatures and its weather can change within an hour, rain can catch you smug anytime and the chilly wind can drive up in knotts. Thus you need to be prepared for this quick shifts of weather and temperature swings.

The essentials first. You need warm waterproof clothing and plan for clothing in layers. Warm thermal inners, a heavy thermal jacket and gloves can be a lifesaver during the winters. Summers would still need warm jackets and pullovers. An extra windcheater can help.

SInce the weather and temperature can shift quick gears, we advise layered clothing. It is better to have three – four layers of clothing instead of a bulky jumpsuit of an outfit.

Rugged shows, shoes with sturdy soles that can weather water, hail, rain and sandy muddy beds are an absolute necessity. A hoodie saves you from biting cold, sunglasses from blinding reflected light off the snow and ice and a pair of gloves to keep your fingers warm during frosty days. An extra pair of socks are also a necessity.

Apart from your clothing you need to carry road maps and keep stock of food and energy bars along with you. Carry some biscuits, cookies, cashews-walnuts-almonds-raisins or chocolates,muffins with you. Also, carry an extra pair of sports shoes in the car.

A good camera, a power adaptor, charge-banks for your mobile with a spare camera battery is advised. To protect your camera, a rain-cover is essential. Disposable polythene packets / waterproof bags for keeping your lenses and other gears are also a must. A sturdy tripod is a must to capture the Aurora. If you are renting a car for a self driven road trip, a coffee mug which can plug into the cigarette lighter socket of the car can be a life saver during cold damp weather conditions. SUnglasses, sunscreens and hand sanitizing spray can help you along.

Pick up a local sim card with -data , there are quite a few. you can pick up at the airport. We found NOVO Sims to be good. You can buy them from the Duty-free store at Keflavik International Airport.

HOW TO EXPERIENCE THE ICELANDIC NORTHERN LIGHTS OR AURORA BOREALIS :

 Iceland is one of the best places from where you can experience the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis. Though there is no guarantee that you would be able to witness the enthralling Aurora, there are surely some indicators that you can use to increase your chances of seeing one.

Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights

Also referred to as the polar lights, the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis is a natural phenomenon usually seen near the poles where the sky lights up in swooshes of green and red colours. This magical and enthralling display of colors in the night sky is caused by the interactivity of charged solar particles with our atmosphere .
The Northern Lights are usually visible regularly from September till March in Iceland.

 

Tips for witnessing the Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights

The occurrence and visibility of Aurora Borealis depends on the clarity of the sky, the darkness around and the cycle of the moon. The Spring Equinox, on 21st of March and the Autumnal Equinox on 22nd September are both a good time to see the Aurora. So is a new moon night since the sky remains dark and accentuates colours for the normal eye to see. In order to experience this phenomenon, one needs to be at a place where external lights from the locality does not hinder the eyesight. The main colours in an Aurora are green, blue and red, though in Iceland it is mostly the green colour which is prevalent.

For Northern Lights or Aurora sightings, keep checking the Vedur website .This is available in English and a scale on the right of the page forecasts the chances of Aurora. Remember that white swatches on the map means no cloud cover or clear skies, and increases the chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis.

 As a general rule, Auroras are usually seen during the months of Dec to March and Again from September to October. By no means, should you ever leave hope of seeing the Aurora. For us, we scanned the skies for six nights while we were out in the snowy lands of Iceland, to no avail. But the night we returned back to the city, albeit a bit sad and dejected though the stunning locations and sights had more than made up for the absence of Aurora, we did see the Aurora. A streak of light started playing over the skies around 8 pm in the evening and we were out in the night till almost 2 in the morning. So , keep your hopes high and keep checking the Vedur website !! 🙂

HOW LONG SHOULD YOUR ICELAND ITINERARY BE ?

For how long should you plan for a trip to Iceland. Well it depends …

If you want to plan for a quick getaway , Iceland needs to be at least for 5 days. This would ideally be a couple of days at Reykjavik, and a whirlwind 2-3 days along the Golden Circle.

If you can add another two to three days, you can stay around VIk and enjoy the Black coastline of Reynesfjara , and the majestic Skogafoss and Seliandjofoos waterfalls.

To plan a road trip, ideally one should have around 9-10 days of time and that does justice to an Iceland Trip. In such a case, you can visit the south eastern quaint fishing village of Hofn and enjoy the beauty of Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon. Rest assured, you will never regret it.

For the more adventurous, a three week Road trip can take you around the country, and you can visit the Northern industrial city of Akureyri and the Snæfellsjökull glacier, Kirkjufell Mountain on a round trip of the island.

SIM CARDS AND DATA PACKAGES

There are a few mobile operators , each offering pre-paid sim cards and data package services in Iceland. The more popular ones are Vodaphone, Nova and Siminn. We found that the Nova Sim cards gives you greater flexibility with cheaper data rates. They are also more suited for travels in the countryside and out of the cities and towns since there reach is better in the outlands.

Keflavik Airport Duty Free
Iceland Airport Sim Card Shop

NOVO : Data enabled Sim Card. The Duty-free shop at Keflavik Airport sells SIM cards too and we picked up sim cards from the local Icelandic Telecom Operator NOVO. The Novo card came with 1 GB data package for around 20 Euros and intra-Novo calls were free. Good for us 🙂

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