Iceland

Iceland is situated just outside the Arctic Circle in the North Atlantic Ocean. This island country has many volcanoes, of which many are still active. In 2010 and 2011 Iceland’s volcanoes disrupted many flights to and from Europe, especially from the UK. The country also is home to many geothermal geysers with the “Geysir” being the geyser where all other geysers got their names. Although Iceland has high latitude, the country is warmed by the Gulf Stream and therefore has a temperate climate.

During the 1990′s, tourism has grown and became an important part of the country’s economy. Tourism grows by about 11% each year. To state the importance of tourism, 4.5% of Iceland’s workforce is made up out of tourism compared to the fishing industry and agriculture, which is, enjoys 6% each of the country’s working force.

When to go

Weather

Iceland has sub-polar oceanic climate and due to the warm North Atlantic the country has warmer annual climate than other countries of similar latitude in the world. The south part of Iceland is warmer, wetter and windier than the northern part while the central part is the coldest part of the country. Although snowfall occur throughout Iceland, it is more common in the north than in the south. Temperatures in the winter ranges between -6˚C to 3˚C while summer temperatures can range between 3˚C and 15˚C.

Major attractions in Iceland

• The Blue Lagoon
• Gullfoss Waterfall
• Geysir
• Vatnajökull Glacier
• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lake
• Vatnajökull National Park
• Snæfellsjökull National Park
• University of Iceland
• Ósvör – fishing outpost replica

Events & Festivals

• Reykjavik Art Festival
• Reykjavik Fashion Festival

Top Activities

• Whale Watching
• Cycling
• Diving
• Ice Fishing
• Swimming in geothermal heated pools
• Play Golf
• Bird Watching
• Hiking
• Horse Riding
• Glacier Tours
• Boat Tours

Money and Cash

Tipping:

Tipping is not very important in Iceland and although tipping jars can be found at the cash register it is generally ignored.

Preparing to visit

Practical Tips:

Icelanders believe in “hidden people” or elves and it is rude to be skeptic of these “hidden people”. Although Icelanders might seem unapproachable, they are very friendly and helpful. The first question you might get from an Icelander is “How do you like Iceland?”

Health and safety

Water:

Iceland is one of the countries in the world with the cleanest tap water and therefor it is safe to drink.

Crime:

The country is one of the safest in the world and the changes of getting harassed or robbed are slim to none. Visiting the city of Reykjavik normal tourism precautions should be taken such as keeping an eye out for pickpockets. When going out at night be sure to keep an eye out for suspicious people and stay near lights and places with many people, just be 100% safe.

Natural Dangers:

The greatest dangers in Iceland can be found in the nature. Be sure to adhere to road signs as well as warnings given by tour guides and locals. Never approach a glacier front, stay always from big waves on the coast and be very careful when you approach big waterfalls. Always have the proper equipment and training when walking on glaciers.

Related Tips and Articles from our blog

Heat Up Your Holiday in Iceland's Blue Lagoon

Iceland is a country that’s surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean. It has a temperate climate and a good place to see solstice. Aside from its history and structures as well as the natural and artificial geysers, Iceland offers the therapeutic Blue Lagoon.

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