Practical Information
Iceland is located in the North Atlantic Ocean between Europe and North America. Although the country it self is large, slightly smaller than the state of Kentucky, the nation of Icelanders is very small, only around 320.000.
Language
The local language is Icelandic. English is widely spoken along with Nordic languages and German. You will have no problem speaking English to locals.
Money
The official currency of Iceland is the Icelandic Krona (ISK). The exchange rate is around 150 ISK to the Euro, or 120 ISK to the Dollar. This site offers up to date exchange rate information. Cash can be withdrawn from debit and credit cards in all local ATM´s. Most foreign money can also be exchanged into Icelandic Krona in all bank outlets.
Please be advised that the exchange rate of the Krona against other currencies can differ between countries. This is a result of the collapse of the Icelandic financial systems in late 2008. We recommend that you do not bring any Icelandic Krona with you back home since it’s very likely you will not be able to change it back to your local currency.
Time
Iceland is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). However, travelers should be aware that since Iceland does not have daylight savings time, there is, for instance, a one hour difference between Reykjavik and London in summertime. In winter the time is the same as in London.
Telephone / Internet
Public telephones are not widely available in Reykjavik. You might stumble upon one somewhere in the city but most of them have been taken down in recent years following an increased use of personal mobile phones.
Internet is available in all hotels and also in many restaurants and cafes in Reykjavik. Usually there is no charge for use of the internet.
Safety and health
Reykjavik is one of the safest places in the world. Crime against tourists (and locals, actually) is close to non-existent. This does not mean that tourists can leave valuables lying around anywhere they go, but there is little to be worried about in Reykjavik.
Travelling to Iceland does not require any vaccination nor is it recommended. Water in Iceland is safe to drink and food safety is high.
The number for emergencies is 112. Check out our list of important places and numbers for safety and services.
Climate
The climate is extremely temperate, the winters are mild and the summers are not very hot.
