Reykjavik is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It has a latitude of 64 08’ N, making it the world’s northernmost capital of a sovereign state, and is a popular tourist destination. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxa Bay. With a population of around 120,000 (and over 200,000 in the Capital Region), it is the heart of Iceland’s cultural, economic and governmental activity. The capital is only about a 45 minute drive from Keflavik Airport (KEF).
As the sun only sets for 3 hours per day from mid-may to mid-august this period offers almost 24 hours of daylight. In midwinter, there are around 5 hours of effective daylight.
During winter months we are working with very limited daylight hours. This may result in some of the sites being visited in dusk or darkness or skipped altogether. We will do our best to avoid this, but ask for your understanding should this happen.
The emergency phone number 24/7 in Iceland is 112. There are hospitals in all major cities and towns in Iceland.
Iceland uses Northern European electrical standards (50 Hz/220 volts) so converters may be required for small electrical appliances brought from home. We do not recommend bringing a hair dryer from North America; many hotels have hair dryers in rooms, and some swimming pools have hair dryers for use in changing rooms.
Some appliances, like chargers for laptops, digital cameras or mobile phones, may already be compatible with multiple voltages and may just need a travel adapter. Iceland uses the standard Europlug socket with two round prongs so you can use adapter types “C” or “F” (often labelled as a Northern Europe adapter).
Make sure to check the voltage labels on your appliances or chargers to see if you need to bring an adapter or converter+adapter. Converters and adapters are available in Iceland at the duty-free store in Keflavík Airport as well as some major hotels, electronic stores, souvenir shops and bookstores.
Please note that some tours/days can be changed or rearranged depending on the weather conditions, so we need to be flexible. We are concerned about your safety and overall experience. In case of activity being canceled or tour/day changed your guide will let you know in time and give you alternative options and make the best out of the situation.
In Iceland nearly all bills that you receive already include gratuity. You will still get a smile and Icelanders will not think any worse of you if you tip. Of course, Icelanders will not decline a tip for good service. If you feel you have received excellent service, the best way to show your appreciation is to tip 10 percent or round up the amount of the bill.
For tipping/gratuity for private tours, if you really want to show your appreciation for your private guide/driver you can see here in our private tours section what is the suggested amount per day and what would be the best way to go about it.
The Northern Lights season in Iceland lasts from September to April. This is when the nights are dark, so your chances of seeing the Northern Lights are greater. The days are shorter in January than in March, therefore, for that sole reason, the chances can be considered greater to see them in January. Unfortunately, no guarantees can be given as visibility depends on weather conditions such as clear skies and northern lights activity.
The country size is 103,000 km2 (approx. 40,000 square miles). Almost all of Iceland’s inhabited areas are located in coastal parts around the country. With a population of just 390,000, Iceland is one of the least densely populated nations on the planet, with just over 3 inhabitants/km 2
The official language is Icelandic; English and Danish are widely spoken. Icelanders start learning English in the 4th grade and most Icelanders (especially younger people) speak decent English. Many welcome the opportunity to practice their second language - so don't be shy about starting a conversation in English.
The Icelandic currency is kronur (ISK). It's easy to exchange money at the airport, in banks and at currency exchanges. You can also pay for virtually anything with a credit card. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted; American Express and Diner's Card less so.
Downtown opening hours may vary but stores are generally open from 10:00 AM - 06:00 PM on weekdays and 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM on Saturdays. Some stores stay open longer on Saturdays and most downtown stores are open until 06:00 PM on the first Saturday of each month. There are two large shopping centers in Reykjavik; Kringlan and Smaralind. The stores in the shopping malls are open all days of the week and later at night than downtown stores.
Traditional Icelandic food such as smoked lamb, dried fish and herring often has a place on Reykjavik’s city’s top-notch restaurants. In recent years there has been a large increase in restaurants all over Reykjavik, and travellers, as well as locals, can choose from a multitude of fine dining restaurants, gastropubs, brasseries and bistros with both Icelandic, fusion and international cuisine. The vegetarian and vegan cuisine is also on the rise, with plenty of options from fine dining to greasy hangover food, and plant-lover will find a suitable place to fulfill all their food cravings in Reykjavik. Here you will find a list of restaurants in Reykjavik and can easily book your table.
Yes, we work with travel agents. All travel agents and partners that we work with will receive a NET price and need to be signed up for our Agent Portal.
Try to take out the battery and the sim card. Hold down the menu button & on/off button for the router to restart.
All visitors are welcome, with no requirement for a PCR test to board aircraft, or testing or quarantine upon arrival. There is no longer a requirement to present a certificate of vaccination or of prior COVID-19 infection. We strongly recommend that our guests obtain appropriate health and travel insurance and are aware of what is covered and included in their policies before they start traveling.