Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Iceland

A photograph of Iceland
Photograph · Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0

Iceland holds roughly 395,000 residents, about 35% of them in Reykjavik, which makes it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. It lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, on the rift between two tectonic plates, and that fact is the itinerary: geysers, frequent volcanic eruptions, and an interior of volcanic plateau, sand and lava fields, mountains and glaciers that no one crosses casually. Almost everything a visitor reaches sits on the coastal lowlands, threaded by glacial rivers running to the sea. The Gulf Stream keeps the climate temperate at a latitude just south of the Arctic Circle, which in practice means chilly summers rather than mild winters.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Icelandic
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+354
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Icelandic króna (ISK)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and F · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Safe from the mains
Cold mains water is the normal drinking supply

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Forsetinn
    02 2 hours

    Forsetinn

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  2. Slippbarinn
    05 2 hours

    Slippbarinn

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  3. Uppsalir
    08 2 hours

    Uppsalir

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  4. 22
    09 2 hours

    22

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  5. Ægir
    10 2 hours

    Ægir

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  6. American Bar American Bar
    11 2 hours

    American Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  7. Áslákur
    12 2 hours

    Áslákur

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  8. Auto
    13 2 hours

    Auto

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  9. Bad Mickey
    14 2 hours

    Bad Mickey

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  10. Bakken Rvk
    15 2 hours

    Bakken Rvk

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  11. Benzin Cafe
    16 2 hours

    Benzin Cafe

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  12. Bird
    18 2 hours

    Bird

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  13. Café Bar 8
    19 2 hours

    Café Bar 8

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  14. Catalina
    20 2 hours

    Catalina

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  15. Classik Rock
    21 2 hours

    Classik Rock

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  16. Daisy
    23 2 hours

    Daisy

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  17. Dillon
    25 2 hours

    Dillon

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  18. Djúpið
    27 2 hours

    Djúpið

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  19. Domo
    28 2 hours

    Domo

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  20. Efri
    29 2 hours

    Efri

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  21. Einstök Bar
    30 2 hours

    Einstök Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  22. Ellý
    31 2 hours

    Ellý

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  23. Exit
    33 2 hours

    Exit

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  24. Gilligogg
    36 2 hours

    Gilligogg

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  25. Gullöldin
    37 2 hours

    Gullöldin

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  26. HAX
    38 2 hours

    HAX

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  27. Kaffibarinn
    40 2 hours

    Kaffibarinn

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  28. Kaldi Bar
    41 2 hours

    Kaldi Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  29. Kantrybarinn
    42 2 hours

    Kantrybarinn

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  30. Kramber
    45 2 hours

    Kramber

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  31. Lebowski Bar
    46 2 hours

    Lebowski Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  32. Lemmy
    47 2 hours

    Lemmy

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  33. Loft bar
    49 2 hours

    Loft bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  34. Matbar
    50 2 hours

    Matbar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  35. Mengi
    51 2 hours

    Mengi

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  36. Miami
    52 2 hours

    Miami

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  37. Micro Bar
    53 2 hours

    Micro Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  38. Moe's Bar
    54 2 hours

    Moe's Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  39. Ölstofa
    56 2 hours

    Ölstofa

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  40. Paloma
    58 2 hours

    Paloma

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  41. Port 9
    60 2 hours

    Port 9

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  42. Prikið
    61 2 hours

    Prikið

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  43. Publin
    62 2 hours

    Publin

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  44. Röntgen
    65 2 hours

    Röntgen

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  45. Skúli Craft
    66 2 hours

    Skúli Craft

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  46. Snorrabar
    68 2 hours

    Snorrabar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  47. Sólon
    69 2 hours

    Sólon

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  48. Studio
    73 2 hours

    Studio

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  49. The Dubliner
    75 2 hours

    The Dubliner

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  50. The Roof
    79 2 hours

    The Roof

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  51. Tipsy
    80 2 hours

    Tipsy

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  52. Tres Locos
    81 2 hours

    Tres Locos

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  53. Uppi
    82 2 hours

    Uppi

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  54. Útópía
    83 2 hours

    Útópía

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  55. Veður
    84 2 hours

    Veður

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik
  56. Vox Bar
    86 2 hours

    Vox Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Reykjavik

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Iceland be?

Seven to ten days supports Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and south coast; the full Ring Road deserves at least a week of driving and preferably longer. The Westfjords or highlands should be separate additions because weather and road class can transform journey times.

What entry documents are needed for Iceland?

Iceland is in Schengen, but visa need still depends on nationality and travel circumstances. Use Iceland’s official government guidance to identify where to apply and which documents are required; verify the rule before routing through another Schengen state.

What is the best way to travel around Iceland?

Keflavík Airport is outside Reykjavík and is connected by coach. Scheduled buses reach selected towns, but many natural sites require a tour or rental car; check road.is and weather information before departure, and use an appropriate vehicle only where F-road access permits.

When is a practical time to visit Iceland?

Summer offers long daylight and broader road access, while winter provides dark skies but shorter days and more disruption risk. Shoulder-season plans need the same daily road checks: a forecast for Reykjavík cannot establish conditions on a pass or exposed coast.

What money and payment basics apply in Iceland?

Icelandic króna is the currency, and card payment is common even for small purchases. Keep an alternative payment method for unattended or remote services, verify fuel-station card requirements and read the ISK total before accepting conversion.

What practical safety details should I save for Iceland?

The emergency number is 112 and sockets are Type C and F at 230 V. Mains tap water is recorded as safe; at remote facilities follow posted notices, and download road and weather information before entering areas with weak mobile coverage.