A good preparation for a trip to Iceland is necessary as you might not have the possibilities or chances to get the necessary information locally.

Here, you can find some good advice and practical information for your next holidays in the land of fire and ice.

 

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

01 January – New Years Day

Thursday after the 18th of April – First Day of summer

01 May – May Day

17 June – Independence Day

First Monday in August – Commerce Day

25 and 26 December – Christmas

Bank holidays: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Whit Monday

 

CREDIT CARDS

All hotels, restaurants and shops accept major international credit cards (Visa, Master, Amex, Diner). Traveller Checks are widely used.

 

OPENING HOURS

Banks are open Monday to Friday 9.15-16hrs. Some of the bigger banks have longer opening hours and are also open on Saturdays. Shops: Monday to Friday 9-18hrs, Saturday 10-14, 15 or 16hrs. In Reykjavik, some book or souvenir shops as well as grocery stores and petrol stations might have longer opening hours or are open on Sundays.

 

POST OFFICE

In general, opening hours are Monday to Friday 9-16.30hrs; in Reykjavik 10-18hrs. English is widely spoken.

 

ELECTRICITY

220 Volt, 50 Hz

 

TOILETS

In Iceland, toilets are marked Kvenmenn (ladies) and Karlmenn (men).

 

GRATUITIES

There is no need of tipping in hotels and restaurants as it is already included in the bill.

 

CURRENCY

Iceland uses the Islandic króna (IKr or kr.). Banknotes range from 500 to 5000 kr, coins from 1 to 100 kr.

 

TIME

All year long Iceland stays on GMT, which means in the summer a time difference of -1 hour exists between Iceland and the UK.