Read the feedbacks of travelers who used our services for their trip to Iceland!

FAQ - Iceland Info

©Julien Ratel
Iceland landscape

Formalities – Iceland Info

1. Iceland info – do I need a Passport?

Iceland is a part of the Schengen Area. All citizens of the European Union and of other countries in the Schengen Area can enter Iceland with a currently valid Citizen Card (for British travellers), identity card or passport.

American and Canadian citizens will need to present a passport to enter Iceland. If you are a citizen of another country, even if you are legally a temporary resident of one of the aforementioned countries, we would recommend that you contact the embassy of your country of citizenship in Iceland to enquire about the conditions for your entering Iceland.

2. How does Iceland Like a Local’s service work?

You’ll fill out an enquiry for your trip to Iceland being as specific as possible. You can also call us on Skype or by phone (+354) 533-1160. This kind of direct contact with the people organizing your trip will save time and allow you to express your needs more clearly, so take advantage of it! But still, keep the time change in mind when you try to contact us. Iceland is on Greenwich Mean Time making it four hours ahead of Toronto and New York and one hour behind London.

Once you have made an enquiry, a member of our team will get back to you with a detailed trip proposal and a set price. This proposed itinerary can then be accommodated to meet your time, budget, or flight constraints. Once the final itinerary is agreed upon, you will then confirm it by e-mail and include the full name and postal address of the persons in charge of payment. Your trip will be considered confirmed once we have received your deposit. This deposit will amount to 30% of the total cost of your trip. The remaining payment is to be sent, at the latest, a month before your scheduled arrival in Iceland. For last minute reservations (less than a month before departure), the entirety of payment is due at the time of reservation.

After we have received your deposit, we will send you the list of services we have booked for your trip (accommodations, car rental, activities etc.). Once you have paid for the remainder of the trip, we will e-mail you your travel vouchers that will exchange for these services and should print out at home before departing. We can also send you your detailed travel folder in a Word document, or give it to you instead upon your arrival in Iceland. The last thing you will receive is our phone number which you can call with any eventual problems upon arrival or during your stay.

3. And during my trip? Iceland info

We will greet you at Keflavik International Airport and transfer you from there to your Reykjavik accommodations.

During your transfer, we will give you your travel folder filled with all of the necessary elements to guarantee your successful trip to Iceland: city maps, road maps, hiking guides, coordinates for your accommodations, emergency phone number…

If your package includes vehicle rental directly from the airport, we will drop the trip folder off with your car rental agency and you will pick it up along with your car.

If have lost or forgotten your travel vouchers, that you were to print at home and bring with you to Iceland, call us on the emergency number in your travel folder as soon as possible. If you do not end up using a service that you have purchased or a service is incomplete, let us know as soon as possible on the emergency number so that we can inform the providers immediately. If you’d like to meet a member of the team, we’d be more than happy to arrange a meeting in Reykjavik. Just let us know ahead of time so we can make ourselves available.

4. And after my trip? Iceland info

We welcome all constructive criticism and value it as a resource to help us improve upon our services. We will examine all demands for compensation resulting from dissatisfaction as long as we receive them no later than 60 days after the end of your trip

5. What are Iceland Like a Local’s Cancellation Fees?

In the case of a cancellation, the following conditions apply:

All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing (e-mail, letter or fax)

  • – More than 60 days before the departure date: 35% of the total cost of the services.
    – From 60 to 31 days before the departure date: 40% of the total cost of the services.
    – From 30 to 14 days before the departure date: 45% of the total cost of the services.
    – From 13 to 7 days before the departure date: 50% of the total cost of the services.
    – Less than 7 days before departure: 60% of the total cost of the services.

6. Insurance

Our local agency cannot directly supply you with travel insurance; meanwhile, in order to better meet our clients’ needs, we have developed an agreement with the renowned European insurance company so that you can travel in Iceland without worry. The travel insurance contracts offered comply with our own terms and conditions.

CDW insurance (Collision Damage Waiver) is automatically included in your vehicle rental. Supplementary Super CDW insurance is also available and provides you with excess coverage reducing the amount of excess costs for which you are liable in the event of an incident. Read the article we have put together on renting a car in Iceland: Car in Iceland.

7. Is payment with my credit card secure?

Yes, in order to offer our clients a reliable and widely recognized method of payment, we use the electronic payment services of PAYBOX, Europe’s leader in secure online payment. On your bill, you’ll see a link to the online payment device with the totality of the payment already entered. Once the payment is complete, you will receive e-mail confirmation. If you would prefer to pay through a traditional bank transfer we will send you our account information.

8. Iceland info – what is the procedure for buying things once in Iceland?

It is not possible to buy Iceland Krona (ISK) outside of Iceland.

Once you have arrived at Keflavik International Airport, you will be able to change currencies after having gone through customs or you can choose to change in an Icelandic bank. Remember, however, that banks are closed on weekends and open from 9:15 to 16:00 during the week.

It is usually possible to pay for things with Euros, Pounds or Dollars (bills only) in most Reykjavik establishments and most of the country’s hotels, but not everywhere. Your change will then be given to you in Iceland Kronas.

In all of Iceland’s more urban areas, you will find cash points (ATMs) that accept Visa and Mastercard. A large majority of commercial establishments accept credit cards (Visa and Mastercard), even for small sums.

Make sure you don’t bring any Iceland Kronas back with you (unless you want to keep them as a souvenir!) as you won’t be able to change them once you’ve left Iceland. If you still have some at the end of your trip, you can change them for the currency of your choice at a change point in the Keflavik Airport once you’ve gone through security.

Still need some Iceland info? Ask your travel expert, he’ll be happy to help and will give you all the Iceland info you need!

Practical Iceland Info

1. Why go through a local agency?

By planning your trip through a local agency like ours, you can be sure that:
– you are dealing with people who know the country like the back of their hands and will be able to answer your Iceland info questions quickly and accurately.
– you’ll be getting advice relevant to your expectations and personal circumstances.
– your trip to Iceland or Greenland is tailor made and made for you.
– you will have someone to help you during your trip 7/7 no matter where in Iceland you are (last minute reservations, itinerary changes due to an unforeseen event, assistance in the event of a problem, etc.).
– you are greeted by quality service providers that we have been working with for years and that we know personally more often than not.
– you are taking advantage of our numerous years of experience travelling in Iceland ourselves so that you can see all of Iceland’s top destinations on top of some of its best kept secrets.

We are not here to tell you what you want to hear and then fall short of your expectations. Our goal is to give you an accurate idea of what your trip will be like and to guide you in your preparation for it as well as during it. More than anything, we hope our passion for our country will go the extra distance and make your trip to Iceland all the more unique and unforgettable with tons of Iceland info!

2. What is the best season for travelling to Iceland? Iceland info

We could write a list of reasons to come to Iceland for every month of the year. The weather is best in June, July and August but these are also the months with the most travellers, and the most expensive! Between May and the end of July you’ll be able to take advantage of Iceland’s almost eternal Arctic daylight, nesting sea birds, and a verdant natural setting. Only from mid-June to mid-September can the country’s interior be accessed. Car rental is less expensive before June 15th and after August 15th.
The first northern lights can be seen in the beginning of September and throughout the winter until the end of April, as long as its’ night time, you are for from light pollution, the sky is clear, and the solar activity is strong enough to set off this magical natural light show. Regardless of the month of your trip to Iceland, we will be able to organize a fantastic trip for you.
For more information on Icelandic weather take a look at this website: Iceland Weather

What to do in Iceland in the summer? Iceland info

Besides exploring Iceland’s wild and beautiful nature, there are a number of activities available to you in summertime. Museums, hikes, horseback riding, whale and bird watching, glacier/ice climbing, rafting, sea kayaking, quad biking, natural hot water sources and pools, caving, super-jeep tours, etc. There are offerings for every taste, experience level and age group! You can reserve all these activities and more with us.

4. What to do in Iceland during the winter? Iceland info

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not always night time in Iceland in the winter!
The darkest period is from November to January, but even in December, there are 4 to 5 hours of daylight. From the end of March to the end of September, days are longer than nights. Winter is the season for seeing the northern lights. It’s also a great time to go for a weekend break to Rejkjavik to dive into its nightlife and culture or a hot source surrounded by snow. Along the southern coast, the temperatures never get too cold and the snow is never too deep. The average temperature in Reykjavik in December is 0°C, warmer than in New York!

5. Is it difficult to communicate with Icelanders?

We are very proud of our language and have preserved it to this day. However, a great majority of Icelanders, especially young people and people working in the tourism industry speak English.

6. Iceland info – Telephone, internet, GPS?

Phone service in Iceland is good on the inhabited portions of the coast and on the main roads. Service in uninhabited regions is minimal but gets better every year.
97% of Icelanders use the internet and you’ll have Wifi acess in many accommodations and cafes with free Wifi access are numerous, especially in Reykjavik.
Using GPS isn’t necessary but if you’d like to use yours, make sure to load Iceland’s map. Note that many car rental agencies offer GPS and road maps of Iceland.

7. What are the national holidays and biggest celebrations in Iceland?

Iceland Independence Day: on June 17th, Icelanders celebrate the declaration of their independence achieved in 1944. While most shops and restaurants will remain open in Reyjavik and other tourist destinations, this is a national holiday and people may not be working elsewhere. Numerous festivities are organized throughout the country especially in Reykjavík (concerts, street activities, etc.).
Holiday of the Tradesmen: the first Monday in August. While most shops and restaurants remain open in Reyjavik and other tourist destinations, it’s a national holiday.
Reykjavík Gay Pride: in early August every year, this festival attracts about 90 000 people to Iceland’s capital! For more information: www.gaypride.is
Reykjavík Culture Night: since 1996, this event has been celebrated annually on the 1st Saturday after the 18th of August. A number of attractions take place in the city streets along with concerts and fireworks over the harbour at nightfall.
The Iceland Airwaves Festival: since1999, this music festival has been taking place on the third week of October (from Wednesday to Sunday). For 5 days, musicians put on shows in the bars, cafes and concert halls of Reykjavik. More Iceland info: www.icelandairwaves.is
New Year’s and Christmas: even though Reykjavik is calm on the 24th and the 26th of December, and the 1st of January, it is pulsing with energy on the 23rd of December, when roads are closed off to cars and shops stay open until midnight. More than just last minutr shopping, this is a night for all of Reykjavik to get together downtown. The night of the 31st is also a great event. After family dinners, Icelanders gather from 20:30 to 22:00 around large pyres dotted around the city. Then, between 23:15 and 00:30, everywhere in Reykjavik a show of fireworks but on by every citizen goes off to mark the new year. This event is incredible and you have to see it to understand it! In the weeks before Christmas, Reykjavík has a Christmas market (www.visitreykjavik.is) as does its neighbor Hafnafjörður (www.hafnarfjordur.is).
Easter: with a few exceptions Reykjavik restaurants and cafes stay open, Easter weekend is a National Holiday from Friday to Monday.
First official day of Summer: lthe third Thursday in April, you’ll hear “Gleðilegt sumar” everywhere, or happy summer! This national holiday is an occasion for Icelanders to break our their barbecues, enjoy a bowl of ice cream and sprawl across the terraces of cafes at the tiniest hint of sun.
May 1st: as in many countries throughout the world, May 1st in Iceland is a national holiday.
The Thursday of Ascension and the Monday of Pentecost These are national holidays in Iceland.
Others: a full list of festivals, Iceland info, events and temporary exhibits in Reykjavik, visit: www.visitreykjavik.is.

8. Are there hikes for everyone in Iceland?

With its variety of landscapes and unlimited nature, Iceland is a paradise for walking. Meanwhile hiking is a commitment given the isolation often implied and unpredictable weather conditions. Our itineraries are fairly challenging and nights are spent in mountain huts or camping. However, some have been put together for beginners and have shorter legs.
Either way, feel free to have a talk with a member of our team to figure out what would be best for you and gather more Iceland info. Upon request we can supply you with detailed descriptions of hikes, GPS points and topographic maps.

9. We would like to hire a guide?

The services of private guides in Iceland, whether it is for an individual or a small group, are provided by guides driving 4WD vehicles with room for 3 to 12 people depending on the car.
We work with experienced English speaking driver-guides. The cost of the guides services and car are a minimum of 800 euros per day (meals and accommodations not included). You must therefore have a fairly large budget to hire the services of a guide.
For groups of over 10-12 people, we automatically hire a driver and a guide.

Accomodation

1. What kinds of accommodations do you offer clients travelling alone?

We offer all kinds of Icelandic accommodations, from camping to 4 star hotels, even if there aren’t enough of the latter in Iceland to count on one hand!

 

– In Reykjavik you’ll find options from hostels to four star hotels and anything in between.

– In the rest of the country there is only one other 4 star hotel (between the villages of Hella and Hvolsvöllur in the south), but there are many charming hotels where the services are well above average. There are also hotels of slightly lesser quality throughout Iceland. Then there is a vast selection of guesthouses and farmhouses. The welcomes here are warm and these accommodations are comfortable yet simple. There is an extensive network of hostels whose level of service and cleanliness is often above the international standard. Finally you can rent chalets in Iceland by the day or week.

 

– In the uninhabited regions of Iceland the only accommodations available are mountain huts that fulfil only basic needs. They are generally well-kept, clean and heated; some even have electricity and hot water, but they are still mountain huts offering no luxury and little privacy. You’ll sleep in shared rooms with bunk beds that you may be forced to share. But in this wild natural environment, the mountain huts will seem like 4 star hotels!

 

– Finally there are campsites throughout the country. Most only offer basic comforts, often limited to running water and a simple bathroom.

2. How do you fix prices according to the different kinds of accommodations?

Based on your itinerary and the availability of accommodations, we place our clients in the accommodations with the best locations and highest quality of service which our previous clients have given positive feedback about. We aim for a similar quality in all the accommodations we offer but sometimes, based on region and availability, it can vary greatly even in accommodations of the same category.

In the majority of cases, based on the demands we receive, we establish our prices according to 4 categories of accommodations as following (in order from most to least expensive):

 

– Accommodations in countryside hotels, guest or farmhouses, with private bathroom:

All of these establishments include breakfast, and those outside of Reykjavik overwhelmingly have evening meals available, (you generally choose from 2 or 3 formulas of simple but quality local food). We don’t count 4 star hotels in this category but will upon request establish an itinerary with accommodations in the best (and most expensive) establishments in Reykjavik and the country. Our prices are based on per person occupation of a double room. We will let you know the supplement for separate single rooms. Ask us if you need triple or quadruple rooms.

 

– Accommodations in a guest or farmhouse, with shared bathroom:

Here, bathrooms are shared with other guests of the establishment, often one bathroom per floor. The number of rooms sharing a bathroom varies from one guesthouse to another. All of these establishments include breakfasts and, those not in Reykjavik almost always offer optional dinners (generally you’ll choose from 2 or 3 formulas of simple but copious and quality local food). Our prices are based on per person occupation of a double room. We will let you know the supplement for separate single rooms. Ask us if you need triple or quadruple rooms.

 

– Accommodations in mountain huts or hostels:

Outside of Reykjavík where your package will include accommodations in guesthouses without a private bathroom, our prices are based on nights spent in mountain huts or hostels small rooms or large shared rooms. Some hostels offer private rooms (upon request with supplement) but mountain huts never do. Besides the nights spent in Reykjavik, these accommodations do not come with breakfast. However, we do offer a hotplate for two, kitchen utensils, a cooler, a thermos for two, and a dish kit. Laundry service is never offered in mountain huts, nor is a sleeping bag. It is therefore imperative to bring your own or rent one from us. In hostels, you can generally rent sheets. Duvets and pillows are provided but you need to bring the duvet and pillow covers.

 

– Camping:

Outside of Reykjavík where your package will include accommodations in guesthouses without a private bathroom, our prices are based on nights spend camping. Besides the nights spent in Reykjavik, these accommodations do not come with breakfast. However, we provide a tend for two people, a floor mat per person, offer a hotplate for two, kitchen utensils, a cooler, a thermos for two, and a dish kit. We will also supply sleeping bags available on site and to be ordered before your departure. Note: Let us know if you intend on using your own equipment, and make sure that your tent is wind and rain resistant.

 

– Mixed accommodations:

Upon request, we can put together an itinerary of mixed accommodations. If, for example you wanted to stay for the most part in accommodations with a private bathroom but also wanted to spend a few nights in Iceland’s interior in a mountain hut, or if you wanted to lower the price of your trip by spending a few nights in lesser category accommodations, this could be arranged.

 

– Other types of accommodation:

Upon request we can plan accommodations in a Reykjavik apartment or a chalet in the country for your trip. We can also rent a caravan for you.

 

3. Iceland info – when must I make reservations?

Unless you have chosen to camp, it is imperative to reserve as soon as possible if you intend to travel in July or August. Year after year, accommodations including mountain huts have been filling up earlier, making it difficult to secure specific establishments on late notice. These constraints are especially true in Reykjavik in the end of July and beginning of August as well as during the weekend of the Gay Pride festival and the Reykjavik Culture Night. Elsewhere in Iceland, the demand for accommodations often exceeds the supply in the villages of Vík and Höfn in southern Iceland (the area surrounding the Skaftafell National Park), as well as in the Mývatn region in north-eastern Iceland.

That being said, with only very rare exceptions, we are always able to come up with accommodations solutions for our clients, even for last minute reservations. But the category and location of your accommodations may then not be what you were expecting.

4. When will I receive the list of accommodations I will be staying in during my trip?

As soon as we have received your confirmation of our proposed itinerary as well as your 30% deposit, we will start booking your accommodations and all the other services agreed upon in your package (vehicle rental, activities and excursions, transfers, etc.). This booking process can take a few days. As soon as it is finalized, we will send you all the details of your confirmed reservations, namely the name and locations of your accommodations.

5. How to go about camping in Iceland?

Iceland info: if you choose to camp, you won’t have to book in advance because campsites always have room. We have put together a voucher system that gives you the flexibility to choose where you’d like to camp based on the weather and your whims during your travels. The camping option is also very interesting financially, but cannot be undertaken in winter (from mid-September to the end of May).

6. Do you offer advice and insider scoops?

Doing business with a local Icelandic travel agency isn’t just about making the organization of your trip easier. We want to share our knowledge of our country with you to the fullest, and give you access to Iceland info not found in books or on the internet.

In the travel folder we give you, you’ll find a detailed road book with advice and recommendations to help you make the most of your trip and the regions you’ll be exploring. More than just information on the main tourist destinations offered by guide books, this road book will give you practical and concrete information relevant to your trip. It lets you in on sites off the beaten track that travel guides don’t always mention but that will be the hallmarks of your trip as you will be able to enjoy them alone far from the crowds of other tourist hubs. Whether it leads you to a swim in a hot water source in the middle of the wilderness, a detour along a breathtaking road, a unique hike, the discovery of an isolated fjord, or on an islet lost at sea, the information provided in your road book will allow you to live magical experiences that will reveal the real Iceland to you.

Our itineraries are more than anything else, made up of the things that we love most about Iceland. We have a great time coming up with itineraries and making every day different than the next, so that every time you turn the corner you will be surprised and enchanted and won’t be able to help falling in love with this place that is our home!

Family

1. What to do with my kids in Iceland?

Iceland info: our country is a wonderful travel destination for kids. They will appreciate its untamed wilderness and magnificent landscapes of volcanoes, glaciers and deserts. The constant daylight of summer will fascinate them while educating them about the Earth’s axis. We’ve come up with itineraries for families with swims in hot springs or open air pools every day! Your family will also love whale watching on the open sea, observing sunbathing seals on the coast, or discovering the nesting sites of Arctic Puffins, Iceland’s emblematic animal. If your kids love sports and outdoor activities, they will be able to choose from mountain biking, horseback riding, ice climbing on glaciers, kayaking, hiking and the list goes on!

2. Iceland info – Is Iceland safe?

Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world. It has one of the lowest (virtually nonexistent) crime rates. Its health care is very sophisticated and covers all of the regions of the island. It is difficult to improve upon.
In the case of an emergency, all you have to do is dial 112 on your cellular phone to call an ambulance or the police.

3. Are there discounts for children?

You will benefit from any discounts for children practiced by the accommodations in which you are staying when children share a room with their parents, as well as any other discounts offered by service providers (activities and excursions, transportation, etc.).

4. Is Iceland expensive?

Iceland has a reputation for having a high cost of life. Meanwhile, the financial crisis that hit the country in 2008 caused a devaluation of the money, counterbalanced by a strong inflation. In the end, the cost of a trip to Iceland, while still relatively high remains more accessible than it once was. That being said, the cost of your trip will depend totally on the kind of itinerary you choose. By spending your nights in hostels, camping or mountain huts, or renting a can before the 15th of June or after the 15th of August, we can turn you on to ways to cut your costs. Ask us Iceland info and we can design a trip to match your budget

Transport

1. Getting to Iceland by Plane

Iceland isn’t halfway around the world!
Reykjavik’s Keflavik International Airport is only a 3 hour flight from Europe and 5 or 6 hours from Boston or Toronto. There are direct flights to Iceland from cities like Washington, Seattle, Chicago and Minneapolis! Iceland Air, the national airline, and Iceland Express, the low cost option, offer direct flights all year long to and from a variety of European and North-American cities. In the summer, the number of flights and destinations is much higher.
Other airlines like Transavia, Lufthansa, British Airways and Delta offer flights to Iceland from a variety of European and North American destinations in the summer. That being said, if you plan on coming to Iceland we encourage booking in advance and supplying us with your travel dates as soon as possible.

2. Domestic flights, flights to Greenland, and flights to the Faroe Islands.

From Reykjavík, you can fly to a number of Icelandic cities (Akureyri, Ísafjörður, Höfn, Egilsstaðir, etc.). There are also several flights to Greenland from Reykjavík (Kulusuk, Narsarsuaq, Ilulissat, Nuuk and Ittoqqortoormiit) as well as to the Faroe Islands.

3. Who will book my international flights?

As a local travel agency we can only book your domestic flights in Iceland or flights between Greenland or the Faroe Islands and Iceland and not international flights. Consult our Iceland info page about flights in our service section for additional information.

4. Getting to Iceland by boat.

You can bring your own car to Iceland by taking a cruise offered by the Smyril Line. This ferry service will take you on a mini cruise through the North Atlantic stopping by the Faroe Islands. The cruise sets sail from the harbour of Hirtshals in Northern Denmark and sets anchor at Seydisfjördur on Iceland’s Eastern coast. The cruise itself however takes up to a week.

5. Iceland info – What kind of car to rent?

You can rent a two wheel drive vehicle which will allow you to drive along the island’s perimeter and explore its coastal regions. This is your cheapest option, and the best one for discovering all of Iceland’s rich variety of landscapes (fjords, glaciers, volcanoes, deserts, geothermal zones, etc.)
You can also rent a 4WD vehicle in Iceland. These can access the main trails cutting through Iceland’s isolated volcanic interior. Access to these trails is prohibited in two wheel drive vehicles. A 4WD gives you access to the beautiful sites of Landmannalaugar, Eldgjá, Askja, Laki, Kerlingarfjöll or Kverkfjöll, as well as many others!

Finally you can also rent 4WD caravan. Like a regular camping car, these will allow you to stop for the night pretty much anywhere in Iceland besides, of course, in the natural parks and reserves where camping is limited to very specific areas.
Please read our Iceland info article about ***renting a car*** in Iceland attentively for more information.
Car rental in Iceland comes with restrictions that travellers should be aware of and follow for their own security but also to avoid expensive fines.
Whatever you read or are told it is very important to respect the following restrictions when driving two wheel drive vehicles: not to drive on roads marked with an F before the number on road maps (trails and mountain roads), as well as the roads of Kaldidalur (route 550), Kjölur (route 35) and route 428 on the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland’s southwest. All roads that are not marked with a number are also closed to access for regular cars.

4WD vehicles and 4WD caravans are only allowed to drive on trails and mountain roads larked with an F before the route number on road maps. Access to unnumbered mountain roads is forbidden even if they appear on road maps.

Car rental agencies and insurance agencies are uncompromising when it comes to violations of these restrictions, and we will not question any resulting fines and sanctions that they deem appropriate.
Note that off road driving is expressly forbidden in Iceland! Besides doing permanent damage to the landscapes, it is punishable by very harsh fines. Ask your travel expert for more Iceland info!

***ICELAND SELF-DRIVE TOURS***

6. What are the road conditions like in Iceland?

While there are more and more asphalt roads throughout Iceland, a large part of the road network in Iceland still consists of dirt roads. Even though they are relatively well-kept, they are not always open to two wheel drive vehicles because taking them often involves crossing rivers. Along the coast, about 90% of the roads are paved, and you’ll be able to drive along the perimeter of the island easily in a car with two wheel drive. There are a few non-paved roads that are also open to cars without four wheel drive. (see above).

The interior trails are open beginning in mid-June and you need a 4WD vehicle to be able to drive on them. Sometimes they will close in the summer if there is snowfall or other precarious conditions. And they all close around the second week of September.
LThe speed limit on paved asphalt roads never exceeds 90km per hour and 80 km per hour on unpaved roads. Nevertheless speed should be adjusted based on the road and weather conditions.

The speed limit in cities is usually 50km per hour or 30km per hour depending on the zone.
Traffic enforcement cameras are used fairly extensively in Iceland. There is a website that you can consult for constantly updated information on Icelandic roads and conditions: Iceland Road Conditions. You can also call (+354) 1777 for more Iceland info.

7. What are the conditions for renting a car in Iceland?

– Driver’s licence has to be held for at least one year.
– Minimum age of 20 years to rent 2WD vehicles and caravans.
– Minimum age of 25 years to rent 4WD vehicles and caravans.
– A European, Canadian or American driver’s license is sufficient and international driver’s licenses are not necessary. If your license is not European or North-American, contact the Icelandic embassy of the country issuing your driver’s license to find about your permit’s validity in Iceland.
– A credit card (Visa or Mastercard) for a security deposit.

8. Iceland info – can you travel in Iceland by bus?

Travelling in Iceland by bus is one of the best ways to get around on a small budget.
The network of buses links several points of the island year round. However, there is generally only one bus or less per day between many destinations.
In the summer, all terrain buses cut north and south through the central highlands and other interior lands. These allow for a deeper exploration of Iceland at minimal cost. Meanwhile, you have to have a backpacker’s mentality to opt for this method of transportation!
You cannot reserve seats on buses in advance but we can include bus transportation in your trip.

9. Other modes of transportation in Iceland

There is no rail network in Iceland.
Taxi services are available in the country’s urban areas.
It is possible to rent a bicycle for a day in Reykjavik and in a few other places in Iceland such as Myvatn Lake for example. Mountain biking excursions are available in Skaftafell. Biking in Iceland does require previous experience however.

Ferry crossings linking populated islands off the coast or for crossing several bodies of water are available (the Breidarfjördur fjord in the west, the Westman Islands in the south). These offerings diminish in number from September to May. During the summer, boat trips out to sea are offered from many harbours around the island to whale watch, bird watch or go fishing (Reykjavík, Westmann Islands, Djúpivogur, Húsavík, Ísafjördur, Stykkishólmur, etc.)

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