Iceland Tips For Travelers: What to know before you go

Yes! Americans can travel to Iceland right now as long as you have been either fully vaccinated by an approved vaccine or you can show proof that you have fully recovered from the COVID-19 virus.

There really isn’t a bad time to visit Iceland! The summer and spring have their benefits and so does fall and winter. Of course, it will be colder in the winter but you also get a chance to see the northern lights. In the summer, when I visited, Iceland comes to life and you see just how green and lush the country is.

When my husband and I traveled to Iceland in June 2021, there were still many COVID-19 requirements in place. Only those who have been fully vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine or those who have recovered from the virus were allowed to travel there. As of June 24, 2021 this is still in place. Also, anyone visiting during that time had to be tested upon arrival in the country and quarantine until you received your results. As of July 1, 2021 that law is no longer in effect — so good news for those of you traveling to Iceland after July 1!

So, here are the current requirements needed to enter Iceland:
– Certificate of full vaccination against COVID
– Or, certificate of previous COVID infection
– Pre-register your visit at least 72 hours in advance of departure here. After you register, it will provide a QR code that will you need to show at the airport after arrival.

While I spent 4 days in Iceland, you can easily spend a full week while there if not more. I would say a good 6-7 days is an ideal amount of time to be there. You’ll be able to see most of the main attractions. Even with 4 days, we were able to see a lot of the country but it was definitely a very fast-paced journey. So, if slow travel is more of your thing, shoot for a week in Iceland.

Getting through customs and the whole testing process was actually pretty smooth and painless. Once you land in Iceland, they will ask for your QR code that they will have emailed you (remember to fill out the pre arrival form before entering) as soon as you step off the plane so be ready with it. They may also ask for proof of where you are staying and any flight plans for leaving Iceland so have those materials readily available, too.

Yes! Anyone arriving in the United States, regardless of which country you’ve been visiting or are from, you must receive a negative COVID-19 at least 72 hours in advance of arrival. To do this in Iceland, you can book your test here. It was super easy and painless for us to do this in Reykjavik. We were in and out within 10 minutes, but get to your appointment early as there was already a line when we showed up 15 minutes ahead of our appointment. Don’t worry, it goes by quick though.

In almost every situation I would say yes. Depending on how long you are there, this may change. But, the easiest way to get around the country is by car. If you don’t plan to leave Reykjavik then you may not need one. They have a bus system, taxis, ubers and scooters for you to easily get around the city. But if you are trying to get nearly anywhere else then I would say wheels are a must.

If you choose to rent a car, which I highly recommend, I would try to book it well in advance as there is still a rental car shortage. We booked ours through Rentalcars.com and had a great experience. I always try to book with a reliable rental company I know and trust like Hertz. The best part about using Rentalcars.com is they offer free cancellations on most bookings.

The quickest answer for this is a RAIN JACKET! I read a lot of articles that suggested we bring one and it was one of the best pieces of advice. Other than that, it will depend on the time of year you are going. We went to Iceland in the Summer which meant it was about 50 degrees most days but still pretty rainy and chilly so layers are important no matter when you visit. You should also pack a good pair of hiking boots preferably rain proof, too. Gloves and hats are also a must. You can shop and see everything I wore in Iceland here.

This depends. While I recommend doing tours like whale watching or even snorkeling, I wouldn’t recommend doing a Golden Circle tour or the Southern Iceland tour because you can easily do this on your own for a lot less! Sure, it’s convenient to have someone pick you and up and not worry about driving, but all tours tend to leave at the same time so that means every stop will be crowded. We were able to beat all the tours and have most places to ourselves by just doing the drives on our own.

Reykjavik is the main city in Iceland, but it isn’t huge which means nearly anywhere you stay will be a good choice. It’s a very walkable city. We chose to stay at Eyja Guldsmeden and absolutely loved our stay. You can take a look at current hotels here.

The Blue Lagoon is one of the most touristy things you can do in Iceland, but it’s something you can’t miss. You can have a good time if you set your expectations ahead of time. Before getting in the lagoon, you will need to shower without your swimsuit. While the showers are wide open for use, you can choose to have a bit more privacy by choosing a shower with a door.

Depending on the package you get, you’ll be given sandals to walk around the locker rooms, a robe to wear outside before getting in the pool, a free drink and up to three face masks to do in the Blue Lagoon. The bar serves anything from alcoholic drinks, gatorade to a green juice that I LOVED! You get a wristband to keep track of your purchases so no need to worry about bringing in a card or cash.

For those worried about damaging their hair since the lagoon has so many minerals in it, you can choose to wash your hair ahead of time and keep conditioner in it. However, they recommend those with longer hair to keep it up and not worry about putting it in the water.

The native language to Icelanders is Icelandic. However, everyone speaks english very well so language was never an issue.

I will admit it’s not a foodie’s paradise. It’s very expensive and you’ll see a lot of seafood and lamb on the menu. They have some pretty gnarly dishes like meat soup, sheep’s head and they are even known to have some of the best gas station hot dogs if you want to try that out. BUT, everywhere we ate was absolutely delicious. We had the pleasure of staying in Reykjavik so every restaurant was great. You can see where we ate here. I think it may be harder to find sit down restaurants while driving around Ring Road so you may choose to buy your own groceries and make food while traveling in a campervan.