Iceland: the land of ice and fire

Iceland is in the GMT+0 time zone and does not change clocks for daylight saving. That means the time stays the same all year round – no need to worry about switching the hour forward or back.

Iceland uses the Icelandic Króna (ISK). Euros aren't accepted, so you’ll need to get used to the local currency – lots of zeros, but you’ll get the hang of it quickly.

You can pay by card almost everywhere in Iceland – even in remote cafés. Carrying cash isn’t necessary, but you can exchange a small amount on arrival (better rates in towns than at the airport). ATMs are available too, but check with your UK bank for possible fees and exchange rates.

Tipping isn’t expected in Iceland. Service charges are usually included in the bill. That said, if you receive excellent service, rounding up or leaving a small tip is always appreciated.

Roaming from the UK isn’t free in Iceland, so double-check your plan. To avoid surprises, consider buying a local SIM from Síminn, Vodafone or Nova, or use an eSIM. They’re available at airports and shopping centres. Make sure your phone is unlocked.

They speak Icelandic in Iceland – but no stress: almost everyone speaks great English, so you won’t be stuck staring helplessly at road signs. Still, here’s a basic vocab list so you don’t look like the most clueless tourist – travelling is about diving into new languages too, right? 

- hello: halló 

- thank you: takk 

- yes: já 

- no: nei 

- please: there’s no direct translation, but you can say "Vinsamlegast" to politely ask for something

Iceland uses the standard European plugs, types C and F. Voltage is 230V, so bring a European adapter if needed.

Lutheran Christianity is the most common religion, but Iceland is very secular and tolerant. You might even witness a modern Viking-style ceremony if you're lucky.

The perfect backpack doesn’t exist – and this list doesn’t include everything (yep, we’re assuming you’ll pack underwear). Always check the weather before you go. Don’t forget these for your trip to Iceland: 

- windproof and waterproof jacket 

- thermal layers and tech shirts 

- waterproof hiking boots 

- swimsuit (hello hot springs!) 

- sunglasses and sunscreen 

- power bank 

- in winter: fleece, padded pants, scarf, beanie, gloves

One word: unpredictable. Even in summer, you might get sun, rain and snow – all in one day in Iceland. Dress in layers and always have a rain jacket with you. Winter’s cold, but not Arctic-cold: thanks to the Gulf Stream, temps stay around -10° in the south and -20° in the north.

Thanks to its northern location, Iceland plays a wild light game all year long. Here's a rough monthly breakdown:

 - January: 4–5 hrs/day. Sunrise around 11:30, sunset at 15:30. 

- February: 6–7 hrs. Sunrise at 10:00, sunset at 16:30. 

- March: 9–10 hrs. Sunrise at 8:30, sunset at 18:30. 

- April: about 13 hrs. Sunrise at 7:00, sunset at 20:00. 

- May: 16–17 hrs. Sunrise at 4:30, sunset at 22:30. 

- June: 20–24 hrs (yep, hello midnight sun). Sunrise at 3:00, sunset at 00:00. 

- July: 20–23 hrs. Sunrise at 3:30, sunset at 00:30. 

- August: 16–18 hrs. Sunrise at 5:00, sunset at 21:00. 

- September: 12–13 hrs. Sunrise at 6:30, sunset at 19:30. 

- October: 8–9 hrs. Sunrise at 8:00, sunset at 17:30. 

- November: 4–5 hrs. Sunrise at 9:30, sunset at 15:30. 

- December: 4–5 hrs. Sunrise at 11:00, sunset at 15:00. In summer, the sun barely sets – cue the magic of the midnight sun. In winter, days are short and dark: ideal to go aurora chasing!

From September to April is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, with the best chances between January and February. Get away from city lights and head north to up your odds!