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No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Iceland
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Measles, Rabies
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
The visa policy of the Schengen Area is a component within the wider area of freedom, security and justice policy of the European Union. It applies to the Schengen Area and Cyprus, but not to EU member state Ireland. The visa policy allows nationals of certain countries to enter the Schengen Area via air, land or sea without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Nationals of certain other countries are required to have a visa to enter and, in some cases, transit through the Schenge
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Iceland, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Iceland and same-sex relationships are recognised in law. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world with regard to crime, so there is almost no chance of getting robbed or harassed.
- •For severe weather, volcanic eruptions, etc., check alerts from Icelandic weather institution. Keep your phone on, as some alerts are sent as SMS to all mobile phones in the affected area.
- •Authorities: The emergency phone number is 112, as in most of Europe.
- •Nature: Sure, Iceland's beauty may lie in its scenery and weather, but don't let that tempt you too much.
- •Be prepared for sudden shifts in the weather.
- •Don't go on long hikes even in summer without somebody who knows how to cope with the dangers.
Staying healthy
- •The medical facilities in Iceland are good and subsidised for those with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and passport.
- •Should EU citizens not have the necessary documents then they will be charged for the full cost of the medical treatment.
- •Infectious diseases aren't a problem in Iceland. Inoculations aren't required except if you are arriving from countries that suffer from infectious diseases like cholera.
- •The biggest threat to your health is likely to be accidental injury or bad weather.
- •The water quality in Iceland is excellent and tap water is always drinkable.
- •The hygiene in public kitchens is very good, and food poisoning rarely happens to tourists.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / F · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 112 / ambulance: 112 / fire: 112
Tipping
In Iceland tipping is not practised. In rare cases an attempt to leave a tip may be seen as insulting, so instead consider offering verbal praise for a job well done. Some Icelandic companies have started having a tipping jar next to the cash register but these are generally ignored.
SIM / Data
Mobile phones are heavily used. The main networks are Icelandic Telecom, Sýn and Nova. All of them have 4G services, which have equal coverage, covering most of the country. 2G will shut down in 2024 and 3G in 2025. 5G includes the same frequencies as in mainland Europe, the 3.6GHz band started being populated in 2020.
Cash vs. Card
The local currency is the Icelandic króna, denoted by the abbreviation "kr" (ISO code: ISK).
Zoom in
One Iceland city on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (8 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09