TOP THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT VISITING ICELAND

A little research can go a long way, and we’re not just talking about the best places to see in the country.  Knowing their customs, protocols as well as a few money-saving tips and tricks will not only guarantee you a smooth and hassle-free trip but one that can guarantee more value to your money.

Here are some of the top things to know about visiting Iceland:

Getting a visa.  Unless you have an American, Canadian or Scandinavian passport, or any passports issued by the European Union, you may need to get a travel visa to Iceland.  To get one, go to your country’s Icelandic embassy.  If there’s none in your country, then head off to the Danish embassy for your travel visa.  Remember to go there in advance as a travel visa to Iceland takes about 4 weeks to process.

Rent a car.  Renting a car and driving around Iceland saves you more and allows you more flexibility compared to joining packaged tours.  Most tours will only include popular (and often crowded) tourist destinations such as the Blue Lagoon, and may often have time limitations.  Driving, on the other hand, allows you more free time on your hands to explore off-the-beaten-track attractions, which are rarely visited by tourists.  It’s best to rent a manual driving car as it’s much cheaper than going for a fully automatic vehicle.

Just a tip:  when driving, it’s important to get to know the road signs as they may help you deal with some of the roads’ challenging conditions.

Credit cards.  One good thing about traveling to Iceland is that credit cards can be used on almost any establishments, with no minimum purchases necessary.  Some may even accept Euros or US dollars.

The only time you need to pay with ISK or Icelandic krona is when you’re making small purchases from a flea market.  In which case, you’ll only need to bring a small amount of kronas with you.  The rest, you can have them re-exchanged before you fly back to your home country as most foreign banks don’t deal with ISK.

English.  Learning Icelandic won’t be necessary as almost all Icelanders know how to speak English fluently, though they may appreciate it if you try to learn the basics.

Clothing.  One of the top things to know about visiting Iceland is that the weather can get pretty unpredictable and picking outfits to bring on your vacation can be a bit tricky.  But there are a few staples you can bring with you no matter what time of the year you visit Iceland, such as bathing suit, a pair of gloves and a sturdy pair of walking shoes.