Iceland is truly a unique place in the world and the only island of its kind. Over 10% of the country is covered in glaciers while 30% is lava fields. Although the island doesn’t belong to the warmest, during peak summer months of June and July Iceland experiences 24h of sunlight whilst during winter incredible aurora borealis or commonly known as the northern lights can be witnessed in the skies during clear nights. The islands offer numerous incredible hot springs and a variety of attractions ranging from incredible golf courses, glacier hiking or visiting many fantastic spots in Reykjavik.

Traveling info

Iceland is not part of the EU however it is part of the Schengen agreement. This means that citizens of Schengen member states can travel freely in and out of the Schengen countries without the need to obtain a visa and only require an ID or a passport to enter Iceland. Citizens of states which are not part of the Schengen agreement are required to obtain a visa prior to their trip. (List in sources). Visitors who decide to drive either a private or a rental vehicle must have their driving license, certificate of insurance and vehicle registration with them at all times whilst driving. All national driving permits are recognized in Iceland, therefore, an international driving permit is not required. Such a document may, however, be helpful if the national driving permit is written in non-Roman scripture.

Driving hazards

Only little over ⅓ of Icelandic roads are paved. The highway encircling the island is paved and well maintained. Because most towns and cities are located along the coast, there are few roads leading into the middle of the island and most of them are unpaved, gravel roads. Most of the paved roads leading into the island turn into gravel roads with a sign “Malbik endar” shortly before the paved road ends. A lot of the traffic accidents occur when drivers come off the paved road speeding into the gravel road and lose grip. Most bridges around the island are one lane and the drivers will be warned of such bridges with a sign “Einbreid bru”. It is particularly advised to drive carefully around the winter months when weather conditions may change rapidly and due to lack of road illumination outside of urban areas. Visitors should also look out for “Ofært” signs which indicate the road is closed or impossible. Driving on closed roads in Iceland may result in a fine of 1500 (USD), driving offroad similarly results in 2000 (USD) fine.

Environmental hazards

There are no dangerous land creatures in Iceland. The only exception to this is polar bears which sometimes manage to swim or float on an iceberg to the island, but they are usually shot within a couple of hours, therefore, meeting one is almost impossible. Swimming in the coastal waters of Iceland. Swimming in Iceland with the exception of geothermal beach in Reykjavik and inland hot springs is rather a rarity. There is no recorded shark attack in Iceland due to the above reason however that does not mean these apex predators are not present in the area.
Iceland seems like an incredible island and it certainly is, but along with all of these wonders go equivalent dangers. Iceland is the youngest islands on earth and remains geothermally active. There are over 100 volcanoes on the island and with the eruption of one, the neighboring volcano also usually erupts. In 2010 a volcano eruption in Iceland was so serious, that it halted flights in entire Europe. Hot geysers often erupt and often burn surrounding tourists with boiling water. Tourists also often accidentally or not step into a boiling mud pool or a hot spring which can cause severe burns.

Health hazards

There are currently no outbreaks of any diseases nor are there any vaccination requirements in order to enter the country. There are several vaccines which are recommended to ensure a safe trip. These are the routine vaccines, hepatitis A and B and rabies vaccine. Public and private healthcare in Iceland provides some of the best services in the world. The very high quality of care is confirmed by the very high life expectancy in the country. English is widely spoken by doctors and nurses allowing for easy communication with expats. Healthcare is universal however this does not apply to expats. European health insurance card holders are eligible for services at a reduced cost or for free depending on the treatment required. Those who can not obtain an EHIC or are not residents of Iceland are recommended to purchase health insurance that will cover their medical expenses in Iceland.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Iceland has a very low crime rate with almost no violent crime and a much lower petty crime rate than that of other European countries. Although petty crime is rare, it is still a possibility to become a victim. To avoid this unpleasant experience it is advised to stay vigilant in crowded areas, particularly around tourist spots as pickpockets are quicker and stealthier than most people imagine. Money belts are a good way of minimizing the risk of being pickpocketed. These belts can hold money, credit cards or IDs and passports. Although Iceland is generally safe to completely minimize the risk of becoming a target it is advised to avoid wearing overly expensive clothes and jewelry. Unattended goods are also likely to be stolen. Narcotics are strictly illegal in Iceland. Possession, cultivation, transportation are all punishable by jail time however possession of small amounts is not as heavily punished.

Summary

Iceland is certainly one place of a kind in Europe. The diversity of Icelandic landscape and incredible culture. Most Icelandic people know English and some Danish however Icelanding is the official language and remains unchanged pretty much from its early days. If you try to speak Icelandic remember that there is no word for, please. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/iceland-visa/
https://www.iceland.is/iceland-abroad/ca/visit-iceland/visiting-visa
http://utl.is/index.php/en/who-needs-a-visa
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/iceland