PRACTICAL THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

Practical things to keep in mind when visiting Iceland and general facts about the population

Bus services are operated between Reykjavík and Keflavík International Airport in connection with all arriving and departing flights, and seats are guaranteed. Buses depart to and from Keflavík every 45-60 minutes. The drive between the airport and Reykjavík takes about 45 minutes. For departing flights, it is recommended that you take a bus leaving at least 2.5 hours before your scheduled departure. It is possible to arrange hotel pickup. Taxi services are available to and from the airport. The car-ferry MS Norrönasails weekly between Denmark, and Seyðisfjörður in East Iceland giving visitors the option of bringing their own vehicle.

MEDICAL ATTENTION

Pharmacies are called “Apótek” and are open during normal business hours. Only a few are open at night. Medical Care can be obtained by visiting a Health Care Centre, called “Heilsugæslustöð” in Icelandic, during opening hours.

For information, call +354-585-1300 or visit the website about Health Care.Medical help: There is a medical centre or hospital in all major cities and towns in Iceland. The emergency phone number (24 hours) in Iceland is 112.Health insurance: Citizens of EEA countries must bring their EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card), otherwise they will be charged in full. Non-EEA citizens are not covered by the EEA regulations and will be charged in full. Special vaccinations are not required to enter Iceland.

For further information, contact the Icelandic Health Insurance: Tel.: +354-515-0100. Office hours: 10:00–15:00.

FLAG

Blue with a red cross outlined in white. The colours are symbolic for Iceland: Red represents the volcanic fires, white recalls the snow and glaciers, and blue is for the skies above, the sea and the mountains. SIZE 103,000 km2 (40,000 sq. miles)

POPULATION

360,000. Mean age: 38 years.

CAPITAL CITY

Reykjavík. The largest municipalities are Reykjavík* (125,000), Kópavogur* (37,000), Hafnarfjörður* (30,000), Akureyri (18,000) and Reykjanesbær (18,000). *Cities in the capital region.

GOVERNMENT

Parliamentary constitutional republic.

CURRENCY

The Icelandic króna (plural krónur) –ISK.

TIME

Iceland is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) all year round.

HIGHEST POINT

Hvannadalshnjúkur peak at 2,110 m.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Fish, hydropower, geothermal energy.

USEFUL WEBSITES

Safetravel

Icelandic Met Office

Road Conditions and weather

Post Office

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Emergency number: 112

Police: 444 1000

Medical assistance: 1770