Iceland is a very safe place to visit. You’ll find it’s a peaceful country with one of the lowest crime rates in the world. And it’s good to know that Iceland has excellent, modern healthcare services.

As you may already know, Iceland does have active volcanoes but eruptions occur once every 4 years on average. There’s also minor seismic activity on the island, but noticeable earthquakes are rare and the Icelandic Met Office keeps a good eye on these.

Your dedicated, Iceland-based travel consultant will stay on top of these matters, as well as changing weather reports, to keep you safe on your journey. Don’t hesitate to ask the locals for directions or advice either, as Icelanders are used to travellers and tend to be helpful.

For the latest visitor guidance, you can check this Iceland travel update or read our blog: Is Iceland safe to visit?

Icelandic is the official language of Iceland. It derives from a North Germanic language similar to Old Norse that has changed little since the Viking times. You’ll get by very easily with English in Iceland though, as most locals speak it. Many are multilingual in other Nordic or European languages as well.

If you want to learn some local lingo, then here are some basic words and phrases to practise:

• Já = Yes
• Nei = No
• Góðan daginn / Góðan dag = Good day
• Gott kvöld = Good evening
• Hæ / Halló = Hi / Hello
• Bless = Goodbye
• Takk = Thank you
   

The best time to visit Iceland depends on the attractions, regions and activities you want to experience.

For instance, you’ll have milder temperatures and longer daylight hours in the summer compared to the winter, which means more opportunities to explore. 

With better weather, you can access remote regions – like the Westfjords and central highlands – between May and September. The mountain roads here close in winter as driving conditions are too difficult.

This makes Iceland summer tours ideal if you’d like to spend lots of time outdoors, discovering the island’s many natural wonders. It’s also the best time to see wildlife, like puffins and whales, and to enjoy activities like hiking.

On the other hand, if you’re keen to chase the northern lights, you’ll have a better chance of seeing them if you visit Iceland in winter. The reason is that the nights are long between October and April, so you’ll have more hours of darkness to spot the colours of the aurora.

Time your Iceland trip for the winter months, and you’ll also get to soak up landscapes draped in frost and snow. You may wish to discover Iceland at Christmas or New Year to revel in the festive atmosphere.

For more advice on when to go, check out these guides:

• Best time to visit Iceland
• Iceland in summer
• Iceland in winter
   

The best time to take a northern lights tour in Iceland is during the winter season, between October and April. At this time of year, you have a higher chance of spotting the aurora borealis because the nights are dark enough to see the lights shine and flicker.

For the best chance of viewing the aurora borealis, visit secluded areas away from the light pollution of towns and cities. The darker conditions will allow you to make out the colours of the northern lights more vividly.

Read these guides for more information about the aurora borealis:

• What are the northern lights?
• How to see the aurora borealis
• Best times and places to see the northern lights in Iceland
• Top aurora hotels in Iceland
   

There is so much to see and do in Iceland that you should decide your trip duration according to how many days or weeks you have to spare.

For a short break in Iceland, your best bet is to explore Reykjavík and the surroundings. Within 4 days you could visit the capital’s many museums, shops, galleries and restaurants. There are thermal pools to swim in and festive markets at Christmastime.

You could also see top sights like Gullfoss waterfall, Þingvellir National Park, and the Geysir geothermal area, which includes the hot spring Strokkur. These are all part of the Golden Circle driving route in the south. You can experience the Golden Circle on a day trip from the capital, or over the course of a few days.

Or extend your itinerary and see more of South Iceland. In 7 days you’d get to visit black sand beaches, glaciers, and other breathtaking natural attractions that Iceland’s south coast is known for. Don’t miss the chance to bathe in the mineral-rich waters of the Blue Lagoon, an inviting geothermal pool.

Another great option is to visit West Iceland. Enjoy a northern lights adventure in the remote Westfjords, or head to the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

Called “Iceland in miniature”, the Snæfellsnes peninsula is just 90 kilometres (56 miles) long and has a bit of everything. Discover volcanoes, lava fields, waterfalls, hot springs and fishing villages here.

If you have between 10 days and 2 weeks to spare, then you’ll get to see the many beautiful corners of Iceland. As well as the southern and western regions, you can explore East Iceland and visit North Iceland too by travelling the country’s Ring Road.

Venture east to admire fjords and gaze upon the mighty Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, where icebergs float on the blue waters. Continue north to Akureyri and the Lake Mývatn area to marvel at the Krafla volcano, mud pools and craters. You can warm up with a dip in the Mývatn Nature Baths.

Essentially, the more days you have to spend in Iceland then the more you will get to experience. In winter you’ll also increase your chances of spotting the northern lights!

Check out our blog for inspiration on how many days to spend in Iceland.

Iceland may be small, but it packs a punch with its wild scenery, intriguing culture and mind-boggling natural wonders. Here are some of the top things to do in Iceland:

• Marvel at waterfalls
• Hike in national parks
• Dip in hot springs and pools
• Hunt for the northern lights
• Walk along black sand beaches
• Taste Icelandic cuisine
• Admire glacier lagoons
• Venture into ice caves or lava tunnels
• Learn about Icelandic legends
• Look for whales and puffins
• See geothermal wonders and volcanoes
• Go horse riding
   

Read more on our blog about the best Iceland tours to add to your itinerary.

The best way to explore Iceland depends on what you wish to do and how flexible you’d like the tours to be.

Iceland self-drive packages are ideal if you want to set the pace and travel independently. On a road trip, you can take your time discovering top sights and explore off the beaten track. You also have more flexible timings and the freedom to go further afield for excursions and restaurants.

Another excellent way to travel is with a knowledgeable guide and a small group of fellow travellers. Nordic Visitor’s escorted group tours of Iceland give you the opportunity to learn from a local. They’ll take you to each attraction and share their knowledge and favourite spots.

Nordic Visitor only organises small minibus tours with a maximum of 16 people. This ensures you have a more relaxed and personal experience compared to large coach trips. This is a popular choice for our many solo guests and for those who don’t feel comfortable driving.

If you want something exclusive and would prefer to travel alone or with friends or family members, then choose from our privately guided tours of Iceland. You’ll have a local guide all to yourselves for a more personal experience.

Or you could pick an Iceland multi-day package: a city stay with quality-tested accommodation and activities arranged each day. You’ll get to enjoy guided excursions with local experts, but then have free days to explore on your own.

If you want more information, contact our Iceland team and they will help you decide which travel style would suit you best.

Nordic Visitor is proud to be a local tour operator in Iceland. Reykjavík – the capital city – is where we are headquartered, and it is where the company was founded in 2002. Our Iceland travel agents are based here and have extensively explored the country.

You’ll be assigned a dedicated travel consultant who will use their in-depth knowledge to arrange your Iceland tour for you. They’ll share personal recommendations and can customise your itinerary to match your particular interests.

Find out more about Nordic Visitor and our passionate travel experts.

When you take a trip to Iceland with Nordic Visitor, you always get the following included in your travel package:

• All accommodation
• Daily breakfast
• Airport transfers
• Local transport specified in the itinerary (for example, this may be a rental car, private transport, or minibus)
• Activities specified on the itinerary (with the chance to add optional excursions)
• Entrance fees to attractions specified in the itinerary
• Your own personalised itinerary with a beautiful booklet about local attractions and practical travel information
• 24/7 helpline during your trip for support when you need it
• All taxes and service fees – no hidden charges
   

Depending on the travel style you choose, you’ll also have the following included in your Nordic Visitor package:

Self-drive tours:

• Car rental with a trusted local supplier
• Unlimited mileage
• Airport transfers
• CDW insurance
• Free unlimited Wi-Fi
• Authorisation for 2 drivers
   

Small group tours:

• Service from a professional, English-speaking local guide
• Transportation in a premium mini-bus with Wi-Fi
• Half board – some lunches and dinners provided
   

Private tours:

• Private service of a professional, English-speaking local guide
• Transportation in a comfortable, private vehicle
   

Multi-day tours:

• Guided excursions from Reykjavík or Akureyri
   

Yes, Nordic Visitor offers an optional cancellation insurance which protects your payment. This means that, if you need to cancel prior to your arrival, you will never lose the money you’ve paid to us. You’ll be offered a partial refund and partial travel credit depending on terms and conditions.

If you need to change your travel dates, we'll rearrange all your tour details in one place, so you have a hassle-free experience.

Read our Book with Confidence terms to find out the details and see how you can have peace of mind with risk-free, flexible booking.

If you do not have cancellation insurance with us, normal booking terms apply and we recommend you check with your private travel insurance provider.

At Nordic Visitor, we’ll save you time and effort by planning your getaway for you, based on your needs and requests.

When you arrange your trip yourself, you have to carry out all the research and book all parts of your tour separately. If you need to make changes to your itinerary, you have to do all the legwork yourself.

Nordic Visitor takes care of everything on your behalf so you can relax and look forward to your trip.

Our travel experts will design your route, planned in a way that’s both comfortable and convenient. For example, they’ll ensure you don’t cover the same stretch of road twice unnecessarily. They’ll also book you into high-quality accommodation, and share all their insider tips with you.

This means you can leave all the hassle of trip-planning to the experts, who are based in Iceland. They know the country inside out, so you can rely on them to incorporate the best sights and hidden gems that you wouldn’t otherwise know about.

What’s more, you get access to our 24/7 helpline during your trip. Should you need any support, we are only a call away. And if you need to make changes to your itinerary for any reason, you can leave all of that to us as well.

Fortunately, if you’re arriving from Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you will not need a visa to visit Iceland. You must have a valid passport with at least 3 months left before it expires.

If you’re visiting from outside of these countries, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa to enter Iceland. This is a short-stay visa that permits you to travel to Schengen Area member countries for up to 90 days.

Read more about getting to Iceland on our travel guide.

Having a clean, comfortable and friendly place to lay your head after an exciting day of exploring Iceland is really important. That’s why we use our in-depth local knowledge to handpick the most suitable accommodation in Iceland for you.

The hotels and guesthouses you will experience on your Iceland tour are all highly rated by visitors. Our local experts have carefully selected each accommodation partner for their exceptional standards of quality, location and character.

As our Iceland travel team is based locally, we have close connections with our suppliers and we visit them regularly. This is why we are confident that the accommodation on your trip with us will meet or even exceed your expectations.

Yes, it’s easy to make customisations to your tour online. Add extra nights, upgrades and day trips to your liking as you go through the booking steps. If you’d like to personalise your itinerary further, be sure to ask your dedicated travel consultant.

They will happily tailor your tour to suit your tastes and preferences. You may have particular interests, such as northern lights, hiking, photography or wildlife. Perhaps there are certain places that hold special significance to you.

If you’re visiting Iceland with kids, your personal consultant will make sure every part of your itinerary is suitable for the whole family. Or if you’re on a honeymoon or anniversary trip in Iceland, they’ll gladly add romantic touches to make your couples break extra special.

Most of our travel styles are flexible. But bear in mind that small group packages are a little different, as you are on a fixed itinerary for the duration of the guided tour. However, you can add extra nights to the beginning or end of your trip.

You can choose from a wide range of arrival dates depending on the package and season you are interested in. All of our tours are available to purchase online, so pick the best date for you from the availability calendar.

If your travel plans have changed and you want to amend your arrival date, contact your travel consultant to rearrange your booking.

Your flights to Iceland are not included in our packages. This gives you greater flexibility and allows you to save money by using your airline miles or taking advantage of airfare sales.

We recommend that you check flights for timings and dates, but do not purchase them until you’ve booked your Nordic Visitor tour. Once you’ve had a confirmation email from your personal travel consultant, you should then choose and pay for your flights.

Nordic Visitor packages come with daily itineraries and all of your accommodation organised for you. So once you have all of the arrangements confirmed, you can make an informed choice on your flight times. If you have any questions, you can always contact your consultant for advice.

Due to its northerly location, Iceland’s climate is cool. And as you’ll probably want to spend time outdoors on your trip, it’s best to be prepared for all kinds of weather.

Here’s our recommended packing list for Iceland:

• Walking boots or shoes with good grip
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Insulated jacket
• Woollen or fleece jumpers
• Thermal base layers
• Warm hat, scarf and gloves
• Warm hiking socks
• Rucksack
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Quick-drying travel towel
   

You can read more about what to wear in Iceland on our experts’ blog.