ICELAND FAQs 

Iceland has a temperate maritime climate, with refreshing summers and mild winters. From June to August, the average monthly temperature is around 10-13 °C (50-55 °F) and approximately 0 °C (32 °F) in the winter. Even the much colder highlands tend to average only around -10 °C (+14 °F). Even if Iceland's temperature figures are not so extreme, conditions are sometimes harsh and hazardous. When traveling in Iceland, you should be prepared, even in summer, for chilly, wet weather, strong wind, and snowstorms in the wintertime. Please bear in mind that these sometimes-difficult weather conditions might, at times, affect your travel plans.

Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world! The crime rate is low, and medical care is excellent. However, it is necessary to take precautions when traveling in Iceland due to natural hazards caused by weather and nature, where conditions can change at a moment's notice.

The Icelandic weather is very unpredictable, and as the locals often say: "If you don't like the weather, just wait a bit." Therefore, prepare for any conditions, whatever time of year. Wear sturdy shoes and several clothing layers that you can add or take off according to the situation, always having a wind- and water-resistant outer layer.

During summer, the nights are bright in all of Iceland. In June, the sun rarely fully sets. Winter days are short, with daylight for only 5-6 hours. The spring and autumn nights are more similar in length to each other, roughly the same as in Europe and North America.

Iceland is only 3-4 flying hours from Europe, and 5-6 hours from the eastern coast of North America. From numerous cities on both sides of the Atlantic, there are daily flights to Iceland operated year-round by both domestic as well as foreign airlines. The international airport in Iceland is Keflavik Airport, located only 40 min. drive from Reykjavik, the capital city.

Icelandic is the national language. Most people speak English, and Danish is the third language taught in schools in Iceland. Many Icelanders also speak one of the other Nordic languages or German, French, Spanish, or Italian.

The Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis are a natural phenomenon that can be seen in the night sky during the wintertime in Iceland. The Lights can be visible at any time of day when darkness falls. However, a lot of natural factors need to align just right for the lights to become visible to us. The season for the Northern Lights is from late August to mid -April. However, the Lights are at their peak in September and March.

Iceland is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) all year round and does not change to summer or wintertime.