Onde day,
My close friend suggested I go to Iceland.
I agreed immediately because in the photographs I saw, Icelandic volcanoes, glaciers and hills look like they were painted in Photoshop.
I decided to verify their reality for myself.
In two weeks we drove 2671 miles by car.
I would say that the journey was not easy: at night, a strong wind blew all the heat out of the tent, we even had to cross some rivers by car.
But the views were incredible, and there was so much excitement that at the sight of some of the landscapes, I even wanted to scream from happiness.
We went to Iceland not in tourist season but in winter.It is clearly not the time when it is better to visit Iceland =)
Winter in Iceland, with its short daylight hours and freezing winds was a great shock for me.
But for those who are familiar with the local climate, weather conditions will not be an obstacle for unique adventures.
Only in winter can you watch thenorthern lights, explore ice caves and walk to frozen waterfalls.
The thermal pools, accessible all year round, are especially good in winter.
Some Interesting Facts of Iceland
Only 372,520 people live in Iceland(2022).
It is such a small country that local residents use a special application to avoid accidentally marrying a relative.
The crime rate is so low that thelast disappearance of a girl was investigated by the whole country.
The biggest threat on a trip can be thieving tourists only.
The stereotype that in Iceland everyone knows everyone is an exaggeration, but if you tell one Icelander about another, then they will surely have a common acquaintance.
To buy cheaper equipment, the Icelanders themselves fly to Norway and buy there, although Norway is considered one of the most expensive countries in the world
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When Is The Best Time to Visit Iceland?
The best time to visit Iceland is from May to September.
At this time, there is warm weather,white nights, green mosses and full-flowing waterfalls…
But of course it is a high season and be prepared for high prices and crowded hotels.
Iceland in winter is interesting primarily for the northern lights and ice caves.
In the off-season, prices are 30-40% lower, but, on the other hand, many guesthouses are closed, roads inside the island are blocked, and, most importantly, local severe winter storms can seriously interfere with excursions.
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Get Your Guide Now$15.99Will My Phone GPS Work In Iceland?
Yes, if you use roaming or will get a local sim card.
I would advise you to buy a local sim card for those who need a stable and at the same time inexpensive (compared to roaming) connection in Iceland.
The only significant disadvantage is that after arriving in Iceland, you will have to spend a little time buying and activating a SIM card.
Icelandic operators are excellent.
In cities, on the ring road and near most popular attractions, reception is stable.
In remote areas, the signal on the road may be weak.
In this case, look for special road signs on a blue background with the image of a phone and the inscription GSM – in this place you can catch a connection.
Also, the stability of the network is affected by weather conditions – in heavy snow and rain, the signal level drops.
Can I Use My Phone GPS in Iceland?
Yes,For this buy a local sim card.
A SIM card in Iceland is sold without presenting a passport or other form of identification.
At the place of purchase, ask, if necessary, to cut your SIM card to micro or nano-sim.
Also, the seller can help with the choice of tariff, activation, settings and replenishment.
As a rule, the settings in the phone are changed automatically, if not you need to do it manually.
After the first attempt to call or access the mobile Internet in Iceland, the operator will send the necessary settings, after entering which you need to restart the device.
You can get local sim cards:
- At Keflavik Airport – at the ticket office in duty-free and Elko stores (only Siminn and Vodafone).
- On Icelandair flights (Siminn and Vodafone only), WOW air (Nova) flights.
- In chain stores (Vodafone and Siminn only).
- In branded stores Siminn, Vodafone, Nova.
- At gas stations of the N1 network (Siminn and Vodafone), Shell and Olis (Vodafone).
Should I rent a GPS in Iceland?
No need, just buy a local sim card with an internet package.
Download offline maps (Maps.me, Google.Maps) before your trip as GPS uses too much traffic.
Here are some options Popular operators in Iceland with their rates:
Siminn
This operator is considered the best on the island.
Tariffs are high, but the connection is the most reliable.
For tourists, there is a map with data only and a map with calls and data.
Síminn Prepaid Data “Internet SIM card” includes 10 GB, and Síminn Prepaid Starter Pack “combo card” includes 5 GB, 50 minutes for calls and 50 SMS.
Sim costs €18.
When the internet and calls are over you can buy an additional data package for an existing SIM card online.
Vodafone
The main competitor of Siminn both in terms of prices and quality of communication.
The coverage area of Vodafone is almost the same as that of Siminn (in some places the connection catches even better).
Call+Internet starter package for €12.5 includes 1 GB of data and unlimited on-net calls for a month.
After the initial amount of data has been used up, every 15 MB will cost €1.
You can also buy an additional data package for 1-500 GB (tariffs).
Starter package for Internet only Prepaid 3G/4G Internet costs €11 and includes 3 GB, after which you can buy additional data packages of 1-500 GB (tariffs).
Nova
Not the best choice, but for communication in the metropolitan area will be ok.
Tariffs are the lowest: 5 MB by default costs 5€ 0.4, you can also buy packages for 1-150 GB (tariffs) and unlimited for a month for €63.
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Is There Free Wifi In Iceland?
Yes.
There is Free WiFi in Iceland.
It’s not hard to find free Wifi in Iceland – there are access points at airports, in many cafes, hotels and campsites.
Also in large cities there are manypayphones.
But this is not a full-fledged alternative to mobile communications, but only an addition to it.
Wi-Fi and payphones, of course, are not available on the highway and in remote areas.
You can use free wifi but better do not rely on it- for example, when entering passwords, banking data and other confidential information, you should use only mobile Internet for your own safety.
I think that the only correct solution in this matter is to provide yourself with reliable mobile communication.
You can choose from Icelandic mobile operators, or to use roaming from a native operator.
Is It Difficult To Drive In Iceland?
Yes-but only in winter.
In winter, a full-fledged trip around the country is unlikely to succeed, since only the main ring road and several other tracks are open in winter, and many hotels and restaurants do not work during the low tourist season.
Do You Need An International Drivers License To Drive In Iceland?
No.
If you are in Iceland for a short time, a foreign driving license is usually valid.
For those who live in Iceland, it is recommended to upgrade to an Icelandic driving license anyway.
This will greatly simplify all services related to driver’s licenses.
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Get Your Guide Now$15.99What Clothes Should I Wear in Iceland?
Never try to get by with a minimum of clothes, taking something universal.
In conditions of constantly changing weather, it is better to use layering in order to take off an extra sweater at any time and not sweat (or vice versa).
You need to dress like this: under the jacket – a fleece jacket (in winter a fleece + sweater), under the bottom of a thermal T-shirt (or a regular T-shirt in summer), under membrane pants – thermal pants.
