Planning a trip to Iceland? This travel checklist covers everything to do before you fly, from packing and car rentals to weather, budgeting, and travel tips.
Most people spend weeks planning what to see in Iceland and about twenty minutes thinking about everything else. Then they land at Keflavík, discover the Blue Lagoon has been sold out for a month, realize they haven't downloaded offline maps, and spend the first morning of their trip fixing problems that could have been solved at home.
This checklist covers everything — documents, bookings, apps, gear, money, and the practical logistics that don't make it into most travel guides. Work through it before you fly, and the trip itself runs far more smoothly.
Documents and Entry Requirements
Passport and Visa
Iceland is a member of the Schengen Area. Citizens of the EU, EEA, UK, US, Canada, and Australia do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date — check this well in advance, not the night before.
If you're traveling on a non-EU/EEA passport, verify your visa requirements with the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration before booking. Requirements vary by nationality and change periodically.
Travel Insurance
Non-negotiable for Iceland. The country's terrain, weather, and activities create genuine risks — road closures, glacier hikes, off-road driving, and medical emergencies in remote areas are not hypothetical. Make sure your policy covers:
Medical evacuation (helicopter rescue is common and expensive)
Adventure activities, if you're planning glacier hikes, ice caving, or snowmobiling
Car hire excess if you're renting a vehicle
Trip cancellation and delays
Read the policy, not just the headline coverage. Many standard policies exclude activities that are routine in Iceland.
Driving License
If you're renting a car, bring your full driving license. An international driving permit is not required for most nationalities, but check with your car hire company in advance. The minimum age for car hire is typically 20–23, depending on the vehicle category.
Bookings to Make Before You Leave
The Blue Lagoon
Needs to be booked weeks in advance during the summer. It does not operate as a walk-in attraction. Go to bluelagoon.com, choose your package, and book as soon as your travel dates are confirmed. This is the single booking most visitors regret leaving too late.
Jökulsárlón Boat Tours
The amphibious and Zodiac tours at the glacial lagoon operate on fixed departure slots and fill up quickly in summer. Book at the glacierlagoon.is before you travel, not when you arrive.
Whale Watching in Húsavík
Húsavík tours run multiple departures daily in summer, but the most popular operators sell out. Book at least a week ahead in July and August.
Northern Lights Tours
If you're traveling in aurora season (September to March) and want a guided Northern Lights tour, book in advance. Most operators run minibus tours with a cancellation policy tied to forecast conditions, but available spots fill up during peak winter travel weeks.
Accommodation in High-Demand Areas
Vík, Höfn, the Westfjords, and Mývatn all have limited accommodation relative to the number of visitors who want to stay there. In July and August, popular guesthouses and farm stays book up 4–8 weeks in advance. Book early and confirm the cancellation policy — Iceland's weather means plans change.
Highland Tours and Ice Cave Tours
Guided glacier hikes, ice cave tours (seasonal, typically November to March), and highland 4x4 expeditions all have limited capacity. If these are on your itinerary, secure them before you leave.
Apps and Tools to Download Before You Fly
road.is
The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration's real-time road conditions website. Available as a website and app. Check it every morning before you drive — colour-coded by condition (green open, yellow warning, red closed). Non-negotiable in autumn, winter, or spring.
vedur.is
The Icelandic Meteorological Office weather forecast. More accurate for Icelandic conditions than international apps. Use this for wind forecasts in particular — Iceland's wind is a bigger practical problem than its rain, and gust forecasts matter for driving open vehicles or visiting exposed sites.
Safetravel Iceland (112 Iceland)
Download the 112 Iceland app and register your travel plan before driving remote routes. In an emergency, it sends your GPS location to the Icelandic emergency services. It takes five minutes to set up and requires no subscription.
Offline Maps
Mobile signal disappears in the East Fjords, the Westfjords, the highlands, and many stretches of the Ring Road. Download offline maps before you leave — Google Maps and Maps.me both work well. Select the full Iceland map download, not just the region you think you'll visit.
Aurora Forecast App
If you're traveling between September and March, download an aurora forecast app — Aurora Forecast or Space Weather are both reliable. You want one that shows the KP index and cloud cover together; a high KP index is useless if the sky is overcast.
Car Hire: What to Sort Before You Go
Book in Advance
Car hire prices in Iceland rise significantly as the travel date approaches, particularly in summer. Booking two to three months out in peak season can save a meaningful amount.
Choose the Right Vehicle
A standard 2WD is fine for the Ring Road in summer. If you're planning highland F-roads, the Westfjords interior, or winter travel, you need a 4x4. Check that the specific vehicle you've booked is what you actually need — "SUV" and "4x4 with high clearance" are not the same thing. Ask the hiring company directly if in doubt.
Understand What Your Insurance Covers
Car hire in Iceland comes with basic third-party cover, but the excess on damage can be very high — ISK 150,000–300,000 (£700–1,400 / $900–1,800) or more. Additional options include:
SCDW (Super Collision Damage Waiver) — reduces or eliminates the excess for standard damage
SAAP (Sand and Ash Protection) — covers windscreen and bodywork damage from Iceland's volcanic sand, which acts like sandpaper in strong winds. Not covered by standard policies.
GP (Gravel Protection) — covers chipped paint and windscreen chips from loose gravel roads
Sand and gravel damage is common in Iceland and not covered by most credit card travel policies. Consider SAAP and GP if you're driving the South Coast or highland roads.
Know the Rules
F-roads are 4x4 only. Driving a standard car on an F-road voids your insurance entirely and carries a fine.
River crossings are only for experienced drivers with the right vehicle and are not covered by any standard hire insurance.
Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on gravel roads, 90 km/h on paved roads. Speed cameras are frequent, and fines ar,e issued to the hire company, which then charges your card.
Money and Payments
Cash vs. Card
Iceland is almost entirely cashless. Credit and debit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted everywhere — including remote petrol stations, farm guesthouses, and market stalls. You do not need to carry Icelandic krónur for everyday use.
The exception is the occasional small market or community café in rural areas that operates cash-only, but these are rare. Carry a small amount — ISK 5,000–10,000 (approximately £25–50) — as backup.
Notify Your Bank
Tell your bank you're traveling to Iceland. Some banks still flag foreign transactions as suspicious and freeze cards without warning. A two-minute phone call before you leave prevents a genuinely awkward moment at a remote petrol station.
Packing Checklist for Iceland
Iceland's weather operates on its own logic. The standard saying — "if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes" — is not an exaggeration. You can have rain, sunshine, hail, and a rainbow within a single hour. Pack for all of it.
Clothing
Waterproof jacket — essential, not optional. A hood that actually stays on in the wind matters.
Waterproof trousers — for waterfalls, rain, and any wet landscape activity
Warm mid-layer — fleece or down jacket; useful even in July on exposed sites
Base layers — thermal underlayer for autumn/winter; lightweight moisture-wicking for summer
Warm hat and gloves — even in summer for highland and coastal areas
Sturdy waterproof walking shoes or hiking boots — the ground around geothermal areas, waterfalls, and glaciers is uneven and wet
Swimwear — for hot springs, nature baths, and hotel pools; Iceland has geothermal swimming facilities everywhere
Gear
Sunscreen and sunglasses — the midnight sun is deceptively strong; UV levels at high latitude catch people off guard
Insect repellent — specifically for the Mývatn region, where midges are thick in summer
Reusable water bottle — Icelandic tap water is among the cleanest in the world; there is no reason to buy bottled water
Camera with spare batteries and memory cards — cold drains batteries quickly; keep a spare in an inner jacket pocket
Portable power bank — for long days away from charging points
Microspikes or traction cleats — if visiting in autumn or winter, invaluable on icy paths near waterfalls and geothermal areas
Headtorch — for winter travel when daylight is limited, or for getting back to accommodation after dark
Documents and Admin
Passport (check expiry)
Driving license
Travel insurance documents (printed or saved offline)
Car hire confirmation
Accommodation confirmations
Booking confirmations for Blue Lagoon, boat tours, and other pre-booked activities
Safety: What to Know Before You Go
Respect Closed Areas
Orange safety ropes, barrier tape, and closed signs at natural sites exist because the ground is actively unstable, the water is boiling, or the waves are genuinely dangerous. They are not suggestions. Every year, visitors are injured or killed by ignoring barriers at sites like Reynisfjara, Námaskarð, and Geysir. Stay behind the markers.
Register Your Itinerary
If you're driving remote routes, highland roads, or doing anything off the main tourist circuit, register your travel plan at safetravel.is or via the 112 Iceland app. It takes five minutes and means rescue services know where to look if something goes wrong.
Understand the Wind
Icelandic wind is dangerous in ways that surprise people. Wind speeds of 20–30 m/s (70–108 km/h) are not unusual in exposed areas.
At these speeds, car doors are ripped from hinges if opened carelessly, standing upright on cliff edges becomes hazardous, and lightweight campervans can be moved. Check the wind forecast on vedur.is each morning.
Don't Leave the Path on Geothermal Ground
The crust around boiling mud pots and fumaroles can be thin. Stepping off marked paths in geothermal areas risks breaking through into boiling water or superheated steam below. The paths exist for a reason.
Before You Fly: Final 48-Hour Checklist
Check road.is for conditions on your planned routes
Check vedur.is for weather and wind forecasts
Confirm all bookings (Blue Lagoon, boat tours, accommodation)
Download offline maps for Iceland
Download the 112 Iceland app and register your travel plan
Notify your bank of travel dates
Print or save offline copies of all booking confirmations
Pack duty-free list for Keflavík arrivals hall (alcohol, chocolate)
Charge all devices and power banks
Check the passport expiry date one final time