Iceland
Northern Europe · ISL
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Iceland
Iceland is still one of the cleanest high-payoff road trips in Europe for travelers who want volcanic scenery, waterfalls, and outdoor stops where the landscapes carry the itinerary. It works best when you match the route to the season, whether that means a shorter southwest circuit or a longer Ring Road trip with enough time to keep the driving from taking over.
Popular For
Things To See
- Reykjavik
- Golden Circle
- Jokulsarlon
- South Coast
- Blue Lagoon
- Akureyri
Best Months
Best Months For Winter Travel
Know Before You Go
- July and August are the easiest all-round months in the current brief, while December through March fit aurora and winter landscape trips better.
- Iceland pays off most when the route is realistic for the season rather than overbuilt.
- A shorter southwest circuit often lands better than forcing a full Ring Road itinerary into too few days.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Iceland.
Guidebooks
Lonely Planet Iceland
Lonely Planet
Complete guide with detailed itineraries, travel tips, and insider recommendations for all seasons.
View on Amazon →
Iceland (Bradt Travel Guide)
Andrew Evans
Thoroughly updated guide with practical information and off-the-beaten-path recommendations.
View on Amazon →
Fodor's Essential Iceland
Fodor's Travel Guides
Full-color travel guide with expert recommendations for attractions and outdoor activities.
View on Amazon →Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Iceland.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Reykjavik
- Population
- 391,810
- Area
- 103,000 km²
- Region
- Northern Europe
Languages
- Icelandic
Currency
Icelandic króna (kr)
ISK
1 USD = 122.09 ISK
Cost of Living (World Bank)
102.8
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 104.5
- Restaurants
- 104.9
- Rent
- 49.5
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Reykjavik (64.15°N, 21.95°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
87/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 95/100
- Lived safety
- 71/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionMarriage
- Adoption recognition✅
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban✅
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.972
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.006
- 10-year change
- +0.022
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.983
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.024
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.735
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (3)
- 🌿
Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice
Inscribed 2019
- 🌿
Surtsey
Inscribed 2008
- 🏛️
Þingvellir National Park
Inscribed 2004
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 20.9%
- Forest cover
- 0.5%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 6
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 7
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
48/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Winter Sports
25/100
Ski infrastructure & alpine pedigree
Combines ski resort depth, ski resort density, and Winter Olympic skiing results. Separate from climate comfort.
Luxury Infrastructure
82/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Exercise normal precautions in Iceland. Advisory Summary Iceland is generally a safe destination for travelers. Iceland regularly experiences quickly changing weather, dangerous natural features, active volcanoes, and earthquakes. Review our information on weather and natural disasters in Iceland. Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations. Stay aware of your surroundings. Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity, like purse snatching and pickpocketing. Review our travel guidance for Iceland to learn how to prepare for a safe trip. If you decide to travel to Iceland: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Iceland. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Iceland. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data