You will fly into Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. The airport code is KEF and many airlines fly into Iceland from all over the world. From JFK, the flight time is 5 hours and from Stockholm the flight time is 3 hours. Most flights from the US will arrive early in the morning at KEF.
## SOLD OUT, you can however book a room at the Hilton without our Discount ##
There are many great hotels around Reykjavik, as well as Airbnb options. If you would prefer to cook most meals in or you would like to cut back on the cost of your lodging, an Airbnb rental would be best. Wherever you stay, be sure that there are black-out curtains in each bedroom as there will be 21h of sunlight!
A rental car is highly recommended if you plan to drive outside of Reykjavik. Tours are available if you do not wish to drive yourself. Iceland requires vehicle insurance beyond what your US insurance will provide—this insurance can be purchased via a rental car company. We elected instead to purchase an additional insurance through American Express for $20 prior to our trip; you must use your American Express to book the car rental when using this option.
You will need a credit card. There are different options when getting gas/diesel and they will usually be a monetary increment (EX: 3,000 krona, 5,000 krona or 10,000 krona) or you will have the “fill up” option. Do not select the fill up option as it will put a hold on your card for about $300 USD. Be sure to map out your entire drive that day and ensure that you have enough fuel, or you have locate gas stations along your drive. You can easily go an hour without seeing a gas station.
Driving will be on the same side of the road as in the US and Sweden. Be mindful of the speed limits (speed cameras) and do not drive in the left lane if you are not passing a vehicle. There is also a zero-tolerance policy in Iceland, meaning no alcohol prior to driving. Strangely, in roundabouts, the inside lane has the right-of-way. There are no shoulders on roads in Iceland, so stopping on the highway is illegal—be sure to only pull off of the highway in designated areas.
We will have shuttle buses booked to take everyone to/from the wedding and reception, as the venue is 45 minutes outside of Reykjavik. But you are certainly welcome to drive your own vehicle as well.
Transportation will be provided from Hilton Reykjavik Nordica and back.
Buses departs 4PM (16:00 CET) from Hilton Reykjavik Nordica
Iceland in mid-June will have low temperatures around 40F/5C degrees and high temperatures around 60F/15C degrees. Expect wind and light rain almost daily—but the rain does not last long. Waterproof clothing and shoes are a must. (NOT just water resistant.) Layering is also key. For touring outside of Reykjavik, for example, wear a 3-in-1 coat over a long-sleeve dri-fit shirt, and hiking pants, with hiking boots. For further examples on clothing, please see the following:
Typical wedding attire.
Recommendation for women to bring flat shoes for outdoor activities. This is a private event with ability to store a bag.
Iceland is almost totally cashless. There were very few places where we needed a little cash (some public restrooms for example) Please do not waste time, money or exchange fees on getting Icelandic money prior to your visit as it is almost completely unnecessary. With credit cards, be sure that the card you are using has a chip, and you may want to obtain a 4-digit PIN prior to your trip, as some locations may require the PIN number with credit card purchases. Honestly, we did not need the PIN where we shopped, but many tourists have reported needing it.
Rental cars are certainly more expensive in Iceland, and because of that, we’d recommend splitting a vehicle with common travelers if possible. Lunch prices can average $15-$20 USD each, and dinner prices are comparable to a nice dinner in New Orleans. Hotel prices are about the same as you would expect to pay in most major US cities, and Airbnb’s are considerably less. The great news is that just about every outdoor site/activity you will do (outside of any booked tours) will be free. There may be a small parking fee charged at the site.
Alcohol is expensive in Iceland. It is highly recommended that you stop at the duty-free store in the airport upon arrival, and stock up on what you might need for your stay, especially if you are staying at an Airbnb. Most hotels will have bars where you can get a pre-dinner/post-dinner drink.
Unfortunately, no. During our time there, daylight will exist for about 21 hours each day. The Northern Lights do their thing mostly in the colder, darker months.
Yes. Best decision of the trip.
www.bluelagoon.com
www.skylagoon.com
For US travelers subscribe to Scott’s Cheap Flights and keep an eye out for the fare alerts for Iceland. You can also set a fare alert on Google Flights. Keep in mind that when the fare is posted, you will need to book within 24-48 hour. For Swedish travelers use your normal method of booking flights.
No. Because of the short flight between the US/Iceland and Stockholm/Iceland, you can easily see a lot of Iceland in a 3-4 day trip. We were there for 3 full days in August 2021 and accomplished just about everything we really wanted to see in those areas, with no returning jet lag. Of course there is certainly much more to see and do if you would like to travel all of Iceland and stay outside of Reykjavik.
As of the time of this writing, Iceland has had a total of 76 Covid-related deaths. Nearly 80% of Iceland is fully vaccinated. (Iceland’s total population is comparable to that of New Orleans) While breakthrough infections have happened with the Omicron variant, it has resulted in only a handful of hospitalizations. For more information, as well as entry requirements/restrictions, please visit: https://www.covid.is/english
· Subscribe to Iceland with a View—amazing advice from an Ex-Pat: https://icelandwithaview.com/
· There is currently an active volcano near KEF airport, however not erupting at this time.
https://www.afar.com/magazine/hike-to-see-iceland-fagradalsfjall-volcano-eruption-in-2021
· Everyone speaks English. Everyone.
· Hot dogs are the street food of Iceland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXPtWlRY-3M
· Buy something made of Icelandic wool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjBepJiZm94
· The North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet in Iceland, and you can snorkel between them at Thingvellir National Park (Silfra).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94kEKBLBjPw
· Power in Iceland is almost solely generated by its harnessing of hydroelectric and geothermal power sources.
· You can swim in natural hot pools across the country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIFwxMJXro4
· Bring a reusable water bottle with you—water can be refilled anywhere and is probably the best water in the world.
· Crime is almost non-existent in Iceland, with the country averaging less than 1 homicide per year for the past several decades. However, petty crime such as pickpocketing can still occur around a tourist location. https://www.osac.gov/Content/Report/1212e167-4d1e-47b6-9974-195ba55f2c43
· The Secret Solstice Festival takes place in mid-to-late June each year, and has major headliners: https://secretsolstice.is/
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