Iceland travel guide for Australians

Australians do not need a visa to visit Iceland for tourism or business for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. You need a valid Australian passport, and once the EU's ETIAS system is live, a travel authorisation. Check the ETIAS start date before you book.

Plan for a week or more: Iceland rewards time, and the Ring Road needs at least 8–10 days in summer. Budget roughly 1,500 AUD per person per week, excluding flights.

As an Australian citizen, you can enter Iceland without a visa for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies to the whole Schengen area, so days spent in other Schengen countries count towards the same 90-day limit.

Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area. Border guards may ask for proof of accommodation, return tickets and enough funds for your stay.

From 2026, Australians will also need an ETIAS travel authorisation before flying. It is not a visa; it is an online application that costs a small fee and is valid for three years. Apply before booking flights, as it can take a few days to process.

Australia does not have an embassy in Iceland. The Australian Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, covers Iceland. For consular help, contact the embassy in Copenhagen or the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's 24-hour consular emergency line.

For visa or entry questions, contact the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration or the nearest Icelandic embassy, which for Australians is in Tokyo or London (check).

Iceland is one of the more expensive countries in Europe. Budget roughly 1,500 AUD per person per week for a mid-range trip, excluding international flights. Accommodation, food and car hire are the big costs; petrol is also pricey.

A hire car costs about 500–800 AUD per week, and a meal at a mid-range restaurant runs 40–60 AUD. Groceries from Bónus or Krónan are cheaper than eating out. Book accommodation early, especially in summer.

There are no direct flights from Australia to Iceland. You will fly to a European hub such as London, Copenhagen, or Frankfurt, then connect to Keflavík International Airport (KEF). Total travel time is around 20–24 hours including the connection.

From Keflavík, Reykjavík is about 45 minutes by bus or car. The airport is on the Reykjanes peninsula, not in the city.

Iceland uses plug types C and F, with a standard voltage of 230 V and a frequency of 50 Hz. Australian plugs (type I) do not fit, so bring a travel adapter. Most phone chargers and laptops handle 230 V, but check your devices.

Tipping is not expected in Iceland. Service charges are included in bills at restaurants, hotels and taxis. Rounding up is fine but not required. Tour guides sometimes receive tips, but it is not obligatory.

In an emergency, call 112 for police, fire or ambulance. For non-urgent medical advice, call 1700. Iceland has a good healthcare system, but treatment is not free for visitors, so travel insurance is essential.