Iceland travel guide for Britons

Britons do not need a visa for Iceland for tourism or short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Iceland is part of the Schengen Area, so the same rules apply as for other Schengen countries. From 2026, you will need an ETIAS travel authorisation before flying; it is an online application, not a visa, and costs about €7 for three years — check the official ETIAS site when it opens.

Carry a valid UK passport. The passport must be valid for the duration of your stay; there is no specific six-month rule for Iceland, but check the latest guidance from the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration before you travel.

Iceland is in the Schengen Area, so UK citizens can enter without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies to tourism, family visits and short business trips. If you plan to stay longer, work, or study, you need a residence permit from the Directorate of Immigration.

From 2026, you must have an ETIAS travel authorisation before boarding a flight to Iceland or any other Schengen country. Apply online, pay a small fee (around €7), and it is valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. It is not a visa and does not guarantee entry; border guards still check your passport and purpose of visit.

The British Embassy in Reykjavík is at Laufásvegur 31, 101 Reykjavík. It provides consular services for British nationals, including passport replacements and emergency assistance. For routine enquiries, contact them by phone or email; for emergencies, call the embassy and then the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London.

If you need help while in Iceland, the embassy is the first point of contact. For visa questions, the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration handles applications, not the embassy.

Iceland is expensive by UK standards. Budget roughly £120–£180 per person per day for a mid-range trip including accommodation, a hire car, fuel, food and activities. A budget traveller can manage on £80–£100 a day with hostels, supermarket meals and limited tours, while a comfortable trip with hotels, restaurants and excursions can easily reach £250–£350 a day.

Flights from the UK to Reykjavík (Keflavík) take about 3 hours from London and 2.5 hours from Manchester or Edinburgh. Return fares start around £100–£150 in low season and rise to £250–£400 in summer — check with airlines. Car hire is a major cost: expect £50–£90 per day for a small car, more for a 4x4 in winter. Fuel is roughly £1.80–£2.20 per litre — check.

Meals: a supermarket sandwich costs £5–£8, a café lunch £12–£18, and a restaurant dinner £25–£45 per person. A beer in a bar is £8–£12. Activities like the Golden Circle tour, glacier hikes and the Blue Lagoon add £50–£150 per person per day.

Direct flights from the UK to Keflavík International Airport (KEF) run from London (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted), Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Flight time is about 3 hours from London, 2.5 hours from northern England and Scotland. Airlines include Icelandair, easyJet and British Airways — check schedules.

Keflavík is about 50 km from Reykjavík; the Flybus and airport coaches take 45–60 minutes and cost around £25–£30 each way. A taxi is £100–£150. If you hire a car, pick it up at the airport and drive straight out.

Iceland uses types C and F plugs, standard European two-pin round plugs, with a 230 V, 50 Hz supply. UK plugs (type G) do not fit, so bring a travel adapter. Most devices (phones, laptops, camera chargers) accept 100–240 V, so you only need a plug adapter, not a voltage converter. Check your device label before plugging in.

Tipping is not expected in Iceland. Service charges are included in restaurant bills, and hotel and taxi prices already cover service. Rounding up a taxi fare or leaving a small tip for exceptional service is appreciated but never required. Do not feel obliged to tip in bars or cafés.

In an emergency, call 112 for police, ambulance or fire. For non-urgent medical help, call 1700 for a doctor. The UK embassy in Reykjavík can assist British nationals in difficulty.

Iceland is safe, but the main risks are weather and nature. Check road.is for road conditions, vedur.is for weather warnings, and safetravel.is for alerts. In winter, storms can close roads for days; always carry warm layers, food and water in the car. See the safety page for more.