Overview Country

Iceland
A wild island of adventure for nature lovers

Standalone red house in the wilderness of Iceland

Geyser: not many English words come from Icelandic but geyser is one. The original Geysir (with its Icelandic spelling) is now dormant but Iceland is still packed with geothermal wonders, from active volcanoes to hot springs and, yes, geysers. But Iceland is the land of fire and ice, with vast glaciers covering one tenth of the island. If that wasn’t enough natural spectacle, don’t forget to look up for the midnight sun and the northern lights. Iceland is nature at its most vivid.

An eruption of a Geyser in Iceland is a natural spectacle
where it is

Where it is

Northern Europe

When to go

When to go

February to October

Why go there

Why go there

Wild landscape
Northern lights
Volcanic activity

what to see

What to see

Reykjavik
Volcanoes
Geysers

Reykjavik, the colorful capital of Iceland, is located by the sea

The big little city of Reykjavik

Reykjavik, the colorful capital of Iceland, is located by the sea

The northernmost capital in the world is brimming with relaxed charm and gentle pleasures, such as visiting Hallgrimskirkja church or taking a whale-watching trip.

Man standing in front of waterfalls with double rainbow in Iceland

The magical Golden Circle

Man standing in front of waterfalls with double rainbow in Iceland

A bucket-list trip that’s Iceland in a nutshell as it includes the mighty Strokkur geyser, dramatic Gullfoss waterfalls and beautiful Thingvellir National Park.

People swimming in the hot springs of blue lagoon in Iceland

The land of fire and water

People swimming in the hot springs of blue lagoon in Iceland

In Iceland, volcanoes aren’t only about the drama of eruptions but also the serenity of soaking in the thermal waters like the Blue Lagoon.

Woman leaning out of car window and enjoying off-road nature adventure in Iceland

The off-road natural adventure

Woman leaning out of car window and enjoying off-road nature adventure in Iceland

Take a trip on the wild side in an all-terrain vehicle, or ATV, and experience Iceland’s untamed landscape of black-sand beaches and mighty glaciers.

Puffin sitting on a rock by the sea in Iceland

Travel in Iceland

Puffin sitting on a rock by the sea in Iceland

Despite its name, Iceland has a relatively mild climate, even though it’s just below the Arctic Circle. Yes, it’s a winter wonderland during the cold months but summers can actually be warm, thanks to favourable ocean currents. We think that’s best time to explore the spectacular landscape of geothermal activity and coastal scenery. The Ring Road, or Route 1, is the principal paved road around the whole island but more remote roads need a 4WD or ATV.

Iceland facts

Norse settlement of Iceland began in the 9th century, with the country remaining a part of Norway or Denmark until finally independent in 1918. A republic was declared in 1944, with the Althing maintaining its role as the one of the oldest parliaments in the world. As an island nation with largely uninhabitable terrain, Iceland is the least densely-populated country in Europe, with only three inhabitants per square kilometre. It is a member of the European Economic Area.

How to know the time zone

Time zone

UTC

Check the flight time

Flight time

4 hours from Switzerland

local currency

Local currency

Icelandic krona

Dial code by country

Dialling code

+354

Iceland