The only country in the world where in order to pay for dinner, sometimes you have to take a loan - charming Iceland .Landscapes here are so far from the usual that you can shoot fantastic movies without any scenery there .Climb the hill higher and stay in silence ,immerse the tired body in the turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon and catch the long-awaited relaxation ,try the local herring and your own taste receptors feel ,why it is called "Icelandic gold" ,to hover in the crowd of tourists near the Stekkur geyser in the Valley of Geysers ,beating into the sky several times per hour ,watch birds - and Icelandic symbols deadlocks including - in the vicinity of the lighthouse Bjargantar ... reasons ,to go soul and body to explore the sights of Iceland by the nearest flight ,mass ,and the reasons for refusing to visit this amazing country are now ,when a volcano with a difficult-to-pronounce name has long been "turned off" ,simply no
Iceland is a country of unique natural beauties and spectacular blondes. One thing is bad: alcohol is very expensive. However, because of the current economic situation in the world, the Icelandic krone exchange rate vis-à-vis the EUR has changed greatly, and the prices in the country have remained at the same level. As a result, services here have fallen in price by 25-45% and the country, vacation in which was previously very expensive pleasure, has become much more accessible, so that tours to Iceland are enjoying increasing popularity in the Russian tourist market.
The capital is Reykjavik, the largest cities are Kopavogur and Akureyri.
For a complete list of the country's cities, search the city page and the resorts of Iceland.
Group tours on unique routes.
Tours for May holidays.
All our tours.
Fishing in Iceland.
Tours by car in mini-groups.
Individual excursions with a Russian guide.
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How to get to Iceland?
There are no direct flights from Moscow to Iceland. The most convenient and shortest route is to fly to Reykjavik via the capitals of Northern Europe: Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki or Oslo. Not so long ago, the direct flight of Island Air connected St. Petersburg with Reykjavik.
Search for air tickets to Iceland
Visa to Iceland is
Documents for issuing an Icelandic visa must be submitted to Iceland's visa centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Customs
Allowed duty-free import of a liter of alcoholic beverages stronger than 22 °, 200 cigarettes or 250 g of other tobacco products. Alcoholic beverages are allowed to be carried to persons not younger than 20 years, tobacco products - not younger than 18 years.
It is forbidden to import narcotic and psychotropic substances, raw meat products, jerky, bacon, smoked sausage, fresh or frozen game, unboiled milk, eggs, seeds and children's toys made of lead or materials containing this metal..Also prohibited is the import of fishing tackle and equipment used abroad without prior disinfection and official confirmation of sanitation .This rule applies to the importation of equipment and equipment for riding .Prohibited export of objects that have natural historical value - including untreated lava, stones from protected areas, birds, bird eggs and nests .
Useful phone numbers are
Embassy of Iceland in Moscow: Skatertny Pereulok, 34, p. 4; Tel. (495) 956-76-04; website
The Russian Embassy in Reykjavik: Gardastraeti, 33; Tel. (354) 551-51-56, 561-06-59; website
Police, fire department, ambulance: 112.
Transport of Iceland
Road No. 1 in Iceland is a ring road along the country's coast with a length of 1,400 kilometers. Wherever you go in the country, part of the route will still pass through it - except for the plane, there is no other way to get to other cities.
Rent a car
Renting a car in Iceland is not a cheap thing. And if you rent, then only a jeep: the difference in price compared to cars will be small, and it is most convenient to travel in many parts of the country on an "off-road car."
The movement is right-handed, Russian rights are valid. In general, riding on Icelandic roads does not cause any special difficulties.
Car Rental in Iceland with best price guarantee $ $
The climate of Iceland is
Subarctic marine. The average temperature in August is +10 ° C, January -1 ° C. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the climate in the country is quite mild, but it is quite windy. In Reykjavik, the average January temperature is around 0 ° C, July is + 11 ° C, in the mountains it is colder. During the whole summer in Iceland there are "white nights", but in December a light day lasts no more than 5 hours.
It is better to come here in the summer, until the end of August: starting from September, hotels are closing for the winter, the number of public transport flights is decreasing, and nature itself is slowly being taken to impede freedom of movement.
See also the weather forecast for the main resorts and cities in Iceland.
- Will the polar night prevent Iceland from visiting in January
| Waterfall in the National Park |
| Types of Reykjavik |
| Geyser |
Banks and exchange points
You can exchange money in banks, offices of The Change Group or hotels (the commission is about 2, 5 USD regardless of the amount). Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9:15 to 16:00.
Traveler's checks, like credit cards, are accepted everywhere. There are ATMs in all banks, large stores, hotels and most central streets. They work with all kinds of "credit cards."
Iceland Hotels - $
In Iceland there are both expensive "design hotels", and small family houses or cottages. Hotels in Iceland are not subject to mandatory classification, but are subdivided - on a voluntary basis - by the National Tourism Office into five categories: one, two, three, four and five "stars". They are estimated about a hundred parameters, which can be "objectively measured", so that the division of hotels is quite adequate.
The most famous "chain" of hotels in Iceland: Radisson SAS Hotels and Resorts, Iceland Hotels, Edda Hotels, Fosshotels, Icelandic Hotels and Kea Hotels.
The voltage in the network is 220 V, 50 Hz. Plugs with two round pins: sometimes an adapter may be needed.
Book hotel in Iceland at the best price
Shopping and shopping in Iceland
Shops in the Icelandic capital are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00, on Saturdays - from 10:00 to 16:00. Some supermarkets are open until 23:00 every day.
In addition to unreal photos, Iceland can bring a woolen sweater with deer, handmade ceramics, art glass or silverware.
Kitchen and restaurants
Icelandic national cuisine is, of course, all kinds of dishes from seafood (scallops, shrimp, salmon, halibut, shark, cod and others), as well as lamb in different variations and traditional Icelandic chowder.
Give "tea" in Iceland is not accepted: the cost of maintenance is already included in the bill. However, for the service you especially like, you can thank - it does not offend anyone.
Iceland Entertainment, Excursions and Attractions
The main sights of Iceland are natural: Hecla volcano, geysers and glaciers, the Landmannaleygar valley, Tormørk valley, the Westman Islands. Akureyri, the second largest city in Iceland, is convenient to use as a base for exploring the surrounding area. From there it is close to Husavik, Godafoss Waterfall and Grimsay Island.
The rugged coast of the Western Fjords is one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Tourists there are very few - as well as local residents: today in the main city, Isafjordur, there live less than three thousand people.
Landmannalaugar is a must-see mountainous region in the southeast of the island. There hot springs are bubbling, and a lot of strange natural "artifacts" are scattered in a radius of 10 km: fields of frozen lava, deep canyons, unrealistically blue lakes, snowy slopes, smoking thawed patches with the smell of hydrogen sulphide.
Active holidays in Iceland
Iceland is a country of vivid impressions. Where else can you find an edge in which fantastic, lunar landscapes, dotted with craters and frozen lava, adjoin with pacifying meadows, on which horses and sheep are grazed? And on top of the dormant volcanoes rustle the forests, murmur streams, waterfalls and soar the geysers ...
In Iceland, they travel not only for bright impressions, but also for improving their health: one of the most popular tourist destinations is SPA-tours .Their feature is extremely simple: they not only relax and heal the body, but also have a positive effect on the psyche .Beautiful views of Iceland, sea excursions, where you can watch dolphins and whales, Icelandic fjords - all this helps to relax and restore composure .Fans of outdoor activities will not be disappointed either - in Iceland nature is so original and unique that even an ordinary tour for a couple of days will turn into a fabulous trip .And the abundance of rocks and mountains makes this region a real Mecca for climbers, climbers and hang-gliders .
Popular Excursions
Reykjavik: sightseeing tour ~ 45 EUR, "Golden Ring" ~ 95 EUR, "Geysir Express" ~ 77 EUR, "Following the Icelandic sagas" ~ 162 EUR, "Blue Lagoon" ~ 50 EUR, walk on Icelandic horses ~ 75 EUR, Akureyri and Lake Myvatn (flight included) ~ 385 EUR. Westman Islands - excursion to the city, which was completely covered with ash during the last eruption of the volcano in 1973 (flight included) ~ 260 EUR, a trip to the glaciers on the "super-jeeps" ~ 340 EUR.
The Tingvellir National Park and the Valley of Geysers
The valley of the Tingvellir Nature Park is dotted with paths that allow you to wander all day. In the park there is a break in the continental plates of Eurasia and America, the largest lake in Iceland is Tingvalavaten, the fields of Tinga, where Alting was sitting - the first Viking parliament, a whirlpool of witches, in which the unfaithful wives were heated.
In the neighboring Valley of Geysers there is actually Geyser - the very one whose name is now called all the hot fountains of the world. Nearby is another fountain, Strokkur, which runs almost according to the schedule: it hits the sky every 5-10 minutes. Well, Gullfoss - a thirty-meter waterfall, a superstar, always densely caked with tourists. Photos of Iceland (172)