A little more
Iceland.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Iceland: what to know before you go

Iceland is a North Atlantic island of glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls and black-sand beaches, with geothermal pools in almost every town and a small, creative capital. It suits road-trippers, hikers, photographers and northern-lights hunters, and its weather and empty spaces demand some planning.

Where to go

• The Golden Circle. A day loop from Reykjavík taking in Þingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart; the Geysir area, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes; and the two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall.
• The south coast. Seljalandsfoss, which you can walk behind, the wide curtain of Skógafoss and the black-sand beach of Reynisfjara near Vík.
• Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach. A glacier lagoon at the edge of Vatnajökull where icebergs break off and drift towards the sea, then wash up as chunks of ice on the black sand of the beach opposite.
• Vatnajökull ice caves and glacier walks. Europe's largest glacier by volume covers much of the south-east.

Best time to visit

June to August brings long days, with almost no darkness around midsummer, open highland roads and the mildest weather; it is also the busiest and most expensive time. September and October are quieter, with autumn colours and the first northern lights.

Staying online in Iceland

Mobile coverage is good in Reykjavík, towns and villages and along most of the Ring Road. It is patchy or absent in the Highlands, in the Westfjords, on mountain roads and in deep valleys and fjords. Wi-Fi is available in nearly every hotel, guesthouse and café. Because conditions change quickly, being able to check weather and road updates matters. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.