15 Things to Avoid as a Tourist in Iceland
- Don’t Leave Your Coat at Home.
- Don’t Underestimate the Weather.
- Don’t Get Caught in the Dark (or Light)
- Avoid Buying Bottled Water in Stores.
- Avoid Shopping at 10-11.
- Don’t Be Fooled by the Light “Beer” in the Supermarkets.
- Don’t Assume You Can Buy Alcohol Anywhere, Anytime.
Contents
What are the dangers in Iceland?
This means that Icelanders have to be prepared for a multitude of natural hazards: Storms, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and avalanches. The monitoring of such hazards and an effective system of public warning and response is seen as essential for public safety and welfare.
What should you not do in Iceland?
What NOT to Do in Iceland: Tourist Traps and Stuff to Avoid
- Don’t do things just because everyone else is doing it.
- Don’t assume that everything you’ll do in Iceland will be expensive.
- Don’t tip.
- Don’t buy bottled water.
- Don’t expect that you can see everything during your stay.
- Don’t get speeding tickets!
Do Icelanders hate American tourists?
Of course, Icelanders don’t hate tourists (Iceland has actually been voted the friendliest country to visit in the world!) but since tourism has grown so fast in Iceland rapid changes have been happening in our society.
Is Reykjavik safe at night?
Reykjavik is one of the safest cities in the world, just use common sense like not wonder alone late / in the middle of the night in side streets where no one is around.
What drugs are illegal in Iceland?
Under current laws, possessing illegal drugs in Iceland can result in heavy fines and jail time. Hash and marijuana are the most-seized drugs by police officers, followed by amphetamines, with only small amounts of ecstasy, cocaine, and heroin seized.
Why is Iceland unsafe?
Scalding thermal water: The water in Iceland’s geothermally active areas can be boiling hot, and the danger is often unmarked. Every year or two a tourist falls in and gets severely burned, typically in a less-visited geothermal area without fences or walkways.
What is illegal in Iceland?
Not only is it illegal to sell panties, boxers, thongs, and jock straps with the Icelandic flag on them (that would be disrespectful), it is also illegal to sell or advertise items of foreign origin if the image of an Icelandic flag has been put on them (that would be unpatriotic).
Does Blue Lagoon ruin your hair?
The quick answer will be no, it does not!
People travel from all over the world to soak in the water and it’s known to help with psoriasis, acne, dandruff, aging skin, and eczema. So to sum it up, the water is actually great for you AND your hair.
Is there crime in Iceland?
Iceland is considered by many as one of the safest countries in the world to live in, with very low crime and murder rates. For instance, the country has the lowest murder rate in Europe, and only one person was killed on the island in 2019.
Do they speak English in Iceland?
But don’t worry! English is taught as a second language in Iceland and almost every Icelander speaks the language fluently. And more so, most Icelanders speak several other languages including Danish, German, Spanish and French and welcome the opportunity to practice their language skills.
Are there dogs in Iceland?
The Icelandic sheepdog is the only native dog in Iceland and was brought to the country by the Viking settlers in the 9th century. The Icelandic breed originates from the Nordic countries and similar types are the Norwegian Buhund, the Shetland Sheepdog and the Welsh Corgi.
Is there a red light district in Iceland?
On Thursdays, close to 60 percent of drivers drove through a red light in the suburb of Grafarvogur, where the study was conducted. On Mondays, it dropped to just one in three. when they drive through a red light. They aim to raise awareness of the dangers in doing so.
Can you swim in the ocean in Iceland?
You can swim pretty much anywhere in the ocean in Iceland as long as the beach is accessible and the waves are safe (don’t do this in Reynisfjara!) but we went to a much safer place called Nauthólsvík, a beach in Reykjavik located next to the Reykjavik University and the domestic airport.
Is Iceland safe for solo female Travellers?
Fortunately, Iceland is one of the safest and best places for solo female travel. The combination of Iceland’s low crime rates and stellar gender equality makes it the perfect solo female travel destination.
Why is McDonald’s banned in Iceland?
Iceland was home to 3 or 4 (sources differ) McDonald’s restaurants until the country’s financial crisis in 2009. With the collapse of the country’s currency, the cost of importing the restaurants’ required food products reportedly doubled, forcing all locations to shut down.
Can you smoke in Iceland?
Smoking in Iceland is banned in restaurants, cafés, bars and night clubs as of June 2007.At the time the ban went into effect, almost one in four Icelandic people were smokers. Iceland has the third highest proportion of people who never smoke at 81%, when compared to other European countries.
What is the drinking age in Iceland?
20
The legal drinking age in Iceland is 20. Grocery stores only have low-alcohol beer; all other alcohol is sold in state-controlled stores called Vínbúð, with limited opening hours.
Are there rats in Iceland?
There are two species of rats in Iceland: Rattus norvegicus (the brown/Norwegian rat), and the far less common Rattus rattus (the black/roof rat).By 1932, however, there was a growing rat population, particularly around coastal areas.
Are there any predators in Iceland?
Not really, the island is thankfully free of large predators. The only native mammal in Iceland is the Arctic fox, which due to its isolation in Iceland for 10000 years is now its own species called Alopex lagopus fuliginosus.
What dogs are banned in Iceland?
Banned Breeds
Some dangerous dog breeds and their crosses are prohibited from entering Iceland. They include: American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, TosaInu, Dogo Argentino (Argentine Mastiff) and Fila Brasileiro (Brazillian Mastiff). Wolf mixes are not permitted.
