A man viewing a crater at Landmannalaugar

Any situation can be enjoyed with the right preparation

Safetravel - Everything you need to know for a safe trip to Iceland

Is Iceland a safe country? Actually, it is hard to feel any safer than here: Iceland is a country with one of the world’s lowest crime rates, ranking consecutively in 1st place on the Global Peace Index, and home to no animal predators dangerous to man. So, it doesn’t seem very dangerous, but the challenges lie elsewhere.

Weather and nature dictate Iceland’s everyday life. Situated at the Arctic Circle and in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, unpredictable weather outbursts and rapid temperature changes are normal. The rough, untouched and scarcely populated landscape is stunning but also requires you to take good care and precautions when exploring. Here you can learn more about

Icelandic weather

SafeTravel.is - The one stop shop for safety in Iceland

Ash plume with lightnings rising from Eyjafjallajökull volcano in 2010

The No. 1 site for all travel information you’ll need during your trip is

www.safetravel.is

. Get informed, sign up for their free SMS service, and check their constantly updated

weather & conditions map

or get the

SafeTravel Iceland App

. It helps you make most of your time in Iceland and you surely don’t want to miss out on snowstorms, avalanches, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions!

ICE-SAR

Here in Iceland, the

ICE-SAR (Icelandic Association for search and rescue)

teams, consisting of thousands of volunteers and specialists help inhabitants as well as travelers who get into dangerous situations on land and sea. To avoid these situations beforehand, follow Safetravels' guidelines. In case of an emergency, always call 112.

Clean and Safe

Clean & Safe Iceland

is a self assessment checklist for tourism enterprises. Once the companies have, fulfilled the requirements they receive the Clean & Safe stamp.

The display of the stamp is a promise or declaration to their customers that all official regulations and instructions concerning cleaning and disinfecting are being followed and that employees have received special instructions and training regarding this.

Driving in Iceland

Driving in Iceland is very different from anywhere else, because of gravel, snowy, and icy roads as well as many mountain passages. But one also gets so easily distracted by the stunning landscape. Therefore, it’s important to pay special attention to the road surface, the weather, and traffic. The latter can sometimes even include animals, especially sheep. You can find everything you need to know about

driving in Iceland here.

It is vital for you and the sensitive nature and vegetation around you to stay on marked paths.

Step Into The Great Outdoors – Leave a Travel plan

Iceland is THE country for outdoor activities like hiking, climbing, diving, or horseback riding. In case you plan a longer outdoor trip outside a tour group -

leave a travel plan with safetravel

and make sure you’re properly dressed and equipped for the trip.

People standing behind a fence in front of Seljalandsfoss waterfall on snowy ground

The Sights – Not everything for a good photo

Follow the instructions that are given to you by warning signs and respect rails and fences because they are there for a reason. Some risks might not be visible at first and might also be dismissed by people around you. But strong undercurrents at beaches, slippery stones at cliffs and waterfalls, or unstable ground at hot springs can turn into life-threatening hazards.

The

Reynisfjara black sand beach

on the South Coast is one of the most dangerous places in Iceland and regularly claims the lives of visitors.

Here you can find out about the Dangers of Reynisfjara and how to stay safe there.

The same advise applies to Kirkjufellsfjara beach at

Dyrhólaey

on the South Coast and

Djúpalónssandur

beach on the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

What to wear in Iceland

What clothes should you bring to Iceland? One of the most asked questions and a big safety issue can be answered in 3 words: layers, layers, layers! Whether in summer or in winter, to make sure, you never get cold, Safetravel has put together

a dressing guide

as well as packing lists for specific activities. Also check out the video below from the Iceland Academy.

Iceland Academy - pack warm stay happy

Also see other videos from the Iceland Academy where you will learn other essential things you need to know before visiting Iceland.

Iceland Academy

Stay safe

You might also be interested in these articles.

About Iceland

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