Iceland

Etiquette & respect

Ms Pétursdóttir or Ms Guðrún? Iceland maintains another old Norse tradition: the custom of using patronyms rather than surnames. An Icelander's given name is followed by his or her parent's first name (usually the father's), in the genitive case, and the suffix -son or -dóttir, e.g. Guðrún Pétursdóttir (Guðrún, Pétur's daughter). Members of the same family can therefore have many different "surnames", which can sometimes create confusion for visitors. Because of the patronymic last names, Icelanders use first names in most situations, e.g. phone books are alphabetized by first name rather than last name and also listing their profes…

Tipping guidance

In Iceland tipping is not practised. In rare cases an attempt to leave a tip may be seen as insulting, so instead consider offering verbal praise for a job well done. Some Icelandic companies have started having a tipping jar next to the cash register but these are generally ignored.

Health & wellness

The medical facilities in Iceland are good and subsidised for those with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and passport. Scandinavian citizens must show a valid passport to get subsidised medical costs. Should EU citizens not have the necessary documents then they will be charged for the full cost of the medical treatment. Citizens outside of EU should check if their travel insurance covers medical treatment. Infectious diseases aren't a problem in Iceland. Inoculations aren't required except if you are arriving from countries that suffer from infectious diseases like cholera. The biggest threat to your health is likely to be accidental injury or bad weather. Always make sure you have more than adequately warm and waterproof clothing. Selection of appropriate clothing is especially important in Iceland and can even be a matter of life and death. Exercise extra caution in geothermal areas: What may appear to be solid ground can sometimes be not so solid, breaking from underneath your feet with you falling into potentially deadly boiling water. The water quality in Iceland is excellent and tap water is always drinkable. The hot water coming from the tap smells a bit like sulphur, because it is heated by geothermal energy, but it is also safe to drink. The hygiene in public kitchens is very good, and food poisoning rarely happens to tourists.

Scams & street smarts

Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world with regard to crime, so there is almost no chance of getting robbed or harassed. Isolated incidents have, however, been reported, especially in Reykjavík, so it pays to take the usual precautions. Use common sense when sampling the night life. For severe weather, volcanic eruptions, etc., check [https://en.vedur.is/alerts alerts from Icelandic weather institution]. Keep your phone on, as some alerts are sent as SMS to all mobile phones in the affected area.