Travel Guide

Flying to Iceland

This event is subject to a minimum of 60 registered attendees and may be cancelled if the minimum is not reached. Do not purchase any flights or other travel until the event is confirmed. Please note— if flights are booked prior to EO confirming the event, EO will not refund travel costs.

All attendees of the 2023 EO Iceland Exploration should book their flights in and out of Keflavík Airport (KEF) in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Keflavík Airport is located approximately 50 km from Reykjavík city centre. By car, it could take between 45 minutes to 1 hour, 15 minutes to get to Reykjavík city centre.

You will need to arrange your own ground transportation to/from the airport as you arrive and depart for the Exploration. EO will share airport transfer options in advance for you to book on your own. Plan to arrive in Reykjavík by early afternoon of 6 February 2023 and depart from Reykjavík any time after the morning of 11 February 2023. Ground transportation during the programme days to/from the venues and various locations within Iceland are included in your registration and will be booked by EO. Only your initial arrival and final departure flight/ground transportation will need to be booked on your own.

Weather

February is one of the coldest months in Iceland; however, the weather can be unpredictable and change very fast. Expect snow, rain, fog, wind and sun. Prepare for rain by bringing a waterproof jacket, and it is recommended to dress in layers. The average temperature in February is a high of 3 degrees Celsius (34 degrees Fahrenheit) and a low of minus -3 degrees Celsius (26 degrees Fahrenheit). In the beginning of February, there are about 7 hours of daylight, which make it an excellent month to view the Northern Lights, if weather permits.

Dress

In general, the Exploration will be casual during the day and casual chic in the evenings. You will likely be active during the day, so plan on warmer fabrics and comfortable shoes. Bring layers to ensure you are warm enough. Please see Pack like a pro for a more detailed packing list.

About Reykjavík, Iceland

Time Zone: Reykjavík, Iceland (GMT)

Please check www.timeanddate.com to determine what time it is in your home city.

Currency

The Icelandic Króna (symbol: kr; code: ISK), is the official currency of Iceland. While it is the only currency used in Iceland, you still won’t see much of it as the country is very dependent on debit and credit cards and many locals never use cash. To check the current exchange rate for your currency, please visit Oanda.com or XE.com.

MasterCard and Visa are the major credit cards accepted in Iceland followed by Diners Club cards, accepted in many places, as well as limited acceptance of American Express. Credit card issuers commonly charge anywhere from 1% to 3% for purchases made in other countries. Note for visitors from USA: Iceland uses cards with the chip-and-PIN system, which requires a 4-digit PIN for purchase. If you have a traditional “swipe and sign” card, you may wish to inquire about getting a chip-card from your bank or major credit card issuer before travelling. Another tip before traveling, you should contact the bank that issued your credit card or debit card and ask about their fees. Debit cards normally have lower fees, but be sure to check all your options.

ATMs are widely available in Iceland and require a PIN. Cash can be obtained for Electron and Maestro cards at all ATMs and banks, as well as for Cirrus and Euro cheque ATM-only cards. Diners Club and JCB cardholders with Cirrus acceptance have access to all ATMs. 

Etiquette

For etiquette information, please reference:

Language

English is the official language of the 2023 EO Iceland Exploration.

Tipping

The cost of service and VAT is included in all prices at restaurants, hotels, taxis, hairdressers, etc. Tipping is therefore not customary in Iceland, but is nonetheless appreciated when offered.

Do note, you will not need to tip during activities planned as part of the Exploration registration.

Stay connected

The country code for Iceland is +354. When dialing a number from abroad, be sure to dial 00 before the country code and number. The national emergency number in Iceland is 112.

Please contact your individual mobile phone service provider for information about international plans. Mobile phones are widely used throughout Iceland. Call your service provider before arriving to determine if you should purchase an international roaming plan.

Wi-Fi is available either under payment or for free throughout the city centre such as coffee shops/bistros, airports, restaurants and some hotels. The strength and speed of the signal may vary, and you may need to ask for login information.Iceland uses Northern European electrical standards (50Hz/220 volts). You may also need a voltage converter, so you should consider a combined power plug adapter/voltage converter. Be extra careful with certain appliances because of the difference in frequency. Iceland uses the standard Europlug socket with two round prongs. Check out the following picture:

Covid-19 entry and exit requirements

All Covid-19 travel restrictions have been lifted in Iceland. There are currently no Covid-19-related travel restrictions to enter the country, nor any disease prevention measures in place such as masking or vaccine requirements.

EO members are responsible for being aware if they need a negative Covid-19 test to get back into their home country or if one is required by the airline. EO will not be able to provide personal assistance on testing if a negative Covid-19 test is required to enter back into your home country or by the airline. Members are responsible for fulfilling entry and exit requirements on their own. EO members are responsible for arranging their own travel in a timely manner—including, but not limited to, all entry requirements and testing, immigration and visa-related costs and paperwork. If you fail to receive the appropriate approvals to enter Iceland after you have purchased a registration, you will be subject to EO cancellation policies.

Please refer to the below sites for detailed information on:

Visas

A visa is not required for stays of less than 90 days for US citizens. Please refer to The Directorate of Immigration site to see if you need a visa to enter Iceland.

EO highly recommends that you arrange your visas in advance of travel in order to make entry as seamless as possible.

EO will not be collecting any data from members, as they are responsible for applying for their visas directly, but EO will provide an invitation letter upon request to [email protected].

Your passport will need to be valid three months required, six months recommended, beyond your planned date of departure and requires two pages for an entry stamp.

EO members are responsible for arranging their own travel in a timely manner—including, but not limited to, all immigration and visa -related costs and paperwork. If you fail to receive the appropriate approvals to enter Iceland after you have purchased a registration, you will be subject to EO cancellation policies.

EO takes no responsibility for acquiring or monitoring the status of a visa for any member. EO can support you in your quest for immigration approval by providing the following:

  • Letters of invitation
  • Hotel confirmation numbers (where applicable)
  • Connections to chapter members via the chapter manager

EO cannot:

  • Sponsor members
  • Guarantee costs or other monetary-related paperwork
  • Liaise with ministries, immigration, embassies or consulates on behalf of any member

If you require a sponsorship for entry into Iceland, you assume all risk associated with registering for the Exploration prior to getting approval and finding sponsors. EO cancellation policies apply. EO members are required to find other EO member sponsors on their own, including using eonetwork.org or through the EO chapter hosting the event. EO staff will not broker sponsorship.

Covid-19 event guidelines

In an effort to provide a safe experience for all attendees, staff and vendors, we want to make you aware of certain health and safety protocols that will be in place during the 2023 EO Iceland Exploration. In order to participate in-person for the 2023 EO Iceland Exploration, you must sign an Event Health and Safety Guidelines form which attests that you and your household are free from any Covid-19 symptoms beginning 14 days prior to the event.

In addition you must acknowledge that you will:

  • Abstain from participating in any portion of the event if you are showing symptoms of illness or know you have experienced any recent, high-risk contacts with Covid exposure including fever, cough, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, or positive diagnosis.
  • Abide by venue protocols should health checks prove that an attendee is unwell and needs to quarantine.
  • If masks are required during any portion of the event, masks must be worn properly, over mouth and nose, during the duration of the event with exception of meal periods, where masks may be removed only when sitting and eating, or when participants are the primary communicator. Masks must be worn while going to and from restrooms in addition to being worn for the duration of the event.
  • Refrain from non-essential contact that can make other participants feel uncomfortable such as hugging, kissing or close-range communication. Maintain a distance of 6 feet (2 meters) from other participants as much as possible.

We are abiding by local laws, guidelines and requirements and are taking precautionary steps to protect all members of the EO community. All participants will be provided an Event Health and Safety Guidelines form to confirm your commitment to follow the safety guidelines prior to the event.

Covid-19 and travel insurance

EO highly recommends that you purchase travel insurance and verify the terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and requirements of your insurance policy before you travel and check with your travel insurance provider (whether you have a group, an individual or a credit-card type of insurance) about the following:

  • Are you covered for Covid-19-related medical expenses, other non-Covid-19 emergency-related expenses, as well as interruptions to your travel plans? While some insurance companies may offer Covid-19 related medical expenses coverage, it may not include protection for other non-Covid-19 emergency-related expenses.
  • Find out if you are covered for quarantine costs should you become infected with Covid-19 during your trip.
  • Make sure you have travel insurance coverage for your entire trip as some insurers may limit options to extend policies after departure.
  • Find out if you are covered for extended stays outside your home country.

Health

Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.You can find more health and safety recommendations for Iceland from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Dietary restrictions

Please notify us of any dietary restrictions during registration so that your needs are accommodated at the Exploration. To edit any dietary restrictions or input new dietary restrictions, go to the event page and click “Modify Registration.” You will be able to edit or enter dietary information and click “Save.” If you suffer from severe food allergies, we encourage you to visit this website and consider purchasing food and travel-translation cards to effectively communicate your needs while traveling.