Visa and entry requirements Iceland:
Passport not required
No visa is required
Information from the Foreign Office about your trip to Iceland:
http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/sid_B1189DA18DF5B585A04F18446DECDC15/DE/Laenderinformationen/00-SiHi/IslandSicherheit.html?nn=332636?nnm=332636
Iceland is located in Northern Europe and is the second largest island state in Europe by area. At the same time, Iceland is also the most sparsely populated country on the European continent with only around 350,000 inhabitants. The country has one of the highest standards of living and per capita income in the world.
Geographically in the northwest is Greenland, to the northeast is the island of Jan Mayen, to the east is Norway and to the southeast are the islands of the Faroe Islands, Great Britain and Ireland. The highest peak in the country is Mount Hvannadalshnukur at 2,110 meters. Iceland is world-famous for its spectacular landscape, several active volcanoes, bubbling geysers, endless lava fields and countless warm springs. The last eruption of an Icelandic volcano was Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, which even brought global air traffic to a standstill for a few days.
Several rare mammals live in Iceland, such as the arctic fox, the reindeer, the Icelandic horse that is special there and various seals in the north. Numerous species of whales also live in Iceland's waters, such as the blue whale, fin whale, humpback whale, northern minke whale, sei whale, pilot whale, killer whale and the sperm whale.
The Icelandic language is predominantly spoken in Iceland and the country officially has no military, only coastal protection. The currency of Iceland is the Icelandic krona, where 1 euro corresponds to around 124 ISK.
Iceland's economy is heavily dependent on fishing, with the fishing industry accounting for almost 80% of total exports.
About 60% of the population lives in the greater Reykjavik area, the country's capital. The city has around 130,000 inhabitants and is the northernmost capital in the world. Reykjavik is located on the Atlantic coast and was also the country's first settlement.
The city's most important sights include the National Museum, the Museum of Iceland's Cultural Heritage, the Parliament, the National Gallery and several other museums. The most famous buildings in Reykjavik are the cathedral church, the university, the Harpa concert hall and Perlan with its huge glass dome. Not to forget the city's landmark, the 75-meter-high Hallgrimskirkja tower, also a monument to Leif Eriksson, which offers breathtaking views over the capital. Interestingly, Reykjavik is the city with the highest number of cars per capita in the world, who would have thought.
Tourism plays a crucial role in Iceland's economy. The country now receives almost two million foreign visitors annually. A visit to the Blue Lagoon, a thermal outdoor swimming pool not far from Reykjavik, is an absolute must for every tourist. The Blue Lagoon guarantees unforgettable bathing fun with a unique and impressive view. You should also definitely visit the Gullfoss waterfall, one of the places in the Golden Circle. The Golden Circle is a popular day tour and covers some of Iceland's most iconic sights.
In September 2013 I visited the island state of Iceland for the only time so far. The weather was really very poor during my four-day stay. With temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius and constant rain, I still tried to make the best of it. My time in Iceland was largely limited to the capital Reykjavik. Unfortunately, we couldn't think of any longer trips because of the constant heavy rain.
In any case, this allowed me to fully enjoy the unique and well-known nightlife of Reykjavik. It was sometimes unbelievable how the entire city celebrated the weekend together. For me personally, Reykjavik is the second best party city I've ever been to, after Newcastle in the north of England.
So one day I will come back to this beautiful island with these friendly people, hopefully when the weather is a little more pleasant.
However, as a note to anyone who wants to travel to Iceland, staying there throughout the country is not exactly cheap and you should therefore prepare well for it.
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