Iceland (Lonely Planet, 7th Edition) - Fran Parnell [270]
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DISCOUNT CARDS
Students and the elderly qualify for discounts on internal flights, some bus fares, tours and museum entry fees, but you’ll need to show proof of student status or age.
Seniors (67 years and older) qualify for significant discounts on internal flights and ferry fares – any proof of age should suffice.
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC; www.isic.org) is the most widely recognised form of student identification. Cardholders who are under 26 get substantial discounts (up to 50%) on internal flights, ferries, museum admissions and some bus fares. Some restaurants and bars also offer student discounts. All young people under 26 with proof of age can get special stand-by fares on internal flights.
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EMBASSIES & CONSULATES
Up-to-date details of embassies and consulates within Iceland and overseas can be found (in English) on the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs website www.mfa.is.
Although many countries have some kind of representation in Iceland, this is often merely just a trade representative working for an Icelandic company. A handful of countries do have formal embassies in Reykjavík:
Canada (Map; 575 6500; rkjvk@international.gc.ca; Túngata 14)
Denmark (Map; 575 0300; rekamb@um.dk; Hverfisgata 29)
Finland (Map; 510 0100; www.finland.is; Túngata 30)
France (Map; 575 9600; www.ambafrance.is; Túngata 22)
Germany (Map; 530 1100; www.reykjavik.diplo.de; Laufásvegur 31)
Japan (Map; 510 8600; japan@itn.is; 6th fl, Laugavegur 182)
Norway (Map; 520 0700; www.noregur.is; Fjólugata 17)
Sweden (Map; 520 1230; www.swedenabroad.com/reykjavik; Lágmúli 7)
UK (Map; 550 5100; http://ukiniceland.fco.gov.uk/en; Laufásvegur 31)
USA (Map; 562 9100; www.usa.is; Laufásvegur 21)
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FOOD
Despite the country’s economic troubles, and the consequently good exchange rates for foreign visitors, eating is still one of the main expenses of a trip to Iceland. For the purposes of this book, restaurants with average main courses costing under Ikr1500 are classified as budget; those from Ikr1500 to Ikr3500 are midrange and those with main courses above Ikr3500 are top end.
You can keep your costs down by cooking for yourself. Most places offering hostel beds or sleeping-bag spaces have guest kitchens, and supermarket prices are reasonable. If you’re camping, it’s worth noting that most supermarkets also have a microwave where you can heat up purchases, and some also serve free coffee. The next cheapest option is to eat at the fast-food grills and snack bars found in most villages (usually at the petrol station), where you can pick up a burger, chips and a drink for about Ikr700 – but bear in mind the food is unhealthy and quickly becomes tedious. At formal restaurants, expect to pay Ikr1800 to Ikr4000 for main courses. Pizza restaurants are a cheaper bet, with main courses costing around Ikr1500. Otherwise, opt for the good-value lunch buffets and eat a smaller meal in the evening. Even in the best restaurants, tipping the staff is not expected; service is always included in the bill.
You’ll find more information on food and special dishes in the Food & Drink chapter, Click here.
For cafe and restaurant standard opening hours, Click here.
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GAY & LESBIAN TRAVELLERS
Icelanders have a fairly open attitude towards homosexuality, though the gay scene is quite low-key, even in Reykjavík (Click here). Aggression against gays and lesbians is rare. The main gay and lesbian organisation is Samtökin ‘78 (Map; 552 7878; www.samtokin78.is; 4th fl, Laugavegur 3, IS-101 Reykjavík; office 1-5pm Mon-Fri), which doubles as an informal gay community centre with a drop-in cafe (open from 8pm to 11pm Mondays and Thursdays year-round, sometimes also from 1pm to 5pm Saturdays in late July and in August). For a useful source of information on news, events and entertainment venues, www.gayice.is.
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HOLIDAYS
Icelandic public holidays are usually an excuse for a family gathering