This is the third response episode for my new segment “Ask Jewells Anything About Iceland”. Thank you to everyone who sent in questions and if you would like to submit a question, you can do it here.
1. Should I exchange a small amount of currency before I leave? I have heard that Iceland is a cashless society, but I am thinking about tour guide tips or random purchases.- Christina
Iceland is not yet a cashless society, but we are certainly heading quickly in that direction. It isn’t necessary to take out cash in the local currency because debit and credit cards are the preferred method of payment. Also, tipping is not expected or encouraged because companies pay their employees livable wages for their work. You can, of course, take out cash to tip your guide or make random purchases if you prefer to pay that way but that’s up to you because it is not required.
2. Hi, I have another question! You wear such beautiful Icelandic sweaters on your Instagram. Where should I shop when I come in the spring? Somewhere that has really nice ones and doesn’t jack up the prices for tourists? - Alison
Kolaportið is flea market by the old harbor that is only open during weekends. There are some vendors there that are selling handmade Icelandic sweaters for a decent price.
Another place is the Handknitting association of Iceland. They have two locations in Reykjavík and all of their sweaters are handknit in the country. One helpful tip is to make sure you get the appropriate form at the store to get the 24% VAT (Value added tax) back at the airport when you leave the country. Iceland has that tax included in the price but they refund it for tourists on certain items.
3. "Hi Jewells, I have recently discovered your podcast, and have been binge listening to episodes to prepare for my upcoming trip in May! ( I am so excited!) I am learning so much, and I appreciate hearing about your experiences! Thank you! You mentioned that eating in restaurants is quite pricey in Iceland for a variety of reasons, including allowing restaurant owners to be able to pay their employees a living wage. Is it still customary to leave a tip for waitstaff? If so , is the recommnded amount the same as the US? (20-25%) Thank you for taking the time to read my question." - Vickie
The great news is that tipping is not part of the culture in Iceland, so you don’t have to factor in any % to your bill. This applies in every place, including cafes.
4. Hi Jewells! My family will be there in June. Is there a traditional event for summer solstice? - Ruth
Unlike other Nordic nations, Iceland does not have nationwide celebrations for the summer solstice. One place that has an annual event is in the far north. It is an island called Grímsey. They have a multiple day festival to celebrate the long and seemingly endless summer day. Here is where you can find the program for last year. I assume they will have the 2024 program soon. Please note that you need to take either a boat or plane to reach Grímsey. I have heard that many people get sea sick on the boat, so keep that in mind if you choose that option.
5. "Thank you so much for your informative podcasts! My wife and I are planning to visit Iceland for the first time in October 2025. We believe that the best way to experience a new place is to immerse ourselves in it and to attempt to learn the language. What was your experience in learning the Icelandic language, and what do you recommend is a good way/resource to learn the language?" - Gerald
My recommendation for learning Icelandic is to get as much input of the language as you can in a way that you can relate to. Meaning, it helps to see shows or read text at your level or slightly above that you can understand enough to start internalizing it. Input that is repetitive can help you to become more familiar wth certain sounds and phrases. As a visitor, my episode on Useful Icelandic Phrases for Visitors is a good place to start. The other resources I listed below can help too.
6. Hi Jewels! Have you been to the “Sorcery Festival” in Hólmavík? It takes place in late April and looks really interesting. - Ruth
I have yet to attend that festival but it sounds like a lot of fun. If you get a chance to attend, Ruth, I would love to hear about your experience.
7. Hi Jewells! I was hoping you could talk about the tipping culture in Iceland. Thanks! - Julia
Thankfully, Iceland does not have a culture of tipping. Due to unions negotiating on behalf of workers for fair and livable wages from employees, tipping is not necessary or encouraged in Iceland.
8. Hi Jewells! Do you have a suggestion for whale watching in the south of Iceland? I won't have enough time to make it to Húsavík, but I still want to go. I'm visiting in June and torn between whale watching in Reykjavik or Olafsvik.- Casey
Yes, whale watching from Reykjavík can be a lot of fun. You might see Minke whales, humpback whales, porpoises and dolphins. If you are looking for a company that does it from the harbor in the city, then I recommend Arctic Adventures. You can use my code Iceland10 to save 10% on any of their tours, including the whale watching one.
9. What itinerary would you suggest for a person with only 8 full days in Iceland who wants to see as much as possible. - Marilyn
There are many factors that come into play when planning a trip in Iceland, including when you plan to come, what kind of budget you have, the accommodations you prefer and so on. My suggestion, without knowing any of that information up front, is to split the eight days up as the following:
1 Day in Reykjavik when you arrive
1 Day on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula
2 Days in North Iceland
1 Day around the Golden Circle
2 Days in the South/Southeast
1 Day either back in Reykjavik or the Reykjanes Peninsula
If you would like to discuss your trip in more detail, feel free to book a video consultation with me and I can help you plan a more personalized itinerary.
10. Which ice caves and glaciers have you visited and which ones are you favorites? - Ana
I like the Katla Ice Cave, Into the Glacier, and naturally forming ice caves that guides often find on the glacier during winter that do not have names because they are not expected to last into the summer. Arctic Adventures has tours like that and you can use my code Iceland10 to save 10% on any of their tours and activities.
11. My question is: What's the meaning of the Icelandic phrases that you say at the end of each episode? I might have missed the explanation in one of your earlier episodes since I became only a regular listener a couple of months ago. I've always loved the sound of the Icelandic language and would love to know more about it, even though I'm not ready to commit to learning it yet 😀 - Jonas
The phrase I say at the end is „Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta og sjáumst fljótlega“. It means thank you kindly for listening and see you soon.
12. We will be driving all around Iceland for about 12 days. How much ISK would you recommend we bring? - Stephanie
In the podcast episode I go more in-depth into the numbers but for two people during summer I have an estimate of about $8,000. That is kind of on the conservative end.
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Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta og sjáumst fljótlega.