What health risks are there in Iceland? Is it safe there, and where are the areas with the highest crime rates?

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Health risks

If you’re planning to head into the mountains, always check the weather forecast on the official safetravel.is website, although this can change every hour, if not every minute.

Always ensure you have suitable kit for the current weather and do not take unnecessary risks. If you are travelling in winter, make sure you have warm and waterproof clothing to hand.

Always read the signs and follow them.

Although temperatures in Iceland are quite low even in summer, make sure you have sun cream to hand.

Drinking tap water is completely safe, and tap water in Iceland is very clean. Occasionally, you may detect a sulphurous smell, which is present in geothermal hot water but not in cold water. Therefore, let the water run for a moment.

Compulsory vaccinations

You definitely do not need any special travel vaccinations for Iceland. The risk of contracting an exotic disease, hepatitis or even rabies is minimal here.

No exotic diseases occur in Iceland.

Dangerous animals

The Icelandic mainland is safe for tourists and there are no dangerous animals here.

Although you’ll often come across polar bear figurines in souvenir shops, they do not live in the Icelandic wilderness.

There are no snakes or dangerous insects here.

There are also no stray dogs in Iceland whatsoever.

Crime

Iceland is one of the countries with the lowest crime rates in the world, so there is virtually nothing to worry about.

Risk of natural disasters

Natural disasters in Iceland go hand in hand with the beauty of the landscape. Due to the thin crust, you are most likely to encounter volcanic activity or earthquakes, which often precede a volcanic eruption.

Significant volcanic activity is recorded in Iceland on average once every five years, and there are currently 30 active volcanoes. It is worth keeping an eye on online volcanic activity forecasts.

Another major safety risk is the capricious weather. Whilst you’ll rarely encounter truly severe frosts or snowdrifts several metres deep in Iceland, very strong winds and icy roads are common, and the long hours of darkness during the winter months certainly play a part, particularly when travelling by car.

Keep an eye on the very useful website safetravel.is, which issues daily alerts on weather conditions and any volcanic activity.

Important contacts

In an emergency, dial 112. This number connects you to the emergency services, the police and the fire brigade.

Iceland’s international dialling code is +354.