“Always have a charged and topped up mobile phone with Internet access at hand” is one of the main safety rules in Iceland. To travel around the island, it is important to constantly monitor the current weather forecast, which in Iceland is very unpredictable and changeable. Ordinary road maps can be offline, but besides them, be sure to look into the special interactive map of the Icelandic Search and Rescue Association to find out the road conditions at a particular site. And, of course, a phone is needed so that, if necessary, you can ask for help on a single rescue service number 112.
It’s not hard to find free Wi-Fi in Iceland – there are access points at airports, in many cafes, hotels and campsites. Also in large cities there are many payphones. But this is not a full-fledged alternative to mobile communications, but only an addition to it. Wi-Fi and payphones, of course, are not available on the highway and in remote areas. And even within Reykjavik, you can’t always rely on them – for example, when entering passwords, banking data and other confidential information, you should use only mobile Internet.
In general, the only correct solution in this matter is to provide yourself with reliable mobile communications. You can choose from Icelandic mobile operators, an international SIM card or roaming from a native operator. Consider the features and cost of communication for each of the options.
Buy a local SIM card in Iceland
The best option for those who need a stable and at the same time inexpensive (compared to roaming) connection in Iceland. The only significant disadvantage is that after arriving in Iceland, you will have to spend a little time buying and activating a SIM card.
Coverage from Icelandic operators is excellent. In cities, on the ring road and near most popular attractions, reception is stable. In remote areas, the signal on the road may weaken. In this case, look for special road signs on a blue background with the image of a phone and the inscription GSM – in this place you can catch a connection. Also, the stability of the network is affected by weather conditions – in heavy snow and rain, the signal level drops.
Popular operators in Iceland and their rates:
Siminn . Considered the best on the island. Tariffs are high, but the connection is the most reliable, and there are a minimum of “white spots” on the Siminn coverage map . For tourists, there is a map with data only and a map with calls and data. The Síminn Prepaid Data Internet SIM includes 10 GB, while the Síminn Prepaid Starter Pack combo card comes with 5 GB, 50 minutes for calls and 50 SMS (within the network!). Sims cost the same – 2900 ISK/€18. When the starting minutes / gigabytes run out, you can buy an additional data package for an existing SIM card online .
Vodafone . The main competitor of Siminn both in terms of prices and quality of communication. The coverage area of Vodafone is almost the same as that of Siminn (in some places the connection catches even better). Frelsi Iceland Call+Internet starter package for ISK 2000/€12.5 includes 1 GB of data and unlimited on-net calls for a month. After the initial amount of data is used up, every 15 MB will cost ISK 170/€1. You can also buy an additional data package for 1-500 GB ( tariffs) . Starter package for internet only Prepaid 3G/4G Internet costs ISK 1790/€11 and includes 3 GB, after which you can buy additional data packages of 1-500 GB ( tariffs ).
Nova . Not the best choice, but for communication in the metropolitan area will do. Tariffs are the lowest: 5 MB by default costs 59 Isl. CZK/€0.4, you can also buy packages for 1-150 GB ( tariffs ) and unlimited for a month for 9990 Isl. CZK/€63.
Where to buy a SIM card in Iceland
- At Keflavik Airport – at the ticket office in duty-free and Elko stores (only Siminn and Vodafone).
- On Icelandair (Siminn and Vodafone only), WOW air (Nova) flights.
- In 10-11 chain stores (Vodafone and Siminn only).
- In branded stores Siminn , Vodafone , Nova .
- At gas stations of the N1 network (Siminn and Vodafone), Shell and Olis (Vodafone).
How to buy, activate a SIM card in Iceland
A SIM card in Iceland is sold without presenting a passport or other form of identification. At the place of purchase, ask, if necessary, to cut your SIM card to micro or nano-sim. Also, the seller can help with the choice of tariff, activation, settings and replenishment. As a rule, the settings in the phone are changed automatically, otherwise you need to do it manually. After the first attempt to call or access the mobile Internet in Iceland, the operator will send the necessary settings, after entering which you need to restart the device.
How to save traffic in Iceland
Turn off automatic app updates in the App Store\Google Play settings.
Manually set up applications to access the Internet. Turn off access to those programs that you can do without on a trip.
Don’t forget to turn off mobile internet in places where there is Wi-Fi access.
Download offline maps (Maps.me, Google.Maps) before your trip as online navigation uses too much traffic.