Currency in Iceland - How to PAY for Things
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- čas přidán 4. 06. 2024
- One of the MOST COMMON questions I get is how to pay for things in Icleand - do I need cash? How much? Why should I get a credit card with a pin number? I’m going to answer ALL of these questions today!
In Iceland, there are several common methods of payment that you can use to pay for goods and services.
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I took out 5,000 ISK out of the ATM when I arrived, but the only time I used it was when putting some in a donation bin at a public restroom. So I spent the rest at the duty-free store at the airport on the way out. The cashier said, “oh, I wasn’t expecting that” and was surprised to see krona bills. I guess payments even at KEF are usually made with cards, as in much of the rest of Iceland.
I just got back and I was kind of sad to never have handled any local currency. Everything was tap and go. The only exception was gas. We struggled a bit with that and remedied it by just buying the n1 prepaid cards at the station.
I can confirm that this holds good for many places in Europe. I live in the UK and I pay contactless with my debit cards, which are also on my phone. Sometimes they ask you to put in your PIN as a random security check.
I recently spent two weeks in Slovenia and I used my Starling debit card to pay contactless everywhere. They don't charge for foreign transactions. Neither does Monzo. I hardly used cash at all. I do have a credit card that I use for big purchases but not for every day stuff as I don't like owing money to credit card companies.
Visa and Mastercard are definitely the most widespread in Europe.
I really appreciate your practical travel info! You're like a traditional guidebook but way more interesting! It's hard watching influencers on tiktok or instagram when the content is so curated.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for talking about the international exchange rate charged when you use your credit card…A very important feature and it is one a tourist needs unless they want to pay a fee for each transaction…. If you don’t know about this, just contact your bank for details.
See you next week! Thanks for the awesome Google maps!
💃💃💃 You are so welcome, I'm glad you find them helpful.
The minimum PIN number in my country allows only 6 digits. Does Iceland accepts 6 digit PINs (especially at those unmand gas stations?)
12 more days! I'm so excited!
About 90 days 4 me.
Thanks for watching, and safe travels!
When I visited Iceland 5 years ago, I brought 33,000 ISK ($250 USD) in cash. I ordered the Icelandic cash from the local bank in the U.S. where I have an account, and it took a few days for the cash to be delivered to the bank.
Once I arrived in Iceland, I quickly discovered that bringing cash wasn't necessary, I was able to use my debit card everywhere. The most frequent places where I used my debit card were at restaurants and gas stations. I ended up donating the cash to Hallgrimskirkja Church and to the museums that I visited in Reykjavík.
My last three visits to Iceland I have not exchnaged or needed any cash. Credit/debit card acceptance is nearly universal. As to contact-less payments, Samsung Pay also works with Android.
Currently, in the US, cash takes 10 days to clear...
Hope you and you and tour family are safe after the recent volcanic eruptions
All is well, thank you!
We just returned after spending about two weeks in Iceland. We did get some cash but primarily to use as gratuity for the leaders of the tour that we took. Otherwise, I used Apple Pay on my iPhone everywhere: restaurants, shops, hotels, car rental, taxis. No issues whatsoever although one probably wants to use credit cards that do not charge for international transactions. The only time that I needed a physical card was at the N1 gas station. It was not obvious that it supported any contactless transaction. So, Apple Pay works great, but it probably would be wise to carry at least one physical credit card just in case.
Thank you for sharing!
Hi... I often hear you ask if there's a topic we'd like to hear about.
DRONES in Iceland.
See all kinds of great videos with drone footage. What do you have to do to fly a small 249g drone legally?
Not allowed in national parks or wild life areas unless you buy a permit... But what else?
If you have done one... Can you post a link?
Thanks
After many years I’ll finally get my chance to go to Iceland next summer. Time to binge all these videos for tips
Having spent last week in Iceland, I can highly recommend Jeannie’s packing tips. Based on her recommendations I brought my hiking boots and purchased a sleeveless puffy vest and Frog-togs, and I was perfectly prepared and comfortable. Enjoy your vacation!
YAY! Thank you so much for the comment, I'm so glad you found my tips/packing suggestions helpful. 🤩
The fact that Icelanders use CASH shows that its people's priorities are in the right place as CASH preserves your privacy. Anything else that is digital leaves the decision up to the bank to decide whether to give you access to your money and process the transaction. Everyone - ESPECIALLY AMERICANS should use cash as often and for as many things as possible! * Do not use your cell phone and QR Codes for making everyday purchases*
Important tip (travel or not) EVERYONE needs to understand- if your credit card gets lost or stolen and is fraudulently used, you can quite easily recover the money. If your debit card is fraudulently used, the money comes str8 out of your bank account and most likely gone forever.
Yes, as a previous victim of identity theft and fraud, I cringe every time I hear someone say they use their debit card for purchases. My niece was a victim and her bank account was emptied by the fraudster. It took weeks for her to get the money back.
Not so. I had my debit card used fraudulently twice in two days. The bank picked it up before I did. They cancelled my card immediately, returned all my money and sent a new card in days. This was the Royal Bank of Scotland.
@@blotski That’s because they caught it, if they don’t catch it your money is most likely gone. A credit card is not linked to your personal bank account, big difference
Im going to Iceland for the first time ever in 2 weeks. Im a card guy (give me those sweet points). However I do want to get a little bit of cash just to hold on to.
You mentioned about tipping tour guides in kronas. Would it also be OK to tip in dollars or euros?
I have been in Iceland for two weeks this summer and I didn't need to get any cash. I used only my debitcard. Btw thanks for the Icelandic guides I bought from your site :)
Yeah aaste of tome to get cash. We never used it. We tipped in us cash & everyone was happy to take it
Same here, we used either Visa or Mastercard issued by our European banks.
Great to hear! I'm glad you found them helpful.
Could I save myself a potential per charge fee from my (USA) bank by buying a prepaid debit card based in Iceland? Even if everything is paid electronically, those fees could really add up. My US bank charges 3.20% on the total of every transaction.
Thank you so much for your videos! They've been so helpful planning my October trip 😊
You are so welcome!
I was travelling solo last year in Iceland and true, you really don't need cash to pay for anything. In my case, everything was in card. I didn't even have the chance to see a krona bill or coin 😊
i can think of one weird situation with debit cards... a few years ago i was in the States and i tried to use my usual debit card. it was not accepted; i don’t remember if i used my other one, which is on a different netowrk, or if i managed to use a credit card. i can imagine the same happening in Iceland
Thanks a lot !! I love your videos!!
You are welcome! Thank you for watching!
Be sure to check with your bank because you'll probably pay a fee to use your debit card
I called my Costco yesterday, just curious about how much the pizzas cost here: they're under $11. You'd said in Iceland they're $18. BUT... Remember that Iceland has to import everything, and they also have great medical coverage, and it seems they have a lot less social and political unrest and insanity. I haven't yet hesrd your I address alcohol consumption there, so that's an unknown to me. And of course Iceland has good delicious water to drink and soak in, that doesn't need chlorine or other toxic chemicals. On the other hand, Iceland does seem to have a huge "sugar Jones," based on what you've shown down the huge candy aisle. Pros and cons. As for the active volcanos? i don't know, but heard one of them is active again, geothermal is one of your benefits.
Love your channel. Thank you so much for this. I'm headed there in a few weeks and was wondering about this. I'll be on a week tour while I'm there. I know tipping isn't usually a thing there, but you mentioned tour guides. What's the going rate there for tipping them? That's probably the only cash I'll take out.
That's entirely up to you. Tour Guides appreciate tips, but they certainly do not expect them. If you have a great time on your tour, and you'd like to say thank you - follow your gut on how to say thanks. 🤩 They will be very happy either way!
@@IcelandwithaView thanks. I've been there and back now. We decided as a group to do a big thing with a card and other activity with him. We also decided as a group not to tip - so we didn't have some that did and others that didn't. I think that's important too.
We plan on carrying 20000 krona
Just to grab a hot dog, beer at a bar and gas and use maybe to pay at secret lagoon
Note on getting gas with American credit cards, you can’t pay at the pump. You have to go inside and have the attendant turn the pump on and some require you to leave your card with the attendant until you’re done. That was something I wasn’t prepared for so far this first week here.
I have been to Iceland 4 times and traveled around the ring road as well as the Westfjords and not once have I had to go inside to pay for gas. Also have used gas pumps after hours. I use a credit card with a 4-digit PIN, maybe this is the difference.
None of my cards have a PIN.
I just completed my first visit to Iceland and I brought too much cash. Every time I went to buy anything, even the smallest purchase, the clerk would present the price on the point of sale terminal, assuming I was going to use plastic. But I had cash, so that’s what I used for the most part. I’m from Canada where all our credit cards are chip and pin, and the tap worked seamlessly without needing a signature. So what am I going to do with my spare cash? I’ll just have to come back to Iceland! 🇮🇸😁
Good plan!
I just went to Iceland and used Apple Pay 99% of the time. It was accepted everywhere I went including a pay toilet at a park. I only pulled out a card at hotels when they wanted a card number for incidentals. One thing to keep in mind is that your bank might charge you international transaction fees every time you pay for something, so it’s better to use a credit card that waives those fees.
Do they order items via the internet (i.e. Amazon)? I was wondering if they use payment services like PayPal, etc.
Yes, to both.
Using a debit card is a terrible way to pay for things. In this day and age of fraud and card skimming using a debit card can cause your funds to get tied up until resolved. If your card is compromised this can cause other things like bills set up to pay to bounce as your balance will not be what you thought due to funds missing. Using a credit card only ties up your credit line until resolved. I travel the world and while traveling and at home I only use my debit card to obtain cash from the ATM or identify myself at the bank branch.
I couldn't agree more.
Could I use PayPal in Iceland ?
Very helpful tip about needing cash for campground showers, thanks! Arriving on Sat 23rd and hitting the Ring Road on campervan adventure, woo-hoo!
Glad it was helpful! Have a great trip!
Do they take euros??
Us "Europeans" (I am English) were always confused by the ATMs in the US. Also paying for Petrol in the at a self service is annoying. What ZIP code do I use?
Sometimes if you press "enter" it skips it and runs your card as credit.
@@2000AngelCake Useful to know...
I didn’t have to use any cash at all. Basically paid for everything with Apple Pay since it was available everywhere, even for the public paid toilets. The only time I had to pull out a physical card was at the gas pump, make sure it’s a debit card with a code that you can enter.
I just returned from a 14 day trip (not all on land), never got any cash, and I used my credit card the whole time. The only glitch was a tour operator whose website couldn't process the card's security challenge correctly. This was an advance reservation from home, so I reached out via Whatsapp, and was able to get them to do it verbally. We tipped our tour guides in USD.
Love that virtually no cash is needed! The only way I travel internationally! Another great video!!😊
Yes! Thank you!
i dont like barkley. i own a debit card but no credit cards.
If you don't mind, what is your religion?
Do you still need the credit card pin with Apple Pay?
Great question! I use my watch and Apple Pay all the time, with no PIN. 🙂
Canada is much the same way. People use debit more than credit here. The USA is big on credit cards compared to many countries. I still remember the day when the US walmart got the chip cards. We have had them for over 10 years and the US didn't get them until after. Yet ironically, you mention how the POS asks if you want your currency or local. The USA does the same with Canadian cards!! There are more similarities that canadians can relate too more than not.
What compels you to live on a treeless ice cube in the absolute middle of nowhere and requires paying ridiculously high prices for the "privilege"?
Some kind of weird background music making this very difficult to listen to. Good info, but seriously ruined.
Iceland is boring international artist never comes to iceland on tour sos small contry
Onlyfans!
We did a 22 day trip to Iceland in June. Thanks to you we didn't get a lot of cash. We used our credit card, choosing to pay in local currency for everything. The only time we used cash was for pay toilets (even many pay toilets took credit cards), showers at just a few campgrounds(most included showers in the camping fee), and one campground that wasn't staffed. We got our first $1000 Krona cash (about $8.00 US) at an ATM at the airport baggage pickup and swapped the Krona for 100 Krona coins at an airport bank teller. Later, we picked up an additional 10,000 Krona on the Westman Islands at a bank ATM, and then went inside and had the teller change it to 100 Krona coin for showers and pay toilets. That's all the Krona we used. We did need to use our pin number when using our credit card in the self check-out lines at grocery stores like Bonus & Netto, as well as the self-service pumps at the gas stations like N1. American credit cards don't come with a pin number, unless you get a specific "chip and pin" credit card. You can Google for the ratings of the best "chip and pin" cards. We got a "Bank of America Travel Rewards Visa Signature" card. No annual fees, no foreign transaction fees, and it worked for all our purchases. Iceland is definitely the most expensive country, but we loved it. If you use your American "chip and signature" credit card it is acceptable in Iceland, but the vendor will have you sign the receipt. Your guides we purchased, and your videos made our trip easy to plan before, and while on our trip. Thanks.