Iceland travel health guide

The data behind Iceland's score 88.9/100 · #1 of 30

Eight metrics, scored 0–100 and weighted per the index methodology. Evidence and sources shown per metric.

Can you drink the tap water in Iceland? Safe to drink

Icelandic cold tap water is some of the purest you will ever drink. It comes largely from springs and glacial meltwater, filtered naturally through porous volcanic rock, and arrives so clean that it needs little or no chlorination. In Reykjavík, Akureyri and everywhere in between you can fill your bottle straight from the tap, take ice, brush your teeth and rinse salad without a second thought — buying bottled water here is, honestly, a waste of money and plastic.

There is one quirk that catches almost every first-time visitor off guard: the hot tap. Much of Iceland’s hot water is geothermal, piped up from volcanic sources, and it carries a distinct sulphur (rotten-egg) smell from naturally dissolved hydrogen sulphide. It is entirely harmless to wash and shower in, but you certainly won’t want to drink it or brew tea with it. The simple rule locals live by: always draw drinking and cooking water from the cold tap, letting it run for a second or two so it comes through icy and fresh.

The same logic applies to the geothermal spas. The mineral-rich, milky water of the Blue Lagoon and the country’s countless hot pots is for soaking, not sipping — don’t drink it. Refill stations are common at swimming pools, campsites and trailheads, so carry a reusable bottle and top up as you travel. And if you have a baby with you, Iceland’s cold tap water is perfectly suitable for making up infant formula.

Mosquitoes and insect risk in Iceland Very Low

Here is Iceland’s genuinely remarkable claim to fame: it is one of the only places on Earth with virtually no mosquitoes. While neighbouring Greenland and mainland Scandinavia swarm with them all summer, Iceland has no established mosquito population at all. That means no risk of mosquito-borne disease whatsoever — no dengue, no chikungunya, no West Nile virus and no malaria — and you can happily sleep with the window open on a bright northern night.

Scientists still debate exactly why. The leading theory is that Iceland’s erratic freeze-thaw cycles never leave larvae a stable enough window to complete their life cycle in the meltwater pools. Whatever the reason, it’s a rare gift for the traveller, and one less thing to pack repellent for.

That said, don’t confuse mosquitoes with midges. Around Lake Mývatn in the north — whose name translates literally as ‘midge lake’ — dense summer clouds of tiny non-biting midges can be genuinely overwhelming, joined by a few biting blackfly species near the rivers and lakeshore. They spread no disease at all, but they are a real nuisance: a cheap head net bought locally is worth its weight in gold if you’re visiting Mývatn between roughly June and August.

How hot does Iceland get in summer? Very Low

Summer heat simply isn’t a health concern in Iceland. Reykjavík’s July daytime highs hover around a cool 13–15°C, and the all-time national record is a mere 25.7°C — a figure that would barely raise an eyebrow anywhere in southern Europe. Heatstroke is not something you’ll be thinking about here.

The weather risk in Iceland runs firmly the other way: cold, wind and rain, even in July. Conditions can change within the hour, especially in the highlands and out on the glaciers, and walkers who set off underdressed can find themselves facing wind-chill and hypothermia on what began as a mild morning. The Icelandic answer is layers — a thermal base, a fleece and a genuinely windproof, waterproof outer shell — plus a habit of checking the forecast at vedur.is before any excursion.

Two other quirks are worth knowing. In June and early July the midnight sun keeps the sky light almost around the clock, which is magical but can quietly wreck your sleep — pack an eye mask. And don’t be lulled by the cool air: UV bouncing off snow and glacier ice can still burn, so sunglasses and sunscreen earn their place even on days that never feel remotely hot.

Food and stomach bugs in Iceland Very Low

Iceland has an outstanding food-safety record — among the very best in our entire index. Strict standards, spotlessly clean water and a naturally cool climate all work in your favour, so the risk of a food-borne upset is very low. Icelandic lamb, just-landed fish, langoustine and the thick, high-protein yoghurt known as skyr are as safe as they are delicious, and because the tap water is pristine, salads and ice are no concern.

The island’s notorious fermented specialities — hákarl (fermented shark), cured ram and the like — are an acquired taste rather than a hygiene hazard; they’re traditionally cured and safe to try if you’re feeling brave. As anywhere, apply a little common sense to food left standing at a buffet, but you can otherwise eat your way around Iceland with real confidence.

Do you need vaccinations for Iceland? Routine only

You need no special vaccinations for Iceland. It’s a high-income country with superb sanitation, and there is no yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis or rabies risk to plan around — Iceland is, in fact, rabies-free. All that matters is that your routine vaccines are up to date: MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), tetanus-diphtheria-polio, and COVID-19 boosters as appropriate.

There’s no tick-borne encephalitis to consider either, so unlike much of mainland Europe you can head into the wild without a TBE jab. If you take regular medication or have a specific condition, the only real preparation is practical rather than medical — see the healthcare section on bringing enough of your own supplies.

Healthcare in Iceland: doctors, pharmacies & the EHIC/GHIC Good access

Iceland’s healthcare is modern and of a high standard, with roughly 4.6 doctors per 1,000 people. Care is built around local health centres (heilsugæsla) and, for anything serious, Landspítali, the national university hospital in Reykjavík. English is spoken almost universally by medical staff, so communication is rarely a barrier.

A pharmacy is an apótek, marked with a green cross, and it’s your first port of call for minor ailments and over-the-counter remedies. The important caveat is density: pharmacies are concentrated in Reykjavík and a handful of larger towns such as Akureyri, and out on the Ring Road or in the remote interior you can drive for hours without passing one. If you rely on prescription medication, bring comfortably more than enough for the whole trip in its original packaging — don’t count on topping up in a village.

Iceland isn’t in the EU, but it is part of the EEA and the Schengen Area, so a valid EHIC (or equivalent) covers EU/EEA visitors for medically necessary state care. That is no substitute for travel insurance: distances to hospital are long, and a rescue from the highlands or a glacier can mean a helicopter and a very large bill. Check that your policy covers hiking, glacier walks and any other activities you have planned. And for routine problems — a repeat prescription that’s run out, a UTI, a chest infection — an online consultation can save a long detour to find a clinic mid-trip.

Emergency numbers in Iceland 112

The number to remember is 112 — the single emergency line for the whole country, free from any phone and answered in English. It covers ambulance, police, fire and, crucially in Iceland, mountain and search-and-rescue, handled by the country’s renowned volunteer ICE-SAR teams.

One genuinely useful local tip: download the free 112 Iceland app before you set off. Its ‘check-in’ feature logs your location as you travel, and its emergency button sends your GPS coordinates straight to responders — invaluable if you run into trouble somewhere remote, with no landmarks to describe down the phone.

Iceland travel health: FAQs

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