DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
The following items can be imported into Iceland duty-free:
200 cigarettes or 250 g tobacco (people aged 18 and over);
1 liter of spirits and 1 liter of wine and 6 liters of beer or
1 liter of spirits and 9 liters of beer or
3 liters of wine and 6 liters of beer or
1.5 l of wine and 9 l of wine or
12 l beer (people aged 20 and over);
Max. 3 kg of food (including sweets) that do not exceed the value of 25,000 kr / approx. € 177 (see import ban);
Clothing and luggage for personal use that does not exceed the value of 88,000 kr (children under 12 years: max. 44,000 kr).
A confirmation issued by a veterinary authority that all fishing gear (including rubber boots) has been disinfected must be presented.
Import restrictions
Tourists can import medicines intended for personal use (for no more than 100 days). Customs officers can ask for a medical certificate. Import restrictions also exist for larger quantities of flowers and plants as well as for certain telephone and other communication devices, for which approval of the Post and Telecom Administration (I nternet: www.pfs.is/english) is required. However, it is possible to import a cell phone without a permit. The import of hunting weapons and ammunition is only possible with a (rarely issued) permit from the Ministry of Justice.
Prohibited imports
Narcotics, weapons and ammunition, raw meat (including salami and raw ham), unpasteurized milk and dairy products, butter, raw eggs and other poultry products, snuff and chewing tobacco.
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Correct clothes for business visits. Local business people are conservative, very accommodating, and almost all of them speak English, some also some German. Appointments are not absolutely necessary, but are recommended for business trips between May and September, as many local business people are abroad during this time. If you are looking for the telephone number of your Icelandic business partner in the local telephone directory, you have to look up under the first name.
Some companies close for three weeks a year, usually in July, the main holiday season.
Opening hours
Business hours: Mo-Fr 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (summer), Mo-Fr 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (winter).
Economy
Commercial Department of the Icelandic Embassy
Rauchstrasse 1, D-10787 Berlin
Tel: (030) 50 50 40 00.
Verslunarrád Íslands (Icelandic Chamber of Commerce)
Hús Verslunarinnar, Kringlan 7, IS-103 Reykjavík
Tel: 510 71 00.
Internet: www.chamber.is
Business contacts
Commercial Department of the Icelandic Embassy
Rauchstrasse 1, D-10787 Berlin
Tel: (030) 50 50 40 00.
Verslunarrád Íslands (Icelandic Chamber of Commerce)
Hús Verslunarinnar, Kringlan 7, IS-103 Reykjavík
Tel: 510 71 00.
Internet: www.chamber.is
COMMUNICATION
Phone
The country code is 00354. Cell phones are predominantly used, while public coin and card phones are available in cities. These can usually be found in post offices. The number of public phone booths is getting smaller and smaller as Internet telephony is widespread in Iceland.
Cellphone
GSM 900/1800. Mobile phone companies include Siminn (Internet: www.siminn.is), Vodafone (Internet: www.vodafone.is) and Nova. The reception / transmission range of all Icelandic cell phone companies combined is most of the country, including most of the more remote and uninhabited areas. International roaming contracts exist.
Travelers can use prepaid GSM calling cards available at most gas stations and convenience stores with their own cell phones. Cell phones can be rented from Trawire (Internet: iceland.trawire.com/).
Internet
Internet cafes are available in the cities. Many hotels and hostels offer wireless access to the Internet via Wi-Fi. The main providers are Hringidan / Vortex Inc (Internet: hringidan.is/) and Nyherji (Internet: www.nyherji.is).
Post Office
Airmail mail to mainland Europe is fast and reliable. Post offices are generally open Monday to Friday from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., the post office on Austurstraeti in Reykjavik is also open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (June-August).
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
As a country located in Europe according to countryvv, Iceland is known for fluffy Lopi wool blankets, coats, jackets, hats and wool sweaters. Hand-made clay pots in natural colors are popular souvenirs. Ground lava gives the glaze of the pottery its special character. These items are available in the duty-free shop at Keflavík Airport and in the souvenir shop of the Tourist Office in Reykjavík.
Opening times of the shops: Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (sometimes only until 2 p.m. / 3 p.m.). Some supermarkets and shops are open until 10 p.m. on Fridays. Almost all shops are closed on Sundays, in summer many shops are also closed on Saturdays.
