GAS STATIONS Most gas stations are open every day from 8:00 to 23:30— many with 24-hour pay at-the-pump facilities. To pay at the pump your card generally needs to have a chip and a PIN number (although some also accept bills).
CITY BUS (STRÆTÓ) Bus maps are available at bus stations and tourist information centres. Most bus stops also include a route map. You can go to www.bus.is, also in English, and get precise directions about which buses to use.
FARES AND TICKETS: Single trips can be purchased from the driver and cost ISK 350. Bus drivers don’t make change so you need to have exact change or buy your tickets in advance. If you need to change buses remember to ask for a transfer or “skiptimiði”.
PHONE HOME Cell phones work almost all over Iceland. If you think you’re going to be calling a lot, you can also buy phone cards at most grocery- and convenience stores. REYKJAVÍK IN YOUR POCKET – FOR FREE! Mobileguide is an interactive guide of the Reykjavík capital area that is specifically developed for mobile devices; you simply have to open the link mobileguide.is/ download in the browser on your mobile phone. DIALLING When dialling internationally in Iceland (even from your own cell), dial 00 to get out of the country, then select the country code, then the number. When dialling local numbers you don’t need to include the 354-country code, only the last seven digits.
If your cell phone uses a GSM card that is unlocked, you can get an Icelandic SIM card and use a pre-paid service (“Frelsi” in Icelandic). There are currently four service providers in the country: Nova (nova.is), Síminn (siminn.is), Tal (tal.is) and Vodafone (vodafone.is). You can top up your phone through the company’s service number or buy cards from convenience stores.
PHONEBOOK & ONLINE MAPS The Icelandic phone book lists people by their first names. Seriously. You can access the directory online at ja.is (as well as interactive, searchable maps, directions and Yellow Pages). DIRECTORY INFORMATION & INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE DIAL 118 or DIAL 1811 the 24/7 service for information about: names and addresses, phone, mobile and fax numbers, Yellow Pages; be connected to international numbers; make collect calls.
OPENING HOURS Public institutions: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 15:00 or 16:00. General office hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00.
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BANKS
Monday-Friday most banks open from 9:00 to 16:00. The Arion and the Islandsbanki bank branches at Kringlan shopping mall have longer hours and are open on Saturdays. SHOPS
Shop hours vary, but they are generally from 10:00 to 18:00 Mondays to Thursdays, Fridays from 10:00 to 19:00 and Saturdays from 10:00 to 16:00. Malls usually have extended hours on Thursdays and weekends.
USEFUL NUMBERS The emergency number in Iceland is 112. Use it in any emergency for ambulance, fire department, medical help, police and doctors. »» Doctors on duty 1770 »» Dentists on duty +354 575 0505 »» Weather +354 902 0600 »» Police – Non-emergency Hverfisgata 113 | +354 444 1000
WWW.VISITREYKJAVIK.IS
CELL PHONES / GSM
INTERNET ACCESS & HOT SPOTS The tourist office at Aðalstræti 2 offers Internet access on their own computers for a fee. Alternatively, if you have your own device, you can use WiFi at almost any café or bar downtown for free (sometimes you have to buy a coffee). Many hotels and guesthouses also offer free WiFi.
GOOD TO KNOW
OPERATING HOURS: Daily from 6:30 / 7:00 until midnight, except on Sundays and most holidays, when it runs from 11:30 / noon until midnight. There is no bus service on Good Friday, Easter, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
PHONE CENTRE There is a phone centre at the tourist office at Aðalstræti 2.