Iceland
Travel Destination – Iceland
Iceland is a unique North Atlantic destination known for its striking volcanic landscapes, geothermal activity, glaciers, and rugged coastline. Highlights include the famous Blue Lagoon and erupting geysers to towering waterfalls, lava fields, and the Northern Lights during winter months. Reykjavik, the capital, offers a lively arts scene, excellent restaurants, and easy access to nearby natural attractions along the popular Golden Circle route.
Despite its remote location, Iceland has a modern healthcare system, clean water, reliable sanitation, and strong food safety regulations. However, travellers should still plan ahead to protect against common infectious diseases, environmental exposures during outdoor activities, and risks associated with long-haul travel.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Before travelling to Iceland, booking an appointment with a travel doctor is recommended. A travel health consultation allows your doctor to confirm routine immunisations are current and provide personalised advice based on your itinerary, whether driving the Ring Road, hiking through national parks, exploring glaciers, or visiting remote volcanic landscapes. A travel doctor can discuss health considerations related to these activities, including injury prevention, environmental exposure, and the importance of appropriate clothing and equipment for Iceland’s rapidly changing weather conditions.
Ideally, travellers should arrange their consultation six to eight weeks before departure. This timeframe allows sufficient opportunity for recommended vaccines to take effect and for any multi-dose vaccination courses to be completed. However, even if departure is approaching soon, a last-minute consultation can still provide valuable health advice and ensure essential vaccinations are up to date. Travellers should also ensure they have comprehensive travel insurance that covers overseas medical care and emergency evacuation.
Food and water hygiene
Icelandic cuisine highlights fresh seafood, lamb, dairy products, and unique Nordic dishes such as Arctic char and hearty stews. Food safety and water standards in Iceland are very high, but travellers may occasionally develop gastroenteritis.
To prevent gastrointestinal illness, maintain good hand hygiene by washing hands with soap and water before eating or preparing food. Use alcohol-based hand sanitiser when handwashing facilities are unavailable. Choose meals that are freshly prepared and served hot, and take care with buffet-style dining where food may remain at room temperature for extended periods.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Iceland?
Measles
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Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through airborne respiratory droplets and direct contact with infected respiratory secretions. Symptoms typically include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic rash that spreads across the body. Although Iceland has strong vaccination coverage, measles outbreaks continue to occur internationally, including across Europe. Travellers born during or after 1966 should ensure they have received two documented doses of a measles-containing vaccine such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) before travelling overseas.
Influenza
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Influenza is a viral respiratory illness that spreads easily between people through droplets produced when coughing, sneezing, or talking. Symptoms commonly include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, cough, and sore throat. Influenza circulates seasonally in Iceland, particularly during the Northern Hemisphere winter months, however influenza transmission can occur year-round with international travel. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all travellers aged six months and older, particularly those at higher risk of complications such as older adults, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical conditions.
COVID-19
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COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that continues to be transmitted globally, including in Iceland. COVID-19 spreads through airborne particles and close contact with infected individuals. Symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or smell.
Travellers should ensure they are up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations according to the Australian Immunisation Handbook. This includes six-monthly booster doses for adults aged 75 years and over and annual boosters for adults aged 65 to 74 years, with additional doses recommended for some individuals with underlying health conditions.
Routine vaccinations
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Routine vaccinations remain an important part of travel health preparation for Iceland. Before departure, travellers should confirm their standard immunisations recommended in Australia are current. Protection against infections such as tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, measles, mumps, and rubella helps reduce the risk of illness while travelling internationally. A travel health consultation can determine whether booster doses or additional vaccines are recommended.
Iceland
Other health risks in Iceland
Gastroenteritis
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Gastroenteritis, sometimes referred to as travellers’ diarrhoea, can occur in Iceland despite the country’s high food and water safety standards. Viral infections such as norovirus are among the most common causes and can spread easily in group settings including hotels, tour buses, restaurants, and cruise ships. The ingestion of contaminated food can cause bacterial gastroenteritis.
Symptoms commonly include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and occasionally fever. The illness usually begins one to three days after exposure. Most cases are mild and improve within a few days. The most important treatment is maintaining good hydration, ideally with oral rehydration solutions. Medical advice should be sought if symptoms are severe, persistent, or if signs of dehydration develop.
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
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Iceland has low levels of violent crime, however, pickpocketing and petty theft may occur in busy tourist areas, particularly in Reykjavik or crowded attractions. Travellers should remain aware of their surroundings, keep valuables secure, and take sensible precautions in crowded locations such as public transport hubs or popular tourist sites.
At the time of writing, the Australian Government’s Smartraveller website advises travellers to exercise normal safety precautions when visiting Iceland. Travellers should check Smartraveller for the latest updates before and during their trip.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Travelling from Australia to Iceland typically involves long-haul flights and lengthy travel times, which may increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT occurs when prolonged immobility slows blood circulation, allowing blood clots to develop in deep veins, most often in the legs.
To help lower the risk during long journeys, travellers should walk around periodically, stretch their legs while seated, and maintain good hydration. Those with additional risk factors, such as pregnancy, recent surgery, or a previous history of blood clots, should seek individual medical advice before travelling. In some cases, wearing below-knee compression stockings may also be recommended.