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Practical Information - Travel

Getting to Iceland and Akureyri

International travel
You can get to Iceland by the following airlines:

Icelandair
Icelandexpress
http://www.dohop.is/ (check the schedule from many airlines simultaneously)

Domestic travel
The international airport is located in Keflavík, a 45-minute drive from Reykjavík. Fly bus runs in connection with flights to the Bus Terminal- BSÍ, which is located beside the Reykjavík domestic airport (see schedule at http://www.re.is/).

Air Iceland (http://www.airiceland.is/), mainly flies domestic flights to and from Reykjavík. Up to 8 flights a day to Akureyri
Höldur car rental (http://www.holdur.is/en/)
Bus company SBA, Sheduled services, including guided tours in Northern Iceland (http://english.sba.is/), also scheduled servives from Akureyri to Reykjavik through the highlands in the summer
Bus company Bílar og fólk, Scheduled service bus service from Reykjavík to Akureyri (http://www.sterna.is/)
NAVTEQ(http://www.is.map24.com/), interactive map of Iceland with travel information and guesthouses
Phone book (http://ja.is/hradleit/), lot of information here, including maps

Accommodation

The least expensive accommodation, both for members and guests, are atThe Youth Hostel (Farfuglaheimilið), Sundlaugavegur 34, 105 Reykjavík. Tel: +354 553 8110, fax: +354 588 9201. Various guesthouses offer accommodation, costing less in winter than during the high season of tourism.
The following website has lists of accommodation: http://www.visitreykjavik.is/
Accommodation for all Iceland: http://en.gisting.is/
Accommodation in Akureyri: http://www.visitakureyri.is/en/accommodation

Visa and Residence Permit

Students coming from countries outside the European Economic Area need a residence permit and also a visa. Application for a residence permit can be obtained from the web page of the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration http://www.utl.is/. Students must apply for a residence permit before obtaining a visa.

It is essential that students who need residence permit study the home page of the Directorate of Immigration in detail.

Documents needed along the application are: 1) an official criminal record certificate for the last five years, 2) Icelandic health insurance for the first six months of your stay in Iceland, 3) a statement of economic support, bank statement or letter from funding institute for the time period applied for, 4) a copy of your acceptance letter, 5) a confirmation of housing in Iceland, and 6) a photocopy of the applicant´s passport.

Students coming from countries inside the European Economic Area need a residence permit if they are staying for more than three months, but they can apply for this permit after they enter the country. Such students do not need visas.

Students coming from the Nordic countries do not need a residence permit but if they are staying for more than six months, they must bring the inter-nordiske flyttepapirer from their home municipality.

Inform the National Registry of your departure

All international students need to go the National Registry (where you applied for your Icelandic ID number) before leaving Iceland with the form Notification of Change of Address in Iceland, which can be downloaded from http://www.thjodskra.is/. Do not worry indicates a change of address in Iceland; there is no form yet available for people moving from Iceland. You can also fax this form to +354 569 2949 after leaving Iceland, but it is advised to do this before leaving.

What to pack

The climate in Iceland varies and the daily weather is often unpredictable. It can be very windy and wet, even during summer, when the temperature is generally 10-12C°. Autumn and winter are windy, dark seasons, usually cold during the day and at times below freezing. You will need warm clothing - warm coat and waterproof shoes or boots are advisable. In Iceland we can never trust the weather. Remember that there is no such thing as bad weather, only a poor choice of clothes. You might need to bring sheets, a blanket and towels (ask your landlord).
Remember to pack:
• Adaptor for electrical appliances (220V, frequency 50Hz)
• Cash (Icelandic Krónur) or credit/debit card
• Passport
• Tickets and insurance papers
• Acceptance letter from a university

Cost of living

The following is a rough estimate of expenses for a single person living in Reykjavík, all in Icelandic Kronas (ISK): A foreigner applying for a residence permit, shall prove secure support for the period of time he applies for to be allowed to stay in Iceland. Minimum support shall be comparable to the minimal support guidelines set by the Ministry for Social Affairs (February 2009, guidelines). Minimal support for a single person is ISK 115.567 per month. You should expect to pay between 40,000 and 50,000 ISK per month for a single room with access to kitchen and bathroom and at least 70,000 ISK for a small apartment.

Following is a rough estimate of expenses for a single person living in Akureyri (2010):

Bus fare from Reykjavík to Akureyri (for students) 6700ISK
Bus fare from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik: 1.700
Overnight stay at a hostel: 3.000
Bus Ticket (Local busses in Akureyri are free of charge) 0ISK
Rent for a single room: 40.000-50.000+
Access to a swimming pool: 450
Movie ticket: 1.200
Theatre: 3.000+
Daily newspaper: 250+
Public bus ticket: 280
Loaf of bread: 300
Litre of milk: 120
Half a liter of beer at a café: 750
Bottle of wine: 1500+
Lunch at a restaurant: 1500+
Dinner at a restaurant: 2500+
1 litre of petrol: 200