Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world, but its weather, roads and remote terrain still put visitors in trouble every year. The good news is that the emergency system is simple. There is one number to remember, it works everywhere, and the operators speak English. This page collects the numbers worth saving before you land, plus what to do when something goes wrong. All details are as of 2026, so confirm anything critical on the official sites linked below.
The one number: 112
Dial 112 for police, ambulance, fire brigade and search and rescue. The call is free from any phone, including a mobile with no credit, and it connects to the national emergency centre, which sends the right service. Dialling 911 or 999 by habit will usually be redirected to 112, but do not rely on it, just dial 112.
When the operator answers, stay calm and give:
- Your location (road number, nearest farm, landmark or GPS coordinates)
- What happened and how many people are hurt
- Your name and the phone number you are calling from
Do not hang up until the operator says so. In rural Iceland, farm names and road numbers (for example Route 1 near a named river) are the quickest way to be found.
For official, up-to-date information, see the 112 emergency service.
The 112 Iceland app
Download the free 112 Iceland app before you travel. It lets you call or text 112 and shares your GPS position with the operator, which matters on the Ring Road, in the Westfjords and on highland tracks where there are no street addresses. It also lets you check in, so rescuers know your last known position if you disappear off signal. Mobile coverage is good on the main roads but patchy in the Highlands, some fjords and parts of the interior.
Other useful numbers
| Need | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency (police, ambulance, fire, rescue) | 112 | Free, 24 hours |
| Health advice (nurse triage) | 1700 | Tells you whether to see a doctor or go to A&E |
| Out-of-hours doctor, capital area | 1770 | Læknavaktin, evenings, nights and weekends |
| Road conditions | 1777 | Road and Coastal Administration line, daytime hours |
| Road and weather websites | umferdin.is, vedur.is | Live road status, Met Office warnings |
Save these in your phone along with the number of your rental company, which you will need after any accident with the car.
Police in Iceland
There is no tourist police unit. Ordinary Icelandic police handle everything, are polite and rarely armed, and almost always speak good English. For an emergency call 112. For a non-urgent matter such as a stolen bag, a break-in to your rental car or an insurance report, go to the nearest police station, or in the capital area to the Reykjavik Metropolitan Police station on Hlemmur. You will need a police report number for most insurance claims, so ask for one.
Crime is low, but car break-ins at trailheads and car parks do happen. Keep passports, cameras and laptops out of sight, and never leave them in a parked car.
Medical help and hospitals
Iceland has a high-quality health system. For anything non-urgent:
- Ring 1700 and a nurse will assess your symptoms and direct you.
- In the Reykjavik area, the out-of-hours doctor service Læknavaktin (dial 1770 first) operates from a clinic in Kópavogur, a short drive from the centre.
- Outside the capital, each region has a health clinic (heilsugæsla), usually open on weekdays, with an on-call doctor after hours. Your hotel or guesthouse can ring the local one for you.
For emergencies, the main hospital with a 24-hour emergency department is LandspĂtali University Hospital in Fossvogur, Reykjavik. Regional hospitals operate in Akureyri, ĂŤsafjörĂ°ur, Selfoss, Keflavik and a few other towns, but serious cases are normally flown to Reykjavik. Helicopter transfers are run by the Coast Guard and, in remote areas, are coordinated through 112.
Pharmacies (apĂłtek) are plentiful in towns, with prescription medicines sold only against a script, so bring enough of your regular medication in its original packaging.
Paying for treatment
Visitors from the EU, EEA and UK can use a European Health Insurance Card or UK GHIC for state care, which covers treatment at local resident rates but not rescue, repatriation or private costs. Everyone else pays full price, and that includes ambulance transfers. An uninsured fracture, a few nights in hospital or a helicopter evacuation can run well into six figures in Icelandic krona. Our travel insurance guide explains which cover matters, and you can compare policies through VisitorsCoverage travel insurance for Iceland.
Search and rescue and mountain safety
Search and rescue is run almost entirely by volunteers of ICE-SAR (Landsbjörg), who respond to calls routed from 112. Rescue itself is not billed to tourists in most cases, but insurance matters for medical care, evacuation costs and lost trip time.
Before going anywhere remote:
- File a travel plan at safetravel.is. It is free and tells rescuers where to search if you do not return. It also shows current hazard alerts.
- Check the weather at vedur.is and road status at umferdin.is every morning. Closures of Highland F-roads, ice on the Ring Road and storm warnings (orange and red alerts) change quickly.
- Never cross rivers on F-roads without experience. Rental insurance often excludes water damage.
- Stay on marked paths near geothermal areas, glacier edges and beaches. Sneaker waves at Reynisfjara and Kirkjufjara beaches have killed visitors, so stay well above the waterline.
For driving in snow and ice, read our winter driving guide. For wider risks, see is Iceland safe.
Car trouble and accidents
If you have an accident or breakdown on the Ring Road:
- Switch on hazard lights and move everyone safely off the road if possible.
- If anyone is injured or the road is blocked, call 112.
- Otherwise, call your rental company’s 24-hour assistance number (printed on the key tag or contract).
- Photograph the scene and get a police report if there is damage, for the insurance claim.
Sheep wander across country roads, and hitting one is common in summer. Note the nearest farm, call the police on 112, and the farmer is usually contacted from there.
Embassy and consular help
Embassies are not emergency services. Call 112 first, then your embassy for help with a lost passport, serious injury, arrest or death of a companion. Most embassies are in central Reykjavik, and some countries without a local mission rely on Copenhagen or Oslo. Full contact details are in our embassies and consulates guide.
Before you leave home: emergency checklist
- Save 112, 1700 and 1770 in your phone, and install the 112 Iceland app.
- Take out travel insurance with medical, evacuation and adventure activity cover.
- Carry a photo of your passport and insurance policy number, stored separately from the originals.
- Pack a basic first-aid kit, any prescription medicines and a power bank.
- Get a local eSIM or roaming plan so you can call from remote roads.
- Register your trip at safetravel.is before any hike or highland drive.
For help on your first visit, see our first time in Iceland guide, and for city information, our Reykjavik city guide.