If you are an American planning a trip to Iceland and recent headlines have made you wonder whether you will still feel welcome here, there is no reason to worry.
Nobody is going to give you a hard time because of where you are from. If your American accent comes up at all, you are much more likely to be asked which state you are from, whether it is your first time in Iceland, and what you think of the weather.
There is also a good chance that the Icelander asking has lived in the United States, studied there, traveled there, or has a relative somewhere in Minnesota.
Recent Political News
There has been some unusual political news lately.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2026, President Donald Trump spoke about acquiring Greenland, calling it a "piece of ice, cold and poorly located," and several times appeared to refer to Greenland as Iceland.
Then, in September, President Trump posted a map on Truth Social showing Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Mexico, and other territories covered by the American flag. The Icelandic government objected to the post, and Iceland's foreign minister summoned the U.S. ambassador to express that the government considered it inappropriate.
Naturally, the story received plenty of attention in Iceland, and it also produced plenty of jokes. Icelanders are quite good at that.
For American visitors, however, the important point is simple. A disagreement between governments is not a disagreement between people. American travelers are just as welcome in Iceland as they were before.
Iceland and the United States
The relationship between Iceland and the United States goes back a long way, and the cultural connection between the two countries is strong.
American movies, music, and television are everywhere in Iceland. Many Icelanders have studied, worked, or traveled in the United States, and a large number of people have friends or relatives there.
Americans are also extremely important to Icelandic tourism.
In 2025, Americans were by far the largest group of foreign visitors to Iceland, with around 654,000 American travelers, roughly 29 percent of all foreign passengers departing Iceland through Keflavík International Airport. That means that almost three out of every ten foreign visitors came from the United States. So if you are visiting from America, you certainly will not feel unusual here.
Icelanders who work in tourism tend to enjoy American guests, too. In a survey of Icelandic tourism professionals, travelers from the United States were rated the easiest of all nationalities to communicate with, and among the most likely to follow local safety and environmental advice.
Last but not least, Icelanders have not forgotten the important role the United States played in the country’s modern development. Iceland was still a relatively poor European nation when American forces took over its defense from Britain in 1941. The U.S. explicitly pledged to respect and recognize Icelandic sovereignty, and Iceland went on to declare full independence from Denmark in 1944. In the years that followed, Marshall Plan assistance provided Iceland with substantial capital for reconstruction, modernization, and economic development, helping lay the foundations for its transformation into one of the world’s most prosperous countries.
Easy Travel for Americans
There are many reasons Iceland has become such a popular destination for American travelers.
- English is spoken almost everywhere. Most Icelanders speak very good English, so communicating in hotels, restaurants, shops, and on tours is easy. You do not need to learn Icelandic before your trip.
- Iceland is surprisingly close to the United States. From several cities on the U.S. East Coast, a direct flight to Iceland takes around five to six hours. For many Americans, Reykjavík is closer than much of mainland Europe.
- Iceland is an extremely peaceful country. Iceland ranked first in the 2026 Global Peace Index, a position it has held for many years. Visitors can comfortably explore Reykjavík, small towns, and the countryside without many of the concerns that can come with travel elsewhere.
- There is no tipping pressure. Tipping is not expected in Iceland. You can leave something extra for exceptional service if you want to, but there is no need to calculate another 20 percent every time the bill arrives.
- People are generally happy to help. If you ask an Icelander for directions, you may also get a restaurant recommendation, an opinion about which waterfall is better, and a warning not to trust the weather forecast too much.
Why Visit Iceland
The main reasons to visit Iceland have not changed.
Iceland still has waterfalls that you can walk right up to, black sand beaches stretching toward the Atlantic, glaciers, volcanoes, geysers, and hot springs where you can sit in warm geothermal water while snow falls around you.
If you drive the Ring Road, the landscape seems to change every hour.
One moment, you are passing green farmland and Icelandic horses. The next, you are looking at a glacier, a lava field, or a coastline that looks like it belongs on another planet.
Iceland is the kind of country that can still make even experienced travelers stop talking for a moment and simply look around.
Americans Are Still Welcome
Governments will sometimes disagree, politicians will make statements, and social media will continue to create headlines.
Meanwhile, everyday life in Iceland carries on as normal.
The geothermal pools are still warm, the waterfalls are still falling, the coffee is still strong, and the northern lights are still dancing when the weather cooperates.
Most importantly, American visitors are still very welcome in Iceland.
Come and say hello.
During the Icelandic summer, we do not even need to leave the light on. The sun usually takes care of that for us.
I was born on the west side of Reykjavík and grew up downtown, so Iceland has been my back yard for most of my life. I'm a father of two, I've traveled on five continents, and I still haven't found a country that holds my attention the way this one does.
That's why I co-founded Guide to Iceland. We connect travelers directly with Icelandic operators, guides and hosts, so the advice and the services both come from people who actually live here.
I write about the practical side of a trip: what eating out in Reykjavík really costs, whether to pick Sky Lagoon or Hvammsvík, where to stop for food along the Ring Road, and which regions give you the best odds of clear skies for the northern lights. If you're planning a trip and something doesn't add up, message me.
