Are Credit Cards Accepted in Iceland?

Visa and Mastercard have the widest acceptance. American Express works at most hotels and larger retailers but may not be accepted at smaller establishments. Discover cards have limited acceptance.

Important tip: many automated payment terminals in Iceland, particularly at gas stations and parking areas, require a PIN. Contactless payments work in most staffed locations, but unmanned kiosks often demand chip-and-PIN. Before traveling, confirm that your card has a working four-digit PIN and that your bank knows you will be using it abroad to avoid declined transactions.

Carrying a small amount of cash provides backup for the rare vendor who does not accept cards or for tipping, though tipping is not expected or common in Iceland.