How to Call Iceland From the United States

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: November 2, 2021 References

Even though you’re in the United States, you can still chat on the phone with people in Iceland! If you're in the U.S. and want to call the European island, there are a couple of extra steps that you need to take to be connected. Luckily, if you know the right country codes and consider a few practicalities, calling Iceland is a breeze.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Dialing the Phone Number

1
Dial 011. Dialing 011 will allow you to call numbers from outside of the United States. You’ll have the dial this number when calling most countries outside of the U.S.^{[1]
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2
Press the + key instead of 011 for some cell phones. On some cell phones, you can replace the exit code of "011" for the + key. If the call doesn't get connected when you enter the prefix 011, try hitting the + key instead.^{[2]
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3
Dial 354. This number is the official country code for Iceland. While some countries will also have a city code, Iceland is small enough that 354 includes all of the towns and cities inside of the country.^{[3]
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4
Enter the phone number. Input the 7-digit phone number of the recipient that you want to call. Most 7-digit Icelandic phone numbers will start with an area code of 4 or 5.^{[4]
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- Reykjavík is Iceland's capital.
- 4 designates those living outside of Reykjavík and a 5 designates those that live inside of Reykjavík.
5
Wait for the person to pick up the phone. The phone should now start to ring. Wait until the person you’re calling picks up the phone.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Making Other Considerations

1
Calculate the time in Iceland. Before you make your call, make sure that it’s not too late or early in the day to call. Iceland uses Greenwich Mean Time or GMT.^{[5]
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Research source} The continental U.S. has 4 time zones that include Pacific Time (PT), Mountain Time (MT), Central Time (CT), and Eastern Time (ET). Figure out what time zone you’re calling from and calculate what time it is in Iceland before you dial their number.
- GMT is 8 hours ahead of PT.
- GMT is 7 hours ahead of MT.
- GMT is 6 hours ahead of CT.
- GMT is 5 hours ahead of ET.
- You can also search online to figure out what time it is in Iceland before you call.
2
Consider daylight saving time. Iceland doesn't observe daylight saving time so adjust the time accordingly during the spring and summer. If it's spring or summer and your clocks are set forward, subtract an hour off of the typical time difference between the U.S. and Iceland. If it's fall or winter, you can calculate the time difference as you normally would.
- For instance, if you were calling Iceland from ET at 3 p.m., it would be 7 p.m. in Iceland because of daylight saving time.
3
Understand that international calls will cost more. Most phone carriers will associate additional fees when dialing an international number.^{[6]
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Research source} Make sure to read your plan or give the phone company a call so that you can get a good estimate for how much your call will cost.
- Some phone companies have plans that reduce the cost of international calling.
- Some cell phones, like those with pre-loaded minutes, may not be able to make international calls.
4
Consider using VoIP or online chat instead. Programs like Skype or Google Voice are an alternative to calling and talking to someone on the phone. If you’re both connecting to each other through the application, international charges will not take effect. Consider using online chat instead of using the phone if you don’t want to pay for international fees.^{[7]
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- You will both need to have an account on the platform that you're using to connect to chat.
- Popular chat programs include Facebook chat, Gchat, and Yahoo Messenger.

Community Q&A

Question

How to call Iceland when in Iceland with an American phone?

Community Answer

If you're using a cellphone, the international charges and roaming fees will still apply to your phone. It's best to purchase a new SIM card in the country you're in. In this case, you can just dial the seven digit phone number of the person. If you don't want to do this, you'll have to follow the steps above to make any call to an Icelandic number.
Question

How do I call a US cell phone when the person is in Iceland?

Community Answer

Determine local times and decide when to place your international call. Acquire the necessary phone numbers and calling codes. Dial the correct international phone number in the following format: U.S. Exit Code + Iceland Country Code + Subscriber Number.
Question

How do I make a local call within Iceland?

Community Answer

No calls are "long distance" within Iceland, and you don't need to dial the prefix. To call Iceland: Dial the international access code (011 from the U.S.; 00 from the U.K., Ireland, or New Zealand; or 0011 from Australia), then 354 and the seven-digit number.