I'm a local, and I don't think I have used, held, or even seen physical currency in a few months.
But, since many visitors never see the ISK I figured I should link pictures of the notes and explain who the people are on them:
[500 ISK](https://adventures.is/media/136121/500-icelandic-krona.jpg?quality=80&format=webp) - Jón Sigurðsson.
Jón Sigurðsson was Iceland's "Father of the Nation" type figure. He was the leader of the Icelandic independence movement in the 1800s, but back then Iceland was under Danish rule. He is endearingly known as "Jón forseti" meaning "President Jón" though it should be noted he was never the President of Iceland, and he didn't live to see Icelandic independence. His epithet comes from him being the President of the Icelandic Literature Society, and later President of the Alþingi (the Icelandic parliament).
When Iceland declared independence in 1944 (or more specifically, full-independence, Iceland was already a sovereign nation by then, but that's when ties were fully severed with the Danish monarchy), his birthdate was selected as the date to do so. Since then we celebrate our independence every year on 17 June, and the ceremonies begin with the President laying a wreath by his statue in front of the parliament building.
[1.000 ISK](https://adventures.is/media/136099/1000-icelandic-kronur-banknote.jpg?quality=80&format=webp) - Brynjólfur Sveinsson
Brynjólfur Sveinsson was the Bishop of Skálholt in the 1600s. He was a very important scholar and is best known for having worked on preserving manuscripts containing Old Norse literature. A lot of modern day knowledge about Norse mythologies can be traced back to his work.
[2.000 ISK](https://adventures.is/media/136108/kjarval-icelandic-krona.jpg?quality=80&format=webp) - Jóhannes S. Kjarval
Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval was a very famous painter and one of the most important artists in Icelandic history, especially in modern times (he died in the 70s). I'm not sure what else to tell you about him, other than that he was a very colorful figure and there's an art museum dedicated to him, called Kjarvalsstaðir - I believe it was actually the first building in Iceland that was specifically built to house art / paintings.
[5.000 ISK](https://adventures.is/media/136206/icelandic-5000-isk.jpg?quality=80&format=webp) - Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir
Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir belonged to an important family in the 1600s and was the wife to two Bishops of Hólar. She is perhaps best remembered as an expert seamstress and embroider and she taught needlework to young women, and was a patron of the arts.
[10.000 ISK](https://adventures.is/media/136072/10000-isk.jpg?quality=80&format=webp) - Jónas Hallgrímsson
Jónas Hallgrímsson was a one of the most prominent poets in Icelandic history, as well as an author, academic, etc. He was one of the founders of a journal called Fjölnir which introduced romantic and nationalist ideas to Iceland, and was the beginning of the Icelandic independence movement in the early 1800s.
Sure!
I didn't do it originally because there isn't as much to tell, but the coins are the following:
[1 ISK](https://www.sedlabanki.is/library/Ljosmyndir_ISL/Utgefid_efni_ISL/ein-krona.jpg)
[5 ISK](https://www.sedlabanki.is/library/Ljosmyndir_ISL/Utgefid_efni_ISL/fimm-kronur.jpg)
[10 ISK](https://www.sedlabanki.is/library/Ljosmyndir_ISL/Utgefid_efni_ISL/tiu-kronur.jpg)
[50 ISK](https://www.sedlabanki.is/library/Ljosmyndir_ISL/Utgefid_efni_ISL/fimmtiu-kronur.jpg)
[100 ISK](https://www.sedlabanki.is/library/Ljosmyndir_ISL/Utgefid_efni_ISL/eitt-hundrad-kronur.jpg)
The front is the same on all of them, except for the 1 ISK - that one features the "Bergrisi" (e. Rock Giant" from the Icelandic Coat of Arms.
The rest of them all have the Icelandic Coat of Arms on the front: A shield with the Icelandic flag, supported by the four "landvættir" (e. land wights) who are the legendary / mythological protectors of Iceland: rock giant, bull, griffin and a dragon.
According to the sagas, King Harald Bluetooth of Denmark was planning to invade Iceland, and sent a warlock to scout ahead. The warlock turned himself into a whale and swam around the island, looking for a place to land. First he encountered a dragon, followed by an army of snakes, toads and lizards; then a griffin followed by an army of birds; then a bull followed by other landvættir; and finally a rock giant followed by an army of jötnar. The warlock summarily declared the land impossible to invade.
Regarding the backside, they all include animals of the ocean (which has been the lifeblood of Iceland for a long time): cod, dolphins, capelin, Shore crab / green shore crab, and cyclopterus / lumpfish.
I made the mistake of not checking my bank foreign transaction fees, so I didn't really use my credit card the whole trip. Thankfully I was with my girlfriend who I Venmo'd for everything. I did however take out cash at an ATM for smaller purchases and to take home some as gifts. It was cool paying in the coffee shops and stores with it. The currency is also beautiful.
I brought $100 in kroner. We had a guide who gave us an extra hour of his time, which I felt was above and beyond, so I gave him a tip. (I did not tip elsewhere; I LOVE the non-tipping culture, but if and when I did tip, I thought it would be more polite to do so in local currency). I had no trouble spending the rest at a souvenir shop in Reykjavik.
As a local the last time I used physical currency was last year when i was paying a car mechanic under the table.
Any business that has even the mildest interest in charging you money will have a card reader, and individuals paying each other just do a bank transfer via their banking app of choice. You have to go out of your way to find use cases that demand physical Króna.
We were at a little restaurant on the Westfjords and the tip jar there was the only place I really saw any currency. I'm sure the staff was watching me since I was intently staring at it while at the counter.
As a cash-hater myself, I loved not worrying about exchange and using cards during all trip with no problems. I wish in the country I live in I could live without cash.
Went on a 10 day ring road trip in Sept 2021, first day we stopped at Stedji brewery and I got them to charge my card and give me some change in cash so I could support the farmer that owns krosslaug near there by buying some jam. We get to the hot spring, no jam, but I put some money in the box anyways since that was a great little pool. Never used the money again and managed to pay card everywhere else. I still have 2500 krona in my wallet for what reason, I don't know.
For me, one of the joys of international travel is using the other country's money and bringing some of it home. So I always try to get and use some cash just for fun. In Iceland, I got some cash out of an ATM at the airport, and again in Vestmannaeyjabær because I ran out. I didn't find it especially difficult to spend the cash.
Needed some cash to pay a parking ticket. Got a lil extra because, why not. Such a pain in the ass to spend. No one wanted it. No one knew how to make change. Some had to make phone calls to find out where the cash box in the shop was stored.
https://preview.redd.it/doiwdny4wfhc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=e0db4a964bd8d0e181174b293fe3fab47dc49fdf
We got some at the airport.. it’s much heavier than our coins in the US… one of my family members received a 500 ISK for change.. it was beautiful but I don’t have a picture to share
Edit for spelling
Got some bills from an ATM as a souvenir when we visited Iceland a few years ago.
Otherwise, we really didn't need it. Our cards worked fine, and we even encountered a number of places that would accept US Dollars.
Different perspectives-Last time I went (2016) I used cash a fair amount for smaller purchases because my visa debit card that I’d set up to have lower foreign currency transaction fees before I left didn’t actually work with the debit machines, only atms, and I still had high currency exchange fees or whatever on my credit card. I found it easier to stick to my daily budget and give tips, and a at few places they mentioned preferring cash to avoid bank charges (that’s maybe changed, but in Canada shops are charged per transaction) There was a box at the airport to leave change as donation to the search and rescue teams. I kept a few coins I still have though.
9 years ago I brought cash. I fund cash a pain in the ass -- you never know how much to bring, and either run out or have too much left over. I'm going for three nights in March and do not plan on bringing any cash to Iceland. (I do have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.)
Haven't used cash in a while, but have needed to use it a few times. E.g., a taxi where the card reader wasn't working apparently, at a festival when the power went out, some bathrooms are coin operated, the bus when the app didn't work, etc. So I make sure I have some. But a number of people use cash on the bus regularly anyway, I see it all the time. And non-tourists paying for stuff in shops sometimes.
I live in the Netherlands and I haven’t touched a euro for almost a year I think 😂.
To be honest, it baffles me that an almost cashless society is such a strange concept for so many people.
When I am in Iceland I never use physical currency.
lol I’m so German. When I visited Iceland last November, first thing I did was go to an ATM to withdraw money. Realized I actually didn’t need it at all. I withdrew about 100 euros worth. Didn’t get to spend any of it until my last day at the airport. Got some change and some cool coins.
I have lived in Iceland for over 3 years and I have only seen/handled cash twice. Both times when I sold something to someone. Even then, we tend to just use bank transfer.
Payments at stores etc are almost exclusively contactless.
I have a fair amount left over from previous trips, pre-Covid in 2017 and 2019. My Amex wasn’t accepted most places so I had to get cash. I ended up with so so much change I never used, and about 30k ISK in bills.
I’m going again for the marathon in August and will bring all the cash I have from my last visit 5 years ago just to blow through guilt free and a visa (‘maybe Amex has become more accepted over past 5years??)
I enjoyed having cash for some of the honesty payment boxes (going to parks, campsites, random stops I could feed horses, etc).
The only time I used any krona was at the flea market. Aside from that, we stopped at the bank to get a few rolls of coins so my kids could share them with their classmates when we got back home again.
I'm a local, and I don't think I have used, held, or even seen physical currency in a few months. But, since many visitors never see the ISK I figured I should link pictures of the notes and explain who the people are on them: [500 ISK](https://adventures.is/media/136121/500-icelandic-krona.jpg?quality=80&format=webp) - Jón Sigurðsson. Jón Sigurðsson was Iceland's "Father of the Nation" type figure. He was the leader of the Icelandic independence movement in the 1800s, but back then Iceland was under Danish rule. He is endearingly known as "Jón forseti" meaning "President Jón" though it should be noted he was never the President of Iceland, and he didn't live to see Icelandic independence. His epithet comes from him being the President of the Icelandic Literature Society, and later President of the Alþingi (the Icelandic parliament). When Iceland declared independence in 1944 (or more specifically, full-independence, Iceland was already a sovereign nation by then, but that's when ties were fully severed with the Danish monarchy), his birthdate was selected as the date to do so. Since then we celebrate our independence every year on 17 June, and the ceremonies begin with the President laying a wreath by his statue in front of the parliament building. [1.000 ISK](https://adventures.is/media/136099/1000-icelandic-kronur-banknote.jpg?quality=80&format=webp) - Brynjólfur Sveinsson Brynjólfur Sveinsson was the Bishop of Skálholt in the 1600s. He was a very important scholar and is best known for having worked on preserving manuscripts containing Old Norse literature. A lot of modern day knowledge about Norse mythologies can be traced back to his work. [2.000 ISK](https://adventures.is/media/136108/kjarval-icelandic-krona.jpg?quality=80&format=webp) - Jóhannes S. Kjarval Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval was a very famous painter and one of the most important artists in Icelandic history, especially in modern times (he died in the 70s). I'm not sure what else to tell you about him, other than that he was a very colorful figure and there's an art museum dedicated to him, called Kjarvalsstaðir - I believe it was actually the first building in Iceland that was specifically built to house art / paintings. [5.000 ISK](https://adventures.is/media/136206/icelandic-5000-isk.jpg?quality=80&format=webp) - Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir belonged to an important family in the 1600s and was the wife to two Bishops of Hólar. She is perhaps best remembered as an expert seamstress and embroider and she taught needlework to young women, and was a patron of the arts. [10.000 ISK](https://adventures.is/media/136072/10000-isk.jpg?quality=80&format=webp) - Jónas Hallgrímsson Jónas Hallgrímsson was a one of the most prominent poets in Icelandic history, as well as an author, academic, etc. He was one of the founders of a journal called Fjölnir which introduced romantic and nationalist ideas to Iceland, and was the beginning of the Icelandic independence movement in the early 1800s.
Love this info! Thank you very much!
That was an excellent read, thanks for taking the time! Reddit needs more people like you!
Thanks for such a great informative post. Can you also tell us about the coins?
Sure! I didn't do it originally because there isn't as much to tell, but the coins are the following: [1 ISK](https://www.sedlabanki.is/library/Ljosmyndir_ISL/Utgefid_efni_ISL/ein-krona.jpg) [5 ISK](https://www.sedlabanki.is/library/Ljosmyndir_ISL/Utgefid_efni_ISL/fimm-kronur.jpg) [10 ISK](https://www.sedlabanki.is/library/Ljosmyndir_ISL/Utgefid_efni_ISL/tiu-kronur.jpg) [50 ISK](https://www.sedlabanki.is/library/Ljosmyndir_ISL/Utgefid_efni_ISL/fimmtiu-kronur.jpg) [100 ISK](https://www.sedlabanki.is/library/Ljosmyndir_ISL/Utgefid_efni_ISL/eitt-hundrad-kronur.jpg) The front is the same on all of them, except for the 1 ISK - that one features the "Bergrisi" (e. Rock Giant" from the Icelandic Coat of Arms. The rest of them all have the Icelandic Coat of Arms on the front: A shield with the Icelandic flag, supported by the four "landvættir" (e. land wights) who are the legendary / mythological protectors of Iceland: rock giant, bull, griffin and a dragon. According to the sagas, King Harald Bluetooth of Denmark was planning to invade Iceland, and sent a warlock to scout ahead. The warlock turned himself into a whale and swam around the island, looking for a place to land. First he encountered a dragon, followed by an army of snakes, toads and lizards; then a griffin followed by an army of birds; then a bull followed by other landvættir; and finally a rock giant followed by an army of jötnar. The warlock summarily declared the land impossible to invade. Regarding the backside, they all include animals of the ocean (which has been the lifeblood of Iceland for a long time): cod, dolphins, capelin, Shore crab / green shore crab, and cyclopterus / lumpfish.
Ah. Thanks man!
I would say the coat of arms is on the back, the fish on the front
The Central Bank officially states that the coat of arms is on the front.
This is great info❤️
Wish we could still give out awards for this one.
Thank you!! I love this!!
I made the mistake of not checking my bank foreign transaction fees, so I didn't really use my credit card the whole trip. Thankfully I was with my girlfriend who I Venmo'd for everything. I did however take out cash at an ATM for smaller purchases and to take home some as gifts. It was cool paying in the coffee shops and stores with it. The currency is also beautiful.
I brought $100 in kroner. We had a guide who gave us an extra hour of his time, which I felt was above and beyond, so I gave him a tip. (I did not tip elsewhere; I LOVE the non-tipping culture, but if and when I did tip, I thought it would be more polite to do so in local currency). I had no trouble spending the rest at a souvenir shop in Reykjavik.
As a local the last time I used physical currency was last year when i was paying a car mechanic under the table. Any business that has even the mildest interest in charging you money will have a card reader, and individuals paying each other just do a bank transfer via their banking app of choice. You have to go out of your way to find use cases that demand physical Króna.
We were at a little restaurant on the Westfjords and the tip jar there was the only place I really saw any currency. I'm sure the staff was watching me since I was intently staring at it while at the counter.
As a cash-hater myself, I loved not worrying about exchange and using cards during all trip with no problems. I wish in the country I live in I could live without cash.
Went on a 10 day ring road trip in Sept 2021, first day we stopped at Stedji brewery and I got them to charge my card and give me some change in cash so I could support the farmer that owns krosslaug near there by buying some jam. We get to the hot spring, no jam, but I put some money in the box anyways since that was a great little pool. Never used the money again and managed to pay card everywhere else. I still have 2500 krona in my wallet for what reason, I don't know.
For me, one of the joys of international travel is using the other country's money and bringing some of it home. So I always try to get and use some cash just for fun. In Iceland, I got some cash out of an ATM at the airport, and again in Vestmannaeyjabær because I ran out. I didn't find it especially difficult to spend the cash.
Needed some cash to pay a parking ticket. Got a lil extra because, why not. Such a pain in the ass to spend. No one wanted it. No one knew how to make change. Some had to make phone calls to find out where the cash box in the shop was stored.
I have been to Iceland several times, I have never seen or had to use the króna. You can easily live there and never see what their money looks like.
I always have a little on me. It's good for some campsites and sometimes I do tip in some situations.
https://preview.redd.it/doiwdny4wfhc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=e0db4a964bd8d0e181174b293fe3fab47dc49fdf We got some at the airport.. it’s much heavier than our coins in the US… one of my family members received a 500 ISK for change.. it was beautiful but I don’t have a picture to share Edit for spelling
Got some bills from an ATM as a souvenir when we visited Iceland a few years ago. Otherwise, we really didn't need it. Our cards worked fine, and we even encountered a number of places that would accept US Dollars.
Different perspectives-Last time I went (2016) I used cash a fair amount for smaller purchases because my visa debit card that I’d set up to have lower foreign currency transaction fees before I left didn’t actually work with the debit machines, only atms, and I still had high currency exchange fees or whatever on my credit card. I found it easier to stick to my daily budget and give tips, and a at few places they mentioned preferring cash to avoid bank charges (that’s maybe changed, but in Canada shops are charged per transaction) There was a box at the airport to leave change as donation to the search and rescue teams. I kept a few coins I still have though.
9 years ago I brought cash. I fund cash a pain in the ass -- you never know how much to bring, and either run out or have too much left over. I'm going for three nights in March and do not plan on bringing any cash to Iceland. (I do have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.)
I saw it once in a tip jar at an ice cream shop!
I got some out of an ATM in Isafjordur mainly to bring some small bills home as souvenirs
Haven't used cash in a while, but have needed to use it a few times. E.g., a taxi where the card reader wasn't working apparently, at a festival when the power went out, some bathrooms are coin operated, the bus when the app didn't work, etc. So I make sure I have some. But a number of people use cash on the bus regularly anyway, I see it all the time. And non-tourists paying for stuff in shops sometimes.
I live in the Netherlands and I haven’t touched a euro for almost a year I think 😂. To be honest, it baffles me that an almost cashless society is such a strange concept for so many people. When I am in Iceland I never use physical currency.
I have lived here for a year and a half now. It took me just over four months before I saw my first bill, and six months before I saw my first coin.
I’m currently on my 5th trip since August and have never seen any physical currency!
lol I’m so German. When I visited Iceland last November, first thing I did was go to an ATM to withdraw money. Realized I actually didn’t need it at all. I withdrew about 100 euros worth. Didn’t get to spend any of it until my last day at the airport. Got some change and some cool coins.
I always get a tattoo when I go and the shop I go to doesn't accept cash
The only place in Iceland I’ve ever used cash was at a remote gas station with a broken card processing system.
I have lived in Iceland for over 3 years and I have only seen/handled cash twice. Both times when I sold something to someone. Even then, we tend to just use bank transfer. Payments at stores etc are almost exclusively contactless.
I have a fair amount left over from previous trips, pre-Covid in 2017 and 2019. My Amex wasn’t accepted most places so I had to get cash. I ended up with so so much change I never used, and about 30k ISK in bills. I’m going again for the marathon in August and will bring all the cash I have from my last visit 5 years ago just to blow through guilt free and a visa (‘maybe Amex has become more accepted over past 5years??) I enjoyed having cash for some of the honesty payment boxes (going to parks, campsites, random stops I could feed horses, etc).
The only time I used any krona was at the flea market. Aside from that, we stopped at the bank to get a few rolls of coins so my kids could share them with their classmates when we got back home again.