Iceland is one of the most breathtaking destinations on Earth—a land of majestic waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, and the magical Northern Lights. But before you pack your bags, you need to know some essential Iceland travel tips to make the most of your journey.
As someone who has explored this rugged paradise, I’ve learned the ins and outs of traveling smartly in the Land of Fire and Ice.
First, let’s talk about budget travel in Iceland—it’s no secret that this Nordic gem is expensive. However, with the right strategies, like shopping at Bonus supermarkets, using Icelandic bus passes, and booking accommodations early, you can save a fortune. If you’re renting a car, be aware of Iceland’s strict driving laws, unpredictable weather, and gravel roads that require a 4x4 vehicle in certain areas.
Timing your visit is crucial. Summer offers midnight sun adventures, while winter brings the best chance to witness the Northern Lights. But remember—weather in Iceland is highly unpredictable, so always dress in layers and waterproof gear.
For an authentic experience, venture beyond Reykjavik and the Golden Circle to discover hidden gems like Westfjords, Landmannalaugar, and Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Whether you're chasing hot springs, glacier hikes, or black sand beaches, this guide will help you navigate Iceland like a pro.
Top 10 Essential Iceland Travel Tips
What is the best time to visit Iceland? What are the top places to see? Should I rent a car or van or book tours? We know there are many doubts, so we have tried to summarize in this post everything we would have liked to know before traveling to Iceland.
Inside tips, recommendations and useful information to organize a trip to the land of ice and fire:
1. Best time to travel to Iceland
It is one of the first things that almost all travellers ask themselves before embarking on a new adventure, and of course, the answer in a country like Iceland is strongly conditioned by... the weather!
Here are the things to keep in mind:
- Icelandic winters are long and cold. Although it is true that the warm Gulf Stream causes temperatures higher than you might expect at these latitudes, remember that there is a reason they call it the land of ice and fire. And no, the fire is not because it enjoys hot summers in the purest Seville style, but rather because it is a land of volcanoes, geysers and hot springs .
- On the other hand, keep in mind that Iceland receives the highest number of visitors during the months of June, July and August . Believe me, you will see this in the country's main tourist attractions and in the difficulty of finding accommodation without prior reservation. It should also be noted that transport and accommodation prices skyrocket (we saw hotels that quadruple their rates!).
- Let's not forget that Iceland is located close to the Arctic Circle and therefore daylight hours vary depending on the season. During the winter you will only have 4-6 hours of daylight, while in the summer there will be no total darkness at all.
So what's our advice? We find April, May, September and October to be the best time to travel to Iceland, as these are the perfect months to enjoy milder temperatures than in winter and avoid the summer crowds. Also, in September and October the Northern Lights start to show again and the landscape still shows some colour before the winter snows turn it completely white.
Below is a graph showing the average temperatures, precipitation (rain and snow) and daylight hours per year in two different parts of Iceland: Reykjavik and Akureyri, the most populated cities in the country:
⭐ You can check the weather forecast here or download the Veður app .
2. Do I need a visa to travel to Iceland?
Iceland, although not part of the European Union, is within the Schengen Area , so Spanish citizens and a good number of other nationalities do NOT need a visa to visit the country, as long as our passport/ID card is valid for 6 months. On the official immigration website you can see which nationalities require a visa and which do not.
3. How to get to Iceland?
For obvious reasons (remember that Iceland is an island), you can only get there by air or sea, so let's look at both options.
✓ Travel to Iceland by plane
The number of airlines flying to the country has increased in recent years, although it is still not a very accessible destination. The main airlines that fly to Keflavík International Airport (KEF) in Reykjavík are Icelandair , Iceland’s flag carrier, and Play , a recently established low-cost airline. Prices can vary greatly depending on the time of year (expect €100-150 per trip), but it is possible to find some bargains by booking in advance.
A trick to find cheap flights to Iceland if they are very expensive from Spain is to fly to somewhere in the United Kingdom first and look for a flight to Iceland from there. They are usually much cheaper!
→ Compare flight options on Skyscanner .
✓ Travel to Iceland by boat
Evoking the romantic idea of the great voyages of bygone times, reaching Iceland by boat from northern Denmark is quite an experience. Faroe Islands-based Smiril Line offers the chance to take your own vehicle aboard the Norröna as you cruise the cold waters of the North Atlantic to the land of fire and ice.
The trip lasts three days and stops for a few hours in Tórshavn , the capital of the Faroe Islands. You can get off the boat and explore this small town to get the desire to learn more about this unknown country. As a curiosity, the ship Norröna is one of the protagonists of the television series Trapped.
→ You can view the timetables and book your ticket on the Direct Ferries website .
4. How many days does it take to travel to Iceland?
Minimum of one week to ten days , maximum… is there ever a maximum time to visit a country? As much as you can and want 🙂 That said, it is also true that if you don’t have much time, a short getaway (4-5 days) to Reykjavik, the country’s capital, will allow us to take very interesting day trips and leave us wanting to return to explore everything that Iceland has to offer… which is no small thing.
✓ 10-day itinerary to Iceland: our route
A possible itinerary for 10 days could be this:
- Day 1 : Golden Circle
- Day 2: South Waterfalls + Vik and surroundings
- Day 3: Southern Glaciers
- Day 4: Eastern Fjords
- Day 5-6: North Iceland (Myvatn, Akureyri, Vatnsnes Peninsula)
- Day 7: Snæfellsnes Peninsula
- Day 8: Reykjavik
- Day 9: Krysuvik Thermal Area + Blue Lagoon
- Day 10: Use it as an extra to extend visits to the area that most attracts your attention. We, after having gone, would add it to the northern area by visiting Husavik and taking the whale watching tour.
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✓ Our hotels
An essential tip for travelling to Iceland is to book your accommodation in advance, especially if you go in the summer months. As you can see, we opted to do the Ring Road (or circular road) counter-clockwise, but it could perfectly be done in the opposite direction. Either way, here are the hotels where we stayed, all of which are really recommendable:
- Day 1: Reykjavik Airport → Kef Guesthouse
- Day 2: Golden Circle → Riverfront Lodge Hella
- Day 3: Southern waterfalls → Fosshótel Núpar
- Day 4: Glacier area → REY Stays – Small & Cozy Studio
- Day 5: East Coast → Skipalækur Guesthouse
- Day 6: Myvatn → Berjaya
- Day 7: Route through the north → Guesthouse 46
- Day 8: Snæfellsnes Peninsula → Vatnsás 10
- Days 9 and 10: Reykjavík → Hotel Odinsve
5. Is it possible to travel independently to Iceland?
Absolutely yes, and our advice is to do it this way. The best way is to rent your own vehicle , either a car on websites such as Auto Europe or Discovercars , or a van/motorhome, for which we recommend comparing prices on the Motorhome Republic website . You will be able to enjoy the freedom to stop whenever you decide at each natural wonder you find on your way.
Iceland's main road is the Þjóðvegur 1 or Ring Road , a circular road that goes around the entire island and is almost entirely paved. Useful information on the state of the roads can be found on this website, « Road.is ». It is advisable to check it before setting off, especially during winter, to make sure that there are no road closures that could prevent you from reaching your destination (sometimes Google Maps does not detect recently closed roads).
It is important to note that, although there are numerous petrol stations spread throughout the country, there are long stretches of road where you will not find any, especially in the north. It is advisable to know where to refill your tank and not to push it too far.
6. Paid parking
At many of Iceland's major attractions there are paid parking lots , clearly marked with signs (and you'll also see cameras that will record your license plate as you enter them). Some are not machines or kiosks where you pay, but are operated with the easy-to-use Parka app . You simply register your license plate and the card you're paying with once, and each time you need to use the car park you select the car park and make the payment.
As of today (2024), these are the prices of the most important car parks (if any of them do not correspond, please leave us a comment so we can update it):
- Thingvellir National Park: 1,000 ISK
- Kerið Crater: 500 ISK per person
- Kvernufoss waterfall: 750 ISK
- Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrafoss waterfalls: 900 ISK
- DC-3 Airplane wreck: 1,000 ISK
- Reynisfjara Beach: 1,000 ISK
- Kvernufoss waterfall: 750 ISK
- Sólheimajökull Glacier: 750 ISK
- Solheimasandur Plane Wreck: 750 ISK
- Reynisfjara Beach: 1,000 ISK
- Fjaðrárgljúfur Gorge: 1,000 ISK
- Skaftafell National Park (Svartifoss Waterfall + Skaftafell Glacier): 1,000 ISK
- Jökulsárlón Glacier + Diamond Beach: 500 ISK
- Dettifoss waterfall
- Myvatn Geothermal Area: 1,200 ISK
- Illugastadir (seals): 1,000 ISK
- Kirkjufell Waterfall: 1,000 ISK
- Ytri Tunga Beach: 750 ISK
And these are some of the places where parking is currently free :
- Geysir Thermal Area
- Gullfoss waterfall
- Urriðafoss waterfall
- Ægissíðufoss waterfall
- Skógafoss waterfall
- Dyrhólaey Lighthouse
- Svínafellsjökull Glacier
- Mulagljufur Canyon
- Stuðlagil Canyon
- Dettifoss waterfall
- Hverfjall Volcano Trail
- Godafoss waterfall
So now you know, another tip for traveling to Iceland is to download the Parkia APP and avoid wasting time!
7. Recommended tours
Even if you have decided to do your trip on your own, you may want to combine it with some kind of organized activity such as a visit to a glacier, a mountain trek or an excursion to more remote areas of the island's interior. These are the recommended tours in Iceland :
- Golden Circle Tour (one day from Reykjavik)
- Excursion to Snaefellsnes
- Trekking on the Vatnajokull glacier
- Guided tour to Solheimajoekull glacier
- Whale watching on a traditional boat in Husavik
8. Northern Lights in Iceland
Yes! In those parts you can see them quite easily, although not always, of course. In addition to the weather , you will have to take into account your priorities and if seeing the Northern Lights is one of your “must-sees”, then prepare a good coat because you will have no choice but to visit the country during the coldest months . Ok, it is true that in principle you can see them almost all year round, but obviously in the summer months with their midnight sun, things get a little more complicated.
Some tips for seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland:
- Download the Aurora and My Aurora Forecast apps , which show you the chances of seeing auroras and where to find them.
- If you are lucky enough to see “the Green Lady” and you are not an expert photographer, don’t waste time trying to take a photo of life: it is super complicated to record it and the best thing is to enjoy this spectacle live and in person.
- On this website they talk more about the auroras and they have a super cool simulator.
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9. Tips for traveling to Iceland on a budget
I'm sorry to say that it is, although with the rise in prices around the world it feels less expensive than that. But Iceland still occupies a prominent place in almost all rankings of the most expensive countries in the world. The good news is that there are tricks to reduce expenses as much as possible.
Below we have compiled a few tips to save money on your trip to Iceland :
Prepare your own food
The Bonus supermarket chain's piggy bank will become your best friend during this trip (although other supermarkets like Netto or Krönig didn't seem much more expensive to us either). In these stores you'll find the best prices in the country. So you know, trying local delicacies in restaurants is all well and good , but in Iceland this can be prohibitive for tight budgets.
Bring some food in your suitcase
It's not a big deal, you can find everything in local supermarkets and the prices are not so prohibitive, in fact, there are things that cost practically the same as in Spain. What would we bring? A small bottle of olive oil, a can of tuna or similar, cheese (that is much more expensive) and things like that. Be careful because only 10kg per person are allowed . Check out everything you can and cannot bring here .
Be careful with alcohol
Yes, I know, a beer or a glass of wine from time to time is great, but in this country alcohol will do more harm than harm your liver. You'll have to sell one to be able to afford it! But we have two tips for you: look for the " happy hours " that are very common in Icelandic bars and restaurants, and if you're travelling by car or van, consider buying the cases of beer that are available in the airport duty free when you arrive.
On the other hand, all restaurants offer free water , which will allow you to reduce the final bill.
Booking in advance is a key factor (although not always)
It's a common trick for any trip and Iceland is no exception. By booking in advance we can ensure better prices for flights, accommodation and rental cars. However, if you travel in low or medium season, it is possible that accommodations launch last-minute offers . To be able to take advantage of them without putting your trip at risk, it is best to book accommodations with cancellation on Booking and look again a few days before to see if we find more interesting rates.
Travel in medium-low season
Summer is the peak season in Iceland and prices skyrocket. In a destination that has become so popular, the peak season is starting earlier and ending later, but despite this, you will save money if you avoid the months of June, July and August .
Stay in campsites
Without a doubt the cheapest accommodation option, excluding couchsurfing and wild camping (as long as we are within the restrictions). If you are travelling around Iceland for a long time, you might be interested in getting the Camping Card . Valid for two adults and four children, it will give you access for 28 days to more than 40 campsites throughout the country. You can buy it online (any paid services offered by the campsite are not included in the price: electricity, washing machines, showers, etc.).
Look for alternatives to traditional hotels
If tenting isn’t your thing, look for alternatives to traditional hotels: hostels, guesthouses, farms, Airbnb , Homeexchange , etc. Whichever you choose, don’t forget to pack your own sleeping bag . Although it may seem strange, in Iceland some accommodations of this type charge extra for “bedding.”
If you go to traditional hotels, don't worry! Not only will you have sheets and bedspreads, but the heating is usually on full blast in winter/spring!
Rent a motorhome or campervan
This is one of the best tips for travelling to Iceland that we can give you if you want to save a little money… In addition to having accommodation and transport all in one, you can cook your own meals and forget about restaurants. On the Motorhome Republic website you can compare prices and types of van rental companies.
If you end up opting for the car, it's not a big deal either... the important thing to save some money is to have accommodation that has a kitchen (private or shared) so you can cook at least one meal a day.
Forgo the photogenic and expensive paid thermal baths
The well-known Blue Lagoon and many other hot springs charge a pretty penny to use their baths. The alternative is to enjoy the warmth of Iceland’s geothermal waters in free “hot tubs” that you’ll find all over the country or in public pools in many towns (estimate around €10). Obviously they’re not as cool and you won’t have facilities to change, but you’ll save a bit of money… although we do recommend going to at least one of the nice hot springs 😉
The Myvatn hot springs , for example, cost around €45 and are really cool! And if you don't have a budget problem, here we tell you which are the best thermal baths (paid and free) in Iceland . As you can see, there are many ways to make a trip to Iceland cheaper (luckily).
10. Withdrawing money in Iceland (without fees) or not!
The krona (ISK) is the official currency of Iceland, but in a country where you can pay for everything with a credit card , it can be difficult to get used to it. In fact, we never had to withdraw money from an ATM and we never exchanged € for krona.
If you prefer to be prepared and carry a few crowns in your pocket, even though it is not essential, it is best to avoid changing money at the airport or at tourist offices, as these places usually charge a significant commission. Instead, you can do so at one of the banks in the centre of Reykjavik : Landsbakinn, Íslandsbanki or Arion Banki are the ones that will offer you the best commission.
The solution we found a while ago to withdraw money abroad and make payments in non-€ currencies without being hit with commissions was to carry several cards. We used the Revolut card on our trip to Iceland as the first option (it's one of the most reliable on the market, plus they have a €10 promo for new users!) and then the N26 card just in case.
They are free and perfect for traveling (by carrying several you can expand the limits), plus if one fails you will always have others to cover your back.
→ Tell us about these travel card options here .
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11. Luggage for traveling to Iceland
No matter what time of year you visit the country, you should always pack warm clothing . Ideally, you should bring clothes that are not made of cotton, but rather thermal clothing made of synthetic fabrics that dry quickly. A jacket that protects from the wind and is waterproof and, most importantly, shoes with a good sole that will keep your feet dry and warm. The trick… dress in layers like an onion!
And although it may be surprising to include them among the essentials in your luggage for travelling to Iceland, don't forget sunglasses , sunscreen and a swimsuit ! You can't forget a towel either so you don't have to rent one at the thermal baths, and be careful because many accommodations don't provide shampoo (or the one they provide is terrible).
Something that is interesting to bring if you travel in winter are crampons , since you will have to walk on snow to reach some waterfalls or places of interest. Don't imagine some impish contraptions full of sharp nails, there are simple attachments that are quickly placed on the boot and allow you to walk on ice and snow with relative ease.
12. Travel insurance for Iceland
And don't leave home without a good insurance policy either : Icelandic healthcare is very expensive, so don't take any chances! A friend of ours had an accident on the first day of her trip and her experience without insurance was so bad that she is now persona non grata for leaving a huge debt for the care she received at the hospital.
13. Will I be able to communicate with Icelanders?
Icelandic is spoken in Iceland … yes, it seems like an obvious answer, hahaha, but this language deserves a special mention for having remained practically unchanged since the country's first settlers, the Vikings , brought it to these lands more than 1000 years ago.
Despite how strange this language may seem to most travellers, it is not difficult to communicate with Icelanders. Firstly, because the vast majority of the population speaks English perfectly. It is true that sometimes they have a kind of “Galician accent” which can be very funny. And secondly, because if things go wrong we can always use simultaneous translation apps like Google Translator.
However, don't expect to have fluid conversations, Icelanders are rather dry, abrupt and generally uncommunicative people . We don't want to say that they are rude and ill-mannered so as not to make enemies :-po, at least that is the impression we have of the country.
14. How to get Internet on your mobile phone and what is the coverage like in Iceland?
If you want to communicate with friends and family, you should know that in Iceland you no longer have to pay roaming fees ! So if you have a Spanish (or European) SIM card, you can use your plan as if you were in your country. If you don't have a European SIM card, you can buy a local SIM card when you arrive or get an eSIM card from Holafly (here's a 5% discount) .
You will have coverage for almost the entire trip . It may be better or worse, but you will be connected and even have 5G most of the time.
More tips for travelling to Iceland on your own
Here are a handful of other recommendations that might be helpful:
- If you are travelling during the high season, book everything in advance : car, accommodation and even the hot springs you want to visit, as we read that places like the Blue Lagoon or the Myvatn baths may not have availability for the same day.
- Always follow the rules when driving, pay for parking (they often have cameras), respect the speed limits, etc.: nobody likes to come home with a ticket as a souvenir! Drive with caution, especially on gravel roads (called " F-roads ") and in strong wind conditions.
- Icelandic cuisine is not going to make it into our top 10 world food lists, but they do have dishes and products, such as skyr, that are quite good. Also, if you are vegetarian or vegan, you should know that supermarkets usually have plenty of offers and at good prices! Here we tell you about the typical dishes to eat in Iceland .
- Iceland is the land of fire and ice… but also of water: you will soon realise! In this post we tell you which are the best waterfalls in Iceland .
- We saw very few bins across the country, so carry a bag with you in case you need to throw something away.
- If you visit Vik, don't forget to eat at Black Crust Pizzeria . I ordered pizza number 5 and I still dream about it (with various types of Icelandic cheeses and blackcurrant jam!).
- Get to know another side of the country with these interesting facts about Iceland .
These are our tips for traveling to Iceland . We hope they help you get the most out of your trip to Iceland , the island of fire and ice.
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