So you’re thinking about visiting Iceland? Good choice. Iceland is a magnificent country to travel through. And it’s a country where a few Iceland travel tips don’t go astray. It’s a relatively easy country to navigate. Most people speak English. It’s well prepared for travellers. And the key sights are well documented.
But don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security. Every country we visit is made ever helpful with some tips. And Iceland is no different. Read on for our key Iceland travel tips.
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Our top Iceland travel tips
Car hire helps so much
We’ve visited Iceland twice. Once without a car, and once with. And there is no comparison. The flexibility that a vehicle affords you in Iceland is immense. Aside from the distances between key sights, there are so many ‘small’ sights off the beaten track. There were so many times during our road trip that we pulled over to take in an awe inspiring sight. I’d never travel to Iceland without a car again!
Keep to the speed limits
Of all of our Iceland travel tips, this one will save you the most money. Now driving clearly has its perks. But you also need to do it safely. And that means avoiding speeding fines. Iceland’s maximum speed limit is 90km/h. At times driving the Ring Road, you’ll have no one coming towards you and no one behind you. And it might be tempting to put the foot down.
Even in the remotest parts of Iceland however, the roads are dotted with speed cameras. And the fines aren’t cheap. Your car rental agency will also sting you with an administrative fee. So avoid putting the foot down, even when it feels ‘safe’ to do so. Because your wallet will feel that pain before you depart!
Do I need a 4WD?
The Ring road itself is well paved and in itself doesn’t require a 4WD. Venture off the Ring Road and you’ll be presented with unsealed gravel and rocks. Some car parks themselves were quite bumpy.
For maximum flexibility, we opted for a 4WD. It meant we didn’t have the worry of not having a 4WD. We could drive down any roads we were confronted with. And when the weather was bad, it gave us confidence we had a vehicle we had greater control over.
So it’s not necessary if you’re sticking to the sealed roads, but it’s a damn good option if you want that extra flex.
Beware the weather
Never before have a I visited a country with such variable weather, but still enjoyed myself so much. Rain can ruin so many holidays and trips. But in Iceland it is par for the course, no matter when you travel.
The flip side to this is that it can be raining torrentially one minute. Five minutes later, a stunning rainbow can appear. It’s these pockets of sunshine you soon come to cherish very much. Iceland looks so very different in sunshine compared to overcast or rainy weather. And it just makes it that little bit more special when it happens.
Pack appropriately
In Iceland you’ll hear a common saying. There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing choices. And with the variable weather that Iceland presents, this is so very true.
Rain jacket, rain pants and hiking boots will help ensure you stay dry. Jeans, tshirts and jumpers will get wet and hold the water. Wear these underneath for sure. But alongside some thermals and with your wet weather gear at the ready.
Iceland is not a destination that smiles on those that like to brave the weather. If you don’t pack appropriately, Iceland has plenty of clothes available for sale that will get you through. Just don’t expect a bargain.
The time of year you visit matters
This is probably our biggest Iceland travel tip of all. Now seasons are one thing. But being located so far north on our blue marble of a planet means you’ll also be dealing with variable sunlight.
Our first visit was in January/February. Around 5 hours of sunlight only, that never got much higher than the sun on a late afternoon. It’s like a perpetual sunset. Very beautiful of course, but also a little impractical in terms of visiting sights.
Our visit in October afforded some extra daylight, but in the week we were there we lost 30 minutes of sunlight.
We’ve not managed to do an Icelandic summer although it is on our list. During June, July and August you can expect to encounter some midnight sun. An amazing experience that I can’t wait to have and this might free up some more time each day to visit key sights.
We need to talk about the northern lights
Which is a nice segue into our next Iceland travel tip – how to see the northern lights. Both of our visits were scheduled around the northern lights. January and February with so much darkness present a great opportunity to see them. Our October road trip had less darkness, but was still the beginning of the season where there can be some great visibility.
Being situated so far north, the winter months get lots of darkness. The summer, not so much. Now to see the northern lights, you need the weather to be cold, clear and cosmic. Cold weather, clear skies and some cosmic activity. Without these, you’ll be unable to see them.
On our October trip we had just one night of great cosmic activity, however it was very cloudy. On our first trip, our northern lights trip was cancelled both nights as conditions didn’t align. So unfortunately in two trips and totalling some 11 nights all up, we’re yet to see them on the ground. We did witness them flying into Reykjavik from above however on a transit flight from New York to London. So they are there!
Our advice here would be to temper your expectations. And if you do get to see them – savour the moment!
You can book a northern lights tour in Reykjavik here. Alternatively, if you’re on the road, ask your hotel to give you a wake up call if positive activity occurs.
Want to know more about the northern lights? Read this guide to demystify everything about this cosmic magic.
Taking your time helps take it all in
Iceland is a stunningly beautiful country. And in our opinion, it is best experienced slowly. If you’re tossing up between more or less time in Iceland, go for more. There aren’t many places that pack in the geographical beauty like Iceland does. Don’t rush.
Eating out can be very expensive
It wouldn’t be a list of Iceland tips without talking about the food. Every blog will mention it, and we want to try and be clear on this. Eating out in Iceland is expensive comparable to most countries. That goes for drinks too. Now, you might be able to find a nice soup or pizza restaurant, or smaller vendor where prices are more reasonable. But Iceland is not the sort of place you want to be paying for three meals a day.
Luckily, the supermarkets remain in line with the typical prices you’d find at home. So if you’re happy buying some bread, noodles and something from the deli, you’ll be absolutely fine. We found some great restaurants during our time in Iceland. And equally enjoyed boiling a kettle in our hotel room with some noodles.
Stock up on your breakfast if it’s included in your room rate, and make the most of your visits to the supermarket.
Eating out can be expensive, but you don’t need to go hungry.
Iceland is a popular destination for filming
If you feel like you’ve seen Iceland many times before, you likely have. One of my most favourite movies – The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – was filmed here. It even covered for Greenland and Afghanistan. I told you that landscape was diverse!
Iceland has been something of an outdoor Hollywood in recent decades. James Bond, Batman, Tomb Raider and Star Wars have all filmed parts in Iceland. That’s not to mention Game of Thrones where Iceland played host to many key scenes.
So if you’re a film buff, you’ll love visiting Iceland and recognising all the sights that have played a pivotal role in your favourite movies.
If you’re a fan of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, read up on our article about movies just like it – including some in Iceland!
Small population, but it’s still an expansive country
It’s easy to look on a map and think Iceland is small. And whilst it certainly isn’t the biggest country in the world, circling it via The Ring Road would still take you 12-13 hours. And this is important to remember, because some of those key sights you might want to visit aren’t located where you’ll land. The Golden Circle is easily accessible from Reykjavik, but Vik, Jokulsarlon and Hofn certainly aren’t nearby!
So when you’re doing your research of where you’d like to visit, take into account how long it will take to get to those destinations.
A plan is very helpful
With sunlight hours limited, distances to be covered sometimes vast and so many sights to take in, a plan is incredibly helpful. We mapped out our key highlights, how long we wanted at these and built our itinerary around that. We built in fat to account for extra stops that we hadn’t accounted for.
You could wing it, but then you’d risk missing some great sights along the way.
Need help planning your Iceland trip?
Check out our 9 day Iceland itinerary covering Snaefellsnes, Reykjavik and the southern part of the Ring Road.
There are a lot of diversions that are well worth it
Which brings me to my next point. Despite the plan, there will be an unknown waterfall off a dirt road. A cute church you spot in the distance. A view point over a town. And you’ll spot these once you’re there. So build in that extra bit of time for the unknown. Iceland’s highlights are just the well known ones.
Cards are universally accepted
Don’t like carrying cash? You’re in luck. You can get by in Iceland with very little. We withdrew a small amount at the airport using our no international transaction fee debit card. There was only one place we had to use the cash, and that was effectively a donation at a mineral spring.
Visa, Mastercard and American Express are all widely accepted.
That’s it for our Iceland tips. It’s an amazing country with so much on offer. Have we missed any critical tips you’d recommend? Let us know below!
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