Were you thinking of a trip to Iceland? You have come to the right place! Here you can find almost all the information you need to get started preparing your ideal holiday in Iceland. This post covers a lot. We’ll take a look at the different ways to get around Iceland, as well as some of the regions you might want to visit at other times. We also include tips for when and how long to travel in the country: which route to take, what to pack, where to stay, and local specialties. These are the considerations you will likely encounter when you start practically planning your trip.
This will depend on your personal preferences. Iceland will never get hot; the maximum summer temperature is around 20°C (70°F), making it good summer weather to visit. In addition, the summer midnight sun allows you to extend your daily itineraries. However, winter offers the opportunity to see the northern lights, if you have it on the list. And you will find more affordable accommodation and flights in the winter, especially in February and March. Here is a very short summary:
Hight Season (Mid-June through the end of August)
Summer is the most popular time to visit Iceland, so prices are likely to be higher and attractions more crowded with visitors. Roads will be open around the country, making attractions more accessible, and a number of tours that weren’t possible in the other months will be operational. The long days mean that you aren’t going to see the aurora borealis. The country will be beautifully green and lush though, with colorful wild lupin flowers lighting up the landscape if you visit when they’re in bloom. Also, a great time to see wildlife.
Shoulder Season (Mid-May through mid-June, September through mid-October)
Coming in late spring, visitors can expect enough daylight hours, roads in good conditions, a wider range of available accommodation, and occasionally lower prices. In early autumn, temperatures may be cool and crisp, with golden light and changing colors on the trees. There will be fewer travelers and lower prices. The later in the fall you arrive, the better chance you’ll have of seeing the Northern Lights.
Low Season (Mid-October – April)
Running roughly from mid-October right through to the end of April is considerably winter time in Iceland. The closer to December, you’ll get less than six hours of daylight! The shortest day time is at the end of December. In March, however, the daylight time goes up to 12 hours or more. That darkness is great for seeing the Northern Lights till the end of March, so if that’s a key consideration for your trip, winter is the time you should visit. Winter means snowy landscapes and possibly icy driving conditions, and some parts of the country, particularly the high ground, become inaccessible for all but the most extreme off-road vehicles. The temperature rarely falls far below freezing, there are far fewer visitors, and the wintery landscapes are stunning to behold. Plus, that chance of seeing the Northern Lights is tempting!
Before you start planning a trip to Iceland, you first have to decide how long to stay. There’s a lot to see and do in Iceland, and you could easily fill up to a couple of weeks here. There are also many attractions within easy reach of Reykjavik, so even if you just have a two or three-day stopover, you’d still be amazed by how much natural beauty you could fit in.
However, we would suggest you spend at least three to seven days in the country, if you can, to see as much as possible. If you intend to take the trip along with the Ring Road, which goes all the way around Iceland (advisable in the summer months), then you should think about at least seven days in Iceland, but preferably 8-10 days in order to get the most out of your experience. The recommended time for attempting the all-around Ring Road in 7 days, you would have to rush all the time.
For a more detailed exploration of different parts of Iceland you might need:
- Reykjavik and Golden Circle route: 2 days
- Snæfellnes Peninsula. West Iceland: 2 days
- South Iceland and Glacier Lagoon: 2-3 days
- West Fjords: 2-3 days
- East Iceland: 2 days
- North Iceland: 2-3 days
- Central Highlands – at least one day for Landmannalaugar with 4 WD
When you are planning a trip to Iceland, you might consider two main options for exploring the country by self-driving or choosing guided tours.
Self-Drive – own planning
Self-drive is a good option for traveling around Iceland on your own, staying in different places and sightseeing depending on your interests. You will have the opportunity to reschedule sights and events in bad weather, add sights from your route and, as a rule, get maximum control over your trip.
Self-Drive – Iceland Trip Package
If you don’t want to plan everything yourself but are happy to drive around based on the indication provided, you can book a self-drive package including the rental car, hotels, and recommendations.
Guided tours
If you prefer someone else to drive while you enjoy the scenic views, then you might prefer a guided tour. They come in many types, from day trips to multi-day trips, and you can book both private tours and group tours.
Day Tours from Reykjavik
Many local tour operators are offering single-day guided tours departing from Reykjavik to see many of the best attractions in the South and West of Iceland. If you have only a few days, it can be a good option to stay in the same hotel and get a snapshot of several areas. The advantage of this option is the possibility to choose different companies offering a wide range of excursions and activities.
Multi-day Tours
Another option, if you don’t want to drive on your own (especially in wintertime), is to choose a multi-day tour. In this way, you could see more than with day tours from Reykjavik by extending your travel areas and minimize road overlapping. By choosing a multi-day tour, you will get a guide service, hotel accommodations, and recommendations during the trip.
Private Tours
If you have the budget, you can also book a day or multi-day tours with an expert driver-guide for your party only. Private tours will allow you to be flexible in the itinerary and discover the regions and magnificent landscapes in the convenient way of travel. Private tours with a local guide may be the “best of both self-driving and group tours” but it usually turns out to be the most expensive option for a trip, so if you don’t have a large enough group or are limited on budget, then a self-drive or a group tour will be more suitable.
Note – on Internal Flights in Iceland
If you want to shortcut your tour, or just cover one area of the island, you can take internal flights from the Reykjavik domestic airport. Reykjavik to Akureyri flight takes 45 minutes only. Air Iceland runs many internal flights and they are cheaper if you book them in advance.
Now, when you have decided when and for how long you want to visit Iceland, you are going to want to plan an itinerary. Of course, once you have started putting an itinerary together, you might decide that you need even longer in our wonderful country – and that is fine of course!
1-4 Days in Iceland
For a one three days trip, we would suggest you focus on the sights around and within a three to four-hour drive of Reykjavik. For example, a day trip around the Golden Circle, a half-day visit to the Blue Lagoon, a day trip along the South Coast to see some of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, and perhaps a day trip to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in the West part of Iceland. These all can be easily done either with day tours from Reykjavik or as part of a self-drive tour.
4-7 Days in Iceland
Four to seven days gives you a lot of choices in Iceland. Our suggestion would be to explore the country from Snaefellsnes Peninsula in the West and along the way to the East up to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, exploring the highlights of the Golden Circle, the Blue Lagoon, mighty waterfalls of the South Coast, and the Vatnajokull glacier region. These would be perfect as part of a self-drive tour, or you could join multi-day tours from Reykjavik.
7+ Days in Iceland
With seven days to play with, and if you are not traveling in wintertime, then the Ring Road is likely going to be your natural choice. You will be able to see the major highlights of Iceland on this incredible journey around the country, with more photo opportunities than you can imagine. This is a popular option and can be done either as a self-drive trip or as part of a group tour. Alternatively, you could thoroughly explore the East of the country right through the South Coast and see everything from the highlights to the less-visited attractions, really taking your time and taking it all in.
Now you should have an idea of when you’re going to visit Iceland, how long you’re going to spend in Iceland, what sort of trip you’re going to do in Iceland and where you want to go in Iceland!
With the boom of tourism in Iceland, accommodations are appearing everywhere, especially guesthouses. The accommodation options are various, and the standards are universally high. At the very least, visitors can be guaranteed a comfortable and clean bed; even most youth hostels here are more attractive than in most other countries of the world. At the other end of the scale, visitors who are hoping for a great vacation for free may need to lower their expectations. Although there are comfortable luxury hotels throughout the country, you are unlikely to find a 5-star hotel in Iceland by international luxury standards.
While there are many options available and more accommodation places are opening their doors, housing in Iceland is usually booked very quickly. During the summer and Christmas periods, hotels are usually crowded, and this becomes more and more relevant during what was once the “off-peak” season.
Potential visitors should make sure that they have well planned their vacation for at least a few months. This is especially true for those who travel around the country. Outside of the Reykjavik area and the northern capital of Akureyri, settlements are usually tiny and the number of places to stay is limited. The easiest way to make sure that you have a place wherever you go is to order a self-drive package. Thus, all your preferences and needs will be taken into account, and all the places where you stay will be reserved on your route. All you have to do is get to them on time.
Iceland is far from a budget destination, and prices vary depending on the season of your visit, with the peak summer months tending to be much more expensive than the quieter winter months.
A mid-range hotel room will generally be in the country of $150 – $200 a night, and this will often include breakfast. Rental car costs will vary depending on the type of vehicle you hire. Expect to pay $100 for a compact car and up to $500 a day for SUV or Minivan, and don’t forget to factor in the cost of the various insurance options. Gas is quite expensive. Food is a real budget-killer in Iceland. Even burgers at gas stations will be in the range of $10 – $15, whilst a sit-down meal at a restaurant will have prices in the range of $30 – $50 for the main course.
The good news is that many of the attractions themselves, and particularly the natural attractions like waterfalls and national parks, are free to visit, although some do have parking fees, notably the most popular waterfalls along the south coast. The parking fee is taken to help provide infrastructure, and we think it is worth paying to help Iceland cope with increased tourism numbers.
And, we really recommend you purchase travel insurance prior to arrival. Compared to the budget for such a trip, it is reasonable and, in case of problems, you won’t regret having one. We believe that Iceland is worth a visit, and you should just prepare yourself to spend a little more money than in other European countries. This is definitely money that you will not regret!