32 Things to Know Before You Visit Iceland

Iceland is not the path untraveled anymore. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit, though. It’s one of the most beautiful countries in the world with natural wonder after natural wonder to explore. The good thing that comes from travelers, like us, who have gone before you is that you can learn from our mistakes and get the tips we learned along the way. Check out our list of things to know before you visit Iceland to help make your trip a success!

BASIC THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VISIT ICELAND

IT’S INSANELY EXPENSIVE: This is pretty much common knowledge, but I think sometimes people think they know it’s expensive, but it was well over what I had anticipated. Even a hotdog will set you back up to $8! Food, drinks, accommodation, tours and fuel will all set you back a pretty penny.
KEFLAVIK AIRPORT IS ABOUT AN HOUR FROM REYKJAVIK: Even though I saw Keflkavik on my itinerary, I stupidly thought it was just the name of the airport. There are shuttles into Reykjavik or you can rent a car. I rented a car from a car rental company very near the airport, so it wasn’t a big deal. I was definitely prepared for my next flight into the country, though.
THERE ARE SMALL AIRPORTS IN REYKJAVIK + AKUREYRI: These airports are for domestic flights. However, if you’re flying to Greenland or the Faroe Islands, you’ll fly out of the Reykjavik airport – we also learned this the hard way.
THE WATER IS SAFE TO DRINK: Iceland boasts some of the best, cleanest water on the planet. However, in many areas the water – especially the warm water – stinks like rotten eggs. It’s not bad, that’s just from the sulphur from it coming geothermal sources.

ALTHOUGH IT’S A SMALL COUNTRY, IT TAKES TIME TO DRIVE AROUND: The Ring Road, as Route 1 is affectionately known, is a road that circles almost the entirety of the island. Driving this route takes over 16 hours, according to Google Maps. That’s without stops and if you’re not used to those roads or driving in rain on roads like that, it’s bound to take you significantly longer. It did for us. Don’t pack too much into a day. Take your time.
THE LOCAL CURRENCY IS KRONA, BUT YOU WON’T NEED MUCH CASH: In two trips to Iceland totaling about a month of travel here I never came across a situation that required cash. This means you won’t have to worry about those pesky ATM fees, and you can get your credit card points!
EXPECT TO EAT A LOT OF SEAFOOD IF YOU EAT OUT: So, here’s a confession guys – I’m kind-of a picky eater. That meant that eating out in Iceland would be difficult for someone like me. I don’t do fish and I don’t love lamb. So, if we hadn’t cooked the majority of our food, it would’ve been very difficult for me.
DOWNLOAD OFFLINE GOOGLE MAPS: This was something that made our trip a million times easier. We pinned all the things we would possibly want to see. Because we downloaded the map for the all of Iceland, we could get routes to all of these destinations even in areas without cell service.

IF YOU’RE NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING, CONSIDER TAKING DAY TOURS: If you’re hoping to see the highlights, but you’re not looking forward to driving one of the best things to know before you visit Iceland is that you can take day tours. There are many available from Reykjavik to Skogafoss + South Iceland, The Golden Circle, seeing the Northern Lights, Glacier Trekking and even the Blue Lagoon.

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KNOW THIS ABOUT RENTING A CAR/DRIVING IN ICELAND

RENT A CAR: While public transport here isn’t terrible, it doesn’t always work well for travelers on a time crunch. If you’re truly looking to get out and explore so much more than Reykjavik, you’ll be glad to have the freedom of having your own transportation.
DON’T SKIMP ON THE INSURANCE: There are some extra coverages when it comes to renting cars in Iceland. Sand, wind, livestock, etc. These are things that can total a car if you don’t have the appropriate coverage. It was so worth it to be able to drive stress-free. Look into your travel insurance to see what it covers – we love World Nomads.
FILL UP WHEN YOU GET THE CHANCE: I’m not saying you should go crazy and pull over every single time you have less than 3/4 tank of gas. However, be mindful of how much you have when passing through a town and how far you are from the next town. There are some decently long stretches without towns or gas stations in between, especially driving the Ring Road.

SOME GAS STATIONS REQUIRE YOU TO USE A CARD WITH A PIN: Be sure to have a PIN on your credit card or bring a debit card. Some gas stations will require one. If you encounter this and don’t have a card with a PIN, just take your card inside and the attendant can help you out.
OLÍS GAS STATIONS HAVE A WONDERFUL DISCOUNT CARD: Our rental company gave us an Olís Gas Station Discount Card and it was such a great little tool! It saved us 3 ISK/liter (almost 10 cents/gallon), gets you 10% off at their restaurants and free coffee + wifi! The savings really added up while road tripping the island!
For more driving tips, check out this post on driving and renting a car in Iceland.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VISIT ICELAND: THE SITES

YOU WILL NOT BE THE ONLY TOURIST: Iceland is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world right now, so don’t think you’re going to show up to a destination in the middle of the day and be the only one there. However, it is still capable of getting off the beaten path.
“MIDNIGHT” HIKES IN THE SUMMER WILL GIVE YOU GREAT LIGHTING + ALONE TIME WITH POPULAR NATURAL SITES: Even though the most popular sites will be busy during the day, if you take advantage of the midnight sun and take a midnight hike, you can find yourself alone or one of just a few at some of the most popular sites. Be aware that some people are starting to catch on to this, but those people are all really cool.

THERE ARE OTHER GEOTHERMAL POOLS OTHER THAN THE BLUE LAGOON: While the Blue Lagoon is definitely an incredible spa-experience, there are so many other geothermal pools, rivers + spas. Most are significantly cheaper and some are free!
DON’T OVERPACK YOUR ITINERARY: You will see so many amazing things along the way. Leave wiggle room in your itinerary to make unplanned stops or to stay a little longer at other stops. You never know when you’re going to find something unexpected at a place you planned.
ICELAND IS A COUNTRY FOR FESTIVAL-LOVERS: There are all kinds of festivals in Iceland and they go on all year long. From a winter light festival to an arts festival and even a festival of the sea, if you like to attend festivals with locals, Iceland is for you.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT WEATHER IN ICELAND

DON’T BE AFRAID TO VISIT IN THE WINTER: Iceland sounds like an intimidating place to visit in the winter, but we went in February and it was so wonderful. Sure, there wasn’t a ton of daylight, but the landscapes are so beautiful when covered in snow and make a stark contrast to black rocks surrounding waterfalls.
THE SUN BASICALLY DOESN’T SET IN THE SUMMER: In a total 180 from the winter, the sun doesn’t set in the summer and when it does “set” it’s more like dusk and never actually gets dark. This can be so amazing, especially if you take advantage of the midnight sun, but it can also mess with you. Matt and I struggled sleeping and we got a little weird. I highly recommend packing an eye mask with you.

BE PREPARED FOR THE WEATHER TO CHANGE IN THE MATTER OF MOMENTS: Especially in the winter, you can go from perfectly clear to rain to sleet. The wind can whip + howl and it’s best to just be prepared for the whether to change in an instant.
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS AREN’T ALWAYS VISIBLE IN WINTER: One of the major draws to us visiting Iceland in winter was to see the Northern Lights. We did see them from above in the plane, but on land we didn’t see them at all. It actually requires a perfect storm of several things to get to see them. So, don’t kill yourself chasing them and don’t be disappointed to not see them on your trip.

PACK WATERPROOF CLOTHES/BOOTS NO MATTER THE TIME OF YEAR: One thing stays super consistent: rain. No matter the season there’s a good chance it’s going to rain or, at least, drizzle. You won’t be disappointed to have waterproof hiking boots, waterproof snow boots and a good rain jacket. [Those are linked to products I recommend.]
For more tips on what to pack for a trip to Iceland in winter, click here.

TIPS TO MAKE YOUR TRIP TO ICELAND BUDGET-FRIENDLY

As I said in the first group of tips, Iceland is expensive, but these are something I wish I had known or thought of before getting to Iceland to help me save money!

STAY IN ACCOMMODATION WITH A KITCHEN: This is one of the best things to know before you visit Iceland because it can save you so much money. Matt and I had more ramen noodles, grilled cheese sandwiches and steamed veggies than we’d like to admit. We also fixed breakfast and such at our guesthouses, but this meant we could eat for $10-15/per day for the two of us instead of $15-30 per meal per person out.
BRING SOME NON-PERISHABLE FOODS FROM HOME IF YOU CAN: This is one way to seriously cut back on costs. If you’re flying from home or a mainland area, grab some non-perishables at a much lower price. However, Iceland limits the amount of food you bring in to 3kg or a little over 6.5 pounds. 
SHOP FOR GROCERIES AT BÓNUS: For those perishables or restocking just about anything, Bónus is the grocery store you want to visit. You’ll find them all over the country and you can’t find a better bargain on the island than Bónus.
BRING A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE: Because the tap water is so wonderful, it is senseless to pay for water. Plus, it sucks for the environment to buy all those bottles of water.
EAT AT GAS STATIONS: I know that this probably sounds a little weird, but most of the gas stations around town have a small restaurant in them. While the food isn’t always spectacular, it is cheaper than most other places in the country. That said, the hot dogs are the bomb. And it’s quick and convenient.

VISIT THE MANY FREE ATTRACTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY: One of the number one things to do in Iceland is spend time in nature. Most of these natural sites, even the most famous ones, are free to enter. However, you may have to pay $1-$2 to park at a few of them. That’s nothing compared to what you get to experience.
TRAVEL IN THE WINTER: Although it’s still a popular winter destination, it’s not nearly as crowded. Off-season means off season prices. Cash in on those deals!
BOOK AN ICELANDAIR STOPOVER: Although I don’t think IcelandAir flights are nearly as cheap as WOW prices were, they’re still decently affordable and you can plan a stopover up to seven days at no addition cost onto your European flight.

I hope this list of things to know before you visit Iceland helps you feel even more prepared to visit this gorgeous country. Your experience here is sure to be one you’ll never forget!

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