30+ ESSENTIAL Iceland Travel Tips To Know Before You Go! [in 2024!]

Iceland Travel Tips: Be aware of the Weather & Seasons

Iceland is subject to extreme weather swings

Shared by Me (Vicki from MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld)

They say if you don’t like the weather in Iceland, wait 5 minutes. And it really changes that quickly.

Make sure you have extra layers and rain gear on hand (see our appropriate clothing section below), let your hotel know where you’re headed, and check the weather forecast prior to any independent excursions.

Oh, and have a backup plan if the weather doesn’t want to play ball!

Where to go in Winter

Shared by Jessica from Independent Travel Cats

In the winter, some of the roads, trails, and attractions are inaccessible. We recommend that travelers focus on the western and southern parts of Iceland which stay the warmest and have the best-maintained roads and most open attractions.

This area includes the famous Golden Circle Route, Blue Lagoon, several waterfalls, and a glacier lagoon. We also recommend that those who plan to drive rent a 4-wheel drive vehicle with proper winter tires.

How To Get Some Sleep in Summer

Shared by Kaylie from Happiness Travels Here

While 24 hours of daylight during the summer (also known as the midnight sun) is great for long days of sightseeing it can play havoc with your sleep cycle. Blackout curtains are not the norm in Iceland, so invest in a good eye mask (sleeping mask) to block out the rays and get a restful night’s sleep.

Still struggling to switch off in the summer months? Wearing dark sunglasses, whenever you are outside in the evening, will help trick your brain into thinking night is coming (even in the never ended daylight hours!)

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Pre Book Everything

Shared by Maggie from Mags on the Move

Tourism in Iceland has exploded in recent years and the tourist industry is struggling to keep up. Simply put, there are far more tourists than there are places for them to stay, cars for them to rent, or spots for them on popular tours from Reykjavic.

It’s gotten so bad that there have even been cases of tourists knocking on local doors looking for a free place to stay. Don’t be that guy. A little planning goes a long way in Iceland and where at all possible, we recommend booking everything months in advance.

Planning a trip to Iceland soon? Plan ahead and Check Available Hotels Now | Arrange Car Hire | Compare hotel prices for later
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Tips for Driving

Take Many Maps

Shared by Catherine from We Go With Kids

We planned to use a GPS with international maps as our main form of navigation in Iceland. However, we found that the GPS could not identify our first destination on the ring road (and then the Snæfellsnes peninsula) because it did not have an Icelandic keyboard.

To combat this we would recommend recording GPS coordinates for the destinations you intend to visit; take or buy a paper map and download an offline map through the Maps. Me app.

You can never have enough maps if you plan on driving the ring road!

Specify an amount when Filling up with Petrol

Shared by Ryazan from Everything Zany

Petrol stations in Iceland are automated and self-service. After our glacier hike in South Iceland, we had to top up our petrol on our way back to Reykjavik.

When you use the petrol pump, you have to set the amount (money) that you want to spend on your petrol or choose the option “fill up the tank”. We chose the “fill up tank” option, petrol done.

We didn’t realize that this option authorized our credit card the maximum amount (300 GBP per transaction) even if the total amount of petrol consumed was less than that.

The authorization will freeze your money for a maximum of 7 days.

Always Park your Car Facing into the Wind

Shared by Jennifer of Made All The Difference

Have you ever opened the door of your car and had the wind pull the door forward? Has the car door ever broken because the wind flung it forward so hard?

I had that experience on my winter Iceland road trip. Iceland doesn’t have a lot of barriers to stop the wind so the wind can reach speeds 50mph. That is strong enough to break a car doorstop.  After breaking my passager side door, I learned an important lesson. 

Always park so the front of the car is into the wind.  That being said, watch your fingers around the door frames.  If the wind slams it closed, you could lose a finger(!) Rental cars sure do get a workout in Iceland!

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Watch out for Suicidal Sheep

Shared by Nathan from Foodie Flashpacker

“Watch out for suicidal sheep” the car rental agent warned us he slid the set of keys towards me.
“Ummmmm… what do you mean?”, I asked.
“The sheep here will run in front of your car without warning”, he said. “It’s like they have a death wish or are committing suicide”, he continued.

We spent 10 days exploring the entire country by car and would frequently find herds of sheep lazily crossing the highway and gravel roads. As I would navigate the car between the herd I was always careful to go slow, leaving plenty of time to stop should a sheep jump in front of the car.

Fortunately, it was an issue we didn’t have to deal with, unlike other unlucky renters who found out travel insurance doesn’t cover damages from animals! The car rental agency definitely has a reason to warn people about the sheep with damage like that!

The local wildlife isn’t all bad though. You’ll also see plenty of Icelandic horses whilst you’re out and about (you can even go horseback riding), but these are pretty road smart and usually friendly, so don’t be afraid to get out the car and take a look at these amazing and unique creatures.

Campervan Tips

Setting Up & Living in Your Campervan

Shared by Nina from Where in the World is Nina?

Campervanning Iceland is essentially the best and cheapest way to see the country! It’s definitely not for everyone though, and it takes some time to get used to everything.

My best tips would be to first get really organized the second you get the van. Separate your clothes in an organized way and keep it that way, where will your electronics live? What drawer is for dry goods?

Get everything in its place and actually stick to it! Nobody wants to lose an hour looking for a missing sock while visiting Iceland…

Next, you ALWAYS should keep your shoes up in the front seat. No matter what. You don’t want to walk where you sleep.

Lastly, when you first get your camper van, it would be wise to check out what stuff the camper van company or your first campsite has.

There are often tons of free stuff like gas canisters, rice, oil, condiments, water bottles, and other nonperishables that you can grab for free, then go shopping for fresh stuff and whatever else you’re missing.

On your last day, you donate all your leftovers to a campsite for the next person.

You Can’t Free Camp in Iceland

Shared by Natasha from The World Pursuit

Before we arrived in Iceland we were expecting that we could just take our camper, park in any beautiful spot we wanted, and camp out overnight. We couldn’t have been more wrong about our assumption.

It used to be the case that motorhomes and tents alike could camp anywhere they wanted in Iceland and throughout some National Parks. However, as tourism increased and more and more people flocked to Iceland the free camping certainly took a toll on the land.

Now it is the law that you have to camp at a designated campsite or have consent from landowners in Iceland. The new legislation is targeted at vehicles and land rights, not specifically tents or camping.

Meaning if you are hiking in the woods you can still pitch a traditional tent and sleep in sleeping bags in the Iceland wilderness, but that means you have to be on foot.

The good news is there are plenty of campsites around Iceland. Many stay open year-round, but in the high season, you should try to book in advance. Campsites provide basic facilities like a toilet, shower and maybe WiFi.

The cost for these campsites ranges anywhere from 1000-2500 ISK per person per night. Which, compared to free camping is expensive, but still much cheaper than a hotel.

How To Stay Warm in Winter in your Camper/RV

While Iceland doesn’t necessarily get extremely cold, you do need to prepare when going on a winter road trip with a campervan.

First and foremost: rent a campervan with a heating system. This will keep you toasty warm during the long evenings and nights of the Islandic winter.

Secondly: all campervans have a small stove, so it’s easy to heat up some water. Therefore, it’s a good idea to bring plenty of tea and instant soup on your amazing adventure so that you can make a steaming cup to help you warm up after a hike in the beautiful Islandic landscapes.

Finally, and our top Iceland travel tip, is to bring a layer of thermos clothes you can wear at night. The heating system will do most of the work but in windy Iceland cold drafts are unavoidable. A Thermo outfit will keep you warm and comfy.

See a Different Side of the Main Attractions

Have Breakfast at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Shared by Collette from Roamaroo

Jökulsárlón is a popular tourist spot in Iceland, but one of the most unique ways to experience it is by having breakfast right in front of it.

You can do this either by driving your RV/Campervan there first thing in the morning or by camping there overnight. Simply back into a space that faces the lagoon, whip up some brekky and enjoy the serenity before all the crowds on tour buses with tour guides arrive.

NOTE: You can’t just camp anywhere in Iceland (see above) but the lagoon does allow camping on-site (but only in Campervans or RVs as there are no toilet facilities for true ‘wild camping’)

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Don’t forget to explore Reykjavik

Shared by Bec from Wylde Family Travel

One of the best things we did in Reykjavik was a Walking Tour with City Walk Reykjavik.

Our experienced guide Eric took us to some of the best-hidden gems around the small city, told us the history of the people and the buildings…we even got to see the tree of the year! (Yep, tree of the year!)

Even though we visited in winter it was still a highlight of our trip and it was easy enough to stay warm as we walked with our 2 daughters. the best bit was we got the info from someone born and raised there!

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There are plenty of Lagoons besides the Blue Lagoon

Shared by Me :-)

The Blue Lagoon is practically a right of passage for visitors to Iceland. A hot spring in the middle of a lava field, the florescent blue water has visitors flocking in the hundreds of thousands each year.

But what most people don’t realize is that because of its volcanic landscape and position above two plates of the earth, Iceland has a multitude of hot spring and the Blue Lagoon is not unique. There are plenty of natural geothermic pools all over the country.

More well-known ones include the Nature Baths at Lake Myvatn in North Iceland or the Secret Lagoon near Flúði – but even more special is the number of free, natural hot springs located around the country.

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But if you are visiting the Blue Lagoon – Make Sure It Is Open!

Shared by Elizabeth from Compass & Fork

One of Iceland’s best-known attractions, these hot springs are subject to the weather and do close at times.

During winter, when we went to visit the Blue Lagoon, we were disappointed to find it closed.  Due to heavy rains and cold weather, the natural temperature in the hot springs had lowered to the point the outdoor pools were not open!

So to avoid disappointment check the weather and perhaps call ahead (the website is not updated in real-time) to check if it is open if there have been heavy rains or if it is too cold.

Iceland Tips for Finding & Photographing The Northern Lights

How to Find The Northern Lights

Iceland Travel Tips: The Low-Down on Food and Drink

You Can Drink The Tap Water (Even Though It (Sometimes) Smells Awful!)

This is Silfra, where the two tectonic plates meet – the water is so pure here that you can drink as you swim in it!

You can and should drink the tap water.

Iceland’s water is so clean, that drinking from the taps alone could be considered overkill. For the most part, it is completely safe to drink from the country’s streams and river systems, most of which originate from one of the island’s glaciers.

That people buy bottled water is a point of irritation for Icelanders and has a negative impact on the environment (that goes for all plastic water bottles) – but some people insist on buying them. Please don’t be that person.

The only thing to note is that sometimes, you need to let the cold water tap run a little while. This is because Iceland runs on geothermic energy – and the hot water in the country has a sulfur component that produces a rotten egg smell.

You’ll notice it when you take a shower, but as long as the cold water from the tap is in fact cold, you won’t notice it in your drinking water.

Eating Out is Super Expensive

Shared by Taryn from Happiest Outdoors

Iceland is expensive, and restaurants and cafes are super expensive, so the cheapest way to eat is to shop at the grocery store and cook for yourself in your hostel, guesthouse or campsite. To get the best prices to go to Bonus or Kronan.

If you want to save money, avoid 10-11: it’s Iceland’s version of 7/11 and it’s really overpriced. Imported food is really costly in Iceland so budget-conscious travelers should stick with local food like dairy, potatoes and lamb or fish.

Since they’re hard to grow in Iceland, salad greens, herbs, and some fruits are surprisingly expensive. Also, if you are traveling with dietary restrictions, we’ve got the perfect Vegan foodie guide to Reykjavik for you!

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How to Find Happy Hour

Shared by Danielle from The Thought Card

Among many other things like food and lodging, alcohol is extremely expensive in Iceland. Although buying alcohol duty-free at Keflavik Airport can save you a significant amount of money, Reykjavik Appy Hour is another great alternative if you’re looking to spot happy hours in town.

Reykjavik Appy Hour is a free app that lets users know of happy hour specials throughout Reykjavik in real-time. It displays the establishment’s description, the happy hour duration and prices for glasses of wine, beer, and cocktails – perfect for those who want to enjoy Reykjavik’s nightlife without sacrificing too much of their Iceland budget.

Where to Buy Alcohol outside of Bars and Restaurants

Shared by Emily from Kids and Compass

Reykjavik might be known as a party town but buying your own alcohol in Iceland can be surprisingly difficult.  

While you can buy very weak beer (2%) from supermarkets and service stations if you want anything stronger on your travels you’re going to need to plan in advance. Alcohol in Iceland is only sold in state-owned shops called Vinbudin. 

There aren’t that many of them and they keep odd opening hours so you’ll need to check the website for opening times before you visit.

There’s also a zero-tolerance policy on drink driving in Iceland.  Drink even one beer and you can’t drive – worth remembering if you’re thinking about a glass of wine with dinner!

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How to Get Free Coffee & Half Price Candy

Shared by Inma from A World To Travel

Iceland is full of surprises. After a month there, I found out that you can get free coffee at Oli’s gas stations if you get a hold of one of their free cards and – wait for it – candy is 50% off on Saturdays across the country (perfect for sweet treat loving budget travellers!) How adorable!

RELATED – Traveling on a budget? Save some money and check out these Money Saving Tips for Iceland

 

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Iceland Tips: Choose Your Outwear Wisely (What to Wear in Iceland)

Take the Right Coat

Shared by Ryan form Treksplorer

Hitting a patch of bad weather in Iceland isn’t a case of if, but when. Whether you’ve decided to visit Iceland in the chilly days of winter or the ‘sunny’ days of summer, picking the proper outerwear for the season is key!

During the Icelandic winter, you’ll need to not just stay warm, but also dry. Weatherproof ski jackets tend to work better than the fashion-forward wool winter coats you’ll find elsewhere in Europe.

As with much of Northern Europe, the warmer days of summer in Iceland will usher in the freedom to wear a comfortable lightweight rain jacket over your regular clothing.

In spring and autumn, be sure to layer up with a sweater or fleece base and either a softshell or light rain jacket to fully prepare for cooler temperatures and the ever-lingering possibility of wet weather.

Wear the Right (Dry) Pants

Shared by Jen from Jen on a Jet Plane

If there’s one thing you can count on when visiting Iceland – whether you have a couple of weeks in Iceland or only a few days in iceland – its that you will get wet. Even on a sunny day, the sheer force of the waterfalls, geysers, ice caves and glaciers you’ll be visiting make it almost impossible to position yourself outside of Iceland’s splash zone.

To make matters worse, wet and cold is a dreadful combination. Save yourself the trouble, and potential case of pneumonia, and pack dry pants to wear over your tights or jeans.

It may seem like overkill when you’re in a warm car, but the moment you step out into the elements you’ll be glad you came prepared.

 

Pack Waterproof Shoes, Hiking Boots or Snow Shoes

Shared by Laurence at Finding The Universe

The weather in Iceland can be changeable at any time of year, and the terrain you walk over – even for sights close to the car parks – can often be slippery, wet, or even snow-covered.

This is especially true near the bigger waterfalls, where the spray can soak the ground. To avoid the discomfort of wet feet or the dangers of slipping on wet rocks, I highly recommend you bring and wear a decent pair of waterproof footwear along with the above-recommended travel gear.

These don’t have to be full-on hiking boots, but just make sure they have good soles and are waterproof. You’ll be glad of them on the hiking trails and footpaths.

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Pack Your Bathers!

Shared by Amanda from Not A Ballerina

An Icelander told me before my first trip to Iceland that swimming is a very common pastime. This surprised me greatly but I took his advice and he was absolutely right – we swam regularly!

Because of all the geothermally heated water, there are numerous swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas and soaking in them or swimming is both relaxing and a great way to blend in with the local way of life.

RELATED – We’ve put together the Ultimate Winter + Summer Iceland Packing List so you know everything you need to pack for Iceland – no matter what time of year you travel!

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Iceland has a country-wide Lost & Found Service

I would hope no-one forgets their entire bag.. but you never know!

Shared by Alexis from World Travel Adventurers

If you lose anything on your Iceland vacation, call 444-1000 which is the lost and found hotline. You can also stop by the local police station which is where the lost and found offices are located. 

I lost my new iPhone while driving around looking for the Northern Lights and thankfully an honest person turned it in (unfortunately after I left the country).

I sent an email to the lost and found and a few days after coming home I received a message that my phone had been turned in. Icelanders are so kind that they mailed it to me in the U.S. free of charge. They even have a Pinterest page that shows photos of all the found items.

If you find yourself in this position, call or send an email to [email protected] with a description of your lost item and how they can contact you. How helpful is that!

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Sneaker Waves can be Deadly

Image (c) wegowithkids.com

Yes, ‘Sneaker Waves‘ are a thing. And Yes, they are extremely dangerous.

A Sneaker Wave (also known as a ‘sleeper wave’ or a ‘king wave’) is where a disproportionately large coastal wave appears in a wave set without warning. These waves can sweep unsuspecting swimmers out to sea, and have even been known to pluck beach-goers from the shore.

In Iceland, these waves are common along the South Coast and following the tragic deaths of a few tourists which were reported in Iceland’s travel news, signs have been erected warning of their dangers at the popular Kirkufjara beach and the popular black sand beach of Reynisfjara.

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Know How to be a Tourist in Iceland

Shared by Skye from Skye Travels

The first thing a tourist should know before traveling to Iceland is how to be a tourist in Iceland. As one of the greatest and most beautiful countries in the world, Iceland should really be visited by everyone.

But that could cause problems, and difficulties are already arising with mass tourism. While Icelanders love hosting foreigners in their country, some things do make them frustrated.

A good guidebook to read before you go is “The Little Book of Tourists in Iceland: Tips, tricks, and what the Icelanders really think of you” by Alda Sigmundsdottir. It’s the ultimate guide to Iceland by a local and one of the best Iceland travel guides.

And of course, the tips in the book don’t just apply to being a tourist in Iceland.

So there you have it – hopefully, you have enjoyed our Iceland travel tips and recommendations and that they help make your visit to the land of fire and ice as incredible as it can be. And I can practically guarantee that at least one of these travel tips for Iceland (if not all of them!) will come in handy during your stay!

Oh, and if you enjoyed these tips and found them helpful in trip planning your travels in Iceland, please, tweet pin or share on Facebook – I’d really appreciate it! (click the P in the left-hand share bar to see the hidden pins!)

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