July 18th, 2021 | Posted by: Grace Kim
Iceland has become an extremely popular travel destination over the last few years. Not only is the country extraordinarily beautiful, but it also offers endless opportunities to explore and create.
With a population of only 360,000 people, Iceland has an unmatched, unique charm. Not only will you feel like you’re walking on another planet, but you’ll also constantly be thinking, how? From witnessing constant fluctuating weather to intricate landscapes, nothing really makes sense. But that’s the beauty of the country! One moment you’ll be relaxing at the Blue Lagoon with a nice breeze. Drive 15 minutes down the road and you’ll be witnessing Fagradalsfjall, Iceland’s awakened volcano, finally erupting over 800 years of dormancy.
We visited the country during The Midnight Sun, a time where there’s more or less, endless light. For the first half of the trip, we drove around the Ring Road with an RV Camper Van and the other half in The Highland with a tour guide and a couple days in Reykjavik.
From the different ways of traveling throughout the country, can I say that there were things we could’ve done better to prepare for the trip? Absolutely. But did everything pan out the way it was supposed to be? Of course.
So, if this is your first time visiting Iceland and you don’t know what to expect, listed are my 18 tips and tricks on how to prepare for Iceland:
1. Decide when to go
First things first and although may seem like a no brainer, it’s important to know what time of year you want to visit Iceland and here’s why:
Ask yourself, do you do well in the cold? If so, how cold? If you’re looking to take a vacation to relax on the beach, Iceland may not be for you.
Even in the summer, it’s still gets pretty cold. The average temperature in Iceland during the summer is around 10°C (50°F) which is pretty warm for the locals but if your jaw is dropping while reading this, you may want to reconsider. However, it can go as high as 25°C (77°F) which isn’t shorts weather, but warm enough to walk outside in a t-shirt.
Now, that’s the temperature in the summer.
On the flip side, the winter is a whole other beast as the average temperature gets to around 0°C (32°F). And although you will be freezing your butt off, the winter in Iceland is the only time you’ll be able to see the northern lights. Your call!
2. Book in advance
When I travel internationally, I usually like to only book accommodations for a week and then figure it out accordingly.
Can’t do that in Iceland.
There’s not one specific way on how to prepare for Iceland, but let me save you a headache and a roof over your head at night: book in advance.
Especially in the summer, there will be endless groups of tourists visiting the island that hotels will book out. If you went to Iceland, only booked tours, but then realized you wanted to rent a car later on, the possibilities are high that rentals are completely out of vehicles. Especially if you’re looking to book vehicles for extended periods of time, you may be out of luck so make sure that you’re planning at least 2-3 weeks in advance.
NOTE: Don’t only book hotels and cars in advance, but also hot spring and lagoon tickets too.
3. Rent a car
If you enjoy flexibility and you’re not the biggest fan of being restricted to a singular schedule, renting a car should almost be mandatory. Yes, there are tours that will take you to beautiful places around the country but if you’re someone like me who likes to wander and take my time, traveling in Iceland is hard without a car. There are just way too many photographic spots and hidden gems that it’ll be hard not wanting to pull off to the side of the road and take pictures of everything.
Point is, with a car rental, you’ll be given opportunities do create your own schedule. Especially if you’re visiting during The Midnight Sun, it’ll be hard to believe that you’re still out at 2:00 AM and it still being completely bright outside. Even with endless light, we had to plan 3-4 hours ahead when wanting to visit certain spots because we got so lost with exploring.
From the many places you can find a car rental I found DiscoverCars to be reliable and cost efficient. When we were in Iceland, my friend actually prepaid for a car rental at a shop that doesn’t exist anymore and the payment even went through. Luckily, he was able to get his money back, but it was a hassle dealing with customer service on the phone for about an hour. With DiscoverCars, not only is there 24/7 customer service, but there is also free cancellation if needed. And what I love the most is that they hold some of the top car rental provider, such as Hertz, Enterprise and Budget. Not only does this show validity, but it also gives you a ton of options to choose from.
TIP: If you decide to rent a car, note that the highways are narrow and aren’t entirely spacious. You’ll typically be driving on one-way roads without too many pull off spots. So if you have to pull off to the side of the road, do so when there’s an opening because the last thing you want is to cause an accident.
TIP: Since not all highways are paved, try not off-roading. There have been many stories of tourists damaging and totaling car rentals, so try your best to not be one of them!
NOTE: You do not need an international drivers license to drive in Iceland.
4. Bring lots of layers
Whether you’re visiting Iceland in June or in January, bring lots of layers. If there’s an Iceland travel list that I can provide for you, a third of that list would be different articles of clothing. The weather in Iceland shouldn’t be underestimated as it can be nice and sunny in one area but windy and rainy 5 minutes down the road. I’ve experienced both, but ensure you’re prepared for all types of weather conditions and pack: rain jackets, winter jackets, gloves, scarves, snow pants, beanies and thermals.
TIP: This may sound counterintuitive but no matter what time of year you choose to visit, bring shorts. Shorts are one of the things I did not bring, but I wish I did. Yes, it’s cold in Iceland but the heat systems are amazing. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the heating systems were not only in the hotels, but also in our camper van. There was even a night I woke up sweating profusely and had to take off all my jackets in the van. Surprised me!
TIP: If you’re visiting Iceland during The Midnight Sun, bring an eye mask. Even if you don’t have trouble sleeping with light, I highly recommend bringing one because the sun remains extremely bright, even at 3:00 AM. Since I didn’t bring one, I ended up throwing sweaters over my head to fall asleep.
5. Bring reusable water bottles & eating utensils
Iceland is surrounded by untouched bodies of water, which means that the water is clean and delicious. The water is so clean that you can even refill your water bottles from the streams! I looked forward to refilling my bottles at the streams because of how delicious the water tasted. Weird, but only in Iceland!
As an extremely eco-friendly country, plastic water bottles aren’t popularly used to drink water out of as they are typically only sold in supermarkets and gas stations for tourists. I brought a reusable water bottle and mug: one for water and the other for tea and coffee. They came in super handy as I had no problem filling my bottles anywhere. If water isn’t self-serve at gas stations and restaurants already, workers will have no problem refilling your bottles for you. I even came across food stands that will give you discounts on your order if you brought your own plates and bowls. Go green!
NOTE: If you’re traveling in Iceland in a camper van and need to stock up on eating utensils, they’ll probably be in wooden form.
6. Bring plastic bags and baby wipes
This one should be a no brainer if you’re planning on road tripping around the Ring Road. Because you’ll be driving for hours and days, extra plastic bags and baby wipes are a must.
There will even be times where you’ll be driving and not have access to a bathroom for a couple of hours. What are you going to do if you’re in that situation? This is where plastic bags and baby wipes come in handy, especially you ladies.
7. Shop at supermarkets and eat out at gas stations
Visiting Iceland on a budget? Stocking up on food is essential unless you’re staying in Reykjavik, and will save you a ton of money.
If you’re not trying to spend hundreds of dollars on food (literally), I recommend heading over to the supermarkets and stocking up on groceries upon arrival. Outside the city, you’ll have less options to stock up on food, so make sure you’re preparing at least 3-4 days worth of meals.
If you’re planning on driving around the Ring Road, ask your car rental company if they have coolers they can provide for you, if not included already. It’ll be a life saver.
I mean, you could leave your food outside in the cold while you sleep at night, but don’t be surprised if you wake up to to the sheep munching on your sandwiches in the morning. All jokes aside, this will probably not happen.
NOTE: The country loves bread. If we weren’t eating our prepped meals, every dish included bread. Hotels, hostels, and restaurants all serve bread. So, if you’re cautious about your food diet, consider bringing healthy snacks of your own.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for the dine-in experience, you’ll spend an average of ~$25 USD per meal. If you’re buying food at the gas stations, meals will cost you about half that price. Some of my most memorable meals were at the gas stations, as I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food. I guess that’s hard to believe if you’re someone whose visiting Iceland from the US but if I can go back and eat at the gas stations, I would in a heart beat.
TIP: If you have a Costco membership card, there’s a Costco location 15 minutes outside of Reykjavik. This will be your best food situation if you plan on meal prepping and saving money.
8. Bring credit cards (4-digit pin preferred)
Still trying to figure out the cash conversion from your country’s currency to kronas and how much cash to withdraw? Lucky for you, credit cards and Apply Pay are widely accepted in Iceland. However, note that American Express is not very liked and accepted. Visa and MasterCard will be your best bets as I did not have any issues using them.
If you have, try to bring a minimum of two different credit cards in case something happens to one. I brought a minimum along with a debit card, and I made sure that none of my cards charged a foreign transaction fee.
Listed are the credit and debit cards I brought that do not charge foreign transaction fees & ATM withdrawal fees:
- Chase IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card – earn up to 50,000 bonus points after reaching minimum spend
- Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card – earn up to 100,000 bonus points after reaching minimum spend
- Charles Schwab Platinum Debit Card – earn up to $500 after making the qualifying net deposit
Especially if you’re renting a car in Iceland, make sure to bring a card with a 4-digit pin. Personally, I don’t own credit cards that require me to validate a 4-digit pin, but my debit cards do. At almost all gas stations, a 4-digit pin is required for self-serve. However, if none of your cards give you that option, your best bet is to prepay for gas at the cash register. But if it’s 3:30 AM in the morning, self-serve will be your only option and if you don’t have a 4-digit pin, the only other thing you can really do is wait till opening.
9. Don’t tip
As an American citizen, it’s awkward not leaving gratuity after eating out at a restaurant. In Iceland, tipping is not really a thing so don’t feel pressured to do so.
I’m sure servers won’t reject tips, but it’s also not expected. Since employment is highly built under unions, workers like servers, have their gratuity built into their income. Even after guided tours, it’s not expected to leave a tip but it’s definitely a nice gesture for the guides.
During our photography tour in The Highland with Einar, and Icelandic blogger and tour guide of Hit Iceland, he even told us not to leave him a tip after the tour was over. It caught all us by surprise! We couldn’t have asked for a better time with Einar as the took us all around The Highland, drove us through the F-roads, and taught us so much about the country.
TIP: It’s read singular as “The Highland” and not “Highlands“. Highlands (plural) is actually located in Scotland.
10. Ask for tax free OR duty free receipts
This is an important tip to know on how to prepare for Iceland. If you’re purchasing anything you’re physically taking out of the country, you can purchase those items tax free.
Example of things that are tax free: souvenirs, clothing, apparel
Example of things that are NOT tax free: food, drinks, tour tickets
When you’re paying for your items, specifically ask for tax free or duty free receipts and not just regular receipts. We realized this a little too late when we got to the airport. All that receipt hoarding for nothing, but keep this in mind if you would like a tax refund.
On the day of your departure, make sure to get to the airport early enough to fill out the tax free form. Once you’ve noted all your purchases and have submitted your application, expect to receive your tax refund within 6-8 weeks.
11. You don’t need to learn the Icelandic language
English is widely spoken in Iceland, as the locals are taught it in school at a very young age. There was only one time I met a local who didn’t know how to speak English, but that was a rare case. Also, if you happen to know how to speak Polish, there’s a huge Polish population in Iceland as well.
It’s not needed but if you’d like to know basic words, here’s a handful of Icelandic phrases to know:
- Good morning – góðan daginn
- Thank you – Þakka þér fyrir (takk-fe-rer)
- Bye – bless
12. Check the weather forecast frequently
With unpredictable weather, it’s important to check weather conditions frequently. The last thing you want is to assume good, sunny weather an hour away from you because of the conditions at your current location. But no matter what the situation may be, prepare yourself for the best and for the worst.
An accurate and reliable weather forecast used in Iceland is en.vedur.is, popularly used by the locals as well. This site doesn’t only track rain and wind, but it also tracks the northern lights during the season.
13. Don’t step on the moss
If you’re wondering what all the fuzzy, green plants are, that’s moss! It’s an Icelandic travel rule to not step on the moss as the locals do not like it when tourists come and do so.
It’s okay if you didn’t know. Just don’t do it and know that it’s frowned upon since it takes hundreds of years for the moss to grow back.
Don’t leave open scars on the land!
14. Visit all the tourist spots
I get it. You want to do things in Iceland that are non-touristy, but there’s a reason why popular spots are so touristy. Not only are these places gorgeous, but they’re extremely iconic and unique to the country. I mean, where else in the world can you touch two tectonic plates?
And remember that when you’re doing all the tourist spots like exploring the Golden Circle, driving around the Ring Road and hiking in The Highland, to do them as early as possible. Especially if you’re planning on visiting Iceland during the summer, these places get really crowded.
15. Get out of you car and explore
If you’re asking me how to travel to Iceland, I’d simply tell you to hike, swim, explore, wander. Do it all.
And if you haven’t realized already, Iceland is absolutely beautiful. When exploring and visiting places on your itinerary, try to do more than just go to one viewpoint. Explore all the corners at the attraction spots and see what the country is really about.
16. Spend at least one day in Reykjavik
Reykjavik is a small, compact city with tons to do. There’s a bunch of restaurants, coffee shops and places to sight see. Oh, and how can I forget to mention how many souvenir stores are scattered around town?
Popular attractions, such as Hallgrimskirkja Church, Harpan and Sun Voyager, are all walking distance from each other. You won’t be needing a car if you’re looking to explore the city but if you really need transportation assistance, there are buses and taxis available.
Although the city is relatively small, Reykjavik is an extremely friendly and welcoming place. Although we only had two days in the capital, I’ve picked up that it’s pretty digital nomad friendly.
Not only were there people working out of the coffee shops, but I also heard that the bars are a good time on the weekends.
Depending on how much time you have in Iceland, I actually recommend spending a weekend in Reykjavik. But of course if time is tight, you can fit a lot in one day.
NOTE: If you can’t go more than a few days without Asian food, you’re in luck because there are a bunch of Vietnamese restaurants scattered throughout Reykjavik.
17. Go to the Blue Lagoon
From our 2-week road trip, visiting the Blue Lagoon was a high on my list. Yes, it is the most touristy thing to do in Iceland but again, it’s touristy for a reason.
Not only is it a place of relaxation and something different from the outdoors, but it was also an amazing way to end our trip, as we ended up staying there for six hours.
The Blue Lagoon package deals were reasonably priced, considering that you’re allowed to stay there for as long as you want.
We purchased the premium package, which costs about $74 USD per person. This included unlimited time, a wardrobe, slippers, a free drink, and a 3-step face mask. To me, that was totally worth it, as I was able to check something off my travel bucket list.
NOTE: purchase tickets online before visiting
NOTE: if you need to reschedule your ticket for a later day, the staff is extremely flexible changing that for you. We needed to move our tickets for a later day, and the staff did that for us without any issues. They will either do it for you on the spot, or they’ll provide an email address for you to contact support inquiring about changing ticket dates. Simple!
18. Bring all your camera gear
Cameras, lenses, action cameras, tripods, drones, walkie talkies, hard drives, laptops. Bring it all. There’s just so much to see and capture in Iceland that you definitely don’t want to miss out on any photography opportunities. No, you don’t need to be a professional photographer, but photos will make the memories last longer.
During my visit, not only did I bring a drone, camera and lenses, but I also brought two backup hard drives. In case something happened to one hard drive, I had backup. And every time I got a hold of WiFi, I did a third backup to the cloud. Call me crazy but the last thing I wanted was to lose my files.
Especially after throwing up my drone in the air, I made sure to immediately upload all my files onto my hard drive. Had I lost my drone in the air, I would’ve lost all my files. Yeah, definitely didn’t want that.
But if you didn’t bring any backup, note that there are camera shops in Reykjavik and Aukeryi. Just expect the prices to be much higher than what you would’ve initially purchased them for back home.
TIP: if you don’t have already, try to include insurance on all your camera gear. In case your gear gets broken or stolen, you’ll have repair options back home.
Overall Experience
From driving along the Ring Road to exploring The Highland and taking pictures of all the wild animals scattered throughout the country, Iceland is definitely one for the books. From the countless attraction spots that will wow your visit to eating Icelandic hot dogs every other day, hopefully my Iceland travel tips and tricks have helped plan your trip better.
Yes, Iceland is expensive and is not a budget friendly travel destination, but it is an extremely safe country to visit. There’s just so much to see that remember that no matter what time of year you visit, to prepare yourself for any type of weather occurrence and to be ready to embark an extremely memorable adventure.
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PIN THESE WHEN PLANNING YOUR ICELAND TRIP!
