Before you buy your plane tickets, you need to choose the best time of year, set an itinerary, a means of transportation on the island, and a budget.
So, in the first article in the “Iceland” series, I will present you with a few things to keep in mind that will help you plan your vacation in Iceland more easily – from how to choose the best time to traffic rules and costs.
You need a car!
“You need a car in Iceland!”, this is the first piece of advice I have to give you. There is no public transportation in Iceland, as it is non-existent outside of Reykjavik, so the only options to visit all the wonderful places in Iceland are: renting a car or buying excursions organized by local agencies.
Of course, if you want to visit Iceland at your own pace, renting a car is mandatory.
If you just want to check off a few places – 3 waterfalls and two geysers, you can always take an organized tour. But it is something I would do or recommend.
How do you rent a car in Iceland?
For our first trip to Iceland, we rented a car from RentalCars at a pretty good price (160 euros/5 days). We were going to Iceland off-season (September), with prices being significantly lower in the off-season compared to July-August.
This time, since we chose to go in the middle of the season, at the beginning of August, the price for the same car, which we booked last year, was 120 euros/day. A lot if you ask me!
Later, a week before leaving for Iceland, we looked to see how much the car would cost, and the price shocked us! 1800 euros/5 days.
Depending on what you want to do in Iceland, you should consider whether you will need a 4×4 car. In Iceland there are roads (F-roads) that you can only drive on with a 4×4 and it is not advisable to drive on those roads with a car that is not properly equipped (it is not safe, and the fines in this situation are very high).
You can also reach most of the important attractions – The Golden Circle and the Ring Road – with a normal car, but if you plan to reach more hidden locations, you should check whether or not you need a 4×4. In addition, it is good to know that in autumn, winter and spring, all F-roads are closed.
After ruminating on these prices, it occurred to me to rent a camper, to kill two birds with one stone: transport and accommodation (accommodation being extraordinarily expensive as well).
In the end, the whole experience with the camper through Iceland made our vacation even more beautiful. We will tell you about how we ended up renting a camper, the costs we had, and the whole experience on the blog in another article.
The ideal time to visit Iceland (for the first time)
Iceland is famous for two things: its stunning natural landscapes – from volcanoes to waterfalls and glaciers, and the Northern Lights, with Iceland being one of the most accessible locations in Europe from which to admire the light show.
As the Northern Lights are visible in the cold months (mid-October to the end of March), November – March would be the best time to witness this event. However, if you are going to Iceland for the first time, it would be better, in my opinion, to go in the summer.
Indeed, the Northern Lights are everyone’s dream, but even in the winter months, it is very possible that during your stay in Iceland you will not have the opportunity to admire them. In order to see the Northern Lights, certain conditions must be met: the sky must be clear and it must be completely dark (the latter being the reason why the Northern Lights cannot be seen in the summer / early autumn months).
In winter, the weather is quite capricious, you can't enjoy hiking and the Icelandic greenery, and the cold and possible snowstorms could give you a headache (I've seen some videos from Iceland before with cars stuck in the snow).
My opinion is that you shouldn't plan a vacation to the end of the continent just to see the northern lights. As beautiful as they are, I say it would be better to choose a time and a location where you can do something else (in case the light show won't be visible)
High Season vs. Low Season
At the risk of repeating what I wrote a few lines ago, I think the best time to visit Iceland for the first time is summer. The landscapes are sensational, and in July you can experience the white night phenomenon, a phenomenon found exclusively in countries located near the Arctic Circle.
In summer, you can get anywhere by car (you won't need a 4×4, unless you want to go on roads that require a 4 x 4 car) and you can do a lot of outdoor activities (boat rides among glaciers, hiking on the largest glacier in Europe, trips to puffin colonies, etc.).
High season or low season?
That's a very good question! The high season is considered to be June-August, when temperatures are a bit higher, and precipitation is rarer and less intense. In season, prices for accommodation and cars are up to 40% higher than in other months, and the island is a bit more crowded.
The intermediate period, the one between high season and off season, corresponds to the months of September-October and April-May. During this period, both rental companies and accommodation units have lower prices, and the weather is somewhat more stable, compared to the winter months.
Traffic rules and speed limits
Iceland does not have motorways, and the traffic rules are a bit different from what we are used to. Speed limits are calculated depending on the type of road and are as follows:
- gravel road – 80km/h
- paved road – 90 km/h
- in built-up areas (village, city) – 30-50 km/h
The roads in Iceland, even the famous Ring Road, are narrow and more like national roads. Parking on the side of the road is illegal, except in designated areas. Another thing to know when driving in Iceland is that most bridges are one-way and you will need to be careful and give way where necessary.
Parking in Iceland
Most of the main attractions – the black beach, the ice lagoon, the geysers – have a designated parking lot nearby. Parking is often free – the exception being the one at Seljalandfoss waterfall, where you have to pay 700 ISK/24 hours, regardless of how long you spend there.
There are probably other places where you have to pay for parking, but of all the places we visited, this was the only one that had paid parking.
There are several types of parking in the city, and each type of parking has a different price. Generally, parking is free at night and sometimes even on Sundays.
P-1
- Monday – Friday: 09:00-18:00, Saturday: 10:00-16:00, Sunday: Free
Cost: 370 ISK/hour
P-2
- Monday – Friday: 09:00-18:00, Saturday: 10:00-16:00, Sunday: Free
Cost: 190 ISK/hour
P-3
- Monday – Friday: 09:00-18:00, Saturday: 10:00-16:00, Sunday: Free
Cost: 190 ISK/hour. After 2 hours, 55 ISK/hour.
P-4
- Monday – Friday: 09:00-18:00, Saturday and Sunday: Free
Cost: 190 ISK/hour
Self-service gas stations in Iceland – how much does fuel cost
Another thing that we are not used to and that seemed a bit strange to us is the self-service gas station. All gas stations in Iceland are self-service, and in order to refuel, you must have a card – Visa or Master Card – and the corresponding PIN code.
How do self-service gasoline/diesel pumps work? – Each gas pump is equipped with a POS where you must insert your card. Then, after the card has been accepted and validated, you must choose an option (2500 isk, 5000 isk, 10,000 isk, 15,000 isk or 20,000 isk). Once the amount has been chosen, you can start refueling your car.
What do I do if I don’t know exactly how much it will cost me? What amount do I choose? Well, it's quite difficult to estimate how much fuel will cost you, but it's important to know that you will only pay for what you have consumed, not a single crown more, not a single crown less.
For example, if you choose the 10,000 isk option, and in the end you have put in 7800 isk worth of gas, 7800 isk will be withdrawn from your card. Simple and hassle-free!
How do I refuel if I don't have a credit card? – If you don't have a card that is accepted by the POS at the gas station, you can ask an employee to unlock the pump you want to refuel from.
We tried this method, and after we refueled we went to the cashier and paid cash. However, this is only possible in large gas stations.
How much does 1 liter of gasoline/diesel cost in Iceland?
A liter of gasoline/diesel costs between 230 and 250 Icelandic krona.
Another really cool thing in Iceland is that most gas stations offer loyalty cards, which you also get from the rental company. These cards are chips often attached to the car key, which give you discounts on fuel (between 3 and 5 isk/liter) and even some free things.
In some gas stations, you get a 10% discount on food if you show the chip, and in others you get a free filter coffee (something that is very welcome in Iceland)
Recommended gas stations:
N1 seems to us to be the best gas station in Iceland (they are found almost everywhere and have very good service and super friendly staff). Other gas stations: Olis, Orkan.
Important! Don't rely on the last liter of gas. In Iceland, gas stations are not that widespread, so it's a good idea to have a full tank.
3-in-1 gas stations – gas station, restaurant and mini market
Almost all large gas stations in Iceland have a mini market inside where you can do your shopping, but also a restaurant where you can get sandwiches, hot dogs, fish and chips or other dishes.
In fact, gas station restaurants are a very good option for those traveling on a budget or for those who don’t have time to look for restaurants. When you’re in the middle of nowhere, hungry, a gas station with a restaurant is all you need!
Usually, restaurants have pretty good deals. We ate at such a restaurant – a Grill House – in an N1 gas station, where we paid 1600 ISK for a portion of fish and chips and a 0.5l juice. Also in gas stations, a simple hot dog costs around 500 ISK, and in most places, you can serve water (tap water) and filter coffee for free.
Cash vs. Card
Iceland, like the other Nordic countries, is a nearly cashless society. Every place I've been to, I've had the option to pay by card, and often it's the only option. If you have zero card fees, don't rush to withdraw too much money from an ATM.
Where can I get Icelandic krona?
Before you leave the airport, on the ground floor, there are two ATMs where you can get Icelandic krona. It is good to know that there is a fee that you have to pay for each cash withdrawal and that it differs depending on the amount you want to withdraw (the more money you want to withdraw, the higher the fee). We withdrew 30,000 ISK, and the fee was 800 ISK.
Important: in the airport, right in the area of duty free shops and restaurants that you will pass when you head towards the exit, you will see several ATMs and a currency exchange.
Well, from those ATMs you can get euros, dollars, Swiss francs, Canadian dollars, which you then have to exchange for Icelandic krona at the currency exchange next door.
You need a reservation for the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is undoubtedly the most famous tourist attraction in Iceland, and it’s the perfect way to start or end a vacation there. This spa – because the Blue Lagoon is actually a huge spa – is one of the 25 best in the world, by National Geographic, and due to its popularity and advertising, it’s also an extremely expensive, touristy, and crowded place.
Therefore, if you’re dreaming of a dip in the warm, mineral-rich waters of the lagoon, you should know that you need a reservation.
Visitors have a choice of two packages:
- Comfort: starting at 6990 isk – the package includes: entrance to the Blue Lagoon, a silicon face mask, towel and a drink of your choice from the Water Bar
- Premium: starting at 8990 isk – entrance to the Blue Lagoon, a silicon face mask, another face mask of your choice, towel, bathrobe and two drinks of your choice from the Water Bar
It's illegal to camp in undeveloped areas
Iceland is the perfect place to travel by campervan for the first time. Not only will this mode of transport help your budget enormously – you no longer have to pay for hotel nights and can cook at the campsite, but it's also a super cool experience. The kind of experience that will make your holiday in Iceland even more beautiful.
It's good to know that it's illegal to camp in undeveloped areas in Iceland. This law came into force a few years ago, and those who camp in public parking lots or other places can receive fines of up to 3000 euros.
Camping in Iceland
Near the Ring Road that surrounds the island, there are a number of campsites to choose from. Some sites offer fantastic scenery – like the campsite at Skogafoss waterfall, others have more special facilities: swimming pool, hot tub, dining room, etc. Most campsites offer visitors a few basic amenities: toilets, showers, electricity, internet (the latter two are usually for a fee)
How much does a night in a campsite cost? – depending on the location and facilities, a night in a campsite can cost between 1200 and 2500/person (in most campsites, prices are per person), and in most places you can pay by card.
Don't forget your umbrella and raincoat at home
If you're planning to visit Iceland in the winter, you'll need to pack a lot more, but for the summer, it's a good idea to bring an umbrella and a raincoat. The weather in Iceland is unpredictable. You can have both sunshine and rain on the same day.
We went at the beginning of August, and the first two days the weather was pretty bad – it rained about 80% of the time. In general, in the summer, rains are short-lived and quite isolated (we've had it happen that it started raining, we walked 20-30 steps to the car and it stopped), but it's still a good idea to have an umbrella and a raincoat. In addition, a waterproof cape or jacket is extremely useful when visiting waterfalls.
These are the things we learned from our vacation there and that you should keep in mind if you are planning a trip to Iceland. As I said above, to have a successful vacation in Iceland, you need to do a little more planning than usual.
We were unlucky enough to miss two trips to Iceland, which is why we had everything thought out and rethought several times. So, when we arrived in Iceland, we already knew what we wanted to see, where we would stay, what our budget would be, and how we would travel.
After all, our time was limited and we wanted to make the most of every second. We probably wouldn’t have slept at all if we could… anyway, our reality was more beautiful than any dream we could have.
I hope you found this article useful, and if you have any questions, I invite you to leave them in the comments section.