If you are planning your first time trip to visit Iceland, and looking for a perfect guide to Iceland then you are at the right place. We have traveled to Iceland multiple times and have done our share of mistakes so that you don’t have to do the same. Iceland is a small country with a population of 400k people and most of them are living in either near capital Reykjavík or the second biggest town in Iceland Akureyri. We have made this Iceland guide along with cost of 10 days so that it helps you to plan better.
When to visit Iceland?
The most common question I get about Iceland is, best season to visit Iceland? Well it is summer, but mu recommendation will be visiting in shoulder season. That is, Spring and Autumn. Here is why? If you visit in summer it is the most popular season to be in Iceland hence everything will be expensive. Also, if you fancy seeing Aurora you won’t have any chance seeing them. According to me, best months to visit Iceland as a first timer will be September and October.
Check out my detailed guide on Best season to visit Iceland.
Iceland weather
Iceland is cold in short doesn’t matter which season you pick to travel. It’s just vary in the intensity from freezing cold to cold. If you are coming from India then you need proper clothing for Icelandic weather as you can experience all season in one day even in summer. Icelandic wind is strong and freezing, hence proper windproof and rainproof jackets are needed along with you puffer jackets. In winter you will need additional parka along with the above. Iceland is pleasant in summer but can get into subzero in specific locations, expect roughly 5 to 15 degree centigrade temperature.
How many days are needed for Iceland?
Though Iceland is a small country it has a lot to offer. It can also be called as a country of waterfalls as there are so many gorgeous one apart from the touristy one we visit. You need at-least a week to visit Iceland. As a first timer to Iceland 9 to 10 days will be perfect for your trip to Iceland. You can cover the ring road if you are traveling in Late Spring, Summer and Autumn season. If you are planning a trip during winter 7 days are good number of days. Many people travel for 4 to 5 days making Reykjavík their base but I won’t recommend that.
Do I need a visa to visit Iceland?
If you need visa to travel any European country that is part of Schengen then you need Schengen visa to visit Iceland. You can apply from Icelandic embassy or through any other embassy.
Currency in Iceland
Icelandic Krona is major currency and that is only accepted not Euros. You can convert Euros in airport but honestly you can use your credit / debit / travel card throughout Iceland. We never needed cash even once in Iceland.
Languages spoken in Iceland
Icelandic is spoken in Iceland but everyone can speak English so you won’t face any language issues.
Airports in Iceland
All international Iceland flights land in Keflavík International Airport. The airport is 30 mins away from capital. You can take buses to reach Reykjavík or book a cab, but the later option is going to be insanely expensive. You can also straightaway pick up your rental car at the airport like we did. Most of the car rental agency have a counter at the airport or a walking distance from the airport. They provide free shuttle to reach the agencies from the airport every 15-20 mins. If you are taking a camper please check with the agency for some you need to travel to Reykjavík or pick up at airport available in regular working hours.
Can Iceland be done in public transport?
Yes! Good news is it can be done but the bad news is it is expensive, less coverage and less frequency. You can cover West, South and North of Iceland but Eastern Iceland is remote and will require car. This brings to my recommendation is to rent a car in Iceland. more on this next.
Should I rent a car or campervan while visiting Iceland?
In my travel experience renting a car is always cost effective , even if you book hotels. I have checked camper van rentals and it’s either same if you include the camp location fees (wild camping not allowed in Iceland) or more money. In my opinion campers will cost more on fuel as you will sleep in them while the heating system runs all night. If you are a person, who doesn’t like shared toilets then camper-vans are not for you as you need to use camping location toilets and facilities. If this doesn’t bother you, If you are up for adventure and you hate packing and unpacking then camper vans are perfect for you.
You want to know more about driving in Iceland then read here.
What to visit in Iceland ?
Where to visit in Iceland? A very common question I get, and no straight answer I can give you. Lets say every corner of this country is breathtaking, its like places you stop in Switzerland you will not stop in Iceland. It is a country with raw beauty and geography lesson packed in one. You should start with Golden circle and followed by South Coast of the country. You have more number of days then do the complete ring road. If you have more money to be back in the country then definitely recommend visiting the highland.
Golden Circle must for first time visit to Iceland –
You must visit Golden circle on your first trip to Iceland. It can be done in a day and even if you decide against driving across Iceland, you can book a trip to cover this. It will give you a sneak peak of the country. We visit it every time we are in the country.
South Coast –
After golden circle you can do the South Coast of Iceland in another day trip. You can cover all the insta famous spots in this trip to Iceland. This route can also be done with a group tour without renting any car but we recommend you to get a car. You can cover few extra spots which group tour buses do not cover.
Ring Road road trip on your visit to Iceland –
If you are up for 7 to 10 days trip to Iceland then covering the Ring Road with a car is a must. It is nothing but going in circle around the country following Route 1. You will get to see countless waterfalls, glaciers, hot springs and landscapes in this journey.
Snaefellsness –
We often overlook this place but is very close to Iceland’s capital, but a must in our opinion. If you google Iceland the first photo of the arrowhead mountain you get is from here, the place is so stunning it is a mini Iceland itself. You will have waterfalls, ocean, caves, churches and coastal towns in this route.
Highlands during summer visit to Iceland –
You can rent a 4×4 vehicle and explore Iceland highlands in summer. You will be in for a treat in terms of the sights. We have not yet been there but would love to in our next trip to Iceland.
Things to do in your visit to Iceland
Iceland offers a loads of activity and adventure, you need to choose which one is for you when you are visiting the country. We were not that sure initially as the activities in this country are expensive so you need to chose wisely based on your interest.
Whale Watching
Yes you can see whales from Iceland and it’s worth while checking out if you are in Northern Iceland. We have not done it as we know other countries will have greater opportunities to see them.
Take a dip into natural hot springs
This you can do free of cost or paying hefty money choice is yours. Iceland had plenty of natural public pools and hot springs that are free or require a minimum pay. You can also wish to attend most expensive blue lagoon if fancy a spa experience. We suggest you to try this as it is very relaxing experience specially after driving whole day.
Ice Cave tour
You can only do this during winter months in Iceland. You can do this in multiple glaciers just pick one that works for you and find them here. We did it in March from Jökulsárlón, you can visit these caves till early April then it becomes inaccessible. Please make sure you have extra one day in case of cancellation due to bad weather. It is something one should experience first hand.
Kayaking near Glacier
You can also do kayaking in Iceland depending on the season near glacier or ocean. You can pre-book it if that’s your thing.
Hiking
Summer is the hiking season in Iceland, you can explore the highland this season. There are few trails open year around to see some waterfalls across Iceland that you can explore as well.
Puffin watching
People often visit Iceland to watch puffins, as it is free to see them. We have never been to Iceland during the puffin season as they come in Scotland too. You can coincide the sightings if you are visiting during summer.
Aurora hunting
You can book a tour to see the northern lights in Iceland, specially if you are scared to drive at night or visiting Iceland by public transport. The trips are good and only take place when there are chances of seeing them.
Snow Mobil or ATV rides
You can ride an ATV or Snow Mobils in Iceland if adventure sports are your thing.
Snorkelling or Diving in Silfra Fissure
You can do snorkeling or diving in between the Europe and America tectonic plates, it is not something I fancy so have not done it in my trips to Iceland yet.
Cost to visit Iceland
If you are visiting the country for the first time then I highly recommend you to spend 10 days in the country doing the ring road. The cost of your trip will mostly be as below:
| Event or Activities | Cost Per Day |
| Hotel Stay | 100 Euro |
| Car Rental | 50 Euro |
| Fuel | 50 Euro |
| Parking | 30 Euro |
| Food | 60 Euro for two ( Can be more or less) |
| Activities | 100 Euro plus |
| Total Cost for 10 days | 3200 Euro for Two |
The above is considered based on twin sharing shoulder season travel with 2 to 3 activities.
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