Essential travel tips for a vacation in Iceland
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Jon Heidar, Editor of Stuck in Iceland Travel Magazine
How to save money in Iceland
Iceland is expensive, but here are ways to make traveling there affordable.
How to pay for things in Iceland
The main advice is to have your PIN handy when you pay for things in Iceland.
Respect nature
I urge you to make your driving and jet travel to Iceland carbon neutral. Respect nature, don’t drive offroad and take care not to litter or damage sensitive plants such as moss. Also, remember that natural formations can be sensitive. Take care not to disturb animals or birds. Take nothing but pictures. Consider renting a hybrid or an electric vehicle to minimize your carbon footprint. It is a good idea to sign the Icelandic pledge.
Be spontaneous and take your time
One of the essential travel tips for a vacation in Iceland is that you you should be spontaneous, flexible and take your time.Iceland is a big country with a lot of attractions and let’s face it, you won’t be visiting this country every day! You will want to make sure that you have the time to enjoy hidden gems that you come across.
Prepare for changeable weather
Another reason to be flexible is that the weather is extremely changeable and may interfere with your plans. This is especially true for winter of course.
Take your time if you are hunting for the northern lights
If you are in Iceland to see the northern lights, please know that they are very elusive and you should not stake everything on one night.
Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere
Iceland has gone pretty far in the direction of being a cashless society. So you can pay with credit or debit cards almost everywhere. Just don’t forget your PIN number. It is required everywhere.
Navigation
Google maps should work almost everywhere on the ring road in Iceland. People coming from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) should think about getting a WiFi hotspot. However, people from inside the EEA don’t have to worry about high roaming prices for data usage.
Power adapters
Think about getting a power adapter, a universal power adapter, which you can order from Amazon.
Rent a car or a camper van to explore Iceland on your own terms
Rent a car or a camper van and venture out on to the open road Discover Iceland on your own tems.
Use a reputable car rental company
It also has to be said that there is a lot of people on social media that complain about the poor service and bad cars they got when they rented from non-reputable car rental companies. I have created set up a simple search interface from Rentalcars.com which only has cars from respectable car rentals. You might spend a few dollars or Euros more but you might also save a lot of grief.
Stay safe while driving in Iceland
Roads in Iceland are narrower than you might be used to. There are many one-lane bridges so I recommend that you be careful and avoid speeding. If you see something you want to photograph take care to stop at a safe place. Too many travelers just stop in the middle of the road to take pictures, putting themselves and others at risk. If you are driving in Iceland in winter be ready for rough conditions. This can mean low visibility, icy roads, heavy wind, and snowdrifts. Always follow the weather forecast closely, check road conditions and follow the information on the Safe Travel website, Twitter account, and Facebook account. Read the section on how to stay safe in Iceland.
Driving in winter
Check road conditions and the weather forecast, before going on long journeys in winter. It is important to double-check that you have tires that are suitable for winter driving. Consider getting a 4×4 vehicle, especially during winter.. Never skimp on renting a quality car during winter. And the final rule for driving in Iceland: No off-road driving! It is illegal and the police will not hesitate to slap violators with heavy fines. I wish them every success btw.
Book hotels in Iceland and find the best deals online
Book accommodation in advance, especially if you are visiting in the the high season in the summer. If you want to wing it when it comes to hotel bookings you can search last-minute hotel deals all over Iceland.
Booking tours online and in advance
If you are keen on joining a tour I recommend that you only book tours that not only have a high review score but also high volume reviews. Also, booking online in advance can save a lot of stress.
Use discount codes to save on tours
I have joined forces with high-quality tour operators to bring you great deals on their tours. These are people who have a real passion for what they do and you are assured to have a fantastic experience if book with them. We only work with high-quality operators we know and trust.
Safe money in Iceland
I have a great section on how to travel in Iceland on a budget which helps you to make your Iceland vacation more affordable.
Advice for family travel in Iceland
Iceland is a great destination for families with children. To make sure the little ones stay warm to make sure that they wear layered clothing. Never use cotton as a base layer, especially during winter. First non-itchy wool, like merino, followed by a fleece or preferably thicker wool, and finish off with a good wind and waterproof snowsuit or bunting. Warm and waterproof shoes are a necessity. Wool during summer is a sensible thing in Iceland as well as a beanie, scarf, and gloves. I also want to point out that you can search for family-friendly hotels and another form of accommodation.
Use forecasts to maximize the chance of seeing the northern lights
It can be tough to catch the northern lights. Fortunately, there are many great resources for those are hunting the northern lights. You can, for example, use the Live Aurora Network app or the Aurora Forecast website. I can be a good idea to vacation in Iceland in March or September. You will have the change to see the northern lights while having a lot of daylight. Kind of smart actually. On balance I would rather recommend September rather than March. The weather is often better then.
Stay safe while hunting for the northern lights
I once had a close call. I almost ran somebody over who was photographing the northern lights on the shoulder of a road in the middle of the night. It was pitch black and the man was hunched over his camera and tripod, all dressed in dark clothes. I just saw him moments before my car hit him and was able to swerve away. So if you are out there looking for the northern lights in the dark please wear reflectors and be mindful of your surroundings.
Soak in public swimming pools
Visit Icelandic swimming pools. Places such as the Blue Lagoon, Myvatn Nature Baths, Krauma, Húsavík GeoSea baths, and the Secret Lagoon are great.
Stay warm in Iceland
Iceland is called Iceland for a reason. The weather changes all the time. It is necessary to follow the weather report but please keep in mind that predicting the weather here is sometimes near impossible. So be prepared for all kinds of weather even it is high summer. Wear layers, be prepared for heavy wind, horizontal rain and intense sunshine so bring sunglasses and sunscreen. There is more about dressing right on this page
Winters in Iceland
Winters in Iceland can be brutal. Be prepared. Again, think layers and never ever wear cotton if you are out and about in the wintertime. Wear waterproof shoes, wear gloves, have a warm hat and wear a warm waterproof jacket.
Wearing jeans or other cotton clothing in the highlands on hiking trips in summer has proved fatal on several occasions. This sounds like a crazy exaggeration but it is not. The last point about safety is that the web site Safetravel.is has a lot of sound safety advice. Study and follow it.
Advice for taking photos in Iceland
Bring at least two cameras, one with a wide-angle lens and one with a long lens. You will want to switch between photographing the landscapes and wildlife. A great book on how to photograph Iceland by the master photograph Martin Schulz is available and contains a lot of good advice on how to photograph Icelandic nature and landscapes.
Don’t take risks when taking photos
I have witnessed people at the edge of cliffs or right on the water´s edge at the Black Beach at Reynisfjara who risking their lives taking selfies. Don’t take unnecessary risks when taking photos.
Advice for drone photography in Iceland
As my readers know I am a big fan of Iceland drone videos. Check the weather forecast when flying and avoid very windy conditions. They warn you to be careful when you are flying around waterfalls and birds. Apparently, birds are prone to attack drones. Have extra batteries. Observe the restrictions on drone flying.
Iceland vacation planning for hiking enthusiasts
Hiking guides recommend mainly two things for those who are going hiking in Iceland. The first thing is that you should check the weather forecast and never ever wear cotton. Good waterproof and breathable shoes are essential. When you are choosing clothes to be ready for stormy and rainy weather. You will love wool and gore-tex in such weather. Cold rain with strong wind is more perilous than freezing temperatures in winter. Bring a compass, map and a GPS device. Have plenty to drink and eat. Ask locals for advice. Follow the advice on Safetravel.is
Do your research for Iceland travel planning
Do your research before coming to Iceland. This can be done by watching Youtube videos or reading travel magazines such as this one. Google Maps and Tripadvisor are great tools of course.
More resources for Iceland travel planning
Stuck in Iceland Travel Magazine is all about helping you to see beautiful places in Iceland and finding fun things to do.
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Book hotels, rent a car, and save on Iceland tours with discount codes
- Book hotel in Iceland
- Rent a car in Iceland
- Save on top-rated tours with the biggest selection of discount promo codes in Iceland
- This is how you travel in Iceland on a budget
- Find a complete overview of tours in Iceland
Travel tips for a vacation in Iceland for those who want to on a epic road trip
- Golden Circle Road Trip Itinerary – The perfect introduction to Iceland
- The Ring Road – Drive around Iceland
- Golden Circle road trip plan – see the essential sights of Iceland
- Diamond Circle road trip plan – head north and experience the incredible beauty there
- South Coast of Iceland road trip plan – the rugged south shore of Iceland has it all
Do your Iceland travel planning with these resources
- Safe Travel in Iceland – Study and follow the advice on Safe Travel.
- Buses and public transport within Reykjavik and Iceland – Save money and choose a more environmentally friendly way to travel in Iceland.
- Road conditions in Iceland – If you are driving in Iceland, please study the conditions of the roads. Be especially careful to do so in winter.
- The weather in Iceland – Iceland weather is changeable so make sure you follow the forecast, it is especially important to so in winter.
- Forecast for northern lights – The northern lights are elusive. This forecast can help you find them.
- Opening times and locations of swimming pools and geothermal hot tubs
Want to share travel tips for a vacation in Iceland?
Any advice that you want to share about your Iceland travel planning? Let me know by messaging me through our Facebook page
Have a great trip!
Jón Heiðar, Editor of Stuck in Iceland Travel Magazine