Europe
Iceland
Black sand, glaciers and a ring road that circles the whole island.
Iceland is expensive, but most of what you come for is free. Waterfalls, hot rivers and glacier lagoons line the Ring Road, and campsites keep costs down in summer.
Visit in June and July for the midnight sun, or between October and March for a chance of the northern lights.
Good to know
- Time zone
- GMT, no summer time
- Plugs
- Types C and F, 230V
- Emergency numbers
- 112 for all emergencies
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Traffic drives on the
- Right
- Tipping
- Not expected, as service is included in prices.
- SIM cards
- Síminn and Nova prepaid SIMs with plenty of data cost around 3,000 krónur, and most European SIMs roam at no extra cost.
When to go to Iceland
Best months to go: June to September. Pick a month to see what it’s like.
Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.
SeptemberBest time to go
Autumn colours, fewer people and the first northern lights of the season.
- Daytime high
- 11°C
- Rainfall
- 65 mm
- Crowds
- Busy
| Month | Daytime high | Rainfall | Crowds | Best time to go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2°C | 75 mm | Quiet | No |
| February | 3°C | 70 mm | Quiet | No |
| March | 3°C | 80 mm | Quiet | No |
| April | 6°C | 60 mm | Quiet | No |
| May | 10°C | 45 mm | Busy | No |
| June | 12°C | 50 mm | Busy | Yes |
| July | 14°C | 50 mm | Peak season | Yes |
| August | 14°C | 60 mm | Peak season | Yes |
| September | 11°C | 65 mm | Busy | Yes |
| October | 7°C | 85 mm | Quiet | No |
| November | 4°C | 70 mm | Quiet | No |
| December | 3°C | 80 mm | Quiet | No |
What Iceland costs
Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.
$1,330for 14 days, about $95 a day (kr 166,000 in total)
| Cost | Per day | For the trip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | $40 | $560 | |
| Food and drink | $25 | $350 | |
| Getting around | $20 | $280 | |
| Things to do | $5 | $70 | |
| Everything else | $5 | $70 |
Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.
What things cost
- Hot dog from a standkr 800, about $6.40
- Pint in a Reykjavík barkr 1,500, about $12
- Cup of coffeekr 700, about $5.60
- Hostel dorm bedkr 7,000, about $56
- Campsite, per personkr 2,500, about $20
- Public swimming pool entrykr 1,300, about $10
- Airport bus to Reykjavíkkr 4,000, about $32
Routes through Iceland
Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.
14 nights, 9 stops
The whole Ring Road by hire car or campervan, with a detour to the Snæfellsnes peninsula at the end.
Find a tour to join on the wayReykjavík
2 nights
Hallgrímskirkja, the harbour and a soak in a public pool.
Laugarvatn
1 night
The Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss.
Vík
2 nights
Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and the black sand at Reynisfjara.
Skaftafell
2 nights
Glacier hikes and the basalt columns of Svartifoss.
Höfn
1 night
Icebergs at Jökulsárlón and langoustine for dinner.
Seyðisfjörður
1 night
A colourful fjord town at the end of a mountain pass.
Mývatn
2 nights
Lava fields, steaming vents and the Mývatn Nature Baths.
Akureyri
1 night
The capital of the north, with a day trip to Goðafoss.
Grundarfjörður
2 nights
Kirkjufell mountain and the Snæfellsjökull glacier.
Getting around
Private car
$60–120 a day for a small car in summer
By far the easiest way to see the country. Take gravel protection insurance and never drive F-roads without a 4x4.
Bus
$20–80 per leg
Strætó buses run the Ring Road in summer, but services are sparse. Highland buses reach Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk.
Ferry
$10–60 per crossing
Ferries run to the Westman Islands and across Breiðafjörður to the Westfjords.
Flight
$80–150 one way
Domestic flights from Reykjavík reach Akureyri, Egilsstaðir and Ísafjörður in under an hour.
What to eat and drink
Pylsa
A lamb hot dog with crispy onions, mustard and remoulade. The cheapest hot meal going.
kr 800, about $6.40
Kjötsúpa
Lamb and root vegetable soup, often with free refills.
kr 2,900, about $23
Skyr
Thick, high-protein dairy that is technically a cheese. Buy it from the supermarket.
kr 350, about $2.80
Plokkfiskur
Mashed fish and potato in a creamy sauce, served with dark rye bread.
kr 3,200, about $26
Kleina
A twisted doughnut sold in every bakery and petrol station.
kr 300, about $2.40
Happy hour beer
Most Reykjavík bars cut prices from around 4pm to 7pm. Check the Appy Hour app.
kr 1,000, about $8
Say it like a local
A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.
Hello
Halló
Say it like: hah-loh
Good day
Góðan daginn
Say it like: goh-than dye-in
Thank you
Takk fyrir
Say it like: tahk fir-ir
Excuse me
Afsakið
Say it like: af-sah-kith
How much is this?
Hvað kostar þetta?
Say it like: kvath kos-tar thet-ta
Very good
Mjög gott
Say it like: myurg got
Cheers!
Skál!
Say it like: skowl
Goodbye
Bless
Say it like: bless
Tours in Iceland
See all tours in IcelandIceland, 2 days
Iceland’s south coast and glacier lagoon
Waterfalls you can walk behind, black sand beaches and icebergs drifting out to sea, with a night in Vík.
Next date
Questions travellers ask
Can I wild camp or sleep in my campervan anywhere?
No. Since 2015, sleeping in vehicles outside campsites is banned, and fines are steep. Campsites are cheap and plentiful in summer.
How do I check the roads and weather?
Use umferdin.is for road conditions, vedur.is for the forecast and safetravel.is for alerts. Conditions change fast, even in summer.
When can I see the northern lights?
From September to March, on clear, dark nights away from town lights. Check the aurora forecast on vedur.is and be patient.
Do I need cash?
No. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, even for a hot dog. Have a PIN ready for unmanned petrol pumps.
How do I keep costs down?
Shop at Bónus or Krónan, fill your bottle from the tap and cook at hostels and campsites. Public swimming pools are a cheaper alternative to the famous lagoons.