Iceland, the country of fire and ice, a country like no other. From rugged mountains to lava fields and glaciers, this country is an absolute paradise for nature lovers. In May 2023 we spend 15 days exploring this island by driving the complete ring road. This was undeniably an unforgettable trip where we saw waterfalls, bathed in hot springs, spotted reindeer in the wild, and admired the beauty of glaciers up close. Planning on traveling Iceland yourself? Read all of our tips and tricks on how to get around, where we stayed during our trip, our favourite things to do and how much we spend down below!
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Iceland Video
Iceland Travel Map for Google Maps
Quick Links
Helpful apps
Google Maps ( Apple | Android ) - This app will be needed to access your purchased map guide. Use this app to plan your public transport, look up opening hours and navigate yourself around Bangkok.
Google Translate ( Apple | Android ) - While English is widely spoken in Bangkok it will not hurt to have a translation app ready as not everyone is as fluent in English or perhaps will not even speak English at all. This is also helpful for those who have a limited knowledge of the English language themselves.
Xe.com - Traveling to a new country means a new currency and a new exchange rate. Keep this app handy to quickly convert the price of a product or service from Thai baht to the price in your own currency.
Surfshark VPN - When traveling you will most likely connect to a large variety of wifi spots, so we personally always use a VPN to protect our devices. We are currently using Surfshark as they are not only one of the most affordable VPN services but they also allow you to connect an unlimited amount of devices. You can sign up for just a month for when you are traveling or for longer periods, such as 24 months.
Parka.is - This is the app we needed to pay for parking at certain spots. It might be useful to download this app in advance just in case you end up needing it.
Top Rated Tours & Activities
On GetYourGuide you will find a large range of tours and activities available. We have listed some of the most popular and top rated tours and activities down below in case you want to check them out, many of these are also listed on the map!
FROM & NEAR REYKJAVIK
OTHER POPULAR TOURS & ACTIVITIES
Where we stayed in Iceland
Other Useful Links & Tips
Safe.is - On this website you will be able to check the current driving conditions including if it is passible and even if it is slippery or if there are reports of ice on the road.
Road.is - Here you will find more information regarding driving in Iceland as well as a brochure where you can see when the F-roads will approximately open for the current year, from this website we found a link to the next on the list.
Umferdin.is - On this website you will be able to see a map of which roads are open and which are closed. This map is interactive so you can click on the road to see when it has last been updated. Useful for those who want to take the f-roads to see which ones are currently open.
Vedur.is - Useful to check out the weather predictions.
Wise Travel Card - The travel card we used for our trip to Thailand (and all our other travels the last 4 years). The main benefits of this card are: digital cards that can be frozen and unfrozen (and replaced), instant notifications and basically protecting your regular debit and credit cards during your travels.
Iceland Know Before You Go
Now before we get into the details of our trip, including how where we stayed, how we got around and how much we spent, we just quickly wanted to share a couple of quick tips that will help you prep for your trip to Iceland!
The Basics
LANGUAGE | The official language in Iceland is Icelandic, however, English is widely spoken and we personally never encountered any issues speaking English in Iceland. Nonetheless, we recommend downloading an app such as Google Translate just in case! The camera feature on this app will also allow you to translate any signs that you might come across during your trip that are not in English (you will need an internet connection for this though).
VISA | Iceland is part of the Schengen area which means that you can visit country as part of the Schengen area either (1) visa free or (2) with a Schengen visa. You can check here to see if you need a visa and how long you will be allowed to stay with or without a visa.
HOW MANY DAYS | How many days you will need in Iceland depends on what you want to see, do, and how fast you want to travel. If you want to complete the full ring road (without the west fjords) we would recommend at least 10 days, but that will mean 10 busier and fully packed days. If you want to take it a bit easier and have a bit of free time in between we would recommend around 14 days for the full ring road. If you are short on time, or on money, then 5 to 7 days can be enough to see some of Iceland’s highlights such as the Golden Circle and/or the South of Iceland where you will find some of Iceland’s most popular waterfalls and glaciers!
NATURE | One of the highlights of visiting Iceland, and one of the reasons many people come to visit, is Iceland’s nature. So when you visit don’t forget to respect the nature and sights you are visiting. Don’t leave any trash behind, stay on the marked paths and of course respect wildlife.
Currency & Credit CardS
CURRENCY | he currency used in Iceland is Icelandic Króna. When we visited in May 2023 the exchange rate was roughly 1 EUR to 150 ISK or 1 USD to 137 ISK. You can check the most up to date exchange rates with an app such as XE. ATMs are widely available to withdraw cash, however, we personally opted to just pay with our card.
CREDIT & DEBIT CARDS | Visa and Master Card are widely accepted in Iceland. We personally used both our Wise travel card (Visa) as well as our regular Maestro debit card and never encountered an issue. We managed to go through the complete trip without withdrawing any cash. It might be good to know that at certain places, such as gas stations, you sometimes can only pay by card and that this card will need to have a 4 digit pin to work. Luckily both our regular debit card and our Wise travel card both had a 4 digit pin so we personally did not encounter any issues! We personally have been using our Wise travel card for the last 4 years and love it for the following reasons:
It is a prepaid card so we just top it up with the amount we want to put on it.
Using a travel card allows us to keep our regular accounts save from getting skimmed.
We have both a physical as well as digital cards. We especially love the digital cards as we add these to our Apple Pay and if compromised we simply delete the card and create a new one.
Both the digital cards and the physical card can be frozen and unfrozen at any time. Which means if it does get compromised you can freeze it quickly in the app.
As long as we have internet we receive instant notifications on the app on our phone which means we can keep an eye on our balance as well as see if any transactions pop up that are not ours!
Internet & Sim CARDS
INTERNET | Internet and WiFi is widely available in Iceland. We found wifi at restaurants, cafes, and all guesthouses we stayed at. We only had issues with the WiFi once at our hotel in Reykjavik, but besides that we always managed to get a decent internet speed at our guesthouses and hotels. Nonetheless we do recommend getting a sim card with internet, mainly for navigation purposes.
SIM CARDS | We personally have Dutch sim cards that allowed us to use our regular data bundle in Iceland, so we did not have to purchase any sim cards in Iceland. However, if your provider does not allow you to use your data bundle, or it is incredibly expensive, then it might be worth it to get a sim card for your trip, this way you can be sure you will always have internet. When you arrive at the airport in Reykjavik, right after leaving the baggage pickup area, you will see a small convenience store (lime green coloured) on your right. We have heard that you can purchase prepaid sim cards here!
VPN | No matter where you travel to, may it be Thailand or Iceland, we would highly recommend using a VPN to protect your data while logging into multiple wifi networks during your trip. Another benefit is that it will give you access to multiple countries so you can watch Netflix no matter where you are in the world, and possibly access websites that might be blocked in the country you are visiting. We are currently using Surfshark VPN and would recommend checking them out as they are not only one of the more affordable VPNs they also allow you to add unlimited devices!
BEST TIME TO VISIT ICELAND
SUMMER | The weather is warmest in Iceland during June to August. During these months you will have the most change of seeing Iceland in its full glory with green moss, the midnight sun and warmer temperatures. Due to the midnight sun though this is not a good time to visit for those who want to see the Northern Lights. These months are also the most popular months so you will also have to pay the higher high season prices for accommodation and tours!
SPRING & FALL | We personally visited during the spring in May 2023 and while the prices were a lot lower, we also noticed that we had to skip many sights due to the harsh rain and wind and there was even snow on certain locations in the country. In addition certain activities, such as kayaking near the glaciers, were still closed. Shoulder season does mean lower prices, so it is a great option for those traveling on a budget, but we personally would prefer to visit in the summer instead to pay a bit more but make most of our time in Iceland. In the shoulder months of September, October and April you still have a chance to see the Northern lights (according to the internet), but we personally unfortunately did not see any during our visit in May.
WINTER | Winter is the longest season in Iceland and lasts from November - March. During this time Iceland will be at its coldest and at its darkest. In these months you will also have the highest chance of seeing the Northern lights because of the long nights. These are also the best months to do any winter activities such as visiting an ice cave!
How to Get Around Iceland
RENTING A CAR IN ICELAND
The best way to get around, by far, in Iceland is by renting a car. Renting a car will allow you the freedom to explore on your own pace and visit whichever sights you want to see. Renting a car is also the most common way to explore Iceland, albeit it not the only option of course. When it comes to renting cars in Iceland there are a couple of things to take into consideration, such as which car to rent, where to rent your car and what to know before renting a car in Iceland. We will share all the tips of our personal experience and information we gathered before going to Iceland down below!
WHAT TYPE OF CAR TO RENT IN ICELAND
When it comes to renting a car in Iceland you will have plenty of options available. From small city type cars to large SUVs and 4x4 vehicles. What type of car to rent depends on when you are traveling Iceland, where you are going and what you want to do in Iceland. We will discuss the most popular options below but it might be good to know that before reading the description that F-roads are unpaved gravel tracks that are open during the summer, these roads are only accessible with 4x4 cars.
ECONOMY/CITY CARS | If you are traveling on a budget than getting a smaller type car such as an economy/city car will be the right choice for you. These are often big enough for 2 to 4 people, depending on the amount of luggage you have with you. These cars are suitable for traveling around the paved sections of the ring road and certain numbered unpaved roads (non-F roads that are well maintained and not too slippery). These cars often do not have enough clearance to go over unpaved roads that are not well maintained, which means you could damage the bottom of the car (which is often not covered), or have enough grip to go up and down unpaved muddy roads.
NON 4x4 SUVS | The non 4x4 SUVs are more suitable for those that (1) want to be more comfortable on the unpaved roads (non-F) or (2) need more space for people and luggage. This is personally the option that we booked for our ring road trip to Iceland and we were very happy that we did. Our Rav4 allowed us to comfortably drive over unpaved and rockier roads (non-F) and as this was all wheel drive we had enough grip to go up and down certain muddier roads in the west fjords. If it was not for this car our travels on these unpaved (non-F) roads would have taken longer, and in certain sections would have not even be possible.
4x4 | If you want to travel the F-roads during the summer you will need a 4x4. However, even when renting a 4x4 please know that there are a lot of limitations and restrictions still. For example:
Certain car rental companies will not allow you to drive on certain F-roads
Certain 4x4s are not suitable for river crossings
Certain 4x4s might be suitable for river crossings but certain companies will not cover any water damage from river crossings.
For this reason we highly recommend doing a lot of research when it comes to renting a 4x4. Make sure you get the right car so you don’t have to turn around halfway down the road because of a river and make sure you are informed about what is and what is not covered.
CAMPERVANS | If you are traveling on a budget then a campervan might be the right option for you! You will find a variety of campervans available in Iceland, including larger motorhomes and smaller campervans that are only suitable for paved roads and even 4x4 campervans. This option will allow you to combine the cost of transportation and accommodation. However, it might be good to know that wild camping is not allowed in Iceland so you will still need to find and pay for a campground each night. Just like with cars it will depend on where you want to go, how much you want to spend and how many people you are traveling with on what option might suit you best. Renting a campervan or 4x4 camper is quite popular in Iceland and you will find plenty of companies to rent from in Iceland!
Where to Rent a Car in Iceland
As renting a car in Iceland is the most common way to get around you will not find a shortage of car rental companies in Iceland. Here are a couple of links that might be useful to you for deciding on which car rental company to pick:
Northbound.is - This is an Icelandic car rental comparison website. If you are not sure where to start or what prices you are looking at then this website might be a good starting point. You can select your dates, where you want to pick up the car and what type of car you would like to rent. You will then be able to see different offers from different companies available and easily see what is included in the price. We personally prefer to book directly with the company but like to use these websites to compare prices and see what is available.
Blue Car Rental - This is the company we ended up picking after looking at prices and reviews on Google. This company had a 4.5/5 star rating in May 2023 with almost 3000 reviews. Now while not everyone had a pleasant experience with Blue Car Rental we personally loved our experience. Picking up the car was easy, the staff helping us were kind and it was clear what was included. We would use this company again on a future trip to Iceland.
Go Car Rental Iceland - At the time of writing this guide we came across this company during our research and thought we would share it for those who would like to check it out. While we personally have not used this company it currently seems to be one of the higher rated car rental companies (4.8/5 with over 1000 reviews in August 2023).
Lotus Car Rental Iceland - At the time of writing this guide we came across this company during our research and thought we would share it for those who would like to check it out. While we personally have not used this company it currently seems to be one of the higher rated car rental companies (4.8/5 with almost 1700 reviews in August 2023).
Tips for driving in Iceland
STAY ON THE ROAD | Going off the road or off the marked paths is illegal in Iceland. The flora, including the moss, in Iceland is extremely delicate and takes a long time to grow, something that can easily be damaged by going off road. Even through the highlands you will find marked F-roads and you will not be allowed to venture off these roads. If you do go off roading you could not only damage precious flora but also potentially risk a high fine.
SPEEDING | Pay close attention to the speeding limits in Iceland as the fines for speeding are extremely high. General speed limits in May 2023 were 30-50km/h in urban areas, 80 km/h on gravel roads in non urban areas and 90 km/h on hard surfaced roads. However, signs with the speed limit will be posted frequently along the ring road, especially when coming closer to towns and urban areas.
HEADLIGHTS | It is mandatory to have your headlights on at all times in Iceland.
WEATHER | Weather can change drastically in Iceland, not only from day to day but also by hour. Be sure to check the weather the day before heading out to your next destination as well as the day of driving to your next destination. Snow storms, strong winds, harsh rain as well as sand/ash mixed in with the winds are not uncommon. Be careful with the doors at it is easy for these to get damaged by strong winds when opening them, which is often not covered by the car rental companies.
ONE WAY BRIDGES | You will encounter many one way bridges during your trip to Iceland, even along the ring road. When approaching these bridges make sure to slow down and check to see if there is not a vehicle coming from the opposite side of the bridge before crossing the bridge slowly.
SHEEP & WILDLIFE | Be careful for wild life and life stock such as sheep crossing the road when driving in Iceland. We personally spotted reindeer, sheep, horses and even an arctic fox during our trip to Iceland!
DON’T STOP ON THE ROAD | I mean this is a given right? But just in case you forgot, please do not stop on the road to take pictures or videos. This is extremely dangerous. If you need to stop be sure to find a save spot along the road or a parking spot where you can pull over safely.
USEFUL LINKS | Here are some useful links when it comes to driving that you might want to save for your road trip:
Safe.is - On this website you will be able to check the current driving conditions including if it is passible and even if it is slippery or if there are reports of ice on the road.
Road.is - Here you will find more information regarding driving in Iceland as well as a brochure where you can see when the F-roads will approximately open for the current year, from this website we found a link to the next on the list.
Umferdin.is - On this website you will be able to see a map of which roads are open and which are closed. This map is interactive so you can click on the road to see when it has last been updated. Useful for those who want to take the f-roads to see which ones are currently open.
Vedur.is - Useful to check out the weather predictions.
GAS STATIONS IN ICELAND
When driving along the ring road you will find gas stations available in the larger and smaller towns. However, distances can still be far so before starting your day we would recommend checking how much fuel you have as well as how far the nearest gas station will be. There are no gas stations along the F-roads so if you are planning on exploring the highlands make sure to fuel up and bring extra fuel if needed. Many of the gas stations in Iceland are unmanned and at these you can only pay by card that has a 4 digit pin. To do this do as follows:
Park at a pump
Find the payment pole or pay station at the pump
Switch to your preferred language before inserting your card
Insert your card & 4 digit pin
Select the amount you want to pump*
Select the pump
Withdraw card
*Instead of filling up your car and then paying you select an amount at the payment pole or directly at the pump itself. We personally preferred to fill up with smaller amounts and do it twice if needed as from what we understood is that when the “fill up” choice is selected a hold of up to $250 can be placed on your card. So for this reason we personally never used this option and just used smaller amounts instead and filled up a second time when needed.
Don’t Want to Rent a Car in Iceland?
If you don’t want to rent a car in Iceland but still want to go sightseeing then it might be easiest to either join a tour or book day trips from Reykjavik instead. You will find many day trips available from the city, including whale watching, visiting the blue lagoon, a trip to the waterfalls on the South Coast and more! We have linked a couple of the most popular day trips and activities from Reykjavik down below!
Accommodation in Iceland
We spent a total of 15 nights in Iceland and stayed in a different hotel each night as we completed the full ring road. There is a large variety of accommodation in Iceland, you will find luxury hotels but also more budget friendly guesthouses. We mainly stayed in the latter to cut our costs a bit! On average we spent about €80 to €150 a night but if you are curious on how much we spent exactly for each hotel then be sure to scroll down to our travel budget and costs section. You can find a full list of all the hotels we stayed at below, including direct links to check out the current prices.
Day 1: Hótel Kvika - Rated with a 9.0 on Booking.com (May 2023)
Friendly staff, a delicious breakfast and comfortable rooms, what else do you need? While the rooms were a bit outdated, they had everything we needed including a desk, a comfortable bed and an unobstructed view of Iceland’s nature. This hotel was conveniently located at the start of the ring road and close to a town with supermarkets so we could stock up on groceries before starting our road trip! We loved our stay here and would stay here again!
Day 2: Paradise Cave Hostel - Rated with a 9.3 on Booking.com (May 2023)
This hotel is located just around the corner from Seljalandfoss, a perfect place for those who want to get up early and explore the waterfalls! We were warmly welcomed by the incredibly friendly staff and were even offered some delicious cake. The rooms, although basic, were spacious and comfortable. The hostel offers a soup or pizza dinner option. We chose the pizza which felt a bit overpriced for what felt like a heated up frozen pizza, so perhaps the soup is better!
Day 3: The Barn -Rated with a 8.9 on Booking.com (May 2023)
This hostel is located outside of Vik, on the way to the famous Reynisfjara Beach. This personally was not one of our favourite spots, which was mainly because we had some of the worst sleep we had during this trip. There was a lot wind (which is common in Iceland) but due to the hotel design this was extremely loud. That plus the fact that the head of our bed was right next to the door and hallway made for a very noisy evening and night.
Day 4: Skyrhusid - Rated with a 8.9 on Booking.com (May 2023)
Skyrhusid is a small guesthouse located right on the ring road. The rooms were cozy and the view was, as always, was impeccable. This is a great option for those traveling on a budget. There is not much near this hotel so be sure to pack some dinner! The staff working here was kind and friendly and the rooms were clean. This is a no frills budget stay. While we have nothing bad to write about this place, we would like to stay somewhere more luxurious in the future if our budget allows us.
Day 5: Hotel Jökull - Rated with a 8.3 on Booking.com (May 2023)
While this hotel was not that highly rated, we personally really enjoyed our stay here. We were given a room in the side building and were lucky enough to get a room facing the glacier that was visible when the sky was clear. It is located a bit out of town but the rooms were clean and spacious. The staff here was very kind and the breakfast buffet was lovely with choices of yogurt, granola, dried fruits, breads and cold cuts/sweet toppings.
Day 6: Eyjólfsstadir Guesthouse - Rated with a 8.5 on Booking.com (May 2023)
Right before the city of Eyjólfsstadir you will find Eyjólfsstadir guesthouse. A small and cozy place to stay on a budget. The staff was friendly, the rooms and shared toilets/showers were clean and the breakfast buffet had plenty of choices. We loved staying here and consider this a great place to stay if you are traveling on a budget through Iceland!
Day 7: Mývatn - Berjaya Iceland Hotels - Rated with a 8.8 on Booking.com (May 2023)
This is one of the more luxurious places we booked during our stay in Iceland! The staff working here was extremely welcoming and kind and while the rooms were small they were well equipped and nicely designed. We had a coffee machine in the room, which definitely was a nice touch. We had breakfast here (not included) as well as dinner where we enjoyed two delicious mains and an average and overpriced desert and entree. We loved our stay here and would stay here again!
Day 8: Salthús Guesthouse - Rated with a 8.7 on Booking.com (May 2023)
This guesthouse is located a bit of the ring road, but was well worth the drive in our opinion. We had an incredibly spacious and clean room with a nice view. The water is geothermal heated here so did have a bit of a sulphur smell but besides that everything was lovely and we highly enjoyed our stay here. There is a large shared kitchen available on both floors, perfect for those who like to cook their own meals!
Day 9: Stóra-Vatnshorn - Rated with a 9.4 on Booking.com (May 2023)
This must be our favourite place that we stayed at! We rented a private hut which was well equipped with a bathroom, small and cozy bedroom and a kitchen that even had a coffee machine and an oven. We grabbed some frozen pizza and garlic bread from the nearby supermarket and enjoyed a relaxing evening enjoying the peace and quiet over here. We would definitely stay here again in the future, 10/10 rating in our opinion!
Day 10: Stöð Guesthouse - Rated with a 8.2 on Booking.com (May 2023)
And while Day 9 was our favourite, Day 10 was our least favourite place we stayed at. This hotel was self check in so we never met the staff but while it looked like they had tried to update the room recently many parts of tis guesthouse (mainly the washroom) felt very rundown. We did book a room facing Kirkjufell so we had the most incredible view, but besides that there was not much we liked about this place and we honestly would not stay here again.
Day 11: Hestaland Guesthouse- Rated with a 8.5 on Booking.com (May 2023)
This was a place that in our opinion offered great value for money. The rooms were small but clean and cozy. We were warmly welcomed by the staff and their incredibly cute labrador that was there at checkin. As we were traveling off season they did not provide breakfast but instead allowed use of the kitchen which was great as we could reheat some food for dinner and put snacks in the fridge for the next day! We enjoyed our stay here and while not the most luxurious place, a great option to check out if you are traveling on a budget in our opinion!
Day 12: Hótel Laugarvatn - Rated with a 8.1 on Booking.com (May 2023)
This was the first place that we stayed at that felt overpriced for what we booked. The staff was friendly but that was about all that we liked about this hotel. The room was quite bare and out dated in our opinion and felt more like a budget guesthouse than a hotel. We did not dislike our stay here, but also did not necessarily enjoyed it either. Like we said, it just felt quite overpriced for what we got. We would not stay here again.
Day 13: Guesthouse Bitra B&B - Rated with a 8.5 on Booking.com (May 2023)
We booked a room with a shared bathroom and were honestly surprised how small the rooms were in real life. Besides that though the room was clean, the bed was comfortable and for a guesthouse this had one of the best breakfast buffets we had seen during our trip. On the upper floor where we stayed there was also a small shared space with a fridge, microwave and a kettle to make instant coffee and tea, something that we thought was a nice touch!
Day 14: 201 Hotel - Rated with a 8.1 on Booking.com (May 2023)
This was one of those hotels where the pictures looked better then the hotel itself. The 201 Hotel was a budget option located a bit out of Reykjavik, but as we had a car we did not necessarily mind this very much. What surprised us the most was the 1 mb/s internet speed that was not even fast enough to load websites on the internet to do our work. The staff was friendly and welcoming and even let us check in early, regardless, we would not stay here again.
Day 15: Hotel Berg (Airport) - Rated with a 8.6 on Booking.com (May 2023)
For our last night in Iceland we decided to return the car early (to save a bit of money) and stay at an airport hotel instead. Hotel Berg is located in Keflavik, the town right next to the airport. They offered a drop off service at the airport, which made this place even more convenient to stay at. The rooms were well equipped with a fridge, coffee machine and tv. The walls were a bit thin so if you are a light sleeper bring a pair of earplugs!
A couple of things that might be good to know about accommodation in Iceland:
Check in - Check in times at hotels and guesthouses in Iceland were a lot later than what we are used to. At many of the places we stayed at or checked out during our booking did not have check in before 4pm.
Shared spaces - If you are traveling on a budget then you will find many guesthouses with shared spaces including shared kitchens, toilets and showers. If you want a private bathroom be sure to check the description before booking!
Book early - While there is plenty of accommodation available in Iceland, we would highly recommend booking your accommodation in advance to make sure you get a good deal and a spot to stay for the night as they do tend to fill up!
Separate sheets - In Iceland it is common to receive separate blankets, even when you book a double bed. This is normal in the Nordic countries, something we personally loved but might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Iceland Travel Cost & Budget
Iceland is not a budget destination, something you probably had already realised if you are currently planning a trip to Iceland yourself! Curious how much we spent?For a 16 day, 15 night trip for two people we spent €4788.20 or roughly $5219 (the exchange rate was 1 EUR to ± 1.09 USD in May 2023). That is roughly €149.63 per person, per day. You can find a full breakdown of our costs below. These costs do not include any personal costs such as souvenirs purchased and the costs of our flights to and from Iceland.
| Transportation | €1994.77 |
| Car (Rav4) | €1427.92 |
| Fuel | €557.09 |
| Parking | €9.76 |
| Accommodation | €1827.83 |
| Hótel Kvika | €128.49 |
| Paradise Cave Guesthouse | €125.69 |
| The Barn | €130.66 |
| Skyrhusid | €118.14 |
| Hotel Jökull | €126.37 |
| Eyjólfsstadir Guesthouse | €105.30 |
| Mývatn Berjaya Hotel | €147.42 |
| Salthús Guesthouse | €100.47 |
| Stóra-Vatnshorn | €138.00 |
| Stöð Guesthouse | €87.23 |
| Hestaland Guesthouse | €88.20 |
| Hótel Laugarvatn | €127.58 |
| Guesthouse Bitra | €110.30 |
| 201 Hotel | €135.58 |
| Hotel Berg | €158.40 |
| Activities | €85.65 |
| Food & Drinks | €879.95 |
| Eating Out | €656.16 |
| Coffee | €37.92 |
| Groceries | €185.87 |
How to spent less in iceland
While Iceland is not the most affordable destination, there is of course the option to make your trip more affordable then we did! Here are a couple of quick tips that could (possibly) save you quite a bit of money while traveling Iceland:
Avoid the high season - If you are traveling Iceland on a budget then you might like to avoid the high season to avoid the high accommodation, car rental and tour prices. Prices during high season can double (if not triple) which can quickly increase the cost of your trip.
Eat out less - While groceries are not cheap, eating out will be a lot more expensive in Iceland. If you want to save a bit of money consider sticking to eating food purchased from the grocery store instead of eating out for every meal.
Enjoy the free breakfast - When booking a hotel or accommodation check to see if there are any hotels in the same area (with the same rating and prices) that offer a free breakfast, this could easily save you $10 to $30 a day just by not eating out for another meal or having to buy more groceries!
Shop at the budget supermarkets - When it comes to shopping at supermarkets you will save a whole lot of money by shopping at Bonus. Another great option is, albeit a bit more expensive, is Kronan and Netto which just like Bonus can often be found in bigger cities. Once you head further on the ring road you will find smaller supermarkets like Kjörbúðin, prices here are often 1.5 to 3 times the price of the same products at Bonus or Kronan.
Bring food - If you are on a very strict budget you can consider bringing a couple of items with you to Iceland. You can bring snacks like granola bars and instant noodles or if you are planning on cooking yourself perhaps items like canned goods. We personally bought a couple of camping meals from the adventure store in the Netherlands that only needed boiling water. These were perfect for the days that we were tired or too far from a supermarket. In May 2023 you were allowed to bring up to 3kg per person, with restrictions on animal products such as eggs, meat and dairy products so be sure to check the regulations before stuffing your suitcase!
Book hotels in advance - It is recommended to book hotels in advance, especially if you are traveling on a budget. Hotels tend to fill up quickly and sell out, especially during the high season. So be sure to book hotels in advance so get the best deal!
Rent a van - If you are on a very strict budget then it might be worth it to look into renting a van. This way you can combine your cost of transport and accommodation and with most vans you will even get a small kitchen set so you can cook your own meals.
Drink the tap water - In general the tap water is save to drink in Iceland which will save you quite a bit of money. It is also some of the best tap water we have ever tasted so we would highly recommend bringing a reusable water bottle that you can fill up during your trip!
Iceland Example Prices
We shared above the total cost of what we spend including a breakdown of how much each hotel/guesthouse was. The amount we spend on activities was really low which mainly was due to the fact that many activities, such as kayaking, were still closed during this time of year and of course because many sights such as the canyons and waterfalls are free to see! When it comes to fuel we spend a bit more as we had to drive back from Vik to Reykjavik due to a rabies vaccination that was day specific and our trip to the Westfjords. Fuel (gasoline) was 310kr to 320kr ( €2.07 to €2.13 - $2.26 to $2.33) per litre during our trip to Iceland.
If you want to know a bit more about what kind of prices to expect when it comes to purchasing food and dining out then keep on reading. We have added a list below of example prices of some food we purchased in the supermarket as well as example prices for meals we consumed during our trip. Perhaps this way you can have a better idea of what you would be looking at yourself when going on a trip to Iceland!
Good to know: the exchange rate was roughly 1 EUR to ±150 ISK ± 1.09 USD in May 2023
Supermarket
Bananas 1kg | 298kr - €1.99 - $2.17
Bananas 1 pc | 57kr - €0.38 - $0.41
Microwave lasagna | 930kr - €6.20 - $6.76
Skyr 170g | 250kr - €1.67 - $1.82
Rhye cheddar snack 150g | 395kr - €2.63 - $2.87
Twix candy bar | 98kr - €0.65 - $0.71
Pizza snack | 549 kr - €3.66 - $3.99
Cinnamon Roll | 359 kr - €2.39 - $2.61
Tea bags | 298kr - €1.99 - $2.17
Water 500 ml -|99 kr - €0.66 - $0.72
Chocolate bar 100g | 198kr - €1.32 - $1.44
Rhye bread | 329kr - €2.19 - $2.39
Cherry tomatoes 250g | 295kr - €1.97 - $2.14
Pringles | 298kr - €1.99 - $2.17
Jam | 298kr - €1.99 - $2.17
Peanut butter | 499kr - € 3.33 - $3.63
Frozen pizza (small market) | 889kr - €5.93 - $6.46
Skyr 170g (small market) | 399kr - €2.66 - $2.90
Fast Food & Eating Out
Subway foot long chicken sub | 2149kr - €14.33 - $15.62
Coffee | 500kr - €3.33 - $3.63
Lunch - Icelandic char and burger | 8400kr - €56 - $61.04
Fish & chips (large) | 3190kr - €21.27 - $23.18
Dinner - entree, 2 chicken mains, dessert | 16260kr - €108.40 - $118.16
Dinner - fish, burger, chicken fries | 8450kr - €56.33 - $61.40
Lunch - 2 burgers with baked potato | 5800kr - €38.67 - $42.15
Lunch - 2 burgers with fries, coffee, hot chocolate | 6050kr - €40.33 - $43.96
Flat white| 630kr - €4.20 - $4.58
Cappuccino + hot chocolate |1400kr - €9.33 - $10.17