Essential Iceland Travel Tips: What You Need to Know Before Traveling to Iceland in 2024

This article covers all of the best Iceland travel tips you need to know before traveling to Iceland in 2024.

Iceland is among the best and most unique travel destinations in the world. From glaciers and ice caves to erupting volcanoes, Iceland is truly among the most interesting and out-of-this-world places that I have ever been to. If you are looking for your next adventure vacation, then look no further because I have the best Iceland travel tips for 2024! Before you visit, there are some things you should know first that will make your trip easier. This article will tell you all of the important things that you need to know before traveling to Iceland to ensure your trip is as successful as possible.

Iceland is not a difficult travel destination, but there are some helpful Iceland travel tips that are very useful to know. I’ve compiled below a concise list of what I believe to be only the most important and necessary information to understand before leaving. I highly advise booking your trip, accommodations, car, and tours far in advance as Iceland is a very popular travel destination, especially in the summer.

If you’re looking for the perfect 7-day itinerary for the best trip to Iceland in 2024, make sure to check out my other article here. This ultimate guide includes everything you need to know for a perfect week in Iceland! I highly recommend this itinerary.

Possible Iceland Itineraries

If you have already performed some research on what to see and do in Iceland, you have likely discovered that there are two main itineraries that you can pursue:

1. The Golden Circle: a loop along southern Iceland that offers many amazing attractions in a smaller area
2. The Ring Road: also known as Route 1, this is the road that loops the entirety of Iceland

My recommendation is to only pursue the Ring Road if you have 10 or more days. My 7 day Iceland itinerary includes all of the Golden Circle and about half of the Ring Road – which I believe to be the best way to see Iceland in a week.

Based on the number of days you have, here are my suggestions on what is feasible to take on in your itinerary:

• <3 days: With this amount of time I recommend sticking to Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital city, and a day trip to the Golden Circle.
• 4-10 days: With this amount of time you can see most of what Iceland has to offer, including the Golden Circle, the southern coast of Iceland, Reykjanes Peninsula, and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
• >10 days: With this amount of time you can pursue the entirety of the Ring Road.

Everything you need to know about Iceland before you travel

Getting around – do you need a car in Iceland?

Icelandair is Iceland’s major airline and connects to many countries. The main airport in Iceland is Keflavík International Airport (KEF). Keflavík is south of Reykjavík, and not in the city. A cool thing about Icelandair is that they allow for travelers to take extended layovers. This means you can stop in Iceland for a couple of days on your way to another destination. This method can be a cheap way to combine a mainland Europe trip with an Iceland trip for no extra cost.

My biggest recommendation for traveling in Iceland is to rent a car. The attractions of Iceland are very spread out and the best way to see them is definitively by car. You can hire tours if you prefer; however, these can get pricey and quickly overcome the cost of the car rental. Iceland is best seen via car and you will likely be driving a lot to see the main sights. The airport is the easiest place to rent from.

Driving in Iceland is not difficult. The roads are well laid out and the signage is easy to follow. Cell service was excellent in most, if not all, places I went, but consider downloading an offline map anyway.

One thing to note about Iceland driving is that their roundabouts are not the same as the United States. The inner lane has the right-of-way for exiting the roundabout – the outer lane is the one to yield. It is something to pay attention to, but easy to navigate.

When filling your car tank with gas or diesel, American visitors will have more success using tap pay. Make sure to stay fueled up at all times as distances between gas stations can be far, and many close at night.

Driving tips

• Driving is on the right side of the road.
• Although I’m an Apple Maps guy, Google Maps definitely works better in Iceland.
• The only toll on Iceland is in the north through the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel, which my 7-Day Iceland Itinerary does not include. So you do not need to worry about tolls.
• Do not drive on F roads unless you rent a 4×4 vehicle. Do not drive off-road, it is illegal.
• Watch out for speed cameras – drive the speed limit. Cameras are fairly common.
• Remember weather conditions. Pay attention to winter weather, such as snow, ice, or extreme wind.
• If it is windy, be cautious to make sure your door does not blow open and slam into you or the nearby cars.
• An international driver’s permit is not needed to drive in Iceland, you just need a valid driver’s license.
• For current road information check https://www.road.is/.

Car rental tips

• Make sure you rent an automatic car if you need it. They sell out quicker and should be rented further in advance than manual cars.
• There are very few large (automatic) car rentals (i.e. 7 seats) available. Rent very far in advance if you need this.
• It is popular to rent camper vans and camp around Iceland. This is an option many travelers like to consider.
• Use a credit card that includes your car rental insurance with no international fees – many credit cards have the collision damage waiver (CDW) already included in your benefits. You can call your credit card company to determine this or to get a printed version. This will save you money. If you don’t have this, it’s always a good idea to opt into the extra insurance.
• Some parking lots at tourist attractions require paid parking. Download Parka.is from the app store in advance so you can pay for parking on your phone.

Cell phone service

I am a big fan and proponent of using eSim cards when traveling to new countries. eSim cards are non-physical sim cards that let you change your phone plan temporarily without having to remove or insert a physical sim card. They are super easy and do not affect your current cell service. If you want to learn more about eSim cards, refer to this article.

When I travel to Iceland I purchase a seven-day plan from Airalo. I’ve used them in the past based on personal research and had perfect service throughout Iceland with no interruptions. If interested, you can purchase an Iceland eSim card from Airalo here. Simply select the number of days you want service for and how many gigabytes of data and then follow the installation instructions. I highly recommend using this service as the easiest option!

Food

Food can be expensive in Iceland. Throughout my guide, I sprinkled in recommendations that are family-friendly and vegetarian-friendly that don’t break the bank. My best advice is that it is always fun to go to the grocery store and pack sandwiches for your adventures! I like this option because you get to experience grocery shopping in a foreign country, and you don’t need to take time out of your travel day for a sit-down lunch. Going out to only one meal a day helps to save money, while still letting you try the local cuisine.

Believe it or not, gas stations in Iceland are actually well-known for their food! Consider trying a famous Icelandic hot dog, grab some skyr, or simply a comfort burger from the gas stations for a cheaper and quick meal alternative.

Overall cost

Iceland has a reputation for being expensive. This is sometimes true, but certainly does not have to be! It’s not as bad as you might expect and is comparable to many major American cities. Consider staying in an Airbnb to get into the countryside and save some money compared to staying at a hotel. Food can be packed or eaten at your accommodations to reduce spending at restaurants. Most activities are in nature and therefore require little or no payment. Do remember to include gas in your budget!

Note that the currency is the Icelandic Króna. Everywhere I visited accepted credit cards, requiring me to use no cash while there. It is always a good idea to take out some local currency though just in case. Make sure to use a credit card with no international fees, and opt to pay in the local currency upon checkout.

Accommodations

The most efficient way to see Iceland is by moving accommodations. This allows you to see multiple locations in Iceland that are far apart without having to drive back and forth. I recommend this for Iceland because the distances between major attractions can be pretty far. However, this is not necessary. I have done my one week itinerary staying in one Airbnb in Selfoss and taking day trips to each destination. The guide includes location recommendations of where to stay.

Which you choose is up to you and how comfortable you are with driving time in the car. If you prefer less driving time, you will want to move accommodations more frequently, or if you don’t mind extra driving you can stay in one spot and not have to move around at all. Of course, you can always just pick one area and explore it fully instead of trying to see all of it.

In my experience, Airbnbs are nicer and cheaper than the hotels in Iceland. They often will get you to unique locations with cool features that a hotel might not provide.

Camping is a very popular option in Iceland if you prefer that over hotels or Airbnbs. There are numerous rental companies set up to support camping and van rentals, and campsites across the country.

Eruptions

Iceland is home to active volcanoes. Always research if eruptions are occurring before you travel and plan accordingly. Follow the guidelines that are set and respect any closures to ensure safety. Please refer to https://safetravel.is/ for the most current and up-to-date information.

Best time of year to visit

What is the best time of year to go to spend time in Iceland? In my personal opinion, the summer (June through August) is the best time of year to visit. This is because the sun almost never sets in the summer due to Iceland’s geographic location. This means you can explore Iceland from the early morning to well into the night in full daylight. This is very helpful as there is so much to see and driving distances can be far. This time of the year is also the warmest. Iceland gets very cold, so the warmer temperatures are appreciated when sightseeing.

That being said, you stand low odds of seeing the Northern Lights in the summertime. If you are interested in the Northern lights, I would recommend a more laid-back winter trip. If you choose the winter, prepare for winter-time driving conditions, temperatures, and little sunlight.

Weather and what to pack

Iceland is home to some extreme weather. When the sun is out in the summer it can be warm, but it is important to pack a rain jacket or windbreaker. Much of Iceland is very windy, so I recommend layers. Bring warm clothes as well, especially if traveling in the winter (jacket, gloves, hat, etc.). And waterproof hiking boots or a good pair of sneakers is a good idea. If you forget something warm, you can always invest in a locally-made wool sweater!

If you plan on swimming in the hot springs you should bring a bathing suit and towel. As always, never forget your sunglasses, sunscreen, and water bottle!

Map of Iceland

I put the general location of each day of my optimized itinerary on the above map so you can better understand the geography. For context, the drive from Reykjavík (day 7) to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon (Day 5- the farthest activity) is about five hours.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion – Essential Iceland Travel Tips for 2024

If you are considering a trip to Iceland, I’m here to tell you to go ahead and book it! It is completely worthwhile and you will see some of the most beautiful sights in the world. As always, take your time with travel planning, and be sure to take into consideration my Iceland travel tips for 2024!

Disclaimer: This article is intended to be for informational purposes only and may contain affiliate links. Refer to the full disclaimer for more information.