When to Visit Iceland?
In my opinion, the best time to visit Iceland is between late May to early September when you will generally experience good weather, longer days, and a higher chance of clear days which will allow you to enjoy the outdoors more.
If you want to see the northern lights in Iceland, I highly recommend you visit Iceland in September which is exactly what I did for my trip. Out of the 10 days I stayed, there were 3 - 4 clear days where I was able to witness the northern lights without problems. Although the weather can get pretty cold at times in September, it is not unmanageable and if you want to catch 2 birds with one stone in Iceland, September is the way to go.
That said, due to its proximity to the arctic circle and its island topography, it is not uncommon to see a few days of freak weather in Iceland even at the best of times as I learned the hard way when I was stranded in Hofn for 3 days due to road closure and hurricane-speed wind. All that happened in September and so if you can spare some time, be sure to add a few buffer days to your trip just in case.
Technically, you can also visit Iceland in winter and things like accommodation are going to be cheaper but the days are short and if you are not experienced in driving a car under extreme conditions, I wouldn't recommend it.
How to Get to Iceland?
From the US, there are several direct flights from the US to Keflavík International Airport, the main airport in Reykjavik, operated by airlines like Icelandair and Fly Play from big cities like New York, Boston, and Seattle but you can also find plenty of transit flights that will take you to Iceland at a cheaper price. You can browse through great direct flights from here.
From Europe, you can find plenty of flights flying from major European hubs like Rome and Berlin to Iceland via either Fly Play or low-cost airlines like Wizz and Ryanair that will take you to Iceland in no more than 5 hours.
From Asia, you can fly into cities in Europe like Rome via middle eastern airlines like Emirates or Qatar, and then fly to Iceland via low-cost airlines like Wizz Air. The journey can take between 16 - 20 hours depending on the transit time. Keep in mind that you are going to have to do the transit of the Europe-to-Iceland leg yourself.
To find a cheap flight to Iceland, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get Around Iceland?
By Rental Cars: There is no way around it. The best way to explore Iceland is to rent a car and drive the ring road yourself. With your own cars, you will be able to stop wherever you want (in a designated area of course), whenever you want, and you are going to want to do it once you see the landscape that awaits. Trust me!
The best way to rent a car in Iceland is to pick the local rental car companies over international brands like Hertz and Sixt since most of the global policies these companies provide are not well suited for the extreme weather in Iceland and even a single scratch can land you a hefty fine.
I recommend you rent a car with Lotus Rental, an excellent local car rental company with a large fleet of cars you can choose from, from a small car like Toyota Yaris to a full-on 4WD jeep with the price ranging from 120 EUR per day to over 240 EUR depending on the type of car you pick.
The company also provide a favorable insurance option that will help you avoid hefty fine after returning the cars due to minor scratches which can easily happen along the way with all the sand, ashes, and gravel roads you will be putting the cars through.
You will also get certain benefits by renting a car with Lotus Rental Car like the discounted gas price at N1 gas stations, which is one of the most widely available gas stations in the country. You will also get unlimited mileage which is essential for driving long distances like this ring road itinerary. Best of all, deposits are not required to rent a car here.
I rented a Toyota Yaris (automatic) (which is all you need for this itinerary) with Lotus Rental together with their Gold Insurance plan which offers gravel, sand, and ashes protection for around 700 EUR for 10 days, and we didn't get a single fine afterward.
The pickup and return service were swift and stress-free. We were picked up at the airport by them and they took us to their headquarters located not too far from there. In 20 minutes, we were already on the road driving ourselves to Reykjavik. When we returned the car at the headquarter, it only took a few minutes for us to complete the return process and they were dropping us off back at the airport in no time.
If you are looking for a reliable local car rental company to rent a car from. I highly recommend you give Lotus Rental a go. You can reserve the car with the link below:
By Tours: Together with driving yourself, you can also visit other remote areas in Iceland with an organized tour. Activities like exploring the ice caves, glacier hikes, and going whale-watching can not be done without an organized tour and so if you plan to do these types of activities, be sure to check out all the tours in Iceland here.
How Much Money Do I Need for 7 days in Iceland?
From this 7 days itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:
Accommodation: For 8 nights in Iceland, you can expect to pay around 800 EUR for up to 2 people of accommodation considering you are staying in budget guesthouses or hostels.
Food: For 7 days, 3 meals a day in Iceland, you can expect to pay around 160 EUR for food considering you buy groceries and cook yourself. It will be significantly more expensive if you eat out as food is rather pricey in Iceland.
Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 800 EUR for transportation, 700 EUR for car rental, and 100 EUR for gas.
Activities: Depending on how much you want to do in Iceland, you can expect to pay approximately 61 EUR for this itinerary, mostly on parking in privately owned areas.
Total Budget for 7 days in Iceland: 1,821 EUR
Is it Safe in Iceland?
In Iceland, the only thing you have to keep an eye out for is the weather which can be pretty extreme at times and may result in road closure that can affect your trip drastically.
For your safety, watch out for traffic warnings and road closures on Road.is, a website that keeps track of road closures and weather warnings across the island. Check it every morning before you embark on the journey.
When it comes to driving safely in Iceland, avoid the F-road if you did not rent a 4WD. The F-road is a network of unpaved roads that will take you deeper into the wilderness of Iceland but you will have to make sure that you have a 4WD and you know how to drive off-road.
Do not stop along the road since most roads in remote areas come in only one lane and you will be essentially blocking the way. There will be designated resting stops spread out along the Ring Road so if you want to stop, do it there.
Stick to the 90 km/h speed limit along the Ring Road and the 60 km/h speed limit in urban areas since speed cameras are everywhere in Iceland and you might find yourself with a hefty fine at the end of your trip because of it.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Iceland?
There are 3 major carriers in Iceland, Síminn, Vodafone, and Nova, that offer prepaid sim cards tourists can buy while they are traveling in Iceland. These sim cards should provide enough coverage for you to use for navigation along the Ring Road of Iceland. You can also buy an esim which is something I recommend as it is extremely convenient and can be done prior to your arrival in Iceland.
If you have a smartphone that supports esims, I highly recommend you take a look at these esims. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from.
The setup is fast and instant and you can buy it prior to your trip so you don't have to scramble your way to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to what you get with a local sim card with 4G speed across the entire country.
Or if you are traveling to Iceland as part of a bigger Europe trip, I highly recommend you get the regional Eurolink esim which will give you access to data from over 39 countries across Europe. I have personally used this esim on my 3-months trip around Europe and it has worked wonders.
For more information on esims in Iceland, click here: Check Iceland's Available eSim.
What to Pack for Iceland?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Iceland:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Down Jacket: In freezing temperatures, a down jacket is essential. The Columbia Men's Lone Fir Hooded Jacket (for women) is my choice. They are warm, lightweight, and available in various colors.
- Wool Beanie: A wool beanie is perfect for keeping your head and ears warm.
- Wool Gloves: I always have wool gloves handy to keep my hands warm in cold weather.
- Wool Socks: Don't forget to keep your feet warm with wool socks.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.