TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO ICELAND (AND NOT SHIT)

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Have you decided to travel to the land of Vikings and let yourself be seduced by the wild beauty of their landscapes from another planet, but now you are a sea of doubt? Quiet, it usually happens, and that's why we give you a few tips for traveling to Iceland cheaply (and not screw it up), so that you only think of enjoying your trip to the fullest.

Minimum of one week to ten days, maximum ... is there ever maximum to know a country? All you can and want 🙂 Having said that, it is also true that if you do not have much time, a short break (4-5 days) to the capital of the country will allow us to make very interesting day trips and want to return to explore all that Iceland has to offer ... which is not a little.

A possible itinerary for 10 days It could be this:

1-2 days: Reykjavík. Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
Days 3-6: Vatnsnes Peninsula. Húsavík. Waterfalls of the North (Goðafoss, Dettifoss, Hafragilsfoss,…). Lake Mývatn and surroundings.
Days 6-10: Eastern Fjords and Jökulsárlón lagoon. Vik and Vatnajökull National Park. Southern waterfalls (Svartifoss, Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, ...). Golden Circle

And if you have more time (lucky!) Look here for the 25 best things to see and do in Iceland.

Sorry to say yes, it is ... and that is why it occupies a prominent place in almost all rankings of the most expensive countries in the world. The good news is that there are tricks to reduce expenses as much as possible. Then we collect a few cheap travel tips to Iceland:

Prepare your own food. The pig from the supermarket chain Bonus will become your best friend during this trip. In these stores you will find the best prices in the country. So you know, trying local delicacies in restaurants is fine, but in Iceland this can be prohibitive for tight budgets.
You can also take the opportunity to take some food in your suitcase: but be careful because only 3Kg are allowed per person. Do not miss them, 3Kg can go a long way! Check everything you can and can't take here.
Even if only for a few days and if you are not already ... become abstemious! Yes, I know, a beer or a glass of wine occasionally feels great, but in this country the alcohol more than your liver will hurt your kidney ... you will have to sell one to be able to afford it!
Booking in advance is a key factor. It is a common trick to any trip, but in Iceland you have to take it to the letter. Booking in advance we ensure better prices for flights, accommodation and rental vehicles.
Travel in mid-low season. Summer is the high season in Iceland and prices soar. In a destination that has become so fashionable, the high season each time begins earlier and ends later, but despite this, you will reduce expenses if you avoid the months of June, July and August.
Stay in campsites. Without a doubt the cheapest accommodation alternative, excluding couchsurfing and free camping (as long as we are within the restrictions). If you are going to be traveling in the country for a long time, you may be interested in getting the Camping Card. Valid for two adults and four children, with it you will have access for more than 40 campsites throughout the country for 28 days. You can buy it online for € 159 (not included in the price any paid service offered by the campsite: electricity, washing machines, showers, etc.).
If the tent is not your thing, look for other alternatives to lifelong hotels: hostels, guesthouses, farms, airbnb, etc. Choose the one you choose, don't forget to put your own sleeping bag in your suitcase. Although it may seem strange to you, in Iceland some accommodations of this type charge an extra for "bedding".
Rent a atocaravana or campervan. It is one of the best ways to travel around Iceland… you will also have accommodation and transportation all in one! Here you have the best prices.
Give up photogenic and expensive hot spring baths, such as the well-known Blue Lagoon, and choose to enjoy the heat of Icelandic waters in free “pots” that you can find throughout the country. This application will help you place them on the map.

As you can see there are many ways to save money in Iceland (luckily).

Photocredit: Unsplash

It is one of the first things that almost all travelers ask ourselves before embarking on a new adventure, and of course, the answer in a country like Iceland is strongly conditioned by ... the weather! The winters Icelanders are long and cold. Although it is true that the warm Gulf current causes higher temperatures than one would expect in these latitudes, remember that they call it the land of ice and fire. And no, the fire thing is not because it enjoys hot summers in the purest Sevillian style, it is rather because it is a land of volcanoes, geysers and hot springs.

You can check the weather forecasts here or download the Veður application.

Keep in mind that Iceland receives the highest number of visitors during the months of June, July and August. Believe me, you will check it in the main tourist attractions of the country and in the difficulty to find accommodation without prior reservation.

So what is our advice? April, May, September and October are the best time to travel to Iceland, since they are perfect months to enjoy milder temperatures than during winter and we manage to avoid the crowds of summer. In addition, in September and October the northern lights begin to be seen again and the landscape continues to show some color before the winter snows dye it completely white.

Yes! You can see these places quite easily, though not always, of course. In addition to the weather, you will have to take into account your priorities and if among your “essentials” you can see aurora borealis yes or yes, then prepare a good coat because you will have no choice but to visit the country during the colder months. Ok, it is true that in principle they can be seen almost throughout the year, but obviously in the summer months with its midnight sun, the subject is complicated a little.

Some advice to see northern lights in Iceland:

Download Aurora Forecast and My Aurora Forecast, two APPs that indicate the possibility of seeing auroras and places to do it.
If you are lucky enough to see “the Green Lady” and you are not an expert photographer, do not waste time trying to take the photon out of life: it is super complicated to record it and it is best to enjoy that show live and direct.
On this website they talk more about the auroras and have a super handsome simulator.

Photocredit: Unsplash

For obvious reasons (don't forget that Iceland is an island), you can only get there by air or by sea, so let's see both options.

→ By plane

The number of airlines flying to the country has increased in recent years, including a good number of low-cost and, although prices can vary greatly depending on the time of year, it is possible to find some bargains by booking with in advance Compare options here.

Trick to find cheap flights to Iceland: if from Spain they are very expensive, a good idea is to fly to some point in the United Kingdom before and look for flights to Iceland from there ... they are usually much cheaper!

→ By boat

If you prefer the boat to the plane you will have to take into account that it takes approximately three days to get from the coasts of northern Denmark to the fjords of eastern Iceland. So if you have enough time and you want to travel in a not so usual way in these times of immediacy, you can embark your own vehicle on the Smyril Line company ferry and start your adventure long before reaching the island. You can see the schedules and book the ticket here.

Absolutely yes and also my advice is to do it. The best way is to rent your own vehicle, be it a car or van / motorhome, and enjoy the freedom to stop when you decide in every wonder of nature that you will find on your way.

The main road Iceland is the Þjóðvegur 1 or Ring Road, a circular road that goes around the whole island and is almost completely paved. On this website "Road.is" you will find useful information about the state of the roads. It is advisable to consult it before getting on the road, especially during the winter, to ensure that there is no section cut that prevents you from reaching your destination.

It is important to keep in mind that while there are numerous gas stations scattered throughout the country, there are long stretches of road where you will not find any ... so it is convenient to have located the points where to refill the deposit!

Even if you have decided to make your trip for free, you may want to combine it with some type of organized activity such as a visit to a glacier, some mountain trekking or some excursion to more remote areas of the interior of the island. These are the recommended tours:

Route through the Golden Circle (one day from Reykjavik)
Snaefellsnes excursion
Trekking on the Vatnajokull glacier
Guided excursion to the Solheimajoekull glacier
Whale watching on ecological boat

The crown (ISK) is the official currency of Iceland, but in a country where absolutely everything can be done pay with credit card, it may cost you to get to know her. If although it is not essential, you prefer to be a forecaster and carry a few crowns in your pocket, it is best to avoid changing money at the airport or at the tourist offices since these sites usually charge an important commission. Instead, you can do it in one of the Reykjavík downtown benches: Landsbakinn, Íslandsbanki or Arion Banki are the ones that will offer you the best kind of commission.

The solution we found a while ago to withdraw money abroad and make payments in currency not € without being crossed to commissions, it was to take two cards: the Bnext card as the first option, and the N26 card for possible emergencies. Both are free cards with excellent conditions to save us good money in commissions, but with certain limitations, so they complement each other perfectly. In addition, in Bnext there is a € 5 welcome promo!

There are other travel card options that we talk about here.

Iceland, although not part of the European Union, is within the Schengen Area, so the Spanish and a good handful of other nationalities We do NOT need a visa to visit the country, as long as our passport / ID have a validity of 6 months. On the official immigration website you can see the nationalities that require a visa and those that do not.

Photocredit: Unsplash

No matter what time of the year you visit the country, your suitcase can never be missing Warm clothing. Ideally, wear clothes that are not cotton, but thermal clothing, synthetic fabrics and quick drying. A jacket that protects from the wind and is waterproof and most importantly a footwear Have a good sole and keep your feet dry and warm. The trick… dress in layers like an onion! And although it is surprising to include them among the essentials in a luggage to travel to Iceland, do not forget the Sunglasses and the swimsuit!

Well, don't leave houses without a good insurance: Icelandic health is very expensive, so don't play it! Here we tell you how to choose the best travel insurance.

Icelandic is spoken in Iceland ... yes, it seems an obvious answer, hahaha, but it is that this language deserves a special mention for having remained practically unchanged since the first settlers of the country, the Vikings, took it to these lands more than 1000 years. In spite of how strange this language seems to most travelers, it is not difficult to be able to communicate with the Icelanders. First, because they are usually quite friendly people, willing to help the traveler in all they can without the language being an obstacle. And second because the great most of the population speaks english perfectly. It is true, sometimes, with a kind of "Galician accent" that can be most funny.

And if you want to communicate with friends and family, know that Iceland no longer have to pay roaming Yas! So if you have a Spanish (or European) card, you are safe. For us it is essential to have internet on the mobile phone during the trips, not so much for uploading photos to instagram or checking the mail, but for being connected at all times with the rest of the world.

You will have coverage for almost the entire trip, it will be better or worse, but you will be connected 😉

So far our tips for traveling to Iceland. We hope they help you to get the most out of your trip around Iceland.

* Photocredit: Shutterstock