Iceland Travel Tips: A-Broad Overview

Welcome to my Iceland page! My friends, boyfriend, and I did a 10-day Iceland road trip back in June of 2019, and these are some of the travel tips we followed before and during our trip. Note that this list is far from comprehensive, and I always recommend that you do your own research before traveling.

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    Our Iceland Blog Posts

    the four of us at Jökulsárlón a massive glacier lagoon and a must-visit spot in South Iceland

    If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, you can learn more about traveling along Iceland’s Ring Road in my full road trip itinerary blog post:

    Before Traveling to Iceland

    Gjáin is one of Iceland’s “Pearls of Nature” and looks like a lush green scene out of the Land Before Time

    Here are some important things to look into before traveling to Iceland:

    Passport: It’s recommended that you have a valid passport for 6 months beyond your planned date of departure, though only 3 months passport validity is actually required. You’ll need 2 blank passport pages for your entry stamp.

    Tourist Visa: Lucky you! You won’t need a tourist visa for Iceland if you plan to stay less than 90 days.

    Vaccinations: Historically, there have been no required vaccinations to visit Iceland.

    Check out the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs website as a guide for any additional travel advisories, cautions, vaccinations, visa/document requirements, etc. prior to visiting Iceland.

    While You’re in Iceland

    Sara presenting Hengifoss, Iceland’s third tallest waterfall, in the background

    Here are some tips to keep in mind during your time in Iceland:

    Currency: Iceland’s currency is the Icelandic Krona. Everywhere we stopped accepted credit card, so we didn’t need any local currency. I usually bring my debit card and around $200 USD with me on all of my trips—just in case!

    Rental Car: We rented a VW Golf-sized vehicle from SADCARS. However, I strongly recommend renting a vehicle with four-wheel drive instead, especially if you’re going to be taking a road trip around the country like we did. Some of the terrain is pretty rough. Camper vans are also prevalent in Iceland, and choosing one of these could help you save money on lodging too.

    Food: Iceland is pricey, so we avoided dining out during most of our trip. We packed our own snacks from home (protein bars, trail mix, nuts, bread, peanut butter, jelly, dried fruit, etc.). We also visited the Bonus grocery store in Iceland to pick up some additional snacks/meals and other necessities.

    Lodging: Consider sharing rooms if traveling with friends (like we did!) or staying in guesthouses, hostels and Airbnbs, instead of hotels, to keep costs even lower.

    Safety: Iceland was ranked the “World’s Safest Country for 2019” by Global Finance Magazine, and it’s still ranked as one of the safest countries in the world. We can attest that we had no issues whatsoever meandering and exploring all around the country.

    Maps: You’re likely going to be driving a lot, and service will be spotty. Prepare all of your routes using Google Maps before you arrive in Iceland and make them available offline to guide you when you don’t have service.

    Entertainment: Also, be sure to download a podcast or a good playlist for those longer drives.

    Bookings: If you plan to visit the Blue Lagoon, book your tickets in advance. It’s a popular spot and typically gets fully booked throughout the year.

    Bonus: Try a hot dog! Iceland is known for having some of the best hot dogs in the world, and I recommend ordering one with “the works”, i.e. all the condiments. I’m not a huge hot dog fan, but I will say that Nordic countries tend to get these right—I tried one in Copenhagen, Denmark as well, and it was delicious!

    Iceland Packing List

    Sara and Tim behind Seljalandsfoss a cool waterfall you can walk behind in Iceland

    Pack light-weight, comfortable clothes that you can layer throughout the day and on hikes. Iceland’s weather can change drastically throughout the day and from location-to-location, even in the summer.

    Bring a refillable water bottle—not only is it a great choice for the environment, but purchasing water over and over again during your trip can get expensive. The tap water here is drinkable and some of the cleanest in all of Europe, so it’s a no-brainer.

    Iceland experiences 24 hours of daylight in June, so bring a comfortable eye mask and foam ear plugs or noise-cancelling headphones to ensure you get a full night’s sleep.

    Here are some other things we packed for our Iceland road trip:

    🧳 P.S. you can get my full Iceland road trip packing list here!

    Iceland is one of the coolest places I’ve ever been, and I’d love to hear your tips for visiting here too! Feel free to leave your ideas in a comment below, and happy traveling!

    XOXO Sara at Travel A-Broads