24 Things to Know Before You Visit Iceland, From Someone Who’s Been There 8 Times

I’m not the only person to have fallen in love with Iceland after my first trip there, but I have been lucky enough to return more times than most. I’m closing in on 10 visits to the country, and I try to visit at least once per year. 

Now that I’m very experienced with traveling around Iceland, I look back and somewhat cringe about how unprepared I was the first time. At the same time, I’m also happy that I’ve learned lots of things about preparing for a trip here. Besides making future visits more enjoyable, it also means that I can pass this wisdom on to you.

Based on my multiple visits to Iceland, I’ve put together this guide with the most essential things that you should know before you visit. By reading this, my aim is that you’ll be significantly more prepared for everything Iceland’s nature, weather, prices, and more have to throw at you. 

1. You Don’t Need a 2WD for the Ring Road, but Having One Can Be Useful

When you rent a car for your Iceland trip, you’ll have the option to pick whether you want an ordinary 2WD or a 4WD. If you only plan to drive around the Ring Road, a 2WD is more than enough in most cases. 

I don’t think you need a 4WD at all on the South Coast, unless you plan to drive to Gjáin’s upper parking lot—in which case you should have one. Having a 4WD can also be helpful for driving to the Þakgil campsite, along with any other unpaved mountain roads. On the Ring Road itself, though, I never felt the need for a 4WD; in the winter, my opinion might be different, depending on where you are. 

You will, however, need a 4WD if you plan to drive on any of the country’s F-Roads. This is a requirement by law. 

2. Many of Iceland’s Best Sights Are Actually Away From the Ring Road

When I visit Iceland, I use the Ring Road as a general guide to get around the island. But as you’ll discover when you start putting together your itinerary—and even more when you drive here—Iceland has a number of roads that branch off from Route 1. 

You will find a lot of the country’s main attractions, such as Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, along the Ring Road. But if you ask me, a lot of the best sights are on the roads you take that lead away from this. 

For example, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is not on the Ring Road. However, it is my absolute favorite place in the country. The Reykjanes Peninsula is also worth a detour, as are Siglufjörður and Húsavík. 

Rather than just sticking to the Ring Road, I suggest using it as the main way of getting around. Many of the other sights worth seeing are also on paved roads that branch off, and you should factor these into your itinerary.

3. For the Most Part, You Don’t Need Physical Cash in Iceland…

Iceland is by and large cashless, and while I have used physical money a few times, card payments are generally the way to go. Visa and Mastercard are accepted pretty much everywhere, even in the most rural towns. 

The only real exception to this rule is if you visit the Highlands. While you can pay by card at campsites here, the reception can sometimes be slow because there’s little to no mobile reception in this part of the country. I could pay by card when I was on the Laugavegur Trail, but often, it would take some time for the reader to process the payment. 

Since the connection can sometimes go offline, it can be useful to bring some physical cash just in case in these parts. But if you’re anywhere on the Ring Road, you should have no such issues using card payments. 

Just so you know, Iceland uses the Icelandic Króna (ISK). The exchange rate fluctuates all the time, but 1 USD is around 120 ISK and 1 GBP is roughly 160 ISK. If you use your card from your home country, you’ll likely have to pay a surcharge for foreign transactions and also potentially get a worse exchange rate. For this reason, I suggest signing up for a digital bank like Monzo or Revolut. 

4. … But You Will Need a Decent Amount of Money

I’m not going to sit here and pretend that Iceland is budget-friendly, because it’s the very opposite. Pretty much everything here is very expensive, and in most cases, you will pay more for items than in your home country. I say this as someone who lives in Copenhagen, which isn’t exactly the cheapest destination. 

As a general rule of thumb, I pay around $1,000 for a week of renting a car when I travel. For accommodation, most hotels will usually cost you at least $130 per night. Alcohol is also very expensive; the record for my most expensive beer is in Reykjavík. Eating at restaurants will also set you back a good chunk of money.

Generally, I recommend budgeting at least $1,000 of spending money per person for food, drink, and souvenirs for a seven-day trip. When I did a 10-day trip around the Ring Road and Snæfellsnes Peninsula, I spent $410 on gas. 

5. You Can Only Access F-Roads in the Summer

Iceland’s F-Roads lead to the country’s Highlands, and some are significantly more difficult than others. Before going on these, I suggest figuring out which ones are within your comfort zone (and getting a 4WD). The Highlands are very remote, so you need to be well-prepared. Many F-Roads also cross rivers.

Regardless, you can only access F-Roads in the summer. Usually, these open in June or July and close again by the end of August. The season depends on when snow melts and arrives, so it’s impossible to predict on a year-by-year basis. 

Trying to access F-Roads outside of the summer season is illegal. Beyond that, it’s incredibly dangerous. You also are not allowed to drive past any sign that says “Lokað”, which means “Closed” in Icelandic. And you know what I said about Iceland being expensive? You don’t need to increase how much you pay with a needless fine and vehicle recovery. 

6. Always Check Your Rental Car’s Insurance to See What Is and Isn’t Included

As beautiful as Iceland is, I’m always reminded of how important it is to respect Mother Nature when I come here. This is particularly true when it comes to your rental car. Iceland’s elements can throw up some nasty surprises, and if you aren’t prepared, you could end up paying more than you’d like to. 

When you rent a car in the country, you should have a clear idea of the insurance you’ll have. By law, all rental cars need to be insured. More often than not, you’ll have Third-Party Liability (TPL) insurance, car theft protection, and a collision damage waiver. You should still double-check that these are included.

Beyond that, though, I do recommend upping your insurance coverage. Iceland is notoriously windy, and as I’ve found out, black sand and ash like to get wherever they can. I’ve found it in my camera, backpack, and much more. It can also cause damage to your car. For this reason, I recommend getting a sand and ash damage waiver. The same goes for wind and gravel damage, and windscreen damage. 

The distances in Iceland are much bigger than you think. For example, driving from Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón directly would take you just under five hours. Akureyri is roughly the same distance if you were to drive from the capital to the north. 

For context, we drove just under 3,000 kilometers in total when we did our Ring Road and Snæfellsnes road trip. 

If you have less than a week in Iceland, I recommend picking between one and three areas. Trying to see the entire country in a short period of time is something I advise against, unless you want to rush your trip and feel like you need a vacation from your vacation. 

On a day-to-day basis, you should be reasonable with how much you can actually cover. I’d say that picking one or two main sights is smart, and then, you can be spontaneous. But trying to do too much is a really bad idea. 

9. Book Your Accommodation in Advance

From campsites to hotels, hostels, and guesthouses, Iceland has a broad range of accommodation for travelers. Most hotels are in Reykjavík, and if you’re planning to stay here, you can read my guide on where to stay in the Icelandic capital. You’ll find a number of other places worth basing yourself throughout the country, too. 

Once you’re ready to book a trip to Iceland, you should really book your accommodation in advance where possible. Some campsites, such as Skaftafell National Park, will ask you to pay when you arrive. But for hotels and guesthouses, getting these booked early—especially if you’re visiting in the peak season—is a very smart idea. 

At the same time, I dislike the self-righteous lot who’ve been to Iceland and now tell everyone else not to go. You absolutely should still visit, but this also means that you’ll need to factor in parking fees when you visit. Most of the time, these are between 700 and 1,000 ISK, which is roughly between $6 and $8.30. 

You can pay for parking via the Check-it or Parka app, depending on where you are. Some places are still free to park, but many of the big attractions will demand a fee.  

10. Day Tours Can Be Useful if You’re Not Going to Drive

Although renting a car is the best way to see more of Iceland at your own pace, day tours can be useful. You’ll need to deal with the trade-off of visiting places based on someone else’s schedule, but it also means that you won’t need to handle any of the logistics yourself. 

Another advantage of day tours is that you can at least see some of Iceland outside of Reykjavík, even if you only have a short layover. For example, while I do not recommend driving the entire South Coast yourself in a day, taking a day tour is an efficient way to see the main sights if you don’t have a lot of time in the country. 

The diplomatic way that I would describe Iceland’s weather is “volatile”. If you’re here for a week or longer, it’s highly likely that you will experience all four seasons. I mean… you may even get that in a single day. 

No matter when you visit, preparing for all weather is a good idea. Wearing layers is a starting point, and you should always have a rain jacket/windbreaker handy. Rain pants are smart to pull over your hiking pants, too, especially when you’re out on longer trails. 

If you want an idea of what to bring with you, I’ve written a full Iceland packing list for all seasons.

12. Reykjavík Is Also Worth Visiting, Even Though It’s Quite Touristy

Since my first visit to Reykjavík, the city has changed dramatically. Much of this has been good; for example, you’ll find many more excellent restaurants now. However, not all of it has been positive. Iceland’s capital has gotten even more expensive, and it’s much more crowded than my first visit, too. 

Downtown Reykjavík has become quite touristy, and the main streets are pretty crowded. But despite this, I still think the city is worth visiting. The Icelandic capital has plenty of fun things to do, and you’ll find some nice bakeries, museums, and cafés here as well. Plus, it’s not too hard to avoid the crowds if you get away from the main shopping streets. 

Depending on how much time you have, one or two days is a solid amount of time to spend in the city. If you’re in Iceland for a week or less, basing yourself in Reykjavík is also wise. You should, of course, see more of the country outside of its capital… but I personally still like visiting Reykjavík whenever I’m in Iceland. 

13. It’s Possible to Visit Iceland Without a Car, but You’ll Need to Compromise

I have visited Iceland a handful of times without a car, and I was naturally limited by how much I could see and do. However, it is still possible to have a nice trip without driving. At the same time, though, you’ll need to consider the trade-offs and deal with these. 

While you can use long-distance buses, I generally advise against doing so. First and foremost, you’ll need to adhere to the buses’ schedule. But beyond that, you also will need to consider potential delays and cancellations due to the weather. I’ve always felt like Iceland should increase the number of long-distance buses, as it would reduce the need to rent a car, but I guess it’s not my country (and public transportation is of course designed mainly for locals rather than tourists). 

On a previous September trip, for example, my mother and I had planned to fly to Akureyri and the north of Iceland. We had all of our tours and accommodation booked. However, there was a really bad sandstorm, and as we were preparing to leave our accommodation in Reykjavík, the flight was canceled. I booked this trip specifically in September to avoid this, so… yeah. 

Luckily, we managed to find other places to stay in Reykjavík and stayed here for the rest of our trip. It also worked out well because we got to see Snæfellesnes, which is one of the most beautiful parts of the country. 

Be flexible in your plans and expect that you may have to change things around. That’s part of the adventure, though, so you should embrace it. 

15. Bringing a Weather-Sealed Camera Is a Really, Really Good Idea…

I love photography, and Iceland is photogenic. Sounds like a match made in heaven, then. It kind of is, but Iceland has done a really good job of trying to mess up my camera gear multiple times. 

For example, I once went to Skógafoss on a particularly rainy day. Doing so without a weather-sealed camera was asking for trouble, but before this, I had never encountered issues with any of my devices. As it goes, I rode my luck a bit too much; it was raining when we got back to Reykjavík, and in the morning, my screen was water-damaged.

On another trip, I went to Iceland in the summer. However, I was camping… and I didn’t think about how my camera was basically outside all the time. Several times in the morning, my lens would condense. I also went to Fjallsárlón on a particularly cold day, and my camera fully fogged up by the time we drove to Jökulsárlon. 

If you don’t already have one, you should very much consider getting a weather-sealed camera and lens. Buying a rain cover for your camera is also smart for keeping moisture out, along with providing extra protection against sand and ash. You can also read my guide on how to protect your camera in Iceland. 

16. The Best Time to Visit Iceland Will Depend on What You Want to Do

Rather than giving you a blanket “this is the best time to visit Iceland” answer, I’m going to be a bit of a Centrist Dad here and say “it depends”. I have been to the country in all seasons, and each one has its pros and cons. 

If you just want to drive around the Ring Road, May to September is ideal because the weather is more reliable and the daylight hours are longer. However, you could see Reykjavík and the South Coast for most of the year; I once did an April road trip along the South Coast, and it was great. 

For the Northern Lights or activities like dog sledding, winter is naturally a much better time to go. Iceland is cold year-round, and the weather is all over the place, so going when it’s warm makes no sense. Instead, thinking about what you actually want to do—and planning your trip around this—is much smarter.

17. You Will Need Quite a Few Apps for Your Trip

I’ve written a full guide about apps to download in Iceland, but you’ll need a few for your trip in particular. SafeTravel is one of these; you can check road openings and closures throughout the country, along with getting help in an emergency. 

In the article I linked above, you can also get apps for aurora forecasts, navigation, and more. Having these handy will make getting around the country much easier, and it’s also ideal for peace of mind if something goes wrong. 

18. If You See a Sign or Fence, It’s There for a Reason

At waterfalls, cliffs, and beaches, you’ll often see signs warning you of potential dangers. Sometimes, you’ll see fences blocking you from going behind waterfalls during the winter. On other occasions, you’ll find signs warning you of steep edges. And when you go to Reynisfjara, you’ll see a sign warning you not to get too close to the water.

Every sign and fence you see is there for your own safety. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen people ignore these and walk over the fences in pretty dangerous places. For example, I was once at Dettifoss and saw someone climb over the barrier to take a photo from the cliff edge. I also saw people ignore the warnings and barriers at one of the canyons in the south of Iceland. 

First and foremost, ignoring these signs is just outright disrespectful. Quite frankly, I also think it’s incredibly arrogant and selfish. Putting yourself in danger will also potentially put rescue teams in danger, and others who follow the rules don’t want to see foolish behavior and potentially someone get injured or worse. 

If a road is closed, an area isn’t accessible, or you see signs warning you against doing something, do not ignore them. 

19. Reykjavík Airport and Keflavík Airport Are Two Different Things

If you fly around Iceland or take some helicopter tours, you’ll notice that these often depart from Reykjavík Airport. I also did the same when I took a trip to Greenland. This, however, is not the same as Keflavík Airport. I’m making this point because it’s an easy mistake to make.

Keflavík Airport is where you’ll arrive when you fly into Iceland, but Reykjavík Airport is mainly for domestic flights. Reykjavík Airport is just outside the city center and not too far from the main bus terminal. You could actually walk here from Reykjavík. Keflavík, meanwhile, is a 45-minute drive from the capital. 

If you book flights or tours from Reykjavík, double-check that it’s from Reykjavík Airport so that you don’t end up going to the wrong airport. 

20. If You’re Going to Buy Alcohol, Do It at Duty-Free

Drinking is not the main reason that I go to Iceland, and I could happily go without when I’m in the country. However, you will find some nice beers here. If you’re planning to get some drinks to have at your accommodation, duty-free is the way to go. 

Buying alcohol when you arrive is very easy; after you pass through baggage claim, you’ll go through a duty-free shop. Here, you can buy various Icelandic beers and spirits. 

Another option is to make the most of Happy Hour. Many bars in Reykjavík have a Happy Hour, where you can get solid discounts. You can check all of these here.  

21. A Road Might Still be Challenging to Drive on, Even if It’s Not an F-Road

I must admit that there is a huge difference between F-Roads and gravel roads, and I only realized this after going on an actual F-Road for the first time. However, while Iceland is great for driving, even the non-F-Roads can sometimes be a little bit nerve-wracking. 

In some instances, I’ve been on unpaved mountain roads that are particularly bumpy and full of potholes. Other roads have been less enjoyable during foggy weather, and gravel roads can also be not particularly enjoyable. 

Even if you’re not going into the Highlands, you should still expect that some roads in Iceland will be trickier than what you expect. My general advice is to take your time and also not to drive on anything that feels too risky. 

22. Iceland Is in the Schengen Area, but Not the EU

Iceland is in the European Economic Area (EEA), and it’s also in the Schengen Area. On top of this, citizens from the Nordic region—including the Faroe Islands and Greenland—have freedom of movement in and out of the country.

However, Iceland is not in the EU. The country actually had a referendum about whether it should resume accession talks in 2026, but the majority voted against it.

As an EU citizen, however, you can still visit Iceland with a passport or identity card. However, it must be valid for your entire stay. Although Iceland is in the Schengen Zone, border checks do sometimes still take place. 

If you’re a non-EU citizen, whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality. Citizens of the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Japan, and many other countries can enter for up to 90 days in a 180-day period with a passport that’s valid for at least three months beyond your departure date.

Some nationalities will need a visa. You can check whether or not you need a visa to enter Iceland here. 

23. Park Your Car Facing Directly Into the Wind

When I say that Iceland is windy, I mean it in the truest sense of the word. No matter when I’ve visited, I have always experienced at least one disgustingly windy day where I start to question my life choices. This can cause more issues than you might think.

One of the most important things to keep in mind with the wind is when it comes to your car. You should always park your car directly into the wind, with the front of your car pointing in the way that the wind is coming from.

This actually makes sense from a practical perspective. I have forgotten about this multiple times, and it’s only when the door feels like it’s about to fall off that I remember “oh yeah, probably should take this seriously”. If you don’t park with the front of the car facing the wind’s direction, it can lead to the door getting damaged. Beyond that, you will not enjoy your night of sleep if you’re camping. I can say this from personal experience. 🙂

24. … You Should Be Careful When Opening Your Car Doors, Too

You probably don’t think too much about how you open your car door if you live somewhere with stable weather, but it’s very important in Iceland. Besides parking in the direction of the wind, you should also use two hands to open the door. 

Again, the wind is the main reason. Having two hands will make the car door more stable, which will limit the risk of some damage happening. On particularly windy days, it’s easy to forget about how forceful it can be until you risk the hinges coming off. 

This tip is particularly important if you’re in a parking lot where you can only go in one direction, which is often the case at some of the bigger attractions. 

Useful Things to Know Before Your First Trip to Iceland

Visiting Iceland for the first time requires a bit more preparation than you might be used to, regardless of when you visit. The weather often doesn’t play fair, and as I’ve found out myself, the time of year that you visit might not mean a seamless trip. 

Still, I do think that Iceland is worth the extra preparation. It’s an amazing country, and one that I’m always eager to revisit as soon as I’ve boarded my flight home. Now that you’ve read this guide, you should have a better understanding of what to expect. 

If you want to plan your Iceland trip further, I recommend next reading my guide on the best things to do in Iceland.