Iceland Travel Tips

Written By Ása Steinarsdottir

Welcome to Iceland

If you are reading this you’re probably planning a trip to Iceland. That’s super exciting and I know you will have an amazing time here. Iceland is so unique and has so much to see, you can’t really go wrong. One place is more amazing than the other.

When you plan your trip to Iceland there are many things to be aware of. I have written this guide to try to help you as much as possible so that you have a great time when visiting my home country.

How to Travel

I travel Iceland year-round and I always make sure to have my own vehicle. Since you’ll be going between many different stops, it’s best to be able to travel at your own pace. If you are up for it I also recommend not staying more than 2 days at the same accommodation. In my opinion, it’s more fun to move around a lot to see as much as possible.

Rental car

I mostly travel by car. In winter always drive a 4x4 with studded tires, that’s super important. The rest of the year 4x4 isn’t as important unless you plan to drive into the Highlands. If you’re driving the ring road and to the most popular areas, a 2-wheel drive is all fine.

My preferred rental car company is Blue Car Rental. They have great jeeps for winter and lots of options for regular cars for summer. Click this link for 5% discount automatically applied at checkout.

Camper van

In summer I love to travel by camper van. It’s so easy to always have your bed, kitchen and home with you on the road. There are lots of great campsites all over Iceland that always have showers and toilets. It definitely works to travel by van all year around but the experience is of course best when it’s warm outside and you can sit in the grass outside to cook breakfast.

The best campervans of Iceland are from CampEasy, book yours here.

When to travel

Iceland is great to visit all year round. Each season has its perks. Here are the main things to think about when you decide to visit Iceland and select when to go.

Winter

In winter Iceland can be absolutely beautiful. When the landscape is snow-covered and it’s beautiful winter days. However, it can also be very stormy with closed roads and canceled tours. So you need to be more flexible and follow the weather forecast in winter.

In the North is almost always snow. However on the south coast, it can be snow but it can also be raining, you never know until you arrive.

Also, keep in mind that winter has short days. In December the sun rises at 11 am and sunset is at 4 pm. So you have less time to explore and I think it’s important to have a cozy cabin or hotel to stay at because you will end up spending the evening inside.

It’s definitely possible to drive on your own, but you have to make sure you have a 4x4 car with spike tires. I would never drive anywhere if I don’t have that. Also, make sure to check road conditions at https://www.vegagerdin.is/. They will say if roads are closed so always check before you drive.

Spring

Spring in Iceland starts in April and then the days are getting much longer. It can be snowing all the way up until May but this is rare. It’s still not very warm so pack winter clothes. I like spring because it’s less busy than summer but you can still be outside with long days and do many hikes and activities. April and May usually have quite stable weather so it’s good for road trips.

You should note that Iceland isn’t getting green until early June.

Summer

This is when Iceland turns lush green and becomes super beautiful. The purple lupin fields start in June and the puffins arrive as well. It’s the best time for whale watching and hiking. The weather is usually nice and warm but it can always be raining. Temperatures can be up to 20C in the daytime and colder at night.

June is probably my favorite month since it never gets dark. During summer solstice the sun doesn’t set and it’s this amazing pink glow for hours at night.

Autumn

This is September-November. I really like this time of year as the pace in Iceland calms down, and days are a little shorter. Weather is usually good in early autumn but there is always the occasional storm to watch out for. This is usually the best time of year to see northern lights as they are strongest in September - October. It’s also fewer people in Iceland and you can get better rates on hotels and car rentals.

Northern Lights season

Northern lights are visible from September to March. They are amazing when you catch them but can be unpredictable. So be aware that it’s not certain you will see them even if you travel in this period. The main things to think about to see them are to have clear skies and stay away from light pollution in the cities. To read more about how to see the northern lights, see this blog.

Where to travel

I get asked so often where is best to travel. It’s of course a very hard question to answer but I’m gonna try to break it down here by area:

Reykavik & Reykjanes

Reykjanes peninsula is where the airport is so you will naturally arrive here. The top attraction is Blue Lagoon Iceland which I highly recommend. There are also some unique geothermal areas and this is also where the volcanic eruption was in 2022.

Reykjanes is the capital of Iceland and is well worth a visit. However, if you are traveling to Iceland I would always recommend prioritizing nature above city life. Nature is really what makes Iceland unique and why you should come. So spend 1-2 days in Reykjavik if you want to but then go explore the countryside.


South Coast

This is the one area you shouldn’t miss. Most spots you have seen in Iceland are located here. The best way to get here is to rent a car or campervan and drive on your own. It’s accessible all year around so the season doesn’t matter. To cover the full south coast you need 3-4 days. Then you get to see majestic waterfalls, large glaciers, black beaches, and deep canyons.

Golden Circle

The golden circle has become very famous and popular for good reasons. The Geysir is very unique. In my opinion, it’s sometimes too touristy with big parking lots and lots of people. I recommend going here but don’t spend more than a day. If you need to prioritize then do the south coast instead.

East fjords

This is as far away as you get from Reykjavik. There’s a lot to explore here and crowds are a lot less. I love this area of Iceland but it’s a far drive. If you drive the circle (which I think you should) then you will be passing through the East Fjords.

North

The north has the best mountains and if you are into skiing this is where to go. I go here in late winter to ski, both in Iceland’s biggest ski resort, but also ski touring on my own. Myvatn and Husavik are in the north which is well worth a visit. You pass through here if you do the ring road.

Westfjords

This is the most remote area of Iceland and not that many tourists come all the way here. It’s an incredible area and it really feels remote. The towns are small, the roads bumpy and the views stunning. The westfjords have a lot of hot springs and often you’re all alone in them. If you have some extra days, it’s perfect to extend the ring road trip with 4 days in the Westfjords.

Snaefellsnes

This area is quite close to Reykjavik and perfect for a day trip or one overnight stay. You can cover most of it in 24h and the main attraction is the famous Kirkjufell. I don’t come here that often since it’s more driving and fewer spots compared to the south coast.

Highlands

All other areas in Iceland more or less follow the coast. The middle area is called the Highlands and they can be super fun to visit. However, they can also be very hard to access. In general, there’s no service, no supermarkets or hotels. So you are entirely on your own here.

You also need a 4x4 vehicle and ideally with a snorkel since some roads have river crossings. Before you go in here, make sure you know what you’re doing and are well prepared. Also, make sure you check the weather forecast as it can change fast.

My travel recommendations

Depending on how much time you have in Iceland, here are the areas I recommend focusing on. This can of course vary based on interest but for moth Iceland travelers this is how I would recommend spending your time:

  • 1-2 days: Reykjavik & The Golden Circle

  • 3-6 days: The South Coast & Reykjavik

  • 7-10 days: Drive the full ring road

  • 10-14 days: Ring road + Westfjords or Highlands

Iceland Travel Guide

I have created a travel map with all of my best stops across Iceland (including secret hot springs). If you are visiting this will help you so much in finding activities that fit you the best. Take a look at it here.

Activities vs Exploring on your own

There’s so much to do in Iceland and it’s just impossible to do it all. I highly recommend fitting some tours in during your trip but pick the ones you. They always take a bit of time to do so you want to have a nice mix of exploring on your own and doing tours.

I have 5 favorite tours that I keep doing over and over again. They are all unique to Iceland and I can promise you will love them. They are:

As a little bonus to you, I have set up a discount code for each one of them. If you use the code, you will get 5-10% disount depending on which tour you book. The code for all these trips are: ASAPROMO.

You can also read more about each tour here and why I think they are the best of Iceland.


I really hope you’ll have a great trip to Iceland!

Ása

Ása Steinarsdottir
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