Iceland truly defines its name as the land of Fire and Ice. This country has everything you could ever imagine from volcanos to giant glaciers. It’s not hard to understand why so many tourists flock to see this beautiful place. In 2023, I had the pleasure of traveling to Iceland in a small camper car; it was amazing. Here are some tips that I researched and learned along the way that I think everyone should know before going!
Airport Shuttle
You’ve arrived and now you’re wondering how you get to the center of Reykjavik. Keflavík Airport isn’t located near town and requires travelers to take a bus. Have no fear! You can purchase your bus ticket at a kiosk in the airport or you can purchase tickets at the desk. You will find the kiosk and ticket desk nearest the airport exit. The ticket price for a one-way ticket is $37 per person. You also can purchase a roundtrip ticket for $66. If you decide to purchase a return ticket later, you can purchase it at the bus station you were originally dropped off at. Multiple buses are operating continuously but I recommend if you’re in a time crunch buy your tickets in advance. The bus is close to an hour long and provides wifi onboard.
Use Airbnb For Affordable Car and Camper Rentals
Rentals are very important and will determine how you will travel around Iceland. Iceland has vast terrain that can require vehicles that are specifically made to handle offroads and rivers. You will also need a rental if you’re looking to visit campgrounds and cover more than just Reykjavik. This can be very expensive and easily costs more than $1000 for less than a week not including all of your other expenses. My partner and I weren’t open to paying the prices quoted by rental companies and found a much more affordable way to rent a camper car. We were successful in renting a camper from Airbnb. There are rental companies that provide services via Airbnb and also offer insurance. When we arrived in Rejkavik, the company had our rental waiting at the bus stop ready to go. We booked with Black Sheep Campers on Airbnb. They offered sleeping bags, towels, cookware, gas for cooking, car insurance, rental dropoff, navigation tablet with wifi, and a heater. We paid roughly $700 for 6 days. Be aware that prices fluctuate by season. We traveled at the end of February and early March.
Campsites
So you have your rental and you’re ready to go. As you travel around Iceland you will notice that there aren’t many hotels available if any touring outside the city. Campsites are very popular among travelers using a camper. You can NOT park your camper on the side of the road. You must camp in areas designated for camping or if someone allowed you to camp on their land. Campsites are abundant in Iceland, especially around the tourist attractions. If you’re camping in the winter months, please visit Tjalda to view all year-round campsites. We traveled in the winter months. As we booked campsites we noticed that it wasn’t uncommon to stay at campsites that didn’t have staff. There were even times when we were completely alone.
At the campsites, usually, you can find public bathrooms and shared kitchens. We only encountered one campsite that didn’t have a shared kitchen. If you plan to stay at a campsite I recommend bringing cookware just in case there isn’t anything available! Also, most campsites have electrical hookups that you can pay an extra fee to use. I recommend this if you’re camping in the winter months so you can hook up heaters.
Don’t forget to book campsites in advance so can secure your spot!
Use Petrol Station Cards To Fill Up
If you’re using a credit card on your trip, some petrol stations require a PIN code when entering your card. This can be an issue if you don’t have a PIN number. If you’re using a debit card then you will be able to pay for the petrol but be warned that most petrol stations will place a hold that can range up to $150. This can add up if you have a long journey that will require you to continuously fill up! Instead use petrol station cards! Petrol stations supply gas cards so you can place money on and use them. This eliminates the worry of large holds and pin codes. We found this to be much more convenient and had no issues in any part of Iceland.
Use Caution When Driving And Stay Updated
Iceland is absolutely beautiful but it can be quite dangerous depending on when and where you visit. When planning your trip, be aware of what car you’ll be renting and where you plan to visit. If you’re driving the Golden Circle, then you won’t have any issues driving with a basic camper or rental car. Beware of offroads that are only open during certain seasons. These roads are meant for cars that can manage off-roading.
If you’re traveling during winter then you’ll need to be aware of Icy conditions and weather advisories. When we traveled to Iceland in the winter it wasn’t uncommon to see cars in a ditch or on the side of the road. Always check road conditions before traveling on road. is. If you’re renting, your car insurance will not cover you if you crash on a road that has a warning or closure.
Bring Waterproof Gear
I made the mistake of only packing winter gear when I visited Iceland but I never thought about how wet it could get when visiting waterfalls. Iceland has powerful winds that can cause ample water spray when visiting waterfalls. This causes all of your clothes to become soaked which is uncomfortable if it’s in freezing conditions! Staying dry is important if you’re camping during the winter months. I recommend waterproof pants, jackets, and hiking boots.
Iceland Is Expensive! Use Low-Cost Grocery Stores
If you don’t know by now Iceland is an expensive country. Food, accommodation, and petrol can add up! While camping, we wanted to cut costs by cooking on our own. We chose budget-friendly grocery stores that had reasonably priced items. Our favorite store was Bonus which had so many items to choose from. Another store we shopped at was Kronan grocery store. I can’t recommend these stores enough. They’re located all around Iceland and saved our pockets when we were trying to budget! Hot dogs in Iceland were delicious and affordable for quick meals that didn’t require prepping. I recommend picking up a pack.
Use Apps When Chasing The Northern Lights
This was one of the most memorable moments when I visited Iceland. Not seeing the northern lights but the process of finding them. If you’re traveling to Iceland be advised that you are not guaranteed to see the Aurora Borealis. Weather, location, and other factors can cause visitors to miss this beautiful spectacle. To better your chances of seeing it I recommend downloading Hello Aurora on your smartphone to track and keep up to date with the forecast. This app will tell you locations where the highest probability of seeing the northern lights are and you can also see up-to-date photos of others who have witnessed the lights. This app is a must!
Better your chances of seeing the northern lights by going to places with fewer lights and clear skies.
Lagoons and Hot Springs
When visiting Iceland it’s a must to experience the lagoons and natural hot springs. Iceland is most famous for the Blue Lagoon which attracts thousands each month. If you’re looking for a lagoon that is more scenic and offers more I recommend trying Sky Lagoon. This Lagoon is stunning overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. They offer different packages along with entering the lagoon. The most famous package is their sky package which offers the 7-step ritual. I can’t recommend this place enough. When I left the Lagoon I was unbelievably relaxed. When visiting lagoons, make sure to visit the establishment when they’re opening or later in the evening. We chose to visit during opening hours which allowed us to wander the Lagoon without dealing with crowds.
Natural Hot springs were also something my partner and I enjoyed searching for. You can simply search in Google Maps and find natural hot springs in your area. Some hot springs can be populated with locals and some are harder to find and are completely secluded which might require you to hike. We managed to find a hot spring that locals recommended on Google that was completely off the grid. We trudged through cold mud but were fortunate to find it after some serious searching. Being in nature all alone really made the experience enchanting and memorable. Always double-check locations to make sure you’re not trespassing.
Drink The Tap Water
One of the most satisfying things about Iceland is its fresh water. The tap water in Iceland is fresh water from underground. My partner and I absolutely loved drinking the tap water knowing how fresh it was. We were also told we could drink from nearby natural springs. Obviously, use good judgment if you decide to do so.
Use Caution If You Visit The Black Sand Beach
I hear many people warn tourists of the sneaker waves at Reynisfjara the Black Sand Beach. Although tourists hear the warning, people still try to get the perfect photo or enter the cave. There are always some tourists putting themselves in danger. I have witnessed multiple people get caught by the sneaker waves. Luckily, they didn’t drown but it’s known to have killed multiple tourists in previous years. Never turn your back to the ocean! The beach is worth seeing but please adhere to the warnings of the beach.
The Golden Circle
Don’t miss out on the Golden Circle when traveling to Iceland. It has popular natural attractions with easy access driving to. It includes Gullfoss Waterfall, The Geysir, Kerio, and many other sites to see. It doesn’t take long to see all of the Golden Circle but if you’re looking to have a relaxed trip without the rush, I recommend taking 2 to 3 days to soak in the beauty. As stated above, there are many campsites on the Golden Circle that you can camp at. If you didn’t rent a car, you can still experience the Golden Circle with bus companies that drive you to the tourist attractions.
Affordable Flights Direct To Iceland
If you live in Baltimore, Boston, New York, or Washington DC areas you can now fly direct to Iceland. Play Airlines is a budget airline that offers direct flights for affordable prices. My partner and I were very pleased flying with this airline and admired the plane crew’s relaxed outfits that had a nice style. If we have the chance to fly with PLAY airline we will definitely book with them again.
