15 HIGH IMPACT Ways To Save Money in Iceland (Updated 2019 Edition)

Updated: 12/20/18 | December 20th, 2018

12/20/18 | December 20th, 2018

Iceland: the land of sheep, northern lights, volcanoes with unpronounceable names (try Eyjafjallajökull), and crazy high prices.

It’s supposedly one of the least budget-friendly countries in the world — which made visiting even more appealing to me. I always view expensive countries as a challenge.

Figuring out how to visit an expensive country on the cheap is like solving a puzzle to me and I relished the challenge of finding out if visiting Iceland on a budget was possible.

And, after multiple visits to the country, I can tell you that traveling to Iceland can be done on a budget. It’s hard but not impossible to do.

Is Iceland expensive? Sure. The country is small, has a short growing season, doesn’t have a lot of crops, and has to import a lot of things it needs.

But, I’ve always found that the more expensive a place to live is, the more the locals work at finding ways to save money and beat the system. This holds true in every expensive country in the world outside of tax shelter countries like Monaco, Bermuda, or the Seychelles! Those places are just hopelessly expensive.

But, anyways, back to Iceland…

Can Iceland travel be expensive? Yes.

Can you beat the system and visit the country on a budget? FOR SURE!

You just need to be mindful of your spending.

How Much I Spent During My Last Visit to Iceland

While I was there, I spent an average of $54 USD per day (and I could have done it for less). Most of my money went to food and accommodation. Here’s a breakdown of my expenses (rounded to the nearest whole dollar) from my last visit which lasted close to ten days:

• Food: $200 USD
• Accommodations: $180 USD
• Alcohol: $80 USD
• Transportation: $95 USD
• Activities: $39 USD

At $54 USD a day, I don’t feel like I missed out on anything. Sure, I wasn’t eating fancy meals at restaurants (though I did eat out a couple of times) and I certainly couldn’t pay for activities such as whale watching, guided glacier walks, or helicopter rides. And, while those would have been fun to do, I found enough free activities to fill my time.

Suggest Budgets for Iceland

How much does it cost to travel Iceland? Well, not as much as you think as you can see. On the low end, you could get by on 6,500–8,000 ISK ($60–$75 USD) a day. That budget includes using local transportation, staying in an Airbnb, a hostel, with Couchsurfers, or camping; taking limited tours; cooking most of your food (restaurant meals are really expensive); and limiting your drinking.

For around 10,000 ISK ($94 USD) per day, you could eat out, drink more, and take more organized tours and paid activities. At 17,500 ISK ($163 USD) a day, you could stay in a budget hotel and eat out for the majority of your meals. At 25,000 ISK ($234 USD) a day or more, you can do whatever you want!

Extreme budget travelers who plan on hitchhiking, cooking all their meals, Couchsurfing, or camping with their own gear can get away with spending around 4,300–5,400 ISK ($40–$50 USD) per day.

Accommodation

Food

Transportation

Attractions

Avg. Daily Cost

Backpacker

$29

$10

$28

$17

$60

Mid-Range

$107

$16

$60

$35

$163

Luxury

$166

$70

$100

$200

$400

 

How to Save Money in Iceland: 15 Hacks to Help You

There are many things in Iceland that will eat into your budget and, in the land of $2.50 USD bottles of water, it’s easy to unconsciously spend money. A beer here, water there, a snack there can add up quickly, and suddenly you’ll find you spent an unplanned $100 USD. You have to work to save money here and be conscious of where your money is going. Keep track of every penny! On my first trip, I got tea just about every day (I love tea) but, at $3.50 USD a pop, it was starting to add up so I had to stop.

However, Iceland is a place full of FREE natural beauty and wonder and there are many ways to save money in Iceland. Here are all ways to travel Iceland on a budget, lower your costs, avoid my spending mistakes, and have extra money for your dream adventure excursion:

1. Hitchhike — Iceland is one of the easiest and safest countries in the world for hitchhikers. You can find rides throughout the country. It’s especially easy in the southern part of Iceland. Though harder, it’s also not impossible to find a ride in the off-season or in the sparsely populated north. I hitchhiked in the Westfjords and it often took me an hour or more to find a ride. However, in the south, you’ll rarely wait more than 15-20 minutes.

One way to find rides is ask around in hostels — people are usually driving the main ring road (M1) that circles the country, and there are only two ways to go on that!

HitchWiki has a lot of information on hitchhiking in Iceland.

2. Bring a water bottle — The water in Iceland is incredibly clean and drinkable. A plastic bottle of water costs about $3 USD, so bring a metal water bottle with you and refill from the tap. It will save you a lot of money and help the environment. There’s no reason to buy water here.

3. Camp — Camping is available everywhere in Iceland. You can camp in designated campgrounds for about $14 USD per night and some hostels allow you to put up tents too. Camping is significantly cheaper than hostels (see the next couple of tips). You’ll need to have your own gear and sleeping bag. Moreover, if you really want to save money on accommodation in Iceland, you can also wild camp and not pay any fees (i.e., just sleep anywhere you want!). It’s legal as long as there’s no sign posted to the contrary, it’s not private land (though some farmers might give you permission), and it’s not in a protected wildlife area. I met a Spanish guy who did this for most of his trip.

4. Become a Hosteling International member — Most hostels in Iceland (especially outside Reykjavik) are part of the Hosteling International group, which means they give discounted rates to members. Hostel dorms cost $27-33 USD per night, and HI members get $5 USD off, so if you plan on staying in hostels, the $28 USD annual membership will pay for itself in no time. You can get a membership at any hostel or online before you go.

5. Bring your own sheets or sleeping bag — As with other Scandinavian countries (yes, I’m putting Iceland in that category), many hostels in Iceland charge you a fee for bed sheets if you don’t have your own or a sleeping bag (pillows are free!). Linen fees begin at $10 USD; however, be sure to research your hostel thoroughly as some will not allow you to bring your own sheets/sleeping bag. Note: If you plan on staying in the same hostel for a few days, you’re only charged the linen fee once.

Side note: I find this policy stupid. It’s meant to reduce the spread of bedbugs, but my own sheets can be carrying bedbugs from hostel to hostel. I don’t get it! It would be much better if hostels provided sheets that they washed, especially in Iceland where they don’t have a water shortage!

6. Don’t drink that much – Due to high taxes, it’s very expensive to drink in Iceland. Here are some average alcohol prices:

• Beer: $10 USD (happy hour: $6 USD)
• Wine: $12 USD
• Bottle of wine at the store: $20 USD
• Bottle of wine at a restaurant: $30+ USD
• Shots: $8 USD

– Due to high taxes, it’s very expensive to drink in Iceland. Here are some average alcohol prices:

Don’t drink and your budget will be fine! OK, maybe once in Reykjavik since its nightlife is world famous. But other than that, don’t. You’ll save a bundle and feel a lot better. No one wants to hike a volcano with a hangover. Most Icelanders don’t go out until past midnight because they want to get sauced at home on the cheap first. (All my Icelandic friends place duty-free orders with me when I come visit.)

And, if you want to drink, be sure to buy tons at the duty-free in the airport and carry with you. It will save 30% off the cost of buying alcohol in the country.

7. Cook your own food — I found food to be the most expensive thing in Iceland. Eating out, even on the cheap, costs about $15 USD or more per meal. Something from a sit-down restaurant with service can cost $25 USD or more!!! It’s easy for your food budget to go through the roof at those prices.

Go grocery shopping. Buy everything you need — such as eggs, cereal, pre-made sandwiches, and pasta — and cook. All hostels, guesthouses, and campsites have kitchens. My grocery bill for about three days of food was the same price as one meal at a restaurant. Make sure to shop at BONUS food stores as they have the cheapest prices.

8. Bring your own tea and coffee – Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate can easily cost 400–700 ISK (even regular drip coffee or a teabag you put into hot water yourself). If you bring your own, you can limit the times you have to buy it and save yourself a handful of krónur.

9. Eat the hotdogs — If you are going to eat out, eat at the sandwich and hot dog stalls you find through the cities. They offer the cheapest (but not healthiest) food in the country. A hot dog costs about $3.50 USD and a regular sandwich will run you about $13 USD (about $17 USD with a drink). A small sandwich is about $8.50 USD. Icelanders have an odd obsession with hot dogs, so as long as the city has more than one road, you’ll find a hot dog stall around.

10. Get a bus pass — During the summer months, you can purchase a countrywide bus pass for $323 USD. If you don’t want to hitchhike, this will be your next cheapest option for getting around Iceland on a budget, especially if you are traveling for a couple of weeks or more. During the winter months, many of the bus routes are closed and this pass isn’t offered. When that happens, you can use the website listed below to find cheaper rides or pay as you go.

11. Rent a car — If you are coming in the off months, staying for a week or less, or don’t want to hitchhike, I would rent a car. They cost between $40-70 USD per day but you can split the costs with traveling companions (or by picking up travelers on the road!) and you’ll get a lot more flexibility than if you take the bus. The best of Iceland isn’t found along its main highway! SADcars offers the cheapest car rentals in the country.

If you rent a car, pick up hitchhikers along the way. They can help pay for gas and lower your expenses. Moreover, you can use the website Samferda to find passengers. This website is very popular and you’ll find a lot of listings on it, especially between some of the big cities. (Note: You can also use this website to find rides. Even if you have to pay the driver, prices are about 50% of the cost of the bus.)

12. Couchsurf — Iceland has a very active Couchsurfing community. I stayed with hosts in Reykjavik and Akureyri and had someone else take me around the famous Golden Circle (the ring of attractions near Reykjavik). Getting involved with the community here is a sure-fire way to save money, get local insights, meet wonderful people, and get a free place to stay. I met a lot of people through the website who took me in and showed me places I wouldn’t have found on my own. Even if you don’t use the website for accommodation, use the community aspect of it and meet some locals. Icelanders are a welcoming people.

13. Find Free Hot Springs – While the Blue Lagoon may be the most popular hot spring, there are lots of others around the country that are free (or at the very least, less money than the Blue Lagoon). Visit the website Hotpot Iceland (hotpoticeland.com) to find the best hot springs all around the island! Some noteworthy hot springs are Reykjadalur, Seljavallalaug, and the underrated Djúpavogskörin.

14. Avoid taxis — The cities in Iceland are small so there’s absolutely no need to waste money on a taxi because you can walk pretty much everywhere. The public transportation is also reliable and much cheaper and they run late so if it’s cold, you can take the bus! Iceland is already expensive enough. Don’t make it worse!

15. Take a free walking tour – Free walking tours are a great way to learn about a new city, its main sites, and get a sense of the culture and history of where you are. I take free walking tours wherever I got! If you’re going to be spending time in Reykjavik, be sure to check out one of the free walking tours in the city!

***Iceland doesn’t have to be expensive to visit. It is possible to travel around Iceland on a budget. These 13 tips will help you save money in Iceland and turn it into a budget-friendly destination. I never felt like I wanted for anything in my two weeks there. (OK, I wanted for some food with flavor, but I can get that back home.) But, overall, while Iceland is never going to be “dirt cheap,” it doesn’t need to be an impossible budget destination. You can travel Iceland comfortably without spending your life savings. Just follow the tips above and have an amazing adventure!

NEXT STEP —> GET ALL OF MY ICELAND TIPS AND ADVICE!

Want to plan the perfect trip to Iceland? Check out my comprehensive guide to Iceland written for budget travelers like yourself!

It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel and save money in one of the most beautiful and exciting destinations in the world.

• My favorite things to see and do
• Money-saving tips
• Budget advice
• Transportation advice
• My favorite non-touristy restaurants, markets, and bars
• And much more!!

Get the Iceland Guide Now!

Iceland doesn’t have to be expensive to visit. It is possible to travel around Iceland on a budget. These 13 tips will help you save money in Iceland and turn it into a budget-friendly destination. I never felt like I wanted for anything in my two weeks there. (OK, I wanted for some food with flavor, but I can get that back home.) But, overall, while Iceland is never going to be “dirt cheap,” it doesn’t need to be an impossible budget destination. You can travel Iceland comfortably without spending your life savings. Just follow the tips above and have an amazing adventure!

 

Book Your Trip to Iceland: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. My favorite places to stay in Iceland are:

• Hlemmur Square (Reykjavik) – A posh hotel with a great bar and traditional Icelandic communal dinners several times a week.
• Kex Hostel (Reykjavik) – Has a café and bar with an awesome happy hour, a comfy lounge, and a heated patio.
• Akureyri Backpacker (Akureyri) – Located in the center of the Old Town with a free sauna and a great restaurant.
• Vagnsstadir Hostel (Hornafjörður) – A great, quiet place if you want to explore glaciers and see the northern lights.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

22 Free (Or Cheap) Things to Do in Reykjavik in 2019

Posted: 12/8/2018 | December 8th, 2018

There’s no question that Iceland is an expensive destination to visit. But that doesn’t mean a trip there has to break the bank.

There are plenty of ways to save money during your visit to Iceland, including during your stay in the cozy capital city of Reykjavik.

Home to just 125,000 people, Reykjavik is a small city that is bustling with life and activities all year around. It’s artsy, cute, fun, and just filled with an awesome energy!

Whether you’re visiting Reykjavik on a weekend city break or planning to head out and explore the entire country,  there are plenty of ways to save money during your stint in the city!

To help you do that, here are my favorite free (or cheap) things to do in and around Iceland’s awesome capital:

Free Things to Do in Reykjavik

1. Take a Free Walking Tour
One of the best ways to start a trip to a new city is to take a walking tour. You’ll get to see the main sights, learn some history, and acclimatize to the culture. Plus, you have a local expert who you can ask questions to, which is an invaluable resource in and of itself!

The two companies I recommend are The City Walk and Free Walking Tours Reykjavik. You can’t go wrong with either. (Remember to tip your guide!)

2. Enjoy the Local Entertainment
Since the harsh climate forces many Icelanders to be indoors much of the year, they’ve developed a creative and artistic culture. There are lots of Icelandic painters, poets, writers, and musicians.  You can usually catch a free live show in Reykjavík at Café Rosenberg (sometimes there’s a cover charge at the door), Hlemmur Square Hostel (usually on Wednesday nights), KEX Hostel, HI Loft Hostel, and the Drunk Rabbit Irish Pub, which usually has someone who sings solo with his guitar.

3. Find Free Hot Springs
While the Blue Lagoon may be the most popular hot spring in the area, there are tons of others around the country that are free (or at the very least, less money than the Blue Lagoon). Visit the website Hotpot Iceland to find the best hot springs near the city. One nearby hot spring worth visiting is in Reykjadalur. It’s around a 40-minute drive from town and involves a bit of a hike to get there (about 30 minutes) but it’s much more secluded – and much less expensive – than the Blue Lagoon!

4. Hang out with the Locals
Iceland has a very active Couchsurfing community. I’ve stayed with hosts in Reykjavík as well as in Akureyri (Iceland’s main northern city). While many hosts are expats living in Iceland, it’s still a great way to save some money and get helpful local insights! Additionally, if you don’t want to stay with a stranger, there are usually weekly meet-ups you can attend! Make some friends!

5. Hit the Beach
Nauthólsvík is a man-made beach that not only has hot tubs but also a heated swimming area! It’s popular with locals and gets quite busy in the summer so make sure to come early to get a good spot. There is also a non-heated swimming area so if you’re feeling brave you can test the waters (spoiler: it’s cold).

6. Hike Mount Esja
If you’re looking to stretch your legs, head up Esja. The summit sits around 900m above sea level, offering you some amazing views of the city and surrounding area. Located just 10km from the city, the hike will take a couple of hours but the views are definitely worth it! Just make sure you check the weather as it’s unwise to hike during rain or snow.

7. Visit the Harpa Music Hall & Conference Center
Opened in 2011, this cultural and social center is worth checking out just to see the architecture for yourself. You can also catch the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Reykjavik Big Band, and the Icelandic Opera here. The venue also hosts tons of other shows and performances as well, so check their website for an up-to-date schedule (performances will have a fee).

Austurbakki 2, +354 528 5000, en.harpa.is. See the website for perforamnce dates and times.

8. See Reykjavík’s Botanical Gardens
The city operates this beautifully-designed botanical garden that is home to over 5,000 plant species. You’ll also see ponds, birdlife, and beautiful flora dotting the small garden. There’s also a café nearby that’s open in the summer that features dishes made with herbs and spices grown on-site in the garden.

Laugardalur, 104 Reykjavík, +354 411 8650, grasagardur.is. Open daily from 10am-3pm (10pm in the summer).

9. Visit the Grótta Lighthouse
This lighthouse sits at the edge of the city and is a wonderful place to bird watch and gaze out at the stretching Atlantic ocean. It ’s a long walk along the coast from the city center but the scenic view and gorgeous coastal walk are definitely worth it. If you’re visiting in the winter months, this is also a great place to see the northern lights!

10. Walk (or Bike) the Coast
Reykjavík is a small city and its coastline is walkable (or bikeable if you want to rent one). Some great stops along the way are the Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach and the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. If you’re not interested in biking around by yourself, feel free to take a bike tour instead. Iceland Bike is the best bike tour company for this!

11. Visit Perlan
This is a dome-shaped building called “The Pearl” and it offers another great place to get a view of the city and surrounding area! On clear days you can see as far as Snæfellsjökull, the 700,000-year-old glacier-capped volcano that sits on the western coast of the island. Inside the dome, there is a cocktail bar and restaurant, so it makes for a nice place to go out and enjoy the view.

12. See the Sun Voyager
This iconic statue sits, known as Sólfar in Icelandic, was built in 1990 by Icelandic sculptor Jón Gunnar Árnason. It’s his interpretation of discovery, using the design of a traditional Viking ship to represent the promise of discovering new territory and the freedom that comes with traveling to new worlds.

13. Experience the Northern Lights
If you’re visiting Reykjavik between October and March you’ll have a good chance of seeing the Aurora on a clear night. You’ll want to get away from the city a bit to have the best view, as the light pollution will make it hard to see.

Cheap Things to Do in Reykjavik

14. Take in the View from Hallgrímskirkja
This church is one of the most memorable that I’ve seen. The stark concrete façade was designed to mimic the Icelandic landscape (which I think it does quite well). It was named after the 17th-century clergyman and Icelandic poet Hallgrímur Pétursson, who wrote the Hymns of the Passion. It’s the tallest building in Reykjavík, and, for a small fee, you can go up to the top to get incredible shots of the city and its multicolored rooftops.

Hallgrímstorg 1, +354 510 1000, http://www.hallgrimskirkja.is/. Open daily from 9am-9pm in the summer and 9am-5pm in the winter. Entrance into the church is free but entry to the tower is 1,000 ISK for adults and 100 ISK for kids. The tower is closed on Sundays during mass.

15. Visit the Reykjavík Punk Museum
This museum is housed in an old underground public bathroom (seriously) and is dedicated to the punk and new wave scene that started took root here in the late 70’s. The museum highlights how many of Icelandic’s famous musical performers (like Björk) can be traced back to their punk roots. It’s definitely worth a visit.

Bankastræti 2, 101 Reykjavík, +354 568 2003, thepunkmuseum.is. Open Monday to Friday from 10am-10pm and weekends from 12pm-10p. Admission is 1,000 ISK for adults and free for kids 15 and under.

16. See the National Gallery of Iceland
If you’re a fan of art, especially modern art, you won’t want to pass up a trip here. The museum is focused on Icelandic artwork from the 19th and 20th century and highlights the diverse nature of the art scene in Iceland. While it is mostly local artists, some foreign works are showcased here as well.

Fríkirkjuvegur 7, 101 Reykjavík, +354 515 9600, listasafn.is. Open daily from 10am-5pm in the summer and from 11am-5pm in the winter (closed Mondays in the winter as well). Admission is 1,500 ISK for adults, 750 ISK for seniors and persons with disabilities, and free for kids age 18 and under. Buy one ticket for 1,500 ISK valid for three museums: The National Gallery of Iceland, the Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum, and the Ásgrímur JónssonCollection.

17. The Icelandic Phallological Museum
This is one of the weirdest museums you’ll ever have a chance to go to – which s partly why you should go! Entirely not sexual, the museum has collected penises from varies species roaming the earth, land, and sea. The founder, an Icelandic historian named Sigurdur Hjartarson, started the penis museum as a joke but it’s become something much more. The whole museum is pretty small so you won’t need more than 30-60 minutes, but it’s pretty interesting and informative; you’ll actually learn a lot about how species procreate (in addition to seeing a lot of…well, exhibits).

Laugavegur 116, 105 Reykjavík, +354 561 6663, phallus.is. Open daily from 10am-6pm. Admission is 1,500 ISK for adults, 1,000 ISK for seniors and persons with disabilities, and free for kids 13 and under.

18. Head to Videy Island
This is a small island located just off of Reykjavík. It’s a great little island for a picnic or a stroll if you’re looking for something a bit off the usual tourist trail. The island is most famous for the Imagine Peace Tower, envisioned and built by Yoko Ono. On each 9th of October, Yoko Ono comes to light the tower on the birthday of John Lennon, and it is lit until December 8th, the day John was killed. The ferry is operated by daily in the summer and on the weekends in the winter.

Skarfabakki Pier and Ægisgardur Harbor, +354 519 5000, elding.is/videy-ferry-skarfabakki. Round-trip tickets are around 1,550 ISK for adults, 775 ISK for students aged 7-17, and free for kids under age 6. On October 9th, the ferry trip is free for everyone in honor of the Imagine Peace Tower ceremony.

19. Visit the Saga Museum
Iceland was first inhabited by Norwegian Vikings in the 9th century. The high-action wax sculpted scenes are an interesting way to learn about Viking times when life was hard and dependent on the harsh elements, and people were poor. It’s a good family activity.

Grandagardur 2, 101 Reykjavík, +354-694-3096, sagamuseum.is. Open daily from 10am-6pm. Admission is 2,100 ISK for adults, 1,600 ISK for students and seniors, and 800 ISK for children.

20. Árbæjarlaug Swimming Pool
This huge plaza has both outdoor as well as indoor pools. It also has water slides, play areas for kids, hot tubs, a sauna, a thermal steam bath, and beach volleyball courts. Located just outside the city center, this is a fun (and budget-friendly) option for anyone who doesn’t want to go to the more touristy Blue Lagoon.

Fylkisvegur 9, 110 Reykjavík, +354 411 5200, reykjavik.is/stadir/arbaejarlaug. Open in the summers Monday-Thursday from 6:30am-10pm, Friday from 6:30am-8pm, and from 9am-6pm on weekends. Admission is 900 ISK for adults but it’s free with the Reykjavík City Card.

21. Grab a Famous Hot Dog
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur has been located on the harbor since 1937 and was made famous when Bill Clinton stopped here on his trip in 2004. Between their multiple locations, they sell over 1,000 hot dogs per day! While this isn’t my favorite hot dog place in the country, it does make for a fun and iconic stop (and the dogs are still pretty great!).

Tryggvatagata 1, 101 Reykjavík, +354 511 1566, bbp.is. See the website for other locations as well as up-to-date hours of operation.

22. Relax at a Cozy Cafe
One of my favorite things to do when I visit somewhere is to sit back, relax, and people watch. I love to just grab a book (ideally a book about the destination) and just watch the day go by. You can learn a lot about a place just by observing, and Reykjavik has some really great cafes. Some of my favorites are Café Babalu, Mál og Menning (a bookstore with a cafe), and Mokka Kaffi.

***
By taking advantage of these free and cheap activities (

NEXT STEP —> GET ALL OF MY ICELAND TIPS AND ADVICE!

Want to plan the perfect trip to Iceland? Check out my comprehensive guide to Iceland written for budget travelers like yourself!

It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel and save money in one of the most beautiful and exciting destinations in the world.

• My favorite things to see and do
• Money-saving tips
• Budget advice
• Transportation advice
• My favorite non-touristy restaurants, markets, and bars
• And much more!!

Get the Iceland Guide Now!

By taking advantage of these free and cheap activities ( as well as some money-saving tips ) you’ll be able visit Reykjavik without blowing the bank. Sure, there are plenty of things to see and do in Reykjavik that are worth spending money on, but if you mix and match those activities with these budget-friendly ones you’ll be able to visit the Land of Fire and Ice with your wallet still intact.

 

Book Your Trip to Iceland: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. My favorite places to stay in Reykjavik are:

• Hlemmur Square – A posh hotel with a great bar and traditional Icelandic communal dinners several times a week.
• Kex Hostel – Has a café and bar with an awesome happy hour, a comfy lounge, and a heated patio.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Looking for more information on visiting Iceland?
Check out my in-depth destination guide to Iceland with more tips on what to see, do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!

30 Fantastic Photos from Iceland to Inspire Your Next Trip

Posted: 10/20/2014 | October 20th, 2014

Last month, I finally visited Iceland. Iceland wasn’t the impossible budget destination people made it out to be. The locals were warm and welcoming, took me around, and showed me their homes. They were incredibly hospitable, and I made a lot of Icelandic friends on my trip.

And, while locals make any destination better, what blew my mind was the magnificence of the natural landscape. It’s bewitching. You find yourself in a spellbound daze as you move from place to place, your eyes overloaded by all you’re seeing. “How could such a tiny place have such a diverse and beautiful landscape?” you think to yourself as your jaw hurts from being open too much.

Over the course of 11 days, I wanted to scream from joy everywhere I went. The land is desolate, sparsely populated, and silent. That was the one thing I noticed — just how silent Iceland is. There are no distractions, and I think that helps you form a deep connection with nature. You begin to feel its rhythm.

Today, I want to share 30 pictures from my trip in hopes of inspiring you to visit this country. I’m not the world’s best photographer, but it’s hard to take a bad picture in Iceland.

Sulfur pools at Hverir near Lake Myvatn in the north of Iceland. Very otherworldly.

The northern lights lighting the sky up green. This is my favorite picture of them.

Runoff from the geothermal plant near Myvatn.

Somewhere along the Ring Road that circles the country.

Reykjavik and its colorful houses.

Jökulsárlón ice lagoon in the southeast of Iceland. This ice flow is only a couple of decades old and one of the most popular attractions in the area. I enjoyed just sitting down and listening to the ice blocks crash into each other on their way out to sea.

Fjords on the eastern seaboard that could rival Norway.

Selfoss. Foss means waterfall in Icelandic, and you’ll find a lot of waterfalls throughout the country.

UFO cloud. The truth is out there.

Gigantic sulfur pools at Geysir. Geysir the geyser doesn’t erupt anymore, but the spot is still popular on the famous Golden Circle tourist trail outside Reykjavik.

Jökulsárlón ice lagoon in the southeast of Iceland.

Mordor… I mean, some beautiful landscape on the way to Myvatn in the north.

The color contrast in this photo blows my mind.

Gulfoss! Part of the Golden Circle, this is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland. It was a really crappy day when I was there.

Looking onto the fjords.

Beautiful clouds above the harsh sea on the eastern end of Iceland.

The road is long in Iceland but it always takes you where you want to go.

More northern lights. You can never get tired of these.

Dettifoss. This waterfall is located in the north near Selfoss and supposed to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe.

Icelandic horses playing around. (Look at that long, flowing hair! I wish I had hair like that!)

On a rainy day driving through southern Iceland, we came across these gigantic mountains covered in clouds. The photo doesn’t do the majesty justice but I still like it.

The backside of Seljalandsfoss. Out of all the pictures I took, this one is my favorite. I love the intermix of light, water, blue sky, and green here.

A moss-covered lava field in southern Iceland.

Iceland is the land of rainbows, and I was lucky enough to find the end of one. (No pot of gold though. It must have been on the other end!)

Front side of Seljalandsfoss (rainbow included).

Little pools and lava rocks near Settifoss.

If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you might recognize this cave as where Jon and Ygritte consummate their relationship. The water in the cave is warm enough to swim in and used to be a public pool.

Another sulfur pool is Hverir. I like the contrast between the blue water and red earth.

Myvatn Nature Baths. Quieter and less expensive than the famous Blue Lagoon outside Reykjavik. I relaxed here by myself for over an hour.

Northern lights. This was from early in the night when they were just starting to come out. No less beautiful.

I only managed to see a fraction of Iceland during my 11-day trip, but my visit lived up to my high expectations. No photo or movie I saw did it justice. It was even better in person, and I hope these photos inspire you to move Iceland up on your bucket list.

My In-Depth Budget Guide to Iceland

Looking for more expert tips and awesome itineraries? Check out my brand new guide to Iceland! This two hundred page guidebook will help you get off the tourist trail, save money, and see the best of the country. You’ll see the local side of Iceland as I take you off the beaten path and give you my obsessively curated list of places to stay, eat, and things to see! Just click here to download it today!

 

Book Your Trip to Iceland: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight to Iceland by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel in Iceland with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never ever go on a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. You should too.

Need Some Gear?
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information on Iceland?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Iceland for even more planning tips!

Falling in Love with the Land of Elves

Posted: 11/03/2014 | November 3rd, 2014

As we stared up at the sky, patches of neon and dark green changed to light pink and back to green. They came out of nowhere, hung like curtains on invisible hangers, and danced a duet to an unheard symphony. They would appear, vanish, and reappear all over the sky. My companions, Lulu and Germaine (two friends from France spending the week driving around Iceland), and I stared, bewildered, as the northern lights danced above us. It was the first time we had seen them, and even though it was bitterly cold and we were too lightly dressed, we stayed out, shivering — for hours — watching nature’s brilliant ballet.

Every night before this, we would run outside and then retreat back in defeat, as it was too cloudy for the lights to be seen. But on this night the sky was clear, the stars shone around us, and nature finally let us see its mythic show.

I had high expectations for my visit to Iceland. I’d seen movies and pictures in magazines of land with jagged mountain peaks, volcanoes with desolate lava fields, rolling hills with grazing sheep, and glaciers that stretched for miles. I imagined a utopian country where friendly locals in tune with nature roamed a majestic landscape.

Despite the eagerness to visit Iceland these images caused, I put off this trip over the years. Something always came up. This year, upon reflecting on my list of things I promised I would do and realizing I accomplished none of them, I resolved to finally go and booked a ticket in June. And, as the plane descended into Reykjavik last month, I wondered, “Could the fairytale image in my mind live up to itself?”

It could, in fact, exceed it.

And it happened right away.

From the moment I landed, I was welcomed and helped by kind strangers. There was Bragi, a Couchsurfer tour guide who drove me around the Golden Circle. And Paulina, the smart college student who let me sleep on her couch, took me to an Icelandic play and her family’s farm, revealed a secret “locals-only” swimming hole, and went far out of her way to drop me in the eastern city of Vik to make catching a bus easier. And Paulina’s friend Alga, who also opened up her couch to me at the end of the trip. And Maria and Marta, who proved that Reykjavik’s nightlife is far crazier than anything New York can offer. Then there was the Couchsurfing host in Akureyri who cooked dinner for me and his other guests, and the blog reader (who turned out to be a high-level government official) and her husband who introduced me to their traditional lobster soup (delicious!).

Every step of the way I encountered helpful and excited Icelanders who sought to show off the best of their country. They loved nature, held die-hard beliefs in elves and fairytales (over 50% of Icelanders believe in elves), and appreciated a good pint.

After saying goodbye to my new friends in Reykjavik, I drove around the Ring Road (Iceland’s main highway) with Lulu and Germaine after hitching a ride with them in Vik. Forests morphed into fjords and fjords evolved into moonscape-like lava fields.

Over the next 10 days, my love for Iceland became an obsession, as I was constantly treated to bewildering landscapes and helpful locals. For such a small island, Iceland has a diverse range of landscapes and micro-ecosystems. And as we traveled, hiked, and eagerly waited for the northern lights, I couldn’t help but notice the silence. With hardly anyone or any animals around, the land seemed so still.

And it was the silence that affected me the most. Coming from NYC, I don’t know a world without noise. My day begins and ends with cars honking their horns outside my bedroom window. In Iceland, noise hardly exists, and that silence helps you appreciate life.

On one beautifully clear day in the north, a local guide took me to explore Game of Thrones film locations (yes, that’s a thing!). Since there was no one else on the tour, the guide took me off-road. We got out of the car and climbed a rocky hill. Below us, the ground opened up into a series of deep fissures. Around us was there was nothing but an empty plateau. Iceland expanded in all directions around us, with volcanoes and mountains in the distance. There was no sign of civilization. I sat down. The guide sat down. We were silent. All we could hear was the sound of the wind whipping around our heads. When that died down, nothing but an eerie yet peaceful silence remained.

Everything was still.

My guide and I didn’t look at each other. I suspect he was as content as I was. Throughout the day, I got the sense that he had a deep love of nature and was probably happy just sitting there.

Afterwards, I sat relaxing in the hot springs near Myvatn, and before I knew it my two-hour visit was up. I got ready to leave, thinking that time had gone by too quickly. That sums up my trip to Iceland: it went by too quickly. The 11 days I spent there were simply not enough.

As we drove home that day, my guide pointed out rocks shaped like a boat. “That’s a troll boat,” he said. “Years ago, the lake was being overfished by a troll so the locals stayed out extra late, causing the troll to forget what the hour was. Suddenly, as the sun rose, the troll raced back to her cave so she wouldn’t turn to stone. Along the way, she dropped her boat. Somewhere out there is the troll, but we haven’t found her.”

“Do you really think trolls and elves exist?” I asked.

“I think these stories teach us to respect nature. Iceland is a harsh environment, and it’s easy to spoil the land or get into danger. These stories teach us about balance. But, then again, I can’t prove these creatures don’t exist, you know? This land is special,” he replied.

He, like the other Icelanders I met who talked about the country, was right: there is something mystical and special about this place.

Book Your Trip to Iceland: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight to Iceland by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Acommodation
You can book your hostel in Iceland with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never ever go on a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. You should too.

Need Some Gear?
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information on Iceland?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Iceland for even more planning tips!

 

Get the In-Depth Budget Guide to Iceland!

Want to plan the perfect trip to Iceland? Check out my comprehensive guide to Iceland written for budget travelers like yourself! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel and save money in one of the most beautiful and exciting destinations in the world. You’ll find suggested itineraries, tips, budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, and my favorite non-touristy restaurants, markets, and bars, and much more!! Click here to learn more and get started.