The Complete Travel Guide to Iceland
I tried to go on this Iceland trip two other times but because of Covid I wasn’t able to reschedule until this year. Iceland is another destination that has been on my list for years and it’s a great place for solo traveling because of how safe it is. It is truly one of the most beautiful, unworldly places I have ever been - it felt like I left Earth and was visiting a different planet. Here’s a complete, quick guide about Iceland:
LANGUAGE
The official language of Iceland is Icelandic and it’s one of the most difficult languages in the world. However, majority of Icelanders speak fluent English.
CURRENCY
The currency used in Iceland is called the Icelandic krona, ISK. You do not need cash here as nearly everywhere is electronic payments - you can tap to pay everywhere. Tip: A fellow traveler taught me that if you divide the total of your bill/receipt by 131, you will easily convert how much you paid in USD.
WHEN TO GO
This is really dependent on your personal preference and what your PTO schedule looks like so let’s talk about the seasons.
Summer (June - August): This is a peak tourist time when the day last the longest and the sun almost never sets. Summer is when a lot of trails open up and is ideal for outdoor activites if you like the outdoors but hate being cold.
Fall (September - October): It will be less crowded since summer has come to an end and the weather becomes a bit colder and unpredictable but still great for outdoor activites.
Winter (November - February): Winter will be the best chance you have to see the northern lights meaning it’s also a popular time to visit. A lot of the trails might be closed but there will be a ton of winter sports.
Spring (March - May): This is also a shoulder season and will be more budget-friendly as the snow melts and temps start to rise.
WHERE TO STAY
I highly recommend making Reykjavik your home base so you don’t feel like you are constantly on the move. It might be a little more driving but it’s the most convenient. From Reykjavik, you can explore the Golden Circle, Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and the Highlands. But if you want to stay over there, I recommend Selfoss, Hveragerði, or Laugarvatn.
If you want to do the Ring Road or the South Coast, you can stay in towns like Vik or anywhere near Vik (I stayed in Skogar which is right next to the Skogafoss waterfall).
For exploring East Fjords, you can stay in towns like Sydisfjordur, Egilsstadir, or Hofn.
In Northern Iceland, Akureyri is the second-largest city next to Reykjavik to explore attractions like Lake Myvatn, Husavik, and Diamond Circle
If you are going to Westfjords which is a very remote part of Iceland, towns like Ísafjörður are where you will find lodging.
TRANSPORTATION
Renting a car is the best way to successfully make your way around Iceland, especially if you want to see all the beautiful sights. They do have buses for public transit but they don’t have Uber. If you want a Taxi, you can use Hreyfill.
SAFETY
Iceland consistently ranks as one of the safest countries in the world making it a great spot for solo traveling! I walked everywhere downtown and always felt safe.
CUISINE
When people think of Iceland, they think of the typical Icelandic food but there are also a lot of international influences that make the food scene amazing. Local Icelandic food includes fermented shark, lamb, street food like hot dogs, seafood, and skyr which is a type of yogurt. However, they also have some amazing seafood and sushi restaurants along with some great burger and red meats since it’s all locally sourced. I will put together a list of some great restaurants to eat at soon!
WEATHER
The weather in Iceland is extremely unpredictable and change rapidly. While I was there, it would be downpouring to the sun shining and clear skies in an hour. I would expect it to be cool outside with lots of precipitation and the occasional sunny skies.
That’s a wrap on Iceland. Stay tuned for some additional blogs on things like where to eat and drink, my itinerary, and how to park your car, and of course more pictures :)
