Beautiful northern scenery, hot springs, waterfalls, plenty of snow, and the aurora borealis on rare occasions. With ticket prices lowering, it’s no surprise that Iceland is becoming a more popular trip, despite being one of Europe’s most costly destinations. You could also say, “Go there till it’s too late,” with the increase in tourist. Also, go there when it’s not in season.
Which month is best for Iceland?
experience, the end of August is the best time to visit; the nights are cooler, the weather is more unpredictable, but there is a chance to view the aurora borealis, which is well worth it!
In Iceland, the tourist season runs from mid-June through the end of August. This implies that if you visit outside of this time, the treks will be closed and there will be no buses; you should plan accordingly and hire a car as soon as possible.
- If you want to see the aurora borealis, be sure to choose the winter season, which can be seen from October.
- Be aware that most of the time it is dark in Iceland during the winter, so you will not enjoy traveling much.
- Seeing the aurora borealis must be an experience, but on my first trip to Iceland, I would not choose this period.
- If you want to enjoy Iceland, when it is warmest, choose July, August.
- That’s why we chose June, which really suited us with everything.
- There are also lambs and foals all over Iceland as they are born during this period.
- Also remember that there will be 24 hours of light in Iceland between the end of May and the end of the spring.
Surprisingly, Iceland is not as cold as you would expect. The climate is influenced by the warm Atlantic current and winters in Reykjavík are usually milder than in Brno. The coldest months are January and February, when the average temperature is slightly below zero, the warmest is in July – around 11 ° C on average.
But watch out for strong winds (common thing), storms and snowstorms in winter. Do not head north or inland without checking the current weather forecast and road accessibility.
Iceland is far to the north, so while daylight is only 4 hours in December, it is barely 4 hours dark in June. Therefore, it is not very efficient to travel to Iceland from the beginning of November until about mid-February, because you will not have time to see anything. On the other hand, in the high season from June to August, you will be burying other tourists at every turn.
For myself, I recommend going to Iceland between March and May, when the light has been long enough, the weather is good and the prices for accommodation are significantly lower compared to the high season.
How do you communicate in Iceland?
Icelandic is the national language. It’s a rather challenging language that I’ve been learning for several weeks, and it’s not a toy. However, I believe that Czech grammar is more difficult. It will be easier for you if you know at least a little German or English, because these languages share many vocabulary or from which you can extract them.
On the other hand, it’s fantastic that every Icelander is fluent in English. Because many foreigners work in the service industry here, it is usual for workers behind the bar to converse in English.
Because English is more often spoken in Reykjavk than Icelandic, it was pretty easy to get work here.
Arrival in Iceland
It’s a bit confusing, but the airport is not in Reykjavik, but in Keflavik, which is less than an hour’s drive from Reykjavik.
If you have a booked and rented car, then there is nothing to solve and you will get where you need by car.
Arrival in Iceland by day You have a rented car – you have nothing to deal with.
You have not rented a car: You can reach Reykjavik from the airport.
Tried !! You will take a bus to Reykjavík.
Arrival in Iceland at night If you happen to buy tickets arriving at night, you have the following options: sleep at the airport pitch a tent behind the airport on the plain and sleep there drive to Sandgerdi, where you at iStay Cottages, which are by the way a stylish accommodation option for good money, will accommodate you at 3 in the morning try your luck at hitchhiking, but probably not many cars will drive try to contact someone directly on the plane if he doesn’t have a trip to Reykjavik and if he wouldn’t take you in the car to Reykjavik by Airport Direct bus.
How to get from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík? Choices of transfers
If you are not an adventurer or just do not want to hitchhike, there are several options for you:
1. MHD. The cheapest is to take it by city bus. You can find it on the Strætó.is app, but it doesn’t run very often on weekends, so you’ll have to reach for private routes.
2. FLYBUS. Of the private routes, the cheapest is probably Flybus, which has a ticket shop directly at the airport and runs once an hour for about 500 Czech crowns. I know it’s enough, but welcome to Iceland.
3. CAR. But if you rent a car, I would definitely rent it right at the airport. The best and cheapest company in Iceland – sadcars.com – has a branch there. We rented a car there for 2.5 days for 60 EUR. They are said to have abraded, dirty or old cars from time to time, but according to the latest reports, they have teamed up with another company that has provided them with better cars and Sadcars has given its reputation as the cheapest car rental company.
The funny thing about the car from Sadcars is that you also get a discount card at the gas station with your car, where they will also give you free coffee. So in the end, our trip looked like we stopped every time we met the gas station, one of us always ran out, got coffee, and drove on. We even played the game who sees the gasoline first!
I would definitely recommend my own car in Iceland. You will be flexible on trips and you will be able to discover the true beauties of Iceland, where you will hardly meet a living thing.
4. RIDE. If you prefer a car but don’t dare to drive, try a ride. You can find it on the Samferda website.
What is the currency in Iceland?
The Icelandic krone is the currency used in Iceland (ISK). You can, however, pay with Euros. Icelandic crowns, on the other hand, will be returned to you. I haven’t had any issues with the payment card, which they used throughout the city. Iceland is a progressive country. Only in a few natural regions may you pay with cash.
You can pay by card everywhere without any problems, I only met with cash when I found one Icelandic krona on the ground. If you do want cash, I recommend withdrawing it from an ATM or exchanging euros on the spot.
Prices in Iceland
Many people believe Iceland’s costs are exorbitant. Fortunately, prices are comparable to those in our nation or somewhat more, but not as exorbitant as in Norway, Sweden, or Finland.
The cheapest supermarket is Bónus (yellow logo with a pink pig), whose stores can be found all over Iceland.
There is no entrance fee to any natural monuments, and there is usually free parking. And if the parking fee happens to be paid somewhere, you can do it at the card vending machine.
Restaurants and alcohol are both pricey (because to hefty taxes), so if you want to save money, prepare your own meals.
Cuisine in Iceland is comparable to that in other western countries, however bus tickets, restaurant food, and bar drinks are more expensive. Bónus is Iceland’s cheapest supermarket, while Krónan is also doing well. Take a look at the map of Icelandic supermarkets to help you plan your journey.
Is it safe in Iceland?
Iceland is one of the world’s safest countries. Car keys are not locked or left in the car: D An average of one murder occurs per year.
Nature, on the other hand, may be cruel, so don’t underestimate it!
A number of people have perished as a result of inadequate equipment or clothes. The weather can change quickly, and you must constantly be prepared.
Nature in the area must also be respected. Do not enter the ice, do not swim in strong currents, and so on.¨¨
Transport in Iceland and transfers
Iceland is very easy to travel, you just rent a car and go where you want on your own axis 🙂 watch out but choose a car, from which your entire itinerary will depend. If you don´t want to rent a car, you have other options.
Buses are expensive – even regular intercity lines, which, in addition to most natural attractions, are very difficult to reach. An alternative is excursion buses, but the price is even higher, for example, a six-hour trip from Reykjavik around the Golden Ring costs CZK 1,300 per person.
Tickets from Reykjavik to Landmannalaugar cost around 9,000 ISK, from Reykjavik to Skogar 6,000 ISK. You can plan your bus trip on the straeto.is website.
Rent a car
The easiest way to get around Iceland is to rent a car. It pays off in two people and you don’t even need an international driver’s license, a Czech is enough. The advantage of the car is that you can rent and return it directly at the airport and you are very flexible with it. In addition, you can sleep in a larger car, so you save significantly on accommodation.
Compare car and rental prices on Rentalcars. When renting for more days, you get about 600 CZK per day. If you are going to Iceland in winter and / or remote areas, rent a four-wheel drive car.
Don’t take insurance from Rentalcars because it doesn’t cover everything. In addition to the classic damage caused by you or other drivers, Icelandic car rental companies also require damage insurance from the elements. These are usually scratches or cracked glass from flying stones, which occur quite often. Really don’t underestimate insurance in this case, even if it will cost you almost as much as renting a car.
Rental conditions vary by car rental company and you should read them carefully. You will need a credit (not debit) card almost everywhere, often in the name of the main driver. Usually, it works by blocking a higher amount (the equivalent of CZK 50,000) on your card and it will return it to you when you return the car. If you pay for all the insurance, nothing will block you.
Carpooling
You can also use shared rides to save money in Icelandic crowns. On the samferda.net website, Icelandic drivers and tourists share their rides; all you have to do is choose your trip, direction, and time, then relax and enjoy your ride. You can contact the driver via e-mail or phone to schedule a ride.
Hitchhiking in Iceland
It is perfect to track if you do not have a fancy plan for the day and hour. It travels by itself in Iceland. Iceland is also one of the safest countries in the world. When Icelanders can pick up someone along the road, they are delighted because they have someone to chat to, gain new knowledge from, and meet new people.
Hitchhiking is a low-cost option in Iceland, but there is very little traffic outside of the high season, with the exception of the Reykjavik area. In the first ten minutes of March, we only saw one car. Furthermore, because natives do not frequent tourist destinations, you are reliant on other visitors.
Conversely, in the summer, when you’re not in a hurry and have a tent, hitchhiking can be great.
What is ring road in Iceland?
Ring Road is the most famous circuit that runs around Iceland. It has 1339 km, and takes you 23 hours of driving without a break.
On Ring Road you will see the most famous phenomena in Iceland, which are a short walk from the paved road, which is marked 1.
On Ring road, a normal car is enough for you, as a paved road leads everywhere.
If you want to go inland, or to west fjoards, or just to more distant places from road number 1, you have to choose a 4 × 4 car
Is it enough for a RING ROAD week?
Yes and no.
It depends on what type of traveler you are. If you like to enjoy breakfast in the morning, or you have to have lunch somewhere, you don’t like to get up, you’re not so much action, so no.
If you don’t mind getting up early, you are an action type, a week is enough 🙂
What should you bring with you?
Look at the weather prediction before you depart, dress accordingly, and add one waterproof and waterproof layer. You should not bring an umbrella because it will be ineffective in the wind. Even in the winter, the sun in Iceland may be unexpectedly bright, so bring sunscreen and sunglasses.
Outside of the summer season, you will frequently be moving around frozen snow in nature, so be sure to wear sturdy waterproof boots and bring plenty of water.
If you plan to sleep in a tent, be prepared for severe winds in both clothes and equipment. Lashing cords are required, as is rigorous instruction in their use.
And, most importantly, don’t forget to bring your swimwear if you want to visit one of the many thermal pools.
Northern lights and when to see them
Aurora Borealis, or Aurora Borealis, is formed when particles on the Sun erupt and travel to the Earth and, under the influence of its magnetic field, spiral to the Earth’s atmosphere, where it “lights up”. The aurora borealis occurs throughout the year, but we must have enough darkness to observe it. The most suitable months are therefore from October to March.
But because aurora borealis depends on solar activity, you can never be sure you will see it. You can find the prediction with the probability of aurora borealis, for example, on this website. Other prerequisites for observation are a cloudless sky, a view of the northern horizon and a sufficient distance from large cities so that you are not disturbed by light smog.
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