9 Golden Tips for Planning your Dream Trip to Magical Iceland

There are a lot of things to consider when planning a trip to Iceland. What to do? Where to go? How long should you stay? And so on and so forth.

There are no magic answers to these questions. So sorry. But I truly believe these following tips will help you during the planning process. The tips are in no particular order even though my honest opinion is that hiking should always be number one on your todo list when visiting Iceland 🙂

1. Go hiking!
2. There is no perfect length for a trip to Iceland.
3. Treat the northern lights as a possible bonus not as the main reason for your trip.
4. Remember to take the hours of daylight in count when planning your trip to Iceland.
5. Mix it up a little bit.
6. Unfortunately you can’t do it all in one trip to Iceland.
7. You have endless possibilities when it comes to geothermal baths.
8. Planning your meals can save you a lot of money when in Iceland.
9. Expect all kinds of weather all year round.

And now let’s dig a little deeper into each and every one of these.

1 Go hiking!

Iceland is a dream destination for hikers. There are countless hiking trails of all lengths and on every difficulty level all over the country. Everybody should therefore be able to find a trail that fits their needs.

Iceland Offers Hiking Trails in all Lengths and on Every Difficulty Level

Everything from an easy family friendly walk to a volcanic crater close to Reykjavík to the world famous multi day hike along Laugavegur Trail in the highlands. I haven’t done the latter yet but have done another shorter but gorgeous hike in the same area. Simply put, this part of Iceland is out of this world. Leaves you completely speechless. 

I also want to mention a hike close to the Glacier Lagoon that is plain gorgeous. It’s called Múlagljúfur Canyon and is simply a must when in the area. Read all about this stunning hike here.

You Can Take your Visit to Many Sites to the Next Level if you Add a Short Hike to it

Hiking is by far my favourite outdoor activity and I recommend all visitors to fit at least one hike in their itinerary when planning a trip to Iceland. In my opinion, hiking is the best way to really experience and get the feel of this magical country.

A hike doesn’t have to be long to do the trick. Even a short walk can leave you in awe and do wonders for your soul. Sometimes it’s just about taking a little walk when you’re at a popular sight. Walk a little bit further than the rest of the crowd. This simple act can add a whole lot to your experience of a particular sight.

A good example is Skógafoss Waterfall. If you climb up the stairs by the waterfall and keep on walking up along the river, you are in for a treat. This is the first part of the very popular Fimmvörðuháls Trail that leads you to Þórsmörk. The whole trail is about 24km/15mi but the very first part of it alone is well worth exploring. While walking uphill along the river, you’ll see over 20 different waterfalls in beautiful surroundings.

I did the Fimmvörðuháls hike a few years ago and found this part of the hike so beautiful. So amazing in fact that I decided right there and then that I would do it again. The waterfall part that is. And so I did, about 5 years later. It did certainly not disappoint. I truly recommend you do this hike if you have the time when visiting Skógafoss in summer. You can read all about this hike here.

Another example is the Seltún Geothermal Area on Reykjanes Peninsula. Seltún isn’t as well known as Skógarfoss but a popular and beautiful sight nevertheless. Here you’ll find some hot springs and boiling mud pots along a boardwalk close to the parking lot. However, to really experience the beauty of this geothermal area I recommend you to go on a short hike. A climb to the top of the hill or small mountain called Hverfjall to the left of the platform, takes your visit to another level.

Iceland is a Dream Destination Regarding Gorgeous Trails. When it Comes to weather, not so much.

But let’s be honest. When I say Iceland is a dream destination for hikers, I’m referring to the stunning nature and trails. Not the weather. Don’t get me wrong, the dream weather conditions occur, but they might be a tiny bit more rare than we would like them to be. So bring good rain gear and a few layers of clothing along with your hiking boots. You always need to be prepared for all kinds of weather when enjoying the outdoors in Iceland. But that’s part of the charm of travelling in Iceland. Or at least that is what we should tell ourselves 🙂

2 There is no Perfect Length for a Trip to Iceland

People seem to agree that there is no perfect length for a trip to Iceland. Most say it doesn’t matter how long you stay, you’ll always wish you’d stayed longer. There are so many places to see and things to do and unfortunately it’s impossible to do them all in one trip. I guess this is one of the reasons why so many visitors revisit Iceland. Again and again. They never feel like they have seen it all. There is always something more to explore.

That being said, you can cover most of the major attractions in 6-7 days. Can even drive the Ring Road in that time (in summer at least). I’d say you would be cutting it a bit close though, I don’t recommend it, but you can.

When planning a trip to Iceland, I highly recommend a 10-14 days trip. In that time you are able to not only drive the Ring Road but also do some detours to places that aren’t accessible directly from the Ring Road. 

This could be places like the Westman Islands, a day trip to the highlands (note you need a 4×4 vehicle in the highlands if you drive yourself, a guided tour might be a better option), different small villages in the Eastfjords, the Whale watching village Húsavík, Ásbyrgi and the entire Snæfellsne Peninsula. Just to name a few. The list goes on and on.

But don’t worry if you aren’t able to plan such a long trip. You won’t be able to fill it all in anyway. No matter how long you stay. But the good news is that whatever time frame you have, you can always put together an amazing trip. Create memories of a lifetime. Even though you can’t do it all.

Just try not to overplan. If the agenda gets too crammed, you might get a bit stressed and as a result not be able to enjoy your trip in the same way. And that is certainly not what you want. It’s important to remember to enjoy where you are at each moment and soak it in. Not always be running to the next destination and the next photo.

3 Treat the Northern Lights as a Possible Bonus not as the main Reason for your Trip

The northern lights are one of the most popular attractions in Iceland during the winter months. The only problem is that they are a natural phenomenon that plays by its own rules. It’s impossible to know beforehand if you’ll be able to see them or not. You might stay here for days without seeing as much as a vague sign of them. I know about people who didn’t see them until on their fourth visit to Iceland. So nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the northern lights.

This is very important to realise. I highly encourage you to put your focus on other things you can better control and look at the northern lights as a bonus. If you don’t, you might get very disappointed if they decide not to show up while you’re here.

That being said, if you book a northern lights tour, it could be a good idea to book it early on your trip. That way you have a chance to go again if they are a no-show the first time around. I think most of the northern lights tours offer this option. That is, an opportunity to come back for free if there are no lights the night of your booking. 

If your plan is to drive a rental, you are more flexible. Then you can chase them yourself. In that case it might be a good idea to download an aurora forecasting app so you know how good your chances are.

Here you can find some recommendations for useful apps along with everything else you need to know about the northern lights in Iceland. A complete first-timer’s guide.

4 Remember to Take the Hours of Daylight in Count when Planning a Trip to Iceland

When traveling in winter, make sure you plan outdoor activities well as the days are short. Actually they are VERY short from late November to mid-January. Then you only have 4-5 hours of daylight each day. Consider starting your day while it’s still dark to get the most out of it. If you are slow to rise then you can easily run out of time during the darkest months.

In June and July it’s quite the opposite. Then you have all the time in the world as it never really gets dark. Just remember to pack a sleeping mask. The bright summer nights are amazing but can give you trouble sleeping at night.

Here you can see how many hours of daylight you have each and every day in Iceland

5 Mix it up a Little Bit

By renting a car and driving around the country yourself, you get the flexibility to do whatever whenever you want. You decide how long you want to stay at each place and nobody is rushing you. You spend as much time as you want to take as many photos as you like. 

Driving yourself also gives you the opportunity to stop in unexpected places you might discover on your way. Overall you have much more freedom compared to only doing excursions.

That being said, I (and I know many of our visitors agree with me) would always mix it up a little bit. Even though you’re driving yourself around the island, it doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t also do some excursions. Some things you simply can’t do without a guide. Glacier hiking and ice cave exploring are good examples of that. Then there are activities like snorkeling, river rafting and kayaking. Just to name a few. 

Want to know more about snorkeling between continents?

Plan on trying this myself soon. Can’t wait!

Read about an action-packed and exciting rafting in one of Europe’s best rafting rivers

Tried this many years ago. So exciting! Have been wondering if I should do it again.

Kayaking on a glacier lagoon filled with icebergs

This one is my bucket list. Do you plan on adding it to yours?

Day tours to the highlands are also a great option. Either as a hiking tour, sightseeing tour or a mix of both. Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk are really good options for those kinds of tours.

Here you can see some examples of those kinds of tours but the possibilities are endless. This is just the top of the iceberg but can give you some good ideas:

Super Jeep tour to Þórsmörk Landmannalaugar highland adventure Hidden Highlands – Fjallabak Nature Reserve One day hike in Landmannalaugar

6 Unfortunately you Can’t Do it all in one Trip to Iceland

There are a lot of “must sees” in Iceland. Actually the country is packed with them. Which makes it an impossible task to check them all off your list in one trip. That is quite alright though, as even though you won’t be able to check them all off, you’ll see and experience plenty of them. And as a result, have an amazing trip.

The most famous attractions are in the southern part of the country. And that is also the part where most of our visitors go. At least on their first visit. The area in question reaches from Reykjavík in the west to the Glacier Lagoon in the east. There is no wonder this area is so popular. Between these two destinations, nature is so incredibly diverse. It offers a geyser, countless waterfalls (including Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss), different kinds of magnificent mountains, black sand beaches (including Reynisfjara Black Beach), lava fields, glaciers, ocean views and so much more.

The drive alone is worth it. Even without any stops. That’s how beautiful and scenic it is. I don’t recommend it though. Stepping out of the car once in a while and preferably doing some hikes here and there, is highly recommended. But still. Consider yourself warned. This drive will give you problems as a driver. It’s hard to focus on the road when you’re in constant awe of everything around you. You might think I’m exaggerating. But honestly. I’m not. Just ask anybody who has driven that road.

But enough about that. 

Because of its popularity, the area is also pretty crowded during high season so that is also something you might want to take in account when choosing where to go and what to see. It might not bother you but if it does, there are plenty of other options.

Literally every other part of the country is less crowded. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth exploring. Not at all. 

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland is sometimes called “Iceland in miniature”. The peninsula offers small cute villages, black beaches, beautiful lava fields and formations, volcanos, a glacier, waterfalls and more. Here you’ll also find the world famous Game of Thrones mountain, Kirkjufell. 

The Westfjords

The Westfjords with its dramatic mountains and endless beautiful fjords. Scary mountain roads and small villages. Charming geothermal baths and Dynjandi, the jaw dropping waterfall. This and so much more in the magical nature of the Westfjords.

North Iceland

And then there is the northern part of Iceland.

The North West with Hvítserkur, a beautiful sea stack and a lot of seals in the area. The Skagafjörður region which is famous for its horses. There you’ll also find the small friendly town of Sauðárkrókur, the beautiful and historic island Drangey, a geothermal pool called Grettislaug and a cute little village called Hofsós. This little village offers an amazing infinity geothermal pool. Simply stunning to be there on a beautiful day. Don’t miss the basalt stacks down by the ocean behind the swimming pool. A little gem many don’t know about.

In the North East there is Siglufjörður, a cute little village by the sea, Akureyri the capital of the north. The Lake Mývatn Area offers a long list of interesting attractions and close by is Húsavík the little whale watching village. When in Húsavík, be sure to visit Geosea, a geothermal bath with breathtaking views over the ocean and the mountains on the other side of the bay. Then there is the powerful Dettifoss Waterfall, Goðafoss Waterfall and Ásbyrgi Canyon.

The Eastfjords

The Eastfjords offer endless possibilities for breathtaking hiking trails, countless waterfalls, a long range of small cute villages. Including Seyðisfjörður which you must have seen a picture from on social media. Then there is Borgarfjörður Eystri, the home of the puffin and a base to stunning hikes, Vök Geothermal baths and ect. The list goes on and on.

The Icelandic Highlands

Then there are the Highlands. They are simply a world in itself. Unique and dramatic landscapes with endless hiking possibilities. The perfect place to be when seeking less crowded areas and stunning nature.

Just remember that you need a 4×4 vehicle when travelling in the highlands. So either rent that kind of vehicle or consider to do a guided tour.

Reykjanes Peninsula

Last but not least there is Reykjanes Peninsula, an overlooked gem, only a stone’s throw away from Reykjavík. The newest attraction here is the volcanic eruption that is taking place when this is written. At this time it’s not known how long the eruption will last but a new site is born for sure. With or without the eruption itself.

I guess you’re getting a bit overwhelmed and beginning to understand what I mean when I say you can’t do it all in one trip. The possibilities are literally endless. 

If it’s your first trip to Iceland, I understand if you want to focus on the most famous attractions. Totally get it. It’s a really good start and makes it a bit easier to decide what to do. Narrows the possibilities down a bit. If you on the other hand would like to travel around areas where there are fewer people, I would check out something other than the south.

7 You Have Endless Possibilities when it Comes to Geothermal Baths

The Blue Lagoon is the most famous and popular geothermal bath in Iceland. But don’t let your geothermal bath experience stop there.

Besides the Blue Lagoon, Iceland has countless geothermal baths to offer. From small natural hot springs all over the country to bigger and more fancy ones like Geosea in Húsavík, Krauma in Borgarfjörður, Fontana in Laugarvatn, Vök Baths close to Egilsstaðir and Mývatn Nature Baths by Lake Mývatn.

Geosea in Húsavík

I loved Geosea in Húsavik when I visited there on a beautiful day in 2020. What a view!

Krauma in Borgarfjörður

Check out Krauma on your way to Barnafossar Waterfall or on your way to North Iceland.

Fontana at Laugarvatn

Stop at Fontana for a treat when driving the golden circle. I also recommend to check out their Geothermal Bakery Tour. Really cool experience and you get to taste some delicious rye bread baked in the ground.

Vök Baths in East Iceland

Get soaked in Vök Baths when travelling in the beautiful Eastfjords.

Myvatn Nature Baths

Relax at Mývatn Nature Baths after a long day of sightseeing in the Lake Mývatn Area.

Sky Lagoon in Reykjavík

Sky Lagoon is one of the newest additions to the geothermal bath selection in Iceland. It was opened in 2021 and is located in the capital area. The lagoon itself is beautiful and their ritual is wonderful with its two different saunas, a cold mist space and a body scrub which leaves your skin soft as silk. This experience truly makes you feel pampered.

Heated Outdoor Swimming Pools on every Corner 

Then there are all the swimming pools. We have numerous swimming pools of all sizes all around the country. Almost every town and village in Iceland has a heated, outdoor swimming pool open to the public year round.⠀

The majority of these swimming pools also have at least one hot tub, many of them also offer a sauna and some even have one or more water slides. How cool is that?⠀

No matter if the weather is sunny or freezing, the water is always delightfully warm and relaxing. A visit to a “sundlaug” is therefore highly recommended on your visit to Iceland. Just don’t forget to wash yourself before you dive in. Otherwise you might get the evil eye from a local! 🙂

You can find a list of the many swimming pools here

8 Planning your Meals Can Save you a lot of Money

As you probably know, Iceland isn’t exactly the cheapest destination you’ll ever travel to. We all got to eat so here are some useful tips that can help you save some money when it comes to food.

Cook your own dinner once in a while

Consider renting Airbnbs with a full kitchen to be able to cook some dinner once in a while. Even though the food in Icelandic restaurants is generally very good, it’s very expensive to eat out every single night.

You might also be travelling in areas where there are no restaurants and then it’s essential to be well prepared. I mean, sightseeing on an empty stomach doesn’t sound especially good, does it?

Choose the right supermarkets when grocery shopping in Iceland

Regarding grocery shopping. Bónus and Krónan are the two cheapest supermarkets in Iceland. Bónus is slightly cheaper than Krónan but Krónan offers a larger range of products. Krónan also has slightly longer opening hours as it closes at 8pm or 9pm while the Bónus stores close at 8pm the latest but some close at 7pm or earlier. It differs a bit from store to store.

Both supermarkets have locations all over the capital area. You’ll also find them in a few locations over the country. Not many though.

Therefore it’s always a good idea to plan your meals and stock up a bit on groceries before leaving Reykjavík for a few days.

Never buy bottled water

Never ever buy bottled water. You get exactly the same water from the tap. So save you some money and the world some plastic and drink tap water from a refillable water bottle.

The locals never buy bottled water. Actually it wasn’t possible to buy it in supermarkets in Iceland until a few years ago or when the explosion in tourism occured.

9 Expect all Kinds of Weather all Year round when Planning a Trip to Iceland

Ok, maybe you shouldn’t expect sunny and warm weather in winter but you can expect pretty harsh weather in summer. Not guaranteed, but sometimes it gets quite brutal let me tell you.

The name Iceland, sounds pretty cold and indicates that the usual temperature isn’t especially high. Which is correct but it might be a bit higher in winter than you might expect.

The difference between the average temperature in summer and winter isn’t as big as in many other countries. Depending a bit on where in Iceland, the average temperature in the coldest months (December and January) is only slightly under the freezing point. Or from about -0.5°C/31°F to somewhere around -2°C/28°F.

On the other hand, the average temperature during the summer months (June-August) is about 10°C/50°F. Some days the temperature goes over 20°C/68°F but these days are quite rare. Then again the temperature in summer sometimes drops as low as 5°C/41°F. And then we’re not only talking night temperatures. It can actually happen during the day.

Even though we have higher temperatures and better weather in general in summer, it’s really important to be well prepared for all kinds of weather. Heavy rain and storms can mess up your plans whenever. Also in summer. In winter the storm can turn into a snow storm but we also offer heavy rain storms during the winter months. And even though there isn’t a storm as such it’s almost always windy. Summer and winter. No joke.

Then again, you can experience really good and sunny weather which calls for shorts, T-shirts and sunscreen. You never know what you’re gonna get. And most likely you’ll get a little of everything. Which makes it even harder to pack!

All this means you need to bring different kinds of clothes with you on your trip to Iceland. Especially in summer. Dressing in layers is key. Good rain gear is essential when the plan is to be out in nature the majority of your time here. A fleece or wool sweater is also a must. Summer and winter. Don’t forget to bring warm bottoms in winter. Freezing thighs and bottoms can easily take the fun out of the otherwise gorgeous sightseeing in winter.

I personally prefer wool. When out in nature, I use wool for all my layers. I use my long wool underwear a lot and also have some wool t-shirts. Then I wear a thick wool sweater when needed. But that’s of course up to you. I’m also in love with my primaloft jacket. It’s so warm and cozy. But also light and easy to travel with as it takes up so little space in the backpack.

You should always pack a hat and some gloves. You will definitely need them in winter but hopefully not in summer. The odds they will also become handy in summer are pretty high though. Better safe than sorry. Or worse, cold!

Happy Planning!

As I mentioned in the beginning, there are a lot of things to consider when planning a trip to Iceland. The whole process can feel a bit overwhelming. Believe me, I understand. I mean, I live here but still have so many places yet to explore.

I think the key is to make the effort not to overplan. Make room for some unexpected things. The weather can easily mess up your plans and therefore you need to be a bit flexible. As long as you come with an open mind, adventurous spirit and are prepared for the weather you’ll have a great time. No matter how long the trip is or how many sites you manage to see. Above all, enjoy 🙂