Discover Iceland, the land of fire and ice. In the northwest corner of Europe, this island is famous for its natural phenomena, stunning landscapes and unique culture. If you are planning a trip to Iceland, in this post I am going to detail everything you need to know, from curiosities and advice to landscapes that you cannot miss. By the way, I leave you a post here in case you are interested in knowing the entire itinerary we followed on our trip to Iceland in 10 days.
Here you also have the cinematic video we made in Iceland.
Things to keep in mind before traveling to Iceland
Currency and exchange
One of the first things we have to keep in mind is that Iceland does not use the Euro, but the Icelandic Krona (ISK). To get an idea of the change, 1000 ISK is equivalent to approximately €6.68. There is no need to change euros to ISK before traveling, you can pay in euros everywhere there. Of course, always with a card.
Mobile connection
Most phone companies do not include Iceland in their roaming rates, so you will need to purchase an eSIM to have a data connection. There it is essential to have internet and calls at all times to be able to consult the apps provided by the Icelandic government in case of emergency. Here I leave you a link to hire an eSIM: https://airalo.tp.st/o2P2yUV2
Season to travel
Iceland offers completely different experiences in summer and winter. If you want to travel in Winter, prepare for extreme weather, very few hours of daylight and the possibility of seeing the northern lights. At this time it is essential to rent a 4×4 due to the difficult road conditions and we will only have the main roads open.
In summer it is just the opposite. We have almost no hours of darkness, we will be able to see the midnight sun and the climate is much friendlier. In summer the secondary roads will be open. Of course, you always have to look at the applications that I am going to leave you below.
Apps to download
Before traveling to Iceland we have to download some apps that are essential for our trip:
- SafeTravel: An essential app that shows road conditions, weather alerts and route closures at all times.
- Vedur: It is the weather application in Iceland and provides us with information about the weather and possible alerts for wind, rain or northern lights.
- Umferdin: Ideal for knowing the state of the roads in detail, especially useful in winter or in case of volcanic activity. It is much more precise than SafeTravel, but both are necessary.
- Olis: Offers the location of gas stations, crucial for refueling, especially in the unpopulated areas of northern Iceland. You can also find discounts.
- Park4Night: A fundamental application if you travel by camper. It informs you about open campsites and their status, as well as opinions from other travelers.
Moving around Iceland
To get around Iceland, it is best to rent a car or a camper. If, for example, we want to travel the famous Ring Road (Route 1), a standard car or a camper is enough. But if we want to travel the mountain roads (F-Roads) it is essential to rent a car or a 4×4 camper.
It is very important to reserve vehicles in advance and plan very well the route we are going to follow and the campsites where we are going to sleep. In the north of Iceland we can travel many kilometers without having contact with any civilization.
Cost of living
Iceland is generally a fairly expensive country, so it is advisable to plan and budget everything in advance. To give you an idea, the average salary in Iceland is approximately 700,000 ISK (€4,670). For food issues, what we recommend is that you go to a supermarket chain called Bonus, which is quite economical.
Essential locations
This, like everything, depends on how long you are going to be there. If it is your first time, I recommend that you do the Ring Road, which is basically following Route 1 that goes around the entire country. In the north, what I liked the most was the entire Myvatn area and the Detifoss and Selfoss waterfalls. In the south, it is essential that you go to the Skaftafell glacier, visit Skogafoss and, if you have the opportunity, take a route through the Fagradalsfjall volcano.
5 curiosities about Iceland
- Aurora Borealis and Midnight Sun: Iceland is an ideal place to both see the auroras and the Midnight Sun. Depending on the time of year we travel, we can see one phenomenon or another.
- Iceland not have forests: It is one of the few countries in the world without large areas of forests. Yes, they have some areas with trees, but they do not have large areas as such. This is due to deforestation during Viking colonization and the harsh climate of the island.
- Land of Volcanoes: Iceland is one of the most volcanically active places in the world. It has about 130 active volcanoes and, as of 2021, the Fagradalsfjall volcano has erupted 5 times.
- Safety: Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world, with an extremely low crime rate.
- Renewable energy: 85% of Iceland’s energy comes from renewable energy, mainly geothermal and hydroelectric. This makes the country one of the most sustainable in the world.