Iceland was one of our dream trips, and it did not disappoint! This island will leave you amazed with its totally wild landscapes. But one of the things that puts us off when visiting Iceland is the trip cost. Like all Nordic countries, Prices are much higher than in the rest of Europe. But… is it for that much? Is traveling to Iceland very expensive? We tell you how much it costs to travel to Iceland and we detail the budget for our 10-day route for this very special country.
When is the best time to travel to Iceland?
Contents of this article
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TRAVEL TO ICELAND?
1. How much do flights to Iceland cost?
Flying to Iceland from Spain is relatively inexpensive. Can be found tickets for less than €100 each way booking a few weeks in advance. Not bad at all considering that the flight lasts between 4 and 5 hours (depending on the city you are leaving from). There are direct flights from Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Iceland’s only international airport is in the country’s capital: Reykjavík.
Find cheap flights to Reykjavik
Us We fly to Reykjavík from Barcelona for €190 round trip per person. We get the tickets about 3 months in advance. We always use Skyscanner to find the cheapest prices on flights around the world. We tell you a lot of tricks to get the most out of this comparator, a great ally to save on flights!
10 tricks to find cheap flights on Skyscanner
2. Transport in Iceland: rental car or motorhome?
One of the main expenses when assessing how much it costs to travel to Iceland is transportation. A small car costs around €275 per week, while a 4×4 is around €400. Be that as it may, you will need a vehicle to get around Iceland, it is not a feasible trip by public transport. For this reason, the car rental office in Reykjavík is usually the first stop for any traveler landing in Iceland.
Find the best price to rent a car in Iceland
On the other hand, you have the option of combine transportation and accommodation rent a campervan or motorhome in Iceland. We only see it as a good option for the summer months, since during the rest of the year the temperatures at night are below zero and we do not believe that sleeping in a vehicle is the most comfortable. The daily price of an economical campervan is around €150, while a motorhome costs around €300 per day..
We opted for the car and We tell you everything you need to know about driving in Iceland. We also solve the million-dollar question: do you need a 4×4 to get around the island?
What vehicle to rent in Iceland + driving tips
In any case, We recommend taking out insurance that covers damage due to gravel.. It is inevitable to take some unpaved roads, since access to many important attractions is like this. It is easy for the car in the opposite lane to throw up a stone and end up marking your car. The insurance increases the price, but we believe it is worth it to go easy and not have to pay the deposit in case of causing any damage to the vehicle.
The positive part of driving in Iceland is that there is no toll road. Furthermore, all the paved roads are in very good condition. They maintain them impeccably because otherwise they would be a disaster due to the snowfall that falls during the coldest months. So no need to worry about that 😉
2.1. How much does gasoline cost in Iceland?
The price of gasoline is not as high as in other Nordic countries, such as Norway. Refueling costs about 220 crowns per liter (approximately €1.35).
2.2. Is it essential to rent a vehicle to get around Iceland?
No, too You can base yourself in Reykjavík and book excursions that take you to the island’s highlights. It may be a good idea if you are less than 4 days in Iceland and you only have time to see the Golden Circle area. But we do not recommend it if you are willing to see the entire island. Firstly because you will waste a lot of time traveling to and from Reykjavík. And second, you will spend a lot of money because the excursions are quite expensive. Most cost €80 or more per person.
Book excursions from Reykjavik
3. Accommodation, the biggest expense when traveling to Iceland
If you decide to rent a campervan or motorhome, you can skip this point. But the most common thing is to opt for a car and book accommodation. As there is no major tourist infrastructure outside the capital, Supply is limited and prices high. A night in a normal three-star hotel is around €150 for a double room..
But We do not recommend always staying in hotels for a very simple reason: you will not have a kitchen. Whenever you can, choose hostels or apartments where you can cook dinner and breakfast. That will save you a lot of money because, as we tell you in the next point, food in Iceland is very expensive.
Also It is important to choose well the points where you are going to stop to sleep. Sometimes it is more worth paying a little more for a hotel well located on your route than not saving €50 but having to waste time driving. As we have said, there is not much supply and there are areas that run out of availability quickly. Therefore, It is advisable to book accommodation in Iceland as soon as possible.. We leave you with an article where we recommend the best areas and accommodations to sleep in Iceland according to the route you are going to take.
The best areas and hotels to sleep in Iceland
4. How much does it cost to eat in Iceland
Another critical point when establishing a budget to travel to Iceland it’s the food. It is a very expensive country to eat in restaurants, probably the most expensive we have ever visited. a simple pizza or hamburger in a cheap place costs €15while a more elaborate dish in a restaurant easily rises to €30. In Reykjavík you can find plenty of restaurants, but in less populated areas you will practically not find eating options.
10 cheap places to eat in Reikiavik
That is why we emphasized book accommodation with kitchen. Being able to prepare dinner will make your life much easier and your pocketbook will greatly appreciate it. Because, let’s be honest, who is willing to spend €50 per person on each meal?
We managed to have a good breakfast in the apartment before leaving, we made sandwiches and brought snacks to eat during the day and at night we cooked a delicious dinner in the accommodation.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you will have to plan supermarket purchases. Most are concentrated in Reykjavik and surrounding areas. As you move away from the capital, you can easily travel 200 kilometers without seeing a trace of civilization. So you have to be proactive so as not to run out of supplies. Regarding food prices in supermarkets, they are somewhat higher than in Spain, especially imported products. But we didn’t find it as tremendous as we had read. We recommend you read our post about supermarkets in Iceland, where you will find a map with the location of all of them and a lot of saving tricks.
Everything you need to know about supermarkets in Iceland
5. Prices of tourist attractions in Iceland
Finally comes a positive section! Fortunately, nature is free. And that is the greatest attraction of Iceland. You don’t have to pay anything to visit the impressive landscapes that you will see. The only “essential” place that does have a fee is the Blue Lagoon. We tell you our experience about whether it is worth it and tips to enjoy your visit.
Is the Blue Lagoon worth it? Our experience and advice
Of course, you can also treat yourself to special activities. For example, a hike through an ice cave, walk on a glacier, take a whale watching tour or visit the inside of a volcano. They are quite expensive guided tours (about €200). But, taking into account that they will be the only expenses on activities, it is totally worth the expense for an experience this special. Although You don’t necessarily have to book any tour to see incredible things. For example, Seeing the Northern Lights is a totally magical experience and it’s free! In this sense, you should not worry about how much does it cost to travel to iceland.
Complete guide to seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland
We leave you a couple of lists with the best waterfalls in iceland and the best thermal baths (most free). We also recommend you read our Complete guide with 80 amazing places to see in Iceland. We include a map that will be very useful for planning your trip.
80 wonderful places to see in Iceland
6. Travel insurance for Iceland, an essential expense
To finish answering how much it costs to travel to Iceland, we cannot neglect travel insurance.. It seems to us a essential for any getaway or trip, but it would be enormously irresponsible to go to Iceland without having coverage. The country is totally safe in terms of crime, so you should not worry in that sense.
But yes It’s quite an adventurous trip., where you can have unforeseen events due to extreme weather conditions. Or simply sprain your ankle while hiking, feel sick to your stomach, get a cut… well, those kinds of things that happen in the silliest way but can ruin a trip.
Us We always travel with Iati Estrella insurance. They offer assistance in Spanish 24/7 and have very extensive coverage. Not only health, but they also cover transportation delays or cancellations, theft or loss of luggage, for example. We offer you a 5% discount on all Iati insurance.
Source: https://lostraveleros.com/cuanto-cuesta-viajar-a-islandia/
