Thinking of visiting Iceland? Here's some useful travel tips to make the most of your time in Iceland.
Are you thinking of visiting Iceland? Well, you’re in good company – direct flights to Iceland have been available since June 2015, meaning hordes of tourists have been drinking in the stunning scenery, unspoiled beauty and mystical charm of the destination.
Here are just a few things you’ll learn while you’re enjoying the holiday of a lifetime in Iceland…
It’s worth having access to a good car
Many first-time visitors to Iceland are surprised by how large the country actually is – at 103,000 square kilometres, it’s larger than the Republic of Ireland.
So, it makes sense to hire a car while you’re out there to ensure you can see all the incredible sights on offer to you.
There’s no need to worry about hiring a car or the unfamiliarity of driving abroad – the roads are very quiet, and you’ll have plenty of good vehicles to choose from such as those that are four-wheel drive with snow tyres (a good idea given the climate in Iceland!).
You can never have enough phone storage
Waterfalls, geysers, volcanoes, glaciers, lava fields, mountains, coastal villages – there’s so much to photograph in Iceland that you’ll quickly learn how small your phone’s storage capacity is!
Consider upgrading your smartphone’s memory before you go, or invest in a good storage cloud package (or the Dropbox app on your phone will come in handy if you prefer).
Don’t miss out on capturing any of the Iceland’s beauty – we promise you’ll find more than enough selfie spots.
There’s more to a country than its capital
If you find yourself in Reykjavik, be sure to check out iconic buildings such as the Hallgrimskirkja church as you really won’t have seen anything like it before.
The shops, restaurants and cafes are designed in an array of cheerful colours (the perfect contrast to those icy mountains surrounding Reykjavik), and the main shopping street (Laugavegur) offers excellent nightlife for party-loving visitors once the shops have closed.
But, there’s a lot more going on for Iceland than the capital. The Blue Lagoon, the Black Sand Beach at Vik and the Skogafoss Waterfall are utterly enchanting, for example, and shouldn’t be missed.
The Northern Lights aren’t the only beautiful thing to see
Given its proximity to the Arctic Circle (Iceland’s mainland is just a few degrees south of it), it’s the perfect place to see the Northern Lights.
You can book tours to maximise your chances of catching a glimpse of this romantic, other-worldly green glow in the sky, or you can chance it and see if you’re lucky enough to witness them at some point in your trip.
But, don’t worry if they don’t appear while you’re there – there are lots of other beautiful things to see in Iceland! For example, look to the sea instead of the night sky by going whale watching, or go horse riding across the striking landscape at Landmannalaugar.
You'll need to budget carefully
Finally, if you visit Iceland you’ll quickly get to know that things cost a little more out there. Given Iceland’s climate and distance from other countries, a lot of food and drink (particularly products from major brands) is imported, making it a little on the pricier side for a holiday.
But there are plenty of ways to stay within budget when you’re on holiday (opting to go for an all-inclusive deal, for instance, or opting for for well-priced bars and restaurants). Wherever you choose to eat and drink, it’s worth every penny – especially as you’re holidaying somewhere as incredible as this!
So, if Iceland is on your bucket list, tick it off sooner rather than later. It’s the kind of unusual holiday location that will completely blow you away, and you’re bound to want to return to see what else the country has to offer!
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