The Ultimate Guide on How to Plan Your Trip to Iceland.

Do you want to plan your trip to Iceland? Iceland is a beautiful country with a lot to see and do, so planning your itinerary ahead of time is crucial to ensure you make the most of your trip.

In this article we’ll walk you through the process of planning your itinerary, from deciding when to visit to choosing your accommodations and transport. In another blog post (coming soon, stay tuned) we will share our ideal 10-day itinerary and also tips for when you have less time. This article is focused on all the decisions you need to make besides the itinerary.

We have fallen in love with Iceland. It is such a dream travel destination that everyone should add to their bucket-list. We had such a great time and that makes us want to share as many useful tips with you as we can. So our blog will be filling up with Iceland content. That way we hope you can make the most out of your trip and have an awesome Iceland adventure just as we had.

How to plan your trip to Iceland for the first time?

Planning your trip to Iceland will be easier if you think of the 5 topics below.

Table of Contents

When to visit Iceland?

First things first, let’s talk about timing and duration. Iceland is a country that can be visited all year round, but the best time to visit depends on what you want to do and see. If you’re interested in seeing the Northern Lights, for example, the best time to visit is between September and March/April. If you want to see Iceland’s lush green landscapes and wildflowers, then the summer months from June to August might be your best bet.

While Iceland is a year-round destination, each season offers its own unique benefits and drawbacks. Let’s explore the pros and cons of visiting Iceland in each season, so you can decide when to plan your trip. We will also mention our personal favorite period to visit.

Visiting Iceland in the Winter

Pro’s of visiting Iceland in the Winter:

Northern lights: Winter is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, with long, dark nights offering optimal viewing conditions.
Winter activities: Iceland is known for its winter activities such as skiing, snowmobiling, and ice caving.
Fewer crowds: Winter is the low season in Iceland, meaning fewer tourists and lower prices.

Con’s of visiting Iceland in the Winter:

Short days: In winter, Iceland experiences only a few hours of daylight, making it challenging to plan outdoor activities during the daytime.
Cold temperatures: Iceland in winter can be cold, with temperatures ranging from -1 to 4°C (30-39°F). Be sure to pack warm clothes and layers.
Winter storms: Winter in Iceland can bring intense winter storms and heavy snowfall, which can make driving and travel conditions difficult.

Visiting Iceland in the Spring

Pro’s of visiting Iceland in the Spring:

Longer days: As spring approaches, the days start to get longer, meaning more daylight for exploring especially towards the end of Spring. At the end of April daylight is perfectly long already.
Mild temperatures: Spring brings milder temperatures, with average temperatures ranging from 0-5°C (32-41°F) in early Spring to some warmer days towards the end.
Fewer crowds: Spring is still the off-season in Iceland, meaning fewer tourists and lower prices.

Con’s of visiting Iceland in the Spring:

Unpredictable weather: Spring can bring unpredictable weather, with snowstorms and rain still possible.
Limited activities in Ealry Spring. Most inland roads open up around end of April or May 1st.

“I’ve visited Iceland twice in the Spring (end of April / early May) and it was perfect. We had sun and warm days and nearly no rain. We also had a few cold days with even a bit of snow up North. There were not that many other tourists, which made it all the more spectacular to feel almost all alone in this stunning nature.”

Dennis

Visiting Iceland in the Summer

Pro’s of visiting in the Summer:

Long days: In the summer, Iceland experiences the midnight sun, meaning the sun sets for only a few hours each day, giving you more time to explore the country.
Warm weather: Although Iceland is known for its chilly temperatures, summer is the warmest time of the year, with average temperatures ranging from 10-15°C (50-59°F). On sunny days it will definitely feel warmer.
Outdoor activities: Summer is the perfect time to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and road tripping. The Icelandic countryside comes alive with greenery and wildflowers during this season.

Con’s of visiting in the Summer:

Crowds: Summer is the peak tourist season in Iceland, and the country can get quite crowded with visitors, making it more challenging to book accommodation and activities. You will not have that “being-here-all-alone-feeling” that much because of the crowds.
Higher prices: With the increased demand during summer, prices for accommodations, tours, and flights tend to be higher than other seasons. Example: car-rental early may for 10 days: 500 euros, in summer 2000 euros.
Weather variability: Although summer is the warmest season in Iceland, it’s still subject to sudden changes in weather, and rain can be frequent.

Visiting Iceland in the Fall

Pro’s of visiting Iceland in the Fall:

Fewer crowds: Fall is the shoulder season in Iceland, meaning fewer crowds and lower prices for accommodations and tours.
Northern lights: As the nights get darker, the chance to see the Northern Lights increases. Plus, with the autumn colors, the landscapes are especially beautiful during this season.
Mild temperatures: Temperatures in fall can still be mild, with average temperatures ranging from 5-10°C (41-50°F).

Con’s of visiting Iceland in the Fall:

Shorter days: As fall progresses, the days get shorter, with sunset as early as 5 pm in November. This means less daylight to explore Iceland’s natural wonders.
Unpredictable weather: Fall is also known for unpredictable weather, with rain and storms becoming more frequent.

How Long to Visit Iceland?

Once you’ve decided when to visit, you’ll need to think about how long you want to stay. Iceland is a relatively small country, but there is a lot to see, so we recommend staying for at least 7 days to see the highlights. Here are our recommendations:

If you have 3 to 6 days: Stay in the South-West. Focus on the Golden Circle area, the Waterfalls in the South and Jokulsarlon (Ice Berg Lagoon) and exploring Reykjavik. If you have 5 or 6 days you can include the gorgeous Snaefellsnes Peninsula as well.
If you have 7 days or more: You could do a full circle ring road trip. With 7 days being the absolute minimum and it meaning you have to have a very high pace. We recommend 10 days for this full circle ring road trip. Thay way you have enough time for all the highlights without feeling rushed.

Deciding on the Must-See Destinations

Next up, let’s talk about must-see destinations. Iceland has no shortage of beautiful landscapes and unique experiences, so it’s important to choose your top priorities before planning your itinerary. Some of the most popular destinations include the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon, the Golden Circle, Vatnajökull National Park, and the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. We recommend doing some research and making a list of the places that interest you the most, then building your itinerary around those destinations.

Also check out our post with a detailed itinerary we will include all these highlights and some great hidden gems as well.

Transportation and Accommodation

Now that you’ve decided when to visit and what you want to see, it’s time to think about transportation and accommodation.

Iceland has a good public transportation system, but if you want to have more flexibility, we recommend renting a car. This will allow you to explore the country at your own pace and access more remote destinations.

Especially the South of Iceland, also know as the waterfall route, has so many amazing stops. So you definitely don’t want to be stuck in a tourist bus that will only do a few of these stops. There is something beautiful every 15 minutes as you drive along the ring road. So you want to have this flexibility to stop whenever you see something interesting.

Another important thing to consider: you will arrive on Iceland at Keflavik Airport. It will take 45 to drive to Reykjavik by car or bus. So if you have a rental car, that’s no problem. Otherwise make sure to get a bus ticket that will take you to your first hotel.

Parking at the popular spots such as certain waterfalls or canyons has to be payed online by using the myparking.is website. So make sure to check that out.

Want to check if the roads on your itinerary are open for the season? Check out the road.is website for all details. Make sure your car is allowed on all of these roads. This depends on whether you rented a 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive.

As for accommodation, Iceland has a wide variety of options, from camping and hostels to luxury hotels. It’s important to book your accommodation well in advance, especially during peak travel season.

Our Tips for accommodations in Iceland

Below you find the links to the locations we stayed at during our amazing road trip in Iceland.

Fjorukrain Viking Village (near Reykjavik)
Panorama Glass Lodge (amazing but expensive, but definitely worth it for one night)
Black Beach Suites (next to Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, close to Vik)
Hotel Skaftafell (if you want to do a glacier hike in that area, this hotel is in the perfect location)
Viking Cafe in Hofn (simple but in a perfect location at the Stokksness beach)
Ormurinn Cottages in Egilstadir are really cute and in a perfect location to explore the East.
Hotel Akureyri for when you plan on staying in the capital of the North.
Helgafell cabin in a unique location on Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Kvosin Downtown Hotel in Reykjavik.

Want to travel on a budget, check out the Hostels on Iceland.

Flexibility and Back-Up Plans

Finally, it’s important to build some flexibility into your itinerary and have a contingency plan in case of bad weather or other unexpected events. Iceland’s weather can be unpredictable, and road closures due to weather or volcanic activity are not uncommon. Having some backup plans and being open to changing your itinerary can help ensure you have a smooth and enjoyable trip.

You want an example? Let’s say you want to see the gorgeous Stokksnes beach and get that perfect picture with the reflection in the water. Stokksnes is know for being very foggy from time to time. So if you have enough time to switch around your activities on that day, you can circle back for when the fog is cleared.

That’s it for our tips on how to plan your trip to Iceland! We hope this post has been helpful and that you’re feeling inspired to start planning your own Icelandic adventure. Let us know in the comments if you have any other tips or questions. And make sure to check out our other articles as well for more Iceland advice.

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