ICELAND TRAVEL GUIDE: Iceland All Info!

Iceland Travel Guide

Our Iceland itinerary, what you need to know about Iceland and the cost of Iceland trip!

Iceland travel guide! It was a place we wanted to go for a very, very long time Iceland. A country with active volcanoes, beaches of black sand, snow-covered roads that no one passes, and caves of ice! A place that is both unreal and real enough to be reached in 4 hours by plane! Like being on Mars in 4 hours, reaching another parallel universe in 4 hours..!

Iceland’s famous ‘golden circle’ route and its South As much as we wanted to visit it, we wanted to see the North, which is almost an unmanned air space, its glaciers, and spend our nights ‘in the middle of nowhere’ in cottages called ‘cottage’ at the foot of volcanoes!

The Great Circle or the Ring Circle

We planned it at length, we allocated a time and budget for 8 days, 2 more friends joined us and 4 people we toured Iceland in a circle from south to north, east to west (ring circle). In fact, the immensity of Iceland impressed us so much that we disrupted the plans we made before we went and completely re-planned ourselves to enjoy this trip as much as possible.. We traveled without a plan!

Iceland is unlike any country we’ve seen before. It’s really impossible not to form an emotional connection with this country.. But Iceland is a country where it is difficult to plan the itinerary and predict the travel budget in advance.. In this introduction to Iceland, we choose from Iceland route, transportation to Iceland options, stay in Iceland, from Iceland we will talk about the preparations that need to be made before we go and the the total budget we have allocated for the trip to Iceland.

We rented the car from the website of ‘Enterprise‘. We can say it’s pretty safe, but at the last minute they were on the alert and convinced us to take out a 150 Euro ‘sand insurance against the sandstorm and there was no need.. Our 150 Euros wasted. Even if you don’t have it done.

Car rental and costs in Iceland

We will talk about the budget in detail in the rest of the article, but by the way, we covered a total of 2300-2400 km in 7 days and We paid a total of 320 Euros for gasoline.. Gasoline was the only thing that was ‘relatively’ cheap in Iceland!

Only credit cards are accepted when buying gas, and you fill your gas yourself. No one takes care of you, often not even a gas station.. A roadside gas pump, a device to insert your credit card, and you! Speaking of which, we have never exchanged money in Iceland and never physically seen the money we spent.. Credit card if any! Even the host, whose hut we were staying at, appeared in the middle of nowhere with a pos device! Think about the rest…

If you have a car on your route between Akureyri – Reykiyavik, there are speed control cameras on the road every kilometer and you need to pay attention to the speed limit especially at the city entrances.. We have experienced this by entering the radar and paying a fine of 150 Euros, let’s say it! We were upset; don’t worry

Our Iceland Route and Alternative Routes

Iceland is divided into two for us. The South, which is more touristic, more crowded, but still very beautiful, and the legendary North, where the caravan does not fly! full seventy. We have seen every place we wanted to see and we can say that there is no place left where we wish we could see this place too.. If we had one more day, maybe we could go to the westernmost areas called ‘Iceland Westfjords‘.

And ‘Whale watching in Hüsavik’ > and ‘glacier walk’ we gave up after coming to Iceland. It was very crowded, very touristic and very chewed up… We couldn’t visit the ice cave, which we wanted so much, because the glaciers started to melt and it was no longer safe.. If you are planning these activities, you can write +1 day in your plans.

If we write our route to give you an idea;

1. Day 1: morning landing in Reykjavik and all day in Reykjavik, evening overnight in Reykjavik

2. Day: Blue Lagoon with remaining time Reykjavik, overnight stay Reykjavik

3. Day 1: Drive to Vik in South Iceland and stay overnight at a cottage at the foot of Eyjafjallajökull

4. The day starts from the town of Vik, visits the Jökülsarlon glaciers and overnight in Egillstadir

5. Day tour to Akureyri in North and overnight in Akureyri

6. Day tour in North of Husavik and Akureyri, overnight in Hvammstangi. Here is the link of the extraordinary cottage we stayed in.

7. Complete the Golden Circle route for the day and overnight in Reykjavik

The alternative we looked at before going to Iceland ‘7 days Iceland Road Trip’ In strong> routes, we have seen that travelers draw a similar route or draw this route in the opposite direction.. So, frankly, it is a route that we can recommend with some peace of mind.

Only, since the North of Iceland impressed us a lot, we did not enjoy the Golden Circle route that we did on the last day, and it would be better for us if we had done the Golden Circle before we went to the North. we thought it might be. See: A blog satisfied with its route

Alternative Iceland Routes

Apart from all these, if you have 3 days in Iceland, you can spend a day Reykiyavik + Blue Lagoon, a you can dedicate a day to the Golden Circle and a day to the Iceland Southern Tour. In this case, the most logical thing would be to arrange your accommodation in Reykiyavik for 3 nights.. But if you have 4 days, you can spend two days in South and plan your stay as 3 nights in Reykiyavik + 1 night in Vik.

The Golden Circle tour is quite touristic and the number of tourists is very high at the points you stop.. However, if you set off very early, you can avoid the crowds to a certain extent.. The place that impressed us the most on the Golden Circle route was Gulfoss Waterfall.

The location of the north is completely different for us.. Driving in the middle of nowhere for hours, seeing things that you thought couldn’t be true, sometimes not meeting people or cars for hours…North Iceland was a completely different experience for us.. We will talk about everything in our North Iceland article.

Now, back to the main topic;

We only used Google Maps for the whole route North – South and we never got lost.. You follow ‘Route 1‘ 99 percent while driving along the coastline and it’s enough.. We will talk about this in more detail in the Iceland South and North route travel articles.

I guess that’s all we can say about alternative routes.

Accommodation in Iceland

4 of the 7-night Iceland trip We don’t know how seriously you take the accommodation recommendations of a blog that spent the night in huts at the foot of the mountains, but we loved sleeping in these huts! That’s why we are the heart of accommodation in Iceland… We are not the right address for hotel recommendation this time.

Now let’s make a confession. Iceland is the most expensive country we’ve ever seen, and it’s been our hardest budget trip so far.. That’s why we decided to rent a house instead of a hotel and have our dinners at home before we even went.

The Cottage Experience in Iceland

In a house we have previously arranged online in Reykjavik, at all our other stops. We stayed in cottages called ‘cottage’ and ate our dinners and breakfasts at home every morning.. Even if the hotel seems cheaper at first glance than the house option, if you think that it is not possible to eat out for two people in a single meal for less than 30 Euros in Iceland, it is much more convenient to rent a house.

Reykjavik, Iceland. Except for hotels, there are 2-3 room facilities in most towns, and cottages called ‘cottage’ in more rural areas.. You can cook your own food and prepare your breakfast in these cottages.. If you are lucky, there can be a common ‘hot tub’, ie jacuzzi, in the facilities where 5-10 cottages are together! Imagine you are in the middle of nowhere, at the foot of the mountains.. It’s minus 10 degrees and you’re in a hot jacuzzi.. Fortunately, there was a jacuzzi in the cottage facility where we stayed in Akureyri! At such moments, one does not want a hotel or a motel.. We found their address on the internet, phoned and made a reservation.. If you want to make your plans in advance, you can make a cancellation reservation for these cottages via booking.com.

We paid an average of 150 Euros per night for the cottages for 4 people.. It came to 75 Euros per couple. This is quite a reasonable number for Iceland because you pay the same price for a pizza + two beers outside.. Did we mention Iceland is very expensive! If we said it, let’s say it again! It’s So Expensive!

What to eat in Iceland?

Iceland Food and Drink Guide

Hmm…we basically said we shouldn’t talk about it at all, should we not alienate you from Iceland? but anyway, let’s write it so that it breaks from where it thins. sorry…! Eating and drinking in Iceland is very, very expensive. You have to be prepared for this.

As a couple living in Munich, the most expensive city in Germany, we say that as a couple who managed to travel cheaply, even in Singapore and other European cities; We have not seen anywhere as expensive as Iceland in terms of eating and drinking out.. Even a Norwegian man who walked into an ordinary pizzeria with us in Iceland at the same time said ‘this place is too expensive’! Think about the rest.

Before we went to Reykjavik, we weren’t too hung up on Iceland’s expensiveness to be honest.. Because we always had the idea of ​​’we’ll find a doner kebab shop’ in our minds.. Even dürüm doner is 15-20 Euros, friends, so it didn’t work…. Cheese, bread and pasta trio…:)

Markets for cheap shopping in Iceland

Iceland’s two big grocery chains Bonus Market and >Netto. In these two markets, you can find sandwich materials, nuts and snacks at normal prices, although not cheaply.. These markets open at 11:00 in the morning and close between 18:00 and 20:00 in the evening, so it’s a good idea to do your daily shopping one day in advance.

After seeing the expensiveness of Reykiyavik on the first day, we have visited this place every day. we went to one of the markets and did our daily shopping and we managed well in this way for 7 days in Iceland. We always ate pasta in the evenings.. Thus, Iceland did not make us call our student house in Kadikoy.. Get nostalgia for you!

In this way, our daily grocery expenditure for 4 people was around 50 Euros in total.. If you get really hungry, they also recommend hot-dogs at the gas stations.. We haven’t tried it, but you can try it.

If you ask what is the price you say ‘expensive or expensive’, it’s like;

Beer in an average pub is 10 Euros, a glass of wine is around 12 Euros.. If you come across happy hours, it is 20% cheaper.

There is a Subway, but their sandwiches cost between 11-13 Euros.. Apart from that, a large pizza + 1 beer is around 40 Euros in an ordinary pizzeria…

If you want to try something special while you are in Iceland, the most special thing is their specialty, ‘rotten whale meat’! I swear they don’t have a special kitchen other than that.. Everywhere is full of American restaurants and pizzeria because it has a bit of American flair.. Since no one came to Iceland with the expectation of a ‘gourmet country’, they did not feel obliged to improve themselves.. As you can see, if you eat ‘rotten whale meat’, there is nothing special.

As for water, water is drunk from the tap in all parts of Iceland, including Reykiyavik.. If you only open the hot water side, with a very ugly smell of sulfur! Throughout Iceland, this sulfur smell was the most challenging for us… We will not go into more details because it is an indescribable and livable smell..! As a matter of fact, if you are going to drink water from the tap, it is useful to let the cold part flow well and then drink it.

Blue Lagoon

This is a very strange place.. It’s really weird. Imagine that it is snowing outside, or the weather is minus 10 degrees and you are drinking your beer in 38 degrees water.. You’re looking at your right, it’s azure, you’re looking at your left is azure!

While the Blue Lagoon is a geothermal resource used mainly for energy production, this thermal spring water is turned into a thermal spa after it is understood that this thermal spring water is good for the face, body and scientific places.

The water comes completely from its natural source, the pool part is not made afterwards.. No matter how cold it is outside, you never feel cold in the water, there are people who come here at 7 am and stay until 11 at night, that’s all!

We don’t have much to say about the Blue Lagoon, really Just like in the photos, it’s really beautiful. If you are planning Iceland, it is best to buy your tickets online in advance for the early hours of the morning and arrive early in the morning before it gets too crowded.. Once inside, you can stay as long as you want, but you can’t enter at the time you want, you have to enter according to the time on your ticket.

Is a Blue Lagoon reservation a must?

You can buy your Blue Lagoon tickets 1 month before your trip. ‘Blog’ recommends. You can check the ticket prices on the official website of Blue Lagoon and buy them from the same site.. There are 3 ticket options, from cheap to expensive. We bought the ‘comfort’ ticket, which includes towels and 1 drink.. We paid about 80 euros per person. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s worth it if you think of it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

https://www.bluelagoon.com/

Let’s add, more than 3 in Blue Lagoon You are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages. You have your wrist swiped while buying a drink, and no more than 3 beers are allowed! The reason is that in such hot water, alcohol affects you many times more than normal.. The guys are probably right because we only had one beer and couldn’t believe our body’s reaction to it.. People say ‘no way’, but it happens in hot water…!

When planning the Blue Lagoon, it would be better if you plan the Blue Lagoon on your arrival or return day, because the Blue Lagoon is much closer to Keflavik Airport than the city centre.

Blue Lagoon Alternatives

Iceland is the land of underground waters… As such, Blue Lagoon is not the only place to throw yourself into warm waters in freezing weather.. Twin sister of the Blue Lagoon Myvatn Nature Baths in the North. The website is here, the entrance price is around 40 euros per person, half the price of the Blue Lagoon. If we had not been to the Blue Lagoon, we would definitely have gone to Myvatin.. Also, it is less touristic, more beautiful than you and the Blue Lagoon!

Another alternative is the Secret Lagoon on the Golden Circle route.. This place is also called ‘hot springs’ and you can think of it as a minimal version of Blue Lagoon.. Entry is around 25 Euros per person. We looked through the door and weren’t impressed for some reason, so we didn’t go in.. You can check out the website here.

Useful Phone Apps

Let’s be honest, we downloaded a lot of apps before we went to Iceland, but did we use them? No. The only apps we use are Google Maps (if you don’t have internet, definitely Maps.me) and Aurora‘ and ‘Aurora Now‘ that we download to follow Northern Lights have had applications. If you are traveling in winter, you can download the ‘Vedur.is‘ application and check the weather conditions and the reliability of the roads.. In our opinion, there is no need to download more applications, you go back without using them anyway.

What is the Northern Lights? How to catch it

The Northern Lights, which hit us in our hearts before we left, never appeared during our Iceland trip. Although we did our best, we didn’t see much on the last night except a faint greenery..

We’ve researched so much where is the best weather and place to catch the Northern Lights that we’re going to pass on all we know.. Maybe it’s up to you.

First of all, in order for the Northern Lights to appear as green as you can see in the photos, the weather must be dark, clear, cloudless, fog-free and rain-free.. During our approximately 5 nights in Iceland the weather was in line with what was said, but the lights still did not come out.. So, if the weather is clear, there is no such thing as the light will come on.. Also, these lights appear mostly between September and March.. If you are going in other months, your chances of catching the lights are much less, we are sorry!

To observe the lights better, dark areas away from the city centers are preferred.. For example, for the best “Northern Light” viewing spots in Reykjavik, you can check this link.

The further you go North in Iceland, the better your chances of seeing the Northern Light is not because Iceland is a very Northern country in latitude and There is no difference in the formation of lights between the north and south. Local people we met in Iceland also confirmed this.

What Hours of the Day Are the Northern Lights Visible?

Lights are mostly visible between 12:00 and 03:00 at midnight, but if it’s dark enough, it’s 09:00 in the evening. He could also go out. It’s good to start watching after dark.. For example, we waited for the light by playing swamp until 1-2 at night in our huts!

Tripod is a must for good photos, otherwise the lights are flickering.

It is never clear when and where the lights will appear.. Sometimes they’re in the sky for hours, sometimes for 5 minutes. Therefore, even if you go at the most ideal time, they may not appear in front of you or they may appear when you least expect it.. We were a bit unlucky this time!

If you don’t have a car, you can join Northern Lights tours.. The good thing about these tours is that if the lights don’t go out they include you in the next day’s tour for free. So once you give the money, keep going until the lights come out! You can check out Northern Light tours on this site.

Good luck with the light now, everyone!

Extraordinary Things to Do in Iceland

Iceland, this is not over as far as we’ve told! For adventure lovers, there are options such as volcanic Silfra rift diving where you can dive into the clearest water in the world in Iceland, and camping options in the middle of nowhere with 4 x 4. For example, if we go to Iceland again, we would definitely like to try diving in the Silfra rift.

Those who call danger my middle name may like activities on this website!

Our Icelandic Budget – Iceland’s cost to us what happened?

First, let’s get straight to the point; The total cost of our 7-night Iceland trip for two people was 2115 Euros + a last minute radar penalty and a total of 2265 Euros.

Iceland Travel Guide: In this 2115 Euro, the costs are pen and pencil;

Munich – Reykjavik round trip ticket for two: 300 Euros (Iceland Air)

Airport shuttle two people: 75 Euros (you can take the car) If you rent it directly as you land, you will avoid this expense)

5-day rental car: 290 Euro, gas fee total: 320 Euro (as we are 4 people, this cost was divided into two, but 2 people will go. can rent the car much cheaper)

Car insurance against sandstorms: 150 Euros (this was the most unnecessary expense we made, don’t add it to your expenses)

Accommodation 7 nights in total: 420 Euros (this is a good number since we are 4 people)

Market shopping total: 175 Euros (every day breakfast, sandwiches, etc.) i and we bought pasta for dinner)

Food and drink: 250 Euro (we ate lunch outside 3 times, coffees we drank during the day and beer 2 nights out)

Activities for two people (Blue Lagoon + Spa & Beer): 210 Euros (Blue Lagoon entrance 80 Euros per person, Spa & Beer 20 Euros)

Iceland in its current form It was our most budgeted trip so far.. We can say that it is quite an expensive route when compared to the distant routes we have gone before. It doesn’t show up at all.

After all, we saw another planet, another Earth, and a parallel universe.. It was an unforgettable experience for us.

We can now look forward to our next trips.

Our Iceland Travel Guide articles are not finished yet if you want to read it:

<

South Iceland Travel Guide and Places to Visit in South Iceland, here

We are on Instagram and we are waiting for you.

https://www.instagram.com/yoldabiblog/