10 useful facts for a trip to Iceland /

As I near the end of my series of posts from our trip to Iceland, I’m sharing with you 10 things that may not get as much publicity, but could be helpful when planning a trip to Iceland, especially if you’re a first-time visitor. visit is time. Iceland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world – a land full of natural wonders – but knowing these helpful tips will hopefully make your trip benefit from some insider knowledge.

Plan ahead and book in advance

A trip to Iceland is one you will probably remember for years to come. For this reason, you want to make sure you plan ahead. And planning ahead is important for two reasons; first, you get a choice of the best hotels and accommodation if you book in advance; second, you often get the best prices by planning ahead. A rental car is one of the very first things you would want to consider – to put this in perspective, there were only 24,000 rental cars in Iceland in 2019 (of which 5,000 were leased) and yet the country had two million visitors. 1.9 million visitors to Iceland are predicted for 2023 and 2.1 million for 2024.

Pay attention to weather forecasts

Iceland is the kind of place where you should not only be prepared for weather changes, you should expect them. As the Gulf Stream’s mild Atlantic air mixes with the colder Arctic air, you really don’t know what to expect and frequent and abrupt weather changes are not uncommon. That’s why they say it’s possible to experience all four seasons in one day in Iceland. Keep an eye on the Icelandic Met Office website called vedur.is (‘veður’ means ‘weather’ in Icelandic).

Dress accordingly

Since you can experience all four seasons in one day, you want to be dressed for all eventualities. It is generally good practice to layer your clothing so that you can add or remove layers depending on the weather. And of course make sure you have sturdy shoes or boots and good jackets and waterproof clothing. We were outfitted with Helly Hansen gear, which is great, and I’ll be posting more on this soon.

Make sure you know the emergency number

Make sure you know the emergency number for Iceland… it’s 112. If you’re from North America or the Philippines, you’re in luck, as cell phones say 911 redirects to 112 in Iceland (although I can I’m not saying I verified this). If you’re from the UK or anywhere where the emergency number is anything other than 112 or 911, don’t expect your phone to be diverted. Just remember the number… 112… it could even save someone’s life.

Also note that the Search and Rescue Association of Iceland (ICE-SAR) has released the 112 Iceland app, which can also be used to track your steps and locate you instantly in an emergency.

Don’t buy bottled water!

Iceland has some of the purest natural resources in the world, available for free at any tap across the country. There is absolutely no reason to buy bottled water in Iceland, but of course tourists do. But it’s not just an unnecessarily expensive habit – it’s also not environmentally friendly. Drink more consciously and travel with a water bottle and refill it via the tap.

Rent a car

I honestly believe renting a car is the best way to get around Iceland. It gives you more independence, allowing you to choose your route, adjust your plans and spend as long or as little at the places you want to stop.

Take turns – they’re fun!

Just because you could rent a car doesn’t mean you can’t take a tour. In fact, there are many things that you just can’t easily do on your own, or are safer with a guide, whether or not you have your own transport. We learned so much more from our volcano tour by hiking with a guide, we couldn’t have visited Katla Ice Cave safely without a guide and we certainly wouldn’t have gone snowmobiling or taken a 4×4 off road buggy tour without the help of a travel company. We also found that many of the guides had a great sense of humor so taking the tours was a really fun experience.

Visit the pools

Of course, during your visit you are likely to visit one of Iceland’s many lagoons or spas. But also try a visit to the public baths. It is a very popular Icelandic ritual and almost every town in Iceland, no matter how small, has its own swimming pool. Just make sure you’re aware of Icelanders’ very strict code of conduct and pool etiquette, such as showering naked rather than in swimwear and, when you’re done, making sure you’re completely dry before heading to the changing rooms.

Try not to plan too much in one day

When you’re short on time and want to see and do so much, it’s tempting to pack it all in. However, keep in mind that driving distances in Iceland can be significant and it may take longer than you think to get from one place to another. Also note that there is a big difference between visiting in the summer months when the sun doesn’t set really well and you have lots of daylight hours to play with, and visiting in the winter when there are maybe only four hours of daylight, not to name worse weather and driving conditions. And don’t forget… if you don’t manage to see everything you wanted to see during your trip, you have a good excuse to stop by again.

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Be a responsible tourist

Please respect Iceland’s nature and landscape for others to enjoy after you. Watch out for The Icelandic Pledge. It is a voluntary scheme, rather than national law, but I would recommend that you follow it. The commitment reads as follows:

I promise to be a responsible tourist. When I explore new places, I leave them as I found them. I will take photos to die for, without dying for. I follow the road to the unknown, but never leave the road. And I will only park where I have to. When I sleep under the stars, I stay at a campsite. And when nature calls, I don’t answer nature’s call. I will be prepared for all weather conditions, all possibilities and all adventures.

Planning a trip to Iceland yourself? Watch a video of our trip to Iceland here:

Disclosure: Our trip to Iceland was sponsored by Helly Hansen.