An Iceland trip is rarely ‘cheap,’ even in case you plan it on a strict finances. The nation is named an costly vacation spot. You’ll must get savvy to save cash in your journey to Iceland. The common Iceland journey value is $200-300 per day – with out factoring in probably the most extortionate (but incredible) issues to do in Iceland.
Certain actions, like snorkeling between the tectonic plates, can value that only for one journey. And you’ll must issue in rental automobile prices in case you plan to enterprise anyplace exterior of Reykjavik, the capital metropolis, that day journeys don’t cater to. All issues thought-about, you possibly can rapidly see how issues add up. Maximizing your finances as a lot as doable is crucial so that you don’t miss out on memorable actions and experiences. So, let’s work out an Iceland finances collectively.
How Much a Trip to Iceland Costs
When you go to Iceland, all of your selections affect your ultimate Iceland journey finances – be it rental automobiles or non-public rooms. In this information, we’ll offer you all the typical journey value components so you possibly can construct an thought of what finances you’ll want as a person visiting Iceland. We’ll cowl all the pieces, from lodging costs to meals prices and the prices of a few of the most sought-after excursions.
Airfare Cost
Airfare gained’t be a large a part of your Iceland journey finances. Depending on the place you journey, the typical worth of flights is only some hundred {dollars}. The common flight from the east coast of the US to Iceland is simply $450 return, which will get even cheaper when you find yourself flying to and from Europe. Compared to flying to different locations, particularly Australasia, Iceland just isn’t costly to succeed in airfare-wise.
Even then, it can save you cash when visiting Iceland by profiting from low season flights and utilizing air miles. Look into airline reward applications like British Airways, Qantas, and Delta SkyMiles. Airline loyalty applications get a nasty rep for not truly being worthwhile. Still, selecting properly and actively saving factors generally is a useful gizmo to get low cost flights. Always evaluate flight costs through the use of web sites and instruments like Skyscanner – all the time utilizing a personal browser, after all, since these pesky cookies hike up costs on flights you view.
How versatile are you along with your Iceland trip as properly? It is value noting that in case you fly from Europe to North America with Icelandair, they provide a complimentary layover in Reykjavik, which you’ll lengthen to anyplace between 1 to 7 days in case you’d like a mini journey to Iceland. This is a superb means of compressing in an Iceland trip at a less expensive worth than direct flights often value. If you might be already making this journey, realizing about this little tip is useful. Why not reap the benefits of a stopover you’ll already be making and reap the benefits of Icelandair’s usually cheaper flights? Just image it; you might mix London, New York, and Iceland in one journey.
As you possibly can see, your Iceland trip value is not going to be massively impacted by flight costs. However, if you wish to take further steps to scale back the price of your journey to Iceland, there are a number of tips you possibly can have up your sleeve. You ought to finances $500 most for return flights to Iceland from North America or Europe with a mid-range airline.
But in case you fly low season and from particular locations like London, you possibly can snag flights for as little as $100 return. The extra versatile you might be, the decrease your airfare finances must be. And, after all, the extra prepared you might be to fly exterior of peak season, the higher offers you’ll discover. Our recommendation is to get looking on Skyscanner or a flight comparability software equal.
Budget: $500 for return flights or beneath $200 if you’re versatile and departing from Europe.
Accommodation Prices
Accommodation costs in Iceland are steep. It’s surprisingly steep, truly. Accommodation prices are one of many largest chunks of the typical journey finances when visiting Iceland. Even probably the most fundamental of resort rooms are extraordinarily costly, much more so when taking a look at mid-range accommodations and – God forbid – luxurious accommodations. It can also be value noting that the most affordable hostels and greatest value-for-money properties get snapped up rapidly. In distant areas of Iceland, you rapidly develop into brief on choices. Compare costs when reserving lodging in Iceland, but additionally be sure you don’t stall an excessive amount of and e book far sufficient in advance to keep away from lacking out on the most effective costs.
If you act rapidly and e book in advance, the common worth for a finances resort is $150 per night time. For a three-day journey, you possibly can count on to pay round $499; for per week, you’re looking at $1,047. If you don’t e book in advance, these costs rise as you might be left to entrance payments to remain in extra luxurious accommodations and trip leases than you often would select. It additionally pays to contemplate location, as sure areas can have dearer resort rooms, like on the Ring Road and Golden Circle.
Typical costs common $150 per night time, however do not forget that that is throughout throughout Iceland as a common common. Be ready to spend extra in sure areas. When planning a visit to Iceland, value is a large issue when selecting lodging, and you want to be fast-thinking to get the most effective offers.
These are a number of examples of common lodging prices in completely different Iceland accommodations:
Hofn Cottages
Hofn Cottages are as budget-friendly as lodging will get in Iceland. These fundamental cabins value simply $70 per night time; you get your individual patio and cooking services. These promote out rapidly. But their distant location means barely cheaper costs.
Reykjavik Konsulate Hotel
This mid-range resort in Reykjavik prices roughly $250 per night time, however you possibly can see why. It has a stylish design and an onsite wellness heart and health club. It is a shiny model of a mid-range keep in the capital, and it has an incredible location to get pleasure from central Reykjavik.
Hotel Ranga
This luxurious resort prices upwards of $500 for a median room. It is a superb instance of top-tier luxurious in Iceland. If you sleep by the magical phenomenon, you get a star gazing observatory onsite and even northern mild wake-up calls. Oh, and also you get volcano views out of your window.
Budget: $150 per night time for the typical price for an inexpensive resort.
Transportation
Regarding transport in Iceland, you want to understand one main factor – transport barely exists exterior the realm of rental automobiles. Tourists fly into Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport, positioned simply exterior of Reykjavik’s capital; from there, you possibly can manage a shuttle service into town heart. Reykjavik itself is actually walkable and a tiny metropolis, rather more like a city than an precise metropolis, not to mention a ‘typical’ capital metropolis.
Iceland has a minimal bus service. It isn’t secure to depend on public transport in very distant areas. We wouldn’t advocate it if you’re venturing out of Reykjavik or the primary settlement areas.
If you keep in Reykjavik and don’t hire a automobile, you possibly can manage tour experiences to take you to the primary vacationer sights. For occasion, you will get excursions to the Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, and Ring Road on the South Coast.
You may also get excursions to experiences like horseback using on black sand seashores, mountaineering on glaciers, seeing exploding volcanoes, and snorkeling between the tectonic plates at Silfra. The caveat is that you’ll pay a whole bunch of {dollars} for every of those experiences, virtually like paying for mini holidays in your precise vacation. If you don’t need to hire a automobile, you possibly can nonetheless get pleasure from Iceland, however be ready to splurge a bit of on reserving non-public tour day journeys. It will rocket the overall value of the typical Iceland finances.
The greatest method to get out of Reykjavik and see Iceland is to e book a rental automobile. If you might be questioning ‘how much does it cost to rent a car,’ it depends upon which automobile rental corporations you have a look at, what season you go to, and whether or not you desire a camper van or not. The most cost-effective possibility is a automobile, for which you should purchase a tent and camp or e book low cost accommodations.
Or you possibly can spend extra upfront on a camper van and have the entire street journey expertise, saving cash on lodging. With rental choices, you might embark on the basic week street journey alongside the South Coast and full the basic Ring Road street journey. It is probably the most liberating type of transportation round Iceland. And you’ll save a great deal of cash by avoiding the aforementioned costly organized day journeys whereas opening as much as extra free sights and off-the-beaten-track experiences.
Budget: $350 plus $100 petrol for per week of hiring a rental automobile, or roughly $870 on transfers for day journeys and airport journeys.
Food
Food is one other important expense on the subject of visiting Iceland. When calculating a visit to Iceland value, you could put aside no less than $500 per week as a meals finances. For $500, you possibly can afford a number of meals at native eating places, a meals store at one of many cheaper grocery shops, and some drinks on an evening out. Food costs are excessive in Iceland, particularly for imported and taxed items. However, you possibly can quickly chip the value tags down if you’re versatile with making an attempt native manufacturers.
Need an thought of what meals costs are in Icelandic grocery shops? They aren’t extortionate, however you possibly can see that some merchandise have a lot increased costs than others. You also needs to have an ISK to USD calculator prepared, because the conversion is a bit of whacky. Average meals costs embrace:
$1.60 for milk $3.20 for white rice $3.50 for a loaf of bread $2.20 for a bottle of water $14.90 for a block of cheese $19.60 for 1kg of hen fillets
It can also be value mentioning that Iceland is known for its scorching canines. A typical tip for saving cash is to snack on a scorching canine for lunch as a substitute of sitting in at native eating places. The sausages are served on little takeaway carts and are some of the conventional, budget-friendly Icelandic dishes.
They date again to the Viking period and are referred to as ‘bjuga’ sausages. Bought at little road stands, these scorching canines value as little as $2.50 – an actual discount. This enjoyable little tip is likely to be extra geared toward novelty than real cash saving, however the spirit and general which means are spot on. Avoid sitting down recurrently to eat to save cash, and do not forget that native specialties are your greatest buddy.
Remember that if you wish to get pleasure from grocery retailer meals in Iceland, you could have cooking services. And that is the place the lodging crossover comes in. You ought to e book lodging with non-public kitchen services in an condo or a shared kitchen in a hostel or homestay setting.
By selecting this lodging setup, you possibly can simply nonetheless have a meals finances of $500. If you keep in a resort and don’t have entry to a kitchen, count on costs of round double the identical interval. The common meal worth is almost $120 for 2 folks at a mid-range restaurant, which rapidly provides up.
Food is $500 per week in case you eat out a few occasions and have a kitchen in your lodging. Alternatively, your meals finances will probably be nearer to $ 1,000 per week in case you count on to eat out day by day.
Budget: $500 per week for consuming out a few occasions after which cooking in with grocery-bought meals, or $1000 for consuming out all week.
Tours and Activities
Entertainment costs are the place nearly all of your finances will come in – particularly in case you don’t rent a automobile and as a substitute depend on guided day journeys. These guided excursions can attain costs of over $300, and in case you plan on doing 4-5 actions, you possibly can see how this begins so as to add up. You can take guided journeys to the Golden Circle, whichever volcano is exploding and attracting enamored vacationers, and do issues like snorkel between the tectonic plates or spot the northern lights. All this stuff come at a price, however on the identical time, you don’t need to miss out on any dream excursions. This little conundrum is what makes visiting Iceland so costly. And additionally, so spectacular – you wouldn’t need to keep someplace with nothing to see, would you?
Recommended Tours in Iceland
Below are a few of the high excursions in Iceland. Don’t overlook to plan forward when visiting Iceland!
One method to make this cheaper is to hire a automobile. Specific day journeys, particularly ones to see pure magnificence spots or spot the northern lights, are simply replicated without cost other than petrol prices in case you hire a automobile. By paying a single upfront payment for a automobile rental, you possibly can decide fascinating excursions and full them independently – just like the Golden Circle, Ring Road, and issues like the most effective Icelandic waterfalls.
Sure, issues like a ship tour to see whales or glacier mountaineering experiences require a information. Still, plenty of Iceland may be visited independently with a rental automobile. Even northern lights looking may be achieved by your self and with no information. To be sincere, most Northern Lights excursions are simply guessing and driving to distant spots anyway. Download one of many many maps and get up-to-date info on predictions so that you could exit it alone, less expensive.
Alcohol costs can get actually costly in Iceland, so we propose stopping by a duty-free store or reducing alcohol to chop prices. Nightlife can get understandably costly in Iceland, so whereas partying may be enjoyable and a brief night time out may be budget-friendly in Reykjavik (when in Rome, proper?), stick to simply the odd night time out if doable.
It is value including that clothes is an extra value when having fun with day journeys and actions in Iceland. You will seemingly want to speculate in a winter wardrobe with some merino additions; thermal garments are mandatory throughout most months in Iceland. You can’t compromise on this, and we’d advocate taking advantage of clothes gross sales in the run-up to your journey to Iceland. With correct clothes, you can be heat. And in case you aren’t heat, how will you get pleasure from your expertise? Make probably the most of your cash by investing well in appropriate clothes in your actions beforehand.
So, how a lot do you have to finances for excursions and actions in Iceland? And what do you have to finances for the extra value of buying appropriate clothes for every tour beforehand? These are our budgeting stats for per week in Iceland with no automobile rental:
$1,200 for four-day journeys with an organized tour operator, together with transportation. $200 for appropriate clothes, together with two Merino high and backside base layers and footwear. $200 for a few nights out in Reykjavik.
Total: $1,600
As you possibly can see, having a automobile rental makes a substantial distinction when budgeting for excursions and actions in Iceland. These are our stats for per week in Iceland with a automobile rental:
$400 for four-day journeys, together with two organized excursions with out transportation and two free experiences. $100 gasoline. $200 for appropriate clothes, together with two Merino high and backside base layers and footwear. $200 for a few nights out in Reykjavik.
Total: $900
Budget: Without a automobile, count on to pay round $1,600 over a week-long interval, whereas with a automobile, this totals as much as about $900.
Overall Trip Cost
So, in case you’ve been frantically making an attempt so as to add issues up, don’t fear; we’ve bought you. This is how a lot touring to Iceland prices, not together with your journey insurance coverage. We’ll acknowledge the primary influencing components in every budgeting space – whether or not you hire a automobile, go to in off or shoulder seasons, and e book lodging with cooking services. This is exactly how a lot it’s best to finances to go to this lovely nation.
Airfare
Airfare prices roughly $500 for a return journey to Iceland whenever you fly from Europe or North America. However, if you’re flying from Europe, are versatile with visiting in off or shoulder seasons, and fly with mid-range airways, finances lower than $200 for return flights.
Accommodations
For lodging, it’s best to finances $150 per night time for a median however cheap-ish resort someplace fairly well-located. If you might be keen to compromise on location, you possibly can decide up cheaper lodging for round $70 per night time. Or, if you need luxurious lodging, be ready to pay as much as $500 per night time. With all lodging varieties, e book early to safe the most effective charges.
Transportation
Figuring out a transport finances is a tricky one. If you get a rental automobile, it’s best to finances $350 for renting the car upfront for per week and roughly $100 on gasoline. If you don’t hire a automobile, you possibly can simply discover Reykjavik on the bus for as little as a number of {dollars} every time. However, you’ll spend much more on transfers, and we estimate an $800 distinction in your day journeys and tour prices versus self-drive sights. You also needs to add airport transfers at over $70 for return tickets on the shuttle bus. For per week in Iceland, finances $450 for transportation in case you rent a automobile and $870 for transportation in case you depend on shuttles.
Food
The message is easy concerning meals: discover lodging with a kitchen to reap the benefits of grocery retailer costs. Budget $500 if you wish to eat out a few occasions after which prepare dinner the remainder of the time. Budget $1000 in case you plan on consuming out daily for many if not all, meals.
Tours and Activities
Tours and actions are your foremost value when visiting Iceland, particularly in case you don’t hire a automobile. Without a automobile, count on to pay round $1,600 over per week, whereas with a automobile, this totals as much as about $900.
10 Top Money Saving Tips
Are you prepared to chop some cash off that common Iceland journey value we’ve simply given you? If you might be up for the problem, there are methods to save cash when visiting Iceland. After all, a median worth is strictly that – a median worth of what most individuals spend once they go to. You can do higher than that in case you make the most of our high 10 recommendations on lowering your Iceland journey value and saving your useful cash.
Anything from automobile leases to hostels, and even some lesser-known issues like campsites and bus passes, could make a large distinction to what your vacation to Iceland prices. So, buckle up and put together to jot these high money-saving ideas down. Using these may knock a whole bunch, and even perhaps hundreds, off your Iceland finances.
1. Visit Off-Season
It goes with out saying, however visiting Iceland in the low season is one of the simplest ways to save cash. Iceland will get tremendous busy over winter when vacationers flock to get pleasure from snow sports activities and attempt to spot the northern lights. If you need to do this stuff, why not go to in February or late January? Avoiding the December crush by choosing these shoulder seasons is the right method to snag lowered excursions and day journeys, plus discover cheaper resort charges because of decrease reserving competitors.
Of course, if you’re versatile along with your Iceland actions, visiting in the low season is even higher. June till October is ideal for decrease automobile rental charges, cheaper accommodations, and tour offers. Remember that this era has sure tour and attraction closures, and also you seemingly will miss the northern lights. This season can also be well-known for the midnight solar, the place Iceland stays mild for twenty-four hours a day.
2. Buy From Grocery Stores
Grocery shops are a lot cheaper than native eating places. You don’t need to persist with a finances whereas consuming out for each meal as a result of it simply gained’t occur. The common value for a two-person meal at a mid-range restaurant in Reykjavik is practically $120. An common McDonald’s meal is over $16. Grocery costs are rather more affordable, like $1.60 for a liter of milk or $3.44 for apples.
Buying meals from grocery shops may sound apparent, however this solely works successfully in case you’ve discovered lodging with a kitchen, so this can be a catch-22. We’d counsel discovering a communal kitchen or condo resort to take advantage of this money-saving approach. Trust us, will probably be value it.
3. Rent a Car
This may sound dearer at first, however renting a automobile is likely one of the greatest methods to discover Iceland on a finances – particularly if you wish to sightsee loads. This is as a result of excursions are some of the costly in a median Iceland journey value. Companies cost extortionate quantities (we’re speaking a whole bunch of {dollars}) for easy issues like transfers. If you hire a automobile, sure, will probably be an preliminary upfront funding, however you’ll save a whole bunch if you are going to buy greater than 2-3 day journeys. Being in a position to drive your self is likely one of the greatest methods to chop journey prices in Iceland. Check charges right here!
4. Take Advantage of Free Attractions
If you hire a automobile, it additionally stands you in good stead for saving cash – having fun with Iceland’s free sights. Iceland has a ton of free sights, be it waterfalls or the attractive geothermal space at Geysir. If you might be road-tripping Iceland, you possibly can cease at these locations without cost and rapidly construct a low-cost itinerary. Everyone is aware of Iceland is dear, however with some analysis, you possibly can quickly discover budget-friendly and sometimes fully free issues to do.
5. Try Camping
Camping is likely one of the greatest methods to save cash whereas visiting Iceland. You can camp in one in all two methods – with a campervan or by renting or bringing a tent. It goes with out saying that this can be a higher thought in summer season (learn: don’t try in chilly climate). Still, in case you go to Iceland at a heat time of yr, it’s a sensible method to cut back lodging costs. You’ll discover campsites throughout Iceland, so that is additionally some of the easy money-saving tricks to put into apply.
6. Try out a Bus Pass
We’ll preface this by saying that bus connections are restricted. You will solely have the ability to use the bus community to entry particular locations at particular occasions, so that you’ll should be glad to make use of a reasonably inflexible journey type if you’ll reap the benefits of this journey hack. However, if you’re glad to paint between the traces to save lots of your self some money, bus passes are properly value trying into. You pay a single flat price payment and get limitless use of the bus community for a delegated interval. This saves you cash on in any other case costly day journeys or automobile leases. And in case you don’t have a driving license, it’s the most cost-effective different.
7. Buy Alcohol From Duty-Free Shops
Another enormous tip is to purchase alcohol from duty-free retailers. If you possibly can decide up alcohol from the airport whenever you land, it’s going to prevent a ton of cash in your journey to Iceland since alcohol is closely taxed. The duty-free store is your greatest buddy if you need a flowery tipple. With that mentioned, although, a greater method could be not ingesting whereas visiting Iceland. Iceland truly banned alcohol in 1915, and the ban was solely totally lifted in 1989 – which is now hailed as beer day. The nation has a longstanding political objection to the consumption of alcohol. If you need to save substantial cash when visiting, it’s best to do your greatest to conjure up a monetary objection.
8. Find Hot Springs that Aren’t the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is dreamy; we’ll be the primary to confess it. However, to save cash on visiting Iceland, it’s best to take into account options. You can learn all concerning the Blue Lagoon right here, created utilizing a manufacturing facility’s thermal byproducts. But it’s also value taking a look at free scorching springs you possibly can go to in Iceland. Definitely have a look at options to mainstream vacationer sights.
9. Skip Bottled Water
Skip the bottled water; significantly, Iceland has a few of the purest faucet water in the world. Bottled water is a massively pointless expense, so convey a refillable water bottle and lower the {dollars} you spend in your journey to Iceland. Of course, lowering plastics additionally helps the setting – an enormous win-win scenario. If you fancy going one step additional, particularly in case you plan on tenting, it’s value investing in a filter bottle, too, as a result of then you possibly can replenish from pure water sources like rivers and lagoons.
10. Book in Advance
Sure, there’s a time and place for carefree, last-minute journey. But if you need your journey to Iceland to be budget-friendly, attempt one thing apart from this journey type whereas making an attempt to scale back your Iceland journey value. The extra you e book in advance, the extra choices you’ll have concerning lodging and excursions. Since this stuff promote out quick, with the most affordable choices going first, you possibly can shoot your self in the foot by ready. Check out refund insurance policies and rebooking flexibility if you’re fearful about committing too far in advance – simply don’t wait till the final second and financial institution on discovering finances options.
To Conclude
Your Iceland journey value may rely on what you resolve to do in your journey to Iceland. Still, this information offers you a reasonably clear thought of a median Iceland journey value. By contemplating all of those components – lodging, meals, transport, airfare, and excursions – you’ll have a ready-made finances for visiting Iceland. And in case you use a few of our budgeting ideas, you may even avoid wasting cash. Who doesn’t need to knock a piece off one of many world’s most costly locations?
Are you on the lookout for extra Iceland inspiration? Check out these enjoyable information forward of your vacation to Iceland. We even have a information devoted to the greatest issues to do in Reykjavik – Iceland’s walkable and vibrant little capital metropolis. Don’t overlook to discover Reykjavik, even in case you head off on a week-long street journey round the remainder of Iceland.