Iceland Travel Costs, Food, And What to Wear

How Much Does It Cost To Travel & Eat + What To Wear

What to expect + Recommendations

So you have the itch and want to start planning a trip to Iceland. But you are wondering “what does it cost to travel in Iceland?”, and “what does it cost to eat?.” I hope to help you answer as many of your questions as I can think of in this guide. As well I’ll go over some useful travel tips and personal tested & true recommendations you may not know you needed! First things first…

Current exchange rate (2019):

$1000 isk =  $11.1 CAD  |  $8.3 US  |  €7.4 EURO

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Seasonality:

Pick a season

• The first thing to determine is what season and time of year you will travel in. This will curate what you will be able to do and see for that time of year. April to the end of September are easiest travelled as everything is open. Early October everything from stores to monuments seems to close dramatically. As well, more importantly, a lot of the northern roads and f-roads close for winter. Aka. Winter travel is a bit limited to the southern coast and the Snaefellsness peninsula.
• Late September to March is best for Aurora Watching.
• June is the summer solstice and the Midnight sun. The sun sets just after midnight and rises again just a mere few hours later. The effect more dramatic in the north.
• Furthermore, the last thing to note is to determine which direction you are travelling (there is no difference). Personally, we chose to drive counterclockwise and we saved the Golden Circle and Reykjavik city exploring for last! The golden circle has less aggressive hiking than other spots in Iceland, so it was relaxing to leave it for the end of our trip.

See Our 12 Day Iceland Itinerary Here

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Expenses + Cost of Food:

What should I expect to spend on food?

• The local currency is Icelandic Krona, known as Isk. 

• Eating day to day can get very expensive very quickly! Your biggest cost for your trip will be food, especially if you are eating out for every meal.  For example, if eating at restaurants /street vendors for every meal expect to spend anywhere from $22 – 30 CAD for a basic burger. A single large pizza will cost $40 – $50 CAD.
• Specialty and local meals such as Langoustine and Lamb (which you seriously have to splurge and try, delicious!!) will easily start at $40+ for a single dish. Outside of Reykjavik, there will be less to choose from in the towns making it hard to be cost-effective. As most of the smaller towns do not have any cheap options.
• Tap water and river water is impeccably clean around the country. Bring a canteen and scoop some up from the rivers. As well, the few mineral springs available are free to fill.

Recommendations for Good Eats:

• Pakkhús Restaurant in Höfn. A must if you want to try some amazing langoustine but pay a smaller price than the other restaurants. A must stop if you are passing the town as its one of the few places on earth to have fresh langoustine (it is easily perishable and does not survive export).
• Mylla Restaurant in Myvatn. Go for the burgers.
• Mönsvagninn – Fish and Chips on the Snaefellsness Peninsula (an outdoor street vendor). Best local and fresh fish and chips on the coast!
• Hotel Rjúkandi on Snaefellsness Peninsula. All the food at this establishment is amazing! Ever changing daily specials and you must try the lamb, it is to die for.
• Vitabar in Reykjavik. A local know kinda spot and my personal favourtie and revisited establishment. They make a mean greasy burger that goes down well with a beer. Also very reasonably priced!

• Cafe Babalu in Reykjavik. A super funky and eclectically adorable cafe. A must visit for the best dark chocolate swiss mocha!

 

If Shopping for Groceries:

• As you now know food in Iceland is expensive! If you plan to budget on this trip, grocery stores called Bonus or Kronan will be your best friend!
• There are other grocery stores but they can be expensive to shop at.
• Plan your grocery stops on your map along with your itinerary ahead of time. There will be large stretches of driving between locations that will not have a single grocery store or even restaurant to eat at. Don’t rely on last-minute google to save you on this one.

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Expenses + Cost of Travel:

Flights + Accommodation

• Flights are generally cheap (as low as $350 CAD – $1000 CAD) travelling from Canada). With lots of multi-day layover options available. As anywhere in the world, the summertime will be the most expensive. We chose to travel the last week of September into October.
• Accommodations for standard Bed & Breakfast is about $110-$170 CAD a night.
• If you go the campervan route a weeks rental will cost anywhere from ~$500 -$1400 CAD (depending on amenities provided). It’s not a bad idea as there are plenty of rest stops scattered around the country (with outdoor showers). This will NOT be an option for winter.

 

Hotels and Accommodations: What To Expect

• Hotels are mostly found in Rejkjavik and larger city/towns such as Myvatan and Eglistadirr. Otherwise everywhere else is a B&B style accommodation throughout Iceland. (I would recommend Agoda for finding nearby places to stay). That being said, all the B&B’s we stayed prepared seriously amazing breakfasts, and the hosts were super nice!

Recommended places to stay

• Hotel Sveinbjarnargerdi in Akureyri. (pictured in the wine photo below)

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Purchase a Phone Plan + A Good Map:

And a guidebook doesn’t hurt.

• The emergency phone number is 112 – It can be used for any emergency
• I would highly recommend getting an Icelandic SIM Card. A lot of the sites and waterfalls you will be venturing into will be remote. Make sure to be safe in case of an emergency.
• I used Nova for a cell phone plan, you can purchase a 1-month contract and have data/calling included (we paid only $30 CAD)
• Purchase a recent map; less than 3 years old – the landscape changes rapidly in Iceland!
• Plenty of guidebooks are available. I’m usually a fan of the Rick Steeve’s Guides, as they generally have great tips and a good complementary map to the guide.
• Maps can also be found and purchased at Information kiosks (Most of these are only in Reykjavik).

Extras!

6 things I wish I had brought to Iceland

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The Right Car – Rent a 4×4 Vehicle:

What does it cost to travel in Iceland by car?

• There is no train to travel by. Your options are limited to a car or with a tour bus group.
• A regular 2×4 vehicle will get you to the popular spots along the cost. If you plan on anything more remote, a 4×4 is a MUST. Cost $350 CAD – We recommend Blue Car Rental.
• If you plan to do some f-roads (what Icelandic off-roading is called) or cross rivers you will need a 4×4 otherwise you will either miss out on some sites or get stuck! (Cost $550 CAD base model 4×4). Some f-roads are not polite and do require river crossing. Also, it’s much rougher terrain than you would expect. We had a 4×4 vehicle and we almost got stuck and ended up losing our license plate crossing a muddy river.
• Most f-roads begin to close around October – with a few exemptions going into late November; Plan your trip accordingly!

Speed Cameras:

• Multiple Speed Cameras are placed along the ring road. If someone wants to pass you, be polite and let them. The last thing you want is to deal with an International Speeding Ticket.

Sheep:

• Why sheep you ask? Sheep are simply everywhere in Iceland. They sleep on the side of roads, will run out in front of your car etc.
• Drive cautiously, don’t hit these little guys (or the owners herding them).
• Expect getting stuck on the road by large herds of sheep.

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Private Land

Every place is owned by someone in Iceland.

• There is no public land in Iceland other than a select few protected areas by the government. That being said, all the waterfalls or other sites you will go see are owned by someone. ( and yes, this does include mountains too!)
• Some waterfalls or private sites will have an entrance fee. Most seemed to be around $5- 10 CAD.
• Only a few spots had paid parking.
• Please don’t leave garbage lying around or break anything on the property. These owners are kind enough to leave sites open free of charge; they maintain the trails for your enjoyment! Please take care and respect the property – they can close these sites to the public at their will and it will ruin it for everyone else.

Hot Spring (Hot Pots):

• Hot springs are called Hot Pots in Iceland; we got some confused stares speaking to locals when we mentioned “hot springs”.
• All are on private land, some you need permission by the owners before using.
• Here is a great website with GPS coordinates to help you pick some springs you want to see around the country.
• Some hot pots are a bit tricky to find but it makes it all the more fun. The more remote the hot pot, the better your chances are for a private dip in these natural hot baths!

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 The Right Gear

Clothes you should invest in.

• If travelling during spring/summer or fall. I would bring a rain jacket regardless. I have this absolutely amazing Gortex jacket shell by Marmot I would highly recommend. As seen in all my Iceland photos.
• If doing a lot of hiking, waterproof pants would also be recommended, as rain is pretty spontaneous in Iceland (and the wind doesn’t help for staying dry).
• Proper waterproof hiking shoes are a huge game changer. Especially with the rugged landscape and the possibility of crossing streams.  I have this epic tested and true pair of M hiking shoes. Most amazing hiking shoes I own; lightweight and waterproof. As well as a good pair of Smart wool socks to boot
• DO NOT bother with an umbrella. It will not survive here, much too windy.
• Once the fall comes around, the weather does get a bit cooler. Having a base layer under your pants and sweater becomes a lifesaver. I’m a big fan of the Smartwool Stockings/tights and  Longsleeve shirt, as the wool blend is breathable, reduces sweating and minimizes the need for extra layers.
• Once September/ October comes around a wool toque is a must!! Do not forget this, you will 100% regret it. Here’s a similar one to the one I wear here.

Lastly…

• Enjoy your trip! Pick and choose your journey however you like. This is your trip after all! I just try to cram as many useful tips as I can on this list just for you guys! Use it as a guideline or copy this same list outright! Ps. make sure to take lots of pictures.

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More Of Iceland…