Essential Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors to Iceland (Packing, Driving & Budget Guide)

Tips for Traveling in Iceland: What You Need to Know Before You Go

We booked our first trip to Iceland on a whim to celebrate my husband’s 30th birthday. I booked the trip on Tuesday and our flight left Friday night. While the short notice gave us little time to prepare, it turned out to be an unforgettable adventure. Here are my best travel tips for first-time visitors to Iceland, including what I wish I had packed, how we saved money, and what to expect when navigating the country by car.

What to Pack for a Trip to Iceland in the Spring

If you’re wondering what to pack for a trip to Iceland in the soring, or even during as things get warmer, here’s what I recommend:

• Waterproof outerwear – Including waterproof pants for hikes and a durable rain jacket. You don’t want to get caught in the rain on your hike and get totally soaked.
• A warm, lightweight winter coat – A hooded jacket that is lightweight and easily packable is ideal.
• Power outlet adaptors for Iceland – We used this [linked product] and it worked great.
• Reusable water bottle – Iceland’s tap water is clean, cold, and free!
• Pack layers – The weather can change so quickly, the best thing you can do is bring layers so you are prepared for whatever weather Iceland

If you are traveling in to Iceland in the summer or the winter, my best advice for any season would be to pack layers! The weather can be a bit unpredictable at times so it is best to be prepared.

Iceland Self-Driving Tour Tips

We felt that driving on our own was the best way to explore Iceland. We did look into taking some tours, but honestly we king of like to do things on our own time. Plan your route ahead of time so you can hit all your stops without having to back track. We went to Iceland for a long weekend and did the Golden Circle. You can read more about our itinerary here. We could the driving in Iceland to be pretty easy and stress free. Here are essential Iceland self-drive travel tips:

• Rent a car in Iceland – Gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace.
• Add Wi-Fi to your rental – Great for navigation, streaming, and emergency use.
• Photograph your rental car upon pickup – Helps avoid being charged for prior damage.
• Watch for sheep on the road – Especially in rural areas.
• Bring extra dry clothes and shoes – A game-changer after rainy hikes.

When we rented our car we had to pay a pretty large deposit that we got back after we returned the car. The staff member from the rental car company told us to keep a hand on the door when you open it because the wind can fling the door open and hit another car.

How to Save Money While Traveling in Iceland

Yes, Iceland can be expensive to travel to, but here’s how we saved money on our trip:

• Bring your reusable water bottle or buy a large bottle of water once, then refill it at your hotel.
• Share meals – Portion sizes are generous and food can be pricey.
• Book Blue Lagoon and other tickets in advance – Often cheaper and helps avoid crowds.
• Use credit cards – No need to exchange cash.

Things to Know Before Traveling to Iceland

Some extra travel tips for Iceland that made our trip smoother:

• Check business hours ahead of time – It stays light out late certain times of the year, so it’s easy to lose track. We were so busy exploring, we didn’t realize it was 11pm and we wouldn’t be able to find a place open for dinner.
• If you rented a car keep a spare set of clothes and shoes – We got rained on on more than one hike and were so thankful to have dry clothes to come back to
• Alcohol is not sold in grocery stores or gas stations – Only at special liquor stores and these closed Sundays.
• Dress in layers for Iceland’s unpredictable weather – Wind, rain, and sun can happen in the same hour.

Final Thoughts: Why Iceland is the Perfect Destination for Adventure Travel

Iceland offers surreal landscapes, hot springs, and a sense of freedom that’s hard to match. If you’re planning an adventure-packed escape, Iceland is ideal. Want more? Check out my 3-day Iceland itinerary for the perfect first-time experience.

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