An Iceland trip is rarely ‘low-cost,’ even for those who plan it on a strict price range. 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 price is $200-300 per day – with out factoring in essentially the most extortionate (but incredible) things to do in Iceland.
Sure actions, like snorkeling between the tectonic plates, can price that only for one journey. And also you’ll must consider rental car costs for those who plan to enterprise anyplace exterior of Reykjavik, the capital metropolis, that day journeys don’t cater to. All issues thought of, you possibly can shortly see how issues add up. Maximizing your price range as a lot as attainable is important so that you don’t miss out on memorable actions and experiences. So, let’s determine an Iceland price range collectively.
How A lot a Journey to Iceland Prices
Whenever you go to Iceland, all of your selections affect your ultimate Iceland journey price range – be it rental automobiles or personal rooms. On this information, we’ll offer you all the common journey price components so you possibly can construct an concept of what price range you’ll want as a person visiting Iceland. We’ll cowl all the things, from lodging costs to meals prices and the prices of a number of the most sought-after excursions.
Airfare Price
Airfare gained’t be an enormous a part of your Iceland journey price range. Relying on the place you journey, the common 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’re flying to and from Europe. In comparison with 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 really being worthwhile. Nonetheless, selecting properly and actively saving factors generally is a useful gizmo to get low-cost flights. At all times examine flight costs through the use of web sites and instruments like Skyscanner – at all times utilizing a personal browser, in fact, since these pesky cookies hike up costs on flights you view.
How versatile are you along with your Iceland trip as nicely? It’s price noting that for those who fly from Europe to North America with Icelandair, they provide a complimentary layover in Reykjavik, which you’ll be able to prolong to anyplace between 1 to 7 days for those who’d like a mini journey to Iceland. It is a sensible approach of compressing in an Iceland trip at a less expensive worth than direct flights normally price. In case you are already making this journey, realizing about this little tip is useful. Why not benefit from a stopover you’ll already be making and benefit from Icelandair’s sometimes cheaper flights? Simply image it; you could possibly mix London, New York, and Iceland in a single journey.
As you possibly can see, your Iceland trip price is not going to be massively impacted by flight costs. Nevertheless, if you wish to take further steps to scale back the price of your journey to Iceland, there are a couple of methods you possibly can have up your sleeve. You need to price range $500 most for return flights to Iceland from North America or Europe with a mid-range airline.
However for those who 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 price range must be. And, in fact, the extra prepared you might be to fly exterior of peak season, the higher offers you’ll discover. Our recommendation is to get searching on Skyscanner or a flight comparability device equal.
- Price range: $500 for return flights or beneath $200 if you’re versatile and departing from Europe.
Lodging Costs
Lodging costs in Iceland are steep. It’s surprisingly steep, really. Lodging prices are one of many largest chunks of the common journey price range when visiting Iceland. Even essentially the most fundamental of lodge rooms are extraordinarily costly, much more so when mid-range motels and – God forbid – luxurious motels. It’s also price noting that the most cost effective hostels and finest value-for-money properties get snapped up shortly. In distant areas of Iceland, you shortly change into quick on choices. Examine costs when reserving lodging in Iceland, but in addition be sure to don’t stall an excessive amount of and e-book far sufficient upfront to keep away from lacking out on the most effective costs.
Should you act shortly and e-book upfront, the average price for a price range lodge is $150 per evening. For a three-day journey, you possibly can anticipate to pay round $499; for per week, you’re looking at $1,047. Should you don’t e-book upfront, these costs rise as you might be left to entrance payments to remain in additional luxurious motels and trip leases than you normally would select. It additionally pays to think about location, as sure areas could have costlier lodge rooms, like on the Ring Street and Golden Circle.
Typical costs common $150 per evening, however keep in mind that that is throughout throughout Iceland as a common common. Be ready to spend extra in sure areas. When planning a visit to Iceland, price is a large issue when selecting lodging, and it is advisable be fast-thinking to get the most effective offers.
These are a couple of examples of common lodging prices in several Iceland motels:
Hofn Cottages
Hofn Cottages are as budget-friendly as lodging will get in Iceland. These fundamental cabins price simply $70 per evening; you get your personal patio and cooking amenities. These promote out shortly. However their distant location means barely cheaper costs.
Reykjavik Konsulate Lodge
This mid-range hotel in Reykjavik prices roughly $250 per evening, however you possibly can see why. It has a classy design and an onsite wellness heart and health club. It’s a shiny model of a mid-range keep within the capital, and it has an excellent location to take pleasure in central Reykjavik.
Lodge Ranga
This luxury hotel prices upwards of $500 for a median room. It’s a sensible instance of top-tier luxurious in Iceland. Should you sleep by the magical phenomenon, you get a star gazing observatory onsite and even northern gentle wake-up calls. Oh, and also you get volcano views out of your window.
- Price range: $150 per evening for the common price for an inexpensive lodge.
Transportation
Concerning transport in Iceland, it is advisable understand one main factor – transport barely exists exterior the realm of rental automobiles. Vacationers fly into Iceland’s Keflavik Worldwide Airport, situated simply exterior of Reykjavik’s capital; from there, you possibly can arrange a shuttle service into town heart. Reykjavik itself is actually walkable and a tiny metropolis, way 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 principle settlement areas.
Should you keep in Reykjavik and don’t hire a automobile, you possibly can arrange tour experiences to take you to the principle vacationer sights. As an illustration, you may get excursions to the Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, and Ring Street on the South Coast.
You too can get excursions to experiences like horseback riding on black sand beaches, hiking on glaciers, seeing exploding volcanoes, and snorkeling between the tectonic plates at Silfra. The caveat is that you’ll pay tons of of {dollars} for every of those experiences, virtually like paying for mini holidays in your precise vacation. Should you don’t need to hire a automobile, you possibly can nonetheless take pleasure in Iceland, however be ready to splurge a bit of on reserving personal tour day journeys. It should rocket the entire price of the common Iceland price range.
The easiest way to get out of Reykjavik and see Iceland is to book a rental car. In case you are questioning ‘how a lot does it price to hire a automobile,’ it depends upon which automobile rental firms 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 buy a tent and camp or e-book low-cost motels.
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 could possibly embark on the basic week street journey alongside the South Coast and full the basic Ring Road road trip. It’s the most liberating type of transportation round Iceland. And also 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.
- Price range: $350 plus $100 petrol for per week of hiring a rental automobile, or roughly $870 on transfers for day journeys and airport journeys.
Meals
Meals is one other vital expense relating to visiting Iceland. When calculating a visit to Iceland price, you should put aside no less than $500 per week as a meals price range. For $500, you possibly can afford a couple of meals at native eating places, a meals store at one of many cheaper grocery shops, and some drinks on an evening out. Meals costs are excessive in Iceland, particularly for imported and taxed items. Nevertheless, you possibly can quickly chip the worth tags down if you’re versatile with making an attempt native manufacturers.
Want an concept 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 must also have an ISK to USD calculator prepared, because the conversion is a bit of whacky. Common 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 rooster fillets
It’s also price mentioning that Iceland is legendary for its scorching canines. A regular tip for saving cash is to snack on a scorching canine for lunch as an alternative of sitting in at native eating places. The sausages are served on little takeaway carts and are one of the conventional, budget-friendly Icelandic dishes.
They date again to the Viking period and are referred to as ‘bjuga’ sausages. Purchased at little avenue stands, these scorching canines price as little as $2.50 – an actual discount. This enjoyable little tip may be extra aimed toward novelty than real cash saving, however the spirit and general which means are spot on. Keep away from sitting down usually to eat to save cash, and keep in mind that native specialties are your finest buddy.
Do not forget that if you wish to take pleasure in grocery retailer meals in Iceland, you should have cooking amenities. And that is the place the lodging crossover is available in. You need to e-book lodging with personal kitchen amenities in an residence or a shared kitchen in a hostel or homestay setting.
By selecting this lodging setup, you possibly can simply nonetheless have a meals price range of $500. Should you keep in a lodge and don’t have entry to a kitchen, anticipate costs of round double the identical interval. The common meal worth is almost $120 for 2 folks at a mid-range restaurant, which shortly provides up.
Meals is $500 per week for those who eat out a few instances and have a kitchen in your lodging. Alternatively, your meals price range will probably be nearer to $ 1,000 per week for those who anticipate to eat out day by day.
- Price range: $500 per week for consuming out a few instances after which cooking in with grocery-bought meals, or $1000 for consuming out all week.
Excursions and Actions
Leisure costs are the place the vast majority of your price range will are available – particularly for those who don’t rent a automobile and as an alternative depend on guided day journeys. These guided excursions can attain costs of over $300, and for those who plan on doing 4-5 actions, you possibly can see how this begins so as to add up. You possibly 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 similar time, you don’t need to miss out on any dream excursions. This little conundrum is what makes visiting Iceland so costly. And likewise, so spectacular – you wouldn’t need to keep someplace with nothing to see, would you?
Advisable Excursions in Iceland
Beneath are a number of the high excursions in Iceland. Don’t overlook to plan forward when visiting Iceland!
One technique to make this cheaper is to hire a automobile. Particular day journeys, particularly ones to see pure magnificence spots or spot the northern lights, are simply replicated at no cost aside from petrol prices for those who hire a automobile. By paying a single upfront price for a automobile rental, you possibly can choose fascinating excursions and full them independently – just like the Golden Circle, Ring Street, and issues like the most effective Icelandic waterfalls.
Certain, issues like a ship tour to see whales or glacier mountain climbing experiences require a information. Nonetheless, a lot of Iceland could be visited independently with a rental automobile. Even northern lights searching could be finished by your self and and not using a information. To be sincere, most Northern Lights excursions are simply guessing and driving to distant spots anyway. Obtain one of many many maps and get up-to-date data on predictions as a way to exit it alone, less expensive.
Alcohol costs can get actually costly in Iceland, so we advise stopping by a duty-free store or slicing alcohol to chop prices. Nightlife can get understandably costly in Iceland, so whereas partying could be enjoyable and a brief evening out could be budget-friendly in Reykjavik (when in Rome, proper?), stick to only the odd evening out if attainable.
It’s price including that clothes is an extra price when having fun with day journeys and actions in Iceland. You’ll probably must put money into a winter wardrobe with some merino additions; thermal garments are vital throughout most months in Iceland. You possibly can’t compromise on this, and we’d advocate profiting from clothes gross sales within the run-up to your journey to Iceland. With correct clothes, you can be heat. And for those who aren’t heat, how will you take pleasure in your expertise? Profit from your cash by investing well in appropriate clothes to your actions beforehand.
So, how a lot must you price range for excursions and actions in Iceland? And what must you price range for the extra price of buying appropriate clothes for every tour beforehand? These are our budgeting stats for per week in Iceland and not using a 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.
Complete: $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 gas.
- $200 for appropriate clothes, together with two Merino high and backside base layers and footwear.
- $200 for a few nights out in Reykjavik.
Complete: $900
- Price range: And not using a automobile, anticipate to pay round $1,600 over a week-long interval, whereas with a automobile, this totals as much as about $900.
General Journey Price
So, for those who’ve been frantically making an attempt so as to add issues up, don’t fear; we’ve acquired you. That is how a lot touring to Iceland prices, not together with your journey insurance coverage. We’ll acknowledge the principle 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 amenities. That is exactly how a lot it is best to price range 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. Nevertheless, if you’re flying from Europe, are versatile with visiting in off or shoulder seasons, and fly with mid-range airways, price range lower than $200 for return flights.
Lodging
For lodging, it is best to price range $150 per evening for a median however cheap-ish lodge someplace fairly well-located. In case you are prepared to compromise on location, you possibly can choose up cheaper lodging for round $70 per evening. Or, in order for you luxurious lodging, be ready to pay as much as $500 per evening. With all lodging varieties, e-book early to safe the most effective charges.
Transportation
Determining a transport price range is a troublesome one. Should you get a rental car, it is best to price range $350 for renting the car upfront for per week and roughly $100 on gas. Should you don’t hire a automobile, you possibly can simply discover Reykjavik on the bus for as little as a couple of {dollars} every time. Nevertheless, 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 must also add airport transfers at over $70 for return tickets on the shuttle bus. For per week in Iceland, price range $450 for transportation for those who rent a automobile and $870 for transportation for those who depend on shuttles.
Meals
The message is easy concerning meals: discover lodging with a kitchen to benefit from grocery retailer costs. Price range $500 if you wish to eat out a few instances after which cook dinner the remainder of the time. Price range $1000 for those who plan on consuming out every single day for many if not all, meals.
Excursions and Actions
Excursions and actions are your essential price when visiting Iceland, particularly for those who don’t hire a automobile. And not using a automobile, anticipate to pay round $1,600 over per week, whereas with a automobile, this totals as much as about $900.
10 Prime Cash Saving Ideas
Are you prepared to chop some cash off that common Iceland journey price we’ve simply given you? In case you are up for the problem, there are methods to save cash when visiting Iceland. In any case, a median worth is precisely that – a median worth of what most individuals spend once they go to. You are able to do higher than that for those who make the most of our high 10 tips about lowering your Iceland journey price and saving your useful cash.
Something from automobile leases to hostels, and even some lesser-known issues like campsites and bus passes, could make an enormous distinction to what your vacation to Iceland prices. So, buckle up and put together to jot these high money-saving suggestions down. Utilizing these may knock tons of, and even perhaps hundreds, off your Iceland price range.
1. Go to Off-Season
It goes with out saying, however visiting Iceland within the low season is one of the best ways to save cash. Iceland will get tremendous busy over winter when vacationers flock to take pleasure in snow sports activities and attempt to spot the northern lights. If you wish 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 technique to snag diminished excursions and day journeys, plus discover cheaper lodge charges due to decrease reserving competitors.
In fact, if you’re versatile along with your Iceland actions, visiting within the low season is even higher. June till October is ideal for decrease automobile rental charges, cheaper motels, and tour offers. Do not forget that this era has sure tour and attraction closures, and also you probably will miss the northern lights. This season can be well-known for the midnight solar, the place Iceland stays gentle for twenty-four hours a day.
2. Purchase From Grocery Shops
Grocery shops are a lot cheaper than native eating places. You don’t need to stick with a price range whereas consuming out for each meal as a result of it simply gained’t occur. The common price for a two-person meal at a mid-range restaurant in Reykjavik is nearly $120. A median McDonald’s meal is over $16. Grocery costs are way more cheap, like $1.60 for a liter of milk or $3.44 for apples.
Shopping for meals from grocery shops would possibly sound apparent, however this solely works successfully for those who’ve discovered lodging with a kitchen, so it is a catch-22. We’d recommend discovering a communal kitchen or residence lodge to benefit from this money-saving method. Belief us, it is going to be price it.
3. Lease a Automotive
This would possibly sound costlier at first, however renting a automobile is among the finest methods to discover Iceland on a price range – particularly if you wish to sightsee loads. It’s because excursions are one of the costly in a median Iceland journey price. Firms cost extortionate quantities (we’re speaking tons of of {dollars}) for easy issues like transfers. Should you hire a automobile, sure, it is going to be an preliminary upfront funding, however you’ll save tons of if you are going to buy greater than 2-3 day journeys. With the ability to drive your self is among the finest methods to chop journey prices in Iceland. Check rates here!
4. Take Benefit of Free Points of interest
Should 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 gorgeous geothermal space at Geysir. In case you are road-tripping Iceland, you possibly can cease at these locations at no cost and shortly construct a low-cost itinerary. Everybody is aware of Iceland is pricey, however with some analysis, you possibly can quickly discover budget-friendly and sometimes fully free issues to do.
5. Attempt Tenting
Tenting is among the finest methods to save cash whereas visiting Iceland. You possibly can camp in one in every of two methods – with a campervan or by renting or bringing a tent. It goes with out saying that it is a higher concept in summer season (learn: don’t try in chilly climate). Nonetheless, for those who go to Iceland at a heat time of 12 months, it’s a sensible technique to scale back lodging costs. You’ll discover campsites throughout Iceland, so that is additionally one of the simple money-saving tricks to put into apply.
6. Check out a Bus Go
We’ll preface this by saying that bus connections are restricted. You’ll solely be capable to use the bus community to entry particular locations at particular instances, so that you’ll must be completely happy to make use of a fairly inflexible journey type if you will benefit from this journey hack. Nevertheless, if you’re completely happy to paint between the traces to save lots of your self some money, bus passes are nicely price wanting into. You pay a single flat price price and get limitless use of the bus community for a delegated interval. This protects you cash on in any other case costly day journeys or automobile leases. And for those who don’t have a driving license, it’s the most cost-effective different.
7. Purchase Alcohol From Obligation-Free Retailers
One other large tip is to purchase alcohol from duty-free outlets. Should you can choose up alcohol from the airport whenever you land, it should prevent a ton of cash in your journey to Iceland since alcohol is closely taxed. The duty-free store is your finest buddy in order for you a elaborate tipple. With that mentioned, although, a greater method could be not consuming whereas visiting Iceland. Iceland really banned alcohol in 1915, and the ban was solely absolutely lifted in 1989 – which is now hailed as beer day. The nation has a longstanding political objection to the consumption of alcohol. If you wish to save substantial cash when visiting, it is best to do your finest to conjure up a monetary objection.
8. Discover Sizzling Springs that Aren’t the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is dreamy; we’ll be the primary to confess it. Nevertheless, to save cash on visiting Iceland, it is best to take into account options. You possibly can learn all concerning the Blue Lagoon here, created utilizing a manufacturing unit’s thermal byproducts. However it is usually price free scorching springs you possibly can go to in Iceland. Undoubtedly have a look at options to mainstream vacationer sights.
9. Skip Bottled Water
Skip the bottled water; critically, Iceland has a number of the purest faucet water on the earth. Bottled water is a massively pointless expense, so convey a refillable water bottle and reduce the {dollars} you spend in your journey to Iceland. In fact, lowering plastics additionally helps the setting – an enormous win-win scenario. Should you fancy going one step additional, particularly for those who plan on tenting, it’s price investing in a filter bottle, too, as a result of then you possibly can replenish from pure water sources like rivers and lagoons.
10. E-book in Advance
Certain, there’s a time and place for carefree, last-minute journey. However in order for you your journey to Iceland to be budget-friendly, strive one thing aside from this journey type whereas making an attempt to scale back your Iceland journey price. The extra you e-book upfront, the extra choices you’ll have concerning lodging and excursions. Since this stuff promote out quick, with the most cost effective choices going first, you possibly can shoot your self within the foot by ready. Try refund insurance policies and rebooking flexibility if you’re apprehensive about committing too far upfront – simply don’t wait till the final second and financial institution on discovering price range options.
To Conclude
Your Iceland journey price would possibly rely on what you determine to do in your journey to Iceland. Nonetheless, this information offers you a fairly clear concept of a median Iceland journey price. By contemplating all of those components – lodging, meals, transport, airfare, and excursions – you’ll have a ready-made price range for visiting Iceland. And for those who use a few of our budgeting suggestions, you would possibly even avoid wasting cash. Who doesn’t need to knock a piece off one of many world’s most costly locations?
Are you in search of extra Iceland inspiration? Try these fun facts forward of your vacation to Iceland. We even have a information devoted to the best things to do in Reykjavik – Iceland’s walkable and vibrant little capital metropolis. Don’t overlook to discover Reykjavik, even for those who head off on a week-long street journey round the remainder of Iceland.
