Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
Iceland is a travel destination full of incredible things to do. You can easily spend a whole trip just exploring the wonders found in South Iceland – let alone the entire country! Unfortunately though, enjoying the country’s natural beauty often comes at a high price. Ranked as the third most expensive country to live in, keeping costs down during your visit can be a challenge – but don’t let that put you off. You may wonder how much would a trip to Iceland cost, but that depends entirely on the length of your trip, the accommodation you choose and the budget you’re on. Fortunately, there are a number of tips for how to save money in Iceland so you can spend your time enjoying magnificent waterfalls, the northern lights (if you’re lucky!) and more. If you’re looking to travel on a budget, these money saving tips for travelling Iceland are exactly what you need:
Avoid tours
Tours in Iceland can be incredibly expensive. A full day tour of the country’s popular golden circle route from Reykjavik will set you back around 10,000 Icelandic Krona. That’s not cheap when you consider you’ll be packed into a bus full of other tourists!
There are a load of great cheap things to do in Iceland, and many of the main attractions have little to no entrance fees. This makes avoiding tours one of the best money saving tips for travelling Iceland.
A lot of the main attractions are easily accessible with little to no entrance fees, so avoiding tours is one of the best money saving tips for travelling Iceland.
We’re not saying tours in Iceland are bad, but they can be quite pricey. If you don’t want to drive then you won’t have much choice but to do tours, so it isn’t always possible to follow this tip!
Another example of how expensive tours can be found in our guide to the Northern Lights in Akureyri. If you have a car it’s possible to see the lights for free, but a tour can cost €120 per person! In some instances it is worth paying for a tour, but if you’re trying to keep costs down it’s best to avoid them!
In some instances it is worth paying for tours when it’s something you wouldn’t otherwise be able to do. For example, if you want to go whale watching in Akureyri it’s only possible by booking a tour, so it’s worth the money for such a unique experience!
Rent a car
Undoubtedly the best way to explore Iceland is to rent a car. If you’re looking to get off the beaten track you’ll need a 4×4, but a standard rental car will do for the country’s best-known spots. Renting isn’t exactly cheap, but the money saved on tours will cover the majority of the cost – especially if you’re travelling in a group.
Travelling Iceland by car will give you the freedom to work to your own schedule – meaning you can arrive early and beat the crowds to popular spots! By doing this you’re sure to be there before the hoards of tour buses arrive so it makes for an all round better experience.
There are some brilliant places to take a road trip in Iceland. Whether you plan to explore just South Iceland or the whole country by the ring road, there’s so much to discover by car that you don’t get chance to if you go on tours!
As you drive you will discover stunning scenery that is well worth stopping to admire. If you’re on a tour then you don’t have the freedom to choose when you stop, but if you drive you can stop as many times as you want!
If you have the choice, go with a diesel engine. Although diesel often costs slightly more, your fuel will last up to 30% longer, which means overall you’ll end up paying less! It pays to do a bit of research before confirming your rental so you can be sure the company is reliable.
We personally recommend booking through Discover Cars as they compare between a number of local operators to ensure you get the best price.
Click here to get a car rental quote for your trip to Iceland on the Discover Cars website!
Excess insurance coverage
Rental companies usually have high excess charges upwards of 70,000 ISK ($675 USD) if you don’t pay for an excess waiver. Generally waivers can be quite expensive at around 1250 ISK ($12 USD) per day. Taking the risk and not paying the extra can really backfire if you’re left with a hefty bill due to an accident.
Luckily, there’s a much cheaper alternative to covering the excess through your rental company. I Car Hire Insurance offer comprehensive excess coverage for around a third of the price you’d pay going directly through your rental company!
As standard you’ll also be covered for loads more – such as damage to the windscreen and tyres, towing charges and theft. Most of these won’t be covered on your standard rental insurance even if you pay the waiver – so you’re not only saving money, but getting a better deal too!
You can even take out an annual policy covering you worldwide so you never have to pay excess fees again!
Click here to get a quote from I Car Hire Insurance to save paying more through your rental company.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is a must for every trip abroad. The last thing you want on any trip is to amass huge medical bills that you’ll struggle to pay. Make sure to get comprehensive cover as costs can quickly add up.
For an ambulance in Iceland you’ll pay 38,200 Krona just for the ambulance service, and an additional 2,300 Krona for every kilometre travelled. It’s not worth taking the risk of being uninsured, as you never know what’s going to happen.
Without travel insurance we’d have had to cover thousands of dollars in medical bills as Natalia has been hospitalised due to her endometriosis. Although paying for insurance is a bit annoying, it’s a lot better than paying huge amounts of money because you didn’t bother to get insured!
On top of covering medical costs, travel insurance is great if something else happens to go wrong whether it be a delayed flight or loss of your belongings.
Hitchhikers
A great way to keep costs down is to share the costs of petrol with others. Hitchhikers are often willing to pitch in, as are a number of people in Facebook groups about travelling Iceland. While this only applies if you have room in your car, it’s one way to make sure your bank account doesn’t take such a hard hit!
If you want to do this, then a good place to start is this Facebook group. Members regularly post about potential ride shares so you should be able to share some costs this way if you wish.
Vrbo
Vrbo is a great alternative when searching for accommodation, especially if you’re travelling in a group. You may actually be able to rent an entire property between you for less than hotel rooms would cost!
Either way, opt for a property with a kitchen even if it means you end up paying slightly more than you would for an alternative. By cooking for yourself, you’ll end up saving money overall – so it’s worth paying extra to begin with!
VRBO have some fantastic accommodation options if you want to rent a property instead of staying at a hotel! Click here to see the amazing options on the VRBO website!
Cook
Eating out in Iceland is extremely expensive – so one of the best money saving tips is to avoid it completely. Instead, cook for yourself to free up funds to explore more of the incredible nature the country has to offer.
Supermarkets have plenty of choice and you can keep it as simple as you like! Take a packed lunch on day trips too to avoid having to pay high prices at tourist attractions.
Cheap supermarkets
To keep costs down, head to Bonus, Netto or Kronan. These are regarded as the best value supermarkets in the country and should have everything you need. Locals recommend avoiding 10-11, as it can add up to 50% to your total bill.
Re-use a water bottle
Even water is expensive in Iceland. Fortunately, Icelandic tap water is drinkable and so you can save yourself a small fortune with a reusable water bottle. Plan ahead and bring one from home or buy one at the start of your trip and reuse it.
Despite seeming painstakingly obvious, it’s one of the most effective money saving tips for Iceland. You’ll also find tap water is free in many places if you just ask – so don’t be afraid to. That way you have more to spend elsewhere in this beautiful country.
Camping
For the brave, camping is one way to avoid accommodation costs. Either bring your own equipment with you or rent it on arrival – although bringing it with you will save extra cash! Campsites will vary in cost but near Seljalandsfoss rates are 1,300 ISK per night for each adult.
While some campsites aren’t open outside of summer, many opt to stay open longer – with some remaining open year round. Click here to find the opening dates for a number of campsites around Iceland. If you do plan to camp during your trip, be aware of the temperatures and pack accordingly.
Stay sober
Alcohol is heavily taxed in Iceland so your best bet is to stock up upon arrival at duty free, or to detox for the duration of your trip. In some cases the tax can make up around 85% of the sale price, so avoiding alcohol is a must if you’re looking to save cash.
Fortunately, if you do decide to grab what you can at duty free, it is legal to drink outside in Iceland so feel free to enjoy it where you please.
The drink drive limit in Iceland is 0.04% so keep this in mind if you do plan to drink.
Free attractions
Iceland is blessed with stunning nature and fortunately this means a number of attractions are free to visit. Gullfoss, Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls all have the advantage of no admission fee – although the latter does charge 750 Krona for parking.
In fact, most of Iceland’s best waterfalls have no entry fee! Some other great free attractions include Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, Geysir geothermal area, Vik’s black sand beach, and Þingvellir national park (which does have a 750 Krona parking charge). It’s also free to visit Mýrdalsjökull glacier, although if you want to hike on the glacier itself you’ll need to pay for a tour.
In contrast to the above, the popular blue lagoon is not free. The cheapest entrance ticket available is 6,100 Krona per person – which is hard to justify if you’re sticking to a budget. It’s possible to see the blue lagoon from the on-site café for free if you’re intent on seeing it. If you’re truly sticking to a budget though, your money will go a lot further elsewhere.
Go out of season
Visiting Iceland out of season means you’ll find better value for money in terms of flights and accommodation. Over busy periods, such as summer and Christmas, you’ll end up paying more – so try to plan your trip outside of these times.
Iceland is a beautiful destination and has plenty to offer all year round, so you’re sure to have a wonderful time whenever you visit. The best time to travel to Iceland in terms of keeping costs down is during the shoulder season in either May or September.
Book in advance
As with anywhere, you’re going to get the best deal if you plan ahead. If you’re not going down the route of Airbnb, then consider using Booking.com to compare the options available to you.
Properties are often heavily discounted on the site meaning you can find great deals!
Click here to see the amazing properties available in Reykjavik on Booking.com or if you’re looking to get out of the city then search for accommodation elsewhere in Iceland here!
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