We do not pick words. Iceland is not cheap. But you’ve already heard this. However, this should not discourage you from visiting the country. Iceland is vividly beautiful, making the unspoiled nature and glaciers worth exploring.
Go ahead and plan that trip. Just keep your wits about yourself and plan your trip wisely. There are always ways to cut costs, assuming you don’t expect 5-star luxuries all the time.
In Iceland, most of your money will go towards travel, accommodation and, if you’re not careful, food.
Can you save money with public transport? Barely. Public transport does not exist in Iceland at the time you leave Reykjavik. If you don’t plan to spend your entire vacation in the capital, you’ll need to add car rental costs to your budget. That’s not necessarily cheap, but it is still more affordable than booking a tour. However, there are other ways to cut costs.
When should you go to Iceland?
If you are on a budget, go out of season when everything is cheaper. Iceland’s low season for travel is between September and May.
If you plan to explore Reykjavik, invest in the Reykjavik Card or the Voyager Card . This card grants you free access to more than a dozen museums, as well as the use of any public transport service. In this way, you will save money on gas costs if you have a rental car.
Reserve your car well in advance. The best deals can be found online, don’t trust the resort to do this for you. This will already cut the cost in half. Ideally, pick up the car at Keflavik International Airport as you will be going there anyway. It is about an hour drive from Reykjavik. That way you will also save money on the Reykjavik airport shuttle service to and from the airport. The longer you keep the car, the cheaper the daily rates will be. It may be cheaper to add a day to your rental, even if you don’t use it, and by doing so, you get the best weekly rate.
Don’t forget to factor in the cost of gas. It is surprising how many travelers forget this vital detail. Calculate an estimated travel distance and base your calculations on that.
Eating in Iceland
Food in Iceland is not particularly cheap, so forget about eating out every night. You are planning a budget trip, after all. If you managed to book a room with a kitchen and kitchen, buy your food at local supermarkets. Bonus and Kronan is one of the cheapest supermarkets in the country, with many daily offers and specials. Buy local greenhouse-grown fruits and vegetables and meat like lamb and fish. Almost everything else is imported, which makes it much more expensive.
To satisfy your fast food cravings, try one of those Icelandic hot dogs. Made from lamb and pork, they are excellent and inexpensive. Hot dog stands abound throughout Reykjavik. You can also find some takeout chains like Taco Bell and KFC.
Look for Thai food restaurants if you want to dine out. There are many of these restaurants in the city and they offer healthy and more affordable food.
accommodation
Save money by choosing your accommodation carefully. Avoid large hotels and stay in small hotels or guesthouses. They are a fraction of the price, and the guesthouses in Iceland are decent, offering the same quality as a 2 1/2 star hotel.
If you’re open to an alternative and want to do your best, here’s another idea. To save a lot of money, why not consider camping? Assuming, of course, that you have the right gear to tackle the weather. Camping here is highly recommended, and Iceland has some of the best facilities in Europe. Most of the campsites are also attached to youth hostels, so you can rent a room if the weather gets really bad. Hostels usually have free WiFi access too, so you don’t need to make expensive phone calls to people in your country.
