Last updated on May 18th, 2024 at 12:07 pm

In the process of penning a lengthy guide on driving around Iceland, we realized that there were so many basic tips we wanted to share with you all. And this post was born. If you are traveling to Iceland for the first time, we’ll cover most of your basic concerns. If you still have questions or want to add a tip to this list please do leave a comment below or on our Myticklefeet Facebook page.

This is the first part of our 3 part blog post series on planning a trip to Iceland. The other two parts cover our 7-day road trip itinerary and what to pack for Iceland in the summer season.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

TIPS FOR FIRST-TIMERS IN ICELAND

1. RENTAL CAR

If you are touring on your own, I cannot stress how important it is to rent a 4×4 vehicle while driving in Iceland. You need a sturdy vehicle for heavy winds that Iceland is famous for, occasional off-roading, or in general, to deal with other unknown weather conditions. As in most of Europe, if you want to rent an automatic 4×4 vehicle, book in advance as the rental companies carry limited quantities of those. Car rental in Iceland is not cheap, another reason to book early. 

If you have not yet done so, we recommend you compare car prices and book from our affiliate partner Rental Cars. We have customized a page for Iceland car rentals.

2. INFRASTRUCTURE 

Ring road, also called Route 1,  in most parts is a 2 lane paved highway. Traffic lights appear only in areas around city limits. In remote parts of Iceland, there are single lane bridge crossings over smaller rivers. Watch out for traffic on the other side of the bridge to avoid collision since there are no traffic lights. If the car on the other side has stopped then it is most likely letting you pass the bridge. You will also have plenty of offroading experiences in remote parts of Iceland. Talking about Infrastructure, all hotels and guesthouses/BnBs even in far-off places offer wi-fi and heat. We were seriously impressed by how advanced the infrastructure and facilities were in the remotest of towns.

3. LANGUAGE

Locals in Iceland speak excellent English. We really didn’t have to struggle with learning Icelandic. Also, a lot of people we met there, especially our various tour guides, had settled in Iceland from other European countries and spoke English very well.

4. CREDIT CARD USAGE 

This might come as a surprise but even the remotes of places in Iceland accept credit cards. So heed this advice and don’t carry too much cash unless you want to have a loaded wallet. From grocery stores to the gas stations, we never really had to take out our cash which meant more airport souvenirs 😀

5. TAP WATER 

Cold Water: Pure glacier water delivered straight to the tap. After all, it is the land of glaciers. Buying water at a store might actually get you a few glances, we can tell you that from experience 😉 We bought our first bottle of water at a gas station’s convenience store and the helpful cashier innocently reminded us how fresh the cold tap water was in his country. In our defense, we forgot to pack our water bottles. TIP: Now you know what else is a must to pack – A refill water bottle!

Hot Water: On the other hand since it is also the land of geothermal activities, hot water coming straight from the tap might smell a little funny. Don’t worry it’s just the smell of sulfur in the water. Hot tap water is absolutely safe for bathing but DON’T drink it straight from the tap.

6. FOOD

Whether or not you are camping outdoors it’s a good idea to stock some quick food/snack in your car or luggage. We carried granola/ protein bars with us which came in handy more times than we imagined. You can also pick up snacks and fruits whenever you pass a gas station. You just never know how far the next gas station would be.  Which brings us to another great tip – Ask your rental company to give a map of all the gas stations on your route. Hotels and BnB’s do offer meals but some of them have early kitchen closing time and there won’t be any restaurants around once you are out of city limits.  

7. WARM CLOTHES

Doesn’t matter what time of the year you are going, you better pack those warm clothes. Or end up shopping for them in Iceland, at twice the price. Gaurav forgot to pack his gloves and hat which turned out we couldn’t live without given the heavy wind conditions in Iceland. We went at the beginning of summer (in May) and yet were bundled up in multiple layers of clothing. I only remember a couple of days when it got sunny and we didn’t need our jackets.

If you don’t currently live in a cooler place and not sure what we mean by layers – think thermals, sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets – one on top of the other. Perhaps you might not need to wear them all in one day (or perhaps you will) but better be safe than sorry. We’ve put together a detailed packing list of must-haves in Iceland summer that you should check out before going.

8. WATERPROOF CAMERA CASING

We are not even going to remind you to carry your cameras. You are going to Iceland, the most beautiful land on Earth, that’s probably the first thing you should pack. But we will highly recommend that you carry a waterproof casing for your camera. Whether it is a DSLR or a cellphone camera make sure it has some water protection. Not only do you need to protect it from the rain but also from the numerous waterfalls that you will visit.

On that note, carrying an underwater camera or a go-pro is also a great idea especially if you are going to swim between the tectonic plates. In case you are visiting during the winter season, be prepared to photograph the magnificent Northern Lights with these photography tips.

9. CAMPING 

Some time back you could rent a campervan or carry your tent and camp pretty much anywhere safe off the road and call it a night but not anymore. TIP: Thanks to one of our readers who pointed out that wild camping in Iceland is no longer legal. You must camp in tents, campervans or caravans in designated campsites ONLY. 

With the influx of tourism in Iceland, there is no wonder these regulations are getting more stringent. Here is a list of 10 best campsites in Iceland you could consider. Don’t forget your camping etiquette and clean up after you leave! To prepare yourself better, read these pro-tips before you go camping in Iceland.

10. SAFETY

Finally, we want to mention that even though we didn’t see a single cop car for hundreds of miles at a stretch, we felt safer in Iceland than anywhere else in the world.  From a wildlife perspective, the only wild animals you’ll probably see here are beautiful looking horses and sheep. There are no bears, no snakes, no deadly creatures on this island. Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world and with the increase in tourism let’s all pledge to keep it this way!

We hope these quick tips were useful. Do leave us a comment below or on our facebook page if you think we missed something important or if you have any questions. If you liked this post we would love to hear and don’t feel shy to share it with your friends 😀

Happy Traveling!