My Guide To

I C E L A N D

Welcome to my Guide To Iceland. After many visits and frequently asked question I put together this quick and easy guide to plan your next trip.

  • Quick and easy tips for planning and traveling to Iceland.

    Travel Tips

  • Puffins, whales, glacier walks and volcanos. Iceland has so many amazing offers to learn from and experience.

    Tours

  • My recommended “Must See” places to visit in Iceland.

    Places to Explore

  • Links to other sources for information that I use for my planning.

    Helpful Links

Travel Tips

Getting to Iceland

Getting to Iceland is fairly easy depending on where you live. IcelandAir flies direct to Iceland along with PLAY, a new low-cost friendly Icelandic airline. You can compare airlines for the best prices with tools like Skyscanner and Kayak.

Tip: Search for your flights in incognito mode in your web browser.

Given this flight takes you close to the Artic Circle, I like to get a window seat to see parts of Newfoundland and the southern tip of Greenland. Depending on the time of you go (October-February), you might be able to see the Northern Lights high in the night sky from your window. Before booking my flight, I checkout SeatGuru for the best seat with hopes to see these things.

One thing I love about IcelandAir flights is the timing. From Chicago, the average flight time is around 6hrs and booking round-trip flights are easy. I tend to book my departure flight that leaves in the evening and then arrives in Iceland early in the morning (6:35AM). This allows you to have a normal evening routine in flight: eat dinner, go to bed at a normal time and wake for breakfast, then you’re ready to go as soon as you land. I rarely experience jet-lag because of this but in the event I do, I always have Dramaminen on hand.

Best Time to Visit

When is the best time to visit? This is probably the most asked question and I always ask: what would you like to see?

Honestly, anytime of the year is a great time to visit but I think it depends on what you’re interested in experiencing. Between September and February, you can experience lots of snow, arctic temperatures and the northern lights shimmering in the night sky. In late spring to summer months, you can see Atlantic puffins migrating to Iceland, hike into the Central Highlands.

Peak times are from June-September and shoulder season is around October-February. Expect to see lots of crowds around attractions during peak season. In the summer, you’ll experience the midnight sun where you’ll get almost 24 hours of sunlight allowing you to explore all day long.

No matter what you’ll have a unique experience that you’ll never forget

Where to Stay

There are many options available and all have a different experience. If you want to stay around the city, Reykyavik has many hotel/hotel options. If prefer to be out and away from it all, you can find isolated hotels or amazing options on AirBnb.

9 times out of 10, I book on AirBnb because I can find a place far and away to enjoy the peace and solitude of Icelandic nature. You can be as simplistic and stay in a four sided cabin, experience a stay in an extravagant glass house to see the stars at night or rest at a luxurious spa hotel with hot springs.

For hotel options, checkout athotel.com, Expedia.com or your other favorite search app for the best rates and deals.

Rental Cars

If you’re not going the tour group route, renting a car is you next option. I’ve rented from a few different companies and have narrowed it down to two that I like. I typically rent a small to mid-sized SUV that will allow me to travel on the F-roads (*definition here). Some rental companies are even starting to offer electric options.

Tip: One thing to note with all rental companies will be the coverage options. Gravel and volcanic ash coverage will be something you’ll want to consider. I tend to rely on my credit card’s car rental coverage but there has been a time when it didn’t matter. I ended up having to pay for damage.

Tip: Most rental car companies offer a mobile wifi and GPS options. I highly recommend paying for mobile wifi with your rental ($4-10/day). Wifi is available across the vast majority of the country and you’ll have a physical puck that you can carry. You’ll be able to use your phone with ease and stay connected without having to spend a ton on your cellphone bill.

Here are the car rental services I recommend. They have a big selection of vehicles and are conveniently located on-site at the airport for pick-up and drop-off.

Food

Fooood! One of my favorite things about Iceland are the food options. Iceland can be expensive but when done right, you can save a ton by going to the grocery store. As soon as I arrive, I head to a Bonus or Kr to grab the food I need during my time. The stores have everything you need to make simple sandwiches for lunch during the day, to buying pasta a meatballs to cook dinner or vegan options. If you are going to be on a short trip, these stores have accommodated for small quantities of goods so you’re not wasting anything. You can grab a six pack of eggs and even a half loaf of sliced bread. Stores are available all around the island but you’ll want to plan accordingly. The gas/petrol stations actually have decent food if you’re in a hurry and need to grab something.

If you cooking isn’t your thing, there are certainly restaurants to eat at. However, as you get further away from Reykjavik your options become limited. Eating at restaurants can be expensive but I definitely recommend doing it a couple of times to experience the food scene. Fresh seafood at your finger tips and if you’re up for it, you can even try puffin (I’ve never done it and don’t plan on it).

Here are some recommendations to try in Reykjavik:

What To Pack

Iceland’s climate is sporadic at all times of the year. At summers’ peak, expect temperatures as high as 60ºF. In the winter it averages around 36ºF. You’ll have sunny blue skies in one region and conditions can all of a sudden change to snow. Layers are key!

  • down puffer or vest

  • raint jacket shell

  • hiking pants

  • water proof pants (optional)

  • fleece sweater

  • light/mid-weight base layers (x2-3 sets)

  • crampons (option to rent)

  • hiking boots/shoes

  • secondary shoes

  • beanie

  • sunglasses

  • gloves/mittens

  • wool hiking socks

  • headlamp (optional)

Camera Gear

This is obviously a must-have. You’ll want to take a photo of every single thing you’ll see. If you don’t own a camera or want to purchase one, I highly suggest renting and recommend LensRentals.com. They have everything you need including drone equipment if interested.

Tip: If you’re interested in renting at LensRentals.com, shoot me a message for a discount on your first rental. 😉

Below are my suggested camera setups that are small, affordable and easy to use.

    • Sony a6400

    • Sony A7RIV

    • Sony A7SIII

    • Fujifilm X100V

    • Fujifilm X-T4

    • Fujifilm X-Pro3

  • For any camera system, any of the following lens focal lengths will help you capture Icelandic landscapes and wildlife.

    • 24mm

    • 35mm

    • 50mm

    • 24-70mm

    • 70-200mm

    • 100-400mm

    • DJI Mavic Pro 2 or 3

    • DJI Air 2S

    • DJI Mini 2 or 3

    • extra camera batteries

    • memory cards

    • camera bag

    • polarizing filter (optional)

    • tripod (optional)

Tours

There are so many things to see and experience in Iceland by yourself. But sometimes you don’t have enough time or have access to getting to certain places for various reasons. Tours are a great way to save time, learn about Icelandic culture and access some amazing places.

Checkout some of my recommended touring companies below.

Tip: When planning to take a tour, I plan around the region I’m visiting to make the most of my time and create a mini itinerary. Iceland is a small island but it does take time to get from once place to another. If you’re staying in Reykjavik but your ice cave tour meets in Vík, you’ll want to plan accordingly for your 2.5hr drive to get there. Depending on where you’re staying, some tour companies can pick you up or provide a meet up location.

Places To Explore

Use this interactive map I created to help plan your next trip. Some of the pinned landmarks will include a link or information about the location.

East

  • Stokksnes | Vestrahorn Mountain

  • Jökulsárlón Iceberg Lagoon

  • Svartifoss Waterfall

South

  • Reynisfjara

  • Múlagljúfur Canyon

  • Dyrholaey

  • Skaftafell

  • Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

  • Skógafoss Waterfall

  • Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

West

  • Snæfellsjökull

  • Kirkjufellsfoss

  • Fagradalsfjall

  • Glymur Waterfall

  • Londrangar

  • Arnarstapi

Central

  • Þórsmörk

  • Landmannalaugar

  • Gullfoss Falls

  • Haifoss Waterfall

North

  • Exploration coming soon

Helpful Links

Links to very useful links and accounts for planning an inspiration.

  • www.guidetoiceland.is

  • For information on road conditions, road.is will provide all the information you need.

    www.road.is

  • For reliable information on the weather including the aurora forecast, I frequently rely on this source.

    en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/areas

  • Here are some accounts I follow on Instagram that are all about Iceland and provide some inspiration and knowledge for your next visit.

I hope this information was helpful. Whether you’re en route and needed some extra places to visit or contemplating your first trip, my hope is to help you enjoy your time. Iceland is a special place to me and I’m happy to share this information with you. Feel free to share with your friends and family.

If you have any additional questions, please send me a message to chris@chrishurdphotography.com.
Thanks and enjoy your trip!