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Iceland 🇮🇸

backpacking Europe Iceland 🇮🇸Chase glaciers, geothermal pools and puffin cliffs along the Ring Road.

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Backpacking Iceland in 2027

A complete guide including when and where to go, costs, transport, itineraries, and practical travel advice.
A practical introduction for travelers

Backpacking Iceland
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 18, 2026

In Iceland, the weather plans your day and you adjust. Conditions can flip from low sun to horizontal sleet inside an hour, and orange wind warnings from the Icelandic Meteorological Office regularly close mountain passes and stretches of the Ring Road.

The reason to put up with it is a landscape that is still visibly being made: steaming fissures on the Reykjanes Peninsula, icebergs grinding against black sand at Jökulsárlón, rhyolite hills streaked orange and green at Landmannalaugar. I once sat in a roadside hot pot while sleet stung my face, the water smelling of sulfur and my shoulders the only cold part of me. The hard parts are plain. Around two million foreign visitors a year share the country with fewer than 400,000 residents, the Golden Circle and South Coast get crowded by mid-morning in summer, and Iceland sits with Norway and Switzerland among Europe’s most expensive countries.

Norway gives you similar prices with more trees, trains and shelter. The Faroe Islands are quieter and wetter. Iceland suits self-sufficient hikers and campers who like raw weather. If you want cheap nights out or reliable sunshine, go elsewhere.

👉 Get the 📖 Travel Guide of Iceland

Reykjavík and the Golden Circle (Reykjavík, Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss)

Iceland’s capital smells faintly of sulfur every time you run a hot tap. Its social life happens in neighborhood pools like Vesturbæjarlaug, where locals argue politics in the hot pots. The city is compact and walkable, but a beer runs ISK 1,500 to 1,800 (US$11 to 13). The Golden Circle loop takes 6 to 8 hours by car. Gullfoss fills with coaches by late morning, so start early. First-timers fit right in here.

South Coast (Vík, Skógafoss, Jökulsárlón)

Route 1 runs past waterfalls you hear before you see. At Seljalandsfoss you walk behind the curtain and get soaked, and at Skógafoss spray drifts across the parking lot. Vík is about 2.5 hours from Reykjavík and Jökulsárlón about 5, where icebergs crack and groan as they drift toward the sea. Expect crowds. Reynisfjara’s black sand fills with selfie groups, and its sneaker waves have killed visitors. The coast suits drivers with a week who don’t mind company.

Snæfellsnes Peninsula (Stykkishólmur, Arnarstapi, Kirkjufell)

About two hours from Reykjavík you reach lava fields thick with spongy moss and basalt cliffs at Arnarstapi loud with screaming kittiwakes. On clear days the Snæfellsjökull ice cap shows itself. Kirkjufell draws tripods at dawn. Stykkishólmur, with its harbor and the ferry across to the Westfjords, stays quiet. Buses are sparse, so a rental car is the realistic option. It suits travelers with three or four days who want variety without the South Coast traffic.

North Iceland (Akureyri, Mývatn, Húsavík)

Akureyri is 5 hours by road or 45 minutes by domestic flight from Reykjavík. It has a steep café street and a student crowd that keeps weekend nights going. An hour east, the mud pots at Námaskarð stink of rotten eggs, and Mývatn’s summer midges get into your mouth. Húsavík runs whale-watching boats on the cold, choppy bay. The north suits slower travelers who want a ring road leg with fewer tour buses.

Westfjords (Ísafjörður, Dynjandi, Látrabjarg)

Gravel switchbacks trace fjords that take an hour to drive around and look five minutes wide. Ísafjörður, home to about 2,600 people, is 5 to 6 hours by car from Reykjavík or a 40-minute flight. Dynjandi spills down the rock in tiered veils. At Látrabjarg, puffins sit a meter from the cliff edge from May to August, unbothered by you. Winter closes or slows many roads. Self-sufficient travelers with spare days get the most from it.
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Why go?Why Iceland is worth visiting

Scenery

Few places pack this much raw geology into such a small area. In Iceland you can drive past green moss … read more 👉
Few places pack this much raw geology into such a small area. In Iceland you can drive past green moss draped over jagged lava, then black sand beaches where the surf thuds against basalt columns, then a glacier tongue the color of dirty sapphire, all in one afternoon. The light keeps everything moving: in June it never fully gets dark, so cliffs glow amber at midnight, and in winter the low sun stays golden all day. I would drive the empty roads between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. in early summer, when the tour buses have gone and the light is softest.

Uniqueness

Very few countries let you stand near a recent lava flow still giving off heat, and Iceland has had … read more 👉
Very few countries let you stand near a recent lava flow still giving off heat, and Iceland has had repeated eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula since 2021. The ground hisses, smells of sulfur and in places crunches like burnt sugar underfoot. Beyond the capital region, where most of the population lives, the emptiness is real: in the Eastfjords you can drive half an hour without passing another car, and fishing villages count their residents in the hundreds. Check the Safetravel site before approaching any eruption zone, and give the Eastfjords at least two days.

Mountains

Hiking here means walking across terrain that looks freshly made. The Fimmvörðuháls trail from Skógar … read more 👉
Hiking here means walking across terrain that looks freshly made. The Fimmvörðuháls trail from Skógar climbs past more than 20 waterfalls, then crosses still-dark lava from the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption before dropping into the birch-green valley of Þórsmörk. Wind on the pass can knock you sideways and the snow lingers into July, but the views over two ice caps make the effort worth it. Iceland’s highest peak, Hvannadalshnúkur at 2,110 meters, is a long glacier climb that requires a guide and rope. Pack proper waterproofs and start early, because afternoon weather on the ridges turns fast.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Iceland is mostly at sea and on the cliffs, and that is where it shines. Humpback whales … read more 👉
Wildlife in Iceland is mostly at sea and on the cliffs, and that is where it shines. Humpback whales feed in the bays of the north from late spring to autumn, surfacing with a loud exhale and a fishy spray you can smell from the boat. The arctic fox is the only native land mammal, and in the protected Hornstrandir reserve they wander close to campers. Harbor seals haul out on the Vatnsnes Peninsula and Ytri Tunga beach. There are no snakes or dangerous predators on land. Choose Húsavík for whale watching; the bay is sheltered and sightings are frequent.

Backpackers

The backpacker scene in Iceland centers on campsites and hostel kitchens, where everyone cooks to dodge … read more 👉
The backpacker scene in Iceland centers on campsites and hostel kitchens, where everyone cooks to dodge restaurant prices. Evenings mean pasta steam, drying socks hung on every hook and trading road reports with people who just crossed the Highlands. Reykjavík’s hostels are lively and social, and the bars along Laugavegur pick up on weekends. Public geothermal pools are the real meeting point: locals and travelers soak side by side in the hot tubs talking weather and politics. Check the free-food shelves at campsites and hostels, where departing travelers leave pasta, oil and gas canisters for the next arrivals.

⭐ HighlightsStandout locations across the country

  • Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: Chunks of blue ice break off Breiðamerkurjökull and drift slowly toward the sea, cracking and groaning as they shift. Across the road, smaller pieces wash up on the black sand of Diamond Beach, glinting like broken glass while the surf hisses around them. Seals often pop their heads up among the floes.
  • Landmannalaugar: The rhyolite mountains here are streaked rust, ochre and sage, cut by black obsidian lava. After a day on the ridges you can lower yourself into a natural warm stream beside the campsite, toes in the gravel, steam rising into chilly air.
  • Mývatn and Námafjall: Mud pots bubble and belch at Námafjall, and the smell of rotten eggs hits before you leave the car. Around the lake, pseudocraters and the twisted lava pillars of Dimmuborgir make the ground look scorched. In summer, clouds of midges hum around your head; a head net costs little and saves your sanity.
  • Látrabjarg Cliffs: Europe’s westernmost point drops up to 440 meters into the Atlantic, and
… read more 👉
  • Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: Chunks of blue ice break off Breiðamerkurjökull and drift slowly toward the sea, cracking and groaning as they shift. Across the road, smaller pieces wash up on the black sand of Diamond Beach, glinting like broken glass while the surf hisses around them. Seals often pop their heads up among the floes.
  • Landmannalaugar: The rhyolite mountains here are streaked rust, ochre and sage, cut by black obsidian lava. After a day on the ridges you can lower yourself into a natural warm stream beside the campsite, toes in the gravel, steam rising into chilly air.
  • Mývatn and Námafjall: Mud pots bubble and belch at Námafjall, and the smell of rotten eggs hits before you leave the car. Around the lake, pseudocraters and the twisted lava pillars of Dimmuborgir make the ground look scorched. In summer, clouds of midges hum around your head; a head net costs little and saves your sanity.
  • Látrabjarg Cliffs: Europe’s westernmost point drops up to 440 meters into the Atlantic, and in summer puffins sit within a couple of meters of the edge, unbothered. The wind is fierce and the din of seabirds constant, a mix of screeches and wingbeats echoing off the rock.
  • Reykjadalur: A hike of about an hour from Hveragerði climbs past steaming vents to a warm river where you can bathe with mountain views. Boardwalks and wooden screens line the bank, and the water temperature changes as you shuffle upstream.
For quieter corners, try the pink-gold sand of Rauðisandur, the sea stack Hvítserkur or the puffin village of Borgarfjörður eystri; I would head to Rauðisandur first.
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🧭 RoutesPlanning a route that makes sense

The 5-Day Southwest Sampler


Geothermal water, rift valleys and the first stretch of black-sand coast, all done without a rental car. It’s a tight, satisfying taste of Iceland for stopovers and first trips.
  • Blue Lagoon straight off the plane
  • Þingvellir and Gullfoss on the Golden Circle
  • Walking behind Seljalandsfoss
  • Basalt columns at Reynisfjara

👉 explore this 5-day route

The 10-Day Glacier Coast


A route that follows the ice, from the outwash plains of the south to the edge of Vatnajökull. Expect crampons, icebergs and long evenings in small coastal towns.
  • Guided glacier walk in Skaftafell
  • Icebergs at Jokulsarlon and Diamond Beach
  • Stokksnes and the Vestrahorn dunes
  • The Sólheimasandur plane wreck

👉 explore this 10-day route

The 15-Day North, East and South Loop


Two weeks across Iceland’s fjord towns, whale bays and waterfalls, with time to stay put when the weather turns. It pairs the quiet north and east with the classic south coast.
  • Whale watching from Husavik
  • Dettifoss and the Ásbyrgi canyon
  • The painted
… read more 👉

The 5-Day Southwest Sampler


Geothermal water, rift valleys and the first stretch of black-sand coast, all done without a rental car. It’s a tight, satisfying taste of Iceland for stopovers and first trips.
  • Blue Lagoon straight off the plane
  • Þingvellir and Gullfoss on the Golden Circle
  • Walking behind Seljalandsfoss
  • Basalt columns at Reynisfjara

👉 explore this 5-day route

The 10-Day Glacier Coast


A route that follows the ice, from the outwash plains of the south to the edge of Vatnajökull. Expect crampons, icebergs and long evenings in small coastal towns.
  • Guided glacier walk in Skaftafell
  • Icebergs at Jokulsarlon and Diamond Beach
  • Stokksnes and the Vestrahorn dunes
  • The Sólheimasandur plane wreck

👉 explore this 10-day route

The 15-Day North, East and South Loop


Two weeks across Iceland’s fjord towns, whale bays and waterfalls, with time to stay put when the weather turns. It pairs the quiet north and east with the classic south coast.
  • Whale watching from Husavik
  • Dettifoss and the Ásbyrgi canyon
  • The painted fjord town of Seyðisfjörður
  • Akureyri and a day in Siglufjörður

👉 explore this 15-day route

🌤️ When to go?Weather, seasons, and timing

The best time to go backpacking in Iceland is June to September, when roads are open, daytime temperatures sit around 10 to 15°C and daylight stretches 16 to 24 hours, though July and August bring the highest prices and the thickest crowds on the South Coast. Region matters a lot here: the interior highlands and their F-roads usually open only from late June to early September, while passes in the Westfjords and the north can stay snowbound well into spring.
  • Summer peak (June to August): 10 to 15°C, almost no darkness, every campsite and mountain hut open. Gullfoss and Reynisfjara are packed by mid-morning, and Reykjavik dorm beds run ISK 6,000 to 11,000 (US$50 to 90). Highland hiking, including the Laugavegur trail, works only in this window.
  • Autumn shoulder (September to October): 3 to 10°C, more wind and rain, and prices drop after mid-September. Northern lights return, but most campsites and highland huts shut by mid-September.
  • Spring shoulder (April to May): 0 to 9°C, quiet roads, puffins back on the cliffs, but the highlands stay closed and mountain trails turn to mud.
  • Winter (November to March): -3 to 3°C on the coast, colder inland and in the north, as little as 4 hours of daylight, and storms that close roads. Aurora, ice caves on Vatnajökull and cheaper rooms. The week between Christmas and New Year is the oddity: Reykjavik books solid for the fireworks despite the darkness.
I’d reserve Laugavegur huts and any summer rental car by February, and pack a proper waterproof shell for every month, because the wind is what wears you down here.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
!2019-07-24 22.25.19

💰 Costs (as of 2026)How expensive it really is

Backpacking Iceland on a tight budget costs about €90 to 130 a day if you sleep in dorms or campsites, cook most of your meals and travel by bus or shared car, and that is a lot more than you would spend in Norway or the Faroe Islands for the same trip.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodation€35 to 70 per night (campsites €17 to 25 per person)In summer, a bed in a Reykjavík hostel dorm runs about €45 to 70, and Akureyri costs about €40 to 55. From October to April the same beds often drop to €25 to 40. Campsites charge about €17 to 25 per person, and the Camping Card can bring that down further if you stay at the campsites in its network. Dorms here cost about the same as in Oslo and roughly double what you would pay in Edinburgh.
Meals€15 to 25 per day self-catering; €25 to 45 eating outBónus and Krónan are the cheap supermarkets: Skyr costs about €2 to 3, and bread, cheese and pasta for a day comes to €12 to 20. A hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu costs about €6, lamb soup in a bread bowl €18 to 22, and a sit-down main €25 to 40. Groceries cost about 20 to 40% more than in Denmark.
Local transport€5 to 35 per day on averageA single Strætó city bus ticket in Reykjavík costs about
… read more 👉
Backpacking Iceland on a tight budget costs about €90 to 130 a day if you sleep in dorms or campsites, cook most of your meals and travel by bus or shared car, and that is a lot more than you would spend in Norway or the Faroe Islands for the same trip.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodation€35 to 70 per night (campsites €17 to 25 per person)In summer, a bed in a Reykjavík hostel dorm runs about €45 to 70, and Akureyri costs about €40 to 55. From October to April the same beds often drop to €25 to 40. Campsites charge about €17 to 25 per person, and the Camping Card can bring that down further if you stay at the campsites in its network. Dorms here cost about the same as in Oslo and roughly double what you would pay in Edinburgh.
Meals€15 to 25 per day self-catering; €25 to 45 eating outBónus and Krónan are the cheap supermarkets: Skyr costs about €2 to 3, and bread, cheese and pasta for a day comes to €12 to 20. A hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu costs about €6, lamb soup in a bread bowl €18 to 22, and a sit-down main €25 to 40. Groceries cost about 20 to 40% more than in Denmark.
Local transport€5 to 35 per day on averageA single Strætó city bus ticket in Reykjavík costs about €4.70. The Flybus from Keflavík airport is €28 to 32. A long-distance Strætó ride from Reykjavík to Akureyri costs roughly €80 to 95. A small rental car runs €50 to 100 a day, with fuel at about €2 to 2.20 per liter. Split between four people, the car is usually the cheapest way to cover the Ring Road.
Activities€0 to 120 per dayThe biggest costs are geothermal spas and guided ice trips. The Blue Lagoon costs €80 to 110 and Sky Lagoon €75 to 90, while a glacier hike is €90 to 130. Waterfalls, black-sand beaches and most hikes are free. I’d skip the famous lagoons and use the local swimming pools instead (about €9 to 12, with hot tubs). Then I’d put the savings toward one guided glacier walk, because you need a guide to go on the ice safely.
Miscellaneous€5 to 15 per dayParking at Þingvellir and other popular sites costs about €7 to 10. Some toilets charge €1.50 to 3.50, and a tourist SIM is €15 to 30. A beer costs €10 to 13, or €6 to 8 at happy hour. Alcohol is far cheaper at the duty-free shop in Keflavík on arrival than at the state-run Vínbúðin stores.
Total Daily Budget€90 to 130A typical day: a Reykjavík dorm at €50, groceries plus one hot dog at €22, a bus or your share of a car at €20, and a pool at €10, which comes to about €100. That is similar to a budget day in Norway and about €30 to 50 more than in the Faroe Islands. Travelers pay in Icelandic króna, and cards are accepted almost everywhere.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutIceland Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
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The digital guide (230 pages) contains:
✅ 61 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
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✅ Month by month travel advice
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✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

📱 Built for real travel conditions
✅ Fully downloadable PDF
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🛏️ Where to stay?Areas travelers tend to prefer

Iceland has plenty of hostels and guesthouses, with dorm beds typically running ISK 6,000 to 11,000 (about US$45 to 80) a night in summer, and most of them are in Reykjavík. Miðborg (the 101 downtown area around Laugavegur) puts you within walking distance of Hallgrímskirkja, the harbor and the bus terminals, but weekend bar noise lasts until 4 or 5 a.m. Quieter Vesturbær and Laugardalur, home to the city campsite and the biggest public pool, are 15 to 30 minutes on foot from the center and very safe, while up north Akureyri has a small cluster of budget beds near its compact downtown.

If you enjoy … read more 👉
Iceland has plenty of hostels and guesthouses, with dorm beds typically running ISK 6,000 to 11,000 (about US$45 to 80) a night in summer, and most of them are in Reykjavík. Miðborg (the 101 downtown area around Laugavegur) puts you within walking distance of Hallgrímskirkja, the harbor and the bus terminals, but weekend bar noise lasts until 4 or 5 a.m. Quieter Vesturbær and Laugardalur, home to the city campsite and the biggest public pool, are 15 to 30 minutes on foot from the center and very safe, while up north Akureyri has a small cluster of budget beds near its compact downtown.

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

Best hostels in Iceland


Best quality hotels in Iceland

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around Iceland

Backpacking Iceland between Reykjavik and Akureyri usually means the Strætó route 57 bus: about 6 to 6.5 hours of lava fields, fjord switchbacks and sheep on the verge, for roughly ISK 11,000 to 14,000 (US$80 to 100). The bus runs year-round, but winter schedules thin out and wind can close the passes, so the hard parts arrive with the weather.
  • Strætó long-distance buses: Fares are zone-based, from about ISK 700 to 1,000 (US$5 to 7) for short hops up to ISK 11,000 to 14,000 (US$80 to 100) for the
… read more 👉
Backpacking Iceland between Reykjavik and Akureyri usually means the Strætó route 57 bus: about 6 to 6.5 hours of lava fields, fjord switchbacks and sheep on the verge, for roughly ISK 11,000 to 14,000 (US$80 to 100). The bus runs year-round, but winter schedules thin out and wind can close the passes, so the hard parts arrive with the weather.
  • Strætó long-distance buses: Fares are zone-based, from about ISK 700 to 1,000 (US$5 to 7) for short hops up to ISK 11,000 to 14,000 (US$80 to 100) for the full run to Akureyri. Reykjavik to Selfoss takes about 1 hour, and route 51 to Höfn takes around 6.5 hours. Seats are comfortable with Wi-Fi on many coaches. Pay with the Klappið app or a contactless card. Some eastern and northern stretches run only once or twice a day, so check the timetable before you commit.
  • Rental car or campervan: A small car costs about ISK 7,000 to 20,000 (US$50 to 145) a day depending on season, campervans US$100 to 250 in summer, and fuel runs around ISK 300 to 340 (about US$2.20 to 2.50) a liter. The 1,322 km Ring Road takes 7 to 10 days at a sensible pace. Book online months ahead for June to August. Off-road driving is illegal, F-roads need a 4x4, and gravel insurance pays off on loose shoulders. Check road.is every morning.
  • Highland buses: From mid-June to early September, high-clearance buses rattle across rivers to Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk in about 3.5 to 4.5 hours for ISK 10,000 to 16,000 (US$70 to 115) one way. Seats are cramped and the ride is loud, with dust off the pumice tracks. Book online, and buy a round trip only if your hiking plan is fixed.
  • Domestic flights: Reykjavik’s city airport to Akureyri, Egilsstaðir or Ísafjörður takes 40 to 60 minutes, usually ISK 15,000 to 35,000 (US$110 to 250) one way when booked early. Fog and crosswinds cause cancellations, so leave slack in your plans.
  • Ride-sharing and hitchhiking: Free to cheap, and common in summer along Route 1. Ride-share boards like samferda.is connect drivers splitting fuel. Stand where a car can pull over safely, and carry a waterproof layer because waits in sideways rain can stretch to an hour or more.
I would split a rental car with two or three people from a hostel ride board for the south coast and east, then use the bus or a flight for the long northern leg, which usually beats any single option on both price and time.
Most travelers land at Iceland’s Keflavík International Airport (KEF), about 50 km (31 miles) southwest of central Reykjavík, and the cheapest reliable way in is the Strætó public bus, though the airport coaches are easier to time with your flight.
  • Strætó bus 55 (about 60 to 75 minutes, roughly ISK 2,000 to 2,600 / US$15 to 19): it leaves from the stop outside the arrivals hall, runs only every hour or two, and you pay through the Klappið app or with exact cash on board.
  • Flybus (about 45 minutes to the BSÍ terminal, roughly ISK 3,500 to 4,500 / US$25 to 33): buses wait outside arrivals and are scheduled around every incoming flight, with tickets sold online, at the desk inside the terminal or from the driver.
  • Airport Direct (about 45 minutes to its Skógarhlíð terminal, roughly ISK 4,000 to 5,000 / US$29 to 36): it also departs after each arrival, and you can pay a little extra for a minibus transfer to many downtown hotels and guesthouses.
  • Taxi (about 45 minutes, roughly ISK 20,000 to 25,000 / US$165 to 205): official cabs line up outside arrivals and take cards, but Uber and Lyft do not operate here, so there is no cheaper ride-hailing app to fall back on.
If you land after the last bus 55 has gone in the late evening, take the Flybus or Airport Direct, both of which meet night arrivals, and book online beforehand so you can walk straight to the coach.
⚠️ Prices and routes can change, so take this as a rough guide and ask for local advice when you arrive.
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🔒 Safety (risk Level: low)Safety considerations for travelers

Safety for solo travelers, including women and LGBTQ+ individuals
Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world for solo travelers, and it has topped the Global Peace Index year after year with very low rates of violent crime. Women traveling alone generally feel comfortable walking around Reykjavik at night, hostel-hopping and even hitchhiking in summer, though normal bar-night caution with drinks still applies. LGBTQ+ travelers will find one of the most accepting societies anywhere, with same-sex marriage legal since 2010 and Reykjavik Pride drawing huge crowds every August. The real risks come from nature: sneaker waves at Reynisfjara beach, sudden storms and unmarked glacier crevasses, so check safetravel.is before heading out.


Full official government travel advisory (live updates)
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✈️ VisaDo you need a visa to visit?

Iceland is part of the Schengen Area, so citizens of the EU/EEA can enter with an ID card, and travelers from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries can stay visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period with a valid passport. Nationals who need a visa must apply for a Schengen visa before travel, usually through the embassy or visa center that represents Iceland in their country (often Denmark’s), with proof of accommodation, funds and travel insurance. Visa-exempt travelers should also expect the EU Entry/Exit System registration at the border and the upcoming ETIAS travel authorization requirement.

source: government.is
⚠️ Visa requirements can change over time, so always check the latest visa requirements with the official embassy or government website before you travel.

🎒 What to pack?What to wear and bring

Packing for Iceland is all about layers, because a single day can swing from sun to horizontal rain to sleet, and wind makes 8°C feel close to freezing even in July. A fully waterproof shell and broken-in hiking boots will carry you through glacier-fed rivers, slick lava trails and black sand beaches. Bring swimwear even in winter, since geothermal pools are the social heart of every town, and locals expect you to shower without a swimsuit before getting in. In summer the midnight sun makes an eye mask a sleep-saver, while winter visitors need warm base layers and traction for icy paths. Space is worth saving for groceries and a refillable bottle, because both cut costs in one of Europe’s priciest countries.

Apart from this country specific advice, I have also crafted a general packing list that should help on any trip. authorOver the years, I've learned the importance of packing minimally. It's so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you're headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.

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🙋 FAQTravel questions about Iceland

Trip Planning

Planning a backpacking route through Iceland can be tricky — you need to balance must-see places, travel times, budget, and how long to stay in each destination. Our free personalized Iceland itinerary planner creates a route based on your travel style, trip duration, and interests, so you can spend less time researching and more time exploring.



Personal tip: I normally search on good rating for atmosphere (for meeting people) and location (for easy exploring). Cleanliness as a bonus.


Travel Essentials

No vaccinations are required to enter Iceland, and there are no special health risks such as malaria, yellow fever or rabies in local wildlife. Make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date, including measles-mumps-rubella, tetanus-diphtheria and a seasonal flu shot if you travel in winter. Comprehensive travel insurance matters more here than any shot, since hiking injuries and mountain rescues can be costly.


vaccination requirements
When I first started traveling, I often spent part of my first day in a new country hunting for a local SIM card. While this can still be slightly cheaper, it also takes time and planning.

These days, it's much simpler to install an eSIM before leaving home. Once you arrive in Iceland, you can activate it immediately and have mobile data from the moment you land — which is especially useful for ordering transport or navigating away from busy airports.

There are many providers nowadays, and price differences are usually small. I personally go with Holafly, as it offers excellent network coverage throughout the country and strong global coverage, so you can manage multiple countries from a single app.


HolaFly eSim

Culture & Customs

The most important custom in Iceland is pool etiquette: shower thoroughly without a swimsuit in the changing room before entering any geothermal pool or lagoon, and follow posted signs about which areas to wash. Do take your shoes off when entering homes and many guesthouses, keep your voice down in hot pots and respect queues. Don’t drive off-road, walk on fragile moss, build stone cairns or step over ropes at viewpoints, since damaged moss takes decades to recover and fines are steep. Icelanders are informal and egalitarian, address almost everyone by first name and value punctuality and personal space. Wild camping in a campervan outside designated campsites is not allowed. Gender equality is deeply rooted, and same-sex couples can show affection openly without concern.
Trying traditional food is always a great way to experience the culture. Here are some must-try dishes for Iceland.
  1. Kjötsúpa (lamb soup): A slow-simmered broth of free-range lamb, root vegetables and herbs. Icelandic sheep graze wild all summer, and this hearty soup has warmed farmhouses through dark winters for generations.
  2. Plokkfiskur (fish stew): Flaked cod or haddock mashed with potatoes, onions and béchamel, usually served with buttered rye bread. It is cheap, filling home cooking and a fixture on lunch menus around the country.
  3. Skyr: A thick, high-protein cultured dairy product, technically a soft cheese, eaten like yogurt. It has been made in Iceland since the Viking Age and works as breakfast, dessert or a cheap trail snack.
  4. Pylsur (Icelandic hot dog): A lamb, pork and beef sausage in a bun with raw and fried onions, ketchup, sweet mustard and remoulade. Ordered “eina með öllu” (one with everything), it is the most affordable hot meal in a pricey country.
  5. Hangikjöt (smoked lamb): Lamb smoked over birch or dried sheep dung, served thinly sliced on flatbread or with potatoes in white sauce. It is the centerpiece of many Christmas tables.
  6. Harðfiskur (dried fish): Wind-dried cod or haddock eaten in strips with salted butter. A traditional preservation method that remains a popular protein-rich snack.
  7. Hákarl (fermented shark): Greenland shark cured for months and hung to dry, with a powerful ammonia smell. It is eaten mainly during the midwinter Þorri festival, usually chased with a shot of Brennivín.
  8. Rúgbrauð (rye bread): Dense, sweet dark rye, sometimes baked slowly in geothermal ground near hot springs. Try it with butter and smoked trout or herring.
Tap water in Iceland is among the cleanest in the world, sourced mostly from protected springs and groundwater, and locals drink it straight from the cold tap. It is fully recommended for tourists, so skip bottled water and refill a reusable bottle wherever you go. The hot tap is geothermal and smells of sulfur, so drink only from the cold tap and let it run a few seconds for the coldest water.
The main language in Iceland is Icelandic. Backpacking is way more rewarding if you know a bit of the local language, so I'd suggest brushing up on the basics just in case your Icelandic skills have become a bit rusty.

Want to understand locals better?
The complete Travel Guide for Iceland includes 52 essential words and phrases — greetings, thank-yous, ordering food, transport, numbers, and common local expressions you'll actually hear.

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English is spoken almost everywhere in Iceland, and in Reykjavik, the airport, tour offices and tourist hubs you can do everything in it without friction. Younger Icelanders and hostel staff are often close to fluent, partly because English-language TV and films are subtitled instead of dubbed. Even on rural farms and in small fishing towns most people get by comfortably, with older residents occasionally a little rustier. Danish is taught in schools and helps a bit, but learning “takk” (thanks) and “góðan daginn” (good day) wins more smiles than any second language.

Money & Payments

The local currency of Iceland is ISK (kr).
Iceland is close to cashless, and you can pay by card or phone for nearly everything, from hot dog stands and campsite fees to public toilets and Strætó buses. ATMs are easy to find in Reykjavik, Akureyri and most Ring Road towns, usually at Landsbankinn, Arion or Íslandsbanki branches, which typically charge no local fee, while your home bank may add US$3 to 5 per withdrawal and some standalone machines charge more. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost universally, American Express less so, and unmanned gas pumps require a chip card with a PIN or a prepaid fuel card bought inside the station. There is no need to bring US dollars or euros, since few places accept them and the rates are poor. If you want some Icelandic krónur for small rural honesty boxes, withdraw from a bank ATM or exchange at a bank branch or the official airport exchange desk, and always choose to be charged in ISK instead of your home currency.
Tipping is not expected in Iceland, because service charges and fair wages are already built into restaurant, bar and taxi prices. Nobody will chase you for a tip, but rounding up or leaving a little for outstanding service or a great tour guide is appreciated. Some card machines now prompt for a tip, and choosing “no tip” is completely normal.

🧩 Nearby countriesNearby backpacking alternatives

📸 PhotosScenes from around the country

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Photographed by: Johan Kruseman

Experiences from time spent here

Hiking the Laugavegur

Hiking the Laugavegur

Iceland | Why should a 4-day trip be a road trip? Before our Wacky Wheels adventure in September, I decided to go for a trip on foot: the famous Laugavegur track in Iceland. The odd thing of this trip is that the entire route is known at the start, even before solving a single puzzle. Basically the only puzzle there was, was following the blue GPS arrow on...
Read more
Meeting Siberian beer hunters, world jugglers and oil tanker captains

Meeting Siberian beer hunters, world jugglers and oil tanker captains

Iceland | Iceland: how I met Siberian bear hunters, world jugglers and oil tanker captains... After my five day hike (see previous post) I was up for a 10 day drive all around the island. To earn some credits back for the numerous times I had been picked up before in my life, I had decided to take a bunch of hitchhikers on the way. But soon that seemed the ...
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We 💚 feedbackWhat to know before planning your trip

Come to Iceland for land that is still forming under your boots: fresh lava, calving glaciers and hot rivers you can bathe in after a hike. The drawback is cost, which turns every coffee and every dorm bed into a small negotiation with your budget. Backpacking Iceland suits campers, hikers and road-trippers who cook their own food and shrug at rain. If you want cheap living, warm evenings or a dense social scene, Southeast Asia or the Balkans will make you happier.

✈️ When did I visit Iceland?
In July 2019 I visited this magical island. For sure in my top-3 for spectacular landscapes. Rented a car and did the whole ring-road. Since then, this guide is regularly updated based on feedback from locals and recent backpackers (last update: 18 October 2026)

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Iceland, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



🙋‍♂️ Give feedback

👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

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