Iceland: Where to go and how to get around the ice and fire country
No matter what season, landing on this land of ice and fire will make people shudder. Whether it is seeing a snow-covered city for the first time in late winter, enjoying the green and eye-catching black beaches in summer, or being attracted by the northern lights when approaching, Iceland will definitely excite all senses.
However, choosing the right season to visit Iceland will not only shape the appearance of this pearl between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean, but also shape your entire travel style. For example, camping in summer will be more pleasant because the temperature is not below zero and the wind is not so fierce.
During my first winter visit to Iceland, I experienced the unique Christmas tradition – gift books and Krampus – and the vitality of the country in the New Year’s bonfire and fireworks. Although this land is magical and covered by heavy snow, it makes some places unreachable, and there are too many clouds and snow for the northern lights. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to the season, which depends on how you want to build your Iceland trip.
The best time for road travel in Iceland
Although in theory, you can rent a car in Iceland and enjoy driving adventure at any time of the year, there are some considerations to remember.
First of all, off-road driving is prohibited in most parts of Iceland, and many F-type roads (highland roads) are completely closed in winter (from October to May) — so if you want to explore inland areas, summer is the best for you.
You can drive the famous Icelandic Golden Circle route all year round, so you can decide what conditions and landscapes you want to witness on this route, and then arrange your trip accordingly.
What type of car or car rental you should take depends on your trip, so make your plan before renting a car. For example, if you plan to take some plateau roads in winter, four-wheel drive vehicles are the best choice — cars may have difficulties, and these roads are not really designed for large camping vehicles in most cases. If you are confident in driving in snow and ice, you may want to consider joining a tour group.
The best time to camp in Iceland
It can be said that Iceland is not a cheap destination – high quality of life and stable wages ensure the price, which is quite high even according to Western European standards. Therefore, one of the simplest ways to save travel costs is to reduce the accommodation budget. Of course, this is also accompanied by the unquestionable benefit of entering the center of Iceland’s most famous nature.
For most people, the summer months of June, July and August may be the only attractive time to camp in Iceland. A truly unique camping experience is waiting for you, because the sun won’t set at midnight for most of this period, so if you can’t fall asleep without closing the curtain, then a decent eye mask will be essential.
For those who want to camp in the shoulder season, perhaps to see the northern lights, you need to prepare a high-quality sleeping bag and tent. For ordinary travelers, of course, camping in winter is not recommended unless you have rich experience and preparation for this kind of adventure.
Although in theory, camping can be free, in fact there are many rules and precautions — especially around your place — for example, national parks and southern Iceland are not allowed. At the same time, in other regions, land ownership must be taken into account, especially in addition to the prohibition of off-road.
Fortunately, you can choose a large number of cheap and free designated campsites, which will ensure that you respect the magnificent nature of the land without violating any law. Even so, it is estimated that each person will still have to pay more than 10 euros per night, which reflects the generally high cost of the island.
The best time to travel around Iceland
Well, the answer is very simple, because you can participate in an unforgettable private tour all year round.
Whether you choose a multi-day summer adventure or a two-day short trip from a base, there are many operators on the island due to the booming tourism industry in recent years. The itinerary will be suitable for all kinds of travelers, from those who only want to visit the waterfall to those who want to go deep into the wilderness of Iceland.
When the weather conditions begin to change, from autumn to spring, those who are not confident about driving in ice and snow will find that taking a tour group is a first choice; Just take this into account when planning your trip to Iceland. We participated in several different tour groups in the winter, some of them were one-day tours, some were overnight tours with accommodation, and they were all ideal. For example, hotels have been booked by tourism companies, which means it is difficult for us to find our own accommodation in some of the most famous scenic spots.
Similarly, if you want to explore plateau roads when the roads are “impassable” and closed in winter, some professional tourism operators will be able to help you achieve this goal.
The best time to enjoy a city holiday in Reykjavik
Reykjavik is a small but charming capital with many wonderful restaurants, bars and attractions to enjoy. Therefore, Reykjavik is a city suitable for vacation all year round, and its popularity has greatly increased since the airlines began to offer temporary stopovers for people when transferring between the Americas and Europe.
Starting from Reykjavik, you can easily reach some highlights of Iceland by traveling or driving, such as the famous Blue Lake Þ Ingvellir national park, where the tectonic plates of two continents meet (you can dive or snorkel between them) and numerous waterfalls.
Of course, in summer, you will find that the weather is much better, while the deep winter season may be a little wet, gray and miserable for some people. However, I still like our Christmas and New Year trip very much, especially because the celebration of the New Year’s Eve here is really special. On the whole island, bonfires, torches and fireworks are burning, all of which are organized by local residents. You can imagine that this is a disaster of poor management, but in fact, it shows how respected and interesting the people of this beautiful country are.
However, one thing to remember is that the day in winter may be very short, and you may only have five hours of day — it is not a problem to enjoy hot springs in the dark, but for those who want to take photos outside all day, summer is definitely a good opportunity.
The best time to see the northern lights in Iceland
For many people, the main reason for visiting Iceland is to catch a glimpse of those magical northern lights, because they dance in the sky in a seemingly magical way. I have seen them in the peak period and the worst window period. In fact, they are not lucky, so managing your expectations will reduce your disappointment.
Viewing the aurora is not only about when you go, but also about the weather. The main month to witness the northern lights is October to March (remember, the sun never sets at the peak of summer). Generally speaking, the best time of day is between midnight and two o’clock in the morning. However, you need to pay close attention to the weather forecast (there is a special website to provide aurora borealis forecast), because you need several things to cooperate to witness their full glory; Low clouds, solar storms and patience.
The one-day tour in many cities will only be confirmed a few hours ago whether it is worth traveling, so it is planned to book it at the beginning of the holiday, so if you fail in your first attempt, you will have more time to try to witness this amazing phenomenon.
Want to find more unique islands in the world? From escaping from the jungle to exploring underwater wildlife — look at some of my favorite remote outposts I have been lucky to visit!