Tips for Planning the Perfect Winter Trip to Iceland!
Iceland is an amazing year-round destination for nature lovers and thrill seekers alike. So why choose a freezing winter getaway? For a greater probability of catching the elusive Northern lights of course. As well as a bunch of other awesome phenomenon only available during the colder months. This guide should help you figuring out the latest travel restrictions, entry requirements, and useful tips of what to expect from visiting Iceland. Get ready for some spectacular adventures through the Land of Fire and Ice!
Entry Requirements:
- Passport – Per usual. If you need to renew your passport, check out this site.
- Travel Visa – Most countries in the Schengen Area and the US dont require a visa for less than 90 days in Iceland. Here’s a list of countries that may require a visa.
Covid Test – Regardless of vaccination status, tourists will need to present a negative covid test taken 72hrs before departure. Unvaccinated guests may have to quarantine or take another test upon arrival however. We scheduled our PCR tests here and got the results in less than 48hrs.- Iceland Pre-registration – All tourists are also mandated to fill our a pre-registration form, which you can access within 72 hours of departure.
Return Covid Tests – Before returning to the US, it is mandatory to present another negative covid test. Fortunately Iceland offers free rapid tests which are sufficient. The results were received in about 30mins.Rakning App – It may also be useful to download the Rakning C-19 app beforehand for instances of infection tracking. We didn’t use it much but we had it prepared just in case.
Iceland Travel Essentials:
- Water bottle – The water in Iceland is some of the purest in the world. Make sure to bring a water bottle so you’re always ready to stock up on some free and delicious H2O, whether it be straight from the faucet or a glacial river.
- Water proof jacket/pants – Be sure to bring heavy jackets and pants that are wind and water proof. Just make sure they are DWR (Durable Water Repellent) so you’re prepared for any kind of weather.
- Hiking boots – A lot of Iceland’s beauty is from the natural scenery. The right hiking boots will be necessary on many of the hiking trails you’ll encounter.
- Thermal under wear – Iceland winters can be quite cold so having thermal or wool under garments are extremely helpful. Be sure to pack extra layers for those cold star gazing nights too.
- Wool socks – These will definitely keep you warm for your colder outdoor activities!
- Swimsuit – Ironically, you should also pack a bathing suit for the many hot springs there are to visit.
- Towel – Many of the local swimming pools and hot springs don’t offer complimentary towels. To avoid paying to rent one, pack your own towel.
- Power adapter – Iceland also has different power outlets than the USA. Bring a type C or F for the 230V power sockets.
- Touch screen gloves – Particularly useful if you plan on using you phone a lot!
Iceland Winter Tips and What to Expect:
Some of the best months to visit Iceland are between October and April. As long as you prepare, there’s no need to worry about the cold! Here’s some useful tip and insights so you’ll know exactly what to expect on your visit.
- Weather – The weather in Iceland is very unpredictable. One moment the sun will be shining, and the next it’s snowing sideways. Temperature on our November trip wasn’t actually too cold; it stayed in the 30 – 40 degrees (F) range (-1 to 4 degrees C). The wind was quite vicious, so dress warmly and you should be okay.
- Daylight – Unlike the midnight sun of the summer months, the amount of brightness during the fall and winter are much shorter. The sunrise in November is around 10AM and sunset was between 4-5PM. Fortunately we never had to wake up too early, but we did have to plan accordingly to maximize the daylight.
- Renting a car – If you wish to see the marvelous sights around the country, renting a car from Keflavik airport is a good option. Be sure to reserve an automatic car far in advance since most of the available options are manual transmission. Driving in Iceland isn’t too bad, but weather conditions can also change rapidly with road closures, black ice, or snowy weather. Check out this site for the latest updates on road conditions. I highly recommend getting a 4WD vehicle.
- Everything is Very Expensive – Since Iceland is essentially just a big island, most goods must be imported and therefore dramatically affect the cost. Be prepared to spend a lot of money on food, gas, alcohol, and activities. Buying alcoholic beverages from the duty free shops in the airport or packing bottle in your checked luggage might be the best way to get around an expensive night downtown. Our $20 budget vlog might help you out though!
- Icelandic People – Icelanders are very friendly, humorous, and all speak perfect English. Icelandic is one of the most difficult languages in the world so don’t stress out about learning it beforehand. Actually about 40% of the inhabitants are non-Icelandic.
- Currency – Technically Iceland is not part of the EU and uses its own currency, the Icelandic Krona. To get an idea of how much something is in ISK to USD, just move the decimal over 2 places. Don’t worry about exchanging cash since credit cards are accepted everywhere, even small vendors.
- Transportation – Many of the top attractions are located a few hours outside of Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital. If you’re not renting a car, another option is signing up for single or multi-day guided tours. They may be expensive, but also cover the cost of accommodations. The number for Taxis inside of Reykjavik is +3545610000. Keflavik, the country’s main international airport, is about 45mins away from the city center. Flybus offers an affordable airport transport service that leaves from various bus stops around the city.
- Useful Apps – Here’s a few apps that were pretty useful during our trip: OSS (for riding electric scooters around Reykjavik), Icelandic Coupons (discounts for food and activities), Hello Aurora (Useful tool for finding the Northern Lights).
These are some of the most useful tips I wish I knew before for navigating around Iceland. With the right preparation, your trip will go smoothly and you’ll have an amazing time. Iceland is a country of dramatic natural beauty and a plethora of seismic and geothermal activity. No matter your plans, you are bound to find unique and exciting landscapes. Stay tuned for more adventures through the Land of Fire and Ice. If you’re staying in Reykjavik, check out our top 10 favorite things to do in the city! Until then, thanks for reading and keep leveling up!
Checko out our Iceland travel vlog for more insights into the best tips!
