Updated on February 15th, 2021
Iceland is the most beautiful place I have ever been. Glaciers, waterfalls, fjords, black beaches, and mountains I expected, but the scale on which all of these things exist on Iceland’s Ring Road I could not have imagined. I struggle to put into words just how awestruck I was the entire time we were there. We are already planning another trip, and here are a few tips to help you plan yours!
#1 A Ring Road Trip is the Best Way to See Iceland
Most everyone I know who has been to Iceland has not been east of Vik. They have missed so much. One friend said to us, “you only need three days for Iceland! You’ll be bored!” Sure, if you only plan day trips out of Reykjavik, three days is plenty. But, to really see Iceland, I wouldn’t recommend anything less than 7 or 8 days. In fact, I wish we had done 10. The expense of renting a car and fuel is worth it. Most of my favorite stops were just random turns we took off the Ring Road.
If you are feeling extra adventurous, there are many companies that rent camper vans which would cut down on hotel expenses and open up even more options for you!
#2 Go Just a Little Further
The best advice I can provide for an Iceland Ring Road trip is when you think you have seen it, drive just 5 minutes more or hike just 200m farther. Usually, the crowds are thinner and the scenery even more dramatic for your effort.
#3 Rent a 4×4 vehicle
I know you’ve probably seen this on every other post ever written about Iceland but I don’t think it can be stressed enough. The Ring Road is nicely paved and could easily be navigated in a small car. However, all the side roads that are so much fun are much easier to navigate with four-wheel drive. We rented the smallest 4×4 available, a Suzuki Jimney, which we both loved. We were able to go on a lot of side road adventures with that little SUV.
#4 Stock up on snacks and lunch options before leaving Reykjavik
We landed in Iceland at 0430 and headed out of Reykjavik without breakfast because we kept missing the turn off for 24-hour gas stations. There isn’t a lot open at 0530 in Iceland. We were headed out to the Golden Circle and we were going to be doing it on empty stomachs. Most grocery and convenience stores do not open until 9, and some as late as 11.
Food is very expensive in Iceland but we found that grocery store prices were reasonable. I love grocery shopping when we travel! I can’t help myself and usually stock up on bags of snacks and candy. This is our must-try list for Icelandic junk food.
#5 Don’t pass up the opportunity for Gas or Diesel
We drove a total of 2400km. There were stretches of over 100km on the ring road with no fuel options. If you see a gas station and you have less than a half tank, top-up. This is especially true in the north and east. While you’re at it have a gas station hot dogs! Everyone else does and they are surprisingly delicious!
#6 Get up Early
There were many times that we were the first or second to arrive at a popular location and had it almost to ourselves. A lot of people see Iceland by tour bus, and that means that a lot of the most popular places get swarmed all at the same time. If you get up early enough to beat the crowds Iceland is a much more enjoyable experience.
If you aren’t a morning person, you may want to wait until later in the day when the tour buses have gone to their hotels, but I still recommend the early mornings!
#7 If traveling during the shoulder or off-season it’s a good idea to check if something is open.
I really wanted to see Fjoragligufur, a beautiful canyon on the south coast. We didn’t check ahead. When we made the turn-off, there was a sign saying it was closed due to thawing conditions. Needless to say, I was grumpy.
#8 You will have to pay for public toilets
Almost every public toilet in Iceland charges a small fee, usually 100-200 ISK (0.75-1.50 USD). This includes gas stations. However, we did not run into a single instance where we couldn’t use a credit card. Which brings me to…
#9 You can pay for anything with a credit card but you’ll need a PIN.
You can pay for pretty much anything and I mean anything on the Ring Road with a credit card. Toilet fees, parking fees, tiny restaurants and convenience stores all take cards. Avoid those pricey currency exchange fees and stick with cards. Unattended card readers like gas pumps will ask you to use a PIN. You can request one from your credit card company before you leave if you haven’t already.
Almost all card readers will give you the option of paying in ISK or USD. A good rule of thumb: choose the local currency (ISK) whenever you are given the choice. You may want to check with your bank for their particular fee structure. This article from Forbes has more information.
If you do get cash, be sure to spend it all while you are in Iceland, even if that means buying a ton of duty-free items at the airport. It’s never a good idea to pay currency exchange fees in both directions and chocolate makes a great “I was thinking of you” gift for family and co-workers.
#10 The Hot Water Might Tarnish Your Silver Jewelry
Many parts of Iceland use geothermal sources for hot water. It means unlimited hot water and awesome thermal baths but it can also give the water a rotten egg smell due to the sulfur. It is a good idea to remove any silver jewelry before showering or bathing because the high sulfur content can cause tarnishing. You may even want to pack a polish cloth.
#11 Your Verizon Cell Phone Will Work…Most of the Time
I had heard conflicting information about how well Verizon’s international service works in Iceland. No amount of internet searching seemed to ease my confusion. Shocking considering it is the United States largest cell carrier. Most of the confusion lies in tower compatibility.
I can confirm that as of April 2018 a Verizon cell phone will work on the TravelPass. There were very few places that I had limited or no service, mostly in the Eastern Fjords. We put one phone on the travel pass and left the other as WiFi only. We even used the phone as a hotspot a couple of times. The car rental company wanted $8 a day for GPS rental; for $10 we had a fully functioning smartphone.
#12 Check the Weather Regularly
While on the Snaefellsnes peninsula, we had blue skies one minute and a blizzard the next. I have lived in New England my whole life and I have never seen the weather change that quickly. The driving conditions deteriorated rapidly and we had to pull over due to the fact we had no visibility. The Ring Road can be steep and narrow which can make driving in the best conditions difficult. Do not underestimate how much rain or high winds could affect your plans.
The Icelandic Met Office runs a really great website and app that will give you detailed forecasts. It also has information about earthquakes and volcanic activity!