Tips for traveling to Iceland

I know you feel vertigo when planning a trip to Iceland for the first time. Iceland is a small country but full of peculiarities. In fact, the more you learn about the country, the more doubts arise. For this reason, it is essential that someone who knows the country in depth give you advice on traveling to Iceland. The first time I visited Iceland, I spent months preparing for the trip. Thanks to the following trips and the network of local people I have met, I can assure you that I know Iceland better than my city. In case you don't know, at Cómete el Mundo we have a passion for Iceland.

In this article, I want to give you a series of tips for traveling to Iceland that will help you prepare for your trip. I will explain my experience in the form of recommendations so that you can organize your trip without uncertainty or fear.

What is the best time to travel to Iceland?

You will first have to decide when you want to travel to Iceland. I always say that the best time to travel to Iceland depends on what you are looking for. I have traveled to Iceland in the summer, and I have also traveled to Iceland in winter. And you find two completely different countries. So I encourage you to read the articles I have written about both periods.

The climate is more benevolent in summer since the temperatures are always positive, and it does not snow. If you travel at this time, you will find a green country, with many routes for trekking and accessible the Highlands. But since there are practically no hours of darkness, you won't be able to see the Northern Lights.

Winter is perfect for visiting the ice caves and seeing the Northern Lights. You will be able to see the tourist sites around the Ring Road (main road), but you will be limited in trekking. It will be essential to wear technical clothing for days with temperatures below zero.

And the first and autumn are good seasons to try to see the northern lights and enjoy Iceland alone. So I wouldn't worry about when to travel to Iceland. You will always have to adapt your trip to the season.

1. Design your route realistically.

The next decision you must make is how many days you will travel. How many days do I advise you to travel to Iceland? A minimum of 7 days and no maximum limit. You could spend two months in Iceland without getting bored!

Every week I receive an email from someone who wants to go to Iceland and tells me that "he wants to see everything." In the article about what to see in Iceland, you will see that I recommend more than 50 different places. And in the personalized travel advice, I do about Iceland, I advise many more, but I always think about each person's tastes.

In Iceland, there are hundreds of waterfalls, volcanoes, and cliffs... Be realistic about the days you have to decide what you will visit. When preparing your route, I advise you to take my articles as a reference:

• Tour of Iceland in 7 days
• Iceland itinerary in 10 days
• What to see in Iceland in 14 days

And if you can choose, I would do the 14-day route.

Travel to Iceland in a camper or traditional accommodation

Do you already have the dates of your trip to Iceland? Well, now it's time to face one of the great dilemmas of the trip. Travel to Iceland by camper or sleep in accommodation? We have tried both and love both.

It must be recognized that Iceland lends itself to touring it in a camper because it is 100% natural. Our first time traveling by camper was in Iceland. It was difficult for us to decide for fear of not being comfortable for so many days when traveling by motorhome or van through Iceland. And it was a great success! The freedom you have to improvise traveling in this way is priceless. As a result of that trip, we wrote our guide to Iceland by van and a guide to campsites in Iceland.

The other option you have is to rent a car and book accommodation. Keep in mind that in Iceland, you will change accommodation almost every day because you will be doing a circular route. So I advise you to define the route you will take and then look at accommodations. The article I have about accommodation recommendations in Iceland can help you. This form of travel is great for winter travel.

Decide if you will rent a 4x4 or a normal car.

If you decide to sleep in traditional accommodation, you will need advice on car rental in Iceland. The most common question is whether it is better to rent a normal car or a 4x4. Normal cars are cheaper than SUVs, so I recommend only renting a 4x4 when necessary. By the way, we always rent cars in Iceland here.

And when will you need a 4x4? Between November and April. In those months, snowfall is the order of the day. Some will tell you that the 4x4 is never necessary if you are only going to travel the Ring Road. I don't think so. I have driven on the frozen Ring Road in winter, and the 4x4 traction has saved me from a few scares. It's true that the snowplows come by, but they only clean a few times a day, so you might find them snowy.

For the rest of the year, the 4x4 will only be useful if you want to make a trip through an F-road. 95% of the trips to Iceland can be done without going through an F-road. To go to the Highlands, which are on F roads, I advise hiring an excursion like this one from Landmannalaugar or the Askja volcano. Even if you have a 4x4, the road is difficult, and you have to cross rivers, so it is better to leave it in the hands of a professional.