Iceland
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Votes for IcelandThe short answer
June to August for the highlands and the midnight sun, September to March for the northern lights. You cannot have both.
It is the most expensive country on this list by a wide margin. Self catering and a campervan is how people afford two weeks instead of four days.
When to go
Best months: Jun to Sep
What a day costs
Per person, not counting flights.
- Hostel or campsite$40
- Supermarket food$25
- Bus or shared car$25
- Guesthouse$110
- Eating out$45
- Hire car and fuel$40
- Hotel$250
- Restaurants$90
- Four wheel drive and tours$60
What your whole trip would cost
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Votes for IcelandHow far it is
- New York to Reykjavik5h 40m
- London to Reykjavik3h 20m
- Paris to Reykjavik3h 40m
- Getting aroundA hire car on the ring road, and a four wheel drive for the interior
- When to avoidNothing seasonally, but the highland roads are shut from roughly October to June
Nonstop times from a few big hubs, to give you a sense of the distance. We have no idea which airport you are actually leaving from. Fares move weekly, so we leave those out.
When you land
- Airport to townKeflavik is 45 minutes from Reykjavik. The Flybus meets every flight, though most people pick up a hire car.
- Cash or cardCard for everything, down to a coffee. Cash is genuinely unnecessary.
- Getting onlineBuy a SIM at the airport or use an eSIM. Coverage is good along the ring road and patchy inland.
- What catches people outWind and car doors. Holding on when you open one is not a joke, and no insurance covers it.
What not to miss in Iceland
- Northern lights, away from ReykjavikDrive twenty minutes out of town and check the forecast. A tour is not required.
- The ring road, given a weekMost people do the Golden Circle in a day and leave. The east fjords are where it goes quiet.
- A town pool, not the Blue LagoonEvery town has a geothermal pool for a few dollars. That is where Icelanders actually are.
- Jokulsarlon and the black sand beside itIcebergs washing up on volcanic sand. Five hours from Reykjavik and worth every one.
Still deciding?
🧳 Plan your trip to Iceland
Good to know
Curated with 
Nemo
Written and checked by hand. Nothing here about visas or entry rules: those change often and depend on your passport, so check an official source.