Ski where Jules Verne entered the “Centre of the Earth”: Snaefellsjökull, a beautiful, conical volcano where the author set the start of his book, and which now has its own ski lift.

You might consider finding a music store in town, sitting down with a cup of espresso and listen to some of Iceland’s new bands; or head to Kex, a seaside hostel, and catch a live show at night.

Do visit in winter if you’re keen on seeing the Northern Lights at their best.  While seeing the Aurora is subject to weather conditions and clear skies, the best sightings are in the winter months. Most excursion companies offer night trips out of reach of the city lights for best viewing.

What are the best tours in Iceland?

The best tours in Iceland depend upon what your personal interests are: are you an active adventure type of traveler or more into culture? For active adventure, there’s the year-round activities of snowmobiling, hiking, “flightseeing” over the volcanoes and glaciers, and going inside a glacier in Hosafell. A visit to the Blue Lagoon is de riguer; you can stay at its retreat, which is expensive but beautiful. There are the year-round hot springs there. You also can go up to Akreyri, which is at the top of the island near the Arctic Circle or go up to the Arctic Circle in Gramercy Island, which is a very exciting small island where only about 50 people live in the winter. In the summertime, with longer days, there are also more daylight options. 

One key consideration is if you are going to be self-driving or don’t want to do self-driving. With your own car, you can circumvent Iceland in an enjoyable manner in a matter of several days. We’d recommend a week to ten days and doing this in summer or early autumn. Later in the year, towards November, some of the weather deteriorates, and it can be really foggy and snowy, and self-driving would not be advisable. 

There are a lot of interesting things one can do if you are not doing a lot of hiking or sitting in geothermal pools. There’s one greenhouse that grows only tomatoes, and you can have these fresh tomatoes at a restaurant that has everything based on tomatoes! Ultimately, any physical activity level can be accommodated in Iceland.

How long should I vacation in Iceland?

Between seven and ten days so you can see more than just Reykjavik, which, itself, can take two or three days. In Reykjavik, you can visit the little museums and the church, though hiking and walking around the city are incredibly enjoyable as is. A TravelStore tip: Reykjavik is most enjoyed over the weekend.

How long does it take to take around Route 1 in Iceland?

You can do the whole drive in less than two days! We would recommend longer, however, so that travelers can see all that Iceland has to offer at their leisure. Also, as stated above, driving in late autumn and winter is not advised.

What is the best time to go to Iceland to see the Northern Lights?

Winter because you got much more night. Seeing the Northern Lights, however, is not guaranteed as it depends on how clear the sky is and the weather conditions. The best chance of seeing it is away from city lights. In Reykjavik, usually, they’ll put you on a boat and take you out to see the phenomenon. There is also a system now where you will be alerted on your phone that the Northern Lights are appearing.

How much does a meal cost in Iceland?

Iceland is a pricey country because a lot has to be shipped in. For a dinner for two people, with a bottle of wine, expect approximately $150, though less expensive options do exist. Icelandic bread and butter, smoked salmon sandwiches, cod dinners, lamb entrees, and more are delightful and fresh meals in the country.