10 Important Things to Know Before Visiting Iceland
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- 10 things that you need to know before your first trip to Iceland. That's what I'm all about here - trying to make it really easy for you to plan your trip!
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I am an Icelander and I really appreciate this video; especially the safety part of it. It is extremely important. It is so sad when our visitors come to harm. Be prepared and please be careful.
I always promote safe and responsible tourism to Iceland, I think it's so important to respect the beautiful land!
Someone told me the Icelandic language is the most complex and difficult language HANDS DOWN., I also heard about a man who is called a Savante - kinda like Rain Man. He was challenged to go to Iceland by the local university and show how fast he could learn it. This is unbelivable but apparently true: He learned to speak Icelandic fluently in TWO WEEKS. I need to know if this is true!!!
Im moving to Iceland in a month to work in the fishing industry, and i appreciate your country so much :) Im coming from Finland :)
List starts at 1:05
Best comment to avoid cringyness. Thanks Tiel!
Thank you
That’s a problem with this channel. The important stuff always take too long to start!
Iceland does not need to be expensive. Guesthouses are reasonable. lunch at a bakery. All you can eat soup and bread is 11 dollars. Dinner is a sandwich and a side. Breakfast is at your guesthouse. My wife and I will be going to Iceland for our 7 th trip. Do get a 4 wheel drive car even if you do not go on any f roads. A lot of roads in Iceland not paved. I will be in Iceland 10 weeks and my wife 4 and then my brother. Group travel is more fun. My plan is that if there is a road and you do not know where it goes take it. Be surprised. It is often worth the extra time. Get away for the capital area. I can go for 20 or 30 minuets without seeing another car away from the city. A lot of bridges and tunnels are one lane. Be polite as others in Iceland are. If you can get out of the car and hike. My longest hike lasted 12 hours and it was a tour. And is was the most difficult hike that I ever took. But it was worth every second. Enjoy. Ben
Great point Ben, thanks for all the helpful tips!
I just went ahead and looked at their online menus for restaurants. I'd say most restaurants are about 1.5x the price of my location. Good ball park estimate. Also as in most European countries tipping isn't really expected but a compliment unlike the US where it's expected, so that changes the overall price, too.
hi, Ben, you reccomend 4x4 at all times? My plan is to visit Dettifoss from Reykyavik, and then vik and Hekla and also those peninsular she mentioned in the vide- do i really need a 4x4? i am only going to saty on the main roads :)
I am leaving for my first trip to Iceland on Monday and so I have been watching your videos all day today to prepare! Thanks for making your videos so fun and informative. Much appreciation coming from Seattle!
So happy to help, have a great trip!
I love your channel. Learning so much about Iceland. We are so excited for our upcoming family trip.
Jeannie, I just returned from an eight-day stay in Iceland and cannot tell you how vital your videos were in helping me plan and ultimately enjoy my stay. Thank you for your good work here! I had a blast (though I would definitely not recommend the Blue Lagoon unless you are of a certain age--old--heh heh).
Thank you for the kind words, I am so happy you enjoyed your trip!!
This is super helpful!! Thank you:)
Aw i loved this video so much... so excited to visit next month
Dear Iceland please keep her - sincerely America
Thank you for being a fan!!
I just found your channel by chance and am totally a fan now! Your passion is so inspiring. Thank you for loving what you love and for sharing that with the world.
Dear America please band Des Troya from Iceland and any other country, until he can be a nice a person again!!
Thank you for the information Jeannie!! Me and my best friend are visiting Iceland in October for a week and a half, and we are staying in Hafnarfjörður!! Your videos are definitely going to be helping us!
You are so welcome! Happy to help! I hope you have the best trip ever!!
I’ve only been to Iceland once (last October) but It was the best country I’ve ever visited. Thank you/Þakka þér fyrir from the United Kingdom!
Thank you so much for all the info I’m bringing my best friend there in two weeks exactly for vacation for a week and you’ve been very helpful can’t wait to see the beauty and for the culture exposure😄
How was your trip?!
Thank you a lot for the tips of Iceland!! Its around the top of the list of places i want to travel!!
You're so welcome! :)
Going to be in Iceland for some vacay thanks for the tips !
I leave for my trip September 16th. We will be there for 8 days. We are still trying to figure out how we want to spend our time. Thanks for all the videos!
I so wish I'd seen this video before going to Iceland last week--great tips!
My biggest complaint of my whole experience is that there was NO SIGNAGE that we saw warning travelers that that downed WWII aircraft was nearly two miles away from the parking lot. And I realize this is a very minor complaint. I loved Iceland! But such a long hike in such a freezing cold and windy remote landscape could be very dangerous.
There is probably no signage since you were trespassing on somebodies land and every now and again there are news about the landowner trying to close of the area for trespassers (tourists) and it is always ripped down again.
Makes sense.. though when we were there the parking lot and gate seemed deliberate.
I was recently there and the lot and gate are definitely deliberate. I also remember seeing one or two signs indicating distance/walking time, but they were easy to miss. From the reading I did, I learned that the road used to go all the way to the wreck, but in an attempt to help preserve the landscape the landowner setup the lot by the road and turned the old road into a walking path. Inconvenient, but preservation often is.
Love Your Channel Jeannie Just Subbed So Looking Forward To Seeing More :-) Thanks
Hey, I have got a question:
I am going to travel iceland for 3 weeks without a car, only my backpack and I. So I am dependent from public bus trafic. Is it possible to do the ring road by public bus transport and hopping from station to station?
Thanks a lot, your videos really helped me. :)
All your videos are so helpful. Thank you very much!
Thanks for the sweet video! We're heading to Iceland in two days and we're very excited to experience it for the first time. Love the tip about water. My husband is a water snob 😂 It sounds like he's gonna love it there!
Very helpful...thank you for your video. Keep up the great work. Looking forward to seeing glaciers, waterfalls etc etc.
You are so welcome and Thank you so much for your kind words!:)
About time fam 👍
I love the little dance in the beginning. haha so funny
You‘re so sympathetic and cute 🥰 I love watching your videos while preparing for my Iceland trip 🤍
I'm glad I found these videos because I'm flying there Monday!
How is your trip?!
Amazing! I literally just woke up in Vik and going for a jog on the beach now! Might be the most beautiful piece of land I've ever seen
Hi, I am planning a trip to Iceland right after Christmas '18. Realistically, how far can you drive in a few hours during the winter? I have a basic itinerary planned, and the distances do not seem that far apart (1-2 hours) , and what services are open on new years eve, New Years Day and so on?
3 minutes into this video and I need to get to Iceland in 2022. Happy New Year! X
I love your videos. Sometimes they are more entertaining than regular TV. I may be watching too much though. I'm a Physical Therapist and I've been noticing that more and more when I start someone's treatment I'm saying "Let's get into it".
🤣this just made me laugh out loud, thanks Terry! The real problem would be if you start calling your patients "Team Iceland"
Good Information. Thanks I’m going to Iceland for the first for Mother’s Day weekend from Thursday-Thursday. I’m trying to figure out what type of clothes to take with me. I’m meeting my sister who’s from San Diego and I’m traveling from Memphis TN.
Hi I'm travelling to iceland for the first time in December (14th for 3 nights) I've been watching your videos and they are amazing and so helpful. My question is given that there is only 4 hours of daylight at the time I'm visiting what tours would you recommend. So far I've got northern lights and golden circle tour and south beach (vik) and like the idea of visiting an ice cave. Would there be any point in visiting the ice caves when it's dark? (During the daytime) due to the long periods of darkness? If you could recommend anything else that would be greatly appreciated!
Would love some tips about proper clothing and gear you recommend for all seasons (winter & winter-ish ;-)
Hello! My husband and I are planning on camping around Iceland in September. Do you have any camping tips or apps you could share with us? This is our first time traveling to Iceland.
I'm Shaheen from Emirates thank you for this video it's beautiful
love your info and presentation
Thank you so much for watching! :)
Thanks for the tip. The pronunciations was very helpful.
Great to hear! I'll have to put up a pronunciation video soon :)
Hello. Ever since I heard about the famous Aurora Borealis, I was then 15 years old. I really wanted to visit Iceland! Even just a day. It's the most expensive country, but still hoping for a future in Iceland!
Thank you for your video. When it comes to cash for showers, laundry, tipping, etc. what would a safe amount to have?
Someone told me the Icelandic language is the most complex and difficult language HANDS DOWN., I also heard about a man who is called a Savante - kinda like Rain Man. He was challenged to go to Iceland by the local university and show how fast he could learn it. This is unbelivable but apparently true: He learned to speak Icelandic fluently in TWO WEEKS. I need to know if this is true!!!
Thank you! You're amazing!
Happy to help Andreea :)
Fantastic and helpful stuff! I am planning to cycle in Iceland starting at the end of May and for one month. My question is about camping. I will be bringing my own tent but to be honest I am reluctant about booking a camping spot ahead of time in case I cannot cycle to the intended campground. Can you tell me whether campgrounds typically have space for cyclists there without reservations?
thanks for the video really helped
You're so welcome, happy to help!
Im planning to take the ferry and bring my own car for an iceland roadtrip!
Are most cars suitable for Iceland? Or does it require some specific things
Also many Icelanders go to Britain to study. Which makes their English even better.
I am in the process of planning our first trip to Iceland in March 2020. I have used your fun videos to educate myself and my whole family. I would like to celebrate your subscriber accomplishment by receiving an ebook! By the way, tomorrow is my birthday soooo your ebook would be a wonderful present. Just a suggestion
I love to go there and to live in Iceland 🇮🇸
Hopefully you can visit - it's the best!
I hope you are wealthy. Housing and food are very expensive.
🇮🇸❣️from Bangladesh 🇧🇩
Can you please let me know if you would recommend getting GPS when renting a car?? Can you get around easily without GPS? Thanks
Hi, love your videos, were heading to Iceland next week, can you help? How much are microspikes in Iceland? There pretty expensive here in the UK,?
Planning on going next year for the first time.
I’m going to meet my boyfriend in Iceland I a few weeks and I’m really glad I found this
One day I hope to visit Iceland -- So many natural wonders! I've been reading the Poetic Edda, and am fascinated by Norse Mythology, I hope to find a destination where like-minded people gather to experience the old ways. Listen to story tellers. I would imagine there must be a "Viking mead hall somewhere on the island. On a side note, you're very beautiful :)
Johnny you should join the fb group Iceland - travelers tips. Very helpful too. People even lose their belongings and find it thru the group.
im currently studying Japanese along with icelandic. its so much easier compared to the former! :]
oh wow good to know! Good luck :)
Wow, Iceland looks like SUCH a beautiful country in places.
It really is, the most beautiful place I've ever been to!
thanks babe for the explanation I am going to Iceland for 3 days at the end of this month, its not snowing yet right ??
You never know! ;) Thanks for watching!!
Jeannie, my wife is very sensitive to cigarette smoke. Is there smoking in restaurants and other indoor venues? We love your videos, thanks!
Hoping to come to Iceland this November (first holiday abroad :) ) how is everything at the moment with covid? Also is there somewhere to hire a car in Reykjavik City Airport? Thank you from North Wales xx
We are going at the end of July. We have 3 nights in Reykjavik. One day is at the volcanic spa. What else would you suggest?
Thank you for your videos!
I plan to come but my plans may be greatly affected by the fact I'm almost certainly gonna be on my own and have a visual impairment. Then it's trying to pick the right time to go and do what I want to see and see the northern lights.
Hello thank you for information I have good idea after this video I change my opinion
what are the months and places that are more safe to walk etc.,
Is it cheap-ish to buy fruit and veg from store/markets instead of eating out?
Definitely on my bucket list thanks!
is there any water on hikes / streams that isn’t safe to drink? i’m thinking specifically laugavegar trail
This was very informative, not really understanding the criticism. I visited Iceland this past May. We did it on a budget, rented a reasonable priced airbnb. Cooked all of our meals, brought groceries in a carry on bag to save in cost. We packed sandwiches everywhere we went. (People take your garbage with you and dispose of it properly! )
I could not afford to rent a 4 wheel drive, a tiny little car took us around the Golden Circle, no problem at all. They tried to sell is sand and ash insurance in May, not needed. Do your research.
With regards to safety, we drove quite a bit to visit a black sand beach that was closed 😕 we then looked up some videos on CZcams. My goodness, some of those beaches can be dangerous!
Glad to hear you had such a great experience in Iceland, Nuria!
Re: the difficulty of language, I'll take no issue with you BUT, have you taken the time to learn any songs? (Just a dozen or so. Learned by cold muscle memory, even before you know what they mean.) The right choices (ask a local) can probably give you tons of recombinable sentences with all the grammar built in already. Once you know 'em, you can mix-n-match them with any new vocabulary you learn. And, of course, if you get them right off records -- and use your ears more than your eyes -- you'll get close to all the odd sounds without converting from what you [think you] know already.
It might not work for everyone, but every opera singer I know (and I know a few) can manage in Italy, Germany and often France or Russia, since they've usually done a whole show or two in one of those languages. It worked for me as a kid, too.
I'd love to take a ukulele to a bar where there's a band playing, and ask the members to teach me a lullabye. It might even have a recognizable melody, since it's west European, and melodies travel fast and easily. Good substrate to lay your words over. If you never tried it, give it a shot and let us know how it went.
On the money front: is there any talk of Bitcoin there?
I love your channel. I love Iceland was there in 2015. Want to go back in 2024.
I'm glad you enjoy my channel!
I am icelandic,thank you = takk fyrir , hello = halló , yes,no = já,nei
I will be visiting your country in June. Any summer related suggestions?
OMG, I LOVE your channel! Your unbridled enthusiasm is making ME want to move to Iceland!
Got interested bc ex-gf is Icelandic. Ironically, she's never been there, hah! Rock on, mon amie nouveau :)
ahhhh this makes me so happy thank you! I hope you get a chance to visit Iceland someday, it's magical :)
I will be there April 20. Hope a 2wd small car will be ok to drive the golden circle etc . We will be there 3 nights.
You get a better conversion rate if you get money from the atm instead of a conversion house or the airport
Hi Jeannie, Is there any coach service in Iceland. In UK we have National express which is a coach service runing between the "big" cities. Is this something I can find in Iceland, please?
Thanks I will try to say vik the right way
Coming to Iceland in October..Is this an issue? will be there for 6 nights..what would be the best to see in that amount of time?
Donald Forman me too!
The number 1 thing you need to know is that the prices are nuts for some things...most things and good for others. I was sorta left wondering what sort of salaries Icelanders take home cause it must be pretty nice given the cost of living.
We are planning a 7 days trip to Iceland at the end of May beginning of June and will be covering the south of Reijavik. We rented a car and booked the hotels, except of for one day that we are still undecided if we should go to the Islands or the highlands or to the west. Questions : 1) what would be best to do on that extra day: west. Highlands or the Islands, 2) do we need to make reservations to go the touristic attractions ? 3) Alhough we feel comfortable driving ourselves ( a private tour was way too expensive) , we would like to hire a tour guide when visit the attractions to learn about each place. Is it possible to hire a tour guide even when we do not need the transportation? and if so how do we do it?
Hi Daisy! I'll try to be concise in answering all of your questions but you may find A LOT of helpful information (and more!) on my website ~ icelandwithaview.com ~ 1) My recommendation is West Iceland: Hraunfossar, Barnafossar, Into the Glacier, Krauma Spa // 2) You do not need reservations for many of the tourist attractions, however, you will need reservations for certain restaurants/dining experiences, lagoons, and tours/excursions (like glacier hiking, ice caving, horse riding) // 3) I am not aware of any tour guides that will meet you on site for general sight seeing, however, you can book a walking tour of Reykjavik with a guide, and you'll have a guide for excursions (like glacier hiking, ice caving, horse riding). Guides for places like the Golden Circle and the South Coast are usually only provided when you book a day trip with pick-up in Reykjavik // You can browse and book tours here: icelandwithaview.tourdesk.is/Tour
Do you think I should bring a water bottle that has a carbon filter? Ie. Is the water so good that if I bring a filter it will filter out all the goodness?
No filters are necessary, but you can certainly bring them if you prefer it. The water is awesome!
Awesome video, as always. :)
We are planning to visit Iceland with my 9 year old daughter in August. Do you have any tips for travel with kids? Thanks in advance
Hi there! Yes! Check out my website where you can browse all sorts of video topics, blogs, packing lists, and I've also got guidebooks+digital maps, pre-written itineraries, and custom itinerary planning services ~ icelandwithaview.com/ ~ Start here with my video about how to plan a trip to Iceland with kids: icelandwithaview.com/iceland-kids/
Love your blog and already used the discount code to book a Blue Car Rental for the summer trip.
Is it possible to fill up water at the gas station? I heard from travellers who've been Iceland that after Vík one should buy bottled water as the gas stations are mostly unmanned from that point onward. Where else can you fill up water apart from before you leave your last accommodation? We won't be doing much hiking as it's only about 3-day trip.
It is true that most fuel stations will be just a pump. Some gas stations will have water to fill up, but there are SO many streams that you will see - so pull completely off the road and fill up in a stream!
Thanks Jeannie. Stream it is.
Thank you so helpful,we arecoming to visit in May. What are the best grocery stores to visit wnem there
Number eleven: don't bother the elves. If you're respectful, they'll keep to themselves, or even help you out. If not, well...
Can you rent a camper van and then if one day you want to experience a hotel or specific guest house, also do it ? Like drive up to the accomodation in your camper and stay over night? Also what is better a camper or a motorhome???
Of course! Sometimes a girl just needs to sleep in a real bed! Parking your campervan at a hotel/guesthouse should be NO problem. Regarding a campervan or a motorhome... it depends on your preference and experience with both. A campervan is easier to drive because it is generally smaller and narrower but it's also less equipped with comfort stuff.
@@IcelandwithaView Can you drive up to Reykjavik and explore the city with a campervan? Like, for example, let's say it is my first day in Iceland i pick up my camper and I head over to the city to explore it. Can I park my van at the local city parking lot to explore the shops without getting a ticket or even visit the blue lagoon and park it at the parking lot while I am i finish my blue lagoon visit? Also, I searched happy campers for our time there and most campers are all booked, is there another local company that is comparable to happy campers that you would recommend and use yourself? Do you recommend buying the camper card site ahead of time or just paying right there and then when you get to the campsite? Also, I am traveling the very last week of April into the first week of May, do you think I should rent a 4x4 camper or a FWD would be just fine? I ask because you said in some of your videos that the weather can be unpredictable and that we could experience ice and snow, in that case wouldn`t it be safer to get a 4x4 camper ? I appreciate your experience and responses !!! Thanks in advance!!!
Is it possible to do the ring road without a 4WD? And we also want to go to „little island“ (kirkjuefell) and this is not the route nr. 1 (I think its nr 54 & nr 56) and I can‘t really find any information. Can we drive this route with a 2WD?
thx for al the tips😊
You don´t need 4WD to drive the ring road, only if you are driving off road and driving off road is illegal anyway. Kirkjufell is in the northern part of Snæfellsnes and there is a fine road to there (don´t know what little island is referring to since Kirkjufell means Church mountain in einglish).
Kiddy's info is correct - you don't need a 4wd to drive to Kirkjufell or the ring road, but I always suggest a 4wd if you're traveling in the winter.
We are taking our 10 year grandson to Iceland this July. He is interested in geology. What are the best places to visit for an adventurous 10 yr old?
I would say the Snaefellsnes peninsula and the South coast - FULL of things to see!
I'm from iceland 😊❤
Hi Jeannie! I don't know Icelandic language, but to explain the double L, do you remember Sid the Sloth in the animated movie Ice Age? Shid the Shlothsh. That's what the double L reminds me of. :) Hope that helps some people!
Is there no concern abut Giardia or Cryptosporidium in the water from the streams?
How expensive is expensive? Different articles I read give me different answers. If I’m visiting frm NYC is it just as expensive or a bit more?
Good question! I suppose it's matter of perspective, some travelers may find it expensive, some may not. I'm sure it mostly depends on what you are accustomed to.
The volcanoes it's like you know before volcano and it's child in the news then everyone knows and yeah it's like that so you don't need to worry about it but yeah it's true it's really much of a waterfalls and yeah you need to be careful about them but you don't need to worry about the volcanoes but yeah it's true what you're saying but yeah
I live in Akureyri in Iceland
Is it easy to get a laundry to wash clothes? Should I pay for that in cash?
Thanks for the tips! About dangers, there's predators in Iceland? (i.e. Bears in National Parks in Canada). Kind regards
No.. no bears. A few polarbears have come over from the artic when the Ice has melted and landed somewhere on the north side, but that is very uncommon, like 3 in my 35 years! There are foxes and minks in the mountains.
Go shopping in "Bónus" that's kinda expensive
Hi, can i stay at your home ? I will be visiting in may 2019
i have family in Iceland id save lots staying with my big sister
Jeannie, do they drive on the right side of the road? or left side, like the English?
Right side of the road!
Are you referring to English as America? If so, we drive on the right, not left.
No. English as in from England. People from England (That's in Europe btw) drive on the left. People from America are usually called americans.
Visiting from 3 October to 12 October full ring road road trip please suggest itinerary
Thank you for watching! If you can't wait, check out my Ring Road Ebook! :)
have to agree about cash. we spent a week in Iceland and never saw a Krona. you can even pay for the bathrooms with a credit card.
I love Iceland
I actually disagree with the point to plan ahead. Especially because Iceland is so unpredictable. You never no what's coming up next, whether you will be stuck in a snowstorm or just spent more time at a certain place than you plannend beforehand. So it is good not to plan that much to be flexible. And as far as I experiencend (I am German, lived in Iceland for 1 year and was traveling a lot) it is so easy to find an accomodation in Iceland and get from A to B, because Icelanders don't like to plan as well. They depent more on the weather and nature than any other country I'd say, so you really have to be flexible and spontaneous in Iceland. Of course, you should look a little bit how far you want to travel each day and in which area you want to stay, but it's best to book your accomodation in the morning and just get there in the evening, because you can check the road conditions and weather forecasts in the morning so you can plan a little bit how far you can go. If you plan weeks or months ahead your plan will mostly not work. And now what an Icelander would say: ÞETTA REDDAST (It will work out!)
Thank you for your input! I definitely disagree with you, I have seen accommodations sold out in main tourist areas and others charging 5x the normal amount because they are in such high demand. It has nothing to do with the Icelanders not planning ahead, it has to do with the amount of people traveling to Iceland vs. the availability of places to stay.