A tiny sample of what you'll see, courtesy of the tiny town of Vik.

A trip to Iceland is on your agenda. Check. Here are some useful tips and information to make your trip easier and more enjoyable.  For the purposes of this article I am going to break this into general tips as well as some recommended must-see and -do tips. 

General tips:

Arriving at the airport. You’ll be arriving at Keflavik International Airport.  It’s a nice airport located about 45 minutes from Reykjavik.  All arriving passengers are funneled down a long corridor which empties out into a large area where there is food and shopping.  Just prior to this you’ll see the baggage claim exit on your right. Go through the doors and you’ll head downstairs to the baggage carousels.  I have never had to wait long.  Right next to the baggage carousels is a duty free store.  I highly recommend buying wine, beer, spirits, tobacco, candy and other items here.  If you drink alcohol, buy it here.  There are limits to how much you can buy.  If you are unsure ask the clerk.

Getting to Reykjavik.  I am assuming that most reading this article are staying in Reykjavik, even if just to start.  Once you have gotten your bags and bought supplies at the duty free store, you will head out to the airport exit.  You’ll see an exit sign that will take you down a corridor past the customs officers and then out sliding doors to the exit.  The best and cheapest way to get to Reykjavik is to buy a bus ticket.  The company is called Flybus. There’s always a representative there to sell tickets.  The cost is about 1500 Icelandic kronur, one-way (~$13).  The bus will take you to the central bus terminal, called BSI.  From there you can get a transfer to reach your hotel.  Just let the driver know where you are going and he’ll help.  You can also grab a taxi from BSI, if you want to get to your final destination a little faster.  Reykjavik is a small city and a taxi ride is pretty reasonable.

Communicating.  Almost all Icelander speak English. Many speak other languages as well. I know many Icelanders that can converse in multiple languages (English is compulsory in Iceland).  Common 3rd languages are: Danish, Norwegian, French and German.  Bottom line is, language won’t be a problem.  Note that there are few signs in foreign languages. If confused ask someone.

Eating. Iceland has come a long ways on the culinary front. That said, everyday food is decent.  Eating in Iceland, at least for Americans, is expensive. Expect prices that range from double to triple.  Eating out at a high-end restaurant is expensive.  Since everyone’s budget is different, it is difficult to write the definitive guide to eating in Iceland.  I, for one, tend to minimize how much money I spend on food while in Iceland.  If you are like me, try the local hot dogs, Thai restaurants and Subway.  If you are more adventurous, look for local delicacies like lamb, puffin, rotten shark, pony and even whale meat.

Money. The local currency is the Icelandic krona (plural: kronur). As of today, the rate of exchange is 113 kronur to the dollar.  For US travelers, this is still a favorable exchange because your dollars buy more kronur. You don’t need cash, you can use a Visa everywhere – really.  I always see tourists lining up at the bank at the airport to exchange money. Unless you are dead-set on carrying cash, there’s really no need.

Accommodations. There’s quite a range of choices and price points. Good hotels are not cheap (almost nothing in Iceland is).  I highly recommend booking in advance, no matter where you end up staying.  There are less expensive hotels, as well as guesthouses, flats for rent and, for the budget-minded, hostels and other sleeping bag accommodations.  There are two youth hostels in Reykjavik, one of which even allows you to pitch a tent in the back.  Outside of Reykjavik there are a few hotels sprinkled around the country as well as numerous guesthouses, sleeping bag accommodations and camping spots.

Car rentals. My advice is to shop around. Renting a car in Iceland is pricey. Many simply don’t rent a car and walk or take the bus, or even bus tours. Unless you rent a 4×4 jeep, don’t take you rental off-road. Seriously. You will be told not to do this and it’s good advice.

Weather. Iceland’s weather is capricious. Always bring layers. Bring rain gear and good materials for staying warm. Don’t bother bringing an umbrella, it’s often too windy. On a great summer day it can be as high as 70 degrees (maybe a little more). In the winter it often hovers around freezing.  In the winter it is not the extremes of cold but the possible extremes of weather.  It can be windy, very windy.

Length of day. Expect, at the height of summer, about 20 of day light. In the winter, expect about 6 hours of daylight, give or take.  Both have their charms.  Many think the best, or only, time to visit Iceland is summer.  I beg to differ and say that winter in Iceland holds many interesting aspects and unique things to do. It just depends on your definition.  

Things to do and see. In my opinion the best thing about Iceland is the nature.  Get out and explore. Some of my favorite Iceland tours are the following:

Iceland bus tours -  lots of choices here. Most are day tours lasting from 3-7 hours. One of the most popular is the Golden Circle Tour which will take you to see Gulfs (waterfall), Geyser (Like Old Faithful) and Thingvellir National Park.

Jeep tours – lots of choices here too. This is a great Iceland day tour idea.  These jeeps can take you where the buses don’t go and are more personal.

Hiking tours - Within this category, I include backpacking, trekking and climbing and Iceland glacier tours.

Camping – in Iceland camping is very popular and for good reason.  Iceland’s outback is like a giant national park; beautiful, exotic and unspoiled.  Some of the most memorable times of my life were while camping in Iceland. That’s not hyperbole, just fact.

There’s so much more to list, so I will do just that, list a few more things to consider during your Iceland Travel adventure: whale watching, snowmobiling, skiing (all types), exploring downtown Reykjavik, nightlife in Reykjavik (it’s kind of famous), fishing, Iceland pony riding, hot springs, the blue lagoon and, in general, luxuriating in the abundant, clean, geothermal-heated swimming pools and spas.

Food expenses are always an important consideration when you are travelling.  In some countries this is not a big issue because food is cheap, or at least moderately affordable.  And, many countries offer a true bounty of food choices.  Iceland’s food scene is neither cheap nor abundant.  I know because I lived there for two years.

That isn’t to say that there isn’t good food in Iceland.  Far from it.  I have had some truly memorable meals there.  But I digress.  If you are travelling in Iceland and aren’t swimming in money, you will want to know where to go to get reasonably affordable food. 

Grocery stores
Forget dining out for every meal.  This is especially true when you leave Reykjavik.  There are numerous small towns outside of the capital city and while many of them have restaurants, they are usually more like truck stop cafes with very simple menus.  My suggestion is to stock up on supplies at the various grocery stores.  The cheapest of which are Bonus and a store called Kronan.  Stock up on the basics: bread, cheese, Skyr (an Icelandic dairy product similar to yogurt), deli meats, etc.  Buy local greenhouse-grown vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers. Almost everything else is imported.  If you have a place to cook your own meals, your options will increase.  In that case, I recommend buying fish.  It’s fresh, clean, reasonably affordable and doesn’t need any fancy sauces or condiments to be tasty.

Hot dog stands & local shops
Icelandic hot dogs are excellent.  They are made with lamb and pork and have a unique flavor that is slightly smoky and more than slightly delicious.  If you ever go to Iceland, I highly recommend that you try one – and order it with everything.  There are hot dog stands in many locations, the most famous of which is downtown (see picture).  You can also buy them at the various and even more numerous local shops.  These stores sell the basics:  candy, ice cream, sodas, pre-packaged sandwiches as well as hot dogs and hamburgers.  Not the healthiest fare but it’ll do in a pinch.  And, that is kind of how it goes with eating in Iceland.  It is not the normal plethora of choices that many are used to (especially Americans), but rather what’s available.  When you are on the road and hungry, you will lower your standards and be happy to have found a pre-made sandwich and some skyr.  Mark my words.  If it matters to you to have vegetables, buy them at a grocery store and bring them with you.  Don’t expect to find vegetables at these shops.

Fast food
There are many fast food restaurants in Iceland, mostly only in Reykjavik.  While I am not a big fan of eating at McDonalds and the like, I would recommend eating at Subway in Iceland.  You can get a reasonably healthy meal for not too much money.  A 12″ sub is about 700 Icelandic Krona, that’s about $10.  Of course this will vary with the exchange rate.

Dining out
If you want to eat at a low-cost restaurant, I would recommend seeking out Thai food.  There are many Thai expats in Iceland who have opened some good, authentic Thai restaurants.  There are some other choices but not many.  There is a restaurant in Reykjavik called cafe Copenhagen which serves reasonably priced lunches and dinners.  It is the kind of place families would go for lunch on Sunday afternoon.  Another affordable choice in Reykjavik is a restaurant called Nings.  They serve Chinese food that is made fresh and is decent but not great. 

Now that I have saved you money on food, I highly recommend that you spend that money doing things that you can’t do almost anywhere else.  Go out and explore Iceland’s beautiful nature.  Book an Iceland tour, take a hiking tour, experience a 4×4 jeep tour adventure, walk on a glacier, drink directly from a stream.   Soak it up because while Iceland may not be the best culinary destination, it does boast some of the world’s most beautiful and exotic  vistas, landscapes and unspoiled nature.  Do some sightseeing in Iceland - just bring a sandwich…