{"id":7265,"date":"2020-02-14T23:27:38","date_gmt":"2020-02-14T23:27:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/expedia.blog.ca.local\/visiting-iceland-for-the-first-time\/"},"modified":"2020-02-14T23:27:38","modified_gmt":"2020-02-14T23:27:38","slug":"visiting-iceland-for-the-first-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.ca\/stories\/visiting-iceland-for-the-first-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Visiting Iceland for the First Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

With its dramatic volcanos, towering glaciers, and tumultuous seas, Iceland<\/a> is a stunning destination that\u2019s a popular spot for travellers all over the world. No matter what time of year you visit, you can enjoy spectacular natural experiences like warm, sunny weather or the beautiful Northern Lights. If you\u2019re going to Iceland for the first time, here are some travel tips for travelling in Iceland and advice for your first-time visit.<\/p>\n

\"Group
Godafoss<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Weather in Iceland and when to travel<\/h2>\n

Iceland\u2019s weather can be extreme and unpredictable. Storms are common and the opposing forces of nature in the landscape can bring on extreme weather patterns. Summers have endless sunlight that\u2019s great for sightseeing, but it can be exhausting when you don\u2019t have the natural night and day cycles. Winter is dark and cold, but it\u2019s the best time to see the amazing phenomenon of the Northern Lights<\/a>. The average temperatures are 10 to 13 \u00b0C in summer and -17 to 0 \u00b0C in winter.<\/p>\n

What to pack<\/h2>\n

Enjoying your time in Iceland, no matter the season, depends on the right clothing. Even if you\u2019re planning a summer trip, it\u2019s good to pack plenty of cold-weather clothing, such as heavy knit sweaters, gloves, hats, and scarves. You can even purchase an authentic lopapeysa, a warm Icelandic sweater that\u2019s often used for outdoor sports and work. If you\u2019re planning to hike near Iceland\u2019s stunning waterfalls,<\/a> be sure to bring plenty of waterproof outerwear like a raincoat, waterproof pants, and waterproof, non-slip hiking boots.<\/p>\n

Book early<\/h2>\n

The secret about Iceland is out, and more and more travellers are choosing Iceland as their top travel destination. One thing you\u2019ll wish you knew is how quickly attractions and accommodation can book, so it\u2019s best to plan all aspects of your trip to ensure you see what and do what you want to. Before you go, check out accommodation options, tours, restaurants, and attractions, and book anything you can in advance. You can still leave some time for spontaneous adventures, but you wouldn\u2019t want to go all that way and miss out on something you really wanted to experience.<\/p>\n

Plan a daytime arrival<\/h2>\n

Fares to Iceland from North America are fairly inexpensive, so it\u2019s easy to book a cheap flight and save on travel. If possible, book a flight that\u2019s set to arrive during daylight hours, so you can take advantage of the stunning landscape views on your drive to your accommodation. Of course, you can arrive at night if you wish, but arriving during the day gives you an opportunity to take in more of the landscape and take as many pictures as you want.<\/p>\n

\"Aerial
Reykjavik<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How to get around<\/h2>\n

The most popular form of transport in Iceland is driving. You can hire a car and travel the open roads to get everywhere you want to go, whether you\u2019re staying in the city or the countryside. Driving in Iceland is similar to driving in North America, so it\u2019s not a huge transition. One thing you\u2019ll wish you knew, however, is that gas is generally more expensive than it is in Canada, so be sure to consider that in your budget.<\/p>\n

You can speak English<\/h2>\n

In many cases, it\u2019s important to learn basic phrases in your destination\u2019s native language. What to know about Iceland is that English is widespread and it\u2019s taught in the school system, so it\u2019s really easy to get around with English. If you want to learn a few Icelandic phrases, it\u2019s not a bad idea, but it\u2019s very difficult and not necessary for most of the destinations you\u2019ll be travelling to. You could also bring a small travel dictionary with you to be prepared.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll need Icelandic krona<\/h2>\n

Iceland\u2019s currency is krona, which you\u2019ll need to go just about anywhere in Iceland. A good tip to know before you go is to determine the best currency exchange rate possible with your bank or credit card, so you can save the most on the exchange. Most places take credit cards, so that\u2019s the easiest option to ensure you\u2019re getting the best rate and to help you monitor your travel budget during your trip. If you want to carry cash, exchange some of your currency before you go.<\/p>\n

Tipping isn\u2019t necessary<\/h2>\n

Tipping isn\u2019t customary in Iceland, which makes it even easier to travel around without cash. This \u2018no tipping\u2019 rule includes restaurants, bars, cafes, and other common places. Typical tipped positions, such as waitresses and bartenders, receive regular wages and tipping isn\u2019t the whole of their income as it is in other places. If you take a tour and wish to tip your tour guide, that\u2019s acceptable. It\u2019s not expected or necessary, but many tour guides appreciate this extra show of gratitude.<\/p>\n

Bring a refillable water bottle<\/h2>\n

With the streams coming off glaciers, Iceland has the best water in the world. Even the tap water in restaurants and hotels is fresh, clean, pure, and delicious. Whether you\u2019re spending time in the city or out in nature, be sure to bring a refillable water bottle and take advantage of the natural water sources around you as much as you can and stay hydrated. If you anticipate taking a long hike, you could even bring a few bottles to ensure you have more than enough natural water for your whole excursion.<\/p>\n

See a glacier<\/h2>\n

Iceland\u2019s glaciers are gems and a must-see on your trip. There are many ways to experience the country\u2019s glaciers, such as boat tours of lagoons<\/a> and glacier hikes<\/a>, that get you up close. Keep in mind that glaciers are fragile and can be hazardous, so it\u2019s best to book a tour with an experienced guide if you don\u2019t have a lot of hiking experience around glaciers. Guides can also provide you with travel tips to make the most of your visit.<\/p>\n

\"Closeup
Jokulsarlon Lagoon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Plan your Iceland vacation<\/h2>\n

Now that you have all the essential information before visiting Iceland for the first time, you\u2019re ready to plan your trip. Take a look at deals on Iceland vacations<\/a> from Expedia to make the most of your experience!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With its dramatic volcanos, towering glaciers, and tumultuous seas, Iceland is a stunning destination that\u2019s a popular spot for travellers all over the world. No matter what time of year you visit, you can enjoy spectacular natural experiences like warm, sunny weather or the beautiful Northern Lights. If you\u2019re going to Iceland for the first… Continue reading Visiting Iceland for the First Time<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":7269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"authors":[],"class_list":["post-7265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-destinations","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nVisiting Iceland for the First Time | Expedia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Find tips and advice for visiting Iceland for the first time, such as when to visit and what to pack for the trip.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.ca\/stories\/visiting-iceland-for-the-first-time\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" 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