by Nilmari Donate, Guest Blogger
If you are nature lover; love the snow and extreme weather, volcanoes and northern lights, Iceland should be in your bucket list. With a population of a little over 360k people, Iceland is considered one of the most beautiful places in the world and now I can see why.
Visiting Iceland during the winter is an amazing time to catch up with the northern lights. It is important to know that Iceland has about 213 days of rain per year. In order to see the northern lights, you need clear skies and darkness. If you are coming to Iceland just to see the northern lights, you may leave without the experience. Plan accordingly. Booking a tour to see the northern lights is about $75 per person.
Nature:
Going green! Iceland is doing wonderful things for the environment, besides banning plastics bags, they are also moving into have 100% of their cars electrical by 2030. At this point, 50% of their cars are already electrical. Plastic waters bottles are not encouraged. You can find free water at every place (in a cup).
Their heat comes from volcanoes.
There are about 130 volcanoes in Iceland, 30 of them are active and 3 of them are more active than the other ones who means they can erupt at any time. Volcanoes provide heat for the water in the city and people are well prepared to deal with any eruptions. 90% of the electricity in Iceland comes from water heat.
How we did it?
We booked 4 days and 3 nights in Iceland during the month of February via Travel Pirates ($599). Reykjavík is about 1 hour from the airport. You may rent a car or take a bus to the city. We decided to rent a car that cost the equivalent to $258 USA dollars for 4 days. They drive on the right side which made it easier to travel the island. Please note that gas is expensive- about $2.33 per liter or $9 per gallon.
We also booked tours for the main sightseeing places. After doing extensive research we found that the best prices for the excursions can be found in the app called Gate your Guide.
We booked the Golden Circle 8 hours tour ($66 per person). We visited the spectacular Kerig volcano crater. The Gullfoss waterfalls and the Pingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic are pulling apart at a rate of a few centimeters per year.
In 2008 there was a 6.4 earthquake that damaged a lot of properties and it was felt throughout the island. Since then, earthquakes have become part of daily living. It is normal to see more than 100 small earthquakes per day. So be prepared to feel some movements.
Everyone who goes to Iceland must visit the Blue Lagoon (tickets start at $94 and includes a towel). The lagoon is a magical experience. You can spend the entire day relaxing in hot thermal waters and getting mud masks. Really a must-do!
Important tips:
Iceland has its own currency, the Krona. Iceland is considered the 2nd most expensive place in Europe and the 4th most expensive place in the world. Come prepared to spend. Lunch can be between $30-$60 and dinner easily $100 per person. At a difference in other places, they won’t accept USA dollars at any of their places (only at the airport). You must use your card to exchange money at the airport or hotel.
Although everyone speaks English, Icelanders have their own language.
Their main source of food is seafood. If you are looking for local seafood, you must visit the local restaurant called Seabaron and try their lobster soup. Amazing!
Last but not least, be aware of the extreme weather. There is a lot of wind. Please plan your clothing accordingly for the season.
Vacation expenses:
Flight from NYC and hotel: $599
Car rental: $258
Gas for 3 days: $50-$100
Food: $300 per person
Blue Lagoon entrance: $94
Northern Lights tour: $66
Full Circle tour: $75
About the Author
Guest blogger Nilmari Donate is a travelholic. She lives in Chicago with her 3 travleholic children and her travelholic husband. When she is not traveling, she is managing her company: Happy Kids Chicago.
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