Visiting Iceland is something that many of us want to do, whether it is to bathe in the Blue Lagoon, explore Thingvellir National Park or seek out the Northern Lights. Although a holiday to Iceland might seem out of your budget, it is possible to save money on your holiday to Iceland. No matter what your budget, there are plenty of ways to save money and have a great trip to Iceland. Here are my top tips for saving money on your holiday to Iceland.

Save money on your flight to Iceland

Flying to Iceland can take up a considerable chunk of your budget, so any savings made here mean that you have more money to spend on your accommodation, transport or food and drink whilst on holiday. One of the easiest ways to save money on your flight to Iceland is to get it included in a stopover attached to another flight. Connecting flights aren't new to aviation history, and often flights between Europe and America have a layover in Iceland, and you can even extend the stopover by a few days, usually for free. If this isn’t a feasible option for you, then try to fly outside of peak times. The summer season between June and August is very busy and expensive, as are weekends, so you will save a lot of money on your flight if you can avoid travelling at these times. Even visiting a month before the peak season starts (May) or a month after it (September) could help you to save significantly on your travel costs to Iceland. 

Courtesy of Iceland Tourism

Save money on your accommodation in Iceland

With Iceland becoming a popular holiday destination, the demand for accommodation can often exceed the supply, making it difficult to find accommodation that offers good value for money. As with flying, if you can visit outside of the peak summer season (which is June to August) then you can save a lot of money on your accommodation. Book your accommodation as early as you can, especially if you are travelling during peak time – last minute deals are few and far between. If you are happy to stay in a hostel and you have the luggage space, bring your own sleeping bag because some hostels (and even hotels) will offer a stripped back rate for beds without duvets. You might also want to consider camping as a cost-effective alternative – not only is it cheaper than staying in a hostel or a hotel, but you can also sleep at some amazing locations. AirBNB also offers some fantastic accommodation choices to suit any budget, big or small.

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Courtesy of Iceland Tourism

Save money on transport in and around Iceland

There are a few ways that you can get around Iceland – car, bus or with a tour company. Hiring a car in Iceland gives you the chance to explore Iceland at your own pace. There are plenty of self-drive tours available, or you could even create your own itinerary. There are some important things to remember when you are looking at car rentals in Iceland, including the possibility of roads being closed due to weather conditions, and that the law requires motorists to keep their headlights on at all times. If you are planning on going on a tour then be sure to compare the prices between tour operators. You might also want to consider taking the bus to get around Iceland. There are loads of “hop on, hop off” bus passes available so that you can explore as much as you want. Depending on how many people there are in your group, it might work out cheaper to rent a car.

Courtesy of Iceland Tourism

Save money on food and drink in Iceland

Spending money on food and drink in Iceland can take up a large chunk of your budget, so it is important to find ways to save money on this necessary expense if you want to keep your costs down. If you enjoy an alcoholic drink then before leaving the airport, pick up alcohol for your trip because it is tax-free and duty-free. You don’t need to spend any money on water too – Iceland’s tap water is one of the purest waters in the whole world. You can also save money by choosing accommodation that comes with breakfast or an evening meal, as well as sticking to locally sourced food in restaurants and in the supermarkets. Even better, you can find restaurants with authentic Icelandic food, all you can eat for a set price. This includes a starter, main course, dessert and hot drinks afterward your meal.

These money saving tips for Iceland will help you to have a fantastic holiday, no matter what your budget is. If you have any money-saving tips for visiting Iceland then I would love to hear them – please leave a comment below with your top tips!

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