Destination Iceland

Iceland travel blog: our winter road trip on the Ring Road

Before you go, here's what you need to know to visit Iceland : all the practical info we wish we'd found in one place before our 13-day road trip around the island.

PassportID cardis enough for EU citizens (Schengen Area)
VisaNot needed for EU/US
Direct flight≈ 3 hr 40 min from Paris
Time difference−1 hr from Paris in winter, −2 hr in summer
CurrencyIcelandic króna (ISK)
PaymentCards accepted everywhere
LicenseYour home license+ international permit useful
DrivingStudded tires in winter
LanguageIcelandicEnglish everywhere
Tap waterExcellent
VaccinesNone required
ClimateCold, windy, changeable
Ideal length11 to 13 days
Our budget€2,229 per person
Don't missNorthern lightsfrom September to April
TippingNot customaryservice included
PlugsTypes C and Fas in mainland Europe
InternetEU plans include roamingor Simbye eSIM -15%
Emergencies112
Country code+354
Our trip

13 days in Iceland

Told the way we lived it.

Adeline and I did a 13-day loop around Iceland, in late February and early March, driving a 4x4 on the Ring Road. The Golden Circle, the south coast, an ice cave under Vatnajökull, the Eastfjords, Mývatn, Akureyri, Snæfellsnes: one after another, the craziest landscapes we've ever seen

We were incredibly lucky: no storms, no closed roads, and northern lights on four nights. On this page, we've gathered everything to help you visit Iceland on a road trip: our itinerary, our real budget, our accommodations and all our articles.

Adeline et Bastien en road trip en Islande
The two of us
Grotte de glace bleue turquoise sous le glacier Vatnajökull en Islande
The ice cave
Lagon d'eau chaude entouré de falaises de basalte au Sky Lagoon en Islande
Sky Lagoon
Our itinerary

The map of our Iceland road trip

13 days, about 1,320 km (820 miles) on the Ring Road, counterclockwise, plus the Golden Circle, Snæfellsnes and Reykjanes. Click a stop to read the article.

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Our interactive map

Waterfalls, glaciers, hot baths, accommodations… every place on our road trip, on Google Maps.

The stops, in order
  1. 1ReykjavikArrival, Kópavogur1 night
  2. 2SelfossThe Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss1 night→
  3. 3SvínafellSouth coast, ice cave, Jökulsárlón2 nights→
  4. 4ReyðarfjörðurThe Eastfjords1 night→
  5. 5EgilsstaðirSeyðisfjörður and its waterfalls1 night
  6. 6MývatnDettifoss, Hverir, Mývatn Nature Baths1 night→
  7. 7AkureyriGoðafoss, the capital of the North1 night→
  8. 8BifröstGlaumbær, Grábrók, Glanni1 night
  9. 9HvalfjörðurThe Snæfellsnes Peninsula1 night→
  10. 10ReykjavikVolcano, Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon1 night→
Our real budget

How much does a trip to Iceland cost?

Here are our real expenses for 13 days in Iceland for two, in winter, flights included. Life is expensive there: we mostly cooked for ourselves and ate out very little.

4 458€for 13 days, flights included
🏡 Accommodation1 459€

11 nights in Iceland + 1 night in Paris on the way back: ≈ €124 a night for two in Iceland. 33% of the budget

🎟️ Activities and baths742€

Ice cave with Ice Guide, Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon, Mývatn Nature Baths, parking at the sites. 17% of the budget

✈️ Flights and train624€

Train to Paris and Transavia direct flight Orly – Keflavík. 14% of the budget

🚗 Car rental598€

13 days with Blue Car Rental, Dacia Duster 4x4, full insurance included: ≈ €46 per day. 13% of the budget

⛽ Gas434€

About 1,320 km (820 miles), with a liter at around 220 ISK. 10% of the budget

🍽️ Restaurants382€

Very few restaurants: it's expensive and not always very good. 9% of the budget

🛒 Supermarkets220€

Groceries at Bonus and Krónan: we mostly cooked for ourselves. 5% of the budget

To pay on site without unnecessary fees: how to pay in Iceland?

13days
12nights
2travelers
1 320km
≈ 171€per day and per person, all included
All our articles

Our articles on Iceland

All the articles from our Iceland road trip, sorted by theme. Pick what tempts you!

Tested during our road trip

Where to stay in Iceland?

Our tested accommodations, stop by stop, between small hotels and guesthouses, often with a hot tub. With a big favorite: The Potato Storage. All the details in our Where to stay in Iceland article.

201 Hótel (Kópavogur), notre logement à Reykjavik en IslandeHotel

Reykjavik

“Right next to the capital, handy for the first and last night of the road trip.”

  • 201 Hótel (Kópavogur)
  • Double room
  • Breakfast included
  • Close to Reykjavik
Discover the place
Lambastaðir Guesthouse, notre logement à Selfoss en IslandeGuesthouse

Selfoss

“A quiet guesthouse, perfect for sleeping after a day on the Golden Circle.”

  • Lambastaðir Guesthouse
  • Hot tub and sauna
  • Breakfast included
  • After the Golden Circle
Discover the place
The Potato Storage, notre logement à Svínafell en IslandeGuesthouse ·

Svínafell

“Our biggest favorite of the trip: an exceptional place at the foot of the glaciers.”

  • The Potato Storage
  • Our best stay
  • Equipped kitchen
  • Close to Jökulsárlón
Discover the place
Hótel Eyvindará, notre logement à Egilsstaðir en IslandeHotel

Egilsstaðir

“A quiet hotel on the outskirts of Egilsstaðir, with a hot tub to relax.”

  • Hótel Eyvindará
  • Hot tub
  • Breakfast included
  • Near Seyðisfjörður
Discover the place
Vogafjós Farm Resort, notre logement à Mývatn en IslandeHotel

Mývatn

“A farm on the shores of Lake Mývatn, chosen for watching the northern lights.”

  • Vogafjós Farm Resort
  • Ideal for the northern lights
  • Restaurant on site
  • Breakfast included
Discover the place
Centrum Hótel, notre logement à Akureyri en IslandeHotel

Akureyri

“Right in the city center, a stone's throw from Akureyri church: everything is within walking distance.”

  • Centrum Hótel
  • City center
  • Breakfast included
  • Superior room
Discover the place
Hraunsnef Country Hotel, notre logement à Bifröst en IslandeHotel

Bifröst

“A country hotel in the middle of nowhere, with a hot tub and restaurant.”

  • Hraunsnef Country Hotel
  • Hot tub
  • Restaurant on site
  • Breakfast included
Discover the place
Hótel Laxárbakki, notre logement à Hvalfjörður en IslandeGuesthouse

Hvalfjörður

“A stop on the edge of the fjord, ideal after a day on Snæfellsnes.”

  • Hótel Laxárbakki
  • Hot tub
  • Restaurant on site
  • Back to Reykjavik
Discover the place
Your questions

FAQ: visiting Iceland

The questions we're asked most often. Still have one? Email us, we'll be happy to reply

1Do you need a passport to go to Iceland?

Not if you're from the EU: Iceland is part of the Schengen Area, so a valid ID card is enough for EU citizens. Others need a passport but usually no visa for short stays. Check the latest entry requirements before you leave.

2What is the best time to visit Iceland?

Summer offers very long days and access to the Highland roads. Winter is the season for northern lights and ice caves. We went in late February: good weather, no closed roads and northern lights on four nights, but we were very lucky. Our full take: when to go to Iceland?

3How many days do you need to drive around Iceland?

For the Ring Road (about 1,320 km / 820 miles), allow 11 to 13 days. We did the loop in 13 days, adding the Golden Circle, Snæfellsnes and Reykjanes, without rushing. The stop-by-stop details: our winter itinerary.

4What budget should you plan for a trip to Iceland?

We spent €2,229 per person for 13 days, flights, car, accommodation and activities included. Life is expensive there: we mostly cooked for ourselves. The item-by-item breakdown is in the comparison tool above.

5Do you need to rent a 4x4 in Iceland?

In winter, we strongly recommend it. We had a Dacia Duster 4x4 from Blue Car Rental, with studded tires and full insurance: €598 for 13 days, with no problems at all. Check the weather and road conditions every day. All our tips: car rental in Iceland.

6Can you see the northern lights in Iceland?

Yes, roughly from September to April, when the night is dark and the sky is clear. We saw them on four nights, the most beautiful near The Potato Storage. The My Aurora Forecast app helps a lot. Our tips: where and when to see the northern lights.

7How do you pay in Iceland?

Cards are accepted everywhere, even for small amounts. A PIN code is required at automatic gas pumps. We withdrew a few krónur on arrival, but hardly used them. More details: how to pay in Iceland.

8Do you need to book the ice cave in advance?

Yes: the ice cave can only be visited with a guide, in winter. We did it with Ice Guide (glacier hike and cave, 5 to 6 hours, €187 per person): our biggest highlight. Our story: the Jökulsárlón ice cave.

9Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon: which one to choose?

We tried the Blue Lagoon, the Sky Lagoon and the Mývatn Nature Baths. Our favorite is the Sky Lagoon, with its ocean view. Our detailed reviews: Sky Lagoon, Blue Lagoon and Mývatn Nature Baths.

10Which apps should you download for Iceland?

Vedur for the weather, Umferdin.is for road conditions, SafeTravel and 112 Iceland for safety, Parka for parking and My Aurora Forecast for the northern lights. All our apps: the essential apps.

Our roadbook

Our Iceland road trip, ready to go

Le Ptit Curieux
Aurores boréales en IslandeRoadbook · 60 pages
Iceland
Ring Road · 13 days
10€

Before every trip, I prepare a roadbook with everything we want to discover. The Iceland one is 60 pages : it saves you hours of planning.

  • General info: paperwork, car rental…
  • Our 13-day road trip, stop by stop
  • Our recommendations: accommodation, activities, must-see places
Boarding pass PDFIceland roadbook: 60 pages of tipsEnter your email address when you buy (or write to us at contact@leptitcurieux.fr) to receive the roadbook quickly. The roadbook is in French.FormatPDF · 60 pagesDeliveryBy emailPaymentPayPal or card
Google reviews

They planned their trip with us

Over 180 Google reviews at 5/5: here's what our readers say about our Iceland tips. Thanks to them

We're planning a stay in Reykjavik in February and I want to thank Bastien for his valuable advice and how quickly he replied to my messages. His blog was a great help to us, with clear and accessible information.

LNLaurent NiezGoogle review · Iceland

Great road trip for Iceland. Everything was thought through, well done, it really helped us. Congratulations, what you've done represents a lot of work. Thank you so much.

VPVirginie PerierGoogle review · Iceland

It's pleasant to read, it's clear, very well documented, precise and without unnecessary waffle. A great tool for planning your getaways!

BLBenoît LabeGoogle review · Iceland

What a pleasure to follow this petit curieux day after day on this road trip in Iceland! The smiles! The sharing during and even after their journey! Thank you.

KGKarine GomezGoogle review · Iceland

Thank you for sharing your journey in Iceland. Your photos are really pretty and dynamic. You made us travel and want to go there. Well done for the hours of planning and for your detailed trip, full of information and tips.

GDGuylaine DumotierGoogle review · Iceland

A great site full of good ideas. A real gem when you're planning a road trip in Iceland just a few weeks apart. Keep it up!

SLSophie LacroixGoogle review · Iceland

Very interesting site. Useful info, experiences that are a pleasure to read… Their little extra: they know how to get off the beaten path and suggest lesser-known visits.

COCéline OlivierGoogle review · Iceland

Thanks for sharing about Iceland. Lots of very interesting information for planning our future trip.

MPMarine PedouxGoogle review · Iceland

Did our blog or roadbook help you? Your review means a lot to us

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Final word

Thanks for reading this far

We hope this page helps you plan your trip to Iceland, and that it makes you want to discover the waterfalls, glaciers and northern lights the way we experienced them. A question, a doubt about your itinerary? Write to us, we reply to every message.

Góða ferð!