First-Timer Mistakes in Iceland (And How to Avoid Them)
Tourist looking at a road-closure sign on a snowy Icelandic road
After 8 years of guiding people here, these are the same 7 errors I watch repeat every single week.
Planning mistakes
Underestimating distances. Reykjavik to Vik is 187 km and takes 2.5 hours in good weather, but people plan Reykjavik-Vik-Jokulsarlon-back in a single day and end up driving 800 km in the dark. The Ring Road is 1,332 km and needs a minimum of 7 days done properly, ideally 10. Doing it in 4 days is technically possible and completely misses the point.
Booking too little for accommodation in summer. From mid-June through August, hotels along the south coast and in Myvatn book out 4-6 months ahead. Rocking up to Vik on August 3rd without a reservation means driving on to Kirkjubaejarklaustur at midnight. Book Vik, Hofn, Myvatn and Akureyri first, then fill in the rest.
Driving and weather mistakes
Ignoring vedur.is and safetravel.is. Icelandic weather changes hourly and road closures happen with almost no warning in winter. Check both every morning. Skipping gravel-and-sand insurance on your rental — a stone chip on Route 1 costs 80,000 ISK to replace and it is not covered by default CDW. Opening your car door into wind: the door will rip off, and every rental agency has photos of this on the wall.
Underdressing at waterfalls. Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss spray you soaked in 30 seconds, then you have to drive 3 hours in wet jeans. Bring a proper rain shell, not a fashion coat. And do not walk on the black sand at Reynisfjara with your back to the sea — sneaker waves have killed multiple tourists, most recently in 2022. The warning signs are not decorative.
Money and expectation mistakes
Eating every meal at restaurants. A modest dinner runs 4,500-7,000 ISK per person and it adds up fast. Buy breakfast and lunch supplies at Bonus or Kronan (skyr, bread, cheese, fruit) and eat one restaurant meal a day. This alone saves 8,000-12,000 ISK daily per person. Also: the gas station grill at N1 in small towns often has the best hamburger for 100 km in either direction and locals eat there.
Chasing the Northern Lights too hard. They are not guaranteed, they do not appear on demand, and September to March cloud cover kills more sightings than solar activity does. Give yourself 4+ nights in aurora season and consider it a bonus, not the point of the trip. People who fly in for 2 nights in October and see nothing leave disappointed; people who came for the landscapes and got lights are thrilled.
Before you book
What people ask before booking Reykjavik.
Trying to see too much. Iceland rewards slow travel — one extra night in Vik or Myvatn beats squeezing in another region. Cut your itinerary by 30% before you land.
Yes. Search-and-rescue in Iceland is free (run by volunteers at ICE-SAR), but medical evacuation, weather-cancelled flights and rental car damage above the excess are not. Basic travel insurance costing 50-80 USD is genuinely worth it.
