Welcome to one of the most awe-inspiring places on earth, and to one of the most extraordinary ways to explore it – alone. Iceland is different things to different people, but no matter your personal reasons for coming across the sea to this remote island nation of less than half a million people, you will likely find yourself fascinated, awestruck, entertained, enlightened, and filled with a sense of wonder for all that daring landscape and culture. Iceland will take you in for what you need.
When you return from this trip – if your experience is anything like mine, and I have a feeling it will be – you’re going to be proud of yourself, and it’s going to feel good to get to tell everyone about the time you defied all the warnings and followed the song you felt in your soul to the land beyond the edge of all our far-flung imaginings. No reservation. No itinerary. No itinerary to change. It’s just you and Iceland, doing your thing. Whether you always intended to have it that way or not, this guide is for you.
Whether you’re an experienced solo traveler or this is your first time striking out on your own, this guide will provide the kind of detailed, specific advice on how to get around, where to stay, what to eat, and what to see that will have you feeling like you’re in the hands of someone who has walked in those boots before you. So — you ready? You will be. Here’s looking at you, traveler.
Planning Your Solo Adventure
One of your first steps in planning your solo adventure in Iceland is figuring out some of the basic logistics. This includes looking at flight options and coordinating with your budget and how many paid days off you have. Once you’ve settled on a time for your trip, you’ll need to make an itinerary or bucket list. Since you’re going solo, this list can include anything that’s completely tailored to you. The best time of year to visit Iceland is highly dependent on the kind of adventure you want to have. Summer is packed with adventurers and a full festival schedule every weekend, plus the midnight sun. Winter is also busy, with reduced daylight hours and limited accessibility. Spring and fall are off-season and less busy, offering a quieter travel experience and lower-cost stays. Keep in mind that Iceland’s climate varies, with less rain and warmer temperatures in the south, and more wind and milder conditions in the north.
Planning is important, especially if you’re going solo, so it might be best to set your dates when you have a clear plan. One of the benefits of solo travel in Iceland is that you don’t have to consult a group—Iceland is your oyster! One downside is that costs of things are not evenly split, such as accommodations and food prices, leading to the impression of Iceland being an expensive country to visit. In this way, solo travelers may want to budget around $250 per day, not including flights. Solo travelers need to be prepared for the worst, as there likely will not be anyone to take care of you if something happens. This includes common-sense things like checking the weather and road conditions for your route, letting someone back home know your plans, and ensuring that you have everything packed to keep you safe and warm in case of emergency. Before you hit the road, research local laws and rules about driving and camper van systems. If you plan on renting a car, check out some resources to help with research and planning.
Choosing the Right Time of Year
The best time to visit Iceland on a solo journey is from mid-May to mid-June and early September. Prices for flights, car rental, and accommodation are still at their lowest. Prices soar at the end of June through August. The weather is pleasant – cold nights and warm days – making it the optimal climate for outdoor activities. Over the last few weeks of August and early September, the colors of the landscape begin to change, allowing for breathtaking vistas. The landscape becomes lush and green in the Westfjords, and the puffin numbers decrease as they begin to migrate. Visitors decrease from June until mid and late September, and the sunlight hours per day begin to reduce.
Safety Precautions and Emergency Preparedness
Before we move on, we want to briefly touch on the critical step of safe solo travel. Iceland is an otherworldly wonderland, but as with any land of natural beauty, there are also risks in the dreamscapes. We’re not trying to scare you—we think that Iceland is an amazing place to go backpacking alone. But it would be negligent on our part to avoid this very important subject. Being aware of your surroundings (both physically and locally) and the very real natural hazards of Iceland is essential. The very things that make Iceland so breathtaking to look at can also be very dangerous. Of course, outdoor travel does always involve risks—but we’re not talking about conventional “this could be dangerous if you’re not careful” risks. At the time of writing this travel guide, we worried that many visitors and solo travelers to Iceland are not fully aware of the possible dangers. Or, perhaps, they overestimate their own skills or knowledge.
This isn’t to discourage solo travel to Iceland, but to step back, assess, and understand the risks that are being taken. Below are some of the safety precautions and emergency preparedness tips that we have learned on our numerous backpacking and hitchhiking trips in Iceland. Of course, we are not professional guides, nor are we a part of any type of Icelandic rescue organization. The advice given here is meant for you to think about when venturing out into the beauty of Iceland alone. Even though you might be traveling to hot spots in Iceland, or visiting in great weather, there are still many days in the Icelandic calendar year when visibility is zero and travel is nearly impossible without spotters or skill. Information about products is based on our use when traveling in Iceland, but every individual is different and may have unique ideas of what to pack for safety and emergency. Always verify what your equipment or service provider recommends for your intended use.
Renting a Car vs. Public Transportation
If you want the freedom to travel in Iceland at your own pace, then renting a car is likely your best bet. With your own car, you can stop whenever you want, take detours, and access remote destinations that public buses can’t. On the other hand, public transport, while cheaper and environmentally preferable, is also extremely limited in scope. Even the most comprehensive public bus service doesn’t cover the majority of the sites travelers are eager to see in Iceland. During some parts of the year, bus routes don’t run at all.
Traveling by car is the go-to option in Iceland for a number of reasons. More than 80% of tourists visit Iceland in summer, more than half rent a car, and about a quarter of self-driven tours are undertaken by solo travelers. The number of people who choose to travel by car continues to grow, largely in line with the significant increase in flights arriving in Keflavík over the last decade, and substantial development of the main tourist destinations. When you visit Iceland during busier tourist seasons—namely summer—most foreign motorists are able to complete the Ring Road without a 4×4. In any case, given Iceland’s unpredictable weather, car rentals consistently push insurance to travelers. Here is a useful list of what you can expect to pay per day to rent a car in Iceland. Remember, there are a few things you can do to negotiate a good deal on a rental, not least of which is to book ahead of time.
Navigating Icelandic Roads and Signage
Driving in Iceland can be one of the most challenging aspects of traveling in the country. The sparse population centers have meant that there are few marked roads, except around the main towns. The majority of the roads in Iceland are gravel tracks that can be dangerous in bad weather, with sheer drops or no barriers along the side of the roads. Most of the roads outside of Reykjavik and Akureyri are a mixture of graded roads and roads that have been tarmacked and sealed. The best way to travel around the interior of the country, into the central highlands, is by four-wheel drive. Here you will find the F-roads that can only be navigated with a 4WD.
It’s not essential to have a 4WD to get around Iceland, but there are certain parts of the country that require a 4WD to access. The main roads have been asphalted and are painted with center lines and edges. Single-track bridges are commonplace along popular tourist tracks. Many of these roads are only open in the summer season when the snow has receded from roads situated at a high altitude, and often many tracks remain snow-covered and closed throughout June and July. The rapidly changing weather in Iceland means that traveling on dirt or gravel roads should be approached with caution, and the weather and road conditions should be checked before setting off along any track. It is wise to plan journeys with this in mind and to keep distances manageable. There are signs warning drivers along popular tourist tracks of possible road closures, especially around certain areas and the remotest areas of the central interior and glacier surrounds. Occasional signs give an estimated opening date for the road in the summer season and after snows have blocked the road during winter. In a few instances, the southern roads through the central deserts of Iceland may remain closed all summer. Some of the main spots for road opening information include various information tunnels and roads. Rental cars should not be taken on roads marked in yellow on road maps unless permission is first sought from the car rental body.
Travelers should also note and be prepared for some fuel stations being closed, but 24-hour unmanned stations at various locations throughout Iceland are available, selling fuel with debit or credit cards. Barren areas of Iceland mean it is not unusual to drive for several hours between fuel stations. Rest and picnic areas are plentiful and well signposted, especially in the south of the country along the river. Visitors are generally welcome to stay in their cars at these areas throughout the country. Some useful tools for navigating in Iceland include a GPS system, maps of Iceland, and phrases in Icelandic for directions. The general Icelandic road map is marked in miles distance to destination and translates into approximate driving minutes. Iceland has unique road signage in the Icelandic language to help drivers navigate, and it is advisable to study these signs and their meanings before setting out on a driving expedition into Iceland. Be aware, the general trend of road signage sometimes conflicts with superlative highland ‘adventurous’ driving, and limited road signs can be found in the central areas of Iceland.
Accommodation Options for Solo Travelers
Iceland is a destination very well set up for lone travelers, and the rise in the number of people journeying here on their own has, in turn, led to accommodation providers and tour operators in Iceland paying closer attention to providing a good standard of service to those traveling on their own. For solo travelers looking for a bit of added comfort and a bit more luxury, there are plenty of very well set-up guesthouses all around the country in almost every popular tourist area. Amazingly, some places are so pretty and popular that most accommodation has been entirely taken over by hotels, guesthouses, or hostels. But that is for another section.
Your choice of accommodation will depend on the type of person you are and how much money you want to spend. Below we’ve listed the main types of accommodation available to you as a solo traveler, along with the pros and cons of each. The most important things you should think about when booking are: will I meet people here or not; how far away is the accommodation from where I want to go and getting to it? Even if you prefer your own company, be it because you’re a very important writer in search of inspiration, or just shy, don’t be entirely put off by stories of noisy hostels or unkind receptions at guesthouses – often enough, finding the right place in the right environment, whether it be luxury, quiet, or hip, is an ideal way to make sure you can balance social activities with some time out.
Hostels vs. Guesthouses vs. Camping
Another consideration for travelers, and a bit of a bridge between the bustling hostels and the quiet guesthouses, is camping. Hostels are, of course, similar in that you share the space with varying numbers of people – something that, in addition to the plethora of adventure tours and the relatively expensive cuisine in Iceland, motivates a lot of people to get out and hit the road. Staying in multiple hostels, or even just one, can provide you with lots of experiences and is, for many people, a fun way to meet and talk with other travelers. The same is true for camping. However, the experience of it is very different, both because it is Iceland and because it can be intimidating for someone who has little or no camping experience. In Iceland, camping can provide an entirely different and splendidly intimate and connective experience than any tourist hostel.
Firstly, in Iceland, you are allowed to camp pretty much wherever you like. The right to roam is written into law and means you have the right to walk or camp pretty much anywhere in Iceland, provided your presence does not cause any damage, that you’re not on private property, farms, or mass-tourist spots with keep-out signs, and you are a respectful distance from any homes, etc. This can mean, though, that camping requires a more advanced level of trust and distance than booking a room. Solo travelers should seriously consider whether the natural inclinations of their travel style genuinely align with this type of wandering welfare. Second, the country is huge and contains vast diversity. For tourists to try and define what camping the experience of 2-3 days would be is fastidious. For each traveler, Iceland camping can and may be drastically different, and we implore you to assume nothing, whatever you choose to do. You would treat five days in the Arnarstapi campgrounds in both West Iceland and the beautiful cores of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula completely differently from the journey affording extra rest, which would be camping by the waterfall mist of Seljalandsfoss for those same five days. Pricing might also, surprisingly, compare and even out. You may well find comparable prices in your search for cheaper accommodations in hostels or guesthouses to camping if you’re traveling alone, due, if nothing else, to their relative scarcity and the increased cost of not splitting a double. For those planning to visit Iceland in June, July, or August and pursue camping, advance notice is of supreme importance. A great many other types of tourists, including young solo travelers, are considering the same thing as you during that time. That same ideology extends to solo front-country campers who should likewise be discovering that it is hard in summer to find a marked-out piece of real estate to pitch their tents.
Must-See Destinations for Solo Travelers
Feeling convinced and ready to hit the road alone? Great, because it invites you to some of Iceland’s most otherworldly and breathtaking attractions! For those of you who love meeting new people and embracing city life, the capital city of Reykjavik is the perfect starting point. Reykjavik is a quirky, colorful city filled with rich Scandinavian culture and delicious food. You’ll also find a world-class bar scene, with everything from craft beer to velvety Icelandic liquors. Locals love to mix business with pleasure, so you’ll be right at home mixing and mingling with the crowd. Going alone means chances are, you’re looking to spend some time out in nature. To that end, we’ve pitched a few points of interest that are the most accessible day-trip destinations to solo travelers, unlike some grander natural treasures. The Golden Circle simply overflows with “wow” factor. As Iceland’s most popular natural attraction, the Golden Circle hits the main natural highlights you’d expect—the area is home to both erupting hot springs and humongous waterfalls. Even better, the whole route can be tackled in just one day, making it the perfect maiden voyage into Iceland’s countryside. First stop? Þingvellir National Park.
This unassuming section of Iceland is renowned for more than just its stunning landscapes. This is where the original Icelandic parliament was founded in 930 AD, making it the oldest parliament in the world. Next on the route is Geysir—and when we’re talking about geysers, here, we don’t mean the type you find in every rural backpacker place around the world. This, friends, is the original Geysir. Even though it’s stopped erupting in recent years, you’ll still get to see a whole lot of steam as its neighboring spouter, Strokkur, blows off steam every six to ten minutes. But the star of the Golden Circle has got to be the magnificent Gullfoss waterfall. This double-treble falls carries a volume of 140 cubic meters of water per second. While there’s no dedicated footpath, visitors are welcome to walk down alongside the falls for a truly up-close look. A little further off the Golden Circle’s main thoroughfare is an attraction worth adding a little extra time to your trip for—Kerið Crater, a dramatic, deep blue pool inside an ancient volcanic caldera. Assuming you’ve got a little juice left on your phone, this is your last chance of finding a geotag worth sharing with your friends on your four-day trip. Now how’s that for the perfect summer adventure! Perhaps the biggest bang for your buck, the rugged landscapes along Iceland’s South Coast show you a completely different angle of the country. The vast black-sand beaches and oversized lava formations create the perfect conditions for spectacular and dramatic water scenes—at least in the realm of photography. Throw in a few dozen grazing Icelandic horses and puffins, and you’ve got yourself a pet project for the next couple of days! The first stop is a town named Vik. You may want to hurry up—everybody with the same water-stream-lollipop taste as you are making a tour or two around the place. Make a quick pit stop for a photograph at the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach—while you’re here, make sure to pop by Basalt Column Cave. Háifoss, though a bit off the beaten path, is a great lookout for long-exposure waterfall photos, while Skógafoss is the closest waterfall stop to Reykjavik. A little further east, you’ll find Seljalandsfoss and its more elusive neighbor, Gljúfrabúi. Visitors can take a path around the local gully for a walk behind the falls.
Reykjavik and the Golden Circle
Reykjavik acts as more than just a travel hub – it’s the capital, Iceland’s most populous area, and a city of effervescent charm. Often the first port of call, there’s no need to rush through Reykjavik to begin your exploration of the wilderness. The city is as welcoming for solo travelers as the country itself. Art museums, sculpture gardens, and plenty of galleries offer city highlights. There’s no need to go out of your way to meet locals in an art museum; conversations are easily struck up in less crowded galleries. Many of Reykjavik’s best restaurants are within walking distance in the city center. Enjoy meals at eateries, then take a short walk to the Harpa Concert Hall for a performance. As you wander, be sure to dodge into the unique shops of the city center.
The Golden Circle is an extremely popular attraction in Iceland – and for good reason. If you rent a car, drive the approximately forty-five minutes from Reykjavik for quieter days exploring several different attractions. The first stop on your Golden Circle day trip should be Þingvellir National Park. Þingvellir is a place of outstanding natural beauty, with mountains surrounding a fertile plain. The valley was formed by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Nestled within this valley is the lovely settlement of Laugarvatn, with natural hot springs that are perfect to soak in on a winter day. Today, the Geysir Geothermal Area, part of the Golden Circle along with Þingvellir and Gullfoss, is home to not just the Great Geysir but the still-active Strokkur. This geyser sends a column of water exploding 30 meters into the air every few minutes. To keep a respectful distance from the other visitors and maximize your time, head to Gullfoss next, before making an end-of-day stop at Skálholt. The sight is best seen in the late afternoon light when it’s bathed in soft warmth. The foundations of the first church here date back to medieval times. In the years immediately following the diocese’s creation, the mother church of the entire country stood on this spot. You can variably choose inexpensive destinations you want to see for as long as you want to see them.
The South Coast: Waterfalls and Black Sand Beaches
Iceland’s South Coast is packed with some of the country’s most iconic natural wonders. The waterfalls here are especially photogenic and really tell the story of the contrast between the lush, green landscape, the black volcanic rocks, and the creamy mist.
A good starting point is Skógar, a small village with a beautiful, dramatic waterfall called Skógafoss. From the top of the waterfall, there is a path that leads up to the highlands. You can also visit the Skógar Folk Museum, which illustrates how Icelanders lived for centuries. Not far from Skógar is another natural wonder called Seljalandsfoss, a waterfall that you can walk behind. Just be prepared to get wet! Close to Seljalandsfoss are Gljúfrafoss, a smaller hidden waterfall in a gorge that you can walk or wade into, and the lesser-known Keldur turf houses, where there are also sheep and horses.
Continuing eastward, Reynisdrangar Black Sand Beach and Columnar Basalt is a must-see. The black sand on this beach is also something different and has a special power – legend has it that trolls were dragging a ship to land but were turned into needles of rock when they were caught by the sunrise. You can also catch a view of the basalt sea stacks Reynisdrangar. More black sand beaches with dramatic waves are located further east in Vík and Dyrhólaey. Just make sure you don’t underestimate the power of the ocean here – “sneaker waves” can catch people off guard. Similarly, if you’re a hiker, you can find yourself alone on certain trails but always maintain good judgment and be prepared when heading out on any of them.
Embracing Solitude and Self-Discovery in Iceland
Solo adventurers are a quiet bunch…literally. We prefer the internal dialogue. Trust me, the life-changing growth that comes from a quiet night on a sheep farm in northeastern Iceland, however, is worth it. To be alone with your thoughts and the Icelandic landscape is a special connection that many people fly around the world to try and get. The often-negative stereotypes about solo travelers couldn’t be further from the truth for many of us: traveling alone is how we discover our true nature and shift our internal landscape to be primed for experiencing all Iceland has to offer. The first thing on a solo traveler’s to-do list must be to let go and become present in Iceland. You might think it is a worn-out notion, but the practice of awareness and embracing the present moment is so drastically different when alone in a foreign country. Some people hearing about a whole country just dripping with mindfulness might be ready to pack their bags and book a ticket to freedom; they might be ready to find themselves…go for it. Iceland is an incredible backdrop to slowly unveil what you’re made of, and there are many stories of transformation woven into the cliffs and black shores of its unique landscape. Where else in the world could you find a secluded cabin to hole up in for a month without phone reception or bothersome conversation? You might come back changed, but you’ll be more yourself than ever before.