What budget to travel Iceland? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings Iceland?

Many museums offer "several museums in one"passes , so you can pay less for your visits and discover a wider choice. Check out the museum or tourist office websites.

The Reykjavik City Card is the ideal wayto enjoy the capital ! By paying for 24h, 48h or 72h (from €27 to €45), you can take advantage of numerous benefits: free transport, museums and swimming pools in the capital, and reduced-rate activities.

Icelandic nature is free, so why not make the most of it? Some natural sites, however, have become subject to a charge due to the boom in tourism in recent years, such as access to the Kerið crater, which has been subject to a charge for the past few years. Or the many parking lots that have become chargeable on the Golden Circle sites. However, the budget for these expenses remains very reasonable.

Itis possible to hire companies to organize excursions or take part in certain activities. For half-day activities, the budget is around one hundred euros. This is the case, for example, for snorkeling at the Silfra Fault or glacier hiking at Skaftafell with GetYourGuide. Some specific activities are closer to €200, such as a snowmobile or Jeep excursion in Landmannalaugar. To limit the impact on your budget, we recommend limiting yourself to one or two specific excursions that you won't be able to do on your own.

There are manynatural hot springs, a real luxury with free access. However, please be careful and respectful. Leave the place clean and take your garbage with you.

It is possible to reclaim VAT on certain products purchased in Iceland. To do this, you need to buy in shops displaying an "Iceland refund tax free" sign, and ask for your "Iceland refund tax free" cheque for amounts over 4,000 Kr (no refund without this form!). Before you leave, you can cash your cheque at the office in Keflavik airport. Please note that refunds can take two to three months.

The average price of a beer in Iceland is between €7 and €10. That's a pretty steep price! Tipping is not compulsory in Iceland, so it's up to you to decide what you want to add (or not).

The Reykjavik City Card entitles you to a 25% discount on shows at Harpa and Bio Paradís.

Admission to nightclubs is generally free in Iceland, except in the case of certain events or concerts, for example.

What budget to eat Iceland?

Breakfast. Low budget: 500 to 1,500 Kr, unlimited coffee + pastries at a gas station. Medium budget: around 2,000 Kr, hearty breakfast in a simple hotel.

Meals. Low budget: from 1,000 to 2,500 Kr, picnic, shopping at the supermarket, cooking at the campsite or youth hostel, gas station, grill or fast-food restaurant. Medium budget: 2,500 to 3,500 Kr, dish of the day in a café bistro. Big budget: from 5,000 to 9,000 Kr, meal in a traditional restaurant.

Tip: if a restaurant meal is a major expense, it's usually possible to have a soup of the day (lamb, fish or vegetables) accompanied by bread and butter for less than 2,000 Kr. And the dish is often hearty!

Alcoholic beverages are particularly expensive in Iceland, with the average beer costing at least 1,000 Kr. Tipping is not compulsory. Credit cards are generally accepted everywhere.

Coffee is a must in Iceland, often free and self-service in public places, or even at the bakery! When it's a bit chilly, it's a much appreciated "plus".

What is the budget for accommodation Iceland?

Rates have been rising steadily in recent years. However, tourism professionals expect prices to level off in the near future. The hotel VAT rate is 7%. There is also a tourist tax, which generally amounts to 500 Kr per night. Here are a few examples of summer rates (accommodation prices drop in the off-season):

Small budget: nights in a refuge, camping orsleeping bag accommodation are the most affordable. Rates for FERÐAFÉLAG ÍSLANDS accommodation range from 2,300 Kr per night for a campsite, and between 7,500 and 13,000 Kr for a night in a refuge. Light meals (picnics) and travel by bus or hitchhiking. In short, simple tourism with strict cost control!

Average budget: 20,000 to 30,000 Kr double room in a pension (often with shared bathroom) or on a farm. Frequent bus transport (package deals) and a few extras for meals..

Big budget: from 30,000 Kr to much, much more...: hotel room with bathroom, car rental, restaurants, activities, etc.

On Black Friday, some booking platforms like Booking offer discounts and special offers for several nights.

Travel budget Iceland and cost of living

In this import-dependent country, the cost of living is de facto particularly high. It is one of the richest countries in the world, with one of the highest standards of living. Nothing escapes this rule, and even the smallest item will cost much more than in France, so it's essential to arrive in the country with some savings in your pocket to go to restaurants, make a few purchases or simply find somewhere to stay and get around. Icelanders are well aware of this: tourism is a real windfall, and it's not unusual to see prices rise sharply from one year to the next. Some are taking advantage of this to increase the capacity of their infrastructure and improve the quality of their services.

Hotels are very expensive, andguesthouses, while less expensive, do not always offer the comfort expected for such a price (shared bathroom, for example). Camping and sleeping bag accommodation (in youth hostels or guesthouses) are the cheapest solutions.

Qualityrestaurants are extremely expensive, even for Icelanders, who don't frequent them very often.

As for getting around, only all-terrain vehicles offer absolute freedom throughout the territory, but they are very expensive to rent. Rental companies explain their rates by the short lifespan of their cars. But don't worry, a simple touring car will also allow you to get close to some superb sites in summer. Travel costs will be lower, of course, if you go by bus... but here again, tickets are expensive and packages are only valid for long stays (two weeks).

There are plenty oforganized excursions to suit all tastes and budgets. An excursion to see the Northern Lights will usually cost you around €30, while a whale-watching trip will cost around €80. Some tickets combine an activity and a visit over the course of a day, for example the discovery of the Golden Circle and a whale-watching excursion, for around €150.

In September 2023, Iceland planned to increase its tourist taxes to help finance Reykjavík's ecological and eco-responsible initiatives, and to help limit the impact of mass tourism on the country.