Iceland Travel Guide: Everything You NEED TO KNOW Visiting Iceland
Summary
TLDRIn this episode of Hopper TV, the host discusses the affordability and attractions of visiting Iceland, highlighting the high cost of taxis and the benefits of renting a car. He covers the unique phenomena of the midnight sun and northern lights, the volcanic activity, and the island's natural beauty. The video also touches on transportation options, local currency, the friendly nature of the people, and various activities available, including the Golden Circle and South Coast tours. The host recommends packing appropriate clothing for the unpredictable weather and trying local cuisine, while also noting the vibrant nightlife and the importance of respecting local culture.
Takeaways
- 🚖 Taxis in Iceland are expensive; it's more affordable to rent a car for transportation within the city.
- 🏨 Accommodation options like hotels and hostels are reasonably priced, but the average hotel cost is around $200 per night.
- 🌍 Iceland is known for its natural wonders like the midnight sun in summer and the northern lights in winter, and its geothermal activity.
- ⏱ In the winter, Iceland gets as little as five hours of sunlight in December, with the sun rising late and setting early.
- 🌞 In summer, there is almost continuous daylight, even affecting sleep due to the light peeking through blackout curtains.
- 🚗 For transportation, rental cars are recommended due to the high cost of taxis, and buses are a more affordable alternative.
- 💰 Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Iceland, with Mastercard and Visa being particularly common, though American Express is less so.
- 🌐 The local currency is the krona, not the euro, and 2000 krona is approximately equivalent to $20 USD.
- 🏞 Iceland has a diverse population with a mix of Scandinavian ancestry and immigrants, particularly from Poland.
- 🧳 When packing for a trip to Iceland, bring weatherproof hiking boots, a light raincoat, and warm layers as the weather can be unpredictable.
- 🎉 Iceland is known for its vibrant nightlife, with lively music and social scenes that continue into the early morning hours.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video script?
-The main topic of the video script is to provide information about things to know when visiting Iceland, including affordability, transportation, weather, and activities.
Why is it suggested to rent a car instead of taking a taxi in Iceland?
-It is suggested to rent a car instead of taking a taxi in Iceland because taxis can be very expensive, with the cost of a taxi ride within the city limits of Reykjavik potentially matching the daily cost of a rental car.
What is the average price for a hotel stay in Iceland according to the script?
-The average price for a hotel stay in Iceland is around 200 dollars on the low side.
What is Iceland known for, apart from the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun?
-Iceland is also known as the land of fire and ice due to its volcanic activity, and it has a rich natural landscape including glaciers, fjords, and waterfalls.
How many hours of sunlight can one expect in December in Iceland?
-In December, one can expect a maximum of five hours of sunlight in Iceland.
What is the most affordable way to get from the airport to Reykjavik according to the script?
-The most affordable way to get from the airport to Reykjavik is by taking a bus, such as the Fly Bus, which can cost around 40 to 50 dollars.
What is the currency used in Iceland?
-The currency used in Iceland is called the krona, not the euro.
What percentage of Iceland's residents are immigrants?
-About twenty to thirty percent of Iceland's residents are immigrants from other places.
What is the weather like in Iceland during the summer?
-During the summer, Iceland experiences long daylight hours with almost continuous light, even at night, and the weather can be unpredictable with rain and cold temperatures.
What are some popular activities for tourists in Iceland?
-Popular activities for tourists in Iceland include seeing the Northern Lights in winter, visiting volcanoes, exploring fjords, whale watching, and visiting hot springs like the Blue Lagoon.
What is the recommended attire for someone visiting Iceland?
-Recommended attire includes hiking boots, a light raincoat, possibly long johns for warmth, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen due to the bright sun.
What is the name of the tour company mentioned in the script?
-The tour company mentioned in the script is called Troll.is.
What is special about the nightlife in Iceland?
-Iceland is known for its lively nightlife with loud music, pubs, and clubs that stay open late, and a party atmosphere that continues even with the Midnight Sun.
Outlines
🚗 Transportation and Cost Considerations in Iceland
The first paragraph of the video script discusses the affordability of visiting Iceland, emphasizing the high cost of taxis and the more economical choice of renting a car. It mentions that a rental car can cost around $135 per day, which is cheaper than taking a taxi within Reykjavik city limits. The script also touches on the high prices of hotels and food, with an average hotel room costing a minimum of $200, and the wide range of tour prices from $100 to $200. Additionally, it highlights Iceland's natural attractions, such as the midnight sun in summer and the northern lights in winter, and the country's nickname 'Land of Fire and Ice' due to its volcanic activity.
🌞 Sunlight Hours and Icelandic Demographics
This paragraph delves into the unique daylight conditions in Iceland, with only five hours of sunlight in December and almost continuous daylight during the summer months around the summer solstice. It also addresses transportation options, including the cost of airport transfers, the availability of buses, and the convenience of domestic flights for exploring the country. The script notes that while the local currency, the krona, is used, credit and debit cards are widely accepted. The demographic makeup of Iceland is also discussed, with approximately 20-30% of residents being immigrants, predominantly from other EU countries, and the majority having Scandinavian ancestry.
🧳 What to Pack and Expect When Visiting Iceland
The script provides practical advice on what to pack for a trip to Iceland, recommending hiking boots suitable for various weather conditions, a light raincoat, and warm layers due to the unpredictable weather even in summer. It also suggests bringing a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect against the bright sun. The paragraph discusses the various activities available, such as viewing the northern lights, exploring volcanoes, visiting fjords, whale watching, and enjoying the numerous waterfalls and hot springs. The script also mentions the local cuisine, highlighting dishes like lamb, salmon, herring, and the popular Icelandic hot dog.
🎉 Nightlife and Culinary Experiences in Iceland
The final paragraph focuses on Iceland's vibrant nightlife, with lively pubs and clubs that stay open late into the night, especially during the summer months when the midnight sun keeps the nights bright. The script describes a typical Icelandic dining experience at a local restaurant, featuring fresh seafood such as salmon and herring, and mentions the famous Icelandic hot dog. It also provides a glimpse into the accommodations, showcasing a comfortable hotel room in the city center, conveniently located near attractions and dining options.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Affordability
💡Midnight Sun
💡Northern Lights
💡Land of Fire and Ice
💡Transportation
💡Krona
💡Local Cuisine
💡Tours
💡Nightlife
💡Weather
💡Respectful Tourism
Highlights
Taxis in Iceland can be very expensive, making it more affordable to rent a car for personal transportation.
The average cost of a hotel in Iceland is around 200 dollars per night, with hostels being a more budget-friendly option.
Iceland is known as the land of fire and ice due to its volcanic activity and glacial landscapes.
In winter, Iceland experiences only five hours of sunlight in December, with the sun rising at 11 a.m. and setting around 3 or 4 p.m.
During summer, Iceland enjoys nearly 24 hours of daylight, especially around the summer solstice in June and early July.
Transportation in Iceland is best managed by renting a car due to the high cost of taxis and the convenience of traveling at one's own pace.
Icelandic currency is the krona, not the euro, with 2000 krona being approximately equivalent to 20 US dollars.
Approximately 20-30% of Iceland's residents are immigrants, with a significant number of Polish immigrants due to Iceland's EU membership.
Locals in Iceland are generally friendly, but tourists can sometimes be the most difficult to deal with, displaying a lack of respect for local customs.
Iceland offers various natural attractions such as fjords, glaciers, and waterfalls, as well as historical sites related to early settlers like Leif Erikson.
Whale watching and visiting hot springs are popular activities for tourists in Iceland.
Local hot springs outside of tourist hotspots can provide a more authentic experience without the crowds.
Icelandic weather can be unpredictable, with summer temperatures sometimes requiring a jacket despite the season.
Visitors should pack hiking boots, a light raincoat, and warm layers to accommodate the variable weather conditions in Iceland.
Icelandic nightlife is vibrant, with lively music and a party atmosphere that continues even after bars close.
Local cuisine in Iceland includes a variety of fish dishes, lamb, and traditional hot dogs, which are popular among visitors.
Multi-day tours are a cost-effective way to explore Iceland, including food and accommodation for around $250 per person for an eight-day tour.
Troll.is is a recommended tour company in Iceland, offering a variety of tours to cater to different interests and time frames.
Transcripts
[Music] what's going on everybody this is hopper tv today we're going
to talk about the things to know when visiting iceland let's do it [Music]
so the first thing to talk about is affordability how affordable is iceland well let me just tell
you the taxis will eat you alive if you don't get a car okay so if you're here it's better to just
run a yaris or something and drive around yourself than actually get a taxi okay because sometimes
a rental car might cost you 135 dollars a day but you can easily get into a taxi and pay 135 dollars
just to go within the city limits of reklavik okay so it can be a real pain in the butt as
far as hotels go i have found some reasonably priced hotels here uh but the average price
seems to be around 200 on the minimum on the low side uh hostels are limited as far as food goes
also expensive uh tours i have done tours it seems like on average to do like a full day tour
about a hundred dollars you can get them from 100 to 200 dollars depending on what you're going to
do so iceland is known as the land of the midnight sun and the northern lights which you get in the
winter the midnight sun in the summer but also they call it the land of fire and ice because they
get the volcano activity out here in the hawaiian islands they call pele out here it's just fire
but anyway so with that being said let's elaborate on the hours of the sun in the summer and the
winter in the winter you get maximum in december five hours of sunlight that's it five hours
sun comes up at 11 a.m and it goes down around three or four okay in the summer time which it is
now it's june you can see it's raining it's still cold i'm wearing a coat even in actually july it's
not june it's july uh in the summer it's pretty much light all day like i don't think the blackout
curtains are stopping the light from coming in at any time even though they are blackout
curtains i could still see the light peeking in throughout the night even at three in the morning
and those peak hours are basically june summer solstice around june 22 july early july as
it goes towards august it kind of brings back the darkness let's talk transportation because
we did talk about the rental car situation but let's actually elaborate on that so
the first thing i want to say is the airport is about an hour drive away the airport ride if you
take a taxi is about a hundred to 150 dollars if you took a bus like the fly bus for example
you can get down to your hotel in reykjavik for around 40 dollars they're about 40 to 50 depending
on peak pricing also the transportation when you're down here they do have buses and that seems
to be the most affordable way because taxis are so expensive but they do have a city airport here in
reykjavik that you can take for domestic flights unfortunately you can't get a flight to london
or copenhagen from here you have to go domestic to the north or somewhere else but if you're
trying to do domestic flights that might just be your best option trying to fly out of there
they have boats ferries but they don't really do long range ferries that i know of i've heard
some cruise ships come in here i did see holland america in here while i was here
but rental cars seem to be the best way to get around from what i've been told if you did do
a tour company uh you can do the ring road that's the road you need to know about because that goes
all circle around the island it's called ring road and then they have a few different tours that you
can do the tour companies offer but you can do it in your rental car like the golden circle
they also have the south coast which is considered the best let's keep going
let's just touch on the money real quick you don't really need to have the local currency on you
although it does come in handy at times but everyone's going to take credit cards
uh debit cards for the most part it's 50 50 with amex but i've noticed mastercard and visa they do
work good here the currency is not the euro it is called the krona so you would notice that around
2000 krona is around just about twenty dollars let's talk about the people here so i would say
around twenty to thirty percent of the residents here are immigrants from other places that means
about sixty percent are scandinavian descent ancestry with a little bit of mix from other
european countries because remember iceland is part of the eu one of the largest demographics for
immigrants from the eu is poland so you'll meet lots of polish people overall the people are
very friendly here probably the most difficult people that you're going to encounter on your
whole journey across iceland is going to be the tourist that's at least been my experience
the tourists are usually the ones who are pushy they get in the way they uh they're rude they
want it their way they have no respect for the locals really at least that's what i've been told
so if you're a tourist coming here try to be respectful of the people who are living here
and working here to serve you uh i think we all need to hear that every once in a while right
so what are some activities that you can do while you're out here you might see the northern lights
that's winter only also are you guaranteed to see a volcano well it's mother nature nothing
is guaranteed and if the volcano is not going off then you won't see it but if it is going off
and you decide to go over there you will see the volcano lava flowing they have a
few volcanoes here because remember fire and ice right so it's always interesting to see volcanic
eruptions in the middle of a glacier or something that has snowpack on it right with that being
said glaciers there's also fjords the fajords fjord they're like these uh canyon islands and
you'll notice that there's some history to be told because that's supposedly where the
original inhabitants actually were living like uh eric the red or leaford eriksen lee ferrickson we
know him as leif erikson but some of you may know him as leaford that's what they call him here
but yeah the fjords are very cool whale watching also and many tours but waterfalls
are common all across the island there's many streams rivers i would mostly call them rivers
and there's of course the blue lagoon the sky lagoon which just opened up and then one of
the other hacks that a lot of people don't know about is there's many different pools like hot
ponds hot pools that you can go to that are where the locals go not where the tourists actually go
the tourists go to blue lagoon and there's a waiting list or they go to some of the other
popular lagoons that just opened up and i would say from what i've been told just going to one of
the regular local lagoons across reykjavik you'll have just as much a good time without the crowds
weather even in the summertime you will get gray and cloudy skies you also could get an
occasional blue sky day like i got my second day here totally blue skies but i heard also
you can get blue sky days in the winter although it would be a lot cooler now people assume that
it's extremely cold in the winter time they say it's actually not that bad but the problem is
they get a lot of wind in the winter time and that's what makes it unbearable so just keep
that in mind but even in the summer you can come across cold temperatures so bring your jacket
that goes on to the next thing what to wear okay so what to pack i would pack a pair of hiking
boots boots okay that are probably weatherproof you're probably going to want to bring those so
if you can get an all-terrain all-weather boot for hiking that's recommended also
a light raincoat because even if it is raining it might be 50 degrees yes but i found that if
i'm walking or hiking around i actually start sweating so i have a light raincoat but then
i also have a light shirt underneath right now in the summertime but i might actually need an
under shirt that's uh you know an under layer that's thick and warm in case it does get cold
so maybe a pair of long johns especially if you're coming in the fall winter or spring summer time
that's up to you depending on if you go do some hikes to the glaciers or whatever but
also maybe even consider a hat because i did notice the sun is bright so bearing bringing
sunglasses and a hat with maybe sunscreen i saw people lathering on the sunscreen yesterday when
it was blue skies out with lots of sun because the sun for whatever reason it is bright up here
i did want to elaborate on the tours a little bit more for example they do have these six day eight
day tours multi-day tours you can do a three day you can do a six day you can do an eight
day and it just depends on how slow the pace is to get around the whole of iceland or what area
or region you're checking out but exploring one of those if you're coming for over a week
might just be the way to go they include the food the hotel accommodation and it's around no more
than twenty five hundred dollars per person so for eight days twenty five hundred dollars to see and
do all of iceland per person might just be the route to go uh some of the tour companies that i
went on or would recommend trolls they're called troll ice troll is that's their website troll.is
so look up troll uh excursions in iceland those are the guys that i went with who
have a whole bunch of different tours you can look at iceland is actually known for its nightlife and
loud music nice loud music you can see we've got a pub there a pub there everyone's indoors they're
not outside but you go inside one of those pubs you'll see it's ruckus lots of people in there
some of these pubs and clubs they really get going i've seen it myself so if you're coming here for a
good time you'll definitely find it guaranteed at night it's a great time people come out
after the bars close at three you'll see a party in the streets with the midnight sun still going
people don't even know they're like oh it feels like it's uh 6 p.m but it's really like three in
the morning and they're just out there partying it up even though the bar said you got to go home all
right so i'm going to show you guys an example of some cuisine this here is the restaurant's
name fiscal gated fish company you can look them up but they've got lots of fish okay
nice food that's the name of this restaurant right here in the city center but here's some
local cuisine lots of lamb salmon herring i've had both salmon and herring while i was here
they also get cod and then they have a hot dog here that most people really like to gravitate
towards it's like an iceland hot dog but i've got great food here i had like maybe one breakfast
that was okay it was a buffet the buffet was okay food but when it's really good it's really good
and when it's really bad it's just really not that good but here's an example of one of these
places that'll be open at 12 o'clock at night i ate here this is right here in the city center
at 12 o'clock at night i was like oh man i need something to eat came right over here to the city
center and there's the hot dog right there well i just wanted to show you my hotel room even though
it is messy because i was just taking a nap but it gives you an idea of what kind of room you
get the bed is super comfy this hotel is called the city center hotel okay and it's right in the
heart of it all and they give you one of these maps you can see there's all the good stuff
on the map right here right in the heart of the city and then you can see i just look right out my
window here right over there is the city center and the english pub so you're right here in the
middle of it all right at the city center at this hotel about 200 a night all right
everybody that's going to conclude this episode island hopper tv from iceland hope you guys walk
away from this feeling more educated on iceland and we'll see you on the next one
[Music] you
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