Iceland — find the right stay, from deciding to booking
“The Blue Lagoon, waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, and the northern lights”
Iceland is a land of fire and ice like nowhere else on earth — the Blue Lagoon hot spring, giant waterfalls, glaciers and the Jökulsárlón ice lagoon, volcanoes and lava fields, the northern lights in winter, and the Ring Road that circles the island past views that change with every bend — raw, spectacular nature.
Iceland at a glance
Choose a city in Iceland
Each city has its own things-to-do and food guides plus in-depth ranked hotel reviews with real photos and price comparison — start with the city that fits your trip.
Decide — is Iceland right for you?
Why people love Iceland, how it compares to its neighbors, and which travel style suits you
Hot springs
The Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon — soak in milky-blue hot water amid lava fields, utterly relaxing.
Giant waterfalls
Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss (you can walk behind it), and Skógafoss — spectacular.
Glaciers
The Jökulsárlón ice lagoon with floating icebergs, and Diamond Beach.
Volcanoes and lava
Lava fields, volcanic craters, and geothermal areas venting steam.
Northern lights
In winter, the dark skies reveal the northern lights across the island — head out of town away from the lights.
Golden Circle
Thingvellir (the continental rift), the Geysir hot spring, and Gullfoss waterfall, all in one day.
Iceland vs its neighbors
| Iceland | Norway | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily budget (per person) | $100–200 | $100–200 | $70–130 |
| Visa (Thai passport) | Schengen | Schengen | Irish visa required |
| Known for | Volcanoes · waterfalls · glaciers | Fjords · mountains | Castles · Cliffs of Moher · pubs |
| How to get around | Rent a car for the Ring Road | Trains-fjord boats | Rental car-tours |
| Landscape | Fire and ice | Fjords plunging to the sea | Green fields-cliffs |
Figures are rough per-person, per-day estimates — your real budget depends on your travel style.
How do you travel?
Ring Road road trip
Drive around the island over 7–10 days — waterfalls, glaciers, the eastern fjords — ideal for those who love a driving trip.
See this plan → ♨️Short stopover
Reykjavik + Golden Circle + Blue Lagoon over 3–4 days — perfect for a stop while crossing the Atlantic.
See this plan → 🌌Northern lights & winter
Chase the northern lights, ice caves and hot springs — for the winter and photography crowd.
See this plan →Plan — stay, eat, see
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then add food and sights, and gauge your daily budget.
Find the stay you want
1 ranked reviewsNo reviews match these filters — try removing some.
- 1🍲
Kjötsúpa
A lamb soup with root vegetables, warming on a cold day — a traditional recipe.
📍 National dish - 2🥛
Skyr
Thick, high-protein Icelandic yogurt, soft and tangy, paired with berries.
📍 Snack - 3🌭
Pylsur
A lamb-and-beef hot dog with crispy onions and a special sauce — the legendary fast bite.
📍 Street food - 4🐟
Langoustine
Fresh cod and haddock, and sweet cold-water langoustines.
📍 Seafood - 5🍞
Rúgbrauð
A dark, sweet rye bread baked in geothermal heat, paired with butter and smoked fish.
📍 Curiosity - 6🦈
Hákarl
Strong-smelling fermented shark, a traditional Viking food for the brave.
📍 A dare
- 1♨️
Blue Lagoon
A milky-blue hot spring amid lava fields — soak and relax with a silica mud mask.
📍 Near the airport - 2🗺️
Golden Circle
Thingvellir's continental rift, the Geysir hot spring, and Gullfoss waterfall — a one-day trip.
📍 Near Reykjavik - 3🧊
Jökulsárlón
An ice lagoon with floating icebergs, next to Diamond Beach.
📍 Southeast - 4💧
Seljalandsfoss
A waterfall you can walk behind the curtain of, paired with nearby Skógafoss.
📍 South coast - 5🏖️
Reynisfjara
A black-sand beach with basalt columns and powerful waves — dramatic views near the village of Vík.
📍 Vík - 6🌋
Snæfellsnes
Iceland in miniature — a glacier-capped volcano, beaches, bird cliffs, and Kirkjufell.
📍 West
🚆 Getting around Iceland
Rent a car for the Ring Road
The best way to travel — drive around the island on Route 1 (in winter, a 4x4 is best).
Day tours
Even without driving, you can do the Golden Circle, the south coast and the northern lights from Reykjavik.
Airport shuttle
The Flybus from Keflavik to Reykjavik takes ~45 minutes (with a Blue Lagoon stop possible).
Keflavik Airport
KEF is a transatlantic stopover point — great for a free multi-day stopover.
Check roads & weather
Check road.is and vedur.is every morning — some routes close in winter, and F-roads need a 4x4.
🛂 Etiquette & culture in Iceland
Hot-spring etiquette
Shower naked and clean before entering the pool every time — it's a strict rule.
Respect nature
Don't go off-trail or step on the moss (it grows extremely slowly), and don't go near cliff edges or waves.
Almost cashless
Pay by card almost everywhere, even at a remote petrol pump — a card is enough.
Tipping not required
Service is included, so there's no need to tip.
Weather and strong wind
The weather changes by the minute and the wind is very strong — check the forecast and road conditions before driving each day.
💸 Daily budget — a rough guide
Budget
🛏️ Guesthouse / hostel $57–115
Iceland is very expensive — sleep in a camper / cook your own meals, the natural hot springs are free, and the waterfalls are free to see.
Comfortable
🛏️ 3★ hotel / farm stay $130–230
The Blue Lagoon, a glacier tour, and seafood restaurants.
Premium
🛏️ Nature lodge / luxury $230+
A hot-spring retreat, a private ice-cave tour, and a guide to drive you around the island.
🗓️ When to visit Iceland
Summer
Jun – AugThe midnight sun, all roads open, and the whole Ring Road drivable — the best time.
Northern lights
Sep – MarDark skies for the northern lights and blue ice caves (some roads close — a 4x4 is needed).
Late spring
MayLong days, still few people, cheaper than summer, and lambs and puffins start to arrive.
Early autumn
SepThe northern lights begin to appear, roads still open, the weather just right — the best value.
Book — hotels our team picked
Hand-picked from the highest guest-rated hotels we've reviewed in Iceland — compare prices across 3 sites.
★ 9.2👑 Great for your trip
★ 9.2💑 Great for your trip
★ 8.9👨👩👧 Great for your tripWant to see every option in Iceland?
Browse all our ranked stay reviews — every budget and area, with real photos and price comparison.
View the top city guide →FAQ — visiting Iceland
How many days do you need in Iceland?+
4 days for Reykjavik + the Golden Circle + the south coast, or 7–10 days to drive the Ring Road around the whole island.
Do Thai travelers need a visa?+
Yes — apply for a Schengen visa in advance (Iceland is in the Schengen zone) and prepare documents, finances and insurance.
Is it hard to drive yourself?+
Easy in summer (drive on the right), but the wind is strong and the weather changes fast — check road.is/vedur.is every morning, and a 4x4 is best in winter.
When can you see the northern lights?+
Sep–Mar, when the sky is dark and clear — head out of town away from the lights, and check the aurora forecast on vedur.is.
Tips before you go to Iceland
- Check road.is and vedur.is (roads and weather) every morning before driving.
- Shower naked and clean before getting into any hot spring (a strict rule).
- Iceland is very expensive — cooking your own meals / the Bónus supermarket helps.
- Book the Blue Lagoon ahead (slots fill fast, especially near flight times).
- Fill up the tank whenever you find a station (long distances in the countryside).
- Northern lights Sep–Mar — head out of town away from the lights.