Maybe it was the lack of sleep that made me do it. Maybe I was blinded by the cheap airfares I snagged through IcelandAir. Whatever the reason, the biggest budget mistake I made in Iceland was on the first day – I spent $100 on two bottles of beer. To be fair, these bottles were purchased at Mikkeller and Friends, so it’s not like I wasted my money on Coors Light…but still! This was a hard lesson in currency conversion and a wake-up call to the price of traveling in Iceland.

I heard Iceland was expensive. I didn’t truly understand just how much everything cost until I got there. Soup, gas, accommodations; everything hurt my bank account. Below are some of the expenses I didn’t expect, along with tips on how you can save money as you roam around this beautiful country.

Camping…Or Glamping?:
In an effort to save some money, we rolled our transportation and accommodations into one unit. That’s right, we explored Iceland from two-person camper van from Go Campers. I wasn’t sure how much I’d like the #VanLife (hey, I enjoy running water), but I ended up having a blast! It slept two people comfortably and stayed warm through the chilly nights. Other than the cost of the van rental, gas was our biggest expense.

Plan Your Camping Beforehand:
If you’re planning on camping, look up campgrounds before you decide to roll up. We were early in the tourist season and discovered some places weren’t open on the dates we needed. We stayed at two different campsites – one night at the Bjarteyjarsandur Farm and Skjol Camping. The amenities at each location varied. One campsite charged for shower and towels, the other let us use these for free.
Pro Tips: If paying for a shower makes you cringe, bring baby wipes to freshen up. Or, forego the shower and just hang out in a lagoon…you’re in Iceland, after all! The lagoons we visited had showers we could use with our entry fee. Also, remember that cash is king, so keep it on hand in case there are no card readers where you’re going.

Meal Time:
I like food. I enjoy eating food. I’m writing this because I’ll throw down cash for good food. Iceland is the only place I’ve been to where ALL THE food is expensive. Want a bowl of soup? That’s $25. Eating out for every meal was not an option, and alcohol was definitely not on the menu since I spent my beer money the first day.

Here’s where I’m going to introduce you to your best food friend: Bonus. If you see this pink cartoon pig logo, don’t be frightened. Pull into the parking lot STAT because you’ve found a Bonus supermarket! This place was a godsend for basic groceries like bread, skyr, and fruit. Make sure to stock up, because once we were out on the road, cities and grocery stores were few and far between.

 

Forefit The Extra Stuff:
We didn’t pay extra money for excursions, special tours, or purchase many souvenirs (even though I really wanted an Icelandic sweater). Most attractions we visited, like Thingvellir National Park, only charged a parking fee. Even with these savings considered, there’s no denying that Iceland is one of the most expensive places I’ve traveled to. At the end of the day, we had to keep a watchful eye on how much we were spending.

I don’t want this to sound like I regret traveling to Iceland. I don’t. In spite of the costs, I would go back. I just wouldn’t buy $100 worth of beer on the first day.

Iceland is a beautiful country has a lot to offer – scenery, culture, untapped nature – but don’t be fooled by the cheap airline tickets – once you’re there, you’re paying their prices.