10 Essential Iceland Travel Tips You NEED to Know

Iceland is a dream destination for many travel lovers, but it often seems mysterious and challenging to plan a trip to Iceland. Thankfully, there are some Iceland travel tips that will make you feel prepared and confident for your trip.

I’ve been to Iceland a few times, and I learned some very difficult lessons along the way.

Like almost being stranded in the middle of rural Iceland because I ran out of gas type of mistakes.

I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did. I want you to be prepared and know what to expect before you arrive in Iceland.

Which, as a side note, I’m in love with the bathrooms in the Iceland airport. They’re so big and everybody has their own sink! Definitely the most comfortable airport bathrooms I’ve ever experienced.

Anyways, back to what you’re here for.

There are a few very important tips for travelling Iceland you need to be aware of, and I’ve got your back!

As long as you know the tips and tricks in this post, you’ll be all set and ready to have the trip of a lifetime in Iceland.

Be sure to bring an extra camera battery. You’ll be using your camera a lot and don’t want to run out of battery along the way one day!

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1. Book Your Accommodation Well in Advance

If there is only one Iceland travel tip you listen to in this whole post, let it be this one!

You do not want to leave booking your accommodation to the last minute.

You’ll be stuck sleeping in your car.

There aren’t many places to stay in Iceland once you get outside Reykjavík. There are long stretches of road without a single town all throughout rural Iceland.

And that town you do stumble across might not have a hotel, and if it does, it is likely sold out if you’re trying to get a room for that night.

I’m definitely one of those travellers who likes to wait until the last minute to book my accommodation because I often don’t know where I’ll be next week.

Iceland isn’t the place to do that.

As soon as you decide to visit Iceland, start making a plan.

Decide what part of the country you want to visit, how many days you’ll be there, and an area where you want to find a hotel in.

Then start looking for a place to stay and book one as soon as you find something you like.

Yes. You can rent an RV and just sleep on the side of the road. That elevates the need to book accommodation in advance. However, most people don’t rent an RV and need to book a hotel to sleep in at night.

Southern Iceland Europe

2. Leave Extra Time to Visit Roadside Attractions

One of the things that surprised me the most on my first trip to Iceland was how many times I would randomly pull over on the side of the road to see an attraction I had no idea was there.

There are little signs on the side of the road all over Iceland indicating that roadside attractions are coming up.

They range from small things like a sign explaining a piece of history to large things like a lava field.

I had planned the major attractions to see each day on my road trip, but I had no idea there were so many smaller things I’d never heard of before to do as well!

I highly recommend you leave some extra time in your daily schedule to explore some of the roadside attractions you stumble across.

Allotting an hour or two per day should be more than sufficient.

Sometimes you have to drive a few minutes off the main road to get to them, so it is better to have a little extra time built into your schedule.

You don’t want to have to not stop at a roadside attraction you’re interested in simply because you don’t have enough time and are rushing to get to the next big attraction.

Slow and steady wins the race!

You want to be able to enjoy your vacation and not miss out on spontaneous experiences, so build in some extra time every day.

Solo travel in Iceland

3. Have a Bigger Budget than You Think You Need

We all know that Iceland is expensive, but most people don’t realize just how expensive it is.

It honestly gets me every time I visit as well. I’m never not surprised by how much things cost in Iceland.

One of the best Iceland travel tips I can give you is to bring more money than you think you need.

If you think you need $1,000 for your trip, budget to spend $1,200.

This gives you a little bit of a cushion on your trip. You don’t want to run out of money and be stuck not eating for part of your trip.

Luckily, most of the tourist attractions in Iceland are free to visit!

You just have to cover the cost of your rental car, gas, hotels, food, and souvenirs.

You’ll know the price of accommodation and your rental car ahead of time, which helps a lot.

So, really, all you have to try to budget for is gas, food, and souvenirs.

All of which are very expensive.

Just do yourself a favour and have a little extra money budgeted for your trip. It’ll make your trip less stressful.

And what’s the worst that can happen? You don’t use it, and you already have a little money saved for your next vacation.

There is no downside to budgeting a little extra money for your trip to Iceland, so there is no excuse not to!

Reykjavík, Iceland

4. Rent Pocket Wifi

You can probably guess that the wifi coverage in Iceland isn’t that good. Outside of your hotel, you’re not likely to find free public wifi when you’re out and about.

Maybe at a restaurant here or there, but that isn’t guaranteed.

You’ll need some sort of GPS access when you’re driving around Iceland. You can either rent a GPS system from the car rental company or rent a pocket wifi device.

They are similar in price, but I always recommend you rent the pocket wifi device.

You connect your phone to it, and it gives you access to the internet wherever you are.

You use Google Maps on your phone to figure out how to get from place to place and have access to your social media, internet (to Google nearby attractions), and can easily let someone know where you are if you need help.

In my eyes, it is a no brainer, and renting pocket wifi in Iceland is essential.

If you’re an avid traveller, you can consider purchasing your own pocket wifi through Solis before you leave.

I purchased mine in 2019 and can’t live without it. It is one of the best travel investments I’ve made, but it isn’t for everybody. Read my full review here to figure out if it is right for you or not.

A tourist’s guide to wifi in Iceland

5. Renting a Car is Worth the Money

Renting a car in Iceland isn’t cheap, but it is worth the money.

If you want to see more than just Reykjavík, you have two options. You either rent a car and drive yourself or you pay to go on guided group tours.

Both options have their pros and cons, but they will both cost a fair amount of money.

Oftentimes, it is more expensive to pay for guided tours than it is to rent a car and drive yourself.

I know that the cost of renting a car in Iceland may make you shy away from it, but it is worth every single penny.

You have the freedom to do what you want when you want. You can get an early start to the day or have a lie in.

You can stop at as many roadside attractions as you want and stay for as long as you want.

And, for the introverts like me, you don’t have to deal with all the small talk that comes with going on a group tour.

If you’re going to Iceland and want the full experience, it is in your best interest to rent a car and drive it around the country.

Solo travel in Iceland

6. Pack Lunch and Snacks for the Drive

As you may have gathered, Iceland is remote, and it can be difficult to stop in a grab a snack somewhere whenever you feel hungry.

One of my best Iceland travel tips is to stop in Reykjavík at the beginning of your trip and grab snacks and drinks for the drive.

They’ll come in handy along the way.

It will also help you with your budgeting. You won’t be forced to eat at the only restaurant you come across and pay whatever the cost for what might not even be a good meal.

You can always grab lunch at a gas station when you stop, but a pre-packaged sandwich will still cost you more than you’d like. The options will be limited as well.

Your best bet for lunches and snacks when driving is to grab some food at a grocery store in Reykjavík and take it with you.

It may seem expensive, but it will be less expensive than winging it and grabbing food as your go.

7. Fill Up on Gas Whenever You See a Gas Station

This is another one of the most important Iceland travel tips you need to pay attention to.

Iceland isn’t like many other countries where you can find a gas station anywhere and everywhere.

Most of Iceland is very rural, and gas stations can be few and far between.

If you see a gas station and have anything less than nearly a full tank, you should stop to fill up on gas.

You don’t know when you’re going to run into a gas station next, and you don’t want to be caught running on fumes.

I know it can be a bit annoying to stop for gas when you have more than three quarters of a tank of gas, but it is just the smart and safe thing to do.

Especially if you get caught driving into the Icelandic wind and burn more gas than you otherwise would.

Take the opportunity to stretch your legs, grab a drink, and feel safe and confident as you continue on in your trip around Iceland.

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Solo travel in Iceland

8. Focus on One Part of the Country

Many people look at Iceland on a map and think they can see it all in one trip.

That’s not the right mindset, and one of the best travel tips for Iceland I can give you is to pick one part of the country to visit and stick to it.

You won’t be rushed, and you’ll be able to explore more during your vacation.

If you have a week, choose either the north or south.

If you only have a few days, you need to narrow it down even more. Choose the north eastern part of the country, for example.

One of the worst things you can do when travelling in Iceland is try to do too much.

There are so many surprise pit stops and attractions along the way. You don’t want to be rushing and not be able to stop.

You also don’t want to spend five, six, seven hours per day driving when you’re on vacation!

There are plenty of free Iceland itineraries online.

Find one that has you driving for a maximum of 4 hours per day. That’s what I do when I go to Iceland, and it works out really well.

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9. Pack Warm Clothes (Even in the Summer)

Iceland is cold. Colder than you think!

You need to pack a warm jacket, gloves, and something to cover your ears from the cold wind no matter what time of year you visit Iceland.

You may not have to use them, but if you do (which you likely will have to), you’ll be happy to have them!

The first time I visited Iceland it was April. I had been in mainland Europe for the past two and a half months where it was warm.

I thought it was going to be the same in Iceland, but I was very wrong.

It was freezing. I ended up having to spend a ton of money to buy warm clothing in Iceland.

It was worth buying the warm clothing, but it is even better to be more prepared and come with warm clothing.

That way you can spend your money on souvenirs you may want more than a toque or gloves.

Most tourist attractions in Iceland are outside, so you can’t get away with not having warm clothes and staying inside all day.

Pack warm and thank me later!

This is definitely one of the most underrated Iceland travel tips, but it is also one of the most important!

Icelandic Horse in May

10. Don’t Use Unmanned Gas Stations

You can add this to the list of things I wish I knew before visiting Iceland. It is also one of the most important Iceland travel tips I can give you!

There are a few unmanned gas stations around Iceland. The most popular one is near the airport, and people stop there to fill up before dropping their rental car off.

The problem is a lot of people aren’t able to use the unmanned gas stations.

This is because the pumps don’t accept foreign credit cards, so you can’t prepay for the gas you need to fill your car.

It isn’t a huge issue if you’re trying to use the unmanned gas station near the airport. You just have to turn around and drive back to the manned gas station that is about 5 minutes away.

Even there it is a little bit of a hassle.

You have to go into the gas station and either have a nice attendant who opens the pump for you or buy a pre-paid gift card and use that to pay at the pump.

All in all, it is a minor inconvenience that is easy to get around.

The issue comes in when you’re trying to use an unmanned pump in rural Iceland.

There won’t be a nearby manned gas station you can drive to, and if you’re low on gas, you’re in a precarious situation.

That’s why it is so important to fill up on gas whenever you see a manned gas station. You don’t know when you’ll come across one again, and you have to get while the getting is good.

If there is only an unmanned gas station around, and you’re in desperate need of gas, you can wait around and hope someone else comes around shortly.

You can explain your situation and very kindly ask if they would be willing to put their credit card in your pump in exchange for cash.

It isn’t guaranteed to work, but it may be the best way out of a not-so-great situation.

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Conclusion

Iceland is an amazing country, and if you have the means, I highly recommend visiting it at least once in your life.

But it can also be a difficult country to plan for in advance. It is unlike most other countries, and you need to know what to expect before you arrive.

Hopefully, these Iceland travel tips help you plan your perfect vacation to Iceland and help you know what to except before you arrive at the airport.

As long as you keep these Iceland travel tips in mind, I know you’ll have an amazing trip and make life-long memories.

9 Essential Tips for Solo Travel in Iceland

Iceland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and you may be surprised to learn that solo travel in Iceland is extremely easy!

Even driving alone in Iceland is very manageable.

And that means a lot coming from me the person who sweats through her shirt every single time she drives it makes her so anxious.

Would Iceland be the first place in Europe I would recommend new solo travellers to visit? No, but I also wouldn’t tell someone not to take a solo trip there!

The only reason I didn’t include Iceland in the best European countries for solo female travellers is because it is expensive.

If money isn’t an issue for you, then it is hard to beat solo travel to Iceland!

But there are a few things you need to know before your first solo trip to Iceland. Lucky for you, I made a lot of mistakes the first time I visited Iceland alone.

I’m sharing everything I wish I knew before my solo travel to Iceland, so you don’t make the same mistakes I did!

Overcome your fear of solo travel

1. Driving is Fine (Except for Reykjavík)

I hate driving and try to avoid it at all costs. Unfortunately, it is hard to visit Iceland and experience the country with a car, so I sucked it up and rented a car and drove around the island.

I was really nervous since it was my first time driving abroad, but it was actually a really pleasant experience.

There isn’t much traffic outside Reykjavík, most of the roads are in good condition, and the driving is quite easy and stress free.

There are some places outside Reykjavík where the driving can be a little tough to navigate, but it is easy to avoid areas like that.

The only time you’ll run into situations like that are if you try to drive up to the top of a mountain or something extreme like that.

If you’re just driving along the normal highway and to tourist attractions along the way, you won’t have any issue driving!

Just be sure to fill up whenever you see a gas station! They are few and far between in rural Iceland, and if you skip one, you can easily find yourself running on fumes before you make it to the next gas station.

You don’t want that to happen! With so few people on the road, it could take hours before a car comes by to help you, and it could take hours to walk to the nearest gas station.

Driving in Reykjavík is a different story than driving through the rest of the country though.

There are a number of one-way streets, narrow streets, and parking can be tough.

My recommendation is to find a parking spot near your hotel if you’re staying the night and walk around Reykjavík.

If you’re not staying at a hotel and are just spending a few hours in Reykjavík, find a parking spot at the edge of town and then walk around the city centre.

There are lots of large parking lots near the water. That’s the first place I would try to find a parking stall!

Reykjavík, Iceland

2. You Need Pocket Wifi

No matter whether you’re planning to solo travel in Iceland or travel with a group of friends, having a plan to access the internet is essential.

It is basically impossible to find free wifi outside your hotel room.

My top recommendation is to rent pocket wifi from your car rental company (instead of a GPS system since you can use GoogleMaps with the pocket wifi) or a third-party pocket wifi rental company like Trawire.

This allows you to access the internet wherever you are in Iceland.

You can easily contact your loved ones back home, post on social media, find the nearest restaurant or gas station, or call for help by using a pocket wifi device.

No matter how secluded a location you’re in.

Renting pocket wifi is without a doubt worth the extra money- especially in Iceland.

Having the internet at the tip of your fingers is a luxury in Iceland, and you’ll most likely wish you rented pocket wifi if you choose not to.

You’ll be surprised how many times you go to pull out your phone for directions, nearby attractions, or to find food.

I always highly recommend you install a VPN on your phone and laptop, so you’re safe and protected while using the public wifi in hotels.

You don’t want your personal data stolen while you’re in rural Iceland and go through the headache of trying to cancel your credit cards because they have been compromised.

The ultimate guide to accessing the internet in Iceland

3. Watch for Tourist Attractions as You Drive

One of the most interesting things I discovered on my first solo trip to Iceland was the number of markers along the side of the road indicating where tourist attractions are.

When I was planning my first trip to Iceland, I mapped out where the major tourist attractions were and planned my trip around them, but I had no idea how many smaller, unique tourist attractions I would stumble across when driving.

There are countless little stops along the highway you can make, and I recommend you do!

Most of them don’t take too long to visit, but they are very interesting.

There are normally information plaques that teach you about the attraction, and you learn a lot about Icelandic history and culture through these tourist attraction.

There are small(ish) signs along the highway pointing the way to these tourist attractions. If they sound interesting at all to you, take the extra five or ten minutes to visit them.

It is well worth the time, and it doesn’t set you too far back in your daily schedule.

In fact, you should just factor in an extra hour or two each day to leave time to visit these unexpected tourist attractions.

There were definitely a highlight of my first trip to Iceland!

Southern Iceland Europe

4. Book Accommodation Well in Advance

I don’t like to book accommodation too far in advance when I travel. I like the freedom and flexibility to change my travel plans.

That strategy, however, does not work in Iceland.

There aren’t too many places to stay when you’re driving through rural Iceland, and the good hotels book up quickly.

As soon as you know you’re visiting Iceland and have an idea of what part of the island you’re visiting, figure out roughly where you’ll be staying each night and book your hotel.

This is even more important when you solo travel in Iceland because you don’t want to be stuck in a dump of a hotel all alone.

Or even possibly sleeping in your car alone because you didn’t book a place to stay in time!

5. Let Someone Know Where You’re Going

This isn’t the type of tip I normally give solo travellers, but I think it is an important tip for people partaking in solo travel in Iceland.

Most of Iceland is pretty rural, so I always recommend solo travellers let a loved one back home know what their plans are for the day.

Let someone know your end destination for the day and anywhere you plan to go hiking alone.

It is probably overkill to do this, but it is an added layer of protection in case you get lost hiking or your car breaks down.

Solo travel in Iceland

6. Iceland is More Expensive than You Think

I knew Iceland was expensive, but I wasn’t prepared for how expensive it actually is.

It is painfully expensive to say the least, but it is so worth the money! It is one of the most beautiful and unique countries in the world.

I’m talking $20USD for a 6 inch veggie sub at Subway expensive.

The good news is that almost all of the tourist attractions you want to visit are free, so you don’t have to miss out on any amazing sights because of the cost.

The bad news is that food, gas, and accommodation will eat through whatever budget you do have pretty quickly.

Some bloggers say that you can visit Iceland for $100USD per day. Technically you could, but it would be a stretch.

You would have to stay at budget hotels, barely eat, and not drive too far because of gas prices.

I think $150USD to $200 USD per day is a far more realistic budget.

It is better to have a little extra money in your bank account on the way home than running out of money partway through your trip.

So, budget accordingly and safe a little more money than you think you need.

Because the prices in Iceland might just blow your socks off!

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7. Don’t Try to See it All in One Trip

Iceland may look small on the map, but it is bigger than you think!

Unless you spend a month in Iceland, you can’t see the entire island when you solo travel in Iceland.

There is simply too much to see.

Pick one section of the island and focus on that area. There are plenty of things to see and do, so you won’t run out of activities.

My personal favourite part of Iceland is the south part of the island. I love the attractions and landscape, but you may prefer the north part of the island.

Research what to do in each quadrant of Iceland before your trip and decide what part of the island you want to spend your time.

Try to pack too much into your solo trip to Iceland, and you won’t have time to stop and enjoy the unique sights along the way.

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Solo travel in Iceland

8. Iceland is Extremely Safe

According to the World Peace Index, Iceland is the safest country in the world. Not only is Iceland the safest country in the world, but it has been ranked the safest country in the world 13 years in a row!

There really is no safer country is the world than Iceland!

There is basically no crime in the country, and the crime rate is less than 1%! That’s incredible and no other country even comes close to Iceland in terms of crime rate and safety.

This is great news for people planning a solo trip to Iceland.

You can confidently travel alone in Iceland and not have to worry about your safety. This is super reassuring because you’ll likely be the only person driving on many of the rural roads.

You can walk alone at night, go hiking by yourself, or anything else you can think of and be safe.

In the odd chance something happens, any local will be able to help you or if the situation warrants it, you can always go to the police.

I highly doubt that will happen though!

The only problem you’re likely going to run across while partaking in solo travel in Iceland is a herd of sheep blocking the road. 😉

9. Bring a Warm Jacket No Matter What Time of Year it is

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when you solo travel to Iceland (and one I certainly made) is not brining a jacket.

No matter what time of year you’re visiting Iceland.

I’ve visited in April, May, and June, and it has been cold, rainy, and windy on every trip. Even at the height of summer, you can get hit with a cold wind storm or a rain storm.

You need to be prepared and have a water proof jacket in your bag.

Trust me. You’ll kick yourself in the butt if you don’t pack one!

You may think it’ll take up too much room in your bag, but it is an essential item.

You may even want to throw in a headband and gloves while you’re at it. I use all my warm items on every trip to Iceland. Even when I think it the warmest time of year, and I don’t need them.

And you don’t want to be stuck buying warm items while in Iceland. That’ll break the bank for sure!

Tips for travelling alone for the first time

Solo travel in Iceland

Conclusion

Solo travel in Iceland is an unforgettable experience.

It is freeing, exhilarating, and is a bucket list experience you’ll be glad you have.

I think Iceland is a great place to travel alone, but it isn’t for everybody. And that solely comes down to the price.

If you’re on a tight budget, then you may want to consider visiting somewhere else on your solo trip where you can maybe go for longer or splurge on fun experiences.

If you have a healthy budget, then you can’t go wrong planning a solo trip to Iceland.

It really comes down to your travel priorities and what you can afford on any particular trip.

That being said, I think everybody should try to save up for a trip to Iceland at least once in their life.

It is truly a country like no other, and you have to experience it to fully understand its unique beauty and charm.

Tourist’s Guide to Wifi in Iceland (It May Surprise You!)

Iceland is one of the most beautiful and unique countries in the world. I highly recommend everybody who can visit Iceland to do it. However, you really need to know about wifi in Iceland, so you can plan accordingly.

You do not want to be stuck in rural Iceland with no wifi in cell service.

Especially if you’re in an emergency or your car breaks down.

Yikes! That is not have a dream Iceland vacation looks.

The wifi in Iceland is hit and miss at best. You’ll have better luck finding free wifi in Reykjavík, but it isn’t guaranteed.

Outside the capital, your chances of finding free wifi are even less.

The good news is that there are a number of solutions, and you can find ways to easily access wifi in Iceland. They come at a price, but it isn’t a high one. The cheapest option is to take your chances and rely on public wifi. However, I recommend renting pocket wifi while in Iceland or buying your own portable wifi device if you’re a frequent traveller.

Because of the unique nature of Iceland and the fact that you’re most likely renting a car and driving around part of the country, I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to have a plan to access wifi in Iceland.

My personal favourite solution to accessing the internet while in Iceland is renting a pocket wifi device.

They are super affordable.

You can even use them for GPS in your car, so you can avoid paying the expensive GPS rental rate car companies charge!

If you’re only visiting Reykjavík or are relying on group tours, it is less imperative that you rent pocket wifi in Iceland.

You can get by relying solely on free public wifi in Iceland if you want.

Public Wifi in Iceland

Public wifi in Iceland is kind of a tale of two stories.

One on side, you can pretty easily find free public wifi in Reykjavík.

On the other, I wish you luck on your journey to finding free public wifi in rural Iceland. Outside of your hotel, you probably won’t be able to find free public wifi.

You certainly won’t find any wifi while you’re driving through the countryside.

So, this can put tourists in a bit of a tough spot. Especially if you need to be connected to the internet for work or personal reasons.

If, however, you’re a casual tourist who just wants to check their emails or social media every once in a while, you can probably get by relying on public wifi in Iceland.

Most cafés and restaurants in Reykjavík offer complimentary wifi. Even some stores (like bookstores) offer guests complimentary wifi.

If free wifi isn’t offered, there is a good chance you can access it for a small additional fee.

And, of course, every hotel or apartment in Reykjavík will have fast, reliable wifi for you to use. There shouldn’t be an additional cost to use it!

In rural Iceland, every hotel should offer guests complimentary wifi. So, that won’t be an issue.

You will probably run into an issue when you try to access the internet when you’re out and about.

In my experience, it is hit or miss if a café or restaurant in rural Iceland offers complimentary wifi.

It probably doesn’t.

So, take this information into consideration when you plan your Icelandic trip.

You may want to rent pocket wifi even if you don’t rely on the internet a whole lot.

It puts you at ease in case you get lost, have an emergency, or need to find the nearest restaurant or gas station.

Icelandic Horse in May

Renting Pocket Wifi in Iceland

I personally think renting pocket wifi in Iceland is your best choice.

It is super affordable, easy to use, and you feel confident knowing you can access the internet anywhere and everywhere.

I rented my pocket wifi when I was picking up my rental car last time I was in Iceland.

So, even if it is a last minute decision or you want the easiest solution possible, you’re covered.

Unsurprisingly though, renting pocket wifi directly through the car rental company is going to be the most expensive option.

I mean it is a car rental company. They kind of have a reputation of nickle-and-diming you.

Pre-renting your portable wifi device in advance is the most affordable option.

I personally like the company Trawire.

You order your wifi device online in advance and pick it up at the airport when you arrive. You can also pick it up at Polar Bear Gift Shop Laugavegur or any Icelandic gift shop.

There is an additional fee if you pick it up at the post office but not if you pick it up at the airport or gift shop.

At the end of your trip, you simply put it in the pre-paid envelope you get when you pick up your device and stick it in one of the two post boxes at the airport.

Easy peasy!

The only catch is you have to activate your wifi device as soon as you collect it.

Other than that, you can use your wifi device to connect to the internet anywhere and everywhere in Iceland.

Paying the small price to rent a wifi device is well worth it in my opinion.

I mean you’re going to have to figure out how to get GPS somehow. So, skip the price of GPS with your car rental and get a wifi device instead.

At least then you can make all your friends jealous by updating your socials frequently!

Southern Iceland Europe

An Option for the Most Serious of Travellers

If you’re a travel addict like me, you may want to consider purchasing your own personal wifi device you can take with you anywhere in the world.

This saves you the hassel of finding pocket wifi to rent, picking it up, and dropping it off everywhere you go.

I’ve done it before. Trust me, it gets annoying pretty quickly!

In 2019 I purchased a Skyroam Solis, and it was one of the best travel purchases I’ve ever made!

It is my own personal pocket wifi device. I take it everywhere I travel, and it is such an amazing addition to my suitcase.

You can connect multiple devices to your Skyroam, so you can keep the whole group connected to the internet with one device.

I love the freedom and convenience of my Skyroam, but it isn’t for everybody.

If you only travel once a year or don’t need the internet when you’re on the road, you can probably skip getting a personal wifi device and rely on renting pocket wifi wherever you go.

However, if you travel more than twice a year and like to stay connected on the road, I can’t recommend Skyroam enough.

It has seriously levelled up my travel game!

Read my full Skyroam review to learn if it is the right product for you!

Iceland

The Importance of Online Safety

One of my goals with my blog is to make more people aware that they need to protect their online data when they travel.

I’m never not shocked by how few people take their internet safety seriously when they travel. Or how few travel bloggers/vloggers talk about it!

You put your online information and data at risk when you use public wifi networks when you travel.

End of story.

You need to protect yourself to ensure nobody tries to access your online information, steal it, and then sell it.

Cancelling all your bank cards while you’re abroad is not how you want to be spending your vacation!

Using a rented pocket wifi device makes your online data more secure.

While you’re using the pocket wifi, it is pretty hard for your online data to be hacked because you’re the only person who knows the password.

But you don’t use the pocket wifi 24/7.

It has to charge sometime, and when it does, you’re forced to connected to public wifi. Most likely at your hotel.

And I know what you’re thinking. Hotel wifi is most often password protected, so I’m safe to use it.

Wrong!

Anybody can access that password, so you’re just at risk as you are using a public wifi network that doesn’t have a password.

The only way to keep your online information safe when using a public wifi network is by having a VPN installed (and turned on) on all of your devices.

You take steps to keep yourself safe, and you also need to take steps to keep your online information safe.

My Favourite VPN

I’ve used a lot of different VPNs over my years of travel. And, honestly, most of them suck.

They slow down your phone to a crawl, and I ended up getting so frustrated that I just turned the VPN off and put my information at risk.

I know, I know. Not very responsible of me!

That all changed in 2018 when I found NordVPN.

I’ve been using them ever since and love the service they provide.

They are the fastest VPN on the market, and it doesn’t feel like your devices are being slowed down at all because of the VPN.

That’s why I recommend NordVPN to you!

I want you to have the best internet experience when you travel, and no VPN is better for travellers.

Plus you can cloak your location and access Netflix catalogues from around the world!

You can connect up to six devices on a single NordVPN account, so you can protect all your devices for a low fee.

A two-year subscription costs less per month than a single Starbucks latte.

There is no excuse to not protect your online data when you travel.

My philosophy is that if you can afford to travel, you can afford to protect your online information!

Conclusion

I hope you’re more prepared on what to expect when it comes to wifi in Iceland.

I don’t want you to show up in Iceland and be surprised that public wifi isn’t all that available.

Which makes sense since most of Iceland is rural, and you’ll most likely be doing a lot of driving on quiet roads.

The main takeaway I want you to get from this article is that you need to have a plan before you arrive in Iceland.

I personally think renting pocket wifi in Iceland is the best idea, but you need to figure out what is best for you.

Figure out what your internet needs will be while in Iceland and go from there.

If you don’t need internet and are staying in the Reykjavík area, you can probably rely on public wifi to meet your needs.

If you’re road tripping around the country, you should seriously consider renting pocket wifi or bringing your own Skyroam device.

No matter how you choose to get your internet access while in Iceland, you need to protect your online data from prying eyes by installing a VPN on all your devices.