How to move to Iceland for a low cost trip, here are the tips of Caterina who after having been there contains in this post everything you need to know to save money in Iceland and to have an unprecedented holiday.
THEIceland, ever since I was a child, it has always been my dream trip. The idea of being able to imagine Vikings running around volcanoes and geysers and playing with elves under the midnight sun or the Northern Lights has always fascinated me. And finally, after a long wait, I can finally say that I managed to land (or rather land) on the long-dreamed land of fire and ice.
With its endless expanse of enchanting landscapes, Iceland is the perfect place to go explore by car to truly admire every incredible place this land has to offer. What will strike you most while traveling along the snowy roads of the island will be the a thousand shades of blue and gray, which your eyes have certainly never seen, and a cold sky that lights up ice-covered rocks and volcanoes.
Iceland is not a low cost country
The four wheels are the best way to get around the island also because, and you will immediately realize it, Iceland it is by no means a low cost country and organized tours that take you out of town are very expensive. To save a little, in addition to renting a car, I suggest you look for accommodation at the home of someone from the place; if you then decide to go to the summertime, the camping option is certainly the cheapest (and I think also the most fascinating).
How and why to rent a car to save money
During the trip from Reykjavík to Akureyri, two friends and I traveled aboard a car and a van hired by Eurocar - or in Icelandic Bílaleiga Akureyrar - Höldur ehf. Plan your trip carefully and rent the car only the bare essentials based on the routes you want to travel.
I'll explain why: if the company needs a car to be moved from Reykjavík to Akureyri, for example, the trafficking is free for those who move it. Therefore, if you plan to move from one part of the island to another, you should try your luck and maybe be able to travel at no cost.
What to see from Reykjavík to Akureyri
The journey from Reykjavík to Akureyri, partly along the coast, is of about 380 km, plus various digressions along the way to admire what for me are fairy landscapes. But now enough technical advice, here are the must-do for those who decide to travel the western part of the island from the capital to Akureyri.
- Climb a volcano (inactive!)
Which? You can choose it. There are many, more or less high. The volcanoes to climb are marked along the way, and are obviously inactive, so the crater is extinct. In addition to being able to add “climbing an Icelandic volcano” to the list of things done, the view from the top is incredible. As you can imagine, most of the Icelandic population lives in urban centers, so the landscape that can be admired as far as the eye can see is wild and unspoiled. If you are in Iceland in winter, beware of the ice: it slips!
- Stop for a snack in contact with nature
Bring a sandwich for the trip and, when lunchtime approaches, start looking for a place not too far from the road to stretch your legs and grab a bite to eat - perhaps along the banks of a creek hidden in the rocks. Sit on a rock, close your eyes, listen to the silence and let your imagination run wild: you will not regret it.
- The Borgarvirki fortress
Borgarvirki, one of Iceland's most famous historical sites, is located on the Vatnsnes peninsula in the northwest of the island. According to the Sagas of Norse mythology it was used in the past by the Vikings as a military base. Although there are some steps, it is not easy to reach the "citadel", especially in winter, because many rocks have fallen and the ground is slippery and unstable. With due attention, I recommend you to climb to the top: it is really worth it!
- Hvítserkur
Translated from the Icelandic "white nightgown", Hvítserkur is a dragon-shaped rock that drinks from the icy waters of Hunafjordur. Local legends tell us that it is a petrified troll, surprised by the sun on its way to destroy the deafening bells of the convent of Þingeyrarklaustur. In addition to the 15-meter monolith that gives its name to the place, the sound of the waves and the wind, and a chain of snow-capped mountains that are lost on the horizon right on the other side of the fjord, make the place unforgettable.
- The largest waterfall in Europe e Goðafoss
Not just around the corner from Akureyri but definitely not to be missed, Dettifoss waterfall is the most impressive in Iceland and Europe. Its name is translated into English: the cascade of water that ruins; you just need to hear the sound of falling water to understand the reason. The waterfall has a terrifying scope, and I think it is truly the most incredible in Iceland. When I went to Dettifoss the area was completely covered in snow, and from the parking lot I had to follow a path in search of red stakes almost completely submerged in snow to reach the waterfall. In short, in addition to the waterfall, the path to reach it is truly an experience not to be missed.
If Dettifoss is too far, I recommend that you go at least to Goðafoss waterfalls which are 50 km from Akureyri. Smaller, but just as impressive!
- Dimmuborgir and the Mývatn pools
A little more than an hour's drive from Akureyri, in the Mývatn region, there is an expanse of lava formations with very particular shapes that, according to local legends, are trolls petrified by the sun. This is also the place that connects the world of the living to the underworld, and is inhabited by elves and Yule Lads, a sort of Icelandic Santas. Have fun walking among the trolls and interpreting the shapes of the lava creations, and if you are in the area during the Christmas period you might come across an all Icelandic Santa Claus!
On the way back to Akureyri, treat yourself to a few hours of low cost relaxation in the natural pools of Mývatn. They are much more beautiful and suggestive than those near Reykjavík, and above all they are less crowded and much cheaper. I advise you to go when it is dark, you can admire the starry sky and, if you are lucky, the northern lights.
