Iceland holiday
Travel tips, best time to visit & highlights for your Iceland holiday in Europe
Iceland is the island of fire and ice – nowhere else will you find such a density of natural wonders. Geysers, waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, hot springs, and in winter, the magical Northern Lights.
Capital
Reykjavík
Language
Icelandic
Currency
Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Time zone
UTC+0
Flight time from DE
approx. 3.5 hours
Entry requirements
Identity card (Schengen)
Top hotels & accommodations in Iceland
Selected hotels and holiday accommodations in Iceland — with images, reviews, and direct booking links with our partners.
Siglo Hotel
Siglufjörður, Island
Hotel Kea Akureyri
Akureyri, Island
Center Hotel Arnarhvoll
Reykjavík, Island
Hotel Stracta Hella
Hella, Island
Center Hotels Laugavegur
Reykjavík, Island
Hotel Grimsborgir - Your Golden Circle Retreat
Hveragerði, Island
Hotel Keflavik
Keflavík, Island
Hotel Ranga
Hvolsvöllur, Island
Top 5 highlights in Iceland
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Golden Circle
Þingvellir, Geysir Strokkur, and Gullfoss waterfall – Iceland's classics in one day.
Blue Lagoon
Milky-blue thermal water in black lava – the most iconic bath in the world.
Jökulsárlón
Glacier lagoon with floating icebergs and the nearby Diamond Beach.
Northern Lights
From September to March, the Aurora Borealis dances across the Icelandic night sky.
Landmannalaugar
Colorfully striped rhyolite mountains and hot springs – a hiker's paradise in the highlands.
Hotels in Iceland
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reise-SIM für Iceland
Prepaid-SIM mit Datenvolumen für Iceland. Einfach einlegen und sofort lossurfen – keine Roaming-Gebühren.
* Weiterleitung zu travSIM.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reiseversicherung abschließen
Rundum-Schutz ab 9,90 € auf TravelSecure.de
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to visit Iceland
Recommended travel time
June–August (Midnight sun), Jan–March (Northern Lights)
Summer
10–15°C
Winter
-2–5°C
How much does a holiday in Iceland cost?
Average cost per person per day (excluding flight)
Budget
100–150€
Hostel, street food, public transport
Mid-range
150–250€
Hotel, restaurant, excursions
Luxury
250–500€
Boutique hotel, fine dining
5 travel tips for Iceland
Insider knowledge to make your holiday better.
Always dress in layers – the weather changes constantly
A 4x4 is mandatory for highland roads (F-roads)
Food in Iceland is expensive – use Bonus/Krónan supermarkets
Hot springs are available everywhere for free (not just Blue Lagoon)
The Ring Road (Route 1) requires at least 7-10 days
Food & drink in Iceland
These dishes you must try!
Discover Iceland
4 regions, cities and highlights in Iceland
Cities
Akureyri
Akureyri is the capital of North Iceland and with around 19,000 inhabitants, it is the second-largest city in the country, located at the end of the picturesque Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in Iceland. Despite its location just below the Arctic Circle, Akureyri surprises with an unexpectedly mild microclimate, a thriving botanical garden, and a vibrant cultural scene. German travelers to Iceland use Akureyri as a gateway to the spectacular north: from here, one can reach Lake Mývatn with its pseudocraters and hot springs, whale watching in Húsavík, and the mighty Goðafoss waterfall. The city itself impresses with its distinctive Akureyrarkirkja, colorful wooden houses, and top-notch restaurants serving fresh fish and lamb from the region. In winter, Akureyri is one of the best places in Iceland for northern lights and offers alpine enjoyment with the Hlíðarfjall ski area.
Ísafjörður
Ísafjörður, the "capital of the Westfjords", dramatically lies on a sandbank in the innermost corner of Skutulsfjörður, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and is the starting point for Iceland's most remote and wildest region. While the Ring Road leads most tourists around the main island, the Westfjords remain a hidden gem for nature lovers seeking the end of the world. The Westfjords are Iceland's last true wilderness. Steep fjords cut deep into the rugged coastline, roads end at lonely fishing villages, arctic foxes roam the tundra, and the density of puffins is the highest in Europe. Only 7,000 people live in the entire region — in an area as large as Schleswig-Holstein. The Dynjandi waterfall, 100 meters high and cascading in a fan shape over rocky terraces, is considered the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland. The drive along unpaved roads along dramatic fjord edges is already an experience. In sunshine, the waterfall glows like a wedding veil made of crystal. The Hornstrandir Nature Reserve at the northern tip of the Westfjords is Iceland's wildest area — accessible only by boat, with no roads, no infrastructure. Multi-day hikes lead through abandoned farms, past bird cliffs with millions of seabirds, and through an arctic landscape reminiscent of the time before human settlement. Arctic foxes, which have no fear of humans here, often accompany hikers closely. Ísafjörður itself is a charming town with colorful wooden houses, excellent fish restaurants, and an surprisingly active cultural scene. The Aldrei fór ég Suður music festival (Easter) is one of the most popular in Iceland, and the Schräge Haus Museum (Gamla Bakaríið) offers insight into the hard history of fishing villages. From June to August, when the midnight sun bathes the fjords in golden light and the roads are passable again, a window opens to one of the most untouched corners of Europe.
Reykjavik
Reykjavik, the northernmost capital in the world, is a charming small city with big city ambitions: Colorful corrugated iron houses, a vibrant music and art scene, innovative restaurants, and the majestic Hallgrimskirkja church, whose basalt column façade is inspired by Iceland's volcanic landscape, shape the skyline of this unique metropolis at the edge of the Arctic. The city is the perfect base camp for Iceland's natural wonders: The Golden Circle with the Strokkur geyser, the Gullfoss waterfall, and the Thingvellir National Park, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates drift apart, is just a few hours' drive away. The Blue Lagoon with its milky turquoise thermal water amidst black lava fields is Iceland's most famous spa experience. Reykjavik's culinary scene has developed into one of the most innovative in Northern Europe: From fermented shark (Hákarl) as a brave test of courage to New Nordic cuisine in restaurants like Dill, Iceland's first Michelin-starred restaurant. The Laugavegur shopping street offers Icelandic design, bookstores, and cafes. From September to March, the Northern Lights dance over the city, while in summer, the midnight sun provides endless days. Iceland's capital is small but full of surprises.
Vík í Mýrdal
Vík í Mýrdal is Iceland's southernmost village and one of the most dramatic places on the island, where pitch-black lava beaches meet the roaring Atlantic waves. The famous Reynisfjara beach, with its powerful basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks that rise like petrified trolls from the surf, is considered one of the most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world. German travelers to Iceland on the Ring Road stop here to experience the surreal landscape that has served as a film set for Game of Thrones and Star Wars. Above the tiny village with its iconic white church looms the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, under which the feared volcano Katla lies dormant. The puffin colonies on the cliffs of Dyrhólaey are a magical natural spectacle in summer. Despite its remoteness, Vík offers cozy accommodations and surprisingly good restaurants.
Complete guide for Iceland
Regions, attractions, food, routes, costs & practical tips — all in one digital guide.
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Plan a holiday in Iceland
Iceland is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe, offering Nature, Adventure, Northern Lights and much more. The best time to visit Iceland is June–August (Midnight sun), Jan–March (Northern Lights), when the weather is ideal for exploration and relaxation. With a daily budget starting from 100–150€ (Budget) to 250–500€ (Luxury), Iceland is suitable for various travel budgets.
From the capital Reykjavík, Iceland can be excellently explored. The official language is Icelandic, and the currency is Icelandic Króna (ISK). From Germany, you can reach Iceland in approx. 3.5 hours. Whether you want to try culinary highlights like Plokkfiskur, Skyr, Icelandic Lamb, visit top attractions, or simply enjoy the atmosphere: Iceland has something for every type of traveller.
Use our free travel tools to prepare your Iceland holiday perfectly. With the holiday finder, you can discover if Iceland is the right destination for you. The budget calculator helps you plan costs realistically, and with the packing list, you won't forget anything.
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