Top 10 Mistakes Tourists Made in Iceland

I asked reddit users who had already visited Iceland “What was your biggest mistake when visiting Iceland?” and there were a lot of answers. I tallied them up and created a top 10 list of mistakes tourists made while in Iceland as well as some advice on how to avoid them.

Here is the original post. It is a treasure trove of useful advice for you. And an entertaining read.

Here is a map of most of the places pictured in the video. Feel free to use it while planning your trip.

You can use it as a starting point for your itinerary map. You can also check out my “50 Itinerary Ideas for Your Drive Around Iceland” video from last year.

My favorite reddit site for Iceland travel related content.

My favorite Facebook groups for Iceland related travel content.

My favorite YouTube channels. I'll be honest, I don’t watch many other channels in my space. Probably should. But these are great.
@AllThingsIceland
@JustIcelandic
@TheReykjavikGrapevine

Do you get value from my videos? You can buy me a coffee with this link :)

#iceland #icelandtips #traveliceland

[superman]

Ah yes, the "don't speed you tourist".
Well I'd like to thank the friendly locals on my bumper at 90+ kph.
I always felt glad they were there to read my speedometer for me through my back window.

[annapuppe]

You are so funny! I can’t wait to get to Iceland!! Thanks for those useful tips 😊

[DeltadronesBr]

Great video! I spent 31 days and wasn't enough to explore all the wonderful places! Returning this year to spend 50 days, alone!

[tomweiss]

Number One wasn't a problem for me. After seeing the Blue Lagoon, the Golden Circle and a few waterfalls that I can't spell, I just drove around and found stunning scenery to hike through, hot springs and a wonderful hotel to stay at.
It was actually the unplanned parts that stick in my mind the most. Headed back next spring!

[dodger]

Very informative -- and funny! Thanks!

[splash]

The biggest mistake I did was to lose track on my credit card spents 😅

Seriously, great video. :)

[purpletc]

Thanks for the Best Iceland videos…Looking forward next June to a trip of a lifetime

[toni]

I saw the Reddit post, so cool to find this here! It's ridiculous how useful your videos are. Thank you!

[chriskelvin]

If you're coming from the US, I recommend the following before you board the plane to leave for your trip to Iceland. Visualize the part in your driving psyche that contains driving 85-90 mph on the highway commute to work. Weaving in and out of traffic because of "gotta get there-itis". Aggressive driving period. Take this animal and put it in your glovebox in your car at home and lock it there for safekeeping for when you return. You will find Iceland a slow country. The speed limits everywhere are very low. There are no super highways. Not one. The highways they do have are not what you would expect. There are tons of single-lane bridges that come out of nowhere from double-lane roads. There are many gravel roads. There are hilltops with a knife edge. There is one climate only in Iceland. Unpredictable and always changing. Sand storms. High steady winds. Fog. Ice. Large industrial truck (this is a weather phenomenon too). Fortunately, the scenery everywhere is so gorgeous that driving slowly will extend the appreciation of it and keep you safe in order to see more the next day.

-Iceland traveler from summer '21 in rented Dacia Duster

[NNnegr]

Time to get a driving licence then... Thanks for the tips and see you in a couple of years when I'll finally get one :-D

[PrinceofMacedonVlogs]

in regards to #5 ("not enough time to go between places"). I'm taking Route 1 around Iceland, and making detours in each region (minus the Highlands and minus the Westfjords). If I have 13 days to make this drive, should I be driving a few hours per day (and staying at a new hotel each night)? I'm a little perplexed how to go about my trip. I want to spend 2 nights in Reykjavik if I can.

[TheDharmaDogs]

Number 1"... On the golden circle..." There was a huge bus fire on our GC tour and we had to drive all the way around Þingvallavatn! The funny thing is, I was able to make a TikTok of it because in Icelend there is better wifi in the middle of nowhere than in New York

[curthalldorson]

Pakk fyrir godi ! I understand that Rvk is very busy and that prices are higher than normal. A very informative video here.

[paulaweber]

Thank you, Karl! This is all good, practical advice!

[Cptnhoudie]

My mistake is I didn’t stay long enough

[iliandl]

I’m going on Saturday for 16 days, hope our itinerary is well done 😁

[irigdoog]

I just finished the Ring Road, and there IS a difference in water taste depending on which part of the country I was at. The water at Skogar campsite and the Silver Circle campsite tasted like sulfur while others were fine (unless I was refilling from the wrong faucet lol). Svinafell Campground has the best tasting water by far imo! 😊

[jcj]

Guilty of at least two. I was sold for an ice cave tour in October, even received notification for pick up. When they didn’t come I contacted them and they said it was not time for ice caves yet, so they refunded my money and I had to go to the bus station to find a tour to spend the day.

[hoser]

Coming from Canada soon. Keeping looking at packing tips, look at the weather, then say “Nah, 8c isn’t that bad”. Lol. It is 29c here now. Csnnot wsit for that Icelandic breeze. Beer. Beer. Not breeze. 😉

[UChris]

Grat video! I did very few of these mistakes on my first two trips to Iceland ;)

My biggest mistake is not having been at the hot pot at 3:16: Which one is that?