THE TRUTH about traveling to Iceland in 2024

Traveling to Iceland will never be the same. Let's check out some changes that could affect your future travels and why you should perhaps plan a trip to Iceland in near future. Let's talk about prices, crowds,, nature, locals and more.

=============================
=============================

⏰ Timecodes ⏰
00:00 Tourism in Iceland
00:45 Is Iceland crowded?
01:55 Prices in Iceland & new expenses
02:58 How is tourism changing nature
04:34 Are locals still friendly?
06:24 Is it too late to visit Iceland?
06:46 The positive side of tourism
07:36 Accommodation in Iceland
07:57 Activities in Iceland
08:40 Language barrier
09:04 Predictions

#iceland #icelandtravel

[backyardprovence]

I went to Iceland for the second time in July 2020, during Covid. At that time they were letting in people who lived in Europe already. I spent the best 3.5 weeks there. NO ONE was there. It felt like I had the whole place to myself and most of the time I was the only car on the road. I even did a glacier hike with a local guide and I was the only one in the "group". It was glorious. I will forever be thankful that I was able to take that trip and those memories always make me smile.

[jameshummel]

Pro tip. Going during midnight sun hours.. sleep in, and explore late when people have left the busy spots

[LRT]

I live in a beautiful tourist town. For me, I love the tourists. I get to see my home with fresh eyes every time I see a tourist in awe of something I am very used to looking at, and have perhaps lost notice of. It makes me feel very fortunate to be able to be here and work. I will be in Iceland very soon and surely in awe and I hope that enthusiasm can be as contagious to locals as it is for me in my town. I agree about the "zoo" feel of the ropes and paths...There is a popular trail near me that recently got the zoo treatment and signage with rules, but also facts about the nature. I read all of the information signs and learned some new things along with the other locals and tourists. There are so many wild areas to explore as well. Thanks again for another lovely video Jan.

[TheRealJBMcMunn]

Unfortunately, although travel affects the traveler, it also affects the place you travel to.
We're seeing this more and more. In popular tourist destinations such as Barcelona and the Cinque Terre in Italy they are limiting tourism. Italy is turning into Disney World. No entry without a ticket for the Dolomites!

[shanef]

I agree with you and I booked a spontaneous trip to Iceland over morning coffee last week. I'll be visiting in early October. I feel the pain for the locals. I grew up in Niagara Falls, Canada. I used to avoid a number parts of the city from May to September. Then the city built a casino and it's overpopulated 12 months a year. It's not fun.

[soggybawsmoto]

Visit Iceland in December, and you will have alot of these places to yourself.

We visitied 11th - 19th December 2023, the only busy place was Geysir.

We rented a 4wd Dacia Duster and went touring on our own. It was a magical holiday capturing the Northern Lights, and the start of the erruptions on 18/12/23.

It was super exciting.

The Perlan was fantastic. It wasnt on our radar before we travelled. We went twice there was so much to see.

[fiucik]

A tip to visit popular places on Iceland in the summer: go there veeery late. I visited Iceland last summer. Late June, early July. I was on Gulfoss, Geysir and Dettifos among other place almost alone, because I was there around and sometimes past midnight. And to witness a sunset that doesn't come(polar day) at Dettifos was something truly magical.

[benburns]

Hi Jan, the old saying of a few bad people can ruin it for everyone else is so true. It's sad that they have enough bad people to create a Facebook page highlighting that point. The page is probably very successful for the person that created it.
One positive point about the increase in tourists is that it is good for your Airbnb business. The picture you showed of the Rainbow by your home is really outstanding.
Best wishes to you and the people of Iceland that the increase in tourism will bring more positive than negative experiences.

[catohnine]

I first visited Iceland in 1994 and it was amazing! Subsequent visits in 2015 and 2017 and sadly it had become a victim of its own success.... barriers everywhere, parking charges and overcrowding; so sad 😞

[DemureDarlings]

Just came back yesterday and it was so many volcanoes 🌋 eruptions 😮

[animated]

Icelanders are the friendliest people ive met in my entire life.

Was there in april, up north and ditched out in the snow. 3 icelanders stopped to help even though it was pointless. I was deep in snow.

Government needs to protect their culture, their land, their way of life

[julianjaramillob]

Thanks for all of your very truth full videos. Very nice, simple with really use full info. Hope to enjoy it in 2 weeks from now!

[lynnmarad]

I understand your concerns. My home is the beautiful Maine coast where the population of tourists and those with summer homes explodes during the high season. Full confession, we depend on those people for our tourist dollars, so its a love/hate relationship. I will be a first time visitor to Iceland within the next 2 weeks, so I hope by traveling in a shoulder season we will miss the crowds. Unless the volcano has other ideas to keep us away…

[Francesanne_a.k.a._Tan]

Ill be visiting on October of this year for the first time ♡

[vilik]

Ahoj Jane, potvrdil's mi presne to, co jsem si o Islandu myslela. Cesta je zabookovana, jen skoda, ze jsem na tvoje videa neprisla uz driv. Asi kouknu uplne na vsechna pred vyletem. Jsou opravdu uzitecna a hlavne ujistujici. Letime na prvni tyden roku 2025. 😘👌

[thoseUNheardRsweeter]

This was really interesting! Most of these things I had never even thought about in relation to travelling to Iceland. Thanks!

[lunavx]

I noticed it's got busier too on our 3rd trip, but we tend to just like chilling out in Reykjavik for a few days - I really enjoy it and hope to be back again soon

[MarkYaklich-fmty]

Iceland is a beautiful country. We've been there twice. First time was in Summer 2012 and second time was in January 2017. There was a definitely noticeable more tourists when we returned in 2017 even though it was "off-season". Still the country is beautiful - like a different world and people were very friendly. Our next trip we want to drive the entire ring road - maybe we can stay at your airbnb :)

[FalconX]

Visited last year, it was amazing. Golden circle was crowded but on the east coast there was no one.

[matthewtanksley]

I'm from Wyoming in the US and it's the same here with our Yellowstone National Park and Gand Tetons. We as locals even have a growing resentment towards people who have moved here and started changing our way of life. It's not the same small community i grew up in.