Iceland Solo Travel: My Great 10-Day Experience

There’s something magical about standing alone at the edge of Skógafoss waterfall, feeling the mist on your face while rainbows dance through the spray. I’ve traveled to 47 countries, but nothing quite prepared me for Iceland’s raw, otherworldly beauty. After years of putting it off due to cost concerns, I finally bit the bullet and spent 10 unforgettable days exploring this Nordic island solo. Was it expensive? Absolutely. Was it worth every penny? Without question.

This isn’t your typical glossy Instagram guide. I’m breaking down exactly what it cost me to travel solo in Iceland for 10 days in September 2024 – $2,876 USD (£2,301) all-in – with honest insights about what was worth the splurge and where I should have saved my króna. If you’re planning your own Icelandic adventure, consider this your unfiltered reality check from someone who made plenty of mistakes so you don’t have to.

Why Iceland Solo?

I chose Iceland for three reasons: safety (consistently ranked among the world’s safest countries), English proficiency (nearly everyone speaks excellent English), and those landscapes that seem plucked from another planet. September offered the perfect shoulder season sweet spot – fewer tourists, moderate weather (5-12°C/41-54°F), and a chance to catch the Northern Lights without the brutal winter conditions.

What I didn’t anticipate was how perfectly suited Iceland is for solo travelers. The well-maintained Ring Road, excellent infrastructure, and friendly locals made independent exploration surprisingly easy. And while group tours abound, having my own rental car allowed me to escape the crowds and find moments of complete solitude in some of Earth’s most spectacular settings.

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Complete Budget Breakdown

Let’s get straight to what you’re here for – exactly how much my 10-day solo adventure cost:

Total Cost: $2,876 USD (£2,301) - Daily Average: $287.60 USD (£230.10)

Accommodation: $896 USD (£717) - Reykjavik hostel (3 nights): $219 USD (£175) - Guesthouses/farms (6 nights): $594 USD (£475) - Airport hotel (1 night): $83 USD (£67)

Transportation: $784 USD (£627) - Rental car (9 days): $486 USD (£389) - Fuel: $198 USD (£158) - Airport transfers: $100 USD (£80)

Food & Drink: $690 USD (£552) - Grocery stores: $276 USD (£221) - Restaurants/cafes: $345 USD (£276) - Coffee/snacks: $69 USD (£55)

Activities: $398 USD (£318) - Blue Lagoon: $89 USD (£71) - Secret Lagoon: $32 USD (£26) - Glacier hike: $125 USD (£100) - Museums/attractions: $152 USD (£122)

Miscellaneous: $108 USD (£87) - SIM card: $29 USD (£23) - Souvenirs: $79 USD (£64)

Accommodation Reality Check

Iceland’s accommodation isn’t just expensive – it’s extremely limited in rural areas, especially during peak seasons. I booked three months in advance and still struggled to find options along parts of the Ring Road.

Where I Stayed: - Reykjavik: Loft Hostel ($73 USD/£58 per night) – Private room with shared bathroom in an excellent central location. The rooftop bar was perfect for meeting other travelers. - South Coast: Various guesthouses ($99-$120 USD/£79-£96 per night) – Simple, clean rooms with shared bathrooms and often communal kitchens. - Keflavik Airport: Aurora Hotel ($83 USD/£67) – Basic but convenient for my early departure.

Money-Saving Tips: - Book guesthouses with kitchens. This saved me at least $25 USD (£20) per day on food costs. - Consider HI hostels. The Hostelling International network has clean, reliable options throughout Iceland. - Look for farm stays. Some of my best experiences were at working farms that offer accommodation. - Avoid July-August. Prices drop 15-30% in shoulder seasons with similar weather.

Transportation Truth Bombs

Rental Car Reality: After researching public transportation options (limited) and group tours (expensive and inflexible), I determined that renting a car was actually the most cost-effective approach for seeing Iceland properly.

I rented the cheapest possible option – a manual Dacia Sandero – through Lotus Car Rental for $486 USD (£389) for 9 days, including basic insurance. The car performed perfectly on Iceland’s well-maintained roads, even on some mild gravel sections.

Important Rental Tips: - Skip the airport pickup. Take the shuttle to Keflavik town and save about $50 USD (£40). - Decline extra insurance if your credit card covers it. My Chase Sapphire card provided CDW coverage. - Manual transmission saves about 30% over automatic. - Pre-pay fuel at grocery store gas stations rather than at the pump – it’s significantly cheaper.

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Driving in Iceland was surprisingly easy, even as a solo traveler. Roads are well-maintained, traffic is minimal outside Reykjavik, and signage is excellent. The Ring Road (Route 1) circles the entire country and connects most major attractions.

Food & Drink: The Budget Killer

Iceland’s food prices shocked me despite being prepared. A basic restaurant meal typically cost $25-35 USD (£20-28), with anything nicer easily reaching $50+ USD (£40+).

How I Survived: - Grocery shopping at Bonus (budget chain with yellow piggy bank logo) - Hostel/guesthouse kitchens for breakfast and dinner - Packed lunches for road trip days - Hot dogs from gas stations ($5 USD/£4 vs. $25 USD/£20 restaurant meals) - Free coffee refills wherever offered (surprisingly common)

Worth the Splurge: - Traditional Icelandic lamb soup ($18 USD/£14) - Fresh Arctic char ($32 USD/£26) - Reykjavik’s famous hot dogs at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur ($5 USD/£4)

Not Worth It: - Fancy coffee shops ($7 USD/£5.60 for a latte) - Alcohol ($12 USD/£9.60 for a basic beer) - “Tourist trap” restaurants near major attractions

Activities: Free vs. Paid

Iceland’s greatest attractions are its natural landscapes, which are mostly free. However, certain experiences justify their cost:

Worth Every Penny: - Glacier hike on Sólheimajökull ($125 USD/£100) – A surreal experience walking on ancient ice with professional guides. - Secret Lagoon ($32 USD/£26) – Less crowded and more authentic than the Blue Lagoon. - Whale watching from Húsavík ($89 USD/£71) – Saw humpbacks and minke whales.

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Skip These: - Blue Lagoon ($89 USD/£71) – Overcrowded and overpriced. The Secret Lagoon or local swimming pools offer better experiences for a fraction of the cost. - Paid hot springs when free natural ones are nearby. - Guided tours of easily accessible natural attractions.

My 10-Day Ring Road Itinerary

Days 1-2: Reykjavik & Golden Circle - Explored Reykjavik on foot (free walking tour) - Rented car and drove the Golden Circle - Visited Þingvellir National Park, Geysir, and Gullfoss - Stayed in Reykjavik hostel

Days 3-4: South Coast - Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls - Black sand beach at Reynisfjara - Glacier hike at Sólheimajökull - Stayed in guesthouse near Vík

Days 5-6: East Fjords - Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach - Scenic drive through East Fjords - Stayed in farm guesthouse

Days 7-8: North Iceland - Lake Mývatn geothermal area - Dettifoss waterfall - Whale watching in Húsavík - Stayed in guesthouse near Akureyri

Days 9-10: West Iceland & Return - Snæfellsnes Peninsula - Secret Lagoon - Return to Keflavik - Stayed in airport hotel before early flight

Solo Travel in Iceland: The Honest Truth

The Good: - Incredibly safe. I never once felt uncomfortable as a solo traveler, even hiking remote trails. - Easy navigation. Well-marked roads and trails, plus excellent cell coverage for GPS. - English everywhere. Zero language barriers. - Photographer’s dream. No need for Instagram husbands when friendly travelers offer to take your photo everywhere.

The Challenges: - Cost. Everything is expensive, period. - Driving fatigue. Long stretches of solo driving required regular breaks. - Weather unpredictability. Always needed backup plans when traveling alone. - Dining alone. Sometimes awkward in smaller towns.

Money-Saving Tips That Actually Worked

1. Visit in shoulder season (May-June or September-October)

2. Book accommodation with kitchens

3. Shop at Bonus grocery stores

4. Fill water bottle from taps (Iceland has some of the world’s purest tap water)

5. Use credit cards with no foreign transaction fees (cash is rarely needed)

6. Download offline Google Maps before your trip

7. Pack waterproof everything to avoid emergency clothing purchases

Final Thoughts: Was Iceland Solo Worth It?

Absolutely, unequivocally yes. Despite the high costs, Iceland delivered experiences I couldn’t find anywhere else on Earth. Solo travel allowed me to set my own pace, stop for photos whenever inspiration struck, and fully immerse myself in the otherworldly landscapes.

The total cost – $2,876 USD (£2,301) for 10 days – was significant but actually less than I’d budgeted. With careful planning and the tips shared above, you could potentially reduce this by another 15-20%.

If you’re considering Iceland solo, my advice is simple: do it. Just budget realistically, book accommodations well in advance, and embrace the freedom of exploring one of Earth’s most spectacular landscapes on your own terms. Those moments of standing alone beside a thundering waterfall or watching the Northern Lights dance across the sky are worth every króna.

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