11 Money Saving Tips for Iceland

Iceland is not cheap. We all know that. Everything will be more expensive than you thought. Having said that… There are obviously ways to save money!

1. Car rental

Your biggest expensive will probably be a car when on a road trip through Iceland. So if you want to save some money, you can use this link this link and get a 5% discount on your car rental!

2. Tours

There are a lot of tours to do in Iceland. Whale watching, paragliding, horse riding, just to name a few. I have discount codes for several tours (and accommodations). Just check them out here.

3. Gas

If you are driving around Iceland, you will have to get some gas along the way. Want to know which gas station is the cheapest? Check out this link.

4. Grocery Shopping

Bónus is the cheapest supermarket in Iceland. So try to go there to save a bit of money on groceries. Shops that are open longest (like Hagkaup and 10/11 are usually the most expensive).

5. Water

Don’t buy bottled water. The cold water from the tap in Iceland, is the best water you will ever taste. Don’t make the mistake of drinking the warm water and make sure you let the tap running with cold water for a bit after using the hot water. The hot water contains sulfur and doesn’t taste good.

6. Swimming pool vs Spa / Lagoon

Talking about water, when you sit in it, you do want it to be warm of course. Beside all the very fancy lagoons (blue, forest, sky, etc.) it is a lot cheaper, and might I say more fun, to go to one of the local pools. This is one of the most Icelandic things you can do: visit the pool. And don’t worry, most people don’t go here to swim, most just hang out in the hot tubs. If you do decide to go to a spa / lagoon, don't forget to check if I have a discount code for you.

7. Alcohol

Alcohol is crazy expensive in Iceland. So the best thing to do is: Bring a nice bottle from your home country or buy alcohol in the duty free store before entering the country.

8. Restaurant

Eat out at lunch time. Many restaurants have (all you can eat) buffets around lunch time hat are way cheaper than the dinner menu. Or try a hot dog at the gas station. That’s definitely the cheapest (but very tasty) food option you can get.

9. Cook your own food

This obviously is the cheapest way to get some nutrients in you. If you book guesthouses or holiday houses, you’ll have your own kitchen and can cook whatever you like! And don’t forget number 4. to get the cheapest groceries.

10. Second Hand Stores

For cheap Icelandic sweaters, you might want to check out the Red Cross second Hand Stores around the country. They very often have nice Icelandic sweaters for a great price.

11. Rent clothes

Icelandic weather is a bit different from other places, so you might not need all that wool / all those layers / rain clothes / a down jacket in your home country. It’s a waste to buy all of those things if your are only going to use it once. Luckily you can also just rent clothes! That will save you money on buying new stuff and it saves you a lot of weight in your suitcase. If you want to make it even cheaper, you can use my 10% discount code "elisainiceland"!

Bonus Tip

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The links I shared above are affiliate links, so that means I will get a small percentage if you book through that link (without you paying more, of course).