Published 1 September 2024 | Updated 16 October 2026 by Kate Acaster
Iceland is not a cheap destination, but it is a far more affordable one than most UK travellers expect. The country has a reputation for extreme prices that, in reality, applies mainly to eating out and a handful of specific attractions. Handle those two things well and you can visit for much less than you would spend in Norway (see how expensive Tromso is) or Switzerland.
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You can find more UK budget travel advice across Flight Tribe’s destination guides.
This guide is written specifically for UK travellers, with prices in pounds, routes from British airports, and advice timed around UK school holidays. Most Iceland guides online are aimed at Americans and price everything in dollars. That is not particularly useful if you are flying from Birmingham.
Here is a practical breakdown of everything you need to plan a budget Iceland trip.
Flights to Iceland from the UK
Iceland is within a three-hour flight from most UK airports, a shorter flight than the Canary Islands, with far fewer crowds outside the summer months. Finding cheap flights matters here more than almost anywhere else, because airfare is the single biggest cost variable on an Iceland trip.
easyJet runs budget routes from Luton, Manchester and other UK airports, and Jet2 flies from its UK bases. The lowest fares of the year usually fall in January and February. Timing your search for a Tuesday or Wednesday in January gives you the best shot at the lowest fares. Icelandair flies from Heathrow, Manchester and Edinburgh and is worth checking if you want to add a free Reykjavik stopover on a transatlantic connection.
Keflavik Airport is 50km from Reykjavik. The Flybus (3,999 ISK one way, about £25) covers the route in about 45 minutes. Hotel drop-off costs extra. Taxis cost around 25,000 ISK (about £155) and are only worth considering if you are travelling in a group of four or more.
| UK Airport | Airlines | Off-peak return | Peak return |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow | Icelandair | CheapestJan to Mar, Oct to Nov | DearestJul to Aug |
| London Gatwick | easyJet, Icelandair | CheapestJan to Mar, Oct to Nov | DearestJul to Aug |
| Manchester | Icelandair, easyJet, Jet2 | CheapestJan to Mar, Oct to Nov | DearestJul to Aug |
| Edinburgh | Icelandair | CheapestJan to Mar, Oct to Nov | DearestJul to Aug |
Flight prices change constantly. Check our latest deals page for current offers.
When to Go to Iceland
The season you choose shapes every other cost on the trip. Visit in January or February and you are looking at the year’s cheapest flights, empty roads, and the best Northern Lights conditions of the year. Visit in August and prices for flights and accommodation climb sharply. When you book matters as much as when you travel.
For UK families, May and September avoid the school-holiday premium while still offering reasonable weather and long daylight hours. September and October represent the best overall package for most travellers: post-summer pricing, the Northern Lights starting to appear, and the countryside still green and the roads open. Read our guide on avoiding the school holiday price spike for more on timing your trip affordably.
| Season | Avg temp | Daylight | Crowds | Budget verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan to Feb | −1 to 3°C | 5 to 10 hrs | Very low | Cheapest time to visit Best value |
| Mar to Apr | 2 to 7°C | 10 to 17 hrs | Low | Strong shoulder season Shoulder |
| May to Jun | 8 to 13°C | Up to 21 hrs | Building | Good if you book early Shoulder |
| Jul to Aug | 11 to 15°C | Up to 21 hrs | Peak season | Most expensive Expensive |
| Sep to Oct | 5 to 10°C | 8 to 14 hrs | Easing | Excellent overall value Best value |
| Nov to Dec | −1 to 3°C | 4 to 8 hrs | Low | Budget-friendly with character Best value |
Where to Stay in Iceland
Accommodation is one of the biggest costs in Iceland. Central Reykjavik hotels are at their dearest in peak season. The good news is that there are solid options at every budget, and staying even a short distance outside the capital cuts prices sharply.
For budget travellers, hostels are the obvious starting point. Kex Hostel in central Reykjavik is well-regarded, with a popular bar and a mix of dorm and private rooms. It sits within walking distance of the main city attractions and is considerably more characterful than a standard chain hostel.
Mid-range travellers should look at guesthouses in the residential areas west and north of the centre, which offer private rooms with kitchen access for £80-120 per night. For something more distinctive, the Reykjavik Marina hotel, run by Berjaya Iceland Hotels, overlooks Reykjavik harbour and has far more personality than a generic business hotel. Rates are competitive mid-week in winter and represent good value for a waterfront location.
If the Blue Lagoon is the main reason for the trip and budget is not the primary concern, The Retreat at Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland’s most celebrated hotels. It is expensive, but the rate includes direct lagoon access and removes the need to book separately. Worth considering if you want to avoid the queues entirely and spend multiple sessions at the lagoon over a couple of days.
Outside Reykjavik, guesthouses along the Ring Road offer basic but comfortable rooms for £50-80 per night. Camping is possible from May through September and cuts costs sharply. Iceland has an extensive network of designated campsites; wild camping regulations are stricter than they were, so stick to official sites.
The Main Attractions
Iceland’s most impressive attractions split into two categories: free and ticketed. The Golden Circle, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and Vatnajökull National Park cost nothing to visit. The Blue Lagoon is the exception, and the one where advance planning pays off most.
The Blue Lagoon is worth the price if you book the right tier at the right time. Comfort entry (the base level) starts at 11,990 ISK, about £75, and prices rise at busy times. Premium (from 14,990 ISK, about £93) and Signature (from 18,490 ISK, about £115) add drinks at the in-water bar, a bathrobe and extra masks. The Retreat Spa, with private changing rooms, costs far more. Book as early as possible at bluelagoon.com; slots in summer sell out weeks ahead. One important caveat: the Blue Lagoon sits near an active volcanic zone and has closed temporarily several times in recent years, including during the July 2025 eruption. Always check the website in the days before your visit.
The Harpa Concert Hall on Reykjavik waterfront is free to enter and worth a stop for the architecture alone. Evening performances are ticketed, but the foyer and exterior cost nothing.
| Attraction | Entry cost | Money-saving tip |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Lagoon | from about £75Comfort entry | Book Comfort entry 6-8 weeks ahead |
| Golden Circle | Free (self-drive) | Hire a car for £35-55/dayThingvellir National Park () and Geysir are free to enter, though parking at Thingvellir costs 1,000 ISK (about £6) a car. Kerið Crater charges entry (700 ISK, about £4). |
| Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon | Free to view | Visit at dawn or dusk |
| Vatnajökull National Park | Free | Stick to marked walking trails |
| Reykjavik City Card | from about £38 / 24 hrs | Covers buses, pools and most museums |
What to Budget for Iceland
The gap between a tight Iceland trip and an indulgent one is narrower than the country’s reputation suggests. The two biggest cost levers are accommodation and food. Switch one restaurant meal per day to supermarket buying and you cut daily spending by £30-50.
Bónus, Iceland’s main discount supermarket chain, has branches in Reykjavik and most larger towns. You can buy ready meals, snacks and drinks at prices roughly comparable to Aldi in the UK. Hostel dorms in Reykjavik start around £25-35 per night. Private rooms in guesthouses outside the capital run about £50 to £90 a night and are much cheaper than central Reykjavik hotels. Camping is possible May through September and cuts accommodation costs to almost nothing if you bring or hire equipment.
| Budget type | Daily spend | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Shoestring | £60-80/day | Hostel dorm, Bónus supermarket meals, free attractions only Budget |
| Mid-range | £130-180/day | Guesthouse, one restaurant meal, one paid attraction, car hire split two ways Mid-range |
| Comfortable | £250-350/day | Hotel, restaurant meals, Blue Lagoon, one guided day trip every two days Premium |
Getting Around Iceland
Car hire is the most practical and often the most cost-effective way to explore Iceland beyond Reykjavik. Prices start around £35-55 per day for a standard 2WD in summer, rising to £60-80 for a 4WD in winter. Split between two or three people, this is cheaper than guided tours for most itineraries. Book early in summer as vehicles run short in July and August.
For those without a driving licence or travelling solo on a tight budget, Strætó runs the national bus network, covering the main Ring Road stops and Reykjavik city routes. Timetables are sparse outside the capital and do not cover all areas, so check the Strætó app before planning any route that depends on a specific connection.
Hitchhiking is common and generally considered safe, particularly along the Ring Road in summer. It is not a reliable option if you have fixed schedules to meet, but works well as a supplement on quieter stretches between popular stops.
If you hire a car in winter, a 4WD is essential for highland roads and F-roads. Most F-roads are closed entirely until June. Do not attempt them in a standard car. The combination of vehicle recovery costs and potential fines makes it an expensive mistake.
10 Money-Saving Tips for Iceland
- Drink the tap water. Iceland’s water comes from glaciers and springs. It is cleaner than most bottled water you will find in a supermarket. Bring a refillable bottle and save £3-5 every single day.
- Shop at Bónus. Iceland’s discount supermarket, recognisable by the yellow pig logo. Stock up on breakfast and lunch supplies to offset expensive restaurant dinners. Pastries, skyr (Icelandic yoghurt), and ready meals are good value.
- Buy alcohol at the duty-free shop on arrival. The Vínbúðin state alcohol stores charge full Icelandic prices. The arrivals duty-free shop at Keflavik, before baggage reclaim, is the cheapest place to buy. Anyone aged 20 or over can bring in set combinations, such as 1 litre of spirits, 0.75 litres of wine and 3 litres of beer, or 3 litres of wine and 6 litres of beer.
- Book the Blue Lagoon at least 6-8 weeks ahead. Later bookings mean fewer time slots and less choice of entry time. Comfort entry is the best value tier. Book at bluelagoon.com directly rather than through a tour operator to avoid a mark-up of £10-30.
- Car share for the Golden Circle and South Coast. If you are travelling solo, look for sharing groups in Reykjavik hostels or on Iceland travel Facebook groups. Splitting a hire car four ways cuts costs to around £10-15 per person for a full day trip.
- Find free hot springs instead of the Blue Lagoon. There are dozens of natural geothermal pools across Iceland that cost nothing. Reykjadalur valley (a 3km walk from the car park) has a free open-air hot spring river. The Secret Lagoon in Flúðir costs 4,500 ISK (about £28) as a more affordable alternative if the Blue Lagoon is sold out.
- Eat out at lunch, not dinner. Many Reykjavik restaurants offer lunch menus well below the dinner price. The same kitchen, the same food, around £10-15 cheaper per person. The weekday lunch menu at Sjávargrillið on Skólavörðustígur is a good example.
- Take a free walking tour of Reykjavik. Several operators run tip-based tours starting from Harpa Concert Hall. You pay what you think the tour was worth at the end. For £5-10 you get a thorough introduction to the city and local recommendations you would not find in a guidebook.
- Cover the free attractions first. Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and the Reykjavik waterfront all cost nothing. Add paid attractions only after you have covered these. For many travellers, the free list alone fills a full itinerary.
- Download offline maps before you leave the UK. Mobile signal in rural Iceland is patchy. Maps.me or Google Maps offline cover most of the Ring Road and popular hiking areas. UK roaming plans cover Iceland post-Brexit, but do not rely on 4G coverage outside towns.
Iceland Travel FAQs
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Iceland expensive for UK travellers? | Yes, but manageable with the right choices. |
| Best time to see the Northern Lights? | September to March, away from city lights. |
| Do UK citizens need a visa? | No. Iceland is part of the Schengen Area. |
| Is tap water safe to drink? | Yes. It is some of the purest water in the world. |
| Is it safe to drive in Iceland? | Generally yes, though winter driving requires care. |
| What currency does Iceland use? | The Icelandic króna (ISK). |
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
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