Iceland is quickly becoming one of the most popular destinations in the world. Its natural beauty, friendly people, and adventure activities are just a few of the reasons why. While you’re visiting you have to check out the waterfalls, ice caves, and gorgeous lagoons. Here are a few of our best tips for your next trip to Iceland.
One of the World’s Most LGBT Friendly destinations
Iceland is super LGBT and woman-friendly. They’ve had marriage equality in Iceland since 2010. The Church of Iceland even allows same-sex couples to get married in its churches and has since 2015. Iceland was also the first country in the modern world to elect a gay politician.
Long story short, Gallup polls show the vast majority of Icelanders support LGBT people. They even have their own LGBT tourism site to help folks plan their adventures. Keep in mind that even the safest countries in the world offer some concerns for LGBT folks, use our 40 LGBT travel safety tips as a guide for planning your trip
Book with Wow Airlines
Wow Airlines has incredible flight deals. You can find tickets for as cheap as $99 each way from eastern US cities. If you’re flexible with your dates and can book a few months in advance they’ll definitely be cheaper than any other carrier.
Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is one of the popular tourist attractions in Iceland. The warm waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulfur and bathing in the Blue Lagoon is said to have medicinal properties. Head to the lagoon and book some of their world-famous spa services for some relaxation. They offer a variety of price points for people at all levels to enjoy the lagoon but please note that the changing rooms are gendered and require a fully nude shower to protect the natural elements in the lagoon. Each changing room has private showers and they offer an option to have private changing rooms for two people when you purchase the luxury package.
Daylight Hours Vary Widely
The number of hours of daylight in Iceland varies widely depending on the season you’re visiting. From mid-May to mid-August and the sun only sets for about 3 hours per day. Theoretically, you could plan activities at any time because there is sunlight nearly all day. In midwinter, there are roughly 5 hours of daylight. Either way, you’ll have lots of interesting light settings to photograph.
Experience a 4×4 Camper
For the ultimate Icelandic adventure, ditch the rigid itineraries and booked accommodations, and set off on a road trip with a trusty camper van! Cozy Campers offers a fleet of premium camper vans that provide the freedom to explore Iceland at your own pace, venturing off the beaten path to discover hidden gems inaccessible by traditional cars. Imagine waking up to breathtaking landscapes every morning, and with Cozy Camper’s comfortable, spacious interiors, you can relax, cook meals, and enjoy the scenery in style. Camper vans are also a budget-friendly option, allowing you to save on accommodation costs by camping out under the magical Icelandic sky. So, ditch the crowds and embrace the flexibility and comfort of exploring Iceland with a camper van rental from Cozy Campers.
Pink Iceland Offers LGBT Destination Wedding Packages
Pink Iceland is an LGBT tour company and wedding planner. Pink Iceland was founded by Eva Maria and Birna, a lesbian couple looking to offer Iceland LGBT vacation packages. Iceland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and the perfect background for LGBT destination weddings. Some of the services they offer include preparation, consultation, helping with paperwork, arranging the ceremony, finding vendors, planning the honeymoon and pretty much everything that concerns getting married.
See the Northern Lights
If your dream is to see the northern lights in Iceland, visit between September and mid-April. These are the months where there are full dark nights that make viewing the lights possible. The Happy Campers have a very detailed post listing their favorite spots for viewing the northern lights.
Iceland is Expensive
I’m talking $4 for a bottle of water, $8 for a gallon of gas, $20 for a cup of soup expensive. While it’s expensive it’s not impossible. You just have to do more preplanning when you’re preparing for your trip. Book accommodations with free breakfasts. Plan ahead to limit your meals to breakfast plus one large meal midday. Tours cost about $100 per person per excursion. An average couple would spend $600-$1000 on tours. A car rental is about $150 USD for three days. Lots of people rent cars and do the excursions without tour guides. Renting a car in Iceland is super easy but be prepared for the sales presentation at the rental agency. They’re going to try and upsell you every step of the way. If you plan to do the rental car route make sure you’re planning on low-risk activities.
Ice and Lava Cave Tours
While some sights can be viewed on your own, some you’d definitely need a guide. The ice caving tours in Iceland are an incredible experience but can quickly turn dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. There are some things you just don’t want to gamble with. This is one of them.
Let’s have a Kiki at Reykjavik’s Only Gay Bar
One of the consequences of Iceland being so accepting of LGBT people is that LGBT exclusive businesses aren’t as common. Check out Kiki Queer Bar in Reykjavik to get your fix of local queer culture.
Additional Resources:
7 Awesome (and mostly gay) reasons to visit Iceland
Pink Iceland’s Insider Guide to Reykjavik
