Iceland's tap water is safe to drink straight from the tap and travelers can refill a reusable bottle instead of buying bottled water. A single Straeto ticket is valid for 75 minutes from the moment it is activated. Iceland has roughly 170 registered campsites.
Where to save the most on food, drink and water
Iceland's tap water is safe to drink straight from the tap and is among the purest in the world. Travelers can refill a reusable bottle instead of buying bottled water. Skyr is a traditional Icelandic cultured dairy product and a common inexpensive staple for self-catering travelers. Bonus, identified by its pink pig logo, along with Kronan and Netto, are Iceland's lower-cost supermarket chains. Alcohol in Iceland is sold to the public only at state-run Vinbudin stores. The duty-free shop at Keflavik Airport is generally the cheapest place in Iceland to buy alcohol.
Getting around Iceland without overspending
Straeto is the public bus system serving Reykjavik and the wider Capital Area. Straeto bus fares are paid through the Klappid app or with a contactless debit or credit card on board. Cash is no longer accepted on city buses. A single Straeto ticket is valid for 75 minutes from the moment it is activated. Bus route 55 connects Reykjavik with Keflavik Airport and is not included in the Reykjavik City Card. The Flybus is a shared coach transfer that runs between Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik. The Reykjavik City Card is sold in 24, 48 and 72-hour options and includes unlimited Straeto travel plus free entry to the city's swimming pools and many museums. For a couple or a small group, renting one car and splitting the fuel and rental can work out cheaper and more flexible than booking multiple separate day tours. Use the Fuel Cost Calculator to help plan your trip.
Free and low-cost attractions worth building your trip around
There is no entrance fee to visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall on the south coast, although the adjacent car park charges a parking fee. Skogafoss waterfall has no entrance fee and sits directly off Route 1 with a car park at its base. The Sun Voyager is a public stainless-steel sculpture on the Reykjavik waterfront that is free to visit at any time. It is called Solfar in Icelandic and it was created by Jon Gunnar Arnason. Iceland has more than 120 public swimming pools, most heated geothermally with hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms. They cost far less to enter than commercial spas such as the Blue Lagoon. Nautholsvik geothermal beach in Reykjavik offers free hot tubs during the summer season.
Cheaper places to sleep and the best time to book
Hostels, guesthouses and glamping are among the most budget-friendly accommodation types in Iceland. Iceland has roughly 170 registered campsites, ranging from basic fields to sites with showers, kitchens, electricity and laundry. Tent campers may pitch up to 3 traditional tents for up to 1 night on uncultivated, non-private land well away from farms, homes and organized campsites, unless the landowner has posted a notice forbidding it. Campervans and motorhomes are heavily restricted from wild camping and must generally stay at designated campsites unless a landowner has granted explicit permission. The shoulder seasons of spring, roughly April and May, and autumn, roughly September and October, generally have lower airfare and accommodation costs than peak summer.
Compare Reykjavik tours and plan your budget trip
You can compare Reykjavik tours to see the current options at /tours/reykjavik.
