The Cheapest Time to Go to Iceland

The Cheapest Time to Fly to Iceland

Travelers from Europe and even North America will often find incredibly cheap flights to Iceland. For travelers from further afield, such as Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and South America, it is not quite so simple. Iceland’s distance from such regions means that flights will usually be expensive, even if they are part of a great deal.

Regardless of where you’re coming from, the cheapest time to go to Iceland is usually February and March. The festive season is over, and though the Northern Lights are on full display, the months are cold, dark, icy, and thus less popular with the vast majority of tourists. Airlines usually lower their standard seat prices and offer better deals over this time to make the journey to and from the country worthwhile.

April and May are also usually cheap times to fly to Iceland, compared to the summer months. But you can expect to pay a little more for a plane ticket in April and May than over winter, considering the weather is markedly better in these months.

As June, July, and August coincide with the school holidays for children in the Northern Hemisphere, flights from all operators will be much more expensive in these months. Even though September through November is a part of the quiet season, it’s still a popular time of the year to travel, so you can also expect pricier tickets.

As noted, December is a particularly expensive time to visit Iceland due to the seasonal festivities. Flights over this month will naturally reflect this.

• Learn more: How Expensive Is Iceland? When to Visit & How to Save Money

The Worst Time to Visit Iceland

For those with a reasonable budget, there is no worst time to visit Iceland. Each month has its own magic, whether you want to indulge in the festivities of December, the arts and music festivals of June, or the beginning of the northern lights season in September. 

Those with tighter purse strings, however, will find that there are times when prices for a range of services and goods will be much higher than the rest of the year.

Christmas, as touched upon, is the worst time to visit Iceland for those on a budget. Many restaurants will alternate to more indulgent festive menus; bars and breweries will often do the same with their choice of beverages; and shops will tick up the prices on standard souvenirs, knowing that the demand is there.

• Read more: The Top 10 Souvenirs from Iceland

Over this season, there are a number of public holidays, which occur on the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 31st of December and the 1st of January. Because of this, services and tours that are still running may charge more to accommodate the staff’s holiday.

The weather in Iceland is also particularly fickle during this time, and it’s more likely that your tours will get canceled or rescheduled in Winter. This can derail the whole trip for those who’ve been frugal with their tour bookings.

The other worst time to visit Iceland in terms of expense is the ‘high season’, when most tourists flock to the country. As stated, this coincides with the summer holidays of the Northern Hemisphere: June, July and August. Car rentals and other such services often operate differently during these months, hitching up prices as demand increases. 

While the prices of shops, restaurants and bars will usually stay consistent throughout summer, if you're a customer of Guide to Iceland you can get exclusive offers and discounts by using the VIP Club.

• Learn more: Public Holidays in Iceland

Other Ways to Save Money in Iceland

There are plenty of other ways to save money outside of choosing the best time to go to Iceland. Some are as simple as eating in; others are tricks known only to locals, such as spots where you can find coffee for cheap or free, and how to track the happy hours of Reykjavik’s bars.

Of course, you can also save money by tailoring your holiday to a lower budget. Traveling the Ring Road around Iceland can get pricey, so if you don’t leave the city, you’ll save on tours and car rentals.

If you’re only planning to take a few trips further out, you’ll find cheap bus tours a great alternative to more pricey private tours. However, if you plan to see the whole country, you can do so by renting a car and making your own plans, rather than purchasing multiple excursions.

There is a range of budget self-drive tours on offer for the cost-averse traveler, which allows you to drive around the country in a cheap rental car with budget accommodations pre-planned along the way.

If you want the holiday of a lifetime, booking a vacation package or combo tour is a great way to shave down prices without missing out on a second of adventure.

While a holiday to Iceland is no doubt an investment, it need not be a bank-busting one for the savvy traveler. Visiting Iceland in its off-peak season, when you can catch the cheapest flights, can allow guests of all budgets to immerse themselves in the spectacular Land of Ice and Fire.

What do you think the best time to go to Iceland is? Did you find any ways to save money on flights to Iceland? How cheap did you find off-peak travel in Iceland? Let us know in the comment section below!