Iceland holiday, how expensive is it going to be?

[Fuckingfuckssake]

We’re almost decided on going to Iceland for October half term, can fly and get accommodation for a surprisingly modest amount, we can save up for excursions before we go but I’m worried about the cost of food, would we be better off self catering? Happy to eat supermarket sandwiches for lunch every day but we’d like one hot meal. Has anyone been recently that can give me an idea what it’s going to set us back for a week? 2 adults 2 dc.

We spent around £1000 for 2 adults and 2 teenagers and went for 4 days. That included some trips and activities. We were Bed and Breakfast. Took packed lunches and ate out for dinner.

This was pre-covid, with no kids, but DH and I stayed at Ok hotel which had a kitchenette. I can't see family rooms though. https://ok.hotelsreykjavik.net/en/

We were able to have breakfast in the room and either have lunch and/or dinner out. There was a supermarket nearby, but ensure you have a translation app on your phone that has Icelandic language! I wrongly thought 'sunny milk' would be cows milk, but it turned out to be some sort of soured/butter milk type thing 😝

Food costs recently (this year) - you can get a meal for 4 for £60 to £80 (main course and a soft drink each) if you check prices and go for cheaper places. Could easily spend £200 if you don’t check prices or have a second course with wine Be aware that even cafes at tourist attractions are £50-£60 for lunch for 4. Packed lunches are a good idea. Supermarkets not too expensive.

Wine is about £11 a glass in restaurants and you can’t buy it in normal supermarkets, only special shops. However flights and hotels fine and lots of hotels include breakfast.

Many tourist entrance fees are also very expensive so we had to ration how many things we did. Eg museum or boat tour easily £150 - £200 for 4 (not via a coach trip but buying tickets direct)

On the other hand there is tons of wonderful outdoor stuff to do for free. Parking at the key tourist attractions (waterfalls etc) only £6 for a car, not a per person charge, so you can have lots of cheaper days too.

We found bakeries and lunch out in coffee shop type places surprisingly reasonable, cheaper and better quality than somewhere like Costa here.

You could also get large slices of pizza from Sbarro that were fine for lunch. Evening eating out wasn't madly expensive unless you had red meat or wine.

We had the iceland fish casserole and also the fish soup both of which came with the sweet rye bread, which was lovely and we also had tapas and Nepalese food. Bonus and Kronan were the least expensive supermarkets, but were 50-100% more than the UK.

Yes, it is a good idea to make your own food rather than eating out all the time to reduce the cost. Definitely do that if you want something like steak or pasta, that's quick and easy to make yourself, so not really worth paying restaurant prices for wherever you are.

If you like the city museums and swimming pools a city card that includes free entry might be worth it, but it didn't include the Perlan museum, which was about £32 each but well worth it.

Thanks all, much appreciated, we’re pretty good at working to a budget and are not bothered at all about fancy restaurants.

@JumpingJillhow was the driving? Did you drive in and out of Reykjavik? I’ve never driven abroad before.

Keep to the speed limit (which is usually 80 km/h). The fines are eye-watering and they are not very cuddly and Nordic about it.

Otherwise the driving in Iceland is fairly easy. Occasionally you may find yourself on a gravel road but just go steady and it will be fine. There are worse countries for your first driving-on-the-right experience.

I went a couple of years ago and thought it wasn't too bad, London prices for eating out. Unlike Olso!!!

However, we were with a guide who took us to the restaurants she used with her family, not tourist places.

Most of the ring road is officially 90, not 80, and most people drive 100-110 where conditions allow.

It's very easy driving outside the city. It's pretty much all single carriageways with good visibility through beautiful landscapes. You just need to know how to yield at one-lane bridges (it's obvious tbh) and check weather warnings before you start a journey. Depending where you go it might not be all paved but gravel roads are fine, just have to go slower.

In towns, you need to know that on two lane roundabouts, inside lane has priority. This will not come naturally to you so watch out.