Reykjavik Trip - cashless?

[fizzyroselemonade]

Hi, I’m off to Reykjavik for a few days later this week. I read somewhere recently that it’s a cashless society and I’d assumed I’d pay for everything on a card. I’m having doubts though now . Has anyone been who can confirm or should I get a nominal amount of cash exchanged

We went there a couple of years ago and used all cards, can't remember seeing anyone use money.

I'm of an age and go to places where its considered twattish, and often illicits a refusal, to use a card for purchases of a few quid or less so usually have small bits of cash for these reasons but there we paid for everything on card, even the single £6 fridge magnet, which was probably the cheapest thing I paid for.

We never had any cash when we were in Reykjavík.

I went at the beginning of February, most places take cash but card is preferred.

Brilliant thanks all! Cards all the way. Saves me an extra job before I go

The only place I had to use cash (and tbf was an optional donation so could have got away without) was a roadside toilet somewhere in the golden circle route.

I never take currency anywhere

We were there a couple of weeks ago. I only saw one person paying in cash, a fellow Brit. It caused a proper palaver, the staff member had to go to a back room to find some cash to give the right change. If you have any qualms about paying a small amount with a card then you needn’t worry as nothing in Iceland costs a “small amount”!

Yes. We struggled to spend our cash because everything was so, so expensive. Even when you know it will be, and are braced for it, we still couldn’t quite do it! There was a lovely jumper which I thought was gorgeous and actually although £100 is a lot it would be worth it… but I’d miscalculated. It was £1000.

I went 15 years ago and was almost cashless then.

Ah ok. I’ll not be that person in that case!

😱 yes I’m expecting off the scale pricey!

I nearly made the same mistake, albeit on a smaller scale, with some fancy salt. I thought it was £6 but thankfully sense checked the purchase, where I realised it was actually £60 for salt. As it happens, a few months ago, I bought something very similar in Lanzarote, for 8 euro.

It was a lucky escape because when we went, it was to celebrate a big birthday for me, and also not long after COVID, so we'd spent pretty much nothing on holidays for two years, so there was an element of 'sod the cost' (we normally put quite a lot of thought into getting 'good value' when travelling) so this was a diversion from normal behaviour for us, but even then, £60 for a few jars of flavoured salt was a step too far.

It depends on what you buy.

Groceries were 50-100% more than the UK.

The Reykjavik card was good value if you wanted to go to the included museums and swim in the public pools.

The excursions were a bit expensive but well organised and an easy way to see the highlights without thinking too much so felt 'worth it'.

Coffee shops were actually cheaper than UK chains and better quality so a good lunch option (we got two lovely fresh filled bagels, coffee and cake for under £10 each - try finding that in Costa/Starbucks/Pret etc).

Wine and red meat in restaurants seemed very expensive but we don't have that in the UK due to preference and partly due to cost so not a hardship to avoid.

That’s surprising about lunches as I was expecting super expensive. I’m planning excursions too for that reason of being easy to do and no planning so I’m happy to pay a bit extra.

Ill look into the Reykjavik card too thanks

We went to Iceland 35 years ago and it was a magical experience - there was deep snow and the waterfall was frozen so everywhere looked really stunning. But we were shocked at the prices. The cheapest nice place we found to eat was our hotel buffet, and even all those years ago, it cost us £17 per person; cheap house wine was £34 a bottle. Im embarrassed to say that we made up rolls from the breakfast buffet to take out with us for lunch 😆

I didn’t find anywhere like that to eat, @Bjorkdidit !

I tried to find charity shops in the hope of finding good cast off woollens. That wasn’t the kind of trip we were on though- no towns really.

It’s stunning, we had a great time.
I didn’t think anyone would believe my sweater cost story- I wasn’t sure I believed it myself, but despite racking my brain for possible mistakes, that was all I could come up with. A £1000 sweater 😅

The sweaters are hand made, sustainable, etc etc. They probably last a lifetime and possibly even get handed down.

I couldn't cope with that amount of pressure for it to be 'right'. When do you wear it, what does it go with, will it be too warm in the UK? Also what if it gets stained or damaged? Not that I'd buy a £1000 sweater anyway.

They're probably bought by the same people who buy the £10k Icelandic down duvets there's a thread about on here.

We have not found prices extortionate. Always check local guides for restaurants and the standard sweaters are way less than £1000. They are not £100 either. We try to avoid tourist trap places to eat and have found perfectly good cafes in bookshops and back streets. You just have to do your homework.

It’s a fantastic place for a holiday but wrap up. March is cold!

We didn't find the prices too bad for what we needed.

We paid for our airport transfer, hotel and Golden Circle tour beforehand. The hotel was something like £140 a night with buffet breakfast - much cheaper than a city-based Premier Inn here. We basically then paid for one lunch and one dinner. The lunch on the tour was probably about 50% higher than a National Trust lunch. The dinner down by the docks/harbour was about £70 for us both - about what we'd pay here.

The buffet breakfast tied us over until we got to the airport where we had free food and Prosecco in the Saga Lounge. (we weren't trying to be particularly cheap).

We didn't buy any souvenirs - they were extortionate.

Our trip was a stopover on the way back from Canada. Icelandair lets you do this for free, and it's a great way to dip your toe in the water before committing big ££££. Icelandair is very reasonable for transatlantic. We were on Saga Class, which is basically their Premium Economy with extras (ie fast track and lounge access). When we weren't able to make our outward connection in Reykjavík, we got bumped up to Air Canada full business - bliss.

My big tip for Iceland is to make sure you take European plug adapters.

The internet backs up your £1000 sweater story. The sweaters usually cost about £250 to £300 but particularly intricate ones can reach prices of around £1000. They are handmade, after all.

I was interested in buying an Icelandic sweater (lopapeysa) but was put off by 3 factors:

1. The price (I've since learned that they can be picked up for about 30 quid in Reykjavik's secondhand shops. I didn't think to look in one of those)
2. They looked very warm and I was concerned they'd be too warm for our relatively insipid English winters
3. They did look rather itchy

Has anyone bought one and how have you got on with it? (I'm aware we"re drifting somewhat from the point of OP's post).

I knitted my own Lopi jumper 42 years ago - they were quite a thing there.

I am still wearing it.

I did buy one there about 30 years ago and it was too hot to wear here, but I run warm, the sort of person who only wears a coat when it's below about 8C.

I went to Reykjavik last October. Lots to do, but yes, be prepared for it to be expensive. We took cash but barely used any of it as it is very much card everywhere. If you are able to get to Keflavik with enough time before your flight home, as a tourist you can get a tax rebate on purchases over 12,000 ISK at the kiosk there. Make sure you ask for the tax refund form if you make any transactions over 12,000 (roughly £70, or just over) and then you take these to the kiosk at the airport but there may be a queue.

I went about 9yrs ago and never used cash. Just cards.

Drift away, I’m enjoying Reykjavik top tips!