Real talk: It seems like everyone has decided to travel to Iceland. From your coworkers and cousins to your best friend from High School, it has certainly become the destination of choice. This is a little confusing because just the name itself describes an inhospitable arctic wasteland. Couple that with the fact that it is one of the most expensive countries in the world and you may as well just stay home or travel somewhere different. Need even more justification on why you shouldn’t travel to Iceland? Here are ten really convincing reasons why you just shouldn’t go.

10 Reasons Why You Should Never Travel To Iceland

#1: The country is a frozen arctic tundra all year and the weather is too unpredictable

With a name like ICE-land, the place is obviously buried in snow all year. Wait……how can that picture be green? In reality, Iceland has weather systems like just about everywhere else that gets cold. It is snowy in the winter, green in the summer, and a lovely brown during the rest of the year. That part about the weather being unpredictable? Totally true and also a total benefit. If the weather in Iceland is bad, simply wait five minutes for it to improve or drive a few miles down the road!So even if you visit Iceland in winter, you will still have some pretty decent weather all things considered!

#2: It costs thousands of dollars to travel to Iceland

Since it is so far north, it is hours away from civilization and therefore super expensive to fly to…right? Wrong!! Many airlines fly into Iceland, but the most famous and cheapest is WOW air. It is a budget Icelandic airline and flies to/from North America and Europe for as little as $80 one way. It has actually never been easier or cheaper to fly to Iceland!

#3: Winter days are completely dark

Ugh! Who would want to experience gorgeous sunset-style lighting all day? What a bummer…right? The truth is, Iceland does indeed have light for many hours in the winter. In the dead of winter, the sun will rise around 10-11am and set at 3-4pm. That doesn’t mean it is completely dark as Iceland has a lovely twilight hour where the sun lingers for much longer than a regular sunset.

#4: You have to stay bundled up the entire visit and it is too cold to even think about swimming

Who would bring a bathing suit when planning travel to Iceland? If you don’t, you will be sorry because then you won’t get to experience the relaxing waters of magical places such as the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. Since Iceland is a volcanic island, there are tons of hot springs peppered around the countryside. Don’t forget your swimsuit so you can undress and relax at the end of the day.

#5: There are too many annoying tourists since Iceland has gotten so popular

It is true that a country with a population of 300K is now hosting over 3 million tourists a year. That being said, there is plenty of room for everyone and it is totally possible to drive for an hour and not see another car. Depending on the time of year you travel to Iceland, natural attractions may be devoid of tourists and you may even have the whole place to yourself.

#6: Forget seeing wildlife, nothing can live in that environment

Actually, there are plenty of animals in Iceland! From the adorable Icelandic horses to curious Arctic foxes, Puffins, seals, whales and more, many animals call Iceland their home. The most famous and easy-to-find animal is the Icelandic horses. While they aren’t wild, they are still unique, friendly, and always ready for their photo opportunity.

#7: It is impossible to visit Iceland without blowing all your money

Iceland is one of the most expensive countries in the world and many people visit there and break the bank. That doesn’t have to be the case and it is entirely feasible to travel to Iceland without blowing all your money. There are easy steps to take if you want to visit Iceland on a budget such as booking an Airbnb, drinking tap water, and shopping at Icelandic grocery stores. If you hope to travel to Iceland on a budget, be sure to do your research and make sure you aren’t forgetting to save for unexpected charges. 

#8: A ton of ice can be seen anywhere and really isn’t all that special

If you live in a northern environment, ice chunks are something you probably tire of. Many countries also have glaciers, but none have a glacial lagoon as famous as the one in Iceland. It is situated in an easily accessible place so all you have to do is pull off the road and you will see the majestic beauty of icebergs of all sizes. The glacier lagoon is totally worth a trip to Iceland!

#9: Iceland is confusing to get around and the roads are bad

Iceland is actually one of the easiest foreign countries to get around. Since it is so sparsely populated, that means there are less roads to get lost on! After all, Iceland road trips are one of the most popular things to do for people who travel to Iceland. There is one main road, Highway 1 Aka “The Ring Road” that goes completely around Iceland so it isn’t too hard to get lost. For Americans, you don’t need anything other than your USA issued drivers license to drive and most GPS’s work too! Plus, if you still don’t feel like driving, there are plenty of tours in Iceland that you will just love!

#10: It is too cold to enjoy visiting any beaches

Most people won’t travel to Iceland to go to the beach and that is where they are making a mistake. Although it is colder than a tropical environment, Icelandic beaches are a sight to behold. Since the island is volcanic, the beaches are made up of pure black sand particles and some shorelines are even dotted with diamond-like chunks of ice. If you plan to visit Iceland, make sure you stop at at least one beautiful beach, even if it is cold!

Have you visited Iceland? What was your favorite part about the country?

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