Top Tips for Avoiding the Summer Crowds
We‘re finally, finally getting closer to the long-awaited summer. But with longer days and rising temperatures (we’ve already spotted some Icelanders in shorts, even though it‘s still in the single-digits) come the eager visitors who want to experience everything the Icelandic summer has to offer. While our motto has always been “the more, the merrier” we understand that some travelers would rather avoid the crowds and enjoy the peace and quiet our remote island is also famous for. So here are our tips and tricks for avoiding the summer crowds.
1. Wake Up Early
Get ahead of the crowds by waking up really early. Don‘t worry, the Icelandic summer has 24 hours of daylight so even if you‘re not a morning person, you‘ll hardly notice it‘s still the middle of the night. Early summer mornings have a special quiet atmosphere and you‘ll get to enjoy the attractions in peace while everyone else is still in bed.
2. Set Off Later
If you still don‘t fancy getting up early you should consider setting off on your trip later in the day. Again, the midnight sun will keep things nice and bright so you can still do some sightseeing until late and avoid the peak time crowds.
3. Book Your Accommodation Off the Beaten Path
Certain towns along the Ring Road are more popular than others due to their size or proximity to popular landmarks. However, by avoiding the most popular places like Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur on the South Coast, you‘ll open yourself up to new experiences in more authentic accommodation like small farms or summer houses.
4. Avoid Large Group Tours
Large group tours can be fantastic when you‘re on a tight schedule or budget but if you really want to experience the beautiful sights of Iceland without having to jostle through a crowd, smaller sized tours are the way to go. Or just rent your own car. Which brings me to our next point!
Photo by Brynjolfur Bragason
5. Go on a Road-Trip
Going on a Road-trip is one of the best ways to avoid the summer crowd because it gives you freedom and flexibility. Our Road-trip packages are super easy to book and will give you all the freedom you need to explore Iceland on your own terms. We‘ll book the car and the accommodation so you can just focus on marking all the points on the map that you want to visit during your stay.
6. Get Recommendations From the Experts
Our dedicated team of travel experts are always willing to help you find secret spots and interesting places to visit. You should also ask the locals for recommendations on their favorite sites in their area. That way you‘re sure to discover some hidden gems not mentioned in the travel books.
Photo by Brynjolfur Bragason
7. Travel During the Week
Iceland is a popular spot for long weekends away so it can get pretty busy on Saturdays and Sundays. That‘s why you should take advantage of the quieter weekdays to travel. After all, who says Monday‘s can‘t be fun?!
8. Seek Out the Less-Touristy Areas
Iceland is a pretty big island and there are still plenty of areas that the average tourist hasn‘t discovered yet. The majestic Westfjords, mystical Snæfellsnes and the starkly beautiful East Iceland are all perfect for that alone-at-the-edge-of-the-world feeling Iceland does so well.
Photo by Brynjolfur Bragason
9. Take the Time to Gather Info
Before you arrive plan out the sites you want to visit and keep up to date with what‘s going on in Iceland during your stay. Pouring over maps and travel guides will help you familiarize yourself with the country and makes it less likely you‘ll just end up doing whatever everyone else is doing.
10. Pick Your Day tours Wisely
Iceland Travel has a wide variety of day tours that will take you all over the country. If you‘re yearning to get away from the summer crowds we recommend checking out daytours that will take you up to the highlands, or maybe you‘ll want to visit an ice cave or hike on a glacier. There‘s a tour for that!
