I’m a solo female travelling to Iceland. I was nervous about my first trip to Iceland, but it ended up being one of the most amazing trips of my life. For years, I’d been dreaming of seeing Iceland’s majestic landscapes and quirky capital city. Now that I’ve visited this beautiful country and experienced everything it offers as a solo female traveller, here are some tips for planning your own journey!
I’m a solo female travelling to Iceland.
As a solo female traveller, I’m often asked why I choose to travel alone. The answer is multifaceted. Of course, there are the obvious benefits. I get to see and do everything that interests me, but there’s also an element of safety that makes my travels more enjoyable. It’s hard to explain how much better it feels to travel alone than with other people. This is especially if those people are friends or family members who don’t share your need for adventure.
When you’re in unfamiliar territory, it’s nice to have someone else around who knows where they’re going and what they’re doing. So you don’t have to worry about getting lost or making bad decisions while travelling abroad. But sometimes, knowing too much impedes actually experiencing things firsthand—and this can hinder your ability as an adventurer! My goal when travelling solo is always just that: to experience new places on my own terms with no preconceived notions about what should be done or seen. This is because “everyone knows” (or doesn’t know) about a certain place or activity before actually being immersed in its context. First-hand through personal experience rather than second-hand information from others’ stories or blog posts. Such factors include changes within local economies affecting businesses within neighbourhoods, which then affects prices charged by vendors selling foodstuffs outside supermarkets near tourist attractions like museums.”
I was nervous about my first trip to Iceland.
I was nervous about my first trip to Iceland.
- I’d never been alone in a new country before-what if I got lost?
- What if it rained the whole time, and I had no one to go out with?
- Could I carry on a conversation with locals in Icelandic?
- Would eating out be too expensive for me on my budget?
My first stop was Reykjavík.
My first stop was Reykjavík. Iceland’s capital is only about 120,000 people, which makes it feel like a small town compared to its other cities. Yet even though it’s not huge, Reykjavík is the centre of Iceland’s culture and arts scene; there are many theaters and galleries here that promote the country’s art and literature.
The first thing I did when I arrived in Reykjavík was walk around downtown at night (I had arrived during their winter). There were tons of tourists roaming around, but no one was alone—everyone seemed with someone else or as part of a large group tour (which can be fun too!). It was nice because you could take your time walking through each street while still feeling safe, knowing that if anything went wrong, there would be plenty of people around who could help you out.
Reykjavík is very safe.
The first thing you should know about Reykjavík is that it’s a very safe city. The amount of crime in Iceland is very low, and the capital city has among the lowest crime rates out of any major urban area in Europe. In fact, most destinations are safer than cities like New York City or Chicago according to Numbeo, so there’s no reason to think twice about travelling alone as a female here!
I’ve been living here for over two years now and have had no sort of issues regarding safety or security. I walk around by myself late at night on an almost daily basis (especially when I go out) without feeling threatened or concerned at all – even if I’m somewhere new at night—and while there are definitely some areas where you don’t want to wander around alone after dark (like anywhere else), most places are perfectly safe during daylight hours too!
I felt a bit out of place around the shopping area on Laugavegur Street.
Laugavegur Street is the main shopping area in Reykjavik, and it’s where you’ll find many of the city’s stores. It’s also very touristy, so there are many people who aren’t from Iceland walking around the streets. It felt a little out of place to be travelling alone on an empty street when there were so many people around me. However, I felt safe; it just seemed like an odd situation to be in as someone who was travelling solo. That being said, Laugavegur Street is a great place to shop; just know that there are other places in Reykjavik where you can get things done as well!
Solo Female Travelling to Iceland: How do you get around Iceland?
One of the most common questions I get asked is whether you can rent a car in Iceland. The answer is yes and no. If you’re a U.S. citizen and have little experience driving on the left side of the road, then renting a car might be the best left off your list. That said, if you’re up for the challenge and have travelled around Europe before, then it’s possible to rent a car. But, you will still need to book some additional insurance beforehand as well as take an additional driving class (which costs about $300). If neither of those applies to you, then renting a car might be a good option for getting around Iceland!
There are also public transportation options available in Iceland, including buses that run between Reykjavik and Vik (about $30 per person round trip). There are also tours available where they’ll pick up guests at their hotel or guesthouse every morning at 9 am or so depending on where they’re staying; this type of tour gives guests access to all major locations throughout Southern Iceland so long as there’s enough space left on each bus!
Iceland’s main roads are paved and easy to drive on, but you’ll need a 4×4 for some areas.
The main roads in Iceland are well-paved and easy to drive on, but some areas are only accessible by 4×4.
The weather can change without warning, so make sure you check a local forecast before leaving home. Some roads may be closed due to seasonal conditions or maintenance work.
Some rental car companies do not allow their vehicles to be driven off-road; confirm your equipment with the company before booking a trip.
How do you visit Iceland’s natural wonders?
Don’t worry, there are plenty of things to do in Iceland that will make you feel like a champ. You can visit the Blue Lagoon, take a boat tour across the glacier lagoon, hike around waterfalls and volcanoes (no experience required), and even visit one of the best places on earth to see the Northern Lights!
Some of the places looked familiar in pictures, but nothing could prepare me for their beauty in person.
Iceland is a beautiful place, but it’s not just the picturesque landscapes that will take your breath away. Some places looked familiar in pictures, but nothing could prepare me for their beauty in person. My advice? Don’t limit yourself to what you see online; get out there and explore!
To see all the best landmarks in Iceland, book a guided tour like this one.
- Take a guided tour with an operator.
A good way to see the best of Iceland is through a guided tour—you’ll have someone who knows the country well, they can recommend activities and sights (and even book them for you), and they will help you make sure that your trip is as stress-free as possible. The only downside of using one of these types of companies is that they may be slightly more expensive than doing it yourself, but we think it’s worth it for their added convenience and expertise!
Solo Female travelling to Iceland is wonderful and safe, just be careful driving and exploring beyond the main roads
There are some things you should keep in mind when planning your trip to Iceland so that you can have a safe and memorable time.
- Be careful driving and exploring beyond the main roads. There are many places on the island where there is nowhere to turn around if something happens (and it happens). Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it, and don’t be afraid to talk to people about your plans—they will often tell you how difficult or dangerous it is before telling you where they think is best for you.
- Don’t be afraid to say no when someone asks for help or offers information, but when someone asks if they can take a picture of yours, say yes! You never know who knows someone who could help with some travel advice or recommendations later down the line. The more people who know about your travel aspirations, the better chance you have of reaching them!
- Don’t be afraid to say yes either – especially if it’s something new and exciting like mountaineering or ice climbing! You might think that this activity sounds really cool, but then find out that actually doing it isn’t as easy as it looks…or maybe even impossible without proper training first? Either way, just have fun with whatever comes up during these types of situations because no matter what happens next year, we’ve got memories from this adventure together forever 🙂
Conclusion
I know that solo female travelling to Iceland is a goal of many, but they don’t always feel comfortable doing so on their own. I hope that my story has encouraged you to go for it! It is quite hard to find a solo female travelling to Iceland. The best thing about solo travel is that you can do whatever you want during your trip. If you’re worried about safety or feeling lonely at any point during your journey, simply take some time to be with yourself and recharge before moving on with your adventure.