Iceland is one of the most unique countries we have ever travelled to. It was awe-inspiring, breathtaking—and, if I’m honest, a little uncomfortable.
Let’s start with the uncomfortable part.
We travelled with a 4-year-old, a 6-year-old, and I was about four months pregnant at the time. The weather was harsh and cold. Every time we stepped outside, we had to rug up completely, and almost every day our clothes ended up wet. Once indoors, we’d peel off layers and change again just to feel warm and dry.
This trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our family, and one I’m deeply grateful for.
How expensive was Iceland?
- Accommodation: $1,890 (approx. $210 per night)
- Car hire & fuel: $1,501
- Food: $313 (we cooked every day)
Total cost for 9 days in Iceland: $3,875
Where we stayed
We stayed in 7 different places, choosing the cheapest family-friendly options we could find.
Days 1–2: Southern Iceland (after the Golden Circle)
Art Hostel & Apartments – 2 nights in a studio apartment
Cost: $379
Day 3: Southern Iceland (Waterfall Region)
1 night in a studio apartment near Skógafoss
Cost: $283
This was our nicest accommodation of the trip!
Days 4–5: Glacial Iceland
Hvoll Hostel – 2 nights in a private room with shared bathroom
Cost: $396
Private rooms with ensuite bathrooms in this area were around $800 per night—well outside our budget.
Day 8: Western Iceland (near Kirkjufell)
Vatnsás 10 – 1 night in a two-storey one-bedroom apartment
Cost: $230
Day-by-day Itinerary
We spent 9 days driving the Ring Road, taking our time and keeping daily driving to around 3–4 hours, with plenty of stops along the way.
Day 1
Picked up our rental car, visited the Blue Lagoon, started driving the Ring Road, prayed at Reykjavik Mosque, and ended the day at Gullfoss Waterfall at sunset—complete with a breathtaking full moon over the water. See our instagram post here.
Day 2
A rest day. We initially planned to visit the Icelandic Highlands via the F-roads to Landmannalaugar, but our car rental company didn’t allow their cars on F-roads. If this is on your list, make sure to confirm with your rental company beforehand.
Day 3
Continued driving along the Ring Road, taking in the changing landscapes. We stopped at: Kerið Crater, Lava Centre (highly recommend for kids of all ages! Find more info on their website here), Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, and Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. See our instagram post here.
Day 5
Svínafellsjökull Glacier, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and Diamond Beach—icy blues and floating glaciers that felt almost unreal. The kids and Mohammad ate some ice from the beach! See our instagram post here.
Day 6
Mohammad was meant to do a tour in Glacier Iceland – Svínafellsjökull Glacier, at Skaffatel, but the tour got cancelled because it was too windy. The rest of us were going to stay at home anyway since the tour didn’t allow children under 12.
Day 7
Dettifoss Waterfall, Mývatn Geothermal Area, and Stuðlagil Canyon. See our instagram post here.
On the drive to our accommodation that night, we unexpectedly saw the Northern Lights. We pulled over on the side of the road and watched in silence—a moment we’ll never forget.
Day 8
Explored the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, including Kirkjufell and Bjarnarfoss, then drove back to Reykjavik.
Day 9
A slow, lazy morning before driving back to the airport.
Alhamdulillah, we were able to do so much in just nine days in Iceland. Looking back, Maryam remembers the trip as lasting much longer, which feels like a quiet example of barakah in our time. I’ll be sharing another post about how this journey brought us closer to Allah.
