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2020
22
March
Self Drive or Tours: Which is the Best Way to Explore Iceland in 3 Days?
22
March
Question:
Humans say...
Jeff
Self driving allows you to go at your own pace which is nice. My wife and I did 3 days last April and I am personally glad I drove. Know the rules for which roads u can go on. Get all the insurance, and be careful of the wind. Also gas is expensive!
Heather
Drive. We found Iceland easy to navigate.
Chase
100% drive. You'll save time. Money and personally I find you can quickly do the Golden Circle Blue Lagoon and Reykjavik all on one day.
Chase
I did the entire island in 5 days. (Which I don't reccommend) Hahaha. The best is defintely in the north island. If you have the option to get a hotel or air BnB on the far east side of the island the glacier and waterfalls around Vik are worth the long commute.
Karen
Icelandair has great 3 or 4 day/night packages available including tours, hotels, etc. Some of the deals are way cheaper than booking yourself individually. The below link is in CAD, not US dollars. Sometimes you can get even cheaper through Travelzoo (just make sure it is also CAD)
https://www.icelandair.com/en-ca/vacations/
Axel
Def recommend driving and also going to the main stops before 10am. Tour buses usually get there around then so they flood with people. Most of the tourist popular places I had entirely to myself or close to it.
Ashley
I’d recommend driving as well. Iceland isn’t hard to get around in and it allows you to go where you want, when you want, and stay for as little or as long as you’d like!
Have a great time, it’s beautiful!
Rosalie
I recommend the tour because it can get a little monotonous, I mean beautiful but monotonous so if I were to do it again I’d like to dream and nap on the longer drives...
Ge
Skip the crowd, get better photos, save time, drive...
Harpreet
Definitely drive. The tour was way too fast paced. We only got to spend 30-45 mins in each location.
A.I. says...
Self Drive vs Tours in Iceland
When planning a trip to Iceland for 3 days and 3 nights, one of the key decisions to make is whether to opt for self-driving or joining tours. Let's weigh the pros and cons of each option based on your itinerary:
Self Driving
- Entertainment Value: With self-driving, you have the freedom to explore at your own pace and make spontaneous stops along the way. However, you might miss out on the insights and stories that a tour guide can provide.
- Sightseeing Opportunities: Self-driving allows you to see more sights in a day as you are not tied to a tour schedule. This can be beneficial if you want to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.
- Cost: Self-driving is usually cheaper than joining organized tours, especially if you are a group of 6. You can save on tour fees and potentially on food and accommodation costs as well.
Tours
- Entertainment Value: Tours provide a structured itinerary with a knowledgeable guide who can enhance your experience with their insights and local knowledge. This can be particularly valuable if you are interested in learning more about Iceland's culture and history.
- Sightseeing Opportunities: While tours may have a set itinerary, they are designed to cover the must-see attractions in a given region. This can be convenient if you want a hassle-free experience without worrying about navigation.
- Group Dynamics: If one of your friends has already done the tours, they may prefer self-driving. However, joining tours can be a great way to meet other travelers and share the experience with a group.
Conclusion
Based on your itinerary, it seems like a mix of self-driving and joining tours could be a good option. You can self-drive on the 2nd day to cover the South Coast and Golden Circle, which are both popular routes with plenty of attractions. For the 1st day (snorkeling and Blue Lagoon) and the 3rd day (Snaefellsnes), you might consider joining organized tours to enhance your experience.
Sites
Judy
Hi I’m just planing a trip to Iceland for 3 days and 3 nights. Do you recommend self driving or joining tours? Just thinking of the entertainment value of having a tour guide vs the ability to see lots on a self drive. And of course probably cheaper to self drive. There’s 6 of us going but 1 has done the tours so probably won’t go touring with us. Thinking of snorkeling and blue lagoon on 1st day. South Coast and Gold Circle for a really long 2nd day. And Snaefellsnes on the 3rd day.
So Self Drive or Tours