Arrival Day in Iceland (Rental Car & Parking Tips / Geldingadalir Volcano)
1. To Iceland Airport
I had seen Play Airlines planes a few times before, but I had never flown with them. This trip was my first time, and I learned that Play Airlines is a low-cost carrier based in Iceland. We booked round-trip tickets for four people, including 23 kg of checked baggage per person, for $1,250—quite cheap. The low cost was a big reason we decided on this trip.
The airport was filled with a festive mood.
After checking in at Aalborg Airport and heading to the boarding gate, a small event was taking place. Icelandic flags and balloons in the national colors—white, red, and blue—were hung all around. Interestingly, in the Nordic countries, just a few balloons and flags can create a festive atmosphere. Staff were handing out cake, drinks, and coffee. It turns out that today’s flight was the first direct flight between Aalborg and Iceland. It’s rare to receive food at a European airport, especially when flying with a low-cost airline. A person who appeared to be a representative gathered the crowd, gave a brief speech, and then cut the ribbon himself—something not commonly seen by Koreans. Thanks to the pleasant mood, we boarded the flight feeling relaxed. Since it was the inaugural flight, there were empty seats, and we were able to enjoy a comfortable three-hour journey.
The first flight between Aalborg and Reykjavik
On the second floor (departure level), you’ll find the duty-free shop. But before heading down to the baggage claim on the first floor, there's a liquor store. In the city, alcohol is only sold at state-run stores during designated hours, and the price difference per can be at least 100 ISK. The alcohol sold in regular supermarkets is limited to beer with less than 2.5% alcohol content.
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| The liquor store on the way to the baggage claim at Keflavík Airport |
After exiting the arrivals hall, walk left to find the rental car counters.
2. Renting a Car
Don’t get confused at the airport!
There are two airports in the Reykjavík area: Keflavík International Airport and Reykjavík Domestic Airport. They are easy to confuse. Notably, Reykjavík Domestic Airport is located right in the city. Be careful not to mix them up.
Booking and parking
For rentals, I usually use Hertz (via the Korean Air website) or Rentalcars.com. Hertz is a bit more expensive but offers newer cars and less stress about insurance. Rentalcars.com is cheaper, but the insurance process can be more complicated. Even if you purchase full coverage through Rentalcars, the car is often only registered with basic insurance. In that case, any claims go through Rentalcars after you pay upfront. I’ve gotten used to this and just stick to what I booked.
For this trip, we used Eurocars. They sent the damage report by email in the evening. On return day, the staff gave a quick check and said everything was fine—very chill.
The rental car counter at Keflavík Airport
Check the rating
Even if you book a rental car, always check the provider's rating on Google Maps. Ratings can vary by country and airport, even for major companies. Low ratings often mean slow refunds, hidden charges, or overly complicated procedures. It’s better to pay slightly more for a provider with a good reputation.
4WD
If your trip is longer than five days or includes inland routes beyond Reykjavík and the Golden Circle, a 4WD is a must. Unpaved roads can appear unexpectedly—even those marked as roads on Google Maps. Sometimes you’ll come across a shallow stream where you expected a regular road.
Parking
Most tourist attractions require paid parking. With the Parka app, it’s easy to pay. Enter your car's license plate and payment info, and then either let GPS detect your location or enter the lot’s number to pay.
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| Parka application explanation |
In cities, parking zones are marked as P1, P2, P3, etc., with different fees. Surprisingly, even P1 (usually the most expensive) wasn’t as bad as expected. Most places offer free parking on weekends, so check before paying.
3. Geldingadalir Volcano
The itinerary map for day one
We exited the airport around 3:30 PM, so the plan was to visit one place and then rest at a downtown hotel.
The first stop was Geldingadalir Volcano, one of Iceland’s most recently active volcanoes. You can even see it from the plane as you land. It's less than a 30-minute drive from the airport, making it very accessible. The volcano erupted from 2021 to 2024, and some of the eruptions caused flight cancellations across Europe. This was a rare chance to see a still-active volcano up close.
As we drove toward the site, the black earth from old lava flows appeared along the road. You could even see parts of the old road beneath the hardened lava. The famous Blue Lagoon is also along the way—and was once nearly swallowed by the lava.
I parked at P2 and chose to hike only to Langihryggur, about 3 km round-trip, taking 1.5 hours. I chose the route with the kids’ stamina in mind. Though steep at points, the path was well-maintained and relatively easy. Hiking poles and light trekking shoes made it more comfortable.
The crater of Geldingadalir Volcano and the solidified lava
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| The solidified lava and the sea |
From the hilltop, we could clearly see the crater and lava trails. The view of the volcano, landscape, and sea was stunning. After descending, we approached the cooled lava field—where a warning sign was posted: do not walk on, throw objects at, or carve into the lava. Though solidified, the black surface still felt warm to the touch. Hot gas was still emerging from the cracks. This volcano is definitely still alive.
Hot gas emerging from between the solidified lava
4. Prices and Supermarkets
Prices
Iceland is one of the most expensive countries in Europe. A simple meal can easily cost 30,000 to 50,000 KRW per person. Aside from parking, everything feels at least twice as expensive as in the rest of Europe.
Even at the supermarket, prices felt 2–3 times higher than in Denmark. It was hard to buy anything without hesitation. For Korean visitors, the shock would be even greater—Danish supermarket prices are actually cheaper than in Korea.
I met a Swedish couple who were also feeling the pinch, so they made sandwiches with supermarket ingredients to save money while traveling.
Supermarkets: Bónus, Krónan
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| Bonus, the supermarket you can find almost everywhere |
We also tried to cook for ourselves whenever possible. While chains like Netto exist, Bónus and Krónan have the most locations and relatively better prices.
Bónus had free apples at the entrance for kids, which was charming. Krónan had somewhat cheaper pork. Still, it costs around 2,800 ISK per kg, and basic vegetables like green onions or onions cost at least 500 ISK each.
5. Accommodation and the Midnight Sun
Expensive hotels
Late June to July is Iceland’s peak travel season. It wasn’t easy to find accommodation—especially for a family of four. Anything under 300 USD was rare. But by always looking for the cheapest available, we managed to make reservations. Luckily, we got a place in the city center and didn’t have to pay for parking since it was the weekend. For dinner, we grilled pork at the hotel.
Day length in IcelandDay length in Iceland in June
As of late June, sunset is around midnight, and sunrise is around 3 a.m. But because of the lingering light at dusk and dawn, it never really gets dark. The dim, cloudy morning atmosphere before a rainstorm lasts all night. Even with blackout curtains, we found ourselves waking up 2–3 hours earlier than usual.
