by Daniel Sandford

Created on: December 02, 2010   Last Updated: December 03, 2010

Iceland is a unique travel destination and can be memorable for many a visitor but it's not necessarily the place to visit for everyone. It's an expensive country and whilst getting there has become cheaper in recent times, particularly from Europe and the prices of articles have dropped during the crisis, it's still far from ideal for budget travellers.

The country is extremely suitable for adventure holidays, people on tour packages and people with a lot of money. The island is fairly large and the sights are well-spread, logistics have to be thought out carefully. If you've paid for organised trips then there's nothing to worry about but renting a car can be costly and you should be aware that there's only a few roads you are permitted to drive on due to the state of the roads in the interior. Attempting internal routes could prove costly for you as the car could easily be damaged. You should be aware that there is no train line on Iceland and there are no national bus services although there are bus services connecting tourist destinations at high prices during the summer months.

Icelandic cuisine is very fishy and is generally of good quality due to its freshness but some national dishes such as Hakarl (fermented shark) are unlikely to appeal, alcohol is sparse outside of the bigger towns and if you want a drink in the remoter location, it pays to stock up in Akureyri or Reykjavik. The language is a completely different kettle of fish but basic phrases are easy enough to learn and just about everyone speaks English!

Going whale watching is an Icelandic must, as it's most likely the best chance you will have of seeing these aquatic mammals, it's very much a matter of luck but you stand the best chance for a great day's whale watching in Husavik rather than Reykjavik. Whilst most companies offer a second trip if you do not see anything, you should be aware that a quick glimpse of a whale usually qualifies as seeing one.

Reykjavik is a bustling little city and has a good nightlife, the cars and roads look more North American than European. Icelanders tend to like their drink and have a lively and innovative music scene, isolation seems to have turned them rather eccentric and I suppose that the Icelandic Phallological Museum which exhibits almost 300 different species of penis is as good an example of that as any.

Reykjavik is interesting but unless it's a weekend away, it shouldn't be city life that draws you to Iceland, the country is full of natural wonders

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