3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Iceland for the First Time

3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Iceland for the First Time

From All Things Iceland by Jewells Chambers

September 7, 2025 · 13 min

About this episode

Jewells Chambers shares three important lessons learned from her first trip to Iceland that can help future travelers.

If I could go back to my very first trip to Iceland in 2013, knowing what I know now after living here for over nine years and traveling extensively around the country, there are three major things I would do differently. And I think these are going to help you as you’re planning your own adventure here. 1. Understanding how Daylight Hours Impact Travel Plans in Iceland When I came here for the first time, I knew the days were shorter in winter, but I wasn’t prepared for how short they were. Imagine only having four hours of daylight in December, with the sun rising around 11 a.m. That completely changes how much you can see and do in a day. Had I planned with that in mind, I could’ve maximized my time so much better. 2. Take Driving Distances around Iceland in to Consideration While Planning This one surprised me the most. Iceland looks small on a map compared to other countries, but trust me, it’s not as quick to get around as you think. For example, the stunning Stuðlagil canyon in East Iceland? It’s about a seven-and-a-half-hour drive from Reykjavík. That’s just one of the hundreds of incredible places you might want to see. If you don’t account for drive times, you’ll either…

People in this episode

Host: Jewells Chambers

Topics covered

  • travel tips
  • Iceland travel
  • daylight hours
  • driving in Iceland
  • flexibility in travel

Keywords

  • Iceland
  • travel
  • daylight hours
  • driving distances
  • flexibility

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Iceland, Reykjavík, Stuðlagil canyon

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