Rick Steves Iceland

by Rick Steves, Ian Watson, Cameron M. Hewitt (With)

Hike vast glaciers, marvel at steaming volcanic lakes, and explore the land of the midnight sun: with Rick Steves, Iceland is yours to explore! Inside Rick Steves Iceland you'll find:


Comprehensive itineraries that can be adapted for 24-hour layovers, 5-day visits, 2-week trips, and more, including the best road trips in Iceland from the Ring Road to the Golden Circle

Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites

Top sights and hidden gems, from the stunning northern lights to hidden hikes and cozy bookstores

How to connect with local culture: Soak in hidden hot springs, sample smoked fish, and chat with locals in moody and welcoming rural towns

Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight
The best places to eat, sleep, and relax

Self-guided walking tours of lively Reykjavík and art and history museums and mile-by-mile scenic driving tours


Detailed maps for exploring on the go

Useful resources including a packing list, an Icelandic phrase book, a historical overview, and recommended reading

Over 500 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down

Complete, up-to-date information on Reykjavík, the Reykjanes Peninsula, the Golden Circle, the South Coast, the Westman Islands, West Iceland, The Ring Road, the East Fjords, and more
Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Iceland.

Expanding your trip? Try Rick Steves Scandinavia or Rick Steves Northern European Cruise Ports.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference

608 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2020

About the author

Rick Steves is an American travel writer, television personality, and activist known for encouraging meaningful travel that emphasizes cultural immersion and thoughtful global citizenship. Born in California and raised in Edmonds, Washington, he began traveling in his teens, inspired by a family trip to Europe. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in European history and business, Steves started teaching travel classes, which led to his first guidebook, Europe Through the Back Door, self-published in 1980.
Steves built his Edmonds-based travel company on the idea that travelers should explore less-touristy areas and engage with local cultures. He gained national prominence as host and producer of Rick Steves' Europe, which has aired on public television since 2000. He also hosts a weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored dozens of popular guidebooks, including bestselling titles on Italy and Europe at large.
Beyond travel, Steves is an outspoken advocate for drug policy reform, environmental sustainability, and social justice. He supports marijuana legalization and chairs the board of NORML. He has funded housing for homeless families and donates to anti-hunger and arts organizations. In 2019, he pledged $1 million annually to offset the carbon emissions of his tour groups.
Steves is a practicing Lutheran with Norwegian ancestry and continues to live in Edmonds. He has two adult children and is in a relationship with Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee. Despite health challenges, including a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024, Steves remains committed to his mission of helping Americans travel with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding of the world. His work reflects a belief that travel, done right, can be both transformative and a force for peace.

Reviews

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a disclaimer, my husband and I rely solely on Rick Steves to plan our European trips. I will add related readings from blogs, but, for the most part, we rely on the book’s recommendations for itinerary, sites, and walking tours. His books work for our style of travel.

Our family of four is planning a trip for June 2019. We have used this book to plan every aspect of our trip. We did opt to book Air BnB as we are a family and wanted access to a kitchen and washing machine in Reykjavik. So far, we have the book to be its reliable source of great information. All websites and email address have worked. We built our itinerary based on his suggestions.

We are visiting the Westman Island and our preferred return ferry time was already booked three months in advance. We had to take a later ferry time. We were able to find AirBnB easily in Reykjavik three months in advance. In the southeast however, we were able to find an AirBnB but many houses were already booked.

I plan to update this review after we return in June 2019.

[Emily Rozmus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Counting the days til we leave!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

áfram ísland! Our indispensable guidebook for our trip around Route 1. We were especially fortunate because the book was published just a couple months before our trip so all the information it contained was very current. The book is well organized and written in an approachable, conversational tone. Highly recommended for anyone planning a trip to Iceland, and if you are, do yourself a favor and don’t spend your whole trip in Reykjavik - get out and see the rest of the country. The terrain changes so much as you travel that every day is a new adventure.

The suggested 10-day itinerary worked very well for us with a few modifications. Don’t worry about sticking to the time schedules for each day, especially if you’re visiting during the summer when you get basically 24 hours of sunlight. Do plan on spending a lot of money on...everything. Prices are substantially higher for food, fuel, etc then what is typical in the US. It’s worth paying up for the zero deductible insurance policy with your car rental, even though it’s very expensive. You’ll do fine with a 2WD car, but there are plenty of ways to pick up dings and scratches over the course of ten days (in the end the insurance saved us money). Also be aware that the speed limit is enforced on the roads via traffic cameras, so don’t be tempted by all the cars flying past you.

[Anika (Encyclopedia BritAnika) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a bunch of sites and bought a few guide books before my Iceland trip but the one that had the most practical, useful information and turned into the only one I used and referenced the whole trip was the Rick Steves Iceland guide. I had broad strokes ideas about what I wanted to see but I appreciated his book that let me know about a cattle farm where we could grab some food or a swimming pool on our way from one site to the next on the Golden Circle. I don’t think I would have gone to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula if I hadn’t read Rick’s guide and it had some of our most picturesque views of the trip. It was seriously a perfect help. I didn’t consult it for hotels (I literally just googled “best hotels in Iceland” for that) but it came in handy for everything else. I absolutely recommend a trip to Iceland and I recommend pairing that trip with this book!

Instagram.com/encyclopedia_britanika

[anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Relied heavily on this book during our trip and it served us well. Directions and maps for the driving tours were extremely helpful and led us to sights and stops that it seemed most tourists and bus tours missed. The walking tour was helpful in getting oriented on our first day. It is clear that things are changing quickly due to the high number of tourists (some places now charge admission that this book has as free, some places the book identifies as having paid WCs are now free WCs . . .) but these changes are all very minor and to be expected.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alas, if only I’d traveled to Iceland in 2000, before the tourist rush, and when I had a business connection in Reykjavik. If only I’d had some extra cash and fewer family obligations. I have mixed feelings about Rick Steves publicizing Iceland as it becomes an increasingly trendy travel destination, yet also appreciate his characteristically thorough, humorous, and culturally sensitive commentary.

By all means, this is the travel guide to have if you’re going to visit Iceland.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was more geared toward summer travel than traveling in winter, which is when we went. Wish there had been less assumptions made about summer travel.

[Allison Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic guidebook! It covers all you need to know in a easy-to-read format. Reads like a friend giving you advice on your trip planning instead of a dry fact sheet.

[Curtis Clements · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rick Steves guides are always a great way to start your trip planning. This Iceland version gave a great description of plenty of sites, restaurants, lodging, activities and more, from which we picked some and planned a trip around. Rick's books always give a nice history and cultural explanation about the various places you will go. If a country we're visiting has a Rick Steves book, we pick it up and consider it essential.

[Lauren Bachman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful travel guide with very extensive tips for all of Iceland. I definitely have a lot of bookmarked sections that I will be referencing while traveling. Rick Steves- you a real one.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read nearly cover to cover on a recent plane ride, in anticipation of an upcoming trip to the land of fire and ice. This book got me excited with the possibility of being able to travel once again and to learn of all that there is to see in this small, northern land. It'll only be after my trip that I will be able to know if good old Rick was indeed helpful in my planning stages but he has managed to get my wanderlust in full swing. And that's always a good thing.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never have I used a travel book as my "guide". Yes, I pack them. I refer to the books. I read the history of the country, etc. But this time was different. I think I read this travel book almost cover to cover. I pulled the book out at almost ever stop before we explored. This book never left our car as we traveled 11oo miles on our week's road trip through Iceland. Steves was pretty spot on (except some of the times.I guess we are are faster walkers than he and his crew, and we stayed a bit longer at some of his recommended stops. ) Highly recommend.

[J.R. Dodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

We shall see?

Follow-up: in practice, this was a very useful and informative guide. It nonetheless felt like it was missing some things, particularly on the nature-side of a visit.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caveat for review: I have not yet used this book for navigating Iceland. If I find it different from my expectations after reading, I'll have to update my review.

After reading through (and skipping some parts that won't be applicable to my trip), I feel MUCH more prepared for my trip, and I know I can refresh myself and delve deeper as I embark on my trip and while I'm in Iceland.

I've always very much appreciated Rick Steves. His "back door" book for Europe guided my month-long college journey in the late 1990s, and it was significantly more helpful and authentic than the travel books my friends brought with them. I found this book, also, to be comprehensive and straight-forward. Rick Steves helps travelers to get more authentic and deeper experiences than would be found by staying at the chain hotels and dropping in on the major sights. He has practical hints about when, where, and how to see things... including what might be missable for some but seminal for others.

I enjoyed the background and resources, and I'm looking forward to having my experience in his capable hands.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always used Rick Steve's free online resources + free downloadable podcasts when planning European adventures.

However, after using his Iceland guidebook, I'll certainly be purchasing his travel guides when offered for my next adventure! (In fact, a friend who joined me on this Iceland trip purchased 2 of his guidebooks upon our return, for use on her upcoming UK trip.) I read this one cover-to-cover and it was super helpful for our Icelandic road trip.

The guidebook is well organized and easy to read. With poor cell reception in some areas, we were grateful for the maps - not only to navigate the island, but also to figure out how to get to certain restaurants and attractions within each town.

He also includes some off the beaten path tips, such as directions for how to take the scenic route (only adding on 15 minutes) between Reyjavik and the Golden Circle. We never would have found tips like this online, and some of these moments ended up being our favorite things all trip.

Well done Rick Steves!

[Dhaivyd Hilgendorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I can’t say I read this cover-to-cover, like my fiancé did, I found it to be a well-researched primer for an initial trip to Iceland. Using it as a reference book worked well, with a good index and touching on the most commonly tourists areas of the country. As a traveler who generally focuses on long hikes in nature, this work was a little lacking for me, but I could have chosen a more specialised guide to better match my area of interest. The interior highlands and the northwest are essentially not covered.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since we hit up most of the island, I ended up reading almost the entire book. And we had a Lonely Planet guide with us as well. I found Rick’s guide to be a lot more thorough and well laid-out. Its format is somewhat opinion-based, with references to sights being “skippable”, which is inherently subjective (I didn’t always agree with his assessments there). But I’ll take his guide with me on my next trip. I did take a star away because he can be somewhat dismissive of local customs/superstitions.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic resource for planning your trip to Iceland! Love that Rick identifies the “must do” versus “nice to do” attractions to help prioritize your trip. Also like that he highlights local culture so you aren’t doing just the “touristy” things, but really experiencing a taste of uniqueness and reality of the location you are in.
Lots of background included in the book about the places you are visiting. My travel companions would ask “what does the book say now?!” As we reached a new town. Like having your own personal guide in your pocket as you travel!

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truth -- I didn't read every single page of this travel guide, but found it to be comprehensive and filled with good advice. It was carried around glorious Iceland with us, and although I didn't have the same reactions to some of the museums and the other few sites that Rick was not enthused with -- we loved them! -- I appreciated the good guidance and light-hearted advice that he provided (as always).

[Jason Emmerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to use this as a starting point to build a fantastic itinerary for Reykjavik, the Reykjanes Peninsula, The Golden Circle, Westman Islands, and Southern Iceland. The one improvement this guide could use is more information on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Each area has 10-20 pages worth of information while Snæfellsnes has just barely a page dedicated to it.

[Stephanie Ricker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely exceptional guide to travelling in Iceland. I've been researching Iceland travel for months, and this was still chock full of useful tidbits I hadn't run across before. I highlighted the dickens out of my copy and will be taking notes. Regardless of the length of your stay (whether it be a few hours to several weeks), this book has the information you need to make it a memorable one.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rick Steves is the king of travel books. I've used his information to plan trips to Europe for myself and also to plan trips for my family. Iceland is my next destination. This book is easy to read, easy to find specific information and full of really great suggestions (things I may not have even thought of doing). It will definitely go on my travel shelf.

[Sandy123 · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book is filled with good information and tips, I felt that is was not as precisely written as some of Rick Steves' other guidebooks. Overall, it is a good starting point to learn about travel to Iceland.

[Nasty Lady MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction on Iceland. I sort of had an interest in going here and the book did give me more of a what I'm going to get myself into thing. Won't review this book. But it made for a interesting read. Wish Steves would do some shows based here.

[Hanako · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't read thoroughly the sections that didn't apply to our trip, but I imagine they are just as detailed and helpful as the parts I did read carefully. Recommendations were solid. We had a great trip following much of the advice in this book!

[Sally Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Iceland is beautiful and the book was fine if what you want to see is the tourist attractions. I was disappointed that there wasn't much on the Westfjords or anywhere off the beaten path and away from busloads of tourists.

[Catherine Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Rick and study his books before I decide on any big trip. We are headed to Iceland this year. Rick breaks everything down for you , so his book will be in my backpack as I head out the door. Thanks again for another great guide.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rick Steves guides are great for pre-trip reading. I did find with this book however that a lot of what I did came from local recommendations and less from the book itself. I do love the way the books are set up and broken up and find them helpful for country information as well.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite helpful in planning our trip to Iceland. I recommend it! A few of the listings were out of date, a few businesses we tried to go to were closed for ever or not exactly what was listed in the book, but overall the info in here is very helpful.

[Jemma Lund · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needs information on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula