Expensive even for us If you travel to this country, you pay more than in Switzerland

Fantastic nature, ice and fire: Iceland is definitely worth a trip. But a trip to the island nation is considered to be extremely expensive. With these tips, you're guaranteed to save money.

Iceland is an absolutely fantastic travel destination. It is not called the land of ice and fire for nothing. Glaciers make up 11 percent of Iceland's surface area. But beneath the surface, the country has 30 active volcanoes.

But there is a catch: alongside Hong Kong and Australia, Iceland is one of the most expensive countries to travel to. Several statistics show this. We may be used to high prices in Switzerland, but even in comparison, Iceland is considered to be extremely expensive. mycation editor Jannina has travelled to Iceland and is doing the cash check for her nine-day trip. Here you can read what she learned and what money-saving tips she has for all travelers to Iceland.

Jannina booked her flights relatively spontaneously a month before the trip. She paid 420 francs return from Zurich. She traveled in September. If you want to visit the land of fire and ice in summer, you'll pay considerably more.

Accommodation in the capital is considerably more expensive than outside. Jannina paid 480 francs for two nights in a hotel in Reykjavík. For the seven nights outside the capital, she paid 1,500 francs, which is still 217 francs a night. However, there were also some real bijoux hotels.

Her tip: the Siglo Hotel in the fishing village of Siglufjörður. There was even a hot spring right in front of the hotel.

Anyone traveling to Iceland has to rent a car. Or drive through the countryside in a camper van. The nature you travel through by car feels like you've stepped into the middle of a documentary. Jannina's rental car cost 125 francs a day. Of course, it depends on what kind of car you choose. You can find her 2,600-kilometer route across the country here.

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With just under 3,000 kilometers around the island, you pay around 500 francs for petrol. Not exactly cheap. You shouldn't save money on the car journey, the road trip through Iceland is simply part of the trip.

Although the landscape is free and beautiful, every parking space in Iceland is an investment. For every attraction you stop at for even five minutes, you often have to pay seven francs. This adds up to quite a lot over the course of the day. It's worth checking in advance where you can park cheaply or even for free.

Anyone who thinks that nothing can happen with fully comprehensive insurance is wrong. Unfortunately, damage to the glass is not covered. During Jannina's trip, a small crack occurred that cost her 700 francs. As the roads are unpredictable, she recommends anyone touring Iceland to take out gravel road insurance. This also covers damage to glass.

Food is pretty expensive. Jannina had to fork out 38 francs for a pizza margherita of mediocre quality in the capital. Generally speaking, you pay at least 40 francs per meal, even if you avoid luxury restaurants.

In total, Jannina paid 3,200 francs for nine days in Iceland, i.e. 360 francs per day. The 700 francs for car repairs were on top of that. She has brought back a few money-saving tips from the land of fire and ice:

A guided Northern Lights tour can quickly cost over 100 francs per person - and the chances of actually seeing the Northern Lights are just as high as with a self-organized search.

Many hotels and guesthouses offer free aurora alerts: As soon as northern lights are visible, you will be notified. You are even more flexible with a 4x4 rental car. With an aurora app or aurora forecast websites, you can target areas with clear visibility.

The summer months are not only crowded, but also the most expensive. If you travel in May, June or September and October, you will benefit from cheaper prices for flights, accommodation and rental cars. What's more, the popular spots are much emptier.

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Iceland is the perfect country for a road trip into the wilderness. Many petrol stations offer discount cards or apps that save you money per liter. This quickly adds up over longer distances. Car rental companies also give out discount batches for certain petrol stations if you ask for them.

The famous blue lagoon in Iceland costs at least 115 francs to enter. Alternatively, it is worth visiting the Myvatn Nature Baths in the north (from CHF 48) or smaller hot pots such as the Secret Lagoon in Flúðir (CHF 1.30).

The Hellulaug Hot Spring is located directly on the coast in the west of Iceland and is accessible free of charge - a natural rock pool with a view of the sea. Instead of entrance fees and crowds, you can enjoy hot spring water, peace and quiet and a real Icelandic feeling.

If you want to go whale watching, you often pay more in Reykjavík - in Húsavík or Akureyri, the tours are not only cheaper, but the chances of actually seeing whales are also higher. Jannina paid 75 francs for her whale watching tour in Húsavík and saw whales.

The same applies to horse riding: away from the capital region, many farms offer authentic riding tours at fairer prices. Read this article to find out what else you need to know before your trip to Iceland.