Published 5 Oct 2026 · Updated 12 Oct 2026
Iceland looks like the backdrop to a hundred Bollywood songs because it is: waterfalls you can walk behind, black-sand beaches, glaciers calving into a lagoon, and in winter the northern lights. It’s also the most expensive and most paperwork-heavy trip on this site. Here’s how to do a week well, starting with the visa.
Visa and entry rules for Indians
You need a Schengen short-stay (type C) visa. Iceland is in the Schengen area, and in India its applications go through VFS Global. If Iceland is your only (or main) Schengen country, apply for Iceland’s visa, not another country’s.
- Book a VFS appointment online for biometrics, at least 15 days and up to six months before you travel. Summer slots go fast.
- Fees: the €90 visa fee, paid in rupees at the centre (₹9,810 at our last check), plus the VFS service charge (₹3,161, paid online when you book).
- Documents:
- your passport, valid three months beyond your return and issued in the last ten years;
- the application form and photos;
- flight and hotel bookings;
- travel insurance covering at least €30,000;
- your last few months’ bank statements and income tax returns;
- a leave letter or company letter (or proof of business or study).
- Processing: usually about 15 calendar days after your appointment, and longer in peak season.
VFS can refuse to book an appointment if your passport expires soon. Renew it first if it has less than about a year left.
Fees and VFS charges change. Check the VFS Iceland page before you book, and use only that site, never an agent’s look-alike.
What it costs in rupees
Per person, two people sharing a car and rooms, summer:
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Return flight to Reykjavík via a European or Gulf hub | ₹75,000 – ₹1,10,000 |
| Schengen visa, VFS charge, insurance | ₹15,000 – ₹18,000 |
| Rental car, 6 days (half share, with gravel cover) | ₹30,000 – ₹45,000 |
| Fuel (half share) | ₹8,000 – ₹12,000 |
| Guesthouses, 6 nights (half a double room) | ₹55,000 – ₹85,000 |
| Food: supermarket breakfasts and lunches, café dinners | ₹25,000 – ₹35,000 |
| Glacier walk or ice-cave tour, hot springs | ₹12,000 – ₹15,000 |
| Total | ₹2,20,000 – ₹3,20,000 |
Carry an International Driving Permit with your Indian licence: most rental companies ask for one. Book automatic cars early; they’re the first to go.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: arrive in Reykjavík
Pick up your car at Keflavík airport and drive 45 minutes to Reykjavík. Walk up to Hallgrímskirkja, see the Harpa concert hall, and eat at the harbour. If you land early, the Blue Lagoon is close to the airport (book ahead), or save it for the last day.
Day 2: the Golden Circle
A 230 km loop:
- Þingvellir National Park, where you can walk between the North American and Eurasian plates;
- the Strokkur geyser, which erupts every few minutes;
- the two-tier Gullfoss waterfall.
End the day at a geothermal pool (the Secret Lagoon at Flúðir), then sleep near Hella or Hvolsvöllur.
Day 3: south coast waterfalls
Walk behind Seljalandsfoss (bring a rain jacket), find the hidden Gljúfrabúi next door, then continue to Skógafoss. On sunny days its spray throws a rainbow, and 500-odd steps lead to the top.
Day 4: Vík and the black-sand beaches
Visit Dyrhólaey’s arch and puffins (May to August), then Reynisfjara beach with its basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. Stay well back from the water: Reynisfjara’s “sneaker waves” have killed visitors. Sleep in Vík.
Day 5: the glacier lagoon
Drive east across the lava fields to Jökulsárlón, where icebergs from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier float out to sea, and cross the road to Diamond Beach, where they wash up on black sand. Book a guided glacier walk at Skaftafell or, from November to March, an ice-cave tour.
Days 6–7: back west
It’s a long drive back (about five hours to Reykjavík without stops), so break it at the waterfalls you skipped, or at Reykjadalur, a hike to a hot river you can bathe in. Spend your last morning at the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon before the flight home.
Best time to visit
June to August has long days (the midnight sun in June), open roads and puffins, but the highest prices. September is the sweet spot: lower prices, autumn colours and the first northern lights. October to March is aurora season, with short days and icy roads. Drive only if you’re confident on ice, or take tours.
Getting there from India
There are no direct flights. The easiest routes connect through Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt or Helsinki onto Icelandair or another European airline, or through a Gulf hub to Europe and on. Allow 14 to 18 hours each way. Make sure your Schengen visa covers the date you first enter the Schengen area, which may be your transit airport, not Iceland. A non-Schengen hub such as London can need a separate transit visa, so check before you book.
If you want another scenic self-drive, see our New Zealand South Island road trip. For another Schengen visa through VFS, with trains instead of a car, see our Switzerland honeymoon itinerary. For fjords by train and boat instead, see our Norway fjords plan. For a snow-and-huskies winter trip instead, see our Finland Lapland plan.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Iceland?
Yes, a Schengen short-stay (type C) visa. Iceland's applications in India go through VFS Global and are decided by the Embassy of Iceland in New Delhi. Book a biometrics appointment at a VFS centre, then expect about 15 calendar days for a decision.
How much is the Iceland visa fee for Indians?
The Schengen visa fee is €90 for adults, paid in rupees at the VFS centre (₹9,810 when we last checked, October 2026), plus VFS's own service charge (₹3,161 at our last check). Children aged 6 to 11 pay a reduced fee; under-6s pay nothing.
How far ahead should I apply for the Iceland visa?
You can apply up to six months before travel and must apply at least 15 days before. In summer, VFS appointments fill up, so apply two to three months ahead.
How much does a week in Iceland cost from India?
Iceland is expensive: about ₹2.2 to ₹3.2 lakh per person for a week, including return flights via a European hub, a rental car shared between two, guesthouses, fuel and food. Supermarket picnics save a lot.
When can I see the northern lights in Iceland?
From about September to March, on dark, clear nights away from city lights. Summer has the midnight sun and no aurora.
