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How to get Wifi in Iceland: A Guide for Tourists
17 June 2024
pocket wifi
Joseph Philipson
Internet access is essential if you’re traveling to Iceland, exploring The Golden Circle, visiting the Blue Lagoon, or looking to enjoy the Northern Lights.
Despite Iceland being sparsely populated, internet coverage is excellent and very fast. In fact, most Icelanders enjoy breakneck internet speeds at home and good mobile coverage when they’re out and about.
With over 95% of the population living in urban areas, Iceland isn’t as rural as many travelers think. There are still plenty of areas like natural hot springs, ice caves and glaciers, fjords, and outstanding natural beauty, where it’s wise to have a good internet connection.
The Best Ways of Getting WiFi in Iceland
The kind of internet connection you’ll need in Iceland will depend heavily on the type of trip that you’re planning.
For lone travelers, especially those exploring Reykjavík, pocket WiFi offers a convenient solution. On the other hand, groups or families heading to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon or hiking in Landmannalaugar might find pocket WiFi equally beneficial, providing a reliable and fast internet connection for multiple devices.
The main internet options for travelers in Iceland include pocket WiFi, travel SIM cards, eSIM cards, data roaming plans, and free WiFi where available.
Here are the most popular solutions’ pros, cons, and costs.
Pocket WiFi
With pocket WiFi, you rent a dedicated device that connects to a mobile data connection and broadcasts a WiFi network.
Pros
A pocket WiFi tends to provide a better and faster internet connection than mobile devices since the pocket WiFi router is a dedicated device for providing internet access to several other devices (usually up to 10).
The connection’s usually fast and stable, and you can always move the device to improve its connection speed, which you can only sometimes feasibly do with your smartphone.
If Iceland is just one of your stops on a trip, you can also rent pocket WiFi for all of Europe.
Cons
The downside to a pocket WiFi device is that you must carry this extra device. Still, as you can imagine from the name “pocket WiFi,” these devices are usually relatively small and portable. They’re rarely bigger than your typical smartphone.
Cost
The cost of pocket WiFi rental varies by provider.
Hippocketwifi offers the best value for money with rental starting at €4.90 per day for 1GB per day in Iceland and Europe-wide for longer-term plans. Shorter trips cost closer to €7.90 per day.
Trawire (Travel Wireless) offers an unlimited 5G connection for $24 per day and 4G options for between $8 and $16 per day.
You can also get a 4G portable WiFi hotspot from Iceland Camping Equipment Rental for €59 for 9 days / 8 nights.
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SIM Cards
A SIM card is a small card in your phone that allows you to make calls, send messages, and, most importantly, access the internet.
You can buy prepaid or pay-as-you-go (PAYG) travel SIM cards in Iceland that allow you to do the above.
The main networks in Iceland offering SIM cards include Vodafone, Síminn, and NOVA.
Pros
One of the reassuring aspects of using a SIM card in Iceland is its affordability and accessibility. Whether you choose to order online, pick up duty-free at Keflavík airport, on Icelandair flights, in provider shops, or in N1 petrol stations, you can easily stay connected without breaking the bank.
Cons
With a SIM, you need either a free SIM card slot in your phone or to remove and replace your everyday SIM. This means calls or texts won’t reach your usual number while you use your travel SIM.
Cost
Vodafone prepaid SIMs start at 3,190 ISK (around $23) for 10GB. There are also 100GB, 250GB, and unlimited options.
Síminn (Landssíminn) offers the Síminn Prepaid Data SIM and 10GB of data for 2,900 ISK (slightly over $21). This is a data-only SIM and won’t offer calls or messages.
NOVA is an affordable option called the Frelsi that you top up with data. It’s recommended that you buy data packs, with 2GB costing 1,990 ISK (around $14).
eSIM
An eSIM is a more modern technology available in some smartphones that allows users and networks to change the settings of a configurable eSIM rather than insert a removable SIM card.
This means that travelers to Iceland can buy an eSIM. The providers will give them either a QR code or setup instructions. Their eSIM-compatible phone can start accessing the provider’s network for calls, messages, and the internet.
Pros
The main advantages of eSIM cards are that they’re usually cheaper than travel SIM cards and can be bought online from anywhere in the world. This allows you to have your data connection ready when you land.
Cons
The key downside to an eSIM is that it uses your phone to connect to the network. Unlike renting a pocket WiFi device in Iceland, which has a better antenna for connecting to networks, in more remote areas like The Westfjords, Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, or the Icelandic Highlands, an eSIM may provide a spottier and slower connection.
An eSIM solution also isn’t the best if you want to connect devices like laptops or tablets to the internet. You’ll need to tether these to your phone, which slows the connection and decreases battery life.
Cost
Airalo is one of the biggest eSIM providers worldwide. Their Iceland Nenna Mobile eSIM starts at $4.50 for 1GB of data for 7 days. Prices increase with larger limits, with the 20GB 30-day option costing $36.
Holafly’s eSIM options start at $6 for unlimited data.
Vodafone offers eSIMs starting at $5 for 5 days and 3GB of data. The unlimited 5-day pass costs $18. The 30-day equivalent is $59, or around $2 a day for unlimited data.
Data Roaming International Plan
Your local provider can also offer international data plans through partner networks. You can arrange this before you go to Iceland or it’ll be automatically offered to you when you land, usually via a text message from your network.
Pros
The main advantage of an international data roaming plan is that it’s the easiest one to set up. You arrange it with your network provider or follow the instructions when arriving in Iceland.
Cons
The downside to data roaming is that it’s usually expensive and obscene. You could be stung if you only arrange it after you travel.
Your network provider’s partner networks will typically be slower. Don’t expect the same quality or speed of connection than you would on a locally-provided SIM or a dedicated pocket WiFi device.
Cost
The cost of data roaming will vary greatly depending on your usual network provider. Some users get charged thousands by their network provider simply because they forgot to contract a data roaming service.
Use Free WiFi
Last but not least, if you don’t have another data connection solution when you visit Iceland, you could use WiFi connections provided for free in public spaces and by other businesses.
Pros
The most significant advantage of using free WiFi connections is the price. While you won’t have access to the internet everywhere you go, you also won’t have to pay for it.
Cons
These WiFi connections won’t provide you with a connection as you move around the country, and they don’t guarantee a fast or reliable connection.
While Iceland does have high-speed internet everywhere, when several users connect to the same network, the connection speed and quality will ultimately drop.
Finally, you also have the potential for scammers to create fake networks that are unsecured and can steal users’ sensitive information when they transfer it across the network. Avoid using Internet banking or other sites that handle sensitive information when connected to public WiFi.
Cost
Free WiFi won’t cost you anything.
How to Choose the Best WiFi Option for Your Iceland Trip
Pocket WiFi is usually the best solution for most travelers. However, you should still consider how long you’ll need an internet connection, the type of connectivity you’ll need, how much data you’ll use, and the type of internet user you are.
Data Limit
A data limit can quickly halt your fun, but you should also avoid paying for data you’ll never use.
Look to your smartphone’s settings to see how much data you typically use. You can see how much is over a mobile connection and how much is through a home or work WiFi connection. This will give you a better idea of your typical data use.
Rental Duration
The pricing for all the solutions we’ve looked at typically alters depending on how long you need them.
Don’t just look at the quoted prices. Instead, consider how long you’ll be traveling and make sure you get the pricing for that length of time.
Connectivity
SIM cards and eSIMs are likely quite useful if you plan on simply staying in Reykjavík. However, if you plan on traveling away from the city and away from places where you’ll get a good signal, pocket WiFi’s dedicated devices offer faster and more stable connections.
Usage
How you browse the internet will affect which solutions are best for you. Casual users will likely be satisfied with a 4G connection. At the same time, those wanting to send large files, stream and watch high-quality video, or even make video calls will want to prioritize getting a 5G connection.
Those traveling to Iceland for business will likely need a 5G connection, too, to ensure they’re reachable for calls over the Internet.
