I just got back from visiting beautiful Iceland and wanted to share my experiences with you and provide some Iceland Travel Tips. First, let’s talk about the capital. Reykjavik, the world’s northernmost capital, is surprisingly cosmopolitan. Greater Reykjavík is home to more than half the country’s population, and almost all visitors to Iceland pass through the city, many venturing no farther than the city limits before heading back to the airport. Reykjavík has become a destination in itself. Whether you’re packing hiking boots, fishing rods, or zoom lenses, it’s easy to fill a long weekend or a whole fortnight in Reykjavík.
For most of its history, Reykjavik suffered a backward reputation among European cities, but this has only intensified its heady sensation of newfound wealth and authority. Thirty years ago, no one even dreamed Reykjavík would become an international arbiter of hipness, especially in music and nightlife.
If you are coming from the United States, chances are you will arrive at the Keflavík International Airport (KEF) very early in the morning. Most apartments/hotels, do not allow check in until 11:00 AM at the earliest. That leads me to my first recommendation:
Visit A Coffee Shop for People Watching
I popped into Reykjavik Roasters for an espresso, a light breakfast, and of course people watching. One of the most fascinating things to watch was how independent the babies there are. There was a very small baby (maybe 6 months?) playing by himself on the floor, at least 20 feet away from his parents. I remembered laughing with my friends about how if that were in America Child Protective Services would have been called so quickly. The brewers here are quite friendly and provide a little bit of #LatteArt for your amusement.
Take a FREE 2 Hour Tour of Reykjavik
Probably one of my favorite and most useful Iceland Travel Tips. There is a FREE 2-hour walking tour of Reykjavik. Our tour guide Eric, pictured below, was very humorous. He had great knowledge of the history of the city, life as an Icelandic and what their day to day looks like throughout the 2 seasons. Keep in mind, that while this tour is in fact free, a tip is highly encouraged as Eric does spend his time getting you familiar with the city. He showed us about the evolution of the LGBT-acceptance and equal rights for women acceptance (which is still a work in progress…)
This tour was definitely a highlight of the trip. It’d be most helpful if you choose to go on this tour your first day there. Pick his brain while you have him. Ask him what he recommends for restaurants and the nightlife scene. Ask him if there are any must-try dishes while you’re there. He was so helpful and willing offer up recommendations for everything. Don’t be shy. While on this tour, you will stop by the famous church, Hallgrimskirkja, which takes me to my next point.
Visit the Hallgrimskirkja Church
Easily the most recognizable building in Reykjavik, the Hallgrimskirkja is a great photo opp to show all of your friends and family back home that you are for sure in Iceland. Visible from almost any point in the city, Hallgrimskirkja Church sits at the top of Skolavordustigur Street, the central art and design shopping street in the capital. The iconic building is 74,5 meters (240 ft) high, and a visit to the top will reward you with awe-inspiring views of Reykjavik and even Snaefellsjokull glacier on a clear day. Completed in 1986, the concrete structure took over 40 years to build.
The tower was renovated in 2009. The architect Gudjon Samuelsson designed the church in 1937. Samuelsson often used Icelandic nature as inspiration. Although the aforementioned tour does take you to the church for a quick exterior view, you will have to use your own time for exploring inside. The church is open daily and it is free to enter. If you would like, to make it to the top of the church for some great aerial views (shown below), you just pay 900 ISK (currently $8.41 USD) and snap some great photos.
Fun Fact
Go Whale Watching (seasonal)
If you happen to be in Reykjavik during a good time for whale watching, I’d highly recommend it. Sadly, I went in February when all of the whales migrate south. I should’ve done my research! I was able to see a pod of dolphins that kept everyone on the boat content. The tour operator I used was Elding Adventures and you can book them for more than just whale watching.
Enjoy a magical journey into Faxaflói bay with their expert crew and specially trained naturalists. Explore the whales of Reykjavík under the excellent guidance of our marine biologist guides and learn all about the incredible wildlife that call Iceland their home. The bay is even full of birdlife, from puffins and gannets to guillemots and more, that actively feed on the plentiful fish found in the bay. Magnificent landscapes surround the area and add a unique contrast to the vast ocean, where the spectacular views on the horizon are certainly not to be missed.
Tour the Grand Golden Circle Route
For a little more freedom, I’d recommend renting a car. I ended up using a group tour instead ($68 USD) because I wasn’t sure how the roads would be in February and wasn’t comfortable driving at first. The tour covered the Kerid Crater (pretty blue color, but wouldn’t go out of my way to see it), Gulfoss Waterfall, Thingvellir National Park, and of course the Geysirs – with Strokkur being the only actual active one. I would’ve preferred a different, non-touristy location of the Gulfoss Waterfall.
It’s just SO incredibly overcrowded and getting a picture without someone’s head, hands, legs, etc. in the pic is a struggle. There are other waterfalls in the country that will lead you to a better pic (keep reading, you’ll see…). But, it would be an awful shame for you to make it all this way and not see the ‘Golden Waterfall’ – Gulfoss. So take it with a grain of salt. Super touristy, think gift shop with $90+ gloves, $150+ sweaters, and $10+ shot glasses. The Geysir was fun to watch. The tour guide said it went off every 15 minutes, but we experienced it exploding sooner than that. Not sure if those results are typical. Just be patient and have your phone/camera ready.
Try unique Icelandic Dishes
Unless you live there, how often are you really going to find yourself in the country? Why not try a few unique Icelandic dishes while you’re there? I tried pieces of fermented whale shark (featured below), smoked puffin with mustard sauce (featured below), whale steak (featured below), and even horse. Although looking at the fuzzy cuteness I felt a little guilty afterwards! My restaurant Go To recommendation for a local experience is 3 Frakkar, which is walking distance from Hallgrimskirkja. The name means 3 Long Coats. Make sure to have reservations ahead of time because the restaurant is nice and cozy. Very intimate and would make a great date night!
Walk Around the Harbor
So I’m not sure if it’s actually called a Harbor, but there’s a walkway path with a beautiful view of water and snow-capped mountains (at least in February). Peaceful and serene walk, which is still close enough to the city to walk everywhere. If you haven’t figured it out yet in basic Iceland travel research, they are pretty big into Vikings. The middle picture below is a Viking Ship statue called Solfar “The Sun Voyager.” Great item for picture taking. I’ve seen pictures of it during sunrise, sunset, smack dab in the middle of the day. It doesn’t really matter, it always makes a great picture. There are always a huddle of people around (of course) but if you lean in you can get a great shot without any photobombing. Moving on with our Iceland Travel Tips.
Lunch at the Harbor – Hofnin
While you are walking around the Harbor, stop in for some lunch at Hofnin. Literally, the picture belowwith the boat named ‘ANDREA’ was taken right in front of Hofnin. Located in an old fisherman’s hut by the Reykjavik harbor, Hofnin strives to serve the very best of Icelandic cuisine, cooked with love and fresh ingredients.
The restaurant is not only conveniently located, but the service is also spectacular, and the food is delicious. If you love seafood, definitely order ANY of their seafood dishes. They had an arctic char daily special that was divine. I also tried the fish stew and a few other dishes. It was at this restaurant where we learned tipping is not a thing in Iceland, which sort of makes up for the pricey meals.
Relax at the Blue Lagoon
This is a given, but for those (like me) who thought The Blue Lagoon was going to be ‘overhyped’ and ‘overpriced,’ I can assure you this journey was worth every penny. I’ll provide a more in depth separate review later today on it, but for now as part of the high-level Iceland Travel Tips I will say that leave your fears aside on this one and book the moment you’ve locked in your flight to Iceland and know you’re coming. They sell out very quickly. The good news with that is they had limitations on their daily admissions. Therefore, you will not have to worry about a million people being there like I had originally thought.
Yes, there are a good amount of people there, but the spa pool itself is HUGE. Find your own piece of paradise. If you want to socialize, hang by the swim-up bar where people are a little more social and inviting into their social circle. If you want a little privacy and R&R, head towards the back and you will be in complete solitude. Don’t forget to try out the silica mud masks (which are included in your price of the ticket). My full review posted here.
View The South Coast
When you look at travel bloggers’ National Geographic worthy pictures and you are in complete ‘AWE’ it is not from the Golden Circle like I thought. Those pictures causing your jaw to drop is coming from the South Coast of Iceland. Those beautiful glaciers you see are coming from a place called Jökulsárlón. Also known as “Diamond Beach.” The waterfall I was telling you about where you’ll get a much better pic, comes from Skógafoss. If you can rent a car and go check them out yourself, do it. I wish I was able to make it to see the glaciers. Great photo opportunities. There are actually photography tours that you can take to help you get some great shots. If I had known that before going I probably would’ve booked it.
Black Sand Beach
Continuing with our theme of the South Coast, that gorgeous and rugged black sand beach that tends to be pretty popular is located in a town called Vík, the southernmost village in Iceland. The Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach is one of the island’s iconic volcanic landscapes, where sparkling black sand slips away to the sea and basalt rock formations twist and turn. Photographers flock to this part of the island to capture dramatic pictures of the foaming sea against the black sand and it’s been the backdrop of many films and TV series. You can visit Reynisfjara beach on the South Coast of Iceland yourself by joining a tour from Reykjavik. Here’s everything you need to know about this beautiful sight.
View The Northern Lights
I’m still salty while writing this. Knowing that one of the main reasons I went to Reykjavik, Iceland was to see the Northern Lights. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy the two nights we tried seeing them. There is, however, a website where you can track the likelihood that you’ll see them. Make sure to follow that report as it tells you which parts are likely to be cloudy or have great visibility. If I had known that at the beginning of the trip we wouldn’t have wasted our money buying a rental car. Which leads me to my last point of the Iceland Travel Tips:
Rent a Car for freedom. But realize how expensive it is
I can’t stress this enough. Renting a car allows you the freedom to go where you’d like (except for the forbidden ‘F roads’ as car insurance will not cover you there), however, to fill up a Toyota Rav4 starting with a 1/4 tank of gas was $125 USD. That was unbelievable to me. I then thought about the price of importing gases all the way from the middle east (where gas is prominently found) to Iceland. So, it makes total sense. It just caught me off guard.
Cars are also not in the best shape and up to the same standards as in America due to the rugged nature of how the cars are used. But, you’re there to do some rugged road trippin’ too so no worries there. You don’t need a Mercedes with the bells and whistles. I would upgrade and pay the $19 USD for a GPS in the car (just in case your phone loses signal). If you truly want to see the Northern Lights, you’ll be going in some remote areas. Signal isn’t always guaranteed. Additionally, be sure your car is filled at least half way at all times. If it’s under that amount and you pass a gas station. Stop. I’m not kidding.
Taste the ‘World’s Best Lobster Soup’
There are 2 types of travelers in the world. Those who cross things off their bucket list, and those who actually explore. Well, I’m the type to have to cross things off the bucket list haha #NoShameInMyGame. One of the Icelandic food bucket list goals is to try the World’s Best Lobster Soup at The Sea Baron restaurant. Very small inside, and very limited menu. To be honest though, you’re likely on there for 1 thing, so they don’t really need a vast menu. The soup has big chunks of delicious lobster. Definitely give them a try. You will accompany the soup with a bunch of fresh bread and for purchase you can add shish-ka-bobs on a stick – veggie, salmon, etc.
Eat Icelandic Hot Dogs – The Cheapest Meal You’ll Have
As a bucket list checker, I must say trying an Icelandic hot dog (“Pylsur”) at the famous Baejarins Beztu was on my must-do list. At just 400 ISK, I guarantee you this will be the cheapest meal you’ll eat the entire trip.
One of the interesting things about Iceland is that the people here literally survive off the land. Back in 2009, they had a major financial crisis and the country was in so much debt. With increased tourism, they are improving financially but they are smart enough to focus on the food they do have there instead of trying to import certain products. So I’ve noticed they don’t eat a lot of pig here. Their hotdog is actually made from lamb. It was pretty tasty I must say. They don’t exactly photograph well with the brown goo on top, so I’ll spare you that.
Sidenote: Is it weird that I split a hot dog with 4 other people? Just so we could sample and see what the fuss was about?
ADDED BONUS: Missed Opportunities
While I was overall happy with my trip to Iceland, here’s a few missed opportunities. I wish I had known:
- about the Northern Lights tracker prior to my visit so we could have found out when the best time and where the best place was for catching them
- that the people didn’t receive tips. Feel like I may have offended the cab driver by offering him a tip (whoops!).
- to see the beautiful glaciers at Jökulsárlón
- to get up close with one of the Icelandic horses. They truly are a beauty and unique. Again, feel kinda bad for tasting one at supper (yikes)
- how expensive a rental car was (gas mostly, not the rental car itself)
- to book a few extra days there (5 was simply not enough)
- to explore the nightlife a little more. After all of the tours I committed myself too, I was so burnt out and tired by the end of the day that I really didn’t feel like getting drunk at the bars around town
- to catch a concert at Harpa where the locals go for a good, clean Friday night. I did hang out there on a Friday night which was great for people watching
Hopefully, you found this helpful. Please reach out to me (cassandra@accent-on-travel.net) if you have any questions or if I can help you plan your next trip (whether to Iceland or somewhere else).
Planning your trip to Iceland?
