Bucket List #7
My trip to Iceland in 2017 was booked in typical last-minute fashion. I usually fly back to New York for Thanksgiving and thought I'd extend my stay this time. I researched numerous countries and trip scenarios and finally decided to fly to Iceland, then Amsterdam. PS: I plan on going back once more in the winter and once in the summer for an extended stay.
Iceland Notes
Currency: Icelandic Krona (ISK) is the native currency and credit/debit cards are accepted everywhere. Most stores will accept Euros and some will accept US Dollars, from what I saw. FYI, Iceland is very expensive and locals love living there.
Language: Icelandic, most people are fluent in English.
Population: 358,780
Population Density: 8 people per square mile, making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe.
Daylight: This varies of course, but the winter days are very short with as little as 4 hours of daylight.
Fun Fact #2: All produce is imported from mainland Europe. Iceland is, however, able to grow their own crops using naturally powered geothermal greenhouses!
Based on my personal experience, here are my recommendations if you have 4 nights in Iceland:
Flights
There weren't many options, but I chose to fly from JFK to KEF with Delta. I took a red eye and arrived at about 7:30am.
Accommodations
I stayed at CenterHotel Thingholt for the first 3 nights. It's in a great location in Reykjavik's city center. It's a mere 5-10 minute walk to lots of bars and restaurants and only 15 minutes from the beautiful Hallgrimskirkja. I came across the hotel through TripAdvisor and booked directly through the hotel website.
This is where I stayed my final night in Iceland. It was an easy decision since Blue Lagoon is an absolute must-see attraction on just about every blog. It's not cheap, but here are some other reasons why you should stay at Silica Hotel:
As a guest, you gain free premium access to the famed Blue Lagoon.
You have access to a private silica lagoon. Blue Lagoon is bombarded with hundreds of people at a time.
It's a great place to either begin your stay in Iceland or end it, because it's about 20 minutes from the airport via taxi.
The restaurant on-site is incredible and features unique yet traditional Icelandic cuisine.
Tour Company
www.gtice.is
This was my first time ever booking something through a tour company. I used a company called Gateway to Iceland (there are many others, but I chose them based on reviews). Their customer service is excellent with quick responses via email. The Norwegian tour guide I had on my final two days was fantastic. Read on to see which tours I booked with them.
Tours
Unfortunately, this was a failed tour due to cloud cover. But, it's all the more reason to go back! Dress very warm and bring hand-warmers. You'll be standing outside for a while waiting for the lights to appear. Be sure to bring a tripod for your camera. No noteworthy photos from this one, sorry!
Hot Golden Circle Tour
www.gtice.is/trips/day-tours/hot-golden-circle-tour/
The Hot Golden Circle Tour is exactly what it sounds like. It takes you to the hottest points in Iceland. On this tour, you'll see geysirs, waterfalls, þingvellir national park, and secret lagoon. The weather wasn't too shabby!
The South Coast Tour takes you south of Reykjavik (no pun intended). On this tour we get to see an impressive glacier, two waterfalls, and a black sand beach. The weather was absolutely terrible, but we certainly made the most of it!
To Do in/around Reykjavik
Gorgeous cathedral with a viewpoint atop overlooking the entire city of Reykjavik to the North, South, East, and West. Bring your camera and be sure to be there for sunrise or sunset. You're in for a real treat. Entry was about 8 USD per person.
This is the most commercial geothermal spa in Iceland. It's very crowded but is still a place you need to visit. While on your tours, you will visit other, less-crowded geothermal spas. Be sure to get a silica mud mask and visit the sauna/steam room. If you go in the winter, you're in for very bold yet refreshing feeling when you step out of the water!
Food & Drink
The tours listed above all stop at relatively generic places for lunch at crowded tourist hot-spots. When I was on my own in Reykjavik, every culinary experience was top-notch, along with some very fun bars listed below:
I'm a fan of "The Big Lebowski". If you have ever seen the movie, or even know what it's about, then you must check out this bar. It's completely themed from head to toe with many funny references. I think I went there two nights and one night was trivia night. Lots of fun and a great staff.
I mostly drank here but managed to have a snack as well. The food is good and the beer selection is better. They're frequently collaborating with craft breweries around the world. When I was there, they were featuring Cigar City from Tampa, FL. I definitely didn't come all the way to Iceland to have a beer from Florida, but I couldn't resist. I recommend you stop in for a visit while in Reykjavik.
Wow. I stumbled upon this place while exploring city center. Possibly one of the top 10 meals I've had in my life. I started with smoke salmon and fin whale and ended with a slow cooked lamb shank which literally fell off the bone. The best lamb I've had in my life.
My Itinerary
Day 1
Arrived KEF @ 7:30am
Claimed bags and took a bus to Reykjavik
I arrived at CenterHotel Thingholt around 9:00am while still dark to settle in
Walked to Hallgrimskirkja around 10:00am to watch the sunrise at 10:40am from atop the church's viewing area
Met a fellow traveler and wandered around the city taking pictures
Had a late lunch and went back to the hotel to catch up on some sleep (I don't sleep on planes)
Had dinner and left for Northern Lights Tour - bus stop was very close to the hotel
Day 2
Departed hotel at 9:30am for Hot Golden Circle tour
Returned around 5pm
Had dinner and checked out some bars!
Day 3
Departed hotel at 8:30am for South Coast tour
Returned around 7:30pm
Had a late dinner and checked out more bars!
Day 4
Checked out of hotel around 9:30am and took a bus to Silica Hotel at Blue Lagoon!
Checked in to room and went to Blue Lagoon for the day
Enjoyed the amenities and had dinner at Silica Hotel
Day 5
Departed KEF at 7:40am on Icelandair to AMS
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