Introduction to Iceland
- Stephanie Michaud
- Nov 2, 2017
- 4 min read
For a small country, Iceland has more than a long weekend of things to see. But, from our new home base in Paris, flying to the capital city of Reykjavik is easy and budget friendly- and we simply couldn't resist. With fall temperatures dropping and the lure of crisp mornings and hikes, we decided to skip out of the mega city for a four day weekend of exploring natural landscapes and Icelandic culture.
Trip Itinerary
Due to the last minute nature of our trip, we opted to make our base in Reykjavik each night, and drive during the day. There is plenty to see within a few hours of the capital, and the roads are easy to navigate. Had we planned our activities in advance (or for our next visit) I would plan a night in Vik and/or on the West coast.
I would also be interested in trying out a camper van in Iceland. We met many travelers who were making their way around Iceland's ring road, and sleeping in their camper vans. Though compact, this would be an excellent way to enjoy the scenic landscape of Iceland. Similar to Canada, you can drive for quite a while and not see anyone, so being self sufficient for food, drink, and sleeping arrangements can be really helpful.
Approximate Trip Cost
In advance of arriving in Iceland, I read many articles about how expensive Iceland is. I would agree with this statement if you are trying to visit Iceland and do a standard city tour- i.e. doing bus trips or tours from Reykjavik and eating at local restaurants 3 times a day. But the beauty of Iceland is in the countryside, and once you have your car fueled up and your lunches packed, most attractions are free (at some locations we did pay for parking/bathrooms).
Flights, 4 nights AirBnb in Reykjavik City Center, Rental Car, and Tour: approximately $1200 for two.
Destination Map
Day 1: The Golden Circle
The classic tour of Iceland, this gets you to both historical and natural wonders. We decided to visit Þingvellir National Park in the morning, and then complete the loop via Kerið in the afternoon.
Day 2: Southern Iceland
Definitely my favorite day on the road, there is so much to see here- the Ice Age formed cliffs tumble from the foot of a major glacier and are a stark contrast next to the black sand beaches and waterfalls. We hiked up behind Skógarfoss, and around the Dyrhólaey Arch to appreciate this awesome landscape. I would spend a night or two in Vik to have more time to go further east around the southern tip of Iceland.
Day 3: Snaefellsness Peninsula
This volcanic landscape is only made more dramatic by the beautiful coastline. I would definitely spend more time here, as the weather can be quite fickle and we didn't make it out to the National park on the other side of Snaefellsjokull.
Helpful Links
The team at GreenKey is really making Icelandic tourism and destinations easy to navigate. They managed our AirBnB, provided us with an excellent Google Map for destinations (which I repurposed above for the Destination Map section), and gave us a discount when we booked with their preferred tour operators.
This 3 day self-directed driving tour itinerary gave us the backbone of our trip- we just modified some of the stops based on time and the desire to have a more 'relaxed' drive. Plus you can download their google map here
This article in the Scandinavia Standard outlines how to find six unique geothermal hotsprings that are beyond the typical bus tour stop.
I also referenced this blog post to help plan our destinations. If you are looking to do a similar trip but with bus tours from Reykjavik, these ladies visited several destinations in Iceland that way.
We booked our Northern Lights tour with Reykjavik Sailors at the recommendation of our GreenKey friends. A great affordable experience, and fun to get out on the water in a fishing boat!
Being the closet coffee snobs that we (read:Dan) are, no visit to a foreign city or country would be complete without a visit to the local roaster and cafe. This place has great vibes, and their roaster was working away on site while we sipped. Dan had a cortado and promptly bought a bag of beans from Peru- we have been enjoying them since!
There are plenty of geothermal hot pools in Iceland, but this is the most commercialized one. Though at first it seemed too touristy, we loved our visit here, and the way they regulate the entry times allows for the lagoon to never get too crowded. We opted for the 'Premium' package, which was worth the robes, drinks, and priority entry. Plus, our flips flops became our souvenirs! Make sure to book in advance, as the time slots fill up quickly.
Ostabudin Restaurant
We decided to have one dinner out in Reykjavik- and I am so happy we decided to come here. A warm welcoming atmosphere that feels a bit like your best friends cabin, Ostabudin serves high quality local food with careful attention to flavors and pairings.
For a comfy and casual spot, go to Icelandic Street Food. There is a reason this family run restaurant is the best rated restaurant in Reykjavik on TripAdvisor- they treat you like family and serve up heart warming bowls of soup with a smile.
Happy Adventures!
Stephanie
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