Trip to Iceland
Hello!
If you are here and reading this, thank you!
I wanted to give the briefest recap possible of our first trip to Iceland even though there is A LOT of information here. I am going to share in bulletins ALL the places we stopped and a few of the places we ate. In addition, I am going to share a few things we learned that hopefully will come in handy should you decide to travel to Iceland too!
We spent 10 days in Iceland and stayed at 5 EPIC locations. Here it goes…
First up, my cousin Cody from Wyoming came on this trip, we flew Icelandair to and from —> Boston to Keflavik. (this was an overnight flight to Keflavik and they do offer meal service, however it’s an additional cost) [I heard Play Airlines is a bit cheaper but is like your common Spirit type airline, however I did not hear any bad reviews on them either, so in case you want to price shop, check out both Play Airlines and Icelandair.]
THE EPIC STAYS:
Our first night we stayed in the the City of Reykjavík at a luxury apartment with amazing views. Here is the link for this specific stay. - Luxury Apartment
Night two we stayed at the Panorama Glass Lodge. We stayed here for one night. - Panorama Glass Lodge
We stayed 3 nights at the Black Beach Suites. We rented a suite but they also have hotel units here as well. - Black Beach Suites
Our sixth night we drove wayyy north to hike and stayed at the Highland Base at Kerlingarfjöll. We rented a cabin here for one night (this entire place was being renovated so it was still under construction when we were there but it didn’t bother us) - Highland Base at Kerlingarfjöll
Our final two nights in Iceland we wanted something that sent us out with a bang of luxury. We stayed at the Iceland Lakeview Retreat. This place was our favorite of all our stays and probably the best cabin of Iceland. You’re all alone out in nature with a fantstaice view over the lake. The hot tub is perfect and is heated with natural geothermal waters from the ground. - Lakeview Retreat
A final note of the epic stays. These places were a bit pricier, which we knew. Booking them was intentional; we wanted to experience the luxury and beauty of Iceland. There are MANY other places to stay so feel free to continue your research!
WHERE WE STOPPED | WHAT WE SAW:
Stóra Sandvík (DRONE VIEW)
Black sand and grassy dunes
This is a large beach and great drone spot. It looks spectacular from above. The road here is a bit bumpy so drive carefully
Valahnúkamöl
A grand cliff formation
Next to the lighthouse is an impressive cliff formation shooting out of the ocean.
Reykjanes Lighthouse
Watching over Reykjanes
Reykjanesviti is the old lighthouse of Reykjanes.
Blue Lagoon
Geothermal Pool
The pool of Blue Lagoon is carved through the lava field. The water is stunningly blue and a nice way to relax. There is also a retreat you can stay here, it is expensive but has its own secret geothermal pool areas separate from the public and a bit more private.
What we learned here: you MUST shower before entering the pool. There are lockers for your personal belongings. IF you are planning on getting your hair wet, it is an absolute MUST to put conditioner in your hair and leave it in. (the water is VERY HARD and for those who dye their hair it can strip the color) If you are not going to get your hair wet you can skip this and not wash your hair. The lagoon supplies all the shower products you will need. You will want to bring your own make up, hair brush, etc. should you want to get ready after the pool.
Final Note: This lagoon we felt was a little less cleanly, we felt like we were standing in a inch of water in the showers at all times and people left many belongings behind in the shower such has hair clips, hair ties, etc. Also the building design can be a bit tricky to maneuver through.
Sky Lagoon
A beautiful and relaxing lagoon
Sky Lagoon is a man-made spa in Reykjavik. Built next to the ocean the best time to visit is sunset and see the sun set into to ocean. Don't miss out on their 7 step ritual.
What we learned here: Same procedure applies here as the Blue Lagoon. You MUST shower before entering the pool. The water here is clear and not as big. We voted this lagoon our favorite out of the two. It has an amazing entrance, the view over the ocean was stunning and overall much cleaner and easier to maneuver through the building.
Hallgrimskirkja
The church towering over Reykjavík also the main landmark in Reykjavik
Reykjavík | Rainbow Road - Best shopping there is + if you find the main landmark which you cannot miss, directly across the street you will find rainbow road and your shopping begins!
Festarfjall
Vast breathtaking views
The sea cliffs on the south of Reykjanes peninsula drop straight into the blue ocean. This spot requires a short walk from the main road and has great views for pictures in both directions along the coast.
Kleifarvatn
A beautiful drive
Kleifarvatn is close to Reykjavik. It's a really beautiful drive and there's actually a lot to see in this area.
We picked a spot where we could drive onto the black sand beach and got out to explore the rocks below and capture some photographs and videos here.
Gluggafoss (also called Merkjárfoss)
A secret waterfall
This waterfall is a bit unknown so you are likely to be here alone. Great for pictures and drone pan outs from here are super cool!
Seljalandsfoss
Walk behind this towering waterfall
One of the most famous waterfall of Iceland. This is a beast with lots of water and a path that goes all around the back of it. Bring a waterproof jacket, you will get wet.
Gljufrabui
A waterfall cave
When you're at Seljalandsfoss, don't miss out on this waterfall. It's a short hike away and super cool. Inside of a cave, the water falls from above. Bring a waterproof jacket, you will get wet in here.
Kvernufoss
A stunning waterfall
Kvernufoss is a short 15 min walk away from the parking lot. There has recently been built a path so it's very accessible and you can walk all the way behind it and look out.
Skógafoss
One of Iceland's biggest waterfalls
Skogafoss is probably the most impressive waterfall of Iceland. It's 60m high and 20m wide with lots of water. It's a very easy accessible waterfall with parking lot just 200m away.
Dyrhólaey
Spectacular view over the black beach
You'll get a great view over the black beach and the famous arch in the cliff.
Dyrhólaey Lighthouse
Keeping watch over the black beaches
Reynisfjara Black Beach
Black Sand Beach
This is one of the most famous beaches of Iceland. Be extra careful on days with big waves. This beach has sneaker waves that can be 5x as big as the regular. Tourists have died here because they got swept away with one of those and drowned. DO NOT IGNORE the warning sign here. From experience a sneaker wave caught up with us while on the beach. We were not very far from the edge of the beach near the parking lot either. BE SAFE!
Reynisdrangar
Dramatic sea stack cliffs
The famous sea stack cliffs outside the black beach of Reynisfjara. You can watch them from the beach or from the mountain just next to them.
Vik i Myrdal Church
Photogenic Church
The church overlooking the town of Vik.
Hjörleifshöfði
Lots to see here!
This is a fun area on the south coast just outside Vik. The cave is often referred to as the Yoda cave. You can also continue past the cave out on the black beach that seem to go on forever.
Katla Ice cave landscape
Black sands and green mountains
The area around Katla Ice cave is something else. Large black sand plains and then steep green mountains. You can drive in here with a good 4x4 in summer. However do not try it in winter. The path in is a bit tricky to find, a good idea can be to follow the guide jeeps driving guests to the caves. We tried to find this exact location without following a guide as we were here on a Sunday. We went as far as we felt safe it was to go before turning around.
Gígjagjá (The Yoda Cave)
The Famous Yoda Cave
Go inside and look out to see from where this cave got it's name.
Lómagnúpur
A tall majestic mountain
When driving the south coast you can't miss this majestic mountain (unless it's covered in clouds which it often is). You can also hike here there is a small path leading to the top of it.
Grófarlækjarfoss
Great waterfall for pictures
Great waterfall just 5 min hike from the parking. Very easy to get to and good for pictures.
Fjallsárlón
An icy glacier lagoon
This glacier lagoon is just next to the main one (Jökulsárlon). It's a bit smaller which means it's possible to take a boat tour and get all the way to the edge of the glacier. It's a sharp edge where the glacier tongue meets the water and feed icebergs into the lagoon.
Diamond Beach
A glowy and sparkly beach
When icebergs from the glacier lagoon float out to sea they eventually wash up on the beach. Here they lay until they melt or the next tide takes them away again. Best time of day is to visit at sunset, then they really glow and sparkle. However in the warmer season most of the glaciers have melted significantly down by the afternoon so it’s best to get early in the early AM.
Glacier Lagoon (Jökulsárlón)
Photogenic icebergs
Another very famous spot of Iceland. Jökulsárlon is the main glacier lagoon of Iceland and by far the biggest one. The icebergs usually gather just at the viewpoint since the get stuck there before they melt and continue out to the ocean. Because of the current the move around and you can hear them crashing into each other.
Parking Þjófafoss
A graceful waterfall
This waterfall is a nice little detour when driving in or out of the highlands.
Hjalparfoss
Enchanting double waterfall
A double waterfall with a calm lagoon in front of it. I have often gone for a dip here as it's safe and no current in the river.
Háifoss Car Park
The Highland's biggest waterfall
The biggest waterfall of the highlands. You will need a 4x4 to get here as the road is very bumpy. You park at the top and then there's a steep trail leading down to the bottom of it.
Gullfoss Falls
The Golden Waterfall
The most famous waterfall of Iceland and part of the Golden Circle. This is a huge one with lots of water and spray. Because of tourism there's now big built up parking lots and restaurants around it. So it's not the best nature experience but in the end a very impressive waterfall.
Kerlingarfjöll
4x4 Parking Geothermal area
Kerlingarfjöll looks like visiting planet Mars. This drive is a bit long, about 2 hours worth and the road here is very bumpy so you need a good 4x4 to reach it. It's rather easy to get to the mountain resort, but the last way up to the geothermal area is very steep. If you manage to get there, there's photo opportunities everywhere and as this landscape is something else.
ONE LAST IMPORTANT THING HERE: You do not need to stay the night at the base cabins to see planet “Mars”, however it is a long drive and not a bad idea. YOU DO NOT need to hike the trail from the base cabins. Continue driving past the cabins for about 12 minutes and voila there is a parking area. The day we went it was VERY windy and I was afraid of blowing off the mountain so I only viewed the geothermal area from above however you can hike down inside.
PLACES TO EAT:
We ate at several different places, most I never took pictures of to remember the names - sorry! The two I listed below were probably our favorites and the Black Crust Pizzeria is an absolute MUST stop! One last thing. Most of the gas station areas around Iceland also are joined with a place to eat or something quick to grab on the go. In addition, the bigger more popular tourists areas have food trucks and restaurants as well. OH…one last recommendation if you like hot dogs, try one in Iceland!
Smiðjan Brugghús
Local Burger joint and brewery
Best burgers and beers in town
Black Crust Pizzeria
Best pizzas in Iceland
I guarantee you wont find any better pizzas in Iceland than this. You must also order their garlic bread, it will be the best you ever eat! If you're passing Vik, this is a must try!
TIPS WE LEARNED:
Download Google Translate app
Download XE currency conversion app
Iceland is an almost cashless society. We only used credit cards the entire 10 days we were here. Have a PIN ready, it will be needed. Tipping is also not a thing here. However keep in mind that certain cards will get hit with international transaction fees.
Lotus Car Rental: HIGHLY recommend this car rental company as they offer the BEST insurance coverage. We paid for the premium insurance that covered everything except a lost key or if the wrong fuel was used. This is very important depending on how you travel as there are a lot of dirt roads here and bumpy. Along with the heavy winds, cars get plastered with sand. Lotus also gives you a WI-FI hotspot to plug into your car which comes in extra handy!
You MUST rent a 4x4 vehicle. Again not all the roads are paved and many of them you can only access with a 4x4 vehicle.
WHAT TO PACK: Rain gear is an absolute MUST. If you are going in the summer months that is. You do NOT need to overpack. I packed 2 rain pants, leggings, thermals, some long sleeve t-shirts, a couple sweatshirts, rain boots (or hiking waterproof boots), rain jacket, a hat and gloves. Pack some extra socks in case your feet do get wet. There is plenty of shopping areas that have all this gear too incase you forget something, don’t worry! Bring a towel. If you decide to stop/hike to any geothermal pools aside from Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon you will need your own towel. WHAT TO LEAVE HOME: your hairdryers (hotels/cabins equipped) and fancy clothes/shoes! You won’t need it. Almost everyone you will encounter will be in outdoor weather appropriate gear and travel ready!
Best shopping is in Reykjavík - be careful parking here, make sure to find public parking and pay for a ticket otherwise you will get a ticket that needs to be paid through your rental company.
Go to BOTH Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon if you can. Often people ask which one should they do. I highly recommend both as the experiences are both completely different. The main difference is the water though. Read above about them both. If you could only go to one, my personal suggestion would be Sky Lagoon and go in the evening hours.
COST: it is not cheaper here. It is pricey. An average meal for two people was $60+. A T-shirt for kids/adults starts at $30 each. Just keep in mind as you shop and purchase meals that everything is in ISK NOT USD. This is were the XE conversion app I mentioned above comes in great handy. We used it ALOT!
TIP/TRICK: bring a cooler, one that can fold down into your luggage. This comes in handy so you can stop at grocery stores and grab a few things for the travel ahead to help save on $ instead of eating every meal out. Recommend purchasing at least one water bottle and putting it in the freezer, you can use this to keep your food cold!
A few additional things. We did not see the Northern Lights while there as we hoped for. There are more apps for this that you can download and help track. We also hoped to see puffins but it just didn’t factor into our schedule. And finally, I would recommend paying for at least one excursion, whether it be hiking the ice caves in Katla, horseback riding along the black sand beach, or booking the super jeep tours. Depending on your time frame there, try and book at least one thing!
Should you be a bit more adventurous. Instead of booking different places to stay, many people also rent camper vans big or small and travel the Ring Road. The Ring Road (Route 1) in the main artery around Iceland. The 1340km tarmac loop passes amongst waterfalls, dripping glaciers, wild wind-ravaged coastlines, steep-sided fjords and moss covered lava fields.
OR if you are short on time and only plan for a few days they have a road map called the “Golden Circle”. I am personally not experienced with what you can see on the Golden Circle so please do you research to plan your itinerary.
And, before I forget…start booking your trip with a minimum of 6 months in advance. Stuff books up almost a year in advance and you won’t be able to sign up to do anything while there. Also a lot of the stays above book up super early too. I started booking our trip in December of 2022. Our trip began September 2023.
To wrap this up: THE WATER, Let’s talk about the water. BRING OR BUY a water bottle. The water here is the most delish and comes from the glaciers and is filtered through all the volcanic grounds! One of the jokes on our trip was the amount of water I bought because I was too lazy to dig out my water bottle haha. But seriously you can drink from the tap in Iceland! I eventually just kept refilling some of the bottles I did purchase with the tap water.
THAT’S IT!
If I think of other things I will update them on the page. If you have any questions, please email me or reach out. I’ll help in any way that I can! I hope you enjoyed reading a bit of our journey and that this information may come in handy some day! You can also find me on instagram @tracymstoddard and check out my “highlights” for more footage from our trip.