Iceland is absolutely gorgeous and is a one-of-a-kind destination – it is well worth a trip! I’ve shared my recommendations and a few suggestions below – hopefully it’ll help as you plan your own Iceland adventure!

The main thing to note when planning a trip to Iceland is that they are relative new to the tourism industry. As such, there is a lot of disorganization around group tours and tours get cancelled…a lot. The weather is also very unpredictable, particularly in the winter months. Its just something you have to prepare for when you go. I would definitely suggest booking all of your tours on the front end of your trip, if possible, in case you need to reschedule or move things around. I would also think about your prioritization – hopefully you’ll get to do everything that you want to do (we did!!) but there is a chance that you might have to choose if things get pushed around too much.

So…when going to Iceland, go with the mindset of things are probably going to change/divert from the initial plan. Just go flow and enjoy the ride- anything you end up doing (including just hanging out in Reykjavik!) will give you some gorgeous views and a great experience.

Hotel: FossHotel Reykjavik

This hotel is very centrally located, next door to a bus stop where all of the tour companies pick up, has an exciting local beer garden (bjorgardurinn) on the ground floor and includes free breakfast every morning. Perhaps most importantly, they have an excellent concierge staff who is very helpful at navigating the tour schedules and can easily re-book, rearrange your schedule for you should things move around. They did it for us several times! If you are looking to splurge a bit, the 16^th floor is the highest floor and they have several suites that overlook the bay, giving you a view of the downtown, harpa hall, and the mountains. That being said, make sure to check your bill. With the tourism industry so weak in Iceland, they do make errors relatively frequently (our bill was almost $1000 off so we are glad we checked!).

Tour Company: Gray Line Iceland

As mentioned, I would recommend booking all of the tours through one company, for ease, in case of the need to reschedule. We used both Reykjavik Excursions and Gray Line Iceland and were happy with both. I found Gray Line’s guides to be a bit more engaging and the bus we were on was slightly nicer (had outlets to charge your phone, etc). Whatever company you choose, note that there is also no Uber/Lyft in Iceland so the tours pick up and drop off at bus stops…you have to be VERY proactive when getting picked up because the buses are not clearly marked and there are throngs of other tourists trying to find their buses as well. Have you confirmations printed or handy on your phone and know what company you are searching for!

Tours: Northern Lights Mystery, South Shore Adventure and Golden Circle Classic

We did not do any of the uber-adventure tours like walking on Glaciers or snowmobiling, but if you are looking for some gorgeous sites I would highly suggest the Golden Circle and South Shore!

• Golden Circle- as you might have guessed, this circular route combines sites from Icelandic history, culture and extraordinary nature. It is a full day of exploring with stops all along the Thingvellir National Park. You’ll see:
  • Thingvellir National Park—walk among the geological wonders of the technonic plate fissure zone and see the UNESCO world heritage where the Althingi parliament was founded
  • Gullfoss—One of Iceland’s largest and most famous waterfalls, coming down from a glacier
  • Geysir Geothermal Area—Highly active site, highlighted by the Strokkur geyser blasting boiling water into the air every 5-7 minutes
  • Faxi Waterfall
  • Skalholt—historical church and settlement site that shaped the spiritual, political and cultural landscape of Iceland

• South Shore – This tour drives along the south coast of Iceland, one of the country’s most scenic regions. South Iceland has a diverse and spectacular natural environment and we were able to see everything from volcanos to waterfalls, beaches to snowcapped glaciers…all in one day!
  • Skógafoss waterfall
  • Seljalandsfoss waterfall
  • Sólheimajökull glacier and lake formed by glacial retreat
  • Reynisfjara – black volcanic sand beach and reynisdrangar rock formations

• Northern Lights Tour – Of course, you cannot go to Iceland (especially in the winter!!) without trying to see the Northern Lights. They are absolutely stunning and one of the true wonders of nature. Josh and I were lucky enough to see them while we were there. I would highly suggest scheduling your tour on the front end of your trip, as this tour is frequently rescheduled due to cloud coverage and/or no light activity. Check with your hotel concierge or the travel company regularly for updates. This “tour” is a lot of standing outside, hoping and praying, so make sure you dress warmly!! I promise, if you see them, its worth it in the end!

Restaurants:

• Apotek – A must! This restaurant is a great balance of Icelandic and European cuisine with many of the dishes designed for sharing. Apotek means “pharmacy” and the artisan cocktail menu has everything from “painkillers” to “placebos”.  We had a few Iceland specials in salted cod, local lamb, local salmon, etc. We also tried the local, specialty liquor called Brennivín. It is a clear, unsweetened schnapps that is considered to be Iceland’s signature distilled beverage and a “special occasion” shot.

• Bæjarins Beztu – This world-famous hot dog stand (a favorite of former President Bill Clinton) is well worth a quick stop. The dogs are DELICIOUS and made with some very interesting ingredients. In addition to the standard hot dog + bun, they add homemade crispy onions and sweet mustard, along with raw onion, ketchup and remoulade. Fun fact, the ketchup is actually made from apples!

Bars/Nightlife: I was pleasantly surprised by the plethora of fun locals spots in Reykjavik to pop in for a drink! A few of my favorites were:

• Bjor Gardurinn– located on the ground floor of the Fosshotel Reykjavik, this place has a great happy hour and a plethora of rotating seasonal and local beers. The Icelandic local beer culture has been absolutely skyrocketing for the past few years! The first Icelandic microbrewery opened in 2006 (Kaldi) and today there are 10 local breweries across Iceland.

• Bastard Brew & Food – this spot has become local hangout since its grand opening just recently in July 2018. The bar doubles as a small-time brewery, offering two of its own craft beers, as well as a selection of Icelandic microbrews and an extensive cocktail menu.
• Hlemmur Mathöll – The new food hall just opened at Hlemmur square, in the former main bus terminal building. It offers everything from coffee and pastry shops to a flower shop, to restaurants and bars. There is also plenty of seating. It’s the perfect pit stop for a quick lunch or to just enjoy a drink while you wait for a tour or want to take a break from exploring the city.

I hope these recommendations help as you plan your own Iceland adventure!

– MAL