I've only had the delight of spending one night as part of a trip home from Europe and I very much wish to return to spend some quality time inland there.
@samh Totally should! And I have lots of opinions about good places to go! Hahaha
Also m’wife figured out ages ago that if you’re going to mainland Europe from the US, that going to Iceland first is 1) fun, 2) a shorter flight, 3) flights from there to other places in Europe are then “domestic” and short and dirt cheap in comparison, and 4) you’re already in the Schengen Zone, which can simplify things a bit.
Anyhoo… do it!!! 😊
@fisherdah Huzzah!
The main question: what kind of adventure do you want?
The first time we were here was just for a couple nights as a longer layover, and just puttered around town in Reykjavík and were perfectly happy. That said, my immediate sense was that I didn’t have to rush to see and experience everything notable because I was so sure we’d return. Reykjavík has great shops and Michelin star food and world class coffee and creative mixed drinks and views of the water and historical landmarks, etc. If a spa day is your jam, then there are always busses to/from the airport-Blue Lagoon-Reykjavík, so booking an experience there is an easy way to include it (they have a variety of experiences depending on how much you want to “invest” in your spa day experience). There are plenty of other hot springs that are more affordable and/or more likely to be visited by locals, but then you’re into the realm of renting a car (which we’ve done pretty much every time we’ve visited - navigating is easy and the roads kept up well, etc).
Alternatively, local pool pools are important to the culture of the fine folks who live here, and finding a close local pool is going to be inexpensive and wonderful, honestly (our fav is Árbæjarlaug on the skirts of Reykjavík. Hot water pools of varying degrees, inside/outside pool, slide for kids, etc., and genuinely inexpensive).
If ADVENTURE adventure is more your style, there’s glacier ziplining and snorkeling in clear water where tectonic plates intersect, serious hikes, camper vans to drive the whole ring road (have a friend who did so in the heart of winter, bless her) Kayaking, whale watching excursions, etc.
Personally we’ve had a lot of really fun experiences with Air BnB, because it’s more like the founders envisioned - locals with some extra room in their home or on their land who make a thoughtful place for a visitor to stay - rather than the “let’s raze the neighborhood and put up unlivable tall-skinnies solely for short-term rentals that ruin the local neighborhoods.”
Outside of just staying in the capital and maybe a bus ride or two, my recommendation is to rent a car. You don’t have to do the whole ring road to make it worthwhile - heading down to Vík for a lava show or black sand beach & puffin watching time or interesting local history;
Or to the ferry for a ride to Vestmannaeyjar;
Or to any of the many many waterfalls.
I think for a first-and-maybe-only trip I’d recommend a week, do one hot spring (any of them) day, a day or two of short drives and little hikes to waterfalls (maybe Þingvellir), a trip to Vík, and a couple days to have the freedom to decide what you feel like doing, but above all go eat pastries and bread from Brauð downtown Reykjavík. Also could not possibly overstate how wonderful the tomato restaurant Friðheimer is - worth making a reservation and driving more than an hour (will be posting more about this soon).
Today we’re a bit north of Reykjavík at the hot springs in Hvammsvík loving the view of the water under the snow-capped hills.
In short: depending on budget and adventure type, my recommendations vary wildly, but whatever version is your jam I will always heartily recommend it to everyone except folks who only like touristy all-inclusive tropical resorts.
If you have specific questions or want more personalized recs based on your situation, just holler! If you prefer email I’m wombatman70 at gmail - please feel free to reach out!
Also m’wife figured out ages ago that if you’re going to mainland Europe from the US, that going to Iceland first is 1) fun, 2) a shorter flight, 3) flights from there to other places in Europe are then “domestic” and short and dirt cheap in comparison, and 4) you’re already in the Schengen Zone, which can simplify things a bit.
Anyhoo… do it!!! 😊
The main question: what kind of adventure do you want?
The first time we were here was just for a couple nights as a longer layover, and just puttered around town in Reykjavík and were perfectly happy. That said, my immediate sense was that I didn’t have to rush to see and experience everything notable because I was so sure we’d return. Reykjavík has great shops and Michelin star food and world class coffee and creative mixed drinks and views of the water and historical landmarks, etc. If a spa day is your jam, then there are always busses to/from the airport-Blue Lagoon-Reykjavík, so booking an experience there is an easy way to include it (they have a variety of experiences depending on how much you want to “invest” in your spa day experience). There are plenty of other hot springs that are more affordable and/or more likely to be visited by locals, but then you’re into the realm of renting a car (which we’ve done pretty much every time we’ve visited - navigating is easy and the roads kept up well, etc).
Alternatively, local pool pools are important to the culture of the fine folks who live here, and finding a close local pool is going to be inexpensive and wonderful, honestly (our fav is Árbæjarlaug on the skirts of Reykjavík. Hot water pools of varying degrees, inside/outside pool, slide for kids, etc., and genuinely inexpensive).
If ADVENTURE adventure is more your style, there’s glacier ziplining and snorkeling in clear water where tectonic plates intersect, serious hikes, camper vans to drive the whole ring road (have a friend who did so in the heart of winter, bless her) Kayaking, whale watching excursions, etc.
Personally we’ve had a lot of really fun experiences with Air BnB, because it’s more like the founders envisioned - locals with some extra room in their home or on their land who make a thoughtful place for a visitor to stay - rather than the “let’s raze the neighborhood and put up unlivable tall-skinnies solely for short-term rentals that ruin the local neighborhoods.”
Outside of just staying in the capital and maybe a bus ride or two, my recommendation is to rent a car. You don’t have to do the whole ring road to make it worthwhile - heading down to Vík for a lava show or black sand beach & puffin watching time or interesting local history;
Or to the ferry for a ride to Vestmannaeyjar;
Or to any of the many many waterfalls.
I think for a first-and-maybe-only trip I’d recommend a week, do one hot spring (any of them) day, a day or two of short drives and little hikes to waterfalls (maybe Þingvellir), a trip to Vík, and a couple days to have the freedom to decide what you feel like doing, but above all go eat pastries and bread from Brauð downtown Reykjavík. Also could not possibly overstate how wonderful the tomato restaurant Friðheimer is - worth making a reservation and driving more than an hour (will be posting more about this soon).
Today we’re a bit north of Reykjavík at the hot springs in Hvammsvík loving the view of the water under the snow-capped hills.
In short: depending on budget and adventure type, my recommendations vary wildly, but whatever version is your jam I will always heartily recommend it to everyone except folks who only like touristy all-inclusive tropical resorts.
If you have specific questions or want more personalized recs based on your situation, just holler! If you prefer email I’m wombatman70 at gmail - please feel free to reach out!