Transportation
While the airport is close to the city, to get Reykjavik by cab expensive (about $100-$150 USD). But, there are many buses and shuttles you can take to get to the city center.
Another option would be visiting the Blue Lagoon as one of the first or last things of your trip. The Blue Lagoon is between the airport and Reykjavík and offers a shuttle from the airport-Blue Lagoon-Reykjavík in both directions.
The Blue Lagoon
While the Blue Lagoon is super touristy, it should still be on your list. The in-water treatments and restaurants are amazing! Whether you are planning to just enjoy a treatment or experience the Lagoon itself, be sure to book entrance tickets and appointments in advance. You many not be able to purchase day-of.
It is also great for a half day activity, you only need a few hours there. The mornings and earlier in the day are better to visit as there are fewer people – and more accommodating for all the Instagram photos you’ll want to take. They have a really delicious restaurant so you can also do lunch before or after. There is also a bar in the Lagoon so you can get drinks while you relax – smoothies and alcoholic options. There is a 2-3 drink max in the lagoon water because of the heat, so you won’t be there all day drinking.
You can also book various spa treatments and massages. I did an in-water massage on a pool float and they give you this relaxing massage while you’re in the water.
Things to Do
Reykjavík city itself is quite small and you can probably walk around and see everything in a day. There are great restaurants for fish and all kinds of cuisine. I loved Le Bistro on the hill of Reykjavik. It had incredible stews which really warmed you up. There are also some delicious noodle bars on the hill walking up to the Hallgrímskirkja church.
Depending on the time of year, you’ll probably try to see the Northern Lights. For many tours, if you don’t see the lights they will offer the option to go again until you see them. So it’s important to plan the Northern Lights excursion early in your trip so you have back-up days should you not see them the first time. They are completely weather dependent.
The main points of attraction in and around Reykjavík are:
Hallgrímskirkja – The church at the top of the hill which, if you walk up, has a really great view point of the harbour and the whole city.
Downtown Reykjavík – The main downtown area is easy to walk around for bars, restaurants, food, and shopping. Bars are open late, until about 4 a.m., so it has a New York atmosphere with people going out around 11 p.m. There are many great local bars and clubs downtown.
Golden Circle – Most of the natural attractions you’ll want to see are along the Golden Circle and the Ring Road and are best to see by renting a car or going on a guided tour. A small guided tour with 5-6 people is the best option so you can control the time spent at each spot. Some places are on the quicker side to visit where you can walk around and be done in 30-40 minutes. Others, like the waterfalls, you’ll want to stay and spend a little more time gazing or hiking. Around the Golden Circle, some sites worth seeing include: Þingvellir National Park (thing-va-leer), the Geysers at Haukadalur, Gullfoss Waterfall and the Kerið Crater Lake (care-ith) which is a little farther from the city. Larger tour buses start around 8 a.m., so it’s best to try and be ahead of them so you have a quieter visit and can be leaving when they arrive.
Spending Króna
While air flights from the States to Iceland are generally inexpensive, food in Scandinavia can be much pricier. The cost of food and other items can be quite expensive while you’re there, but the food is worth it. Most places take credit cards so you don’t need to bring cash, but some of the smaller boutiques or street vendors in the city only take cash. When you go out plan to spend $40-$50 on a meal per person.
