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Iceland
The Land of Fire & Ice
Easy to stop, hard to leave.
Why
The Why, When & How to visit...
Volcanoes, glaciers and lava, oh my! Waterfalls, rainbows, and rye bread. Mountains, geysers, hot springs, and black sand beach. A Blue Lagoon, Tectonic Divide, and Northern Lights. Iceland is arguably one of the most naturally unique and interesting countries in the world. Snorkel, hike, ATV, explore and soak in a geothermal pool. With a landmass of ~40,000 sq miles and < 400,000 residents, Iceland is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world with mostly natural land. With IcelandAir's free Stopover program, why not. Plus the Northern Lights are supposed to be the strongest in 2024 & 2025 than they've been in the last 2 decades, so hop on over to be #InspiredByIceland.
When
How
Although Iceland seems like a far off place, it's the closest European country to North America reachable within a 6 hour direct flight from NYC or 3 hours from London. Most international flights fly into Keflavík International Airport (KEF), which is 50km SE of the capital and largest city of Reykjavík and a 45 minute drive to reach. There are direct flights to KEF on IcelandAir from major airports in Europe and the US & Canada, such as NYC, Boston, DC, Baltimore, Chicago, Orlando, Denver Seattle, Portland, Toronto and Vancouver. Low cost operator Play also has flight options from the US east coast. United also operates direct flights to KEF from Chicago and Newark in the Summer, Delta from JFK, and Air Canada from Toronto and Montreal.
Being close to the Arctic Circle around 65 degrees North, Iceland is basically cold(ish) year-round with average highs ranging from high 30's F to high 50's F with a lot of rain too (it's the rainiest non-tropical country). June & July are two of the warmest and least rainy months in Iceland with the most daylight (~20 hours). However, because of the extended daylight, the Northern Lights are not visible during this time of year. The Northern Lights are visible between September and April when daylight ranges from 4 hours in December to 13 in September. According to Aurora Forecast, auroras are twice as visible around the equinoxes than around the solstices, so close to March 20 and September 22 is the best bet for viewings.
IcelandAir also offers the Stopover option to stop in Iceland for 1-7 days going to Europe or back for no additional cost. IcelandAir flights can be reasonably priced with its one central hub out of KEF, but worth noting it saves and makes money by not including a meal or even a snack and some drinks for Economy tickets on international flights like most other airlines. Food and drinks are available for purchase on flights and can be pre-purchased when purchasing the ticket or up to 24 hours before departure. A meal and drinks are included with the Saga Premium (first class) tickets on international flights.
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Reaching Reykjavík by taxi from KEF costs 140 Euros = $150 USD or more for up to 4 people. Alternatively, there are a number of companies that provide transportation from KEF to the Reykjavík Bus Terminal on coach buses. FlyBus Iceland through Reykjavík Excursions is the main operator that IcelandAir promotes and costs $30 each-way. The bus is scheduled to depart after flight arrivals, every hour on the hour. Tickets can be purchased here to guarantee a seat and are good for 24 hours. Buses depart the Reykjavík Bus Terminal on a set schedule available here and arrive KEF 45 min later. A ticket can also be purchased to take you to your hotel from the bus station. I opted to take a taxi from the bus terminal and it cost $14 to my hotel 1.5 km away and accepted card payment (in January 2024).
There is also the public bus #55, which departs KEF on the '30 of every hour and takes a little over an hour to reach the bus terminal. It costs ~$14 each way and is supposed to only accept exact cash (1,960 Icelandic Króna, no change provided) as of January 2024. Pre-booking a private transfer is another option to set a fixed price. Ride share is not available as of January 2024.
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1,000 ISK = a little over $7 USD as of January 2024. To easily convert, remove the 3 zeros at the end and multiply by 7 and round-up a bit for the estimated cost in USD.
Where
to stay...
Several boutique hotels opened in Iceland, primarily Reykjavík since 2016 a few years after Iceland's tourism gained significant traction.
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In Reykjavík:
1) Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre - There are 4 Hilton branded hotels in Reykjavík. I chose to stay at the Canopy for a mid-price, boutique hotel centrally located in Reykjavík. I was very pleased with the central location just off the main strip of shops & restaurants. The hotel has a cozy Icelandic design aesthetic with a fireplace, restaurant & bar, cafe, and fitness center. The rooms are comfortable with an espresso machine to kick-start the day and help get out of the incredibly comfortable bed. For more information and the ability to book, click here.
2) The Reykjavik EDITION - The Reykjavík EDITION is one of the newest and nicest hotels in town. The hotel opened in November 2021 on the harbor a tad off the beat-and-path. The hotel has a typical EDITION design aesthetic mixed with Icelandic / Scandinavian coziness. There are ample upscale bar & restaurant options, along with a nightclub, spa and fitness center to relax after a long day of sightseeing. The rooms are cozy with floor-to-ceiling windows some of which overlook the water and have a tub. More details on the hotel, along with the ability to book is accessible here.
3) ION City Hotel, a Member of Design Hotels - Another centrally located hotel is the ION City Hotel, a member of Design Hotels, affiliated with Marriott. Similar to its sister property listed below, the ION City Hotel focuses on sustainability in its operations and design choices. The hotel is small with only 18 rooms ranging from compact to suites with saunas. The hotel has a fitness studio and popular Middle Eastern restaurant called Sumac. More details on the hotel, along with the ability to book is accessible here.
Outside of Reykjavík:
1) ION Adventure Hotel, Nesjavellir, a Member of Design Hotels - Located an hour drive east of Reykjavík, near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Thingvellir National Park, is the ION Adventure Hotel, a member of Design Hotels, affiliated with Marriott. The hotel provides eco-conscious luxury with a focus on sustainability through its local natural and recycled materials, fair trade organic linens, and water-saving shower systems.
The hotel has a restaurant & bar, thermal pool sourced by the nearby power plant and dormant volcano, and ample lounge seating with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the natural beauty surrounding the hotel. Its location outside of Reykjavík provides sufficient darkness at night October-April to have a chance to see the aurora borealis from The Northern Lights bar protruding from the end of the building. Rooms are cozy with an espresso machine and robes and a thermal suite option. More information and the ability to book is available here.
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2) The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland - Now visitors to Iceland can not only visit the famous Blue Lagoon, they can stay there too (for a hefty price). The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon is a 5-star, luxury hotel connected to the Blue Lagoon geothermal pools, spa, fitness center & yoga studio, restaurants & bar. The Retreat has 61 all suite rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows with a terrace and tub overlooking the incredible scenery. The hotel utilizes natural materials and colors with cold, grey slate and warm, tan wood in simple Icelandic style. More details on the hotel, along with the ability to book is accessible here. There is also a less expensive Silica Hotel, a 10 minute walk from the Blue Lagoon.
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3) Hotel Geysir - Another uber chic boutique hotel across from other geothermal activity is Hotel Geysir set across from multiple active and dormant geysers, a 90 min drive NE of Reykjavík. The hotel opened in 2019 and is family operated with cool rooms, restaurants & bars. The hotel is on the Golden Circle route good for a night stay on the way to other Golden Circle destinations, if touring on your own. Many tour groups will stop to see the geysers and have lunch & shop at the adjacent building. More details on the hotel, along with the ability to book is accessible here.
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If exploring the South Coast, there's Hótel Kría in Vik and Askot Cottages for 3 small, modern cottages on a horse farm in between Vik and Reykjavík for those looking for a more remote stay complete with a kitchenette, washer & dryer, and hammock. ​
What
Do
to...
1) Explore Nature - Anyone visiting Iceland is most likely going to experience its unique and vast natural beauty across glaciers, mountains, volcanoes, waterfalls, geothermal pools and more.
Touring what's referred to as the Golden Circle is the most popular excursion in Iceland to see the main attractions. This Golden Circle Tour is a full day for a small group with stops at and includes admission to Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Hot Spring, Gullfoss waterfalls, the Kerid volcanic crater, and Blue Lagoon. The tour also passes by Laugarvatn - a geothermal lake producing super-heated vapor used to bake rye bread in the ground - and Reykjanes Peninsula with its vast lava fields, cone volcanoes and views of the Atlantic Ocean. The tour includes admission to the Blue Lagoon Comfort Package ($70-100+), including use of a towel, Silica Mud mask, and one drink. The vans are equipped with wi-fi onboard. More information and the ability to book through Viator is available here.
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Alternatively, this Golden Circle Tour does not include the Blue Lagoon, but does include time for lunch at the very cool Fridheimar Farm, a tomato greenhouse serving tomato soup and other tomato dishes.
The other popular tour is of the South Coast of Iceland. The South Coast of Iceland faces the North Atlantic Ocean and as a result experiences the most extreme weather conditions in the country. This contributed to sculpting the dramatic landscape with glaciers, volcanoes, black sand beaches and green lava fields. This all-day, small group South Coast Tour goes to 3 waterfalls: i) Seljalandsfoss (60m tall originating from the Eyjafjallajökull glacier capped volcano), ii) Skógarfoss (60m tall originating from sea cliffs), and iii) Kvernufoss (30m tall), of which two are accessible to walk behind during the Summer. The tour then stops in Vik, a beautiful little fishing village with only 300 inhabitants, for lunch. The afternoon is spent at the world-famous Reynisfjara black sand beach and The Dyrhólaey Peninsula with a 120-meter boardwalk overlooking breathtaking views of Iceland's south coast, and puffins from late April until late August. More information and the ability to book through Viator is available here.
Ideally a trip to Iceland includes touring both the Golden Circle and South Coast, but if there's only time for one, this blog post By Jina Lee provided a nice comparison of the two.
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Some other popular activities in Iceland's nature include: snorkeling in Silfra between the Tectonic Divide, snowmobiling on glaciers, hiking, ATVing, and whale watching. Plus trying to see the Northern Lights October through April noted below.
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2) Take a Bath - Bathing is big in Iceland, so much so that the Icelandic word for Saturday - Laugardagur, means the day of bathing. With so many geothermal pools in Iceland, which stem from volcanoes and geothermal power plants, that are said to provide health benefits, it's easy to see why. While in Iceland, embrace the Icelandic bath culture in one of the many geothermal pools scattered throughout the country.
The most well known geothermal pool in the world is the Blue Lagoon, named one of the 25 Wonders of the World by National Geographic. Located an hour drive SW of Reykjavík, the Blue Lagoon formed from excess water from the nearby geothermal power plant in the mid-1970's and evolved into a commercial geothermal pool & spa in the 1990's with the addition of luxury hotels, restaurants & bar, and store 2018. Unique in comparison to other Iceland geothermal pools, the Blue Lagoon gets its pale blue milky hue from the silica, algae, and minerals that are said to be nourishing for the skin and found nowhere else on earth.
Admission to the Blue Lagoon starts around $70 USD (most times will be ~$100 USD though) for the Comfort package and an additional ~$20 USD for the Premium package. I recommend paying the extra ~$20 USD for the Premium package to have access to a robe for walking between the locker room and pool (towels are only provided after the pool), an extra drink, and ability to try all 3 of the mineral masks. Tickets can be purchased directly through Blue Lagoon or with a tour operator that also provides transportation and is often included with a Golden Circle Tour like the one listed above. Destination Blue Lagoon is the official transportation partner that as of February 2024 charged ~$30 USD one-way to or from the Reykjavík Bus Terminal or KEF airport and $60 USD round-trip to the Reykjavík Bus Terminal.
Another option is the Sky Lagoon, a 15 minute drive south of downtown Reykjavík. The pool overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, Geldingadalur active volcano, and the presidential residence at Bessastaðir. This option through Reykjavík Excursions, includes round-trip transportation from the Reykjavík Bus Terminal, access to the Sky Lagoon and its 7-step spa ritual through hot and cold water, steam rooms, and saunas. The Reykjavík Bus Terminal also has a luggage storage or airport delivery service making it easy to visit the Blue or Sky Lagoon before departing for the airport or upon arrival.
3) Experience Reykjavik - The capital and largest city of Reykjavík is where most trips to Iceland will start & end with the main airports nearby. Reykjavík is a small city with a population of ~125,000, so there's not a lot to see & do there. The popular sights to see and photograph are the Hallgrimskirkja church and the view from the tower, Sun Voyager sculpture, and Rainbow Street. There is also a nice main street of several blocks called Laugavegur where most restaurants & shops are located. There are lots of romantic, candle lit tapas restaurants and wine bars here, along with mostly souvenir and cold weather clothing stores.
The places that stood out to me were: Lebowski Bar - burger & bowling bar with a Big Lebowski theme, Hús máls og menningar - massive book store & live music venue, Prikið ehf - local corner bar, Íslenski barinn - casual restaurant serving Icelandic delicacies, Röntgen Bar - cozy romantic bar, Mikki Refur - natural wine bar, Nebraska - clothing store & restaurant, Reykjavik Raincoats - classic raincoat store, Sandholt - cafe for breakfast or lunch, Skreið - tapas bar, and Sumac - Middle Eastern restaurant.
*Shopping Tip: If you're planning to purchase anything from the Blue Lagoon Store or 66 North, there are locations in the airport to purchase it there duty free.
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One family-friendly activity outside of the city center is the Perlan’s Wonders of Iceland exhibition and Northern Lights planetarium show. The exhibition includes the ability to walk through a real indoor ice cave, learn about Iceland’s glaciers in an interactive display, and watch planetarium show of the Northern Lights. More information and the ability to book through Viator is available here.
4) See The Northern Lights - This is last on the list, because i) it's only possible to see the Northern Lights certain months of the year and ii) isn't a sure thing. Predicted visibility for the next few days can be checked at Aurora Forecast. There are tours to see the Northern Lights through both driving and cruising. This is the top rated Northern Lights Tour in Iceland that provides professional photos and hot chocolate and cinnamon buns to keep guests warm and full. The tour can also be re-booked for free subject to availability, if Northern Lights aren't spotted the first time. The other option is a Northern Lights Yacht Cruise from the Reykjavík harbor. The cruise is more limited on where it can go compared to a vehicle, but provides space to roam around with bathrooms and a cafe serving snacks & drinks. It also allows re-bookings subject to availability, if the Northern Lights are not visible that day.
Eat
Icelandic seafood, whether that be fermented shark, smoked salmon, or whitefish like cod or haddock with rye bread. Their herring and smoked salmon are amazing. Iceland is also known for and has a protected designation for its lamb, which roam free and graze on grass, berries, and herbs.
Drink
Iceland has a number of top-notch liquors to try made with its pure, clean glacier water. Reyka is one that makes vodka with water drawn from a lava field to create a pure and unique distillation. Brennivín is an Aquavit (caraway-flavored schnapps) nicknamed 'black death' for the brave.
There are also a number of domestic gins to try, some whiskey too, along with Gull and Viking Gold as the two main domestic beers. There are also small production beers, like Geysir, a Thermal Pale Ale inspired by the geothermal heat at the Geysir. *If of legal drinking age to drink responsibly
Wear
Warm & waterproof
Watch
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga by
David Dobkin
Listen
"Iceland"
by Artem Lauk & Freigefyhl
Gift
Click here for Gift ideas