🇮🇸 Iceland
I know, I know Iceland had its moment and now it’s gone. So what better time to go? If you’re a New Yorker, it is definitely worth taking a long weekend excursion since it’s only 6+ hours away. Anyhoo, I only went for 3 full days and enjoyed every second. There were a couple things we learned that I wish someone had told me:
Transportation:
There really is no other way to see Iceland other than driving. Renting a car is a must and I would get the car rental insurance too since ya never know what kind of weather you’ll get while your there.
DO NOT SPEED!
Seriously though, we learned this the hard way and landed ourselves a $400 dollar speeding ticket that they make you pay on the spot. There are also speeding cameras all over the highways so don’t risk it.
BYOS:
We ended up bringing a ton of snacks with us, since Iceland is SUPER expensive. We had an apartment style hotel where we tried to cook breakfast in the mornings to save money as well. Stuff ain’t cheap (think $24+ cocktails…whaaaaa?)
The Loop:
Cris and I stayed in Reykjavik for the 4 days, and I think if we were to do it over, we would have planned our road trip first, and then booked different hotels around the “ring road” which is a huge loop you can drive around Iceland.
Blue Lagoon PSA:
Don't put your hair in the water. Just don’t. I was acting like a freaking mermaid swimming deep under the silicon and sulfur enriched water, which in turn made my hair turn into a nutrient-stripped rats nest for a month afterward. They tell you to put a ton of conditioner in your hair beforehand, but all the conditioner in the world would not have saved these locks. Trust me.
Shopping:
Since you don’t go to Iceland to shop, I won’t have a shopping section. HOWEVER. The one and only thing Cris and I brought back was Icelandic flake salt. It was the cheapest item we found and we still use it to this day!
eat —
The Coocoos Nest:
Right by the water, family owned, and really great food & cocktails.
Matbar:
Delicious tapas & wine with a cozy ambiance.
Kaffibrennslan:
Two words. HOT WAFFLES. oh and happy hour beer, which was a godsend considering how expensive alcohol is there.
Sumac:
Came here for my birthday dinner and it did not disappoint. Save your pennies though, not cheap!
Rok:
The building itself is super cool with a moss roof. Good for a quick bite or drink.
Braud & Co:
The bakery of choice, stop in for a loaf of seeded bread or an Icelandic pastry.
Le Kock:
Deemed the best burger in Iceland.
Bonus:
No frills grocery store, but I HIGHLY recommend going here to buy snacks, local candy, breakfast items and whatnot. Relatively inexpensive and good for gifts too! (PSA: I got these chocolate drizzled rice cakes here that were SOOO good, see if you can find em’).
stay —
The Swan House: $$
We stayed in this apartment style hotel, and it was not to expensive (relatively speaking, it was about $200 a night). The hotel was very clean and accommodating, and was in walking distance to everything. The apartments come with a kitchen and cooking supplies which helped save on breakfast and lunch costs.
Airbnb: $$
Always a solid option and generally cheaper than hotels in the area.
see —
Blue Lagoon:
Although VERY touristy, this spot is definitely worth checking out. It’s not far from Reykjavik and worth the $80 bucks.
Ring Road:
We basically took two full days and drove 5 hours east one day, and 5 hours west the other day. There are a ton of sites and hikes as you drive so we kinda just pulled off to the side when we saw something interesting. I would also drive along the coast when you plan your routes, its so beautiful!
Seljalandsfoss:
This is a waterfall we stumbled upon on our way to Vik.
Godafoss:
Another waterfall (there are a lot, but they are ALL truly amazing)
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach:
We managed to stop here during sunset and it was pretty breathtaking. Really beautiful beach with black sand and towering cliffs.
Glacier Hike:
Heard this is an awesome experience, however we did not have the time for it.
Hellnar:
An ancient fishing town on the west side with a cute inn and some restaurants. Would be a nice place to stay on your way around the loop.
Fjadrargljufur Canyon:
This is the large picture above. A bit of a drive, but if you are on your way around the loop, I would stop here and do a little hike.