Iceland
Blue Lagoon 2019
Iceland is a hidden gem that only opened up to tourism in the last few years and I highly recommend it. If you don't have a specific set of days in mind, you can buy flight tickets for next to nothing.
I’ve been both in the Summer and the Winter and never paid over $400 for a roundtrip from EWR to KEF. I’ve also seen many flights from the USA to Europe (visa versa) that offer an extended layover in Iceland.
The food is beyond delicious ranging from fresh fish to produce grown in geothermal greenhouses. While the island can be quite expensive, there’s millions of places to go and things to see that are free! Your experience will be totally different depending what time of year you visit (I personally preferred Summer, even though it's still cold, the land is covered in greenery and it’s light out from 5am to almost 11pm). I highly suggest staying in the South near Reykjavik (the capital) or another populated area (it’ll be much easier to get around and find places to shop/eat). Renting a car is essential because everything is really spread out once you leave the city.
It’s impossible to cover it all unless you plan on a long trip, so I’ve listed all the must sees that made my two short trips feel complete.
1. Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and is only a 40 minute drive from the airport. This city is like no other city I’ve been to. The buildings aren’t very tall, but they’re extremely quaint. Bright colors fill the streets, mixing old with modern. There’s loads of really delicious restaurants, clubs and shops. The city sits on a coast, providing yet another incredible view. Laugavegur is a route that is known for the more artsy and popular areas within the city. Hallgrímskirkja is the famous white church located at the top of a hill and is also a must see.
2. Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss is a waterfall located in the south of Iceland between Selfoss and Vik off of road 249. It’s almost two hours from Reyjkvik, but it’s on the Ring Road so you can stop for other destinations on the way. My family and I made it right in time to watch the sunset and the whole experience was so surreal. The waterfall is only a 5 minute walk from the parking lot and has free entry. You can walk behind the water into a little cavern that looks out to the most amazing view. We even saw sheep roaming on our visit. The landscape honestly looks like a picture out of National Geographic.
3. Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is the most touristy place in Iceland (IMO), however it’s also a place to check off your bucket list. The tickets can be pricey, around $90 for a basic ticket which includes using the locker rooms, a clay facemask and a free drink at the bar. Definitely secure your place with a reservation, as it can get really crowded really fast. Visiting the Lagoon in the Winter was much prettier cause everything was snow covered and icy.
4. Skógafoss
Skogafoss is another really beautiful waterfall. You can walk straight up from the parking lot and either look from the bottom or climb a million stairs and get a view from the top (so worth it though). Both times I visited, it was pretty foggy out, but the view is still so amazing.Skogafoss is a little bit further than Seljalandsfoss at a little over 2 hours away from Reykjavik, but still on the Ring Road.
5. Thingvellir National Park
This national park is located on the Golden Circle and is only a 40 minute drive from Reykjavik. The park is free entry however you do have to pay for a parking ticket (It wasn’t too expensive, I remember it being somewhere between $7 and $15 USD). Visitors can walk through the museum and then journey through the path surrounded by rocks, waterfalls and wildlife. The park can get pretty crowded so I would suggest going right when it opens or right before it closes.
6. Geysir
Geysir is another national reserve on the Golden Circle filled with geysers. I’ve never seen one before so they really impressed me, however I’ve heard they don’t compare to Yellowstone. This is another popular destination so it can get pretty crowded, however there's multiple geysers so you can walk around. Geysir is around an hour and thirty minutes north-east of Reykjavik.
7. Kerid Crater
Kerid Crater is just what it sounds like; a decent sized body of water in the middle of red volcanic rock. Visitors can walk the perimeter of the crater and then walk down to the water. This is another great stop on the Golden Circle and is free!
8. Sólheimajökull
Sólheimajökull is a glacier located in the South of Iceland, about 2 hours and 15 minutes from Reykjavik. I first visited the glacier on my summer trip and was fortunate enough to book a tour. The guides met with us in the parking lot and equipped us with the proper gear for hiking and climbing (helmets, harnesses, pick axes and clip on shoe picks). We took a short hike to the base of the glacier and then hiked up towards the middle where we took turns climbing the ice walls. This was definitely a highlight of my trip! The ice is unbelievably blue and the mountains look almost fake. Once you get to the top, there's a view that's indescribable.There's a small building at the base where you can book tours (I would suggest doing it before though) or use the restrooms for a small fee.
9. Barafossar
Barafossar is another hike and waterfall located north-east of Reykjavik. The property is technically owned privately and is marked off in certain locations, so if you’re able to go be extremely respectful!!! (I saw loads of littering when I went). When I tell you this water is blue, I honestly mean it's BLUE. Seriously, the pictures look edited but I swear its just as blue in person. The hike is more of a straight path with a few rocky areas and is a few miles long. The entrance was a little difficult to find as it’s in the middle of farmland and isn’t marked off.
10. Reynisfjara
Reynisfjara is a blacksand beach that is surrounded by some of the coolest looking rocks. The beach is pretty long and flat, but there’s room to explore and walk around. Let me warn you though… it can get really windy. The beach is on the Ring Road and is 2 ½ hours away from Reykjavik.
11. Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River
This hotspring was WAY cooler than the Blue Lagoon (IMO). From the parking lot, the hike to the waterfall is quite long, with a few steep parts. However, this hike was so picturesque (as all of Iceland is), and surrounded by wild sheep and horses. Once you make it to the top, everyone strips down into bathing suits and goes into the river. The river looks like a regular river (deceiving I know), but it feels like a hot tub. It’s literally the perfect way to relax after the hike.
Lastly… I definitely suggest researching as much as you can before visiting, as the country is FILLED with surprises. Look into adventure guides such as hikes, volcano tours or glacier climbing! Because the food is so fresh, you can literally go grocery shopping at a gas station (don’t knock it till you try it). Be vigilant of the time especially in the Winter when there’s only a few hours of daylight. There’s plenty of museums like the Icelandic Phallological Museum (literally a penis gallery) that are perfect for indoor days. With long drives to each destination, stopping to see wild horses on the side of the road breaks up the trip (and they’re super adorable ). Airbnb’s are a fun way to immerse yourself into the country and live more like a local. Don’t worry about the language barrier, as the people are super welcoming (as long as you’re respectful) and mostly speak english. And try don’t forget to try the chocolate!
