iceland

THINGS TO DO 

South Iceland Tour: An immersive tour where you check out crazy beaches, huge waterfalls, volcanoes and glaciers. Prepare yourself, it’s about 10 hours. 

Golden Circle Tour: Trek through tectonic plates, see the famous geyser, and check out even more waterfalls.  Clear a full day for it, it’ll run about 8 hours. 

Blue Lagoon: Free stop on the way to or from the airport if you take the shuttle. Don’t forget to goop on a face mask and sit in the steam room.  Super refreshing!

Local hot spring pools: Blue Lagoon isn’t the only hot spring in Iceland, they’re all over the island! Ask your host for directions and recommendations. 

Whale Museum: Awe-inspiring museum in downtown Rekjavik.

Opera House: Go inside to check out their beautiful glasswork. 

Hallgrimskirkja Church: Venture up to the roof to see an awesome view of the city.  

Shopping: Walk along Laugavegur. So many chic shops and cafes!

Silfra Snorkeling/Scuba: Take a plunge and swim between some  tectonic plates. 

Northern Lights Tour: You’ll only see them in wintertime, but these tours will chase lights to get you the best natural show on the planet.  

PLACES TO EAT

Glo: Tons of fresh, crisp vegetarian options.

Vinyl: Refreshing vegan cafe, get your healthy meals here. 

Cafe Flora: Inside the botanic garden in Laugardalur, simply gorgeous.

Sweet Pig: Casual, low-key downtown spot.

Baejarins Beztu Pylsur: Famous hot dog stand. Swing by for a quick bite and the cheapest food you’ll get on the island. 

The Laundromat Cafe: Restaurant-laudromat-play area combo is a real treat. Try the pancakes with grilled bananas.

Grillmarkaourinn: Relaxing ambiance with mouthwatering dishes. We recommend the Langoustine.

Braud & Co: Great breakfast! Get it on the go with a coffee, great way to start the day.

Kopar: Waterfront resturant serving classic Icelandic dishes and seafood.

MAR: Another restaurant right on the water. Incredible seafood. 

Svarta Kaffid: Everyday they make two specialty soups and serve them in bread bowls. Is sure to fill and warm you up!

PLACES TO DRINK

Iceland is expensive – however, almost every bar on the island has happy hour with BOGO (buy one get one) drinks between 4 and 8 p.m. Check out Hverfisgata, this street has tons of bars with plenty of options to choose from. 

PLACES TO STAY

Kex Hostel: a budget option with a non-budget feel. Hostel renovated from an old factory, they have happy hour for drinks and food downstairs and live music some nights. Great place to meet fellow travelers. 

Airbnb also has a lot of beautiful locations in stunning scenes around the island. 

TRANSPORTATION

Airport to Rekyavik: Book online and in advance, this shuttle will stop by the Blue Lagoon and take you directly to your hotel or hostel. You must get to the station to get back to the airport. 

Use Uber or a cab to get around if going downtown. 

TIPS

Gray Line Tours: Great tour services for the Golden Circle and South Coast Tours. 

Wifi: Almost all buses and public outdoor areas have WiFi. 

The Ring Road: You can rent a car and drive the entire ring road – make sure you get insurance on the car! There’s plenty of options for cars available. You’ll need at least 7 days to get  everything in without rushing.