Hi friends and welcome to part two of my Iceland recap! If you missed part one, no worries, you can click here to read all about our road trip through the Golden Circle and South Coast!
This post will focus more on our time in Reykjavik and our experience at The Blue Lagoon. At the end I’ll answer some commonly asked questions about summer travel to Iceland!
GETTING THERE:
We booked flights through Icelandic air from Dallas, Texas to Reykjavik with a quick layover in Boston. We loved the airline and had a pretty seamless flying experience. When you land in Iceland, you’ll find that the airport is relativity small and manageable. You’ll make your way through customs and down to baggage claim where you’ll find your bags {duh}, car rental booths, additional transportation booths, tour companies and an information desk.
THE BLUE LAGOON:
We ended up booking a trip to the Blue Lagoon directly from the airport, but you can book it from downtown Reykjavik as well. Before the trip, I heard mixed things about the lagoon–some people loved it and some felt it was a tourist trap. We personally loved it and thought it was a really cool experience. One thing I will say is that it does get crowded, so to beat the masses try and go in the early morning or late at night!
I would suggest booking everything through the Blue Lagoon’s website so that you have all of your options in one place. When you’re on the site, you’ll be able to select the date and time you’d like to go and then you’ll be presented with various options for add-on’s.
PACKAGES:
They have a Comfort Package, Premium Package and Luxury Package. To put it in perspective, the Comfort Package starts at $55 {but it will most likely cost you between $75-$100}, the Premium Package starts at $79 {but will most likely cost you between $100 and $120} and the Luxury Package starts at $627. See the details of each package here.
I would suggest just doing the Comfort Package–that’s what we chose and it was perfect! It includes your entrance fee to the lagoon, a silica mud mask {give me that youthful glow please and thank you}, towel and a free drink or smoothie! You can also add on a dining reservation at the on-site restaurant Lava {so good–would highly recommend} and an in-water massage if you’re feeling a little fancy {typically $140 for $30 minutes}.
Once you decide on your package, you can add one last thing onto your reservation and that’s transportation. It costs $44 a person to get to and from the lagoon through their bus system. It may seem pricey, but that cost is pretty standard for the bus in Iceland and if you don’t have a rental car then it’s your best bet!
THE EXPERIENCE:
Spending time at the Blue Lagoon was just such a unique and relaxing experience. We loved wading around the in water, swimming up to the bar for a mud mask and enjoying some free champagne as we soaked! I think most people could probably spend about two hours in the water before needing a little break or calling it a day! Initially I thought we’d be there for hours, but once we started pruning we figured it was time to go lol
REYKJAVIK:
If you told me I could move to Reykjavik tomorrow, I would grab my passport and be on my way–it was just that cute! We absolutely loved the city and everything it had to offer. If you’re unfamiliar, Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and the largest city with a population of 122,000 {about 1/3 of the counties total population}.
The city was filled with charming little shops, a variety of bars and a melting pot of classic Icelandic restaurants and international cuisine.
WHERE TO STAY:
We stayed at two different places while we were in Reykjavik and we loved them both! One thing to note is that if you’re traveling in the summer, Iceland gets almost 24 hours of sunlight. As you can probably guess, that makes it really hard to fall asleep. Ben and I looked at each other pretty much every night at 10pm and said, “I can’t fall asleep–it’s daytime.”
Most places will have curtains or blackout shades, but I would highly recommended bringing an eye mask to help block out any light that seeps through!
Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Center: One of the coolest hotels I’ve ever stayed in. It’s contemporary, chic and right in the center of town. The decor was amazing–seriously, someone needs to get me in touch with their designer because I need that vibe in my life–the rooms were spacious and the on-site restaurant had such a great breakfast spread!
Airbnb: This studio apartment was located just minutes from the main part of town and it was the perfect home base for the first two nights of our trip. If you’re looking to save a little money then I would definitely recommend checking out Airbnb–hotels there can be crazy expensive! This specific listing ranges, but depending on the time of year it can be as low as $118 a night and parking nearby is a breeze.
WHAT TO DO:
The city is relatively small and you can probably see the major sites in just one day. These were our top picks:
Laugavegur: The main shipping area in Reykjavik and home to some of Iceland’s coolest and most innovative shops and bars. You could easily spend hours strolling the block, stopping in shops and sampling snacks from the various cafes!
Harpa Concert Hall: An award-winning building // concert hall located in the old harbor. If you’re not there for an event, you can still swing by and check it out!
Sun Voyager: A sculpture by Jon Gunnar Arnason that’s located right next to the ocean. It’s described as a dreamboat, or an ode to the sun. It’s a quick stop on your tour of the city and makes for a really pretty picture.
Hallgrimskirkja Church: While I still can’t pronounce the name of this church, I will say that it is a must see in Reykjavik. It’s the largest church in the country {you can see it from almost anywhere in the city}, has a beautiful interior and for a few extra dollars you can travel up to the tower for a 360 degree view.
Lake Tjornin: A beautiful lake in central Reykjavik that’s perfect for an afternoon stroll, picnic in the summer or morning run.
WHAT TO EAT:
Going into our trip, we had no idea how many amazing restaurants the city had to offer. If you’re looking for classic Icelandic food, international cuisine, a fancy night out, casual bar meal or anything in-between, Reykjavik has it.
Before I get into the good stuff, one thing we did hear about before our trip was fermented shark, also known as Hákarl. Hákarl is a national dish of Iceland which consists of Greenland shark // other sleeper shark that’s been cured with a particular fermentation process and hung to dry for four to five months. Sounded…delicious. Even though Anthony Bourdain said it was one of worst f*#&^# things he’s ever put in his mouth, Ben was determined to test that and take his own bite. Check my “Iceland” Highlight on Instagram for a behind the scenes look, but lets just say that Anthony was right 🙂
Ok, here are a few of our favorite restaurants in Reykjavik + some other spots that were recommended to us. One thing to note is that their restaurants fill up fast, so make sure to make a reservation if you’re looking to go at a specific time.
Rok: This was a hip new restaurant located right next to the Hallgrimskirkja Church! They had a cozy dining room and outdoor patio that was filled with people enjoying the warm {50 degrees lol} weather! They served up small plates and our favorites were the beef pancakes and fish pie.
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur {Hot Dog Stand}: YOU GUYS. These Icelandic hot dogs may just be my favorite meal of the trip. They’re made from lamb and have ketchup, mayo, fried onion and grilled onion on them and then they’re topped with the most amazingly delicious {but also v messy} brown mustard that I’ve ever had. I think we had three in the 5 days that we were there. This is the original stand that’s located in the center of Reykjavik, but you can find them all over! Below is Ben waiting for our dogs at the Black Sand Beach 🙂
Te and Kaffi: A sweet little coffee shop in the main shopping area that’s perfect for breakfast or a mid afternoon pick me up. We spent an hour or so camped out in there drinking lattes and chatting and it was so relaxing!
Other spots to check out:
Fish Market: Seafood restaurant with an Asian fusion influence.
Kaffivagninn: The oldest restaurant in town located in the harbor area.
The Public House: Icelandic Gastropub that serves up good beer and good food.
Kitchen & Wine: A trendy restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere that serves simple Icelandic dishes.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Reykjavik is such a fun city and is a great home base if you’re looking to check out other parts of f Iceland. If you go, definitely take a trip to The Blue Lagoon, make some reservations at restaurants around town and carve out some time to walk around and explore!
When were on this trip, I received a handful of DMs asking questions about Iceland in the summer! I pulled those + some of the questions I had before going and included the answers below!
FAQ:
I’m Going To Iceland Over The Summer-What Is The Weather Like?
The weather in the summer is typically in the 50’s during the day and 40’s at night. If you’re traveling by the water then you’ll feel the wind pick up pretty quickly, so it tends to feel colder then it actually is! Below were my ride or die pieces during our trip!
What Type Of Shoes Do I Need?
I would bring a pair of sneakers, a good pair of waterproof hiking boots and a pair of sandals {if you’re going to any lagoons}.
Can I Get By Without A Jacket?
I would say no, I brought a thin Columbia down jacket and a rain coat and that combo was perfect. I definitely think I would have been cold in just a fleece or sweater.
Is Iceland Expensive?
Yes! It’s one of the most expensive countries in the world. You’ll notice it the most with meals and hotels, so just be aware that you may spend a little more then anticipated.
How Is The Food?
We loved the food. The dishes were way more creative then we thought they would be, so we had a lot of fun trying different restaurants.
Do They Tip In Restaurants?
No, you’re not expected to tip.
Do They Have Uber?
No, your best bet to get around would be by foot in the city or to rent a car. They do have buses that go to and from the airport as well–check out Flybus if you need a good option.
Are The People Nice?
So nice! I don’t think we came across one mean person lol
When Is The Best Time Of Year To Visit?
It depends on what type of vacation you want! Ben and I love walking around and exploring by foot, so we chose the summer so that we could be outside all day. The winter has its own perks though–you can see the Northern lights and you have access to more cold weather activities {glacier hiking, etc.}.
What Car Rental Place Did You Use?
We used Geysir Car Rentals, but there are a ton of options! Geysir was the most cost efficient when we were booking, but they have Hertz, Enterprise, etc., if you’d rather go with one of those!
Where Did You Pick Up and Drop Off?
We decided to book our car at the airport, but most have locations in the airport and in downtown Reykjavik as well! If you choose to rent from the airport, you’ll find some of the rental desks by baggage claim and then the rest are about 5 minute bus ride away. The bus will pick you up right outside of arrivals and it’s door to door service.
Was Renting A Car Cheaper Then Public Transportation?
We did the math here and found that it was a little cheaper–especially if you’re doing a 1-2 day road trip. Between the bus fair to get into town and the tour fairs to see the Golden Circle and South Coast, it was more cost effective for us to just have a car!
Was Driving Difficult?
Not at all! I mean, Ben drove lol but it didn’t seem to hard. I will say that they have a ton of roundabouts in Iceland—almost every 500 meters when you’re near a city, but other then that it was super simple! I would just check out a few articles about the rules of the road so that you know what to expect, but for us it felt very similar to driving at home—with the added bonus of gorgeous views and roadside sheep and horses 🙂
Was It Hard To Navigate?
We had cell service the whole time, so we were able to use Google Maps with no issues at all! If you don’t have cell service then add a GPS onto your car when you go to rent it. Note: Have them help you set it up. We got one just in case the phone idea failed and legit could not get it out of Icelandic.
How Was Parking?
So easy! We were able to find free // inexpensive parking for our nights in Reykjavik and then every site we went to on our road trip had a designated parking area with very clear instructions.
Was Gas Expensive?
Iceland was very expensive and gas was no exception. We had a 4×4 hybrid and it was about $80 a tank.
Would You Recommend Iceland For A Couples Vacation?
Yes! I know Iceland may not be the first place you think of when you imagine a romantic couples vacay, but we loved it and had so much fun exploring together!
And that’s it! If you have any additional questions, feel free to comment below or DM me on Instagram!
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