A Beginner’s Guide to Iceland

Not too long ago I took a spontaneous trip to a destination that has always seemed so far fetched for myself. Iceland is an out of this world experience and there is no shortage of adventure and beauty around every corner. I went there with absolutely no plan and only one goal in mind-to see the northern lights. I have never been much of a planner when it comes to my trips, just more of a book your flight and figure it out when you get there type of girl. So that is precisely exactly what I did. Iceland is full of magic and the perfect destination for anyone looking to get lost in the absolute beauty that this world has to offer.

Tips To Know Before You Go

1. Iceland is ranked one of the safest countries in the world.

2. US travelers do not need a visa to enter the country.

3. The currency used in Iceland is the Icelandic Krone (ISK).

4. The weather is very unpredictable so pack layers.

5. If you want a chance to see the northern lights, it is best to visit in the fall/winter seasons.

Getting There

There are many options for direct flights from the East Coast to Iceland, so in approximately five short hours you will arrive to your destination. My round trip ticket from Boston to Keflavik was $580. Iceland’s international airport is located in the town of Keflavik, about 45 minutes away from the main city of Reykjavik. From the airport, you’ll want to get a transfer to your accommodation in Reykjavik. You can book this in advance through the company Flybus, or locate the Flybus counter at the airport upon arrival. They operate out of the BSI Bus Terminal in the Reykjavik city center so they have daily buses to and from the airport, leaving you with many options to choose from. I used the same company for my transfer at the end of my trip as well. I booked two one way tickets, costing me $39 each.

Reykjavik

Reykjavik is such a vibrant city with so much to do and see, but you don’t want to spend too much time here as Iceland has so many beautiful landmarks in other areas of the country. I spent a total of three days in Reykjavik walking around, exploring the ins and outs of the city, and going on excursions. This was more than enough time to see everything in its entirety and do all that I wanted to do.

DO

Most of what I did in Reykjavik was walk around. There are a variety of shops, restaurants, bars, sights to see, and beautiful murals that you will pass. Here is a list of things you can’t miss while in the city.

Visit Hellgrimskirkja Church

See the Sun Voyager Sculpture

Check out Rainbow Street

Unwind in the thermal pools at Sundholl Reykjavik

Get day passes to the Sky Lagoon

Book the Northern Lights Tour

EAT

One of the best ways to learn about a culture is by eating your way through the country. Whereas I did try a handful of different restaurants, I unfortunately did not try any traditional Icelandic food. Reykjavik offers a variety of different cuisines, but here are some of my favorites in the city.

Maika Superfood Bar located on Rainbow Street.

Braud & Co for the best pastries.

Baka Baka is a bakery by day, pizzeria and wine bar by night.

STAY

Because Reykjavik is the main city that hosts tourists, there are plenty of options for places to stay. Anywhere from hotels to hostels to airbnbs, you name it and they have it. Here are the two places that I stayed at while in the city.

KEX Hostel- Located in the heart of the city, this hostel is a great option for solo travelers wanting to meet likeminded people and looking for a budget friendly place to stay. I stayed here for two nights, but unfortunately during my trip they were in the middle of renovations. For a shared room, it was $40 per night. Head over to HostelWorld to book your stay here.

City Hub Reykjavik- Also located in the heart of the city, I would highly recommend staying here if you want the feel of a hostel but with the privacy of your own room. This was such a unique stay and I was able to stay here during their opening weekend. If it is within your budget, I would stay here on your trip to Reykjavik. The staff was so friendly and super helpful with anything that I needed. For a private hub with a queen sized bed, it was $80 per night. I stayed here for three nights. Although this was double the price of KEX, it was absolutely worth it in my opinion. I booked on Booking, but you can also visit their website to book your stay.    

Road Trip

The absolute best way to see Iceland is by renting a car and exploring on your own terms. I was lucky enough to meet two girls on my first day in Iceland who so generously offered for me to tag along on their road trip. I immediately said yes and looking back, it was the absolute best decision I have made the entire trip. We rented the car from Blue Car Rentals. I suggest booking your car in advance. For three days, it cost us $250. I highly recommend getting the full insurance for your rental as it will come in handy in the event of something happening.

Day One-The Golden Circle

DO

The Golden Circle is a route that travelers take to see some of the natural landmarks that Iceland has to offer. We drove it going clockwise and were able to see everything in one day. Keep an eye out for parking and entrance fees at some of these locations.

Thingvellir National Park

Brarufoss Waterfall

Geysir Geothermal Area

Gullfoss Waterfall

Kerid Crater

EAT

Because we were on the road, a lot of what we ate were sandwiches and snacks from the gas stations and rest stops. But when driving the Golden Circle, you absolutely cannot miss out on the famous greenhouse restaurant. This was hands down the best meal of my entire trip. We were lucky enough to get a table without a reservation, but you should plan to book in advance so you don’t miss out.

Fridheimar Restaurant- Located on a tomato farm with a menu full of all things tomato. All you can eat tomato soup, burrata, and tortillas made fresh from the tomatoes grown on the farm. This greenhouse restaurant was absolutely stunning and a must do on your trip. They are only open until four so plan your reservations accordingly.

STAY

Where you stay is going to depend on the driving route you take. You will want to stay anywhere in between the cities of Reykjavik and Vik if you follow the same route that we did. After our first day on the road, we stayed in an old boarding school turned into a hotel, which was really cool to learn about and see.

Kverna Guesthouse-Located next to one of the many popular waterfalls in Iceland, Skogafoss. This was a unique stay with a lot of history and I would recommend it if you are traveling on a budget. The price for one night was $50. You can book this stay on Booking.

Day Two-The South Coast

DO

Iceland’s southern coast has a plethora of stunning sights to see. We decided to drive south along the Ring Road ending at the glaciers for day two of our road trip. The best part about road tripping is the fact that you can pull off whenever you see anything of interest, and trust me when I say Iceland has beauty around every corner. From waterfalls, to mountains, to glaciers, to black sand beaches, to lichen, to horses, to open land, to sunsets and so much more. Our drive was approximately four hours south with the stops we made, and then another four hours back. Once again keep an eye out for parking and entrance fees at these locations.   

Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Diamond Beach

Skftafell National Park

EAT

Take advantage of the free breakfast included in some of your stays, and load up on food and snacks to take with you on the road. Gas stations are hard to come by in Iceland but at this particular one, we found the coziest cafe nestled inside.

Cafe Vatnajokull- This was the perfect spot to warm up with a cup of hot chocolate and a warm meal after exploring in the cold all day.

STAY

Because we drove back towards the Vik area on day two, the girls I was traveling with stayed at Kverna Guesthouse for a second night whereas I had booked a glamping dome for myself. It was about an hour away from the guesthouse and worth every penny that I paid.

Helja Glamping Dome- Before coming on this trip, I decided I wanted to treat myself for one night and experience glamping solo in another country, hence why I booked this stay. I found it on Airbnb and paid $220 for the night. It was the most unique place that I have ever stayed at and I cannot recommend it enough. Although it was way more than I would normally spend on a place to stay, it was worth it nonetheless.

Day Three-Vik and Surrounding Areas

DO

For the last day of our road trip, we decided to explore the town of Vik and then made our way back towards Reykjavik because the weather was absolutely not on our side. We made the most out of our day despite the weather conditions, but just be prepared for anything when planning your trip to Iceland. And as always keep an eye out for parking and entrance fees.

Myrdal Church

Reynisfjara Beach

Seljalandsoss Waterfall

EAT

Vik has a handful of food options to choose from, but these were my two favorites that you can’t miss out on.

Skoolbeans Cafe- Located inside of an American school bus, this cafe offers hot chocolate, coffee, bagels and so much more. It was definitely the cutest cafe I have ever been to.

Wok in Vik- I highly recommend the padthai.

STAY

Because this was our last day road tripping, we headed back to Reykjavik and stayed the night there. You’ll want to use the city as the starting and ending point of your trip because it is close to the international airport. Another option would be to stay in Keflavik, but that it totally up to you.

Overview

Before coming to Iceland, I knew how beautiful the country looked from pictures but after visiting I can confidently say that it was the most unreal place that I have ever been to. From the black sand beaches, to the glaciers, mountains, and everything in between, this country has the most otherworldly landscapes that I have ever laid my eyes on. I came here searching for the northern lights and I got that and so much more. If Iceland is not a country that is high on your bucket list, I hope after reading this you consider visiting the land of fire and ice. You absolutely will not be disappointed.