Iceland was one of those places I felt like I needed to go to but didn’t really have much excitement behind going. I went as part of a last leg from a Europe trip, and Iceland blew me away! It was a beautiful mix of adventure (hiking, scuba diving, caving), pampering (Lagoon Spa and Buuble star gazing), and experiencing so many wonderful sights that are unique to Iceland.

My only note is after chatting with a few different friends who did different types of Iceland trips, if you’re going in the winter time I do think it is a lot more fun staying in Reykjavik and doing a few day trips to see a few of the more iconic waterfalls and nature spots. If you end up renting a car and driving around all parts of Iceland, I can imagine it being really tiring, and after seeing the second waterfall, it’s like how many more waterfalls do you need to see? But then again I have never been a fan of just “seeing things” I much rather be “doing things” instead.

Itinerary:

Highlights

  • Eating authentic Icelandic food. Originally from friends I was told that Icelandic food was both poor in quality and expensive. However, after finding the right places I was pleasantly surprised with some amazing dishes. Recommendations below:

    • Salthausid: Located in Grindavick, the town is known as a fishing village and the restaurant itself specialize in cod. Best fish and chips of my life. Owner Laki said he caught it that morning. $20 which isn’t horrible. Also Skyr (Iceland yogurt product) topped w homemade icelandic cream +berries. AMAZING! Also Laki was so sweet and gave us extra salad + fruit on the house. Recommend coming here after the blue lagoon.

    • Tapas Barinn: Amazing restaurant in downtown Reykjavik. 7 course tapas dish, includes a lot of “famous” icelandic food such as whale, puffin, lobster tail, and charr. I split this with my sister and we were STUFFED. $98 total, and well worth it!

  • Staying at Silica Hotel: One nights stay will run you $525 which is a steep penny, but it comes with unlimited access to their own private lagoon (retail value $100), their Silca Masks (retail value $100), and two free entrances to The Blue Lagoon (retail value $180). All in all, so happy we stayed here. They were accommodating in arranging dinner reservations, being out in the private lagoon was amazing (esp getting to use their spa products) and all hotel guests get an additional 15% their products! Life hack; they said they don’t check if you are a guest or not, so not matter make sure you say you are to cop that $$$.

    • Also their breakfast was amazing. My sister and I packed extra which ended up becoming our lunch! You haven’t lived until you’ve had icelandic waffles.

  • Being pampered at the Blue Lagoon: Totally worth the hype!!! It was so relaxing; I felt super pampered. I ended up coming here on three separate occasions (between the Blue Lagoon and the private lagoon at Silica) and each time (as the weather got better) it got more and more comfortable. Loved playing with the sulfur, putting up face masks and drinking wine in the lagoon, and just being in a really beautiful lagoon.

  • Catching the Northern Lights and staying in a clear igloo (Buuble). My sister and I rented out a clear igloo through Buuble. They took us on a day trip, and we ended the night at the Buuble. At first, it was frustrating waiting for the Northern Lights, especially because you just don’t know when they will come on! In hindsight the “hunt” made the experience all the more fun. Best months to catch the Northern Lights is the winter time, but keep in mind the higher the chance you see the Northern Lights, the less day time you get. #tradeoffs

  • Going volcano caving. The most amazing rock formations you’ll ever see. Our guide Wally was the best, and he told us a scary story in a dark cave.

  • Seeing Icelandic horses. Native to Iceland, it was awesome getting to ride this cute tiny horses at sunrise!

  • Staying in the Buuble. It was so beautiful. Because it was a clear igloo, it honestly felt like you were sleeping indoors. It also made watching the Northern Lights all the more enjoyable because you could literally be cozy in bed as you stared up at they sky. Note this was INCREDIBLY pricey (think Coachella ticket) but honestly if I had to choose between going to Coachella AGAIN or staying up until 5am watching the Northern Lights with my sister while drinking a bottle of wine, I’d choose this anyday.

  • Doing the Silfra Dive. Dubbed “the dive between two continents”, Silfra has 100+m visibility in 2°C water. ITS AMAZING, feels like you’re floating in outer space. really, really cold space The Silfra fissure cuts into an underground spring filled with water from Langjökull glacier. 
    Water is SO pure you can literally take sips while diving. (Actually was quite tasty!!!!) Also because everyone’s in drysuits you know nobody is peeing in the water.

Lowlights

  • Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur: This hot dog SUCKS (and I love hotdogs.). Do not get it. It’s only famous because Bill Clinton visited. I have a strong suspicion that the reason why people say Iceland food is bad is because its everyone who only spends a week looking at waterfalls and then comes into town to eat this hotdog and is massively disappointed. Bleh. SKIP.

cat4.jpeg