Trip to Iceland next week, any tips?
- Thread starter Geezah
- Start date
Was in Reykjavik at the end of January 2013 and unless there has been a dramatic change in the last 4 years, I too would describe it as pretty uninspiring.
There wasn't a huge amount to do during what they called daylight (basically dusk from 11am to 3pm) and the nights were spent in quiet local bars and restaurants. I would describe life as "Quaker like" which, compared to today's modern life where everywhere is basically identical and one city the same as the next, could be refreshing.
Not to ruin the entire tourist industry of Iceland in one paragraph, I should mention that my daughter was there in the summer of 2015 and loved it. From her comments, I would return; but not in the winter months when S.A.D. is at its peak.
Enjoy
There wasn't a huge amount to do during what they called daylight (basically dusk from 11am to 3pm) and the nights were spent in quiet local bars and restaurants. I would describe life as "Quaker like" which, compared to today's modern life where everywhere is basically identical and one city the same as the next, could be refreshing.
Not to ruin the entire tourist industry of Iceland in one paragraph, I should mention that my daughter was there in the summer of 2015 and loved it. From her comments, I would return; but not in the winter months when S.A.D. is at its peak.
Enjoy
Reykjavik has changed and is amazing fun now. I have been twice in the last 8 years and love it. Just go walk around I will try and remember some places we ate. But i haven't had a bad meal while i have been there. Weirdly (maybe not as finishing is a big thing) But the sushi there is amazing.
TopDMC said:Was in Reykjavik at the end of January 2013 and unless there has been a dramatic change in the last 4 years, I too would describe it as pretty uninspiring.
There wasn't a huge amount to do during what they called daylight (basically dusk from 11am to 3pm) and the nights were spent in quiet local bars and restaurants. I would describe life as "Quaker like" which, compared to today's modern life where everywhere is basically identical and one city the same as the next, could be refreshing.
Not to ruin the entire tourist industry of Iceland in one paragraph, I should mention that my daughter was there in the summer of 2015 and loved it. From her comments, I would return; but not in the winter months when S.A.D. is at its peak.
Enjoy
WOW really?? Maybe i am just luck as i have a local as an old school friend. And he knows where to take people. We had quite a wild time!!
Do the golden circle the landscape tectonic plates meeting waterfalls and guysers are quite amazing.
I went last February for a 3 night break - enjoyed everything about it.
Golden circle was good, geysers and snow mobiling was the best
Northern lights failed to show but hey ho...
Also didn't have a bad meal out in the town, was a little expensive but otherwise great.
It WAS cold but we were expecting that.
Loved the scenery 8)
Golden circle was good, geysers and snow mobiling was the best
Northern lights failed to show but hey ho...
Also didn't have a bad meal out in the town, was a little expensive but otherwise great.
It WAS cold but we were expecting that.
Loved the scenery 8)
A
Anonymous
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I seem to remember a special kind of rallying, dirt roaders with tyre flaps to skim across water and some steep gradients. I"ll try to find a link and there is some info on Google
Went in March last year, only for 3 days. It was an organised trip, so when we arrived we went straight to the Blue Lagoon, which seems to be an obligatory place to take tourists. It was fine, a hot outdoor swimming pool with expensive bars where you could sit in the water with snow falling and sip champagne.
The next day we did the Golden Circle tour, Gulfoss waterfall, geysers and the tectonic plates. It is a beautiful but sparse country.
On the third day the weather came in and all roads out of Reykjavik were closed, so all the optional activities like horse riding, super jeeps (which looked a lot of fun), diving etc. were cancelled. Whale watching didn't really start until later in the year.
As it was the weekend of the England v Wales rugby match my intention had always been to spend the day in town and find a bar to watch the game. We went to the Cathedral, bought an Icelandic jumper, visited the Penis Museum - because it's there, and saw the match.
Food is good but pricey. Alcohol is expensive but not too bad providing you can find happy-hour. There seems to be a rolling happy-hour so when it finishes in one place people move on to the next. Buildings are designed to be earthquake proof, so they are low, boxy and concrete. There are a few older buildings about, but not many.
It was a great place, it did feel a little like the end of the world, and I'd love to go back in the summer for longer.
Hope you have a great time.
Cheers,
Dave
The next day we did the Golden Circle tour, Gulfoss waterfall, geysers and the tectonic plates. It is a beautiful but sparse country.
On the third day the weather came in and all roads out of Reykjavik were closed, so all the optional activities like horse riding, super jeeps (which looked a lot of fun), diving etc. were cancelled. Whale watching didn't really start until later in the year.
As it was the weekend of the England v Wales rugby match my intention had always been to spend the day in town and find a bar to watch the game. We went to the Cathedral, bought an Icelandic jumper, visited the Penis Museum - because it's there, and saw the match.
Food is good but pricey. Alcohol is expensive but not too bad providing you can find happy-hour. There seems to be a rolling happy-hour so when it finishes in one place people move on to the next. Buildings are designed to be earthquake proof, so they are low, boxy and concrete. There are a few older buildings about, but not many.
It was a great place, it did feel a little like the end of the world, and I'd love to go back in the summer for longer.
Hope you have a great time.
Cheers,
Dave
south yorkshire
I'm going next week too! Really looking forward to seeing somewhere so different
Hi
We were there on our honeymoon this time last year and thought it was absolutely amazing. We started off by staying at the Ranga Hotel initially which is about an hour from Reykjavik and in a fairly isolated spot. We loved it there, they had outdoor jacuzzis and a telescope and stargazing centre. Its far away from lights in the city and therefore supposed to be better for viewing the Northern lights should they show (they do wake up calls if you sign up to the list). We went on a 3 x superjeep tours with Southcoast Adventures. They are about 6-8 hours each and we can highly recommend them - the trips we did included off roading into frozen rivers, into the forests and wilderness, into various ice caves, to see the geysers and waterfalls, visit to a huge tomato greenhouse with restaurant, up a glacier... They are expensive but everything in Iceland is extremely expensive.
If you plan on walking around at this time of year make sure you get crampons for your boots. I didn't have these and regretted it when we were on some icier terrain.
We spent the last 2 nights in Reykjavik (Alda hotel on the main street - very good) but I much preferred being out of the city to be honest. Wasn't overly impressed by the Blue Lagoon (although you feel you kind of have to go). If you are into outdoor swimming in lagoons etc I believe there are numerous other better, more natural places to swim which are quite empty and less commercial than the Blue Lagoon (and a whole lot cheaper). If you want to know more I can get some more info from an Outdoor swimming group I am part of.
Our driver was awesome and does private tours also so should you want his contact details I can get them to you.
Have a wonderful time. We certainly thought it was a magical place.
We were there on our honeymoon this time last year and thought it was absolutely amazing. We started off by staying at the Ranga Hotel initially which is about an hour from Reykjavik and in a fairly isolated spot. We loved it there, they had outdoor jacuzzis and a telescope and stargazing centre. Its far away from lights in the city and therefore supposed to be better for viewing the Northern lights should they show (they do wake up calls if you sign up to the list). We went on a 3 x superjeep tours with Southcoast Adventures. They are about 6-8 hours each and we can highly recommend them - the trips we did included off roading into frozen rivers, into the forests and wilderness, into various ice caves, to see the geysers and waterfalls, visit to a huge tomato greenhouse with restaurant, up a glacier... They are expensive but everything in Iceland is extremely expensive.
If you plan on walking around at this time of year make sure you get crampons for your boots. I didn't have these and regretted it when we were on some icier terrain.
We spent the last 2 nights in Reykjavik (Alda hotel on the main street - very good) but I much preferred being out of the city to be honest. Wasn't overly impressed by the Blue Lagoon (although you feel you kind of have to go). If you are into outdoor swimming in lagoons etc I believe there are numerous other better, more natural places to swim which are quite empty and less commercial than the Blue Lagoon (and a whole lot cheaper). If you want to know more I can get some more info from an Outdoor swimming group I am part of.
Our driver was awesome and does private tours also so should you want his contact details I can get them to you.
Have a wonderful time. We certainly thought it was a magical place.
Thanks so much everyone. Can you just hire crampons from the town Ruby?
I've hired wheels so we'll self drive the Golden Circle route taking in the Gulfoss and Geysirs. We ummed and aahed about the Blue Lagoon and decided to swerve it. I've found a place called the Secret Lagoon (bugger, just told you about it!) which is a natural hot spring as opposed to the the geo thermal overflow and costs £20 rather than the £47 for the Blue Lagoon. You don't need to book either.
Sunday, chill out in Reykjavik ( See what I did there?) maybe give the Penis Museum a swerve. Much to do in the town?
When I was there in the eighties, Reykjavik was quiet until around 11pm. Then it was like someone threw a switch and everyone spilled into the bars after preloading at home as it's too expensive to drink in the bars. Is is still like that now? We always took our duty free booze with us when we visited.
I've hired wheels so we'll self drive the Golden Circle route taking in the Gulfoss and Geysirs. We ummed and aahed about the Blue Lagoon and decided to swerve it. I've found a place called the Secret Lagoon (bugger, just told you about it!) which is a natural hot spring as opposed to the the geo thermal overflow and costs £20 rather than the £47 for the Blue Lagoon. You don't need to book either.
Sunday, chill out in Reykjavik ( See what I did there?) maybe give the Penis Museum a swerve. Much to do in the town?
When I was there in the eighties, Reykjavik was quiet until around 11pm. Then it was like someone threw a switch and everyone spilled into the bars after preloading at home as it's too expensive to drink in the bars. Is is still like that now? We always took our duty free booze with us when we visited.
I'll be taking the family to Iceland in April so this post came about at just the right time.
We're all set for the golden circle, the blue lagoon and a whale watching trip. I'm also hoping to see the northern lights as we missed them last time we were in the Arctic circle visiting Santa in Lapland.
As for Iceland I might also see if I can visit the gym Jakabol as it is Magnus Ver Magnusson's. As a World Strongest Man fan it'd be cool to see if I could meet the man who was winning everything when I was a young lad.
We're all set for the golden circle, the blue lagoon and a whale watching trip. I'm also hoping to see the northern lights as we missed them last time we were in the Arctic circle visiting Santa in Lapland.
As for Iceland I might also see if I can visit the gym Jakabol as it is Magnus Ver Magnusson's. As a World Strongest Man fan it'd be cool to see if I could meet the man who was winning everything when I was a young lad.
Geezah said:
Not sure but we did look on Amazon at the time and they were fairly reasonably priced. You could have a look at an Outdoorsy shop in the High St and see what they have.
Oh and thanks for the info on the Secret Lagoon
we shall add that to the list for when we visit again. Re: Reykjavik - because we were knackered from our 3 day early start superjeep tours and also post wedding we didn't do an awful lot there other than a quick walk around town, hanging out in the hotel's jacuzzi, eating out and just sleeping. We aren't into late night drinking/clubs so can't comment on that I'm afraid. Most of one day was taken up by the Blue Lagoon visit.