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Original poster

Iceland tips/recommendations (not the shop)

44 replies

Limbolanding · 15/12/2023 18:33

I’m going to Iceland in a couple of weeks and I’m doing the final bits of planning and booking - we were thinking of doing a golden circle tour and ending the day with a couple of hours at the blue lagoon (obviously volcano activity pending!)

For anyone who has been, would two hours or so be enough time to properly enjoy the lagoon, or should we be factoring in a longer time there? And is the golden circle tour as amazing as it looks? Slightly worried about it being a lot of time on a coach but also the waterfall and Kerid crater look incredible.

Any thoughts or recommendations would be much appreciated!

OP posts:
Lunde · 15/12/2023 18:45

You should check the updates on the website as I think the Blue Lagoon has just reopened but is not fully opened at the moment.
https://www.bluelagoon.com/reopening

Does your pre-booked trip include entrance to the Blue Lagoon? If not you need to see if you can get tickets as when I last went a few summers ago it was booked out weeks or months in advance.

When we went we spent a couple of hours in the water but probably spent an extra hour at the cafe - although it's very expensive

Reopening of select facilities | Blue Lagoon

Details about current opening hours, access, and more

https://www.bluelagoon.com/reopening

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 15/12/2023 18:48

We went summer so bit different but if you can do a glacier / cave tour it was amazing. Ours was the mannade one as obviously the real ice caves have melted by June!

Meissen for seafood in Reykjavik was lovely. Also we did a myths and legends walking tour.

FuckYouEzekiel · 15/12/2023 19:03

Book any northern lights tours for the first few days. If you don't see them you can usually rebook for free. We did the golden Circle tour. It was great. It wasn't very far and they have loos on board.

Didn't bother with Blue lagoon, didn't like the idea of bathing in the run off from the huge plant next door.
The internet was everywhere and flawless. Everyone spoke perfect English and they were super helpful. It's very expensive though and we came back with all of our cash as card was king.

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Original poster
Limbolanding · 15/12/2023 19:04

Ahh hadn’t thought about a glacier tour, thank you @Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky

Yes, blue lagoon tickets would be included in the visit- we just weren’t sure two hours would be quite enough @Lunde but sounds like it could be! Thank you

OP posts:
balzamico · 15/12/2023 19:05

We did a walking food tour the first evening which was brilliant and make sure you get to Secret Lagoon if you can - it's in the Golden Circle and is much more authentic and cheaper than Blue or Sky Lagoons.
We also had lunch at the Tomato Farm on the recommendation of someone we got chatting to - that was surprisingly good too.
Don't bother with the Northern Lights boat trip, it was cold and boring and if they're out you'll see them and if they're not, you won't

Original poster
Limbolanding · 15/12/2023 19:06

Ahh great! We have a northern lights trip booked for the first night so that’s good to know. Thanks for the card tip too @FuckYouEzekiel

OP posts:
echt · 15/12/2023 19:13

If you've extended your mortgage to include dining out try puffin, though as a mains rather than a starter.

Puffinshop · 15/12/2023 20:55

If you want to drink in your accommodation, buy it in the duty free in the airport if you can carry it.

You can't buy proper alcohol in the supermarkets, only 2.5% max. I see lots of tourists buying 6 packs of low alcohol beer and I'm never sure whether they realise what they're buying.

Don't buy bottled water. The tap water is great. But the hot water and the cold water aren't the same. Hot water isn't drinking water, so make sure you run the cold tap for a bit until it comes very cold so that you don't get hot water mixed in.

None of the 'lagoons' are 'authentic' so you might as well pick any, but the Blue Lagoon is probably the biggest rip off. There are natural hot springs if you're interested but in January accessibility is not good. You are very limited that time of year.

The normal swimming pools are all great and cheap. Check sundlaugar.is.

You should certainly do the golden circle. Gullfoss is amazing and if you haven't seen a geyser before then Strokkur is a must see. Þingvellir is brilliant, too. Kerið is OK, nothing too special imo.

My best tip is don't go in January but too late for that. Be ready for potential storms and cancellations. Keep up with weather warnings on vedur.is and safetravel.is.

Lunde · 15/12/2023 21:09

I personally love the wild and dramatic scenery of the northern and eastern fjords but probably not in January as they can be cut off in bad weather.

IcouldbutIdontwantto · 15/12/2023 21:14

Pop into any of the local supermarkets and buy some chocolate covered liquorice. It's honestly a taste sensation, and I can never understand why it's only available online in the UK.

SeatonCarew · 15/12/2023 21:26

The Deluxe moussaka punches above its weight.

Sorry, I'll get my coat...

HundredMilesAnHour · 15/12/2023 21:44

We much preferred the South Coast to the Golden Circle. We found the GC a bit meh in comparison. It will be VERY cold in January. The wind can be brutal there and much of the GC is very exposed.

I really didn't want to go to the Blue Lagoon but agreed to (in the name of compromise) and actually really enjoyed it. It's a great thing to do on your way from the airport. Much better than I expected. We were there for about 3 hours and found that just right.

We also went to the Secret Lagoon and that was okay but 30 mins was enough for me there.

Bimblesalong · 15/12/2023 21:53

Golden circle followed by blue lagoon was a totally awesome day out. Ours were arranged by Tui.

we also went up an extinct volcano tunnel on a trip booked independently, which was fab.

pro tip: buy a bottle of something going out of the country and take a hip flask to fill. We took raspberry liqueur and the bottle cost less than one drink did in Iceland.

awesome country.

Lunde · 16/12/2023 01:14

If you are in Reykjavik at the weekend there is the Kolaportið indoor flea market that sells a huge range of items from second hand (books, clothes, vinyl, household goods), to food items, art and crafts to (very expensive) handknits - plus all sorts of stuff you never knew existed. We spent a rainy Sunday morning there.

Mirrormeback · 16/12/2023 01:23

Watch the Travel Man Iceland episode

Puffinshop · 16/12/2023 01:33

It might be very cold and it might not. In a typical January I would expect temperatures from -4 to 2°C in the capital, which is not that cold really. It's not like Canada or Norway, the temperatures are usually fairly mild - but it is bloody windy, which makes it feel colder.

It is very likely to be windy, rainy/snowy/sleety, gloomy and generally unpleasant but it may be crisp, calm and sunny (for a few hours per day) if you're lucky.

whiteroseredrose · 16/12/2023 02:09

We rented a car because we were there in August, but you definitely wouldn't do that in winter.

We went to the Blue Lagoon and really liked it. Two hours was enough for us.

We had some activities organised by Troll Adventures (snorkelling and glacier hike) and I would highly recommend them. They were a bit cheaper than others and were fab. They do minibus tours rather than being in a big coach.

troll.is/day-tours-iceland/day-tours-from-reykjavik/golden-circle-and-farm-visit/

They also do a day South Coast Tour.

We also didn't take any cash at all. We paid for everything by card.

It can be very expensive there especially eating out and alcohol. DH (accidentally) had his most expensive beer ever. If I remember correctly it was about £20. Check the prices!

DoAhhDiddy · 16/12/2023 02:09

Golden circle tour, blue lagoon and northern lights tour. It's an amazing place. Enjoy!

Original poster
Limbolanding · 16/12/2023 12:33

Thanks so much all!!

OP posts:
Winnipeggy · 16/12/2023 12:36

Rent a car and explore, the roads are easy and it's much better to do it on your own time. We've been a few times including doing a tour but it's so much better in your own car. 2 hours for the blue lagoon would be a bit of a push I think

Zonder · 16/12/2023 13:06

There are a couple of really useful threads on here already about Iceland which are worth checking out. We love Iceland - beautiful. We would avoid the blue lagoon and go either for the secret lagoon or one of the smaller options for hot pools. There are loads.

Are you just staying in Reykjavik?

DancesWithDucks · 16/12/2023 22:04

We went to Hvammsvik heated pools. It's by the sea shore with a series of lovely heated pools. Stayed 6 hours and wanted to stay longer.

https://hvammsvik.com/

Just like a pp said, take a mortgage out if you plan to eat there. Entrance is not bad at all, cost of drinks and soup on the other hand ... !

Brand New Natural Hot Springs in Iceland - Near Reykjavík

Experience eight natural hot springs of various sizes and temperatures in spectacular unfiltered Icelandic nature right on the edge of the ocean in Whalefjord. Enjoy our hot springs, steam bath, bistro & bar, numerous hikes and wildlife at your own lei...

https://hvammsvik.com

snapple21 · 16/12/2023 22:09

You can rent a car in winter! They all have snow tyres. That's how we got the best northern light experience.

WatchingBoat · 19/12/2023 00:52

I wonder if this will throw up the ash and disrupt air travel like it did in 2010/11?

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