Iceland over New Year - anything we shouldn't miss?

[CristinaTheAstonishing]

We read the travel guide etc, anything really good for children (7 and 1.5) to do? We'll be in Reykjavik for a week.

There's a really nice swimming pool complex thing in the east (I think?), huge pool, water slides, all outdoors, but open year 'round (as is normal there). And there's a reasonable little zoo near there, too.

Ahhhh, mum's gone to iceland .

Blue Lagoon. Ice driving? Northern lights - there are trips from the centre. The gap in the earth's plates. Take snacks as food is horrendously expensive. Have a great time! Take off any jewellery before Blue Lagoon as sulpher will damage it. The views from Perlen (sp?) are fantastic - there's a cafe on the top floor.

Thanks for the suggestions, although outside swimming pool in Dec/Jan??? I'm shivering just at the thought.

I'd heard about food and everything else being expensive, I think we'll have a lean month when we get back.

Where are those gap in the plates? I haven't come across those in my readings.

We went in April, and it was fine. Basically, you have a very hot shower before going in the pool (and you have to strip down, and there are drawings telling you which bits of your body you have to wash, and they provide the liquid soap), and then hurry to the pool. The pool is very warm. And there are a series of hot tubs at increasing temperatures, and sauna as well I think? (I don't like saunas much, and we went in a lot of outdoor swimming pools. There are lots in Iceland.)

You haven't lived until you've swum outdoors while it snowed around you.

Oh, yes, gap in plates is a bit to the east of Reyjkavik, i think, it's the gap between Europe and North America, basically. Near Keflavik, I think? There's a nice national park there, too. Quite a bit of natural steam stuff there, as you'd expect. And a weird crevasse.

The one-woman vegetarian restaurant is ok.

Frankly, Icelandic food is pretty regrettable, generally. Pizza 67 is an ok chain, but when we were there we gave in and had a Subway once, against my normal rules of "no eating back home food when away".

Actually, there was an ok kebab shop in the eastish end of town - I've recently seen it in a photo feature on cool hangouts or something, so it clearly still exists.

They have a lot of crisps with paprika in, and a lot of liquorice with salt, as is normal in Scandihoovian countries.

In these sulphur baths - is it safe for children? How deep are they? My 7 year old would be old enough to enjoy it and remember the experience. I wouldn't take DD as I might lose her amongst the vapours! This, of course, assumes that I am brave enough to go into it myself.

Regarding the food, did you try any of the specialities (putrefied whale or whatever it is)? We try and eat different when we visit abroad too, but in Oslo a few years back we went to TGI Friday's as it was the only affordable place with OK food.

I hope we'll get snow. The weather forecast hovers at around 5 degress and rain. I could as well stay in London.

(ps did book arrive back at its home? will do proper thank you email soon)

The sulfur baths are really just an organised pool using the overflow from a heating plant, iyswim. I haven't been (we dropped by but too early in the morning, and we weren't that interested, tbh). But I'm sure they're fine for kids, of all ages.

Iceland is really safe. By the way. Outside Reyjkavik, people don't lock their cars.

We didn't try the regional stuff. Everyone kept saying we had to go to ... um ... it's called "Three Brothers", but in Icelandic, in Reyjkavik, to eat whale. But we didn't. The putrified shark sounded gross to me. I do normally eat locally, but was't brave enough to face that.

We went in the Sulphur baths in April - loved it. A really unreal setting when you are in there but it looks a bit clinical from the outside. We took all the kids in including dd who was just 2 at the time. Lots of babies in there. Free for kids under 11 or so I think. There are pots of silicone mud to put on like face masks. They give you little sachets of moisturiser which again were great for children too. If I went again I'd take a robe to wear when I got out of the water -there are some hooks just by where you get in /out (take a towel you can recognise easily!). Gap in earth is at Pingvellir as is Nat Park but may be snow covered right now. (They remake lots of roads every spring as they don't survive the winter)
Geysir is where the geysers are and well worth a visit. Ds liked the little geographical museum in the shop/cafe there but I didn't go in. They do this dried fish stuff that was recommended as a car snack for children..... you have been warned!

Warning - much more expensive than Oslo prices!