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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Reykjavik /Iceland anyone ?

109 replies

BeaLola · 03/06/2021 10:54

Any experiences greatly welcomed.

Would be me, DH & DS13 - is it worth a visit, if so how long & any good attractions you could recommend as well as hotels

TIA

OP posts:
PuffinShop · 09/06/2021 15:19

Yeah I would never recommend Reykjavík for a 'city break' style holiday, even though lots of the museums are good and stuff like Harpa is worth a look. And the pools really are excellent.

It's really a destination for outdoorsy people who want to hike in beautiful landscapes and enjoy the stunning natural phenomena. I think it's the best place in the world to live and I will never get over how beautiful it is, but there's no point coming here for a wander round the city and a cup of coffee (or a stuffed puffin).

copperpotsalot · 09/06/2021 15:24

@PuffinShop do people get paid absolute shit loads?

Newgirls · 09/06/2021 16:22

We were due to go last year so v keen to try again

Thx for tips puffin

PuffinShop · 09/06/2021 16:41

[quote copperpotsalot]@PuffinShop do people get paid absolute shit loads? [/quote]
Not really, but although food is expensive other things are a lot cheaper here. For example heating and water is practically free and notably childcare is peanuts compared to what it costs in the UK. That doesn't benefit tourists, though!

deplorabelle · 09/06/2021 17:05

It's my absolute dream to go to Iceland but I feel too guilty about the environmental cost of getting there.

copperpotsalot · 09/06/2021 17:13

@PuffinShop ah I see that makes sense

everyonebutme · 09/06/2021 17:13

I visited two years ago with my 17 yr old son. We stayed at The Grand which had a fabulous buffet breakfast which kept us going all day. It's about 15 minute walk into the centre from there but quite nice along the shore. We went in July and had fabulous weather. We did two coach tours but as there's three of you you might want to consider hiring a car as I understand driving is easy. I have a (well researched) list of things we did that I can send you if you wish.

BeaLola · 09/06/2021 18:50

Thank you all so very much for the exceedingly helpful replies

Yes pls feel free to mail me itinary list

Puffin - sounds so lovely

All tips welcome x

OP posts:
everyonebutme · 10/06/2021 06:30

I've sent you a message @BeaLola I hope it's helpful

shallIswim · 10/06/2021 06:32

Self drive, and go with the butchest 4x4 you can afford so you can go further into the wilderness and ford rivers. V exciting.
Blue lagoon expensive and was full of loud Americans when we went. But there are lots of non commercial 'hot pots' which are lovely to go to if you seek them out.
It rained virtually the whole time we were there one July but still don't regret going

fourquenelles · 10/06/2021 06:42

Go the first week on November when Airwaves Festival is on. Usually 5 main music venues in the city plus every bar, cafe, library puts on some live performances. No need to drive as many tours from the city centre. I have been twice so far and adore the country and the people. also like Blue Lagoon I didn't find it that expensive but I am not a big drinker.

Tal45 · 10/06/2021 07:53

We went about 7 years ago so quite a while! Loved the blue lagoon, a boat trip at Jokulsarlon to see the icebergs was amazing, went to the museums, the sun voyager sculpture is cool, lots of amazing waterfalls to visit and the geysers. We did day tours and ate/stayed as cheaply as we could.

HelplessProcrastinator · 10/06/2021 19:46

I went when pregnant with DC1 several years ago. We hired a car and drove round the ring road. Was beautiful and loved all of it. We were there end of May and had bad weather so unable to go whale watching. Just lived the place, fabulous. Planning a special 50th birthday trip in a couple of years. Public swimming pool in Reykjavik was just as good as Blue Lagoon. I didn’t enjoy the naked shower beforehand hand. Reykjavik was very pleasant but the real draw is the scenery.

mrsrobin · 14/06/2021 15:26

I am wondering about an Iceland holiday - Ihave been but my husband hasn't. We both love hiking and the outdoors so we know we will have plenty to do.
I am wondering if everywhere is fully booked (excursions, hotels etc). We would hire a car - but just wondering if we should pre book everything. We prefer to just drive and see where we end up! Does anyone have any advice please? Maybe PuffinShop?!!

mrsrobin · 14/06/2021 15:27

Oh - and do you have to wear masks? If so, where?

HappyFamiliesSeries2 · 15/06/2021 08:41

All being well I'll be there in 2 weeks

  1. We've booked all accommodation about 10 days ago,we move around so only stay in the same place for 1 or 2 nights. There was still plenty left but you do run the risk of not getting exactly what you want or where. Depending on where you go this can be a problem if it is a very small place, the next place may be many miles away. As a comparison we are staying in self catering except for 1 night and average cost is about £120 per night, with the cheapest about £85
  1. The official rules on masks say that they should be worn where social distancing is not possible but not sure exactly what that means or how much it is adhered to. Last year (in July) we didn't see any masks except at the airport but I don't think they had any rules on them then
  1. If you're coming from the UK you must have been fully vaccinated for at least 2 weeks to get in without a 5 day quarantine. This month you must take a test at the border and stay in a suitable hotel (no tourist activities) until you get the result (less than 24 hours) if vaccinated. They are planning to drop this next month. You can also easily book a test for your return to the UK
  1. Wizz, easyJet and Icelandair are advertising flights but some are being cancelled due to low demand. We booked Icelandair from Manchester which was cancelled yesterday but they are flying us down to Heathrow instead. Also heard the easyjet(?) cancelled Birmingham flights
HappyFamiliesSeries2 · 15/06/2021 08:43

Latest rules are always here in English

www.covid.is/english

LemonRoses · 15/06/2021 08:47

One of our favourite places. Wonderful country.

Swimming, outside whatever the weather. In pools in blizzards, in rivers and wild spots is even more exciting.
Glacier on ski-bikes, whale watching, northern lights, the geysers, the National Park.

mrsrobin · 15/06/2021 08:53

@HappyFamiliesSeries2

Latest rules are always here in English

www.covid.is/english

Thanks for your post - that is really helpful info for me. I hope you enjoy your trip - we are planning for July. :)
mrsrobin · 15/06/2021 09:06

HappyFamilies - and everyone - where is the best place to go whale watching from? I am trying to plan an itinerary (driving) to include hiking areas, but also some wildlife experiences. Any advice welcome on both topics!

PuffinShop · 15/06/2021 10:08

You won't have to wear a mask anywhere except if you go on a bus or in a taxi. There are a few other places masks are still required like haircuts but you won't be getting a haircut I'm sure.

PuffinShop · 15/06/2021 10:21

You can go whale watching from Reykjavík but I think people generally have better luck from Húsavík in the north. Careful of the weather if you get sea sick, though, whale watching in Húsavík was the worst thing I've ever done. Saw a minke whale, didn't care because I was too busy puking. I went from Reykjavík on a nicer day and it was more enjoyable but we only saw porpoises. Still pretty cool.

mrsrobin · 15/06/2021 10:35

Thanks Puffin - I won't be having a haircut! I might pack some seasickness tablets then Grin
I am glad to hear you don't wear masks - I don't really feel like paying out for a trip if mask wearing is everywhere. Good to hear :)

HappyFamiliesSeries2 · 15/06/2021 11:57

You'll wish you'd never asked!! This will be our fourth Ring Road trip in 6 years...

I'll try and spell all these places correctly - then you can google them to find out more and exactly where they are. English spellings might miss the accents off their extra vowels and use a p for 'þ' and a d for 'ð'. Also this should all be possible in June/July/August but some things will not be at other times. And I'd only attempt to drive the Ring Road in summer, see Tripadvisor for many dire warnings about winter driving in Iceland.

The 'standard' ring road trip does overnights in/near the following, if you have more days you can add an extra nights at some but this gives up to a 250 km drive between each. Below is anticlockwise but I've done it both ways

Reykjavik/Reykjanes Peninsula (Grindavík, Keflavik)
Golden Circle area (or at the end before Reykjavík)
Vik
Höfn
Egilsstaðir/East Fjords
Myvatn/Akureyri
Blönduós/Hvammstangi
Reykjavík

As well as adding extra days on this route you can do extra days by going off to the Snæfellnes peninsula (needs at least 1 day), Westman Islands (1 day), Tröllaskagi peninsula (1 day or just drive it between Akureyri & Blönduós) or the Westfjords (at least 3 days).

If you hire a 4x4 you can drive on the F-Roads in peak summer (Fjall or Mountain Roads). Even with a 4x4 a lot of these are still not recommended for tourists unless they have experience at things like fording rivers and have a proper Land Rover type vehicle, not just a Dacia Duster. But route 35 is the easiest (no river fording but 180km of teeth rattling track surface) and you can visit Kerlingafjöll/Hveradalir & Hvervellir which have some stunning scenery & hikes. You'd need at least 2 days though and stop overnight (expensive unless camping/dorms).

www.road.is is crucial for driving in Iceland, including if F Roads (or any road) is open. Google maps can be a bit dodgy/inaccurate and add at least a third to any driving times it gives. A local Sat Nav and/or paper maps are good if you are venturing off the main roads.

For Icelandic wildlife below are the main places I know of
Whale watching - Reykjavík (I did this and we saw a few), Húsavík, Stykkishólmur
Puffins - Látrabjarg cliffs in Westfjords (amazing, they were about a metre away and hundreds of them!), also Westman Islands, Borgarfjörður Eystri and various other cliffs have small colonies. If you visit in the evening then the Puffins are less likely to be out at sea and more likely to be on their nests
Seals - if you visit the Seal Centre in Hvammstangi they can tell you where and when you can see seals from the shore around that area. Seal spotting is best at low tide (I think) as they bask on the exposed rocks. I've also seen them off the Snæfellnes (Ytri Tunga) & the Westfjords (near Litlibær)
Arctic Foxes - There is an Arctic Fox Centre in the Westfjords (Súðavík) that has a couple of rescued ones but otherwise it is random. We saw them a couple of times in the Westfjords in the wild and if you go into Hornstranðir (below) you have a good chance as they are not hunted there
Sheep - every-bloody-where! Always be on the look out for them deciding to cross the road in front of you
Reindeer - You might see them between Höfn & Egilsstaðir as they come down from the highlands to nearer the ring road in the summer, I've seen them a couple of times
Horses - Again if you're lucky you might see a huge herd running wild or there are loads of farms to see/ride them

Hiking - this is a tiny selection, mainly easyish walks I've done rather than proper hiking but googling for guided hiking brings loads of companies

The Volcano :) - Close to Grindavík. Seems to change every day but currently it is a few km to view the eruption and nearer to just see the lava field
Skaftafell/Vatnajökull National Park South - On the south coast between Vik & Höfn, various trails, I did one up to a waterfall
Ásbyrgi Canyon/Vatnajökull National Park North - My favourite place, lots of trails around the canyon and others as far down as the Dettifoss waterfall
Around Lake Myvatn - again lots , I've done some round Dimmuborgir
Hornstranðir Nature Reserve - The very top bit of the Westfjords, no permanent inhabitants or roads, only open in the summer. You can get a boat from Ísafjörður and there are various options. We did a half day to Hesteyri which was a few km walk around the 'village' and then coffee & cake but they do full day & multi day hikes right into the reserve

And lastly after all that walking don't bother with the Blue Lagoon - there are several similar spa type places now (Myvatn Nature Baths, GeoSea, Secret Lagoon, Vök Baths, Sky Lagoon) or just go to the local baths, super cheap for Iceland and they all have at least one hot pot and lots are outside. Or find a natural hot pot. Local baths I've used with fantastic views are Patreksfjörður, Þelamörk, Neskaupstaður & Hofsós

Gangi þér vel!

mrsrobin · 15/06/2021 12:15

Wow, that is fantastic information, thanks so much. I have a lot of investigating to do now!
Just a couple more thoughts...
**How much does an average meal out cost?
**Did you book a "fly drive" package or the flight, car, hotels separately?
Thank you again :)