Reykjavik /Iceland anyone ?

[BeaLola]

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

Great list! I'll add some hikes for people who are staying close to the capital area and maybe have small children like me that limit how adventurous you can be:

Esja - the mountain you can see across the bay north east of Reykjavík, just outside Mosfellsbær. A very popular hiking trail with locals and brilliant views over the capital area from the top. Úlfarsfell is another option in the area which is smaller, so easier.

Glymur - a brilliant waterfall at the head of Hvalfjörður. Easy day trip from the capital. Steep but worth it.

Heiðmörk - Very nice area for walks in the capital, just next to Garðabær. Wooded and good views. A few short easy trails suitable for younger kids, as well as longer ones.

Vífilsstaðavatn - A lake near Garðabær. The path around it is a lovely little walk for children and stunning when the lupins are out.

Elliðaárdalur - A big park in the city with a nice little waterfall. Paved paths and easy walks. Good for children and people who want a walk but don't fancy a full on mountain hike.

Also if you hire a bike or even an electric scooter, there are so many lovely paths around, many of which join up nicely. You can go all the way from Seltjarnarnes to Elliðaárdalur or even on to Grafarvogur and Mosfellsbær (the coastal path between Grafarvogur and Mosfellsbær is wonderful).

And this is not in the capital area but I am mentioning it as my favourite hike I've done. If you are near to Vík on the south coast and have a 4x4, I highly recommend Hafursey. Stunning views over Mýrdalsjökull, just incredible.

Honestly almost every part of Iceland is gorgeous. It's like a wonderland for people who love the outdoors.

A meal usually costs from 2000 to 4000 kr without drinks. More expensive if you go somewhere fancy.

Can't find costs from last year ( I think we were so grateful to go I didn't care!) but from 2018 (2 adults, 2 weeks)

Average Dinner total £52 - most expensive £92 (fancy place in Akureyri), cheapest £26 (cafe in a petrol station). We usually have 1 or 2 courses and 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks with dinner.

In total on meals out & supermarkets in 2 weeks (had 6 included breakfasts and a few self catering places) we spent £950. Plus another £350 on booze bought at the duty free at the airport, off licenses and bars. We do like a drink!

3 top tips for food & drink (as long as you're not veggie)

1. Eat local - A Dominos and bottle of coke in Reykjavik will probably cost the same as a nice fish or lamb dish in a restaurant.

1. Eat hotdogs or find a bakery for lunch - practically the national dish, available everywhere and again cheaper than getting a Subway

1. If you want a drink and are hiring a car at the airport then stock up at the duty free (can't miss it, it's the biggest arrivals duty free I've ever seen). Otherwise your options are Vinbuðin stores (supermarkets can't sell alcohol) which are more expensive or bars/pubs which can be eye watering. Although the Reykjavik Appy Hour app shows the many Happy Hours and when they are which generally bring the prices down to UK city bar prices

We've always booked flights separately, but the first time we booked the rest through an agency (tour.is) & since then we've booked separately (booking.com, airbnb & blue car rental). Difficult to tell exactly but the agency was about £1000 more than booking direct. Although the first time was more hotels and less self catering so it might have been a bit less.

Of the three 2 week trips we've done the first was £6.5k and the next 2 were a bit under £6k. Which was absolutely everything spent from leaving our house to getting back.

@PuffinShop if you're a local can I ask a question?

We've stayed in Seltjararnes a couple of times as we enjoyed walking the coastal path but this time there was nothing. Has the local council banned holiday rentals?

I have a two week holiday booked for July but will have to cancel it as my 19 year-old won't be fully vaccinated and would have to quarantine for 5 days. I had crossed my fingers that Iceland was going to relax its requirements a little. DH and I are fully vaccinated so fine to enter with just tests on arrival, as is my youngest as under age. It would even have been fine if we were still in the EU. Such a shame, particularly after a rubbish uni experience.

I am sorry about that Azure :(
Thanks to HappyFamilies and PuffinShop - I will start investigating now, with your guidelines - most useful, thanks so much :)

[quote HappyFamiliesSeries2]@PuffinShop if you're a local can I ask a question?

We've stayed in Seltjararnes a couple of times as we enjoyed walking the coastal path but this time there was nothing. Has the local council banned holiday rentals?[/quote]
No, I doubt they'd ever do that. Our mayor is conservative and somewhat useless (not that I have a problem with tourists here, tbh I've never noticed that many). It's more likely because tourism has seen a bit of a downturn for obvious reasons so hopefully people are living in those properties now.

Thanks makes sense
I live in a town very popular with tourists and similar has happened here. There were 3 Airbnb's on my street last year and now there is one

@HappyFamiliesSeries2

Latest rules are always here in English

www.covid.is/english

I am busy doing an itinerary and just had a proper look at your link Happy. It seems to say as a Third Country (the UK) we are not allowed in! "Third-country citizens are still not authorized to travel to Iceland unless exemptions apply. Note: As of January 1st 2021, UK nationals have the status of third-country nationals." I am sure this is not right - I am sure I read somewhere else we can go in if doubly vacc'd!

On the itinerary, please could someone advise what to miss out!! We only have about 9/10 days and will hire a 4x4 as we love the wilderness; we seem to have too much, we need to narrow it down! This is what I have ear-marked:
*See current eupting volcano (if still going)
*Whale watching Snaefellsjokull peninsula - as there are Orcas

• Husavik - again, whales and whale museum *Puffins at Borgarfjordureysri *Diamond Beach/ glacier hike *Landmannalauger - All day hike (will have to stay nearish maybe Fludir area and this will take up 2 nights there) We will also visit waterfalls, baths and do smaller hikes as we go along.

If we were to only go north or south, where would you choose?
Thanks so much :)

One of the exemptions is people who are fully vaccinated! (Other exemptions include anybody who is a close relative of or in an established relationship with an Icelandic citizen or resident).

I wouldn't go all the way to Borgarfjörður eystri just to see puffins. It is a good viewing spot, but it's far from all the other things on your list. Most of what you have there is on the south coast, which is easier to reach from Reykjavík, so I'd probably stay down south and skip Húsavík and add in an overnight trip to the Vestmannaeyjar. You can go on the ferry and it is so lovely there, and they've got plenty of puffins and a brilliant museum about the eruptions on Heimaey (that's the one where it erupted suddenly in the middle of the night and people had to flee from their beds) and Surtsey (the one where a new island rose up from the sea).

Come back and do the other bits another time ;)

Thanks for your replies Puffin, it sounds like good advice - I did look at the island but the ferry website put me off by saying book plenty in advance. I will have a re-think as it does have Puffins and it has the museum too. Yes, I am thinking stay south sounds like a plan!
Oh and thanks for the entry clarification! I will carry on planning - it would be handy to know if we are going to have to "quarantine" on arrival or not whilst waiting for the test result. We are not coming until July, and I understand the test will no longer be a requirement by then - but we won't know for certain until after we have booked our accommodations.......

Went in winter loved it and want to go in summer to experience that.
The golden circle your is a must and worth paying extra to do in a jeep rather than coach as the jeep can get places the coach can't.
I was a bit disappointed with the Blue Lagoon and wouldn't go again but glad I've been.
No need to do hop on hop off bus as "city" so small you can easily walk round.

Oh that's nonsense, you don't have to worry about that, especially if you leave your car on the mainland and hire bikes on the island (it is not a large island). We went recently and booked the ferry a couple of days in advance (took our car because we had our small children with us) but it wasn't full.

Puffin, that is really helpful thank you. We might do just that - leave the car behind and hire some bikes.
I can't wait - getting well excited!!

You'll have great time whatever you do mrsrobin, I 've found very difficult to find something I haven't enjoyed in Iceland!

But be warned you'll find excuses to keep coming back, our history goes

2014 - Short break to Reykjavík/Golden Circle/Blue Lagoon
2016 - Once in a lifetime 2 week trip around the Ring Road
2018 - So maybe twice in a lifetime 2 weeks to include the Westfjords this time
2020 - OK, three times in a lifetime 2 weeks to include the central highlands
2021 - We might as well go for 2 weeks as we can't go anywhere else!

And we've still got the Westman Islands, Grímsey and the 2026 total solar eclipse on the list to do...

Or even electric scooters, easier than cycling when it's windy or up hills (I like cycling but against the Icelandic wind it can sometimes be a bit arduous). Get the Hopp app and it would actually probably work out cheaper than bike hire, since the town itself is so small you'd barely even benefit from a bike over walking. I recommend them for getting around Reykjavík as well, just don't leave them in the middle of the pavement when you're finished

Happy - I really enjoyed a short trip to Iceland once - 20 odd years ago, which was in the winter, so really looking forward to a summer trip! You certainly have enjoyed your trips! :)
Puffin - thanks for that! Good idea!

Do you have any tips for where to stay (I mean town/village) for a base for our all day hike in Landmannalaughar? I am struggling to work this out. We would need at least 6 - 7 hours there - but we will leave where we stay really early, not a problem. I know we can stay in a hut at the campsite there, but it is really expensive for what you get. I am thinking of somewhere 1 to 1.5 hours away for example for 2 nights.

This thread is making me want to go again! I missed loads first time round by the sounds of it!

Could anyone advise me please on my final night?
I am just about to book the flight and car (how exciting!!!)
My itinerary is for 1 week and takes in Snaefellsnes and the south, including Vestmannaeyjar.

I am thinking of being based at Kirkubaejarklauselur for glacier etc. But then where do I stay overnight before a morning flight home?
What is Keflavik like? Or is there a reason I should go to Reykjavik? We are not going to Iceland for town life! Or is there somewhere else along the south on the way to Keflavik airport?

Thanks so much :)

There's less reason to go to Keflavík than Reykjavík, but I see the appeal of staying closer to the airport if you have to be up early. Keflavík is one of those places that people live, but I've never heard of anyone visiting it (rather than someone there). I honestly don't know what it's like as I've never even thought to go there! Maybe it is a hidden gem haha.

Grindavík might be another option. Reykjanes in general has quite a lot of things to see but I've never stayed there as it is an easy day trip from my home in the capital.

Maybe Hafnarfjörður? It's quite nice there.

Thanks for the reply Puffin, I will have a look at the places you mention :)
Our flight is not too early, about 1030, but we are going to have to go via a place near the airport where we get a Covid test :(

They have appointments from 0700 if anyone else is wondering about getting tested before returning to the UK or anywhere else that requires it.

Hope you have a fab time!

@Ellmau

Hope you have a fab time!

Thank you! I am getting quite excited - probably because I think we have half a chance of actually getting there :)

Thanks for the info mrsrobin, our flight is too early to do a same day test but it might be easier for us to go there the day before and get results straight away than a pcr test in Reykjavik.

I'd second Grindavik - not an awful lot to do but there's a pool and the cafe in the harbour does a good bowl of soup. There's a couple of other restaurants as well I think.