Iceland

[tableanadchairs]

We went to iceland a few years ago and visited the South area. I would now love to visit the North of the island. However l am not sure of what time of year to go, whether it is best to drive or to take an organised trip. I really would like to see ice caves and lots of snow Last time we visited in December and had so little daylight so don't want to do the same again. From what l have read there is not a lot to do or see in the major cities - so would need to be moving around.
Any advice would be much appreciated

Hi
We went in August a few years ago. We started in Reykjavik, got a ferry and drove to to isafjordur right at the top then we drove down and across to akureyri and did whale watching in Husavik.

The drive to Isafjordur was lovely and scenic and then the rest was a main road. We preferred driving as we stopped off to see some seals and found a little house serving coffee and waffles.

Can't wait to go back! August was good because the weather was nice and you get a lot of daylight.

@tableanadchairs
You need to do your research on when it’s best to visit the ice caves. We didn’t go but driving can be quite challenging in high winds and rain/snow. Factor that in. I like Lonely Planet guides and I would follow their advice about when and where. We lived our Super Jeep trip. They go on glaciers when it’s cold enough.

There aren't any major cities. There is only one city in Iceland, which is Reykjavík, and even that is more like a large town. Akureyri is the 'capital of the north' but it's not a city.

You could take a domestic flight from Reykjavík or drive yourself up there. You can make the drive from the capital to Akureyri in one day, about 5 hours. Even if you fly up, I would self-drive as it gives you so much more freedom, but get a decent car if you plan to come in the winter.

If you want snow, there is a lot more snow after Christmas than before. The daylight is OK by March, so I would say February/March if snow and ice is a priority for you. But if you've already seen the winter, why not try the summer? The summer is really magical in my opinion.

Must sees in the north are Ásbyrgi, Mývatn, and the swimming pool at Hofsós. Siglufjörður is also a nice little town and the whale watching is good in the north (season dependent).

If you can combine North Iceland with West Fjords, I'd definitely recommend it. The West Fjords are amazing.