8-Day Itinerary to Iceland: the Land of Fire and Ice
On one rare, clear September night in Iceland, James (my boyfriend) and I took shelter in our car from the cold wind as we searched for the Northern lights. We sat in the driveway of our Airbnb, which was a small guesthouse on a farm in the small town of Hella. There was no guarantee we would see the lights - in order to get a good view, the skies would have to be clear, dark, and have strong aurora activity. But we sat there, hoping that we would be in luck.
Suddenly, I saw something faint in the sky. “Is that a… cloud?” I asked James. Almost instantaneously, the figure started to glow even brighter, forming a streak across the sky. We immediately jumped out of the car, absorbing all the colors in the starry sky. Over time, the lights continued to glow brighter and brighter, lighting up the night with hues of green and red. For over an hour, James and I braved the cold as we watched the Northern lights dance across the sky, a moment more beautiful and surreal than we could have ever imagined.
This was one among many moments that made me realize why more tourists are starting to visit Iceland. In 2021, over 700,000 tourists visited Iceland, with 1.2 million expected to visit in 2022 according to Forbes. I have been many places in my life, and Iceland certainly stands out as one of the most unique places I have ever been. Whether you come for the summer or the winter, for three days or eight days, there is no shortage of incredible things to do.
If Iceland is on your list of destinations to visit, you’ve come to the right place! In this blog, I’ll share everything you need to know about traveling to Iceland, along with the entire eight-day itinerary we used for our trip. Förum! (Let’s go!)
Timing your trip
Peak time to visit Iceland are the summer months - July and August - due to the warmer temperatures and 24 hours of daylight. However, James and I decided to go at the end of September (September 23 - October 1) to avoid the crowds, to catch the warmer temperatures before Iceland’s harsh winter, to be able to do activities (like horseback riding) before they shut down for the colder months, and most importantly, to see the Northern lights. In my opinion, this timing was perfect for us. However, if your only goal is to see the Northern lights, you may prefer to go a bit closer to the winter months (October-February) to increase your chances of getting a good view of the lights.
Other good things to know
Currency: Iceland uses the Icelandic Króna (so don’t freak out if you see something costs ISK 1,000!) 1 ISK = 0.007 USD. You rarely need cash, but it’s still good to have some on hand just in case.
Tipping: You are not expected to tip at restaurants in Iceland.
Time: Iceland is in Greenwich Mean Time, which is 4 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
Renting a car: I definitely recommend getting a 4-wheel drive if you want to drive along the ring road and see as much as you can outside of Reykjavik. If you do rent a car, definitely bookmark this website to make sure the driving conditions are safe.
Note: there are many roundabouts in Iceland. Be wary that the outside lane has the right of way, so try to stay on the inside lane to avoid any issues.
Tax refund: We didn’t know this until after we got to the airport to go back to the U.S., but all non-Iceland residents are eligible for a tax refund after shopping in Iceland when they spend over the minimum purchase amount of 6,000 ISK ($41.61). If you purchase items in a local store and are going to export them from Iceland, then you should ask for a Tax Free form in the store. The form is filled in by the store and the original purchase receipts attached to it. You then take the tax free forms, together with the original purchase receipts, to the International Refund Point in the airport and get your refund.
Taxis: DO NOT take a taxi from the Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik. They are the biggest scams and will charge you over $100 USD. Instead, take the Flybus, which is only about $34 USD per person.
Wifi: Wifi was available pretty much everywhere we went in Iceland, but I still 110% recommend Trawire, which is basically a portable Wifi device. This was the most affordable option that also ensured we would have Wifi connection even in the most remote parts of Iceland, which was a huge lifesaver. We did the Trawire Super plan, which is $16 per day.
Recommended Items to Pack (especially in September)
Passport
Euro-plug
Rain jacket
Hiking boots
Multiple pairs of comfy socks
Good camera and tripod (if you’re into photography)
Thermal layers
Winter jacket (I used my Aritzia long puffer a lot)
Hat that will stay on even with wind
Sweatshirts
Bathing suits for lagoons/thermal pools
Mostly comfy and waterproof clothes. I brought a lot of more stylish clothes but did not wear them.
8-Day Itinerary
Day Zero: Arrive in Keflavik Airport, Explore Reykjavik
Arrival
We flew Icelandair from JFK to Keflavik, which surprisingly was only about 4 and a half hours. Due to the four-hour time change, we got there late (around 9 p.m.). Once we got through customs, we grabbed our bags and picked up our Trawire at the 10-11 in the airport. Then we had to figure out out to get from Keflavik to Reyjavik. Do not be fooled by the taxis that are located conveniently right outside the airport - they will overcharge you! Fortunately we were easily able to locate the Flybus, which was only about a 40 minute drive and dropped us right at the Reykjavik airport bus terminal. You can pay an extra fee to have the Flybus drop you directly at your hotel, but our Airbnb was only about a 15 minute walk away from the bus terminal, so it wasn’t worth it for us.
Bar Hopping in Reykjavik
Once we dropped our luggage off at out Airbnb (which was a private room located right in the city center), we decided to explore the infamous nightlife we’d heard about in Reykjavik. While at first the city looked completely deserted, it didn’t take long until we stumbled across bars alive with music and crowds of people. The Lebowski Bar in particular caught our attention, and so we went to check it out.
I’d heard a lot about the friendly people in Iceland, and we witnessed a prime example of it firsthand at this bar. As we were ordering drinks at the bar, an Icelandic resident the same age as us made sure we avoided ordering overpriced drinks, and even let us try his beer (which James liked so much, he ordered it every time for the rest of the trip). We had a great time people-watching and enjoying the music. Soon after we went home though, knowing we had a busy day ahead of us.
Day One: Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Car Rental
The next morning we woke up, grabbed a quick breakfast and coffee, and went directly to the car rental place (which was the same location the Flybus dropped us off at). It took a little while to get the car, as we had to decide if we wanted to pay for insurance (which we did end up doing due to the harsh weather conditions Iceland is known for) and the car rental employee had to give us the rundown on driving in Iceland (most of which I’ve already outlined above). Once we got the car, we were off to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, which is a beautiful region about 3 hours north of Reykjavik.
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula
All I can say is we were glad we got car insurance after this drive! The road to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula was very thin and cut through remote areas the majority of the time, which wouldn’t have been a problem if it weren’t for the horrendous weather. It was pouring rain with extreme winds, so much so that we could feel the wind pushing against the car as we drove. It was certainly a stressful drive, but the destination made it worthwhile in the end.
The main thing we did there was the hike from Arnarstapi to Hellnar, which is approximately 30 minutes one way (unless you stop to take pictures like we did). Parking was not a problem at all, and there were plenty of restaurant options nearby. The walk was right along the water with the most magnificent cliffs, basalt forms, and lava fields. The weather was still pretty terrible, but in my opinion it contributed to the dramatic landscape. It was truly a remarkable experience.
Heading back to Reykjavik & Dinner
After the hike, we wanted to hit another very popular destination: Kirkjufell mountain, renowned as the mountain featured in Game of Thrones, and its accompanying waterfall, Kirkjufellsfoss. Unfortunately, the weather was so bad we didn’t feel safe making the drive - especially if it meant driving back to Reykjavik at night.
So we headed back toward Reykjavik, and ended the night with the most amazing dinner we could have asked for at Harry´s Seafood and Grill Restaurant (pictured above). The food was so good and reasonably priced, we ended up going there again later on in the trip.
Day Two: Blue Lagoon and Explore Reykjavik
The Blue Lagoon
Waking up at 6 a.m. generally is no easy feat, but even more difficult is waking up at 6 a.m. with a 4-hour time difference. But to avoid the higher prices and crowds at the Blue Lagoon, we decided to do it anyway.
The Blue Lagoon is located in Keflavik, so about another 40-minute drive from Reykjavik. We had bought tickets ahead of time for 8 a.m., mostly because that was the time when the tickets were the cheapest. A ticket gets you entry to the lagoon, one free drink at the bar, a free face mask, and entry to the sauna and steam room (in my opinion, a very good deal).
Upon arrival, you are given a bracelet that allows you to scan for a locker and purchase items without needing your credit card. Once you change, you are supposed to shower before entering the lagoon and keep your hair tied up to prevent the sulfur from drying it out. The locker room then connects directly to the lagoon! I was definitely glad we got there early, since the lagoon was practically empty and the skies were completely clear (which quickly changed after about 30 minutes or so). It was a very relaxing time, and the water was astonishingly blue. I think the Blue Lagoon is a must for anyone who comes to Iceland. We stayed for about 2 and a half hours, and then showered and changed. Shampoo, conditioner, soap, and hair dryers were provided, which was an added plus!
Breakfast
When we got back to Reykjavik, we needed coffee and breakfast to fuel the rest of our activities. We went to two different places, since we knew our time in Reykjavik was limited and we wanted to experience as much as we could. If you ever find yourself in Reykjavik, drop everything and go to Braud & Co. There you can buy the most unique and delicious cinnamon roles I have ever had in my life, ranging from vanilla, to caramel & muesli, to blueberry and licorice (yes, we tried them all). Plus, the outside of the building had the most beautiful paintings. It was an 11/10 in my book.
Sandholt Bakery was another one of our favorite places. While the pastries were fantastic, it’s the Swiss Mocha that I dream about to this day (basically hot chocolate, espresso, and cream). You can sit inside which is a nice way to escape the cold, though you may have to wait for a table.
Exploring Reykjavik
We spend the rest of the day exploring the city - going in and out of shops, eating fish and chips, and taking pictures. Reykjavik is pretty small, so it doesn’t take much time to feel like you’ve seen everything. I particularly loved all the street art and Skólavörðustígur, which is the street where the rainbow road is located. We had some spare time, so we decided to check out the Icelandic Phallological Museum, which was…. enlightening? You certainly won’t find a museum like that anywhere else, that’s for sure.
Dinner
For dinner, we went to The Icelandic Bar, which is a fantastic restaurant that gives you a good taste of traditional Icelandic cuisine. I was glad to have made a reservation beforehand, as it was very crowded. The food was incredible. We did end up trying an appetizer with whale meat, which was surprisingly very good (though I felt pretty guilty, so I only had one bite). James ordered a reindeer burger, and I had the surf and turf burger (a burger with langoustines), which was absolutely incredible.
The Northern Lights
Last but not least, the clear skies meant that it was perfect conditions to see the Northern Lights! There are many locations near Reykjavik that are great for seeing the lights, but James and I ultimately landed on driving out about 30 minutes toward Þingvellir National Park. The night ended up being a success! You can see one of the best pictures we caught of the auroras above.
Day Three: Golden Triangle
Driving the Golden Circle
After fueling up on more cinnamon rolls from Braud & Co., we hit the road again for our next adventure: the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle consists of three main sites that can easily be seen over the course of one day: Þingvellir National Park, Strokkur (a geyser), and Gullfoss (a waterfall). We got extremely lucky with the weather this day - there was not one cloud to be seen, which also made driving conditions much easier. The entire drive was extremely scenic, consisting of bright autumn colors and farmland filled with sheep, cows, and horses.
The first stop about 40-minutes away from Reykjavik was Þingvellir National Park, a rift valley created by the drifting apart of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It is the only place in the world where you can stand between two continental plates! The tectonic plates move apart at approximately 2.5 centimeters a year. We spent a total of about two hours exploring the main rift and the surrounding areas, where you can see various waterfalls, smaller rifts, and land speckled with yellow, red, and orange. It was an absolutely fascinating place.
About an hour away from Þingvellir National Park was our next destination: Strokkur, a fountain-type geyser. Strokkur shoots hot water as high as 30 meters (100 ft) into the air every few minutes. I really enjoyed this stop, as it was fun to see how high the water would go each time it erupted. We spent a total of about 30 minutes admiring the geyser. There were other hikes you could take around the area, but the cold deterred us and we felt we saw all we wanted to. However, we did grab lunch at the restaurant right outside the parking lot, where there were many food options available. We just ordered pizza to split and save money.
The last stop along The Golden Circle was the waterfall Gulfoss, which was less than a 10-minute drive away from the geyser. To be honest with you, this was the site I was least excited about seeing, but it completely exceeded my expectations. The waterfall was strikingly beautiful, with multiple vantage points to make sure you soaked in every possible angle. My favorite part was the rainbow that glistened over the waterfall as we admired it. We spent about half an hour at this site, which gave us ample time to walk along the trail that took us along perimeter of the waterfall.
Ending the Day in Hella
We decided to book an Airbnb near the small town of Hella, which was located somewhere between Reykjavik and Vik (our next destination). This was the AirBnb I was the most excited about, as it was located in a guesthouse on a farm in practically the middle of nowhere. You can imagine my excitement when we rolled up to a driveway that was yards away from fields of sheep and Icelandic horses! It was the most quaint, wholesome house, complete with red walls and a green roof.
It was pretty late by the time we got there, so we left to get dinner before everything closed down. There weren’t too many options available, so just we picked the nearest place with the best reviews: Restaurant Kanslarinn. I forgot to take pictures of my food here but I ordered the meat stew, which was very satisfying after spending all day in the cold.
More Northern Lights!
Like I mentioned earlier, we got really lucky with the weather this day - which also meant perfect conditions for viewing the Northern lights! This night was by far the main highlight of the trip. I already recounted our experience at the beginning of this blog, but the auroras shined brighter than we could have ever imagined this night. Watching the lights literally dance across the sky made it clear why the Northern lights are considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world. We were also thrilled to have taken some really cool pictures that captured this incredible experience, even without professional camera gear. Pro tip: to capture the auroras, set your camera settings to night mode. Set the exposure for about 10 seconds, and hold as still as possible. You may even want a tripod to ensure the camera remains steady. That’s how we got the pictures you see in the gallery above! This was the last window we were given to see the Northern Lights, as all the rest of the days were cloudy.
Day Four: Waterfalls and Vik
Breakfast
We woke up the next morning to a nice surprise - our Airbnb host had provided breakfast for us! This was especially appreciated as there were not too many food options nearby. Yet another example demonstrating the profound generosity of the people of Iceland. Our breakfast options consisted of cereal, juice, bread, ham, cheese, jam, fruits, and delicious brownies for dessert.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
After saying goodbye to the horses and sheep, we were off to Seljalandsfoss, the famous waterfall that you can actually walk behind. It was only about a 20 minute drive away from our Airbnb. It was a truly spectacular waterfall, and also the reason they tell you to bring waterproof clothes to Iceland! We were able to walk around and behind the entirety of the waterfall, which left us impressed and extremely soaked! The pictures we got as a result made it worth it in the end. We spend a total of about 30 minutes at this destination.
Skogafoss waterfall
Seljalandsfoss was awesome, but Skogafoss (located only another 30 minutes away) was extraordinary. James and I spend probably 30 minutes alone taking pictures in front of the powerful, cascading water. As photogenic as the site was, the pictures didn’t compare to the real thing. Another cool feature about this site was you could climb up to the top, which was certainly worth the almost 500 steps to the top. This waterfall is definitely a must-see during your time at Iceland.
Vik
Our final destination for the day was Vik, home to the glorious black sandy beaches. Fortunately, we only had to drive another 30 minutes to get to the Reynisfjara black sand beach, which was also right where our next Airbnb was located.
Reynisfjara was pretty crowded with tourists, but it was still spectacular. I loved the way the foam from the ocean contrasted with the dark, black sand. Be sure to keep a good distance away from the water, as the waves can be extremely powerful and dangerous at times. Another highlight at this location is the unique basalt rock formations that sit along the beach. You could sit there for hours, watching the waves and taking in the vast expanse of black sand.
Instead, we only stayed there for about 45 minutes because we were starving! We decided to grab a snack at the Black Beach Restaurant, which was located right in the parking lot (though I’ll admit, the convenience was certainly compensated for by the high prices of the food).
Once we recharged, we drove about 20 minutes up to the Dyrhólaey lighthouse, which provided even more breathtaking views of the black sand beaches. We spent a good amount of time up there taking in the views, despite it being a relatively short walk.
Dinner
Toward the end of the day, we checked in to our Airbnb, which was a lovely private cabin overlooking the black sand beach, which our host had constructed by himself from scratch. Before driving to the city center and putting our name in for a seat at Suður-Vík for dinner, we grabbed a beer flight at the popular Smiðjan Brugghús, which gave us a great taste of a few Icelandic craft beers. We also stopped at Vik i Myrdal Church, which is another one of the more picturesque sites in Vik.
That night we put on a movie using the Netflix account provided in our Airbnb, but I was so tired I fell asleep within the first 15 minutes.
Day Five: Jökulsárlón Lagoon, Diamond Beach, and Ice Cave Tour
Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, which called for a stop at Vik’s finest (and pretty much the only!) cafe, also known as the Lava Cafe. Honestly, the selection of pastries, sandwiches, and coffee here were incredible. We ended up getting all of the above, knowing that we wouldn’t have any other opportunities to grab food until dinner time.
Vatnajokull Glacier Ice Cave Tour
For this day we had booked an ice cave tour of the Vatnajokull glacier through Glacier Adventure. The drive from Vik to the meeting spot for the tour was 2.5 hours, which meant we had to get on the road early. The drive to the Glacier Adventures meeting spot felt very otherworldly due to the vast expanses of lava fields.
When we arrived at our destination, we ate our sandwiches and checked in for the tour. The tour that we booked was the Crystal Ice Cave Adventure, which consisted of a group of about 6 people and took about 3-4 hours. Something that I didn’t expect was that 50% of the tour was driving to the glacier, 30% hiking to the entrance of the cave, and 20% actually spending time inside the cave. The drive there was very bumpy, so it might not be very pleasant for people who experience motion sickness. While the hike to the caves was pretty long, we really enjoyed talking to our tour guide, who moved to Iceland from the Czech Republic after finishing 2 years of medical school and realizing it wasn’t for her. She answered all of our questions and gave us a great glimpse into what living in Iceland is like.
When finally reached the entrance to the cave, it was much colder than where we parked out car (which makes sense). The scenery inside the cave was absolutely spectacular. The sharp edges and deep curves of the ice combined to form the most interesting display, and it was astonishing to think only a small number of people have ever walked across the land we were on (as it had only recently been exposed due to the melting ice). I could see with my own eyes how rapidly the glacier was melting, which was very disconcerting.
Melting ice aside, the deep blue color of the ice caves was the most breathtaking part. The feeling of being in those ice caves can only be compared to being deep in the ocean, surrounded completely by frozen water. To take pictures, we also used night mode on our cameras to truly capture the blue color of the ice. The crowds of people were the most difficult barrier to overcome in taking a good picture, but we managed. I was very glad that we did the tour, but my only critique was not spending as much time in the cave as I expected we would.
Jökulsárlón Lagoon
After hiking back to the car and driving back to the Glacier Adventure meeting point, we were back on the road. Jökulsárlón Lagoon (only about a 30 minute drive away from Glacier Adventure) is another very popular attraction in Iceland, and it’s very clear why. Jökulsárlón lagoon is basically this huge lake filled with icebergs, also tinted with the most magnificent blue color. There were multiple trails you could walk along the lagoon, giving you a plethora of vantage points. James and I could have spent hours there - it was one of the most unique places I have ever been. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, we saw nearly 10 seals swimming directly below us, hunting for fish. As a major animal lover, I was ecstatic!
Diamond Beach
Just across the road (so only about a 5-minute drive from the lagoon) is another popular destination called Diamond Beach, which is basically a black sand beach where broken ice from the lagoon wash up. The entire beach is scattered with pieces of ice of all different shapes and sizes. It was basically the converse of a Florida beach - trading white sand for black, and shells for ice. James and I spent more time there than we probably should have, as it was freezing outside! But we really enjoyed walking along the beach, taking pictures and marveling at the diverse assortment of broken ice.
Dinner
After our full day of excursions, James and I checked into our next AirBnb, which was a private room in a house literally in the middle of nowhere. We had to drive 40 minutes to the nearest town to get dinner, located in the small fishing town of Höfn (pronounced “Hep” - weird, right?). Those 40 minutes were well-worth it - there were an abundance of restaurants to choose from, and the one we chose had amazing food and ambiance. Pakkhús Restaurant was another great taste of traditional Icelandic food, with a very unique selection of dishes - including horse. I couldn’t stomach the thought of eating horse, so I just stuck with the cod dish and wine, which was delectable.
The way home was a little bit sketchy, as it was incredibly dark and there were many bridges that only fit one car at a time. Fortunately we made it home in one piece. I would have liked to spend more time exploring Höfn during the daytime, but unfortunately we didn’t have room for it in the itinerary.
Day Six: Drive back to Reykjavik and Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Driving back to Reykjavik
Day six was the least eventful day of all, as we had to drive all the way back to Reykjavik, literally driving from the east coast all the way back to the west coast. Seemingly daunting at first, the drive is actually only 5 hours without stopping. This really puts into perspective how small Iceland is as a country.
This was the second Airbnb we booked that offered us breakfast, which was even more convenient this time around due to the dearth of restaurants within a 40-minute radius of the house! Our very generous host offered us coffee, waffles, bread and jam, cereal, oatmeal, and fruit.
Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon
It honestly worked out really well that we planned to drive back to Reykjavik on this day, because the weather was dreadful. Fortunately the wind was not bad, but it was basically a torrential downpour the entire day. We did end up stopping once at Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, which is a gorgeous canyon with steep cliffs and stunning waterfalls. We were glad we stopped to see the canyon, but the rain did not make it the most enjoyable experience. James and I got completely soaked head to toe, which made the remainder of the car ride pretty unpleasant.
The only other time we stopped was to visit our favorite (and again, one of the only!) coffee shops at the halfway point in Vik: the Lava Cafe. After a Swiss mocha and some sandwiches, we were ready to continue the remainder of the drive.
Arriving in Reykjavik
It was good to be back in Reykjavik. I was certainly happy that we would have more time to explore the city! I was even happier that our Airbnb was finally not a private room, and that we didn’t have to share a bathroom with a bunch of other strangers. After driving for so long, we took advantage of the extra time to rest. For dinner, we went to Café Loki, which (in my opinion) was not as good as our other meals, but still very delicious. If you're interested in trying pickled shark, this would be the place to go (for the record, we did not end up trying it due to the rumors that it tastes horrible). For dessert, we went to Eldur og Ís for their hot chocolate-ice cream (pictured in the slideshow above). The ice cream was a 10/10.
Day Seven: Icelandic Horse Ride and Sky Lagoon
Icelandic Horse Riding
With only one full day left in Iceland, we knew we had to make the most of it. In fact, today was the day I was most looking forward to because we had booked an Icelandic horse tour! Fun fact about Icelandic horses: they are one of the purest horse breeds in the world. If you export an Icelandic horse, it isn’t allowed back in the country.
We booked our horse tour through Viking Horses and did the volcano morning tour. The timing was immaculate - it was actually the very last tour before they closed for the cold season. We were in a group of about 10 people. Our guides gave us a quick rundown on how to mount, ride, and get off the horse, so it was a perfect tour for all levels.
I had pretty high expectations for the tour, and even those were exceeded. We rode through a very diverse range of landscapes, from lava fields, to grass fields, to trails through the trees. The fall foliage was my favorite part - the trees were the most spectacular yellow-orange color, which contrasted beautifully with the dark green lava fields. We spent about 1-1.5 hours in the saddle, which was the perfect amount of time (I wouldn’t have wanted it to be any longer). There were even a few occasions where we trotted with our horse, which I particularly enjoyed! After the tour, we were provided hot chocolate. It was an experience I would book again in a heartbeat.
After the horse tour, we we took some much-needed time to rest and recover.
Sky Lagoon
After a long week filled with hiking, sightseeing and lots of driving, a trip to the Sky Lagoon was exactly what we needed to end the trip. Sky Lagoon is one of Iceland’s newest attractions, as it just opened in April 2021.
Some of you may be wondering: is it worth going to two different lagoons in one trip (the Blue Lagoon and the Sky Lagoon)? I’m personally glad we were able to experience both because they were very different experiences. In my opinion, people should visit the Blue Lagoon at least once, as its striking blue color makes no other place in the world like it. It is one of the most iconic things to do in Iceland, and for a good reason.
That being said, I personally enjoyed the Sky Lagoon better. Though not as picturesque, its clear waters and infinity pool along the Atlantic Ocean were certainly not hard on the eyes. It is very close to the Reykjavik city center, and the age limit of 12 years creates a more mature, calming atmosphere. But the true star of the show was the Seven-Step Ritual. You do have to pay a little extra on top of the entry fee to partake in the ritual, but in my opinion, it was a must-do in order to get the full experience. The seven steps in the ritual consist of relaxing in the lagoon, a cold plunge, time in the sauna, a cold-fog mist space, a cleansing body scrub, time in the steam room, and rinsing off in the shower/returning to the lagoon. We felt very relaxed after the ritual, and ended up spending a total of about three hours at the Sky Lagoon. If we do ever return to Iceland, we’d probably choose Sky Lagoon over the Blue Lagoon to go back to.
Dinner
For dinner, we returned to the iconic Harry´s Seafood and Grill Restaurant , which provided yet another fantastic meal. Afterward, it was immediately time to go to sleep.
Day Eight: Explore Reykjavik and Fly Home
Saying goodbye to Reykjavik
With our flight scheduled at 5 p.m. Icelandic time, we still had a lot of time to explore the last bits of Reykjavik. Not surprisingly, we had our last breakfast at Braud & Co, which offered a special blueberry and licorice cinnamon roll that day. Licorice isn’t usually my favorite, but that ended up being our favorite cinnamon roll of the entire trip.
Of course, a trip isn’t completely successful without a few souvenirs! We spend the remainder of the day going in and out of Reykjavik’s beautifully colored buildings. A few of the items I bought included a few small pictures and a sheep magnet to give to my family. My favorite purchase of the trip, though, was a hoodie from 66˚ North, an outdoor clothing brand native to Iceland. The clothes there aren’t cheap, but they are very high quality and offer some very unique items.
For lunch, we couldn’t leave without trying an Icelandic hot dog at the famous Bæjarins beztu hot dog stand. The line was pretty long and the food, in my opinion, was just like any other hot dog I’ve had, but the it was still a really cool overall experience.
From there, it was time to head back to the Keflavik airport. Though we were sad to leave the extraordinary country, we were ready to get back into our regular routine.
Endirinn (The End)
As I reflect upon my time in Iceland, I can definitely say that it was one of the most unique, memorable trips I have ever taken. However, there was a lot of planning (and luck with the weather) that went into making sure we saw everything we wanted to. That’s why I wrote this blog - to make the planning phase much more simple and enjoyable for those who are aiming to embark on their journey to Iceland.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! I encourage you to reach out if you have any questions I did not answer, and/or to share your thoughts on the information I shared. Best of luck with your future travels!