Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Reykjavik, Iceland! We spent some time in Reykjavik before setting off on a road trip around Iceland. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate, about Reykjavik travel.
Hate #1: Blue Lagoon Advance Booking
One of the main reasons people visit Reykjavik is to see the Blue Lagoon. These thermal spas outside Reykjavik are very popular and most people don’t realize that it sells out in advance. So you can’t just roll up and hit the pools, you have to book your tickets ahead of time, sometimes months in advance. We booked our spots just a few days in advance and there were already some time slots that were full.
Hate #2: Sulfur Water
You may notice the tap water that you have in your hotel sink and shower smells like sulfur. You might think something is wrong with the pipes or your hotel, but that’s just how the water in Iceland is. It’s all part of the same geothermal effect that makes the spas here so great. Don’t worry about drinking water, though. The restaurants will serve you tap water and it’s fine; no sulfur smell!
Hate #3: Reykjavik Weather
The wind and weather in Reyjavik can be unpredictable. It can easily drop 20 degrees during the day, so you really have to pack some layers when you visit Reykjavik. Even in the height of summer, it can get cold. Having a waterproof layer is also a good idea as it rains often in Iceland. The wind can also catch you off guard, especially if you are driving in Iceland.
Hate #4: Finding Reykjavik Accommodation
Finding a place to stay in Reykjavik in high season can be a challenge. Tourism in Iceland has exploded in recent years. They’re doing a good job keeping up with it, with lots of tours and English speakers, but accommodation still fills up in the high season of July and August. If you want to have a good selection of Reykjavik accommodation to choose from, you want to book ahead as far as you can. Keep in mind, the town itself is pretty small so even if you’re not staying in the heart of downtown, it’s still pretty easy to get around.
Hate #5: Prices in Reykjavik
While it’s pretty cheap to get to Iceland, it’s very expensive once you arrive. Reykjavik hotels, restaurants, tours, and rental cars are all expensive. Going out for dinner can easily cost $20-$30 per plate, and alcohol drinks are also very expensive. So, when you see that cheap flight to Reykjavik, you have to factor in the total cost of your trip when setting your vacation budget.
Read: How to Cut Costs While You Travel
Love #1: The Blue Lagoon
Relaxing in the thermal hot spas of the Blue Lagoon is one of the best things about visiting Reykjavik. You’re soaking in relaxing turquoise blue waters, surrounded by lava fields, and smearing volcanic mud on your faces. It’s such a relaxing, fun experience. You can even get a massage in the water. They make it so easy to visit, too. You can book your Blue Lagoon admission and a bus to pick you up from the airport all on the same ticket. After your soak, you then hop on a bus that will take you into Reykjavik. It couldn’t be easier; they’ll even store your luggage for you while you soak.
Love #2: Natural Beauty Around Reykjavik
While a road trip around Iceland is great, you don’t have to travel far from Reykjavik to see some of the natural beauty of Iceland. There are waterfalls, geysers, and icebergs all in a days’ reach of Reykjavik. A popular tour from Reykjavik is the Golden Circle, which passes by Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir. You can also book a whale-watching cruise, go horseback riding or hiking.
Love #3: Icelandic People
The people in Iceland are so friendly and happy. They speak English extremely well and are so proud to share their homeland with you. The people of Iceland are some of the friendliest people that we’ve met anywhere in the world. This also translates to a very safe environment. Crime in Iceland is almost non-existent.
Love #4: Getting Around Reykjavik
Reykjavik is a very compact city, so it’s really easy to get around. You can pretty much walk everywhere in Reyjkavik. If you aren’t able to get a hotel right in the center of town, you can find a guest house on the outskirts, take the bus in and still walk around. It’s a very walkable city, which is great when you’re traveling. You’ll be surprised by how much you can see on a stroll around town.
Love #5 Reykjavik Museums
Although Reykjavik is relatively small for a capital city, it has a surprising number of quality museums. There’s the Saga Museum, several art and photography museums, the Settlement Center, Maritime Museum and even a phallic museum, which makes for some interesting family conversations!
Obviously, we loved Reykjavik and can’t recommend it highly enough! The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take a trip to Reykjavik. Want to know more about traveling to Iceland? Check out some of our other blog posts: