Want me to plan your trip for you? Please reach out to me for help planning your next Iceland vacation, and I can help put together the perfect personalized itinerary for you!
Iceland is a land unlike any other — an absolutely a bucket list destination for anyone who loves the outdoors! From rocky glaciers, to icy lakes, to steaming hot lagoons, to fascinating basalt columns, to majestic mountains, to giant waterfalls, to rocky canyons and fjords, to native sheep and horses, to beautiful fields of flowers, to the incredible northern lights — there is so much to see.
I’ve been to Iceland twice now — once for a shorter trip, and once for 10 days — and here are my top tips for anyone considering visiting Iceland. This is based on my experience visiting in the summer (when the roads are open and you can drive around the entire country) — but the Reykjavik-specific recommendations certainly apply any time of year.
Why visit Iceland in the summer? Or when should I go? All seasons in Iceland are beautiful in their own way, but you’ll definitely get the most optimal weather for outdoor exploration in the summer. During these months, it is light 24/7 (that’s right, it never gets completely dark) — so you can visit non-gated outdoor attractions even late into the evening after the tour buses stop running. That said, summer days can still be 60°F (if not lower) and very rainy, so it’s not guaranteed to be warm and sunny. In addition, because it’s light 24/7, there’s no chance of seeing the northern lights. If those are on your bucket list, plan a winter visit — but you’ll be more limited in terms of other outdoor activities and ability to drive around the entirety of Iceland.
How long should I stay in Reykjavik, and where? Reykjavik is such a great city — and definitely worth spending 2-3 days in! One of my main recommendations is to find a hotel or apartment that’s central, since everything you’ll want to see in Reykjavik is wonderfully walkable. By central, I mean “walkable” in terms of distance to the “centre” on a map (and you be the judge of how far that is for you). What’s the best place to stay? It’s unequivocally the EDITION — a recent newcomer to Reykjavik and the country’s first luxury 5-star hotel that has locations in places like New York, London, and Tokyo. Rooms here will be $600 minimum, but the incredible design, comfort, level of service, mountain/water views, and everything in-between is worth the cost. Looking for something a little more boutique (and less expensive)? Hotel 101 downtown may not be much to look at from the outside — just a square box housing 38 rooms — but inside, its sleek sophistication and focus on design is perfect for any artistic connoisseur. For a luxury hotel that leans a little more towards a charming, bed-and-breakfast experience, the Kvosin Downtown Hotel is also lovely option. Slightly east of the centre, there are also some great apartment options with kitchens and multiple bedrooms/bathrooms for those traveling in groups. In a city as expensive as Reykjavik, having a kitchen to re-heat leftovers or make breakfast or lunch can be really great if you’re on a budget.
What is there to do in Reykjavik? Some of my personal recommendations include going to the top of the central Hallgrimskirkja church for views of all of Reykjavik, taking photos on the famous rainbow street (where the ground is painted like a rainbow), shopping along the central Laugavegur street, going on a food (or cat) tour, exploring the street art (or more established art installations like the Sun Voyager statue), attending an event or performance at the Harpa Concert Hall, exploring the weekend flea market, and of course visiting the local hot springs (Sky Lagoon is just a 15 minute drive away). I have a fun Instagram post on Reykjavik with some photos for inspiration!
Where should I eat? As a foodie, I really struggle narrowing this down — but here are my top recommendations, in Reykjavik and beyond:
- If you’re fancy and love a multi-course tasting experience, Ox and Dill in Reykjavik both have Michelin stars and are musts! Plan to spend at least 2 hours on a meal here, book far in advance, and optimally in groups of 2 (not more).
- Apotek Restaurant in downtown Reykjavik is pricy, but has been worth it to me both times I’ve been there (and to everyone I’ve recommended it to). They offer a full Icelandic tasting menu (which is honestly a lot of food) — but also have a great Icelandic tasting platter that includes lamb, whale, and puffin (the whale is an absolute must-try). I highly recommend doing the latter and then opting for their impeccable preparations of the lamb rack and duck platter, which are enough for 4 people.
- Sjavargrillid (Seafood Grill) in Reykjavik is perfect for a slightly more low-key (but still upscale) experience — and we had what was probably the best preparation of local cod here (and trust me, you’ll try a lot of cod dishes during your time in Iceland). They have a beautiful instagram if you’re looking for something photo-worthy, too.
- ROK Restaurant in Reykjavik — which may self-describe as casual/rustic, but is very much boujee (in the best way). I love it for the unique local ingredients like reindeer, but paired with creative international flavors on the menu too, like Thai curry, for example.
- Slightly outside of Reykjavik — closer to the airport in Keflavik, KEF Bar & Restaurant at Hotel Keflavik also offers a fantastic showcase of local food. Try it on your way to/from the airport — or if you choose to spend one last night here before flying out!
- In the Golden Circle is a really cool and unique experience: an enormous tomato farm and greenhouse called Friðheimar, where you can have an entire tomato-focused meal inside the greenhouse.
- My favorite little hidden gem of a restaurant in all of Iceland was a little langoustine spot on the waterfront about an hour south of Reykjavik (so a car is needed) — called Fjöruborðið. If you’re a fan of crawfish boils, this is the perfect spot for you!
- Another great little local spot for langoustines and seafood is Pakkhus in Höfn on the southeast coast of Iceland. They don’t take reservations and get filled up very quickly in the evening, so get here early if you can (before 6pm).
- If you happen to find yourself in Vik, definitely stop for lunch at The Soup Company and try their lamb and cod soups (some of the best versions of these you’ll find in Iceland). Smiðjan Brugghus is also a must-try in Vik — a brewery where you can try a wide variety of local beers (and their BBQ ribs are fantastic, for a break from all the lamb and cod).
Where specifically would you recommend shopping for souvenirs — and what should I buy? A traditional, hand-knit Icelandic sheep’s wool sweater (lopapeysa) is a very recognizable gift from Iceland. There is probably a store on every block that carries these. If you’re fancy like me, check out a store downtown called Farmers Market / Farmers & Friends for a slightly less traditional, but more “fashion” version. I got one with a mix of alpaca wool (so it’s softer) and gold thread woven in. If you live somewhere that gets cold, Icewear has several locations and is a great place to stock up on new, unique winter gear. The main store on Laugavegur is 3 stories tall — and the top floor has gear on sale for up to 80% off, while the bottom floor carries more of those wool sweaters. I splurged on some of their new line of sheep’s wool insulated gear that’s got a bit of that SWAT vibe. A small, easy idea for souvenirs is Icelandic salt! Iceland produces some really cool salt, and while you can find souvenir versions of it everywhere, I really liked a store called Taste of Iceland for the selection and packaging. Fun fact: unlike refined table salt, which is stripped of many of its natural minerals, Icelandic black lava salt retains minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Also, in true Scandinavia-adjacent fashion, Iceland has some really cool modern decor — including statues of sheep, horses, and puffins that would look trendy on any shelf. A store called Epal carries some of my favorites.
PRO TIP: Because taxes in Iceland are so high, you can get back 12-14% of what you spent (as long as it totals up to more than 12,000 ISK or $90-ish). Make sure to collect all your receipts and ask for a tax form when you check out at all stores. Then go to Change Group at the airport with all your filled-out forms (before security) and they will credit back to your credit card!
I also have an Instagram video reel showing you some of my favorite shopping finds in Reykjavik.
Do I need to rent a car? You don’t need to, but I’d recommend it for longer stays. The first time I went to Iceland with a friend, we took a bus from the airport to Reykjavik, stayed in Reykjavik our entire 3-day stay, booked a day tour to see the Golden Circle (on a bus), and didn’t rent a car. And that was fine for a short trip. The regular bus from the airport to Reykjavik costs about $15 (but has a set route and takes 90 minutes), the coach FlyBus is a little nicer and costs only $40, and a taxi costs approximately $100 to the city center (and takes something like 45 minutes). A rental car adds a whole extra cost, but obviously also gives you a lot more flexibility in terms of where and when you go. This last trip, I went with my parents and my husband, and we rented a car (from Blue Car) and loved the ability to 1) just throw a bunch of stuff in the car and not re-pack entirely for two weeks, 2) get up at 6am to hit some of the more popular sights before the tourist rush, 3) visit some of the more remote or out-of-the-way spots we otherwise wouldn’t have seen, and 4) go see some sights after dinner when no one was about. That said, there were times were it felt like a lot of driving, and putting it all on one person might be a lot — especially if your goal is to do the entire Ring Road (that circles the entirety of Iceland). I’d plan for at least 2 drivers if you can.
Should we stay in Reykjavik the whole time and book day tours — or should we book stays in other towns? If you have the time (more than 3 days) and are renting a car, I highly recommend the latter. There’s only so much to do in Reykjavik itself, and even if you book a bunch of day tours out of Reykjavik, you’ll end up spending a lot of your time on buses. If you have 2 weeks, consider doing the Ring Road around the entirety of Iceland. We had about 10 days, and so we did half of the Ring Road (the West and South coasts).
What are some of the must-see spots or must-do activities? This list could honestly go on and on and on, so I’ll try to narrow it down to my top activities. We enjoyed a private horseback trip on local Icelandic horses the most — so if you’re at all into horseback riding, this is a must. If you’re going all the way East, then a boat tour on a glacier lake and a glacier hike are both fantastic options, depending on the level of exertion you’re looking for. At least one of the lagoons is a must-visit, of course — with Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon being the two most famous locations. Otherwise, there are tons of sights you can drive up to see, from cool cliff formations, to canyons and fjords, to lots of amazing waterfalls.
And below is a map of a some of my aforementioned recommended restaurants and shops, as well as notable outdoor attractions along the West and South coasts where we went.
If we do go to other cities/villages, where should we stay? If you do end up driving around Iceland, here are some places I’d recommend stopping (if you choose to stay in cities, vs. more remote bed-and-breakfasts closest to the outdoor attractions on your itinerary, which is also an option). In counter-clockwise order from Reykjavik:
- At the least, the picturesque town of Vík í Mýrdal, or Vik, in the middle of the southern coast is a great spot to spend a night or two. It’s right in the middle of tons of outdoor attractions and a great central stopping point on the south coast. We loved the luxurious, but affordable, Hotel Vik i Myrdal here — and don’t miss the fantastic Smidjan Brugghus (brewery), which not only serves up a large array of delicious beers, but also has some of the best wings and BBQ ribs (which is a nice break from all the lamb and cod). The Soup Company is also a great lunch spot there that really stood out.
- On the southeast coast after you pass all the glaciers, there’s also the super cute fishing village of Höfn — making it a great stopping point after some glacier lake cruises or glacier climbs. There’s a great seafood restaurant in the harbor (serving langoustines, among other dishes) called Pakkhús.
- Just in terms of driving distance, you will want to squeeze in a stop between Höfn and Akuryeri, and it could be any of the little villages all near each other on the northeast part of Iceland: Seydisfjordur, Egilsstaðir, Neskaupstadur. These are all close to the famous puffin colonies in eastern Iceland — which you won’t want to miss — as well as the free-roaming reindeer, if you’re lucky to see them.
- Centrally located on the the north coast, you have the city of Akureyri (where the Forest Lagoon is a must visit). This is a big enough city to also have a main street with cute shops and restaurants to walk around and explore.
- You’ll probably want to pick a stop between Akuryeri and Reykyavik on the northwest part of Iceland, too. It’s just such a long drive otherwise. Hvammstangi is a good option — or Ísafjörður if you plan to hit that very northwestern corner. We had a few things we wanted to see on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, so we actually stayed at the somewhat-remote, but beautiful Hotel Búðir there.
Any other Iceland-specific tips? Something Iceland is known for — but perhaps not to you — is how expensive it is to drink alcohol there. A cocktail will cost you a minimum of $15 if you don’t watch for happy hours, and don’t even try to buy a bottle of alcohol at the state-run liquor stores (the only place you can buy liquor in Iceland once you leave the airport) — where the government imposes as much as 85% in taxes, making the markups pretty incredible. It’s only been since 2023 that breweries are even allowed to sell their beer directly to consumers. This is why you will see a line of locals and tourists alike buying alcohol at Keflavik Airport duty-free after they land. The tax used to be only 10% here, and it’s been 20% since 2023 — but that’s still better than prices you’ll see outside the airport. So if you plan to be in Iceland for awhile and popping any bottles with the family or friends, stock up at the airport when you land!
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I know that’s a lot of (potentially overwhelming) information — so please reach out to me for help planning your next Iceland vacation, and I can help put together the perfect personalized itinerary for you!