Need to Know
Flight
My friend Katie and I took a direct flight on Icelandair from Minneapolis. The flight was only 6 hours and around $450. For the best travel deals, check out Google Flights here. Airfare to Iceland has been on sale for many months now. Another good budget airline to check out is Wow. They also fly direct to Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital. Our plane landed at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning. We picked up our bags and headed to the rental car pick up.
Driving in Iceland
This was my first time driving in Europe. I was a little nervous about it. So, I took the time to study the road signs before leaving home. However, once we got on the road, I had no trouble navigating my way through Reykjavík and to Route 1, the main highway that goes all the way around Iceland. I felt completely comfortable driving. They drive on the right side of the road, so it was easy! Traffic was actually pretty light on Route 1 in October.
The rental car company had an option for a wifi device for the car, which we found to be very helpful. We used it every day to connect to Google Maps from our phones. Although the car had a GPS system in it, there were a few addresses the car wouldn’t pick up. In those instances, we used Google Maps on my phone and it worked great. The car wifi device is around $30 a day to rent.
Car Insurance
You will have the option of getting car insurance through the rental company. We didn’t end up purchasing it. However, I would recommend it. In the case of an accident, you will be required to pay for the damage to the car immediately. We had purchased insurance through Expedia, but we would have to cover any damage out of pocket and Expedia would send a reimbursement check later. Car insurance through Enterprise was around $40 a day.
Gas Cards
You’ll want to purchase a gas card inside any gas station. If you drive around Route 1 (the main road), you’ll have to stop for gas at some point. Some stations are open and you can pay inside, but there might be some stations where no one is inside and you’ll need to use a gas card with a pin number at the pump. This is different than using your debit or credit card with a pin. I would play it on the safe side and just grab a gas card when you can and have it on hand. You don’t want to run out of gas because you can’t pay!
Parking
If you park on the street in Reykjavik, you’ll need change for the meters. We made the mistake of not plugging a meter for an entire day by accident because we didn’t see the meter. The meter was not directly in front of our car like it is in America. It was kind of tucked away across the street. We ended up with a $32 parking ticket on our last day. Should you get a parking ticket as we did, you can pay it at the airport at the currency exchange desk, or you can pay it at a bank.
Road Trip
Iceland is best discovered on the road, so plan to spend many hours in the car if you want to see the country. I planned ahead and packed road trip snacks in my checked bag along with a large coffee thermos and water bottle. We left early each morning and it was nice to have coffee on the road. There will be gas stations here and there if you want to stop for snacks – most gas stations had coffee and sandwiches.
Weather in Iceland in late October
Our trip to Iceland was from October 27th – November 3rd. We arrived on the first day of the Icelandic winter. Temperatures ranged from 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit. We experienced exceptional weather conditions during our trip. Although there were a few hours of rain, snow, and extreme wind on a couple of days.
Credit Cards
You can use your debit or credit card pretty much wherever you go in Iceland (except maybe when getting gas..see Gas Cards above). For me, I personally preferred to use cash on the trip. I stopped at an ATM machine at the airport and withdrew enough to last the majority of the trip.
Day 1
Breakfast in Reykjavík
First things first, we needed food. So, we headed to Reykjavík for breakfast. We stopped at a restaurant called Grai Kotturinn (Gay Cat). It was a fun little restaurant. I had lox on a bagel, a salad, and coffee. Breakfast at Grai Katturinn was quick and fairly inexpensive. It was easy to find and quaint. It has a nice atmosphere, very cozy.
Restaurant: Grai Kotturinn
Address:
Hverfisgata 16, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
+ 354 551 1544
Later, after a short walk through the streets of Reykjavík, we drove 2 hours east along the south coast on Route 1 to our bed and breakfast, Mountain Queen Angelica. It is also situated and just a few minutes drive from Skógafoss falls, Dyrhólaey Peninsula, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Reynisdrangar cliffs, and the Sólheimasandur plane crash. Staying in the countryside also gives you a better opportunity to see the northern lights – away from light pollution. Many BnBs will offer a wake-up call if the lights should appear. The host was able to check us in early. We unloaded our bags, took a power nap, and hit the road.
Skógafoss Falls
Just 7 kilometers from our BnB, we made our first stop at Skógafoss Falls. It was one of my favorite waterfalls in Iceland. You can climb the stairs beside the falls for a view from the top.
Packing Tip
Be prepared to get wet from the waterfall’s mist. The closer you get, the wetter you will get, and so will your camera! Many people brought waterproof covers which you can order on Amazon here.
Vik Church & Dinner at Suður-Vík
Later, we made the drive to Vík to see the famous red roof church. You will pop over the hill from the west with a view of Vík ahead. The church sits in the distance on top of the tallest hill. It’s impossible to miss and makes a striking setting when you enter the valley below Vík.
After a tour around the outside of the church, we drove only a few blocks to our next location for dinner at Suður-Vík, a restaurant that was recommended to me by multiple people. The meal we had there ended up being our favorite meal from the whole trip. I had the seafood soup and breadsticks. My friend, Katie, had the shrimp salad.
Restaurant: Suður-Vík
Address:
Suðurvíkurvegur 1, 870 Vík
+ 354 487 1515
Day 2
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Monday, our 2nd day in Iceland, was our longest day. We hit the road by 7 a.m. to make the 4-hour drive east toward Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the Diamond Beach. We caught the sunrise just outside of Vík. Then, we stopped at Fjadrargljufur Canyon. The canyon has great views of a gorge below.
Skaftafell National Park
After, we went on to Skaftafell National Park. We didn’t have enough time to make the hike up into the glacier or to see the famous Skaftafell waterfall, but if you want to see the glaciers up close, this park is the place to do it. They offer tour packages at the entrance to the park. You can’t miss it. There are also signs for the entrance to the trail that goes to Skaftafell waterfall. This is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland.
Right before the entrance to the park, Katie and I looked up to notice a double rainbow just over the glacier. So, of course, we parked the car for a photoshoot with the incredible scenery.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & the Diamond Beach
We continued to drive on toward Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the Diamond Beach. These are situated just across the street from each other. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon was my favorite stop in Iceland. Although we drove 8 hours to get to it, it was definitely worth it. On the right day, you might even catch seals hanging out on the glaciers. Across the street, you’ll find the Diamond Beach, where large chunks of ice have broken off from the glaciers and floated out onto the beach and into the ocean. It’s amazing – ice really is blue.
On the way home, we drove all the way back to Vík, where we had dinner at Smidjan Brugghus. I loved this meal. I got the blue cheeseburger and a beer and I would highly recommend this brewery for the great food, craft beer, and cool atmosphere.
Brewery: Smidjan Brugghus
Address:
Sunnubraut 15, 870 Vík, Iceland
+ 354 571 8870
Day 3
Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck
On day 3, we woke up before sunrise to make the 2 mile walk on the beach to the Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck. In 1973 an American Navy plane ran out of gas and crash-landed on the Sólheimasandur beach, where it still sits today. We found that there wasn’t really an entrance or a marked trail on the side of the road. So, we used Google Maps on my phone to find the general area. Google will pull up a pin if you search for “Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck” on the Google Maps app.
Finding Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck
There are at least 2 separate parking areas on the side of the road, separated by at least a mile, where people were parking to make the walk. Nobody really seemed to know where the plane was located, just the general direction. Just park and head south toward the ocean. Eventually, you’ll see the ocean in the distance. Or, if you’re like us, you’ll have veered just far enough off the path that you will have to cross a large creek to get to the other side of the bank, where the plane is located. Wear your waterproof shoes and you’ll be just fine!
The Hike to Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck
In my time researching the plane wreck, I came across a lot of people saying it was an extremely long hike to the plane. In my opinion, it wasn’t really a hike – it was a long walk on flat ground. Also, it was a peaceful and private walk with beautiful views. I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t want to get out of their car and walk a little way to see the views you’ll see out here. We went at sunrise and it was a beautiful sky filled with pinks and blues rising over the snow-capped mountains. The images are still imprinted on my mind. It was breathtaking. I kept turning around and stopping to stare.
The walk was 2 miles in one direction, and it took about an hour each way. On occasion, I’ve heard people say it has taken them closer to 2 hours. If seeing this plane has crossed your mind at all, I would highly recommend making the walk to it if possible and if the weather is permitting. It was a really cool experience and something you’ll probably only see in Iceland.
With that being said, I must warn you if the weather is bad or it’s too cold, keep in mind that you could find yourself alone at the plane in very harsh weather. If you get cold easily, the hike may be better saved for a warmer day.
Dyrhólaey Peninsula
We got back on Route 1 and headed for Dyrhólaey Peninsula. Signs are clearly marked. If you have a 4 wheel drive car, you will have access to an additional gravel road that we did not go on. We just stopped to see the view from the overlook and then we headed on.
Icelandic Horses
There are many Icelandic horses around this area and it’s a great time for photos, but defiantly do not pull over on the shoulder. The shoulders are narrow and that would be very dangerous. I also saw many horses between Reykjavík and Seljalandsfoss waterfall area – just off Route 1.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach and Reynisdrangar cliffs
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach is only about a 20-minute drive east of Dyrhólaey Peninsula. At Reynisfjara, you will find basalt columns lined up against the cliff. You will get a view of Reynisdrangar cliffs in the distance to the east and the Dyrhólaey Peninsula to the west. If you want to get a different view of the Reynisdrangar cliffs – we saw them when we were headed west after visiting the Glacier Lagoon. The cliffs are right outside of Vík.
Day 4
Seljalandsfoss
Day 4 was Halloween! We were so excited when we got up in the morning. Once again, we hit the road before sunrise. We made our first stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall. This is the famous waterfall you can walk behind. It was so cold this morning and I was determined to get a shot of the waterfall. We were lucky to have no crowd to contend with, but I was too cold to walk behind it. I was ready to make it to Reykjavik to meet up with my boyfriend, Alex, after over 2 months apart.
Bobby Fischer’s Grave in Selfoss
My friend, Katie, has long been an admirer and possibly the biggest fan of the famous chess player, Bobby Fischer. He died in Reykjavik in 2008, and it was our mission to visit his grave on Halloween. So, I researched the town where he is buried, Selfoss, and discovered that there is also a memorial building called the Bobby Fischer Center. We were sad to find out it wasn’t open during our stay. However, we easily found the church where he’s buried.
Where is Bobby Fischer’s Grave Located?
Google Maps App once again came to our rescue. If you’re looking for his grave, just search on your app for “Grave of Bobby Fischer”, and you’ll see a pin on the map. The grave is located on the outskirts of Selfoss off of the main road. It was really easy to find.
Reykjavik
We finished driving back to Reykjavik, where we met up with Alex. We parked the car and walked around the city exploring and taking pictures of the architecture.
Hallgrímskirkja
We walked to the top of the famous Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavik for some incredible views of the city. We grabbed a quick lunch and headed to Viking World Museum where we got to go on a Viking ship and dress in costume. By then it was time to drive back to the city center to find our Airbnb. We rented an apartment close to the university. It was a great location – only 15 minutes walk from downtown. There was a nice coffee shop in the area called Kaffihús Vesturbæjar.
Fjaran Restaurant
We were celebrating both Katie and Alex’s birthdays on the trip. So, of course, we wanted to find a special place for a birthday celebration. We actually ended up celebrating twice. Our first birthday dinner celebration was at Fjaran Restaurant. It is a super cool Viking themed restaurant outside of Reykjavik. The restaurant is in an old Viking house and is part of a compound. There is also a Viking themed hotel here. Waiters are dressed in theme and although we didn’t see it on Wednesday night, we heard there is live music on weekends. I ordered the lamb shank with mashed potatoes. It was one of my favorite meals on the trip, but let’s be real – there were SO many good meals in Iceland. They were so nice and brought Alex and Katie brownies with ice cream for their birthday dessert.
Restaurant: Fjaran Restaurant
Address:
Húsavík, Iceland
+ 354 464 1133
Day 5
Reykjavik
Thursday marked our fifth day in Iceland, and we decided to spend the whole day in Reykjavik exploring the city. We began the day at Cafe Loki. This restaurant was recommended to me by two of my coworkers who had previously visited Iceland and loved it. I ordered the salmon lox. Alex had rye bread ice cream as part of his meal. This was so good and is their specialty.
Restaurant: Cafe Loki
Address:
Lokastígur 28, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
+ 354 551 2866
We continued to walk around the city, taking photos, shopping and stopping at a few pubs along the way. I loved the Irish pub, The Drunk Rabbit for the atmosphere.
The Blue Lagoon
We made our way to The Blue Lagoon at around 4 p.m. to get there before sunset so we could be in the lagoon as it got dark. We were running late getting out of Reykjavik and traffic at 4 p.m. on Thursday was congested. The lagoon is about 30 miles from Reykjavik center. However, it was stop and go traffic for about 45 minutes which made us late getting to our reservation at the lagoon. By the time we finally made it, it was already dark.
Once we arrived, we grabbed our wrist bands and headed for the locker rooms. You’ll be required to shower before entering the lagoon. They will have special shampoo and conditioner in the shower for you. They recommend putting conditioner in your hair and leaving it if you plan to put your hair in the lagoon. The minerals can make your hair feel sticky even when it’s dry.
Inside the Blue Lagoon
Your wrist band will get you access to the drink bar. They offer wine, beer, and smoothies. The green smoothie was very tasty. So was the beer. 🙂 You’ll also have access to the face mask bar. This was a fun experience that left my skin super soft. We loved the lagoon and stayed for 2 hours. We thought we would be cold getting out but actually we were hot when we decided to head out.
Day 6
Reykjavik
On Friday morning we stopped at Prikið, one of the oldest coffee houses in Reykjavik for breakfast. I had pancakes, eggs, and bacon. It was a good and inexpensive place for breakfast. After breakfast, we walked around the city then walked along the ocean toward the Harpa Concert Hall. We stopped along the way for a photoshoot by the ocean with the mountains in the background. Seriously, this city is so picturesque. Once we reached Harpa, we went inside and found a holiday market. We walked upstairs and got a cool view of the glass architecture from inside.
Hot Dogs
Then, we headed back outside in search of the famous Hot Dog Stand to order a hotdog with everything. There were a few stands in the center of the city and they shouldn’t be too hard to find. I am not a hot dog person, but when in Reykjavik! Hot dogs are a Reykjavik specialty, and these hot dogs were good!
Sæta Svínið Gastropub
Then, it was happy hour and we headed to a few pubs before our dinner reservation for our 2nd birthday celebration at Sæta Svínið Gastropub. This place was packed! We had reservations and got right in. The food was great. It’s a great atmosphere for a birthday. It’s not too formal but definitely a nicer restaurant in a great location in downtown Reykjavik. I ordered fish with potatoes and loved it! They brought Katie and Alex brownies with ice cream for dessert again. Moreover, everyone in Iceland was so nice! I love these people!
Restaurant: Sæta Svínið Gastropub
Address:
Hafnarstræti, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
+ 354 555 2900
J-Day Celebration
Later, we walked into the street where we accidentally ran into a J-Day party, which is typically a Danish celebration for the release of holiday beer. There was a mob of happy people singing and playing music, so we locked arms and marched to the center. Friendly strangers handed the three of us Tuborg beer in the new Christmas cans. While we stood there singing, confetti was released in the air and everyone cheered. It was a totally unexpected and great way to end our Icelandic vacation before heading home on Saturday morning.
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