My name is Natalie and I am a freelance Makeup Artist based in Toronto and a frequent traveller to Iceland.  I get a lot of questions about my travels from people looking for advice about going there. Iceland is an absolutely amazing country and has quickly become my favourite place to visit, yet it can be an expensive place to travel to.  So I have put together this blog, to share my experiences, my do's and don'ts and my packing list. I hope you enjoy reading what I have to say and that you have adventures as wonderful as I had travelling to this amazing country.

 

Best Time to Travel

Iceland has something to offer year round.  The summer boast hours of daylight and the midnight sun and winter will grant you beautiful snowy landscapes and a sky filled with northern lights.  I have travelled most frequently in fall and winter and the main reasons for that was my travel budget. During the peak travel season in Iceland (June-August) prices for accommodations, car rentals and tours are raised and fall back down when the peak season has ended.  I chose to travel during the offseason, stretching my travel budget further. There's never a bad time to travel to Iceland in my opinion, but if you are looking to save some money I suggest travelling in the Fall. The weather is mild, the prices have all dropped and you can get a little bit of everything.  Warmer weather near the coast, snow in the highlands and all around comfortable hiking weather.

 

Booking Your Flight

Iceland has become a hot tourist spot in the past several years and that means more airlines now go there.  One airline you may see often is WOW Air. They advertise very cheap flights to Iceland from a lot of different countries.  However, they charge you for EVERYTHING! Not saying they are a bad airline, I have had nothing but great experiences with them, but keep in mind that the price of the flight is not the final price you are going to pay.   So shop around and book well in advance! Also take into account that the international airport is located in Keflavik, a 40-50 minute drive from Reykjavik. The best way to get into Reykjavik from the airport is by Flybus (Greyhound style bus that will bring you to and from the airport). It leaves often, there's wifi on the bus, they stop at a lot of the most popular accommodations.  Flybus flat rates currently are as follows: Adults 16+ 5.500 ISK, Teenagers 12-15 2.750 ISK, Children 0-11 are free.

 

What to Bring

Packing for a trip to Iceland can be tricky.  The weather can change on a dime, going from nice and sunny to raining sideways in a matter of minutes.  Here are a few of my packing staples for travelling to Iceland, things that I honestly could not live without.  Keep in mind this list is more geared towards Fall travel.

Clothing

• A good pair of waterproof hiking shoes, preferably ones that can handle snow

• Waterproof pants

• Waterproof coat

• Warm socks

• A small down jacket.  I have this one and love it https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/women-ultra-light-down-jacket-409112.html?dwvar_409112_color=COL07#start=4&cgid=women-ultra-light-down-collection

• Tuque and gloves, preferably waterproof gloves

• Warm leggings

• Flip flops for when visiting hot springs

• Bathing suit

• Clothing that can easily be layered (t-shirts, tanks, sweaters, long sleeves)

• Running/walking shoes for city adventures (if your hiking boots are too bulky)

• One nice outfit for a fancier dinner or outing

• Other pants such as jeans, joggers etc.

• Blanket scarf/Wrap, I use mine for everything (as a blanket on the plane, housecoat in the morning, a wrap over my coat)

 

Gear and Misc.

• Backpack for daily adventures

• Refillable water bottle or bladder

• Sunglasses

• A good camera (the pictures you will get are amazing, make sure you have something worth capturing them on)

• A small first aid kit

• Quick-dry towel and face cloth

• Waterproof bag for phone or camera

• Battery pack to charge things

• Sunscreen

• Lip balm

• Cold medicine (This is 110% must have! Iceland does not have cold medicine like we do! TRUST ME bring something like NyQuil and DayQuil

• Power adapter (Make sure you get the one that converts power, not just an adapter)

 

Where to Stay

Iceland has so many wonderful places to visit and I suggest travelling the country as much as you can while you are there.  Stay a few days in Reykjavik then get yourself a rental car and get out there! You can drive the entirety of the country in about 13 hours so if you are staying for a week or more you have the option of seeing the entire country.  I highly recommend going North to Myvatn, this town has so many great things to offer and there is so much you can do adventure wise with Myvatn as your home base. As for accommodations, the best bang for your buck is Airbnb. They cost less than hotels, are easier to find in remote locations and gives you the option to cook and prepare meals.  If you have never used Airbnb then here's a $45 travel credit! www.airbnb.ca/c/njohn172

The only hotel I have ever stayed in and would recommend is Luna Hotel Apartments https://luna.is/.  They rent out whole apartments, so you get a full kitchen and living room and are conveniently located in the heart of Reykjavik.  

 

Where to Eat

Iceland has some wonderful food but eating out for every meal while on vacation can get expensive.  So, I suggest stopping at Bonus (Think Icelandic version of No Frill or Trader Joe's) and get yourself some supplies.  I usually get groceries for breakfast, light lunches and snacks to take on the go and the fixings to make one dinner that I can eat over a couple days.  

When you do want to go out here are a list of places I really enjoyed.

 

In Reykjavik

• Noodle Station: small takeout with some seating.  They serve pho like soup and its one of my absolute favourite places to visit when I’m in Reykjavik.

• Chuck Norris: Burger place with seating, open late.

• Kaffi Brennslan: Little cafe on the main strip.  Best chai latte I have ever had!

• Grey Cat: Great breakfast place, a little higher in price but the food is great.

• Hlolla Batar: Subtype sandwich stall great for a cheap quick lunch.

• Braud & Co.: Best bakery in town! Make sure to get there early for fresh out of the oven breads, croissants, cinnamon rolls and much more.  There is often a line out of the door for this fantastic bakery.

• Vollfluvagninn: Small waffle cart parked near the church.  SO GOOD.

 

In Akureyri

• Sushi Corner: Great lunch deals! The sushi goes around on a moving conveyer belt and you just pick what you want to eat.

• Bryggjan: Gastropub with great pizza, plenty of seating but can get busy during peak hours.

• Greifinn: More American style food, also has great pizza!

 

In Myvatn

• Vogafjos: This is the cow shed cafe! You can see the dairy cows from inside the restaurant and even go in and say "hello" to them.  They make so many of their ingredients in-house, one of the best burgers I have had.

• Daddi’s Pizza: One of the only places open later.  Limited seating but you can always take out!

• Gamli Bistro: Bar with European style food.  Great lamb burger.

 

What to do

The sky's the limit when it comes to things to do in Iceland.  You can have everything from the most relaxing vacation to the most extreme adventures and everything in between.  If you are staying in Reykjavik without renting a car that's ok! There are plenty of tours that leave from many locations in the city centre.  You can book these online or grab some info from the bus station. Just do your research and read the reviews. If you are in North Iceland and want to go on adventures, you must book your tours with GeoTravel http://geotravel.is/ Hands down the best tour experience I have ever come across in my travels. Anton, one of the owners and head tour guide, along with his team are personable and really knowledgeable about the area. I still to this day talk about my first tour with them.  

 

Things to do in and around Reykjavik

• Walk around! The city has a lot to see and a lot to offer that is easily accessible on foot. The waterfront, Harpa Concert Hall, the Church, just to name a few.

• The Icelandic Philological Museum aka The Penis Museum: This one is not for the squeamish as there are well, actual… specimens.  I love science and medical museums, so this was a fun place for me to visit.

• The Saga Museum: Learn the history of Iceland by looking at super creepy wax people!

• The Blue Lagoon:  Some people may say its a tourist trap and in ways it is.  However, I found it totally worth going to at least once. If you can get yourself a treatment, get a 20-minute massage in the water.  Yes, it’s as amazing as it sounds. You will need a car or book a bus to get to the lagoon from Reykjavik.

• Hveragerdi Hot Spring River: This is a geothermal river that you can bathe in and will require a car to get to.  Google the Hot River Cafe and park there, after that it’s about a 3km hike up the mountain. It is very well marked so don’t worry about getting lost and trust me its totally worth the hike. When you get to the top you will be greeted with two rivers, one is cold and great for keeping drinks chilly and the other river is hot and perfect for bathing.  Get ready to change outside as well, only small dividers between your bum and the world!

• Inside The Volcano Tour: This is one of the day trips I took from Reykjavik and it was such a cool experience.  You actually go into a dormant volcano and was a once in a lifetime experience.

• The Golden Circle:  This is a great day trip to take if you want to get the most out of Iceland in a short period of time.  Can be accessed by tour bus or go at your own pace in your rental car. Now, these are tourist spots so be prepared to see a lot of people and crowds.  

 

 

Things to do in the North

• Go to Myvatn: This small town in North Iceland is packed full of things to do and is a great home base for any Northern adventures.  They have lots of guest houses and some hotels, restaurants and campgrounds. Note the only place to get groceries in Myvatn is at the N1 gas station.  (Prices aren't crazy high but selection is limited)

• Akureyri: This is a larger town in North Iceland that is located on a fiord.  Breathtaking views, whale watching tours, shopping and restaurants can be found here.

• Lofthellir Ice Cave Tour:  This was such an amazing experience the first time I went to North Iceland and have since taken the tour twice. I don’t want to spoil any of the surprises but wear all waterproof gear (pants, jacket and gloves) and get ready for a little bit of crawling.  Its nothing you can’t handle, it is totally worth the effort! Book the tour here http://geotravel.is/tour/lofthellir-ice-cave-tour/

• Askja & Holuhraun:  This is a great tour if you are looking to see the highlands and some unbelievably breathtaking views.  Pack a lunch for this one and get ready for some of the most amazing views. Warmer clothes are a good idea for this tour (I had a snowball fight when I took it) Book the tour here http://geotravel.is/tour/askja-holuhraun-super-jeep-tour/

• Book a custom tour:  Geo Travel is hands down the best tour company I have ever dealt with.  They are a green company and carbon offset all their tours by planting indigenous Icelandic trees so you can feel great about booking with them.  Anton and his team are so personable, knowledgeable and professional. They will help you book a custom tour or choose from the tours they have on their website www.geotravel.is

• Myvatn Nature Baths:  This beautiful man made lagoon located in Myvatn has fantastic views that are even more spectacular at sunset.  Perfect for enjoying a relaxing dip in the lagoon or a steam in their steam baths.  https://www.myvatnnaturebaths.is/

 

Other Cool Spots to Check Out

• Waterfalls: There are so many beautiful waterfalls in Iceland and you can find them all over the country. Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Godafoss to name a few.  If it has "Foss" in the name it's a waterfall.

• Solheimasandur Plane crash: US Navy plane that crash landed on Solheimasandur beach in 1973.  You can check out the wrecked plane and even go inside.  It makes for some pretty fantastic pictures.

• Secret Lagoon: Natural hot spring located in Fludir which is in the Golden Circle area.  This spot makes for beautiful pictures.

 

Booking a Rental Car

Booking a rental car is a must have if you want to travel around Iceland and there are a couple things you should know before you rent.

• Read reviews! There are a lot of rental companies out there so do some good research before booking.

• DO NOT rent a compact car unless you plan on strictly sticking to main roads.  

• Make sure to get good insurance, rock and wind damage are very real possibilities.

• Get a vehicle with four-wheel drive.

• Hold onto the doors while opening them on windy days to avoid damaging your rental.

• I’ve booked with both Lotus Car Rental and Six60 and have had pleasant experiences with both companies.

 

Do’s and Don’ts of Iceland

There are a couple of things to consider when visiting any country.  Here is a list of do’s and don’ts to consider when travelling to Iceland.

 

Do:

• Book your travel and accommodations well in advance.

• Be prepared for all kinds of weather.

• Go sit your butt in a hot spring.  They are truly amazing.

• Grab some booze from the duty-free if you plan on drinking.  Going out to the bar gets expensive quick.

• Look for happy hour specials to save money on nights out.

• Buy an Icelandic sweater at the Handknitting Association of Iceland.

• Take home some Icelandic sea salt.

• Be flexible in your schedule.  The weather can affect plans so try not to be to set in what you’re going to do.  

• Try all the fun food Iceland has to offer.

• Get some chocolate.  Iceland has amazing dairy and the chocolate is delicious.  

• Drink some Koko Mjolk.  Icelandic chocolate milk that has a very muscly cat on it.  Weird I know, but so good.

 

Don’t:

• Litter.  This should go without being said but I still see people do it.

• Drive off the road.  DON’T DO THIS! If you drive on anything but the designated roads your tire marks will stay.  Not for a couple days, not for a couple weeks and not a couple years. Your tire marks will stay there for decades!  The locals hate it and it encourages other people to follow on the wrong path.

• Stop on the road.  Your four ways are not magic lights that make you safe if you decide to stop.  The roads don’t always have the best visibility and you don’t want to cause an accident.  There are spots designed for you to pull over and take a look at whatever it is that caught your eye.

• Feed the horses.  Yes, they are cute and fluffy, you can stop and pet them but please don’t feed them anything.  The farmers don’t appreciate it.

• Call the Horses ponies.  Icelandic horses are the only technically pony size horses out there.  They are very proud of them so don’t go calling them ponies

• Throw coins into the geysers or geothermal pools.  This is not how you make a wish.

• Step off the walking path unless you are following a guide.  The moss is very delicate and takes years to grow and doesn’t appreciate being stepped on.

 

I hope you enjoyed what I had to write.  If you have any questions about travelling to Iceland feel free to contact me using the form below, I would be more than happy to answer any questions.  You can also follow me on Instagram @icelandtraveller.blog