4 Day Visit to Reykjavík

Iceland is an up-and-coming destination for many travelers, and it’s easy to see why. With no shortage of natural wonders, from volcanoes to glaciers, waterfalls to geysers, and mountains to geothermal hot springs, Iceland really has it all. What’s more, nearly everyone speaks English, and the Icelandic people are incredibly warm and welcoming to travelers. 

Especially as a female solo traveler, I found this to be a great place to visit. Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world—I saw children walking or playing without an adult present multiple times, something I never see in my home state (Florida). The tour and transportation companies are also very accommodating. They will usually drop you/pick you up right from your hotel (or a very close bus stop if staying at an Airbnb or downtown). 

Now on to the good stuff! What to do if you are spending three to four days in Reykjavík? 

Go to Blue Lagoon straight from the airport 

I found this to be the PERFECT spot to come after a long 12 hours or so of travel. The Blue Lagoon, created from geothermal springs, is very relaxing. It’s like sitting in a hot bath with steam rising up, with a view of the mountains. After soaking in the lagoon, you can take a shower with the complimentary body wash and conditioner. (I recommend putting a lot of conditioner in before and after, as the water can be hard on your hair!) Or if you’re not feeling the hot water for too long, there’s a relaxing viewing platform inside where you can enjoy the view of the lagoon, rising steam, and mountains from the second floor. Either way, it is a relaxing start to your Icelandic adventure, especially if your flight lands very early in the morning. 

If you decide to go to Blue Lagoon, you must prebook your visit at bluelagoon.com. When you book your visit, you can also book your transportation from the airport. A bus will pick you up at the airport and take you to Blue Lagoon, and when you’d like to leave, you can take another bus from there to your hotel (or closest bus stop to Airbnb) in Reykjavík. (There is also luggage storage at Blue Lagoon, since many people go on their way to/from the airport.)

Book a tour to see the Icelandic countryside and all it has to offer

If you’re traveling on a budget, you may hesitate to do this at first. However, I would highly recommend booking a tour if you are only here for a few days. The alternative, of course, is to rent a car, but personally, I prefer to let someone else show me around than try to figure it out myself. What’s more, after the cost of renting a car and buying gas, you’re probably almost at the price of the tour anyways. If you decide to book a tour, I recommend Your Day Tours. This is a small company (only a couple of years old) that provides impeccable service. They currently offer two tours: the South Coast and the Golden Circle. If you have at least two full days in Reykjavík, book both. If you only have one full day, I recommend the South Coast. 

My tour guide on both tours provided insights on Icelandic history and culture, while playing Icelandic music and offering us a bite of Icelandic food and drink. They also showed us many parts of the countryside that I likely wouldn’t have known about if I was traveling on my own. The tours have less than 20 people. 

South Coast 

On this tour, you will have a chance to see waterfalls (Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss) a glacier (Sólheimajökull), and a black sand beach. You’ll also pass through a little town called Vík. My personal favorite was the glacier, which is located on top of an active volcano that has actually been overdue to erupt for 40 years. If you’re lucky, your tour guide might even stop at an old little house built into rock that is said to be the home of elves (40 percent of the Icelandic population actually believes in elves – And they take their belief VERY seriously; it’s not something to joke about! Like politics in the U.S.)

Golden Circle 

On this tour, you will see the second most powerful waterfall in the country (Gulfoss), several hot springs (Geysir), and Thingvellir National Park. If you’re lucky, you may even stop at a local farm, where you can pet the Icelandic horses and sheep. My personal favorite was Thingvellir National Park, which is where the European tectonic plate meets the North American tectonic plate. 

What to do in Reykjavík???

The city is small, but there is plenty to do! My favorite activity was taking a walk along the ocean, since there’s a beautiful backdrop of snowcapped mountains across the water. You can walk all the way down to the Old Harbor, where the Harpa is located (a beautiful modern glass concert hall.) 

Best view of the city 

In my opinion, the best view of the city is from the top of Hallgrimskirkja, the iconic Lutheran Church in Reykjavík known for its architecture. At the top, you can get a view of the city from each side of the church. 

Where to eat 

Iceland is very expensive—everything costs about twice as much as it does in the US. Aka, a dinner in Iceland usually runs about $30. For my first two nights, I bought tortellini and tomato sauce at the Bonus supermarket for about $6. On my third and final night, I decided to splurge, and I’m glad I did! I tried a restaurant called Rok, which is very close to Hallgrimskirkja (in fact, you can see the church from some of the tables!). It’s a tapas-style restaurant that serves Icelandic dishes. It’s quite reasonably priced, considering an average dinner in Iceland is about $30 and the dishes here were very aesthetically constructed. I ordered two tapas (the cured reindeer and fish pie, $30 total) and the happy hour champagne ($18! Sheesh) but it was perfect and worth it, considering I ate tortellini for two nights!

If you’re craving dessert, try the Babalu Cafe. They have NY cheesecake, vegan carrot cake, Nutella cheesecake, and apple crumb cake. You can also grab a cup of coffee or a crepe here! 

Another great coffee place is Reykjavík Roasters, also located close to Hallgrimskirkja. I got a Mokka and a chocolate croissant here, both of which were delicious! The perfect place to power up before your flight to your next destination, or just stop in for a warm, cozy atmosphere to escape the cold. 

Some random tips about visiting Iceland:

* It’s very cold and the weather kind of sucks. It’s rainy and windy, but if you get lucky like me, you may get a sunny day or two! 

* It’s very expensive, so be sure to factor that into your budget. 

* As if it’s not expensive enough, most bathrooms cost money. 

* I never used any Icelandic krona. I was able to use my credit card everywhere (however, at one bathroom I was charged a $2 service fee, more than the price of the bathroom, just something to consider.)

* Considering how small and minimally populated this country is, it is surprisingly modern with better technology and infrastructure than some Western European countries.