Cheap Car Rental in Iceland - Firefly Car Rental Iceland

Explore Iceland without breaking the bank with Firefly Car Rental . Our affordable rental options allow you to experience the breathtaking landscapes and attractions of Iceland without overspending. With a wide range of vehicles to choose from and transparent pricing, we make cheap car rentals services in Iceland easy and budget-friendly. Book your rental today and embark on your Icelandic adventure hassle-free!

Budget-Friendly Travel with Economy Car Rental in Iceland by Hertz Iceland

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Ventito Ltd

Ventito Ltd

Keep in mind that more is not constantly merrier. If you are traveling in a group of 5 or more adults, you will have more minimal options in terms of both transportation and lodging. This might in fact increase your costs of travel per person. If you can't discover travel buddies, make sure to compare your travel options.

These might end up working out as less costly (or about the same expense) than doing it all yourself as soon as you aspect in all the costs, especially if you are taking a trip alone. If you decide that you wish to lease a vehicle and drive in Iceland, you can conserve cash by comparing vehicle costs, minimizing rental days and comprehending your vehicle insurance choices.

If you are not sure if you desire to lease a vehicle or not, I 'd compare the cost of leasing a vehicle (including insurance) with other alternatives (e. g., joining tours or a Bus Passport). Automobile leasings are not cheap in Iceland and are not the finest option for all travelers.

Ventito Travel

Here are some locations to examine prices and consider scheduling: Northbound This online market focuses on rental automobiles in Iceland and is the one we advise. The websites lists cars and trucks, SUVs, vans, and campervans from a variety of rental firms in Iceland. https://ventito.is/ allow you to select from numerous extra insurances that are special to Iceland.

This company rents out older model vehicles and is typically the most inexpensive website. It has received worse consumer evaluations compared to other rental car business in Iceland. We have not utilized them so can't use any personal experience, however might be an alternative to consider for those on a tight budget plan.

NOTE: You require to be at least twenty years of age to rent an automobile in Iceland and many business need motorists to be at least 23 or 25 years of age. Extra rental charges are in some cases credited chauffeurs aged 25 or younger. Do not wait to decide if you wish to lease an automobile eleventh hour once you get to Iceland, particularly in summer.

Ventito Iceland

Rates are generally better online than if you call or stroll into a rental vehicle company needing a same-day rental. Conserve cash by just renting the vehicle for the days you will be in fact utilizing it to minimize the variety of rental days. Do you truly need a car for your whole journey? Organize your journey so that the days you don't require an automobile fall together to conserve cash.

You also don't require a vehicle if you are planning to take any complete day trips such as to go on a guided glacier hike or bus tour out to the Highlands. Let me beginning this with the truth insurance in Iceland (as in many locations) is complicated and we do not pretend to comprehend it entirely or to offer any legal suggestions.

In Iceland you should have basic third-party liability insurance coverage to lawfully operate a lorry which is typically covered under the CDW (collision damage waiver) insurance consisted of with your automobile or campervan leasing. Make sure to inspect that this is consisted of but almost every rental comes with this consisted of in the rate because it is a legal requirement.

Ventito Travel

Ventito Travel

Note that more is not always merrier. If you are taking a trip in a group of 5 or more grownups, you will have more restricted alternatives in regards to both transportation and accommodation. This might in fact increase your costs of travel per individual. If you can't discover travel companions, be sure to compare your travel alternatives.

These may end up exercising as less costly (or about the exact same expense) than doing it all yourself once you element in all the costs, especially if you are taking a trip alone. If you choose that you desire to lease a vehicle and drive in Iceland, you can save cash by comparing cars and truck costs, reducing rental days and comprehending your automobile insurance coverage options.

If you are uncertain if you desire to rent a car or not, I 'd compare the expense of leasing a car (consisting of insurance coverage) with other alternatives (e. g., signing up with tours or a Bus Passport). Cars and truck leasings are not cheap in Iceland and are not the best choice for all travelers.

Ventito Ltd

Here are some locations to inspect rates and think about scheduling: Northbound This online marketplace concentrates on rental automobiles in Iceland and is the one we recommend. The websites lists automobiles, SUVs, vans, and campervans from a number of rental agencies in Iceland. They also allow you to pick from different additional insurances that are unique to Iceland.

This business leas out older model cars and is typically the least expensive website. It has gotten even worse customer reviews compared to other rental automobile business in Iceland. We have not used them so can't use any personal experience, but may be an option to think about for those on a tight budget plan.

NOTE: You require to be a minimum of twenty years of age to rent a vehicle in Iceland and lots of business require drivers to be a minimum of 23 or 25 years of age. Extra rental costs are sometimes credited chauffeurs aged 25 or more youthful. Do not wait to decide if Browse this site wish to rent a vehicle eleventh hour once you get to Iceland, particularly in summer season.

Ventito Iceland

Rates are usually better online than if you call or stroll into a rental car agency requiring a same-day leasing. Conserve cash by just renting the automobile for the days you will be actually using it to decrease the number of rental days.

You likewise don't require an automobile if you are planning to take any full day tours such as to go on an assisted glacier hike or bus tour out to the Highlands. Let me preface this with the reality insurance coverage in Iceland (as in the majority of places) is made complex and we do not pretend to comprehend it entirely or to provide any legal advice.

In Iceland you must have standard third-party liability insurance coverage to lawfully run a lorry which is generally covered under the CDW (crash damage waiver) insurance consisted of with your automobile or campervan leasing. Make certain to check that this is included however practically every rental comes with this included in the price since it is a legal requirement.

The Westman Islands in Iceland - All Tips & Highlights

As if our Iceland tour wasn't great enough, we also took a trip to the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar). Up to this point we had already explored the north of Iceland, the south, the south-east, the Vatnsnes peninsula and the east. So the next adventure awaited us.

This archipelago is located 10 to 30 kilometers off the Icelandic coast in the south of the country. Only one of the 14 islands is inhabited, namely Heimaey. And that's the island we went to. Some make a day trip to the island (morning there, back evening). We have stayed on the island and would recommend it to anyone. In the following post you will learn everything about the island, activities, tours, accommodation and transfer.

Getting to Vestmannaeyjar

From Landeyjahöfn in the south of Iceland you can easily take the ferry to Heimaey. The journey only takes around 30 to 35 minutes. You can also take your camper or rental car with you. Of course you can also go to the island without your wheels.

We parked our car in front of the ferry terminal and didn't take it with us. The ferry runs at least 4 times a day. Times vary by month. In the high season the ferry also runs more frequently. You only pay 1380 ISK (10.80€) per trip. With a small car you would pay a total of 40€ for a round trip. cheap right?

OVER WITH THE FERRY

Of course, the ferry cannot start if the weather is too bad. So it can happen that you are already on the island and do not come back to Landeyjahöfn as planned. Then you have to book accommodation on site and are forced to spend the night there. You should be at the ferry 30 minutes before departure. As a rule, only the driver is allowed to remain in the car during the crossing.

All other passengers have to go on the ferry. There you can sit comfortably and sip a coffee. You should book your tickets in advance, either online or you can drive to the ferry terminal in Landeyjahöfn. From time to time the tickets are fully booked online. In this case you should call them, tickets are usually still available on the phone.

Don't fancy the ferry? You can also fly to the island from Reykjavik with Eagle Air. The flight takes almost half an hour. You have to reckon with at least 120€ per route. Of course you will have a great view of Iceland and the sea in good weather. For that reason alone, a flight to the island is certainly pretty cool. However, it is cheaper to take the ferry. You can book your ferry tickets here.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER ON THE ISLAND

The climate on the islands is moderately warm. It never gets really icy, but never really warm either. In summer the thermometer rises to up to 12 degrees Celsius. In winter, however, the temperatures usually never drop below 0 degrees Celsius. This is also typical for Iceland. Due to the Gulf Stream, the island never gets freezing cold like in other parts of the north. This makes it quite bearable all year round.

However, it rains a lot and often, even on the Westman Islands. We were lucky. During our trip the sun was shining and it was only partly cloudy. Hiking in the mountains can get very cold and windy. You should therefore have appropriate clothing with you. According to the climate diagram, the best months are from June to September. But as you know, the weather in Iceland is unpredictable and extremely changeable.

BOOK ACCOMMODATION

After almost two weeks in the tent, we really wanted a bed. Without further ado, we booked a cool hut on the campsite via Booking.com. In that sense, we did " glamping ", a somewhat more comfortable variant of camping. The little wooden huts are really charming. There are two beds in it, two chairs, a table, heaters, a mirror, a fridge and storage space.

The toilets, kitchen and showers are in the main house. We paid €79 per night. It was worth it to us, we slept like logs! However, the price did not include blankets, pillows and bed linen (€16 more per person). We slept in our sleeping bags, which was really enough.

From the harbor it is a 15 minute walk to the campsite where the cabins are located. You reserve your hut in advance on Booking.com, but then only pay on site. An impressive small mountain range rises in the background of the course. The island's local mountain with the highest elevation of 283 meters has a lot to offer.

Here you can take a great hike, but more on that later. A golf course is also located directly in front of the complex. It is only a 10-minute walk to the local outdoor pool. You generally do not need a car on the island, but you can take it with you. Otherwise, hitchhiking on the island also works wonderfully, as the Icelanders are just super helpful and friendly.

HIKING ON VESTMANNAEYJAR

On the island you can go on relaxed and challenging hikes. We hiked once to the southern tip of Stórhöfði (4.5 km). A beautiful peninsula with a puffin look awaits you here. You can also look forward to a small black beach and great views of the sea. It took us about 1.5 hours to get to the peninsula. Then it was back by hitchhiking. You can also drive your car to the peninsula and park there. On the peninsula you will find small hiking trails that you can walk along.

How about a hike up Eldfell Volcano ? It is best to start from the harbor to the hiking trail on the Eldfell. From the top you have a great view of the entire island. If the weather is good, you can see the mainland yourself. You should plan about 1.5 to 2 hours for the hike. By the way: This volcanic cone appeared out of nowhere on January 23, 1973.

The volcanic ash and lava destroyed many houses on the island. All people had to be evacuated and could only return to the island almost 5 months later. Even today it is so warm in some places that you can bake bread there. Next door is the Helgafell volcano. You can also climb this.

HIKE TO THE LOCAL MOUNTAIN HEIMAKLETTUR

A very beautiful and challenging hike awaits you directly behind the campsite. From there the hike to the 283 meter high local mountain Heimaklettur starts. It's only 20 minutes to the top, but the climb is steep. Once at the top, you can turn left and walk along the ridge. The views are spectacular.

Then it always goes right along towards the port. Some of the paths are a bit shaky, not secured and slippery. This hike is not recommended with small children and generally only if you are a little fit. The path ends down in town near the port. We brought about 1.5 to 2 hours in total.

If you have more time, you can also explore the entire island. The hiking trail leads from Herjólfsdalur along the coastal road to the southern tip of Stórhöfði. On the way back it goes back on the east side to the Eldfell just described. You should plan 2.5 to 3 hours for this route. It is best to ask your accommodation for a map, there you will find all the routes.

PUFFINS

Not only nature is a real eye-catcher on this island. Another reason to visit Heimaey is certainly the fact that it is home to the largest puffin colony in the country during the season. There are some good spots to spot the cute birds. Unfortunately we were a few weeks late and couldn't spot any of the puffins in the wild. You can see them in the very south on the peninsula or at the top of Heimaklettur. But actually you often find them on cliffs by the sea. That's where they feel most comfortable.

Every year between May and August

Every year these little birds migrate many thousands of kilometers. In winter they live on the open sea to find food. You can even find them in Newfoundland. Crazy, right? So you can't mock puffins all year round. You have the best chances between May and August. Then they come to breed on the cliffs of Iceland. Sometimes you see them as early as April or even in September. We ran out of luck in early September. To protect the birds, breeding areas are also closed between May and June.

If you want to learn more about these amazing birds, take a trip to the city's aquarium. Here you can also find out everything about the underwater world and the inhabitants of the island. And of course a large part of the exhibition is also dedicated to the puffins. Here they also take care of injured puffins or the young animals, which are attracted by the city lights from June to September.

During this time you will always see locals walking the streets with flashlights and boxes. In the city it is far too dangerous for the little ones, which is why they are then taken back to the sea. It's almost like a national sport on this island. Just awesome. We could even see a real puffin in the aquarium, which lives here in the rescue center. The little one's sebum glands didn't work right from the start, which is why the fur isn't watertight/waterproof. Outside, the bird would not survive.

TOURS AND WHALE WATCHING

The island is not only famous for its puffin colony but also for whale watching. And we're not just talking about humpback whales, we're talking about orcas. They cavort off the coast of the island, especially in July. You can spot other whales around the island almost all year round. Boat tours are offered by a few different providers. On the Guide to Iceland* website you get the following tour: 1 hour by boat including caving, whale watching, bird watching and sightseeing.

More highlights on Heimaey

The island has quite an interesting history. If you want to learn more about the 1973 volcanic eruption then you should make a detour to the Eldheimar Museum. At the exhibition, you will learn how 5,000 residents escaped the volcano's lava flow at the last minute on 01/23/2973. You will see what has become of a burnt down city covered in ashes. The unpredictable forces of nature are presented here in an interesting and moving way. Admission is 2,300 ISK for adults. The museum is open every day between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

And can you imagine that every year there is a huge festival on the island? The National Festival takes place every year on the weekend before the first Monday in August. Then more than 17,000 people flock to the small island. With music, dancing, drinks and a good mood, the celebrations here are really extensive.

What we can absolutely recommend is a detour to the local swimming pool. Here you can end the evening in super warm temperatures in the outdoor pool. Pools like this are meeting places for young and old in Iceland anyway. Outside there are 3 hot tubs (up to 42 degrees Celsius), water slides and much more. You can also take a shower there in peace. Entry costs 900 ISK per person (about 7€).

Eat and drink

On the island you will find a Bónus supermarket as well as a Krónan supermarket. We shopped at Bonus most of the time because the prices there are unbelievably cheap (by Icelandic standards). You will also find some restaurants and cafes. The God and the Tanginn are very popular. There is also the Pizza 67, the 900 Grillhus, the Slippurinn, the Fiskibarinn and the Einsi Kaldi Restaurant. And you can also find cafes on the island. Highly recommended is Stofans Bakhus. We paid around €14 for 2 cappuccinos and cake. In Heimaey you will also find the Café Varmó.

Conclusion of the Vestmannaeyjar

We made this trip very spontaneously during our tour of Iceland. In the end we can say that this detour is really worth it. Since we still had a lot of time, we could afford this excursion in time. However, if you are only on the island for 7 or 10 days, we would advise against it. There is certainly enough to see on the “main island” Iceland. We particularly liked the accommodation and the various hikes.

There was very little going on and so we didn't have to share any of the spots with other holidaymakers. The evening at the pool was also very cool, as was the trip to the Puffin Rescue Center. And during puffin season, a trip is even more worthwhile. Then you have the opportunity to see thousands of puffins here. Insanity! In the end we spent around 150€ for these 2 days. After almost two weeks in the tent, that was a very welcome change. You can read our complete editions of the round trip here: Iceland round trip costs.

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Tips for Driving in Iceland During Winter

Iceland was on our travel wish list for a long, long time. A couple of summers ago, we thought of traveling to this country to explore all around, but that trip never ended up happening. We decided to stay in Stockholm for a while, instead. Earlier... Read more..

July 5th, 2021

Day 10: Meeting Up With A Friend Before A Sprint To The Finish Line

This morning, because my parents had an earlier flight home than we did, we woke up to drop them off at the airport before coming back home to finish some last minute laundry, packing, and cleaning up. The only real thing on our last day’s schedule was a meet-up with Kristin Julia Erlingsdottir (pronounced “Christine” in Iceland), a pediatric resident in Iceland who I met 4.5 years ago when we were both medical students doing rotations at Landspitali. Even though we didn’t rotate together at Landspitali, we met each other in the cafeteria through other students who went to school in Slovakia with Kristin and since then, we have kept in touch via Instagram. So the plan this morning was to grab a quick breakfast with Kristin before flying home. 

Because Minh didn’t want to join for breakfast, he ended up doing his own thing for an hour or two while Cynthia and I went out to meet with Kristin at a cafe nearby. Along the way to the cafe, because we wanted to load up on yummy pastries to take home from Sandholt, I dropped Cynthia off to buy them while I went on ahead to Grai Kotturinn, a cafe down the street, to meet with Kristin first. But before I left, we learned that Sandholt wasn’t selling any almond croissants today. So sad. But I did get a chance to take a look at and pick out the pastries I was interested in trying, with Cynthia eventually settling for a cranberry scone, two cinnamon rolls, a brown sugar roll with cream cheese, and a pain au raisin. That’ll probably do the trick. 

So after I left Cynthia, I walked over to Grai Kotturinn, a cafe that Kristin had suggested nearby, to meet up with her after her night shift at the hospital. I was very grateful to Kristin for making time to meet up with us despite her busy residency schedule, and I was glad that I could actually fit her into my tight schedule as well. Anyhow, once I approached the cafe, I recognized her standing outside in her stylish all-black outfit and greeted her. It was so nice to see her again after all these years, even though we weren’t best buds but just quick friends from a brief time together. 

Because there was a line at Grai Kotturinn, we stood outside for a bit and started catching up about our individual lives in medicine in our respective countries while waiting for Cynthia to join up. Before long, Cynthia had arrived but the line hadn’t really budged. Because of how tight we were on time and how I didn’t want to make Kristin take too much time out of her morning waiting in line for food, we pivoted and changed course with regards to where to eat. Because both Grai Kotturinn and Sandholt had waits due to the recent influx of tourists, Kristin suggested that we drive over to a spot further from downtown called Kaffihús Vesturbæjar to skip the lines. We agreed, and she drove us over to Kaffihús Vesturbæjar for breakfast. 

We arrived at Kaffihús Vesturbæjar pretty early so their lunch menu wasn’t yet available. So, despite all the great suggestions that Kristin had on food options, we ended up having to choose some breakfast items from their simple breakfast menu, with me and Cynthia ordering a ham and cheese croissant to go with our pain au raisin we bought from Sandholt earlier. The cafe meet-up wasn’t really about eating so much as it was about finding a comfy place to catch up and share stories. And even though the food at Kaffihús Vesturbæjar was OK, the cafe was the perfect place to sit and chat for a little less than two hours. And Cynthia and I had a terrific time chatting with Kristin and learning more about her life before and during residency (like how she grew up briefly in Oklahoma, how she was sort of out of place as a returning Icelander once she was back in Reykjavik, about her doctor boo, how her pediatric residency has been, and about traveling, education, Icelanders, real estate, tourism). We also enjoyed sharing our stories with her too and I could tell that she really enjoyed the company. It was really great to find yet another opportunity to catch up with a local friend. Trips are always so much better when you can do something like that. Thank you again Kristin for making time after a busy night shift to meet up with us! 

Before we knew it, we were running tight on time because of how much fun we were having with Kristin at Kaffihús Vesturbæjar . Luckily, we saved some time when Kristin offered to drop us off at home. Once we were home, we thanked her and said our goodbyes. With Minh already home and relatively ready to go, Cynthia and I quickly finished packing our stuff before loading all of it into the car. After one last sweep of the flat, we left for one more quick visit to downtown for last minute souvenirs. Cynthia and I ran through downtown looking for things we thought we might want to buy but eventually decided not to buy anything at all. So we hurried back to the car where Minh was waiting and headed for the airport. It was nice to get a last jog in through Reykjavik before flying out! 

Once we were close to the airport, we made a pit stop at the grocery store where we had previously stopped on the first day to buy some chocolates for friends. Then we stopped by Subway to buy some subs for the long trip home before driving to Blue Car Rental to drop off our rental. Funny enough, we ran into Will and Mary again at Blue Car Rental and shared stories about our respective trips while walking over together to the departures terminal. Once we were in line (it was a very long check-in line at Icelandair because of all the Americans heading home after the long weekend), we had this awkward “see-you-every-few-minutes” situation with Will and Mary because of where we were positioned relative to them in line. So we didn’t get to catch up much after that. After chowing down on our food and getting through the line, security, and passport control, we finally made it to our gate, where we waited longer than expected to finally board our long flight home. 

Iceland, it was great seeing you again. And it was great finally introducing you to my parents and Cynthia. I’m not sure when I’ll get to see you, your beautiful landscapes, and your nice people again but when the time comes, I’ll be excited to come back for my fourth visit. Till then! Takk takk! 

5 Things I Learned/Observed Today:

1. It takes a lot of years to finish a pediatric residency in Iceland. Per Kristin, you can only do two years of training in Iceland (after one required internship year) before having to apply to pediatric programs outside of the country to complete your five years of pediatrics training (six years including the one internship year). The reason why pediatrics residents have to leave Iceland for their last three years is because the program is small and because the hospitals in Iceland see such small volumes of kids that residents don’t get enough exposure to be properly trained. Therefore, they have to get more exposure in other countries in other programs. For example, most people, if good enough, will go to Sweden to continue their training or they can go to a different Nordic country. Surprisingly, the Iceland peds program has a partnership with a Connecticut pediatrics program and they send one or two students a year there. 

2. In the Icelandic pediatric program, when you’re working nights, as Kristin was doing, you work the pediatric wards as well as the NICU (there is no PICU at Landspitali). Luckily, the ED has their own resident so they don’t have to cover that at the same time. Very fortunate. 

3. Interestingly enough, pediatric illness in Iceland came about very late this year as a result of the COVID pandemic and restrictions that came with it. For example, from what Kristin saw, RSV cases peaked in June instead of way earlier in the year in winter. And they had zero cases of the flu (though I’m not sure if that was just among kids or among both kids and adults). And pediatric gastroenteritis was only starting to appear in early July, which is a bit delayed as well. I’m sure public health and epidemiology data from this COVID period will be fascinating to look back at and study in every country.

4. Here in Iceland, people are primarily vaccinated with AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Janssen vaccines. And unlike the case in America, most people in Iceland are itching to get their vaccinations and are ready to run up when their name is randomly drawn. Additionally, it sounds like Icelanders have vaccine envy of others. That’s crazy and so good! And the great thing about all of this is that around 80% of the country is at least partially vaccinated against COVID, which is the best percentage among all EU related countries. Good for you, Iceland! Keep up the great work! 

5. At this time in Iceland, the government is pushing Icelanders to buy homes instead of renting. To incentivize people to buy, banks and other financial institutions are offering ridiculously low interest rates for home loans with rates at a historic low. And people have been able to borrow significant amounts of money for their home. For example, Kristin was able to get a loan with a really low interest rate that covers 95% of the cost of the home. Her flat is a 2-bedroom apartment located in downtown Reykjavik (close to where Sveinn lives). Cost: 53 million Icelandic krona (around $420k). That’s insane! Especially compared to the hellish housing market in Los Angeles. I wish it was that cheap in Los Angeles...

Three Days in Iceland

Pre-Trip

I had planned on hitting Iceland on my way to Europe for some time.  It was around 2012 that I first heard of the extended layover on Icelandair, but never really thought to look much into it, at least until I had a reason to.  Study abroad finally gave me that reason. Turns out you can stay up to seven days in Iceland on your way to wherever you want to go without incurring extra service fees.  Combine that with relatively cheap airfare and it seemed like the easiest way to beat jetlag and see somewhere new.  I figured a place like Iceland would be a little expensive, and not wanting to blow my entire wallet before I even hit Amsterdam, I decided on a three day layover.  It seemed like enough time to see some of Western Iceland and maybe get a feel for the place.  I made sure to pack for some outdoors: raincoat, hiking shoes, swimsuit, sweatshirts.  When researching places to stay, I found my hunch about price was correct: Iceland was more than a little expensive.  Staying in Reykjavik was out of the question, so instead I found a guesthouse in the village of Akranes, about 45 minutes up the road. After the quarter ended in early June, I flew to Denver to see my parents and tie up some important loose ends before my trip.  On June 17, I caught my first flight from Denver International Airport and tried to sleep on the seven hour flight to Keflavik.

Day 1

Our flight was a little late getting out of Denver, so we landed at around 9:30 local time in Iceland.  Running on about 3.5 hours of sleep, I got my rental car and headed straight for my 11:00 appointment at the Blue Lagoon.  I was running about an hour late, of course, but they didn’t seem to mind at all.  In fact, it was one of the best customer service experiences I’ve ever had.  If I went down the wrong hallway, they immediately pointed me in the right direction or let me through with my wristband anyway.  The sushi I had was nourishing after all that time in the air.  The water was nothing short of spectacular: milky white, warm and relaxing.  Two steam baths and a sauna were open and accessible in the corner and both were quite necessary.  One kiosk on the left hand side sold mud masks, like the Dead Sea, and offered a silica one for free.  Two rounds of the silica mask made the skin on my face feel as happy as it had been in years.  Another kiosk in the corner sold beer and drinks, so I got the Icelandic national brew: Gull.  Drinking and driving in Iceland is strictly forbidden, so I wanted to make sure to limit myself to only two drinks on my trip, this being one of them.  I’ll get to the other one later.  Gull isn’t too bad, but not too great.  Something of a standard macro lager, a few shades better than Rainier.  Enjoying my drink slowly allowed me to make friends with some folks around me from the Pacific Northwest, which definitely made the transition to a foreign land a little easier.  My only regret from a place like this is that eventually you’ll have to leave.  But I’ll be back...

Feeling refreshed, relaxed, and sobered up from my one beer, I hopped in the car and went to Reykjavik.  It’s a fairly small city: you can see much of the main areas in a day.  The main landmark in the city is Halgrimskirkja: the cathedral of the Church of Iceland.  It’s fairly impressive, with a really cool looking pipe organ and a statue of Leif Erikson in front.  I had forgotten he was of Iceland, that his father was Erik the Red.  Not far from Halgrimskirkja was the Laugevegur, the main restaurant and shopping district.  It was along this street that I knew where to find my second and final drink in Iceland.  Many of the hot spots along this street carried oddly American names: the Chuck Norris Grill, a pub called Boston that looked like it was taken directly out of Cheers. I finally came upon the one I wanted: Lebowskibar.  It was absolutely kitsch, sure, but I’m a sucker for anything to do with The Big Lebowski.  I had to have my White Russian, and a “hell of a Caucasian” it was.

About 3000 ISK later, I took a short walk to the Icelandic Punk Museum to sober up a bit, but it was nothing special.   The coolest thing there was a little joke at Hitler’s expense, which is never a bad thing. After the Punk Museum it was time to head on up to Akranes.  There was no one at the desk, but my key was waiting for me inside, with the sun still shining at around 10pm.  I took a walk down to the lighthouse at the end of town to catch the closest thing Iceland has to a summer sunset, and caught the midnight sun as I got back to the guesthouse for the night.  A solid day one.

Day 2

Got a late start after sleeping off the jetlag and went right for what I really came for: Hákarl.  I knew that fermented shark was pretty gnarly, but I wasn’t gonna miss it. The spot to go find shark is on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula at the  Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum.  The museum is located pretty well out in the middle of nowhere, about two hours up the road from Akranes. I didn’t get on the road until almost noon, so I thought I was out of time.  I quickly grabbed a cup of coffee and a full tank of gas (around 250ISK per litre!) found my way.  I found out later I had quite a bit of sunlight to work with. The Shark Museum itself is a small house on a windswept headland on the northern side of the peninsula.  A spectacular view.  Undaunted, I paid my 1000 ISK to see the place.  The museum itself is a rather eclectic collection of maritime memorabilia and Icelandic antiques.  The collection seemed almost unorganized, but I wasn’t there for the collection, I was there for the shark.  The presentation was short, but interesting: a burly Icelander explains how the shark is poisonous when eaten fresh because it doesn’t process urine, so they have to basically let the thing rot in wooden tubs before letting it dry out back for a while, leading to its notorious smell.  The smell can best be described as a mix of ammonia and urine, which makes sense, and though it is indeed quite foul it’s not nearly as strong or permeating as I expected it to be.  It tasted much better than it smelled: like a slightly buttery fish, nothing too offensive.  After a short peek at the collection, the burly Icelander directs you to the drying house out back.  That’s where the magic happens, and the food gets its stinky reputation. Where the fish was pretty mild, the drying house is extremely pungent and stings your nose.  The visual appearance of the shark as its cured is no more appealing: brown, crusty, and oozing with liquid.  Overall though, the shark wasn’t too bad.  A man in need could almost make a meal out of the stuff, and definitely could make a side dish.

Next stop was Kirkjufell and the town of Grundarfjörður about 30 minutes further out along the peninsula.  Kirkjufell was featured on seasons six and seven of Game of Thrones, which was totally why I wanted to see it and not because it was a symbol of Iceland.  But that was a nice perk too.  I grabbed a hot dog in  Grundarfjörður and found a nice little cafe that was also a small library, a great find along the trail.  The mountain itself is impressive, and the nearby stream is fed by a sprawling waterfall across the highway. Very picturesque.  

My third and final stop was the Vatnshellir Cave on the far end of the peninsula, about another hour out.  I pull in at around 17:50, about ten minutes before they close for the day, and this place is remote.  I mean even the WiFi router I brought in the car with me, the one that worked for my entire Iceland trip, couldn’t find anything out there.  If there was an “end of the Earth”, this was it.  The cave itself is an experience onto itself.  They fit you with a helmet and a flashlight, and a friendly guide takes you down a long spiral metal staircase made slick by constant water dripping through the soil.  The cave was created by a volcanic explosion, like pretty much everything else on this island, and is layered with eons of nature’s bidding.  Afteer some time exploring the worn lava rock, you go down another staircase: this one even longer (about 40 meters) and slicker.  At the end of the cave tour, the guide has us all close our eyes and turn out our lights. When we open them, all language barriers between the tour group disappears with a loud “whoa!” in relative unison as we all process the complete lack of light.  Pitch black has new meaning there.  The darkness is absolute, whole, enveloping.  There really isn’t a way to describe just how dark it is with absolutely no sunlight whatsoever.  After a few meditative minutes we all climbed back up, glad we had made the trek down.  On the way out, I happened upon what looked like the keeper of the lighthouse at the end of the jetty lowering the Icelandic flag for the night.  Felt like the perfect symbol to cap off a truly Icelandic day.  

Day 3

My final day in Iceland I wanted to pack in anything else I missed before I took off to Amsterdam.  I got up and headed straight back too Reykjavik.  The Alþingi building is beautiful from the outside, and claims to be the oldest active parliament in the world, however, they had no tours for the day.  Undaunted, I stumbled to the Settlement Exhibition up the street, colloquially called 871+- 2, in reference to the probably year Iceland was first settled by Vikings, within a range of a year or two. The Settlement Museum is very interactive, and contains replica models of some of the houses the original settlers built.  The Settlement Exhibition is part of a museum network with two others, of which I only went to one: the oldest extant house in Reykjavik.  The house held a small photo exhibition of Icelandic life in 1918, and was fairly well curated.  

My second stop of the day was...shall we say a little different: the Icelandic Phallocalogical Museum.  This guy, for some reason, had a large curated collection of animal penises, and somehow found it within himself to mount and display them in a complete museum dedicated to his collection. There are large penises, like that of a blue whale, and small penises, like that of a hamster. He even has a couple of bronze casts of human penises.  The voice on the audio guide never explains why he has such a collection, and why he decided to display it on the wall for everyone to see, but boy does he go into detail about each penis.  Far more than I wanted to know, but still worth a chuckle.  

The Icelandic Rock and Roll Museum was only 30 more minutes down the road in Reykjanesbær , and contained a well curated mix of materials dating back to the early days and some bands I had never heard of. I mostly just went to geek on bunch of Björk and Sigur Rós and Of Monsters and Men.  The collection did not disappoint.  The museum was interactive, and even had a karaoke booth (that wasn’t soundproof, as I found out later).  I was able to get my fill of guitars and strange costumes and even a band made out of wood.  Fans of MoPop in Seattle (formerly known as the Experience Music Project) might be a little underwhelmed, but this was a fun tribute to the fascinating music history of such a tiny place. I may have spent a little too much time and energy in the karaoke room singing some of my favorites; the woman working at the desk barged in about halfway through song six (I think?) to tell me the room wasn’t soundproof. Oops.

My next two stops were a bit far away, and it was already 3pm, so I needed to hit the road. Only about nine more hours of sunlight.  Reykjadalur Hot Springs got some rave reviews on YouTube, and was only about 90 minutes up the road. Or so I thought.  The parking lot sits down at the bottom of a steep mountain pass near the town of Hveragerði.  A little coffee shop greets visitors, but it had shut down for the day.  It was pretty chili outside so I grabbed my sweatshirt for what I thought was a short walk to the river. Turns out the springs itself is a three kilometer walk up the hill.  And people swim in the river.  I immediately regretted forgetting both my hiking shoes and my swimsuit.  The hike up to the springs is stunning.  Sweeping valleys and steep canyons give way to open fields full of sheep.  So many sheep.  They graze in the valley, drink some of the colder water downstream, and even walk right up towards the trail for the freshest grass.  Off in the distance steam literally billows out of the earth.  The only time I’ve ever seen anything like it was at Yellowstone, but this was different. It was....quiet. Peaceful. The smell of sulfur carries with the wind.  Near the end of the hike, you walk right through one of those steam vents, which was somehow simultaneously refreshing and blinding.  The hot springs themselves are more like a spot in the river.  Something in the soil is volcanic, so the ground heats the water to some naturally balmy temperatures. The bathing area is nearly the opposite of the Blue Lagoon.  There are no amenities, there is no one bringing you a drink or offering you a mud mask.  There are no saunas or steam baths, or any real facilities of any kind for that matter. Not a roof in sight, not even a restroom.  Only a few privacy barriers indicated a potential spot to change out.    I wasn’t exactly prepared for a full swim, so I took my shoes off and soaked my aching feet a while.  The hot mineral water was quite soothing, really softened up the calluses.

The hike up and down created quite an appetite.  I saw a sign on the road back to the main highway for a pizza bar and geothermal brewery: Ölverk. Good enough for me. The place was a little fancier than I expected, but the food and service were both really delicious.  Got a pizza with dates, bacon, and blue cheese on it, and it’s probably the only pizza with fruit I’d do again.  I passed on the beer: around 2700 ISK for a taster flight of four, 4000 ISK for a draft pour. Makes the ballpark seem cheap. Turns out the geothermal thing was just how they generated their power anyway, which is kinda cool I suppose, but that’s how they generate much of their electricity there. That’s like saying a brewery in Seattle is hydroelectric powered.  It was getting late in the day at this point, but my friend recommended I hit a spot a little further up the road: Kerið Crater. It’s a sinkhole, but an impressive one.  The parking lot backs right up to the crater, and there’s a short hike around and a staircase to the bottom.  At the bottom is a pool of clean, cool groundwater. Like everywhere else in that country, it was created by volcanic activity.  Some kind of sinkhole type process. I took the staircase to the bottom, took a drink of the water (tasted great!), and had a lovely conversation with some folks from Russia.  A chat with some folks from the other side of the world seemed like a good way to transition to the next portion of my trip.  I took a windy route back through the southern portion of Þingvellir National Park, but it was around 10:30pm at that point so I knew I needed to drive the couple hours back to Akranes to make my flight.  The back roads were wide open and peaceful: for kilometers on end I might have been the only person.  There was also some gravel, but some experience living in the Colorado mountains served me well.  I cranked up the tunes and thought wistfully of the summer ahead of me.  Amsterdam, I’m ready.

Final Thoughts

Iceland is a place unto itself.  My only regret is that I didn’t allow myself one more day.  More than that though, oof.  It gets expensive.  Outside of Reykjavik is extremely rural and provincial, and Reykjavik is indeed lovely, but not exactly the most cosmopolitan or bustling city. I would go back, and would recommend it to almost everyone, but unless you plan on doing some hardcore expeditions you can see pretty much everything in three to four days.  For me, it served its purpose: I relaxed at the Blue Lagoon, ate Hákarl, slept off the jetlag, and adjusted to some of the differences of European culture.  Overall, a lovely experience. Oh, and be aware the tap water smells like sulfur.

Cheap Rentals

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Day 4 - Reykhólar, Ísafjörður, Iceland

Finally woke up at a more decent hour: six in the morning! Honestly, if I had woken up on my own that early I would have considered it blasphemy, but right now that's the best I've done.

Note: if you're ever staying in the Westfjords and book a night or more at Hotel Bjarkalundur, you're going to have really poor internet. And don't eat your meal here, which I'll explain in a bit.

After a quick breakfast, we left for the Hólmavík Museum of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which was the main reason why we found a place in the Westfjords. The museum was smaller than I had initially anticipated. It was only about half of the small building it was in, sharing space with a restaurant instead of having the space to itself. It was still cool though!

Some of the items on display I already knew about, like the necropants, most of the staves written on wood or stone, and how the less than two dozen witch burnings in Iceland were mostly male, with only one woman in history being burned at the stake for witchcraft in this country.

Later, we stopped at The Sheep Farming Museum in Hólmavík (mainly at the insistence of my brother, who read he might be able to feed the lambs there). To be frank, I was more interested in the chickens chilling outside in the high speed winds than the exhibit itself.

And when they took off running, it was adorable because they couldn't exactly run straight with the wind blowing like it was. I might've lost my cool over that.

After this, we couldn't find much else to do in the area (nothing that wasn't a couple of hours away, at least), so we decided it'd be best to head back to our rooms. Which was a good choice, because the earlier wind started to pick up speed to the point the car was being pushed while we were on the road.

Though, this didn't really kick in until after we visited a small waterfall on the side of the road, where both of my parents slipped and fell in the mud. I'll post a GIF of my dad rubbing his ass in the grass for your viewing entertainment when I can get my hands on the video.

It's important to check out this site, where you can check the forecast for the week, before driving in Iceland. By the time we got back to the rooms - which took twice longer than normal - and we checked the site, our small area was highlighted in purple. Purple on the Vindaspá map (vind - wind, spá - forecast) borders on hurricane winds, and we were advised by the car rental company to avoid driving in conditions like that.

It didn't let up, even when it started raining, so we didn't leave the building. That means we had dinner here, which was a little disappointing, to say the least.

The matseðill (menu in Ensku - English) didn't necessarily have a lot of options, mainly just burgers, pizza, and a couple of seafood options. I tried to go cheap, since most things here are generally priced twice what they would be back home. That meant I got a burger.

The burger I got was fine - pretty good, actually, which is something my dad and I agree on since we ordered the same thing. However, my mom got a cheese pizza which tasted like it had been bought frozen (and believe me when I say I've eaten enough frozen pizzas to know what that tastes like). My brother got a seafood stew that was probably microwaved because the dish it was in was warm in a way only the microwave or oven could do, and my bite was colder than lukewarm even when the rest of the dish was piping hot.

So yeah, don't eat here. Go to a small red building that's actually in the town of Reykhólar. I can't remember the name, but it looks like a convenience store that has an N1 gas station on the outside, and according to the reviews on TripAdvisor, it's a hidden gem.

They also have a friendly dog there, so go for the dog if not for the food or gas.

Íslenska phrase/word of the day: Ég ætla að fá kaffi með mjólk takk - I'll have a coffee with milk, please.

I don't drink coffee

Before Game of Thrones and the newest Star Wars films, flights to Iceland only left from Denver, Washington DC, Baltimore, or New York. When I learned that the voyage embarks from Port of Hamburg, I figured I’d be flying into Berlin. And after years of watching closely for new United States destinations between the two main Icelandic airlines, this made my heart sing knowing full well St. Louis had recently become a Wow Air destination with cheap flights to many European cities, and of course... stopovers in Iceland on the way.

I won’t go much into how long I had anticipated this experience, however I will say it was a painful wait. First it was celebrities one by one slowly making their way as it grew appealing to more and more travelers suddenly during my freshman year of college and onward. Then it was friends who happened to have stopovers, who could afford it before me, or who were nearer to new departure cities before me... In those ways it was thrilling to feel inches and inches closer all these years. I even had a whole trip planned once to visit Iceland by myself to celebrate the New Year and hang out a week before and after. For a plethora of important reasons I had to cancel that trip, which to this day I still stand behind. So sadly, the most suitable and affordable window of time I had to work with to be in Iceland this time around was twenty hours, since it was a stopover, but a solid twenty hours we spent. An old friend used to joke all the time, “what if you go and absolutely hate it?” which was a possibility I have weighed heavily, even after countless hours over the years reading entire wikipedia pages of tiny, unpronounceable coastal villages with their black sands and fjords, delving into Vimeo videos of Icelandic scenery, and my favorite, the man in a lopapeysa sweater teaching you how to knit. I knew damn well I’d have to come back after such a short time even if it did turn out not so ideal. But after a seven year wait, I am happy to announce that it truly was everything I could have hoped for and even so much more. Maybe because I already knew where to look, or at least where I wanted to look, or maybe it really was calling me all this time.

I was taught a German expression today "Knapp daneben ist auch vorbei” which means, “coming close is the same as missing it.” It’s been circling my mind like an echo of congratulations from the void for just finally being able to do the damn thing.

It is now late into Thursday, our second day in Berlin. Yesterday was spent locating our Airbnb, experiencing jetlag, showering, etc... completely pretty much rebirthing ourselves after twenty hours with none of the checked luggage I truly thought the Keflavik airport would let me access during that amount of time.

I can’t exit this post though without telling a couple of the stories from those hours (and some pictures!) It was by far the most eventful twenty hours of my life...

As soon as we landed, it was time to grab the rental car. I picked out a lovely whatever the car was. At first the reservation said manual shift, which was exciting because I learned to drive on a manual but also I knew the Icelandic roads would be more vulnerable to drivers so I wasn’t sure how revisiting a skill like that there would go. Luckily we ended up with an automatic somehow anyway. Since the Wow air flights are so cheap, they get off by charging passengers for every other thing including meals, so I had not eaten since Missouri by this point (mainly because I wanted to sleep). I felt weak and tired at the rental counter so I asked my friend Alicia to get me something at the cafe nearby. She came back with the first food we were to behold: a caprese panini, but instead of panini bread, it was the body of Christ or something. I apologize to anyone that offends--I mean it in the sense that it was cracker bread meant specifically for religious purposes and not to feed a malnourished traveler. Don’t get me wrong, it tasted good, however the depth of my ketosis and the richness of the pesto was too much. Literally as I stood at the counter facing my first ever Icelandic stranger and transaction, I felt the sudden urge to vomit and ran to the nearest trashcan while Alicia had to sign everything for me in a VERY crowded airport. I don’t think any of us knew how to react honestly, though the woman at the counter was very sweet and brought us bottled waters after seeing my pale sweaty face, despite not totally knowing how to ask if I was okay in English.

Getting to Þingvellir was not an issue, however the drive there involved more of the previous situation sadly. While the girls caught up on sleep, I found our way out of Keflavik onto the highway and quickly back off of it after having tried a couple more bites of the Jesus panini. The first time around I wasn’t entirely sure if it was that was what made me ill or just all of the conditions at once. This time I knew it was that. There was nowhere to even pull over as all of the road space in Iceland is very carefully planned, with roundabouts every few blocks and signs placed not too often or too scarcely. So I stopped in the middle of the road out of sheer desperation -- one of the few very crucial things I had JUST been told you’re not supposed to do with an Icelandic car. I had already begun out the window as I drove simply because my mind was already racing for options. What is the best way here - puking on myself and cleaning that up? No - my luggage I thought I could have today is on its way to Germany. Puking solely into the car? Hell to the no - I don’t care if I bought the insurance, we have the whole route ahead of us and back. Okay well in the time it took to ask myself those questions, all of the above happened anyway. Everywhere. Alicia and Morgan immediately woke up of course and without judgment scrambled into their things for a new shirt and pants for me, helped me clean the car, et cetera, alllllll while locals were angrily and confusedly passing me on this tiny exit I had chosen under the impression it was low-trafficked. Did I mention I chose not to wear underwear on this day of all days? Yes. In my first hour in Iceland I was forced to change BUTT NAKED pretty much on the side of the highway. Needless to say, we threw the Jesus panini away as if it was the one ring to rule them all.

Þingvellir was breathtaking. Every little plant, moss, lichen, dewdrop was so quietly and calmly welcoming. The wall of boxy-looking rocks you may have seen in Games of Thrones was to the left of this photo, with its waterfalls and all. It was confusing finding the dive spot where our snorkel tour was, but once we arrived all of our sorrows were gone. First we met Luis, a cheery Mexican from Cancun, then Manuel the French man who helped us into our dry suits, and then Juan from Madrid was our guide through the crevice of the opening between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.

The moment I entered the water my heartbeat changed for good, not just because of the chilling 2*C temperature, but because it was then I realized I was really, really there. Until that moment, it was all a dream. Simply putting my mask down to see what was below... I still cannot find the words. Our suits were designed to keep us warm, so the crystal clear stream swept us and this rad Australian couple in our group gently along the divide as if it were a lazy river. Silfra is the only spot on Earth where one can touch two plates at once, and I cannot emphasize enough that the land itself gives you that vibe alone, whether you do the tours or not. For as long as I live I don’t think I could forget how it felt to lay completely still on top of the water looking down, like just another little seagull feather or algae, feeling one with the whole damn country.

Finally.

After a pit stop at a petrol station for edible food and something to make the car smell better, we rerouted from planning a drive all the way to Vik (3.5 hrs there and back) to just spending the time comfortably in Reykjavik where we could get back to the airport by 3am, when the rental was due, and for our flight at 6am.

Downtown was as quaint and beautiful as I had imagined, though of course a completely different layout than what I originally pictured. This happened in New Mexico too when I moved there after a year of picturing the places where my friends’ stories from their phone calls were playing out. We found a cute bar to meet locals in called the Smokin’ Puffin, which turned out to have just opened three weeks prior. Made many friends, including Moe the bartender/plant geneticist from Iran, and Joanne, a bubbly expat from the UK.

Hallgrimskirkja and the walk to it however was the crowning jewel of the evening, with apartment windows all open, most of them displaying cute decorations and cats and succulents of all colors and sizes peering out.

I knew it was a rather large church, I suppose I was not prepared for just how large. Walking past the infamous Leifur Eriksson statue to approach the entrance with its tiered architecture and powerfully rhetorical lighting, I lost my breath again. It was a bittersweet goodbye, though I am nearly grateful we did not stay overnight so I couldn’t get too attached to Iceland’s physical presence.

Was honestly just taking a photo of this sweet cat, and realized its owner was behind him drawing. I almost cried.

Moe’s specialty cocktail: coffee martini :)

Me in my very attractive after-puke outfit with this handsome Iranian plant geneticist bartender who was really sweet to me anyway.

<3

Happy Camper Rentals Iceland: The Best Iceland Camper Van Rental?

A Happy Campers campers rental in Iceland is a tremendous way to enjoy a road trip in Iceland. For our trip, we chose to circumnavigate the Scandinavian country on their legendary Ring Road. Of course, with any trip, the key is to pick the right provider, tour operator, hotel, and activity.

That’s why we decided on Happy Campers and could not have been happier. They have one of the best reputations for Iceland camper van rentals and it’s easy to understand why after renting a camper van from them.

An Iceland camper rental removes some headaches around a road trip and offer greater flexibility. They’re also an economical way to travel around Iceland as they combine your transportation and accommodation.

However, that doesn’t mean a Happy Camper Iceland is cheap – just affordable by Iceland standards! Iceland is one of the most expensive countries to travel, and you want to make sure your dollars go as far as they can.

Is Happy Camper Rentals The Best Iceland Camper Van Rental?

the Best Campervan Rental Company in Iceland?

Happy Campers Iceland was one of the first companies to offer kitted rental vans in Iceland starting in 2009. It may not seem that long ago, but since 2009 a lot has changed. It’s brought about dozens of new companies including familiar faces like corporate car rental giants offering their own version of a camper van.

Happy Campers is still family-run by Icelanders and you can find the whole family involved. We were checked out by the Sverrir or the “Happy Boss.” While his son was responsible for setting up our booking and another picked us up from the airport.

Their main office is a short drive from the airport where guests can pick up their campervans. The check-in process is super smooth and they take the time to go over guest travel plans in Iceland and make helpful suggestions. That gives you plenty of time to go over any last-minute questions you may have about routes, campsites, activities, or features of the van.

Hello! This post I would like to share some of my adventures in Iceland last month. There was definitely some unexpected aspects of this trip that I wish I would have known prior to my own adventure. So here are my highlights/tips and how I would budget for future trips. Getting there: Flying to Iceland is more accessible than ever thanks to Wow Air and Icelandair based out of Reykjavik! These are budget airlines that basically operate as a connection hub to Europe or a final Nordic destination from several cities in the US and Canada. So that’s what initially opened this opportunity up for me, being able to travel to Europe for only $265 bucks! Hotels/Getting around: As you will discover when searching for accommodations, Iceland is quite expensive and the hotel choices are limited. It’s such a small country and it’s simply just not the same scale as any other destination that I’ve travelled. We looked to Airbnb to book a location that was centrally located in Reykjavik and had decent street parking for our rental car. Speaking of which, a rental car is 100% necessary if you plan on travelling anywhere in the country beyond Reykjavik. We rented a cute little red Ford Fiesta that was great on gas mileage. As I will keep mentioning, Iceland ain’t cheap so I would budget to spend at least $200 for a weekends worth of gas. If you plan on doing any off-roading, definitely recommend renting a vehicle equipped for that! Getting around Iceland is fairly easy. There’s only one highway for the entire country, and it’s essentially how you have to get around to any other city. Food/Drinks: I had a very negative impression on what the Nordic cuisine would entail based on prior research. Surprisingly I didn’t have one bad meal! I tried the iconic hot stand Baejarins Beztu Pylsur in Reykjavik, and it was amazing (and one of the cheaper meals). We also went to Skal, a very impressive spot close to our BnB. We had an amazing Arctic Char with Yukon gold potatoes and I was in love. The chefs were so friendly and walked us through their preparations in front of us. I would budget about $250 on food for a weekend in Iceland. This sounds nuts and like you’ll be eating like a king, but it’s just so expensive to eat/drink in Iceland. I realized this when we were in a small town and the only option was KFC (two sandwiches were $30!!) My best advice is that a pizza goes a long way, and to prepare your own coffee every morning. Also if you want to go to bars, a cheap beer is about $10 and a mixed drink about $17. I literally feel like Iceland nightlife is more pricey than NYC! What to see: there’s no shortage of adventures in Iceland. We were only there for a weekend so definitely had to prioritize which landmarks we wanted to see the most. If you’re in Iceland, chances are you are trying to see some volcanoes. My favorite was our hike up to Snæfellsjökull, an active volcano on the northwestern part of the island. You also probably want to see some waterfalls, which are so amazing. If you head Southeast towards Vík, you will hit several waterfalls and general tourist destination. The best part of Iceland adventuring, in my opinion, is the ability to pull off the side of the road anywhere and admire whatever strikes you at the moment. Blue Lagoon: It's literally the most iconic landmark in Iceland, and one of the 25 wonders of the world. If you plan on going, you must book tickets in advance, as it is so popular. Also, account for about $200 dollars for this experience (Oh Iceland). The photos of this geothermal hot spring speak for itself, but what you might not know is how to prep for the lagoon. They recommend that you shower/condition your hair prior to entering. I made the monumental mistake of showering, but not conditioning. The result was the minerals/silica created a very stiff/tangly feel to my hair. I thought maybe afterwards I could just deep condition and be back to normal. NOPE. It took 3 weeks until my hair normalized. I tried everything imaginable from deep conditioning to multiple washes in one shower, nothing. The only thing that I think speed up the process was applying a food grade coconut oil mask to my hair. I applied this about 4 times before seeing results. I also used a purifying charcoal shampoo to try and remove the minerals from my hair. Also if you have colored hair, that will likely fill or fade out in the Lagoon so I would suggest hair up for sure. Overall we had a great experience. I think 4 days was just enough time to explore, and frankly the most money I would want to spend! The country felt very European and we even got to watch Iceland play in the World Cup! I’m connecting in Iceland again in September and can’t wait to fly over those views again! Have you travelled to Iceland or plan to? I’d love to hear about it!