Inspiring places to visit in Iceland

I absolutely can’t get enough of the diversity and vast landscape the country has to offer. When we flew into Reykjavik, the little town looked so pretty with it’s colourful rooftops and quaint vibe, and out of pure naivety, I thought that was Iceland in a nutshell. But, how wrong I was. Iceland is a country that just keeps on giving, and its diversity in landscape is something that attracts crowds like magnetic plates. See what I did there? They’ve had a pretty rough time since the financial crisis a few years back, so it’s really great to see so many people ticking the country off their bucket lists, and contributing to the economy. I witnessed natural, raw beauty in its most pure form – from majestic glaciers to natural hot springs to bizarre black sand beaches to gigantic geysers, not forgetting powerful waterfalls gushing out of rugged mountains, fissures, cragg, craters, volumes of volcanic rock and much, much more! The natural and untouched beauty of the place is something I haven’t seen elsewhere on that scale, and has really stuck with me. 

A few of the places I would recommend others check out with limited time are below: 

Blue Lagoon

This place is exquisite and although expensive, there is reason for the hype. There is just something about sprinting scantily clad from the changeroom in – 6’c weather to immersing yourself into a warm and humid earth bath pf 40’c, surrounded by voluptuous volcanic rock. Steam supreme, fit for a queen! The complimentary mud mask and lagoon swim up bar were also an added treat that made all the difference. If you decide to go under the water, prepare for your hair to take 7 washes to feel normal again and not reek of fart. Thanks sulphur! I learnt the hard way. 

Skogafoss

I loved the drive to this waterfall, as we passed several smaller ones to get to it which were a bit off the beaten track. When we arrived, I was in awe at the size of Skogafoss, and the beauty of the rainbow – which seems to be a permanent fixture. It really took my breath away. We decided to hike to the top of the waterfall – which took about 15 minutes to climb up the stairs, but the view from the top was totally worth it, as was watching the face of disgruntled, tired tourists on our way down. If you’re feeling fit, continue the climb past the viewing deck and through the mountains – the scenery is epic! 

Gullfoss

Named the “golden waterfall” for a reason, this natural wonder pays homage to Sigríður Tómasdóttir, who threatened to throw herself into the falls in protest against foreign investors who wanted to turn the falls into a power supply. The government bought the falls and made them property of the Iceland. This was the coldest I have ever been in my life. At that moment I wished I was Sigríður Tómasdóttir. Kidding.

Geysir

These geothermal hot springs are a force to be reckoned with. The vapour bubbles kilometres below the earth’s surface before it sprouts out into a jet stream of serious steam – making you scream and backtrack for a few metres out of sheer glee and shock.

Dyrhólaey

Near the quaint village of Vik, lies the delight of Dyrholaey. Translated into “hole in the door”, this staggering cliff face planted, firmly in the sea is an eroding masterpiece. The panoramic view from atop the hill is quite something, as is the drive to this seaside peninsula and I highly recommend filming the scenery from the windscreen. Glaciers, lava, coastline and more.

Of course, there’s so much more to see and do – so I make it an aim of mine to go back and explore more. 

A BIT ABOUT ROAD TRIPPIN’

As public transportation in Iceland is almost non-existent, and tour busses too costly – we decided to hire a car from Avis, which was great because we didn’t have to put down the massive deposit most car rental companies require (around £3k). I can’t recommend hiring a car enough. You have the freedom to drive at your own pace in whichever direction you choose, and you get to store all your snacks in the boot – bonus!!! We ended up putting hundreds of kilometres on the clock, and didn’t look back. We covered so much distance in our four days that I really feel I gave the landscape a good reccy. Disclaimer: I must admit that driving on the “wrong” side of the road was a huge challenge for me, as was getting over a winding uphill mountain in a blustering snowstorm and pouring rain, with ice on the road surface and minimal lighting. It definitely tested our relationship and it got my boyfriend to start doing driving lessons – so that’s a winner! 

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

We all hear it, but once you’re there, you really feel it. Iceland is PRICEY. I am of the mindset that when on holiday, you should really not be worrying about what things cost and just try and enjoy the moment, but that was easier said than done. For this trip, we stayed in a relatively cheerful (but not cheap) Airbnb in the city, that set us back around £400 for three nights. That is definitely the most I’ve paid for shared accommodation. Our car was also pricey to hire, although petrol was relatively reasonable. Most sites were free, but those that were not, such as the Blue Lagoon had a pretty hefty cover charge. We also didn’t eat out at restaurants, and did a supermarket shop to make our food, as price was so high. 

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS. NOW YOU SEE EM, NOW YOU DON’T.

I do think people should go with the expectation NOT to see them, and if they are fortunate enough to – this is an added bonus. I felt far too many people were upset for not seeing what they had travelled all that way to see, but believe me, the country has enough going for it without the Northern Lights. To this day, I am still not sure if I even really saw them. Our trip was forecast to have an “excellent” chance at sighting, and on the first night we set our alarms for 12am to make our way out of the city to the viewing point. And then… we overslept. On our third night, we tried again, this time making our way to Thingvellir National Park at around 1am in our car, along with around 20 tour coaches in tow. Once we arrived, I could see a slight white haze in the sky and a few people confirmed that was them. However, it was nothing like what I had expected, and it’s only with a proper camera that you can see the distinct green light. But to the naked eye – nada. A photographer with a great entrepreneurial mindset, used his camera to make a quick krona by taking shots of confused tourists like a ford factory line, along with the magic touch of photoshop. 

I NEED (TO) WINE 

Perhaps I am spoilt in London, but if I feel like a drink, I pop on over to the local offy and voila. In Iceland I was met with resistance and a flat out “no, not possible”. I was totally baffled. There are strict rules about buying alcohol in Iceland and the sale of alcohol is heavily taxed so prices are extremely high. Supermarkets are not allowed to sell alcohol of any kind UNLESS they are government owned alcohol stores called Vínbúðin – and even then, they are closed on a Sunday! Can you imagine my disdain when I waltzed into that store on Sunday? Fun fact: alcohol was totally prohibition during the early 20th century. A glass of wine set me back £10 which is around double what I pay in Blighty – so I had to nurse my glass for quite a while. I totally see why my Scandic friends drink so slowly! 

BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE

We visited in March, and I thought I was appropriately dressed with my warmest layers and comfiest boots (shoutout to Hunter and Timberland for making the most durable, weather proof shoes). Even though I had all the gear and no idea, I admit I was chilly at times and I probably should have worn thermal underwear. PS. It’s quite something to see fellow tourists in full ski-kit on the beach, but when it comes to visiting a place like Iceland – keeping warm and dry are key. 

FUN FACT: ICELANDIC SURNAMES

The last name of a male Icelander usually ends in the suffix -son (“son”) and that of female Icelanders in -dóttir (“daughter”). It is always added to the genitive form of the father’s name. So Sigríður “Tómasdóttir” literally means daughter of Tomas. Dagur Bergþóruson Eggertsson literally translates to son of Eggert. Isn’t that lovely? I hope this article will inspire you to take the leap and visit the land of fire and ice. 

Let me know what are some other must do activities!