Iceland, country so rare and magical, for many centuries protected from the eyes of the tourists. Its beauty has been adored by many and surely it stands a place on your bucket list too. But what makes Iceland the most wanted island to visit? It may be the beautiful waterfalls, stunning glaciers and active volcanoes, or just our will to step into the unknown and let ourselves wonder. For me Iceland has been an unforgettable three year adventure, that I will cherish and will stay in my heart forever.
Whether you are deciding on visiting the Land of Fire and Ice, or you're just curious about the life in Iceland, this article will provide you with some insightful tips and give you better understanding on what to expect when travelling, eating and staying in Iceland.
Choosing your time to visit?
When it comes to choosing best time to visit Iceland, you need to count on couple of important determinants.
The summer period ( June-August) in Iceland is not long but offers almost 20 hours of daylight, which makes traveling around the island very convenient. Your brain would probably say otherwise as it's quite difficult to adjust to the "midnight sun". Days start getting longer from middle of May and the weather during summer varies from year to year. The highest temperature would probably reach 20 degrees but it does feel much warmer, saying this make sure you protect your skin with high SPF. If you decide to come between May - September you would definitely get plenty of sunshine during your visit, with occasional rain and high winds.
The winter period is generally considered from September until April. Icelandic winters are mainly known for the Northern Lights. The weather usually becomes more challenging as the temperatures drop (-10 to 5°C ) and the storm season begins. Icelandic storms are accompanied by high winds, extreme snow conditions and can last up to 3 days. There will also be clear and crisp days in between. This is when driving conditions are not at their best and driving in the countryside should only be attempted by those who are familiar with driving in difficult and icy conditions. The days are generally very short with sunrise at 11-12 o'clock and sunset at 3 o'clock.
Where to stay?
Iceland offers amazing opportunities when it comes to choosing the accommodation for your stay. Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway, something luxurious or something more affordable. The list below will provide you with the best options for your stay all around the island.
Price Range £50-100/night
Reykjavik - Cozy studio in a boutique hotel
Reykjavik -Apartment on the main shopping street
Reykjavik - Room in a heart of downtown
South Coast - Cosy cabin near Seljalandsfoss
Akureyri - Studio by the sea with a hot tub
Price Range £100-150/night
Reykjavik - Center apartment with view over the harbour
Reykjavik - Downtown penthouse apartment
South Coast -Seljalandfoss cottage
Akureyri - Modern cozy house at Sunnuhlíð farmland
Westfjords - Little house by the sea
How to get around the island?
Iceland is relatively small country, but not always easy to get around. Your best option, if you're a driver, is renting a car from Keflavik International airport. I highly advice booking your rental car in advance as prices tend to be really expensive during the high season. Also always check what is the amount that is going to be deposited from your card when renting, as some of the rental companies charge over £1000. Enterprise Rent Car is the only company that won't charge you any deposited amount. Other reliable companies that I recommend is Thrifty, Sixt and Alamo.
For non- drivers, Keflavik International Airport is a 60 - minute drive from downtown Reykjavik. Your best option is to take a shuttle bus that runs every 30 minutes throughout the day and will drop you off either at main bus station or directly at your hotel ( for an additional fee). The buses are clean and comfortable and will cost you £19 you can book your tickets in advance or at the airport in the departure hall. Most bus schedules outside the country's capital are significantly reduced outside the summer high season, with some services not running at all. If you're coming any time other than summer, a car rental will usually give you more flexibility, more options and saves your money.
Get more bang (tours) for your buck?
There is so much to see in Iceland and so many tours to choose from, whether you are travelling by car or you're thinking about booking your tour with one of the local travel agencies. Most of the places are easily accessible by car, although for some of the tours such as snowmobiling on the glacier or seeing the famous glacier ice caves and volcanoes, a local guide will be necessary. Despite the high costs of a local guide, they're extremely knowledgeable and experienced which makes worthwhile and good value for money.
During my stay in Iceland I've visited many beautiful and unique places, here is a list of my all time favourites.
FREE TOURS
Seljandsfoss - a waterfall that can be fully encircled, situated on the South Coast of Iceland
Skogafoss - one of Iceland's biggest and most beautiful waterfalls, located 20 minutes drive from Seljandsfoss
Jökulsárlón - glacial lagoon in Vatnajökull National Park in south-eastern Iceland
Diamond Beach - whose got it's name from glistening ice chunks, which sparkle like diamonds
Reynisfjara - The Black Beach in Iceland with stunning views and basalt rock formations
Dyrhoaley - a small peninsula, located on the South Coast offering breath-taking views
Gulfoss - part of Golden Circle, one of Iceland's most iconic and beloved waterfalls
Geysir - famous hot spring in the geothermal area found in south - west Iceland, part of Golden Circle
Dynjandi - or the Jewel of the Westfjords, in my opinion the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland
Latrabjarg - one of biggest Europes biggest bird cliffs, home to puffins
Hornstrandir - nature reserve located in the Westfjords
£ - ££
Secret Lagoon - man- made pool fed by naturally occurring hot springs located in southern Iceland
Blue Lagoon - geothermal spa and one of the 25 wonders of the world, located in a lava field
Friðheimar- Iceland's most unique tomato farm, offering delicious lunch right in the greenhouse
Horseback riding - beautiful way how to explore the countryside for both beginners and intermediate riders
Fontana wellness - lakefront relaxing retreat offering geothermal natural pools, part of Golden Circle
Whale watching - tours running from Reykjavik and Akureyri harbour, best season for whale watching is winter
££ - £££
Into the Glacier - once in a lifetime trip to the amazing man made Ice Caves in Langjökull, Iceland's second largest glacier. A 20-ton monster truck will take you to the entrance of the cave, located close to the top of the glacier. Then trek through the 1,640-ft (500-m) long ice tunnel with separate frozen halls. Marvel at brilliant blue ice formations and magnificent crevasses. You’ll dream about this ice cave experience for years to come!
Helicopter tour - looking for a unique and special way how to explore Iceland ? On this tour you will see Iceland from the most magnificent angles.
Inside the volcano - one of a kind experience that you can only do in the extraordinary country of Iceland.
Paragliding - Soaring in the midnight sun, gazing over waterfalls, wild flying over lava fields. Paragliding in Iceland is stunning, but you have to know what you are doing.
Guide to the best restaurants in Iceland
1.
One of my all time favourite restaurants in Iceland, is located on one of the most beautiful
corners of Reykjavik. Apotek is a casual/ smart place restaurant offering fun mix of Icelandic
and European cuisine with Argentinian grill. The restaurant has a lively cocktail bar and
a dessert bar. I highly recommend trying their 7 course tasting menu and I promise you, you've
never tried a beef tenderloin as tender as the one Apotek serves.
2.
Snaps is a bistro and a bar and became the ‘it’ place in Reykjavík from the moment it opened. This french bistro located in downtown Reykjavik offers first class ingredients, lots of good wine and good vibes. The menu is a mix of French, Danish and Icelandic cuisine and is rather small. The food is very tasty and has a ‘no bullshit’ approach – the portions are large and there’s no pretentiousness. During weekends Snaps offers their delicious brunch served from 11:30-16:00 and it's hands down one of the best brunch I've ever had. Make sure you book you table in advance as the place gets really busy.
3.
Grillmarkaðurinn specializes in delicious meats, grilled to absolute perfection. It’s not just the interior of Grillmarket that makes it one of Reykjavik’s hidden gems and undoubtedly Reykjavik’s best restaurant. The restaurant works closely with local farmers and buy most of their produce directly from the farm. Making the dining experience Michelin star rating.
4.
Is a Grill & Cocktail bar, situated in the centre of Reykjavik serving Icelandic finest ingredients. Their
Secret menu promises six course meal, where each and every course is artfully presented. The bar has
a great selection of cocktails and offers a live dinner piano music. This is one place to visit if you're looking for a dinner to remember in Reykjavik.
5.
Kol describes itself as a 'casual fine dining restaurant with a big bar.' The name of the restaurant comes from the unique charcoal( 'kol' in Icelandic) oven which lends a very special, rustic flavour to the meals. The meals include both very sophisticated dishes and simpler tastes. The restaurant itself has a sleek, elegant décor and offers wide variety of high quality craft cocktails.
6.
Fiskfelagid ( Fish Company), the name gives a fairly big clue as to its culinary speciality. The restaurant is located in one of the oldest 19th century houses in Reykjavik and serves amazing fish and meat sourced from local farmers and fishermen. Their lobster soup with oven baked sourdough and hazelnut whipped butter is one of the best I've ever had. The restaurants chefs head down to the harbour each morning to buy whatever's come in on the fishing boats, so make sure you try their Finest Fish of the Day. The Fish Company’s interior is very cozy and warm and has an intimate feeling. They pay attention to detail and serve their dishes on beautiful tableware.
Iceland Behind the Lenses of @senderak
During my Icelandic adventures, I've had a chance to be a part of an exciting project with one of most talented and creative souls that I know, Marko Senderak (@senderak) . Marko is a Creative Director, Founder and CEO of brand & creative studio We Don't Care We Create, which is inspiring people all around the world to follow their dreams and start creating the life they've always dreamt of, no matter what circumstances. You can follow their journey on their Instagram page @wedontcarewecreate and their Youtube channel.
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