Reykjavík and the Golden Circle : Reykjavík is a super cool, artsy city.
Reykjavík is gorgeous at night
There is soooo much to do that I could have walked around for days, shopping at the exorbitantly priced souvenir shops and popping in and out of the cosy bars.
Walking about Reykjavík
Cute buildings and street art in Reykjavík
STAY
We stayed at the Centre Hotel Plaza, smack in the centre of the city and close to Parking lots. It was decent, tiny rooms and industrial but fine for one night.
SEE/ DO
Walk around. During Christmas time the city was just bustling with the holiday spirit, Christmas stalls, décor, lights. The streets were full of locals and visitors.
Christmas decorations all around
Christmas vibes in the capital
Hallgrímskirkja Church is the iconic structure towering up the shopping streets of Reykjavík. You can buy a ticket and go to the top, but we had limited time and as always would rather spend it eating, drinking and shopping.
Hallgrimskirkja church towering over Reykjavík
Laugavegur street and surrounding streets
WARNING!!! you will end up buying verrry cute stuff you do not need! The cutest pompom beanies, wooly throws, lava candle holders, soaps, silly signs, arctic salt and herbs. Please buy from locals and focus on handmade products instead of cheap Chinese products. The streets are also full of jewellers, artists and super funky kitschy stuff. If you just got in and have not brought warm enough clothing there are a few Icelandic brands that make some awesome winter wear like 66 North.
You can buy a million cute souvenirs
Walk around the city discovering ponds, colourful buildings, street art and cool architecture.
EAT
The ‘world’s best hotdog’ according to Bill Clinton is in the heart of the city and now has a few outlets. We tried it out and it was pretty good but maybe way too built up in my head. The fact that it started snowing didn’t help either.
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur: The famous hot dog stand in Reykjavík
Svarta Kaffið restaurant: When you are freezing your backside off, soup is divine. Try this spot for a massive bread filled with soup.
Traditional Icelandic soup in a bread.. there was a Reindeer soup 🙁 and a veggie one…
Seafood spots: There are a ton of spots that offer fancy and pricey several courses of seafood or more homely options.
Krua Thai : For that spicey break from European food. The Thai food here is good with a minimal spice level. I have realised that the older I get the more I need my spice fix every few days, my inner desi (Indian)is beginning to show.
The Golden Circle
The most popular route in Iceland, this gorgeous drive can easily be done with a tour group or on your own. It is a beautiful experience however please do not think that this is enough to experience what Iceland has to offer.
The route is the circle or technically triangle between Þingvellir National park, Gullfoss waterfall and Geyser geothermal area.
Þingvellir national park
Þingvellir National Park
The gorgeous park is full of magma fields, mossy greens and glacial water collections. It is the area where the north American and eurasian tectonic plates meet, you can walk down the path in between ancient mountains and admire the gorgeous waterfalls. The cold, icey pathway and wind was a tad overwhelming for us so we didn’t venture too far. On a sunny day I would have happily walked all the way to the 2nd waterfall as well.
Walking down the path in Þingvellir National Park
You can choose to dive the Silfra fissure here too but as tropical scuba divers this idea did not seem very enticing to me.
Geyser area
As we ventured into the Geyser café to grab some yummy meaty soup and prosecco, I caught sight of the Strokkur Geyser erupting up almost 30 metres. It goes off every few minutes and is quite fun to wait for but not very easy to photograph. The whole area of a few square kilometres is geothermal and active with boiling water flowing all around but an unfortunate small of rotten eggs thanks to the sulphur.
The Geyser geothermal area
Gullfoss waterfall
Gorgeous Gullfoss
I don’t think any photos can do justice to how stunning and magnificent this site is. If you are lucky and enthusiastic, walking along the rim of the falls to the vantage point will give you one of the best views. I was hoping for the falls to be more frozen over but winter arrived later so we still had an icey but gushing waterfall.
Stay
We stayed at the Vatnsholt guesthouse close to Selfoss for the night as we prepared to head south the next day. A gorgeous property literally in the middle of nowhere but we reached in the dark and had to leave early the next day again in darkness (only 4 hours of light in December!) so we didn’t really see much of the surroundings. The people running the guest house were extremely nice, friendly and they have a horse farm and a gorgeous main house where we enjoyed some wine and relaxation on Christmas eve. Our room was basic but clean. The breakfast was homely and yum.
Reading a book at the lounge area at our guesthouse. Gifting each other books for Xmas and then staying up all night to read is an Icelandic tradition known as Jólabókaflóð, or “Yule Book Flood”
I am also pretty sure had the skies been clearer the Northern lights may have put on a show! (alternately you can stay in Selfoss which is a super cool town or drive further and stay at Vík.)
