Food in Reykjavik

  • Sandholt Bakery (I come here every time I’m in Reykjavik!)
    • For cake, bread, other pastries…tea and coffee…any time of day (open early until quite late)
  • Bonus (grocery store)
    • Has a decent number of snacks and is very affordable; probably the best place to get Skyr at reasonable prices! (Don’t buy them at the tourist trap locations…)
  • Old Iceland Restaurant
    • Fancier fare done well, very Scandinavian in style
  • Laundromat Cafe
    • Fun ambiance, hearty fare
  • Te & Kaffi
    • Great cakes and definitely ask for the whipped cream with them (I dream about this)
  • Kaffitár
    • Great cakes as well, solid coffee, nice place to sit and chat and watch locals
  • Ida Zimsen
    • A bookstore and coffeeshop combination that is cozy and welcoming – you can come and stay for awhile (even do work on your laptop!)

Things to do

  • Golden Circle Tour
    • Great in the “Iceland starter pack” if you’re not sure what you’re most interested in
    • Covers Thingvellir (the national park where Icelandic parliament met), Strokkur (geysers), and also Gullfoss (waterfall)
  • Blue Lagoon
    • Now (2017) it feels overhyped and too touristy; last time I went (2016), I lost my towel in a mountain of identical towels and it was generally just unpleasant to change/bathe afterwards
    • Would definitely recommend the Secret Lagoon instead…it is a bit farther but it’s much more local, less hyped up, and feels more natural
  • Northern Lights Tours
    • Have had bad luck on both tries (November and then February); on one trip we went out on the boat and it snowed solidly, on the other the boat trips were canceled every day
    • I’ve heard of people seeing the lights from town and even from their planes at different times; it’s all luck… I would suggest planning a trip to Iceland for everything else and considering the Northern Lights a potential cherry on top
  • Underappreciated – hang out in Reykjavik
    • The small city has a high density of things to see and explore, and its slower pace is perfect if you are looking for an escape and chance to just relax
    • See Harpa Hall, walk up and down Laugavegur, City Hall, the library, the phallus museum, the churches…
  • Horse-back riding
    • Icelandic horses are a specific breed that is not found elsewhere in the world
    • They are not allowed to return to Iceland if they leave for horse races elsewhere because Icelandic horses have been isolated for so long that they are highly susceptible to outside diseases/etc.
    • They are known for having a unique trot – supposedly making for a smoother ride
    • Horse rides can take you into landscapes (volcanic ones, especially) that you may not otherwise see
  • Glacier climbing
    • Slightly expensive to book but you will get a good workout, good guidance, and get to see and touch a glacier (and drink glacier water!)
    • Offers amazing perspective on environmental changes that are happening in the world today and also just humbling to see how small we are relative to these magnificent landforms
    • Often you will see two other waterfalls on the tours (depending on which glacier you climb), such as Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss

To consider

  • If you rent a car to drive around, most cars are manual (automatic ones are significantly pricier)
  • The roads are often not well kempt in the wintertime so consider comfort levels in winter weather
  • Dress warmly if it’s cold; it rains a lot when it is not snowing
  • In the dead of winter, the days are very short: daylight from 11am to 3pm is approximately as short as it gets
  • In the middle of August, the days are extremely long: bright out at 5am and not dark until 11pm or later!
  • Flying Wow Air likely means that your ticket was cheap but you will have to pay extra to bring luggage with you…and also you will arrive and leave at less optimal times than if you fly with Icelandair… Take all factors into consideration
  • Airport transfers (if not renting a car) are easiest by FlyBus or public transit bus (depending on luggage/destination in city)
  • Most places take credit card so you may not necessarily need cash…
  • For the most part, people can communicate in basic English