HOW TO SPEND THREE DAYS IN REYKJAVIK
Underneath Seljalandsfoss Waterfall.
Iceland. A trip I never thought I would take. This also happens to be a trip I took almost a year ago, but hey, at least I’m writing about it now, right? I’m not sure why it took so long to do this. Maybe it’s because I jetted off to Iceland on a random October weekend with friends, about a month into beginning Graduate School. And maybe it’s because I didn’t think my small trip to Iceland with friends ( we only stayed for three days) was enough to write about. But I was wrong. Quick weekend trips are becoming one of my favorite things: find a good flight deal, book an airbnb, and off you go. You’re able to take a small break from your regular life, and still make it back to work or school on time for the week.
Iceland was a perfect destination for this. Only a four hour flight from New York City, and only a four hour time difference compared to the rest of Europe, I was able to leave late Thursday evening, making it there by early Friday morning, and stayed until Sunday. This gave me enough time to see a small snippet of the city, mostly Reykjavík, and of course, hit the Blue Lagoon.
Full disclaimer: many people travel to Iceland, rent a car, and travel all over the country to see as much of the landscape as possible. However, if you’re on a time restriction like me (and also don’t know how to drive) keep reading. This one is for you!
These landscapes! Stunning.
GETTING THERE:
As referenced above, flights to Iceland can be relatively cheap. We booked five months in advance, and through WOW airlines (unfortunately, they recently went out of business). Regardless, there are countless other airlines to book through. I recommend trying IcelandAir, which also has deals that allow you to book a flight to your destination in mind, while stopping over for a nice, long layover in Iceland. I know family friends who have done this, packing in a couple of days of sightseeing and a stop to the Lagoon before heading to their final destination.
WHERE TO STAY:
We booked two Airbnbs: our first was in Reykjanesbær, which is closer to the airport. Our second was in the city of Reykavik itself. We booked the first spot for the first night, as we were waiting for other friends to arrive. This was helpful, as it was a much smaller town, with a cute museum, small restaurants and bars to go to. In Reykjanesbær, we stayed in the center of the city, which was pretty close to restaurants, supermarkets and small bars, plus a library. I was the first to arrive, and spent the entire day at a museum learning about the history of Iceland, as well as looking out at the landscapes, which are incredible. I followed this up after by going to a local library and cafe, where I spent time.
In the city itself, staying near the center is relatively easy, as it is not that big. We rented a quaint house (there were 7 of us) and were able to sleep comfortably. Since Iceland is so cold, we were happy to stay in places that had good heating and ventilation systems. If you are looking for spaces to stay, I’ve included a link to the first location.
Church Details.
THE CULTURE:
Icelandic culture is very different than other cities I have been to in Europe. It is much more spread out than other cities, such as Paris or Amsterdam, obviously due to the climate and landscape. I did not learn too much of the language prior to going, but recommend knowing at least how to say hello, thank you, sorry and goodbye. These are simple phrases to learn, and can be quickly researched before or during your trip for quick refreshes.
Money used in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona. Depending on where you are traveling from, the exchange rate is high, especially for the American dollar. While we were there, we bought groceries to save money on breakfast and snacks, especially when driving through the landscape, as there isn’t many places to stop and eat at. Besides that, gas stations became our best friend: hot dogs, fish and chips, and sandwiches. We tried our best to ball out on a budget, y’all!
WHAT TO DO:
Drive, drive, drive. Ironic, for someone who doesn’t even know how. But honestly, the waterfalls and landscape is the best part of Iceland. We spent the majority of our trip in the car, chasing the Northern Lights, or waterfalls we desperately wanted to visit. Here are some of the spots we visited:
Skógafoss: A beautiful, beautiful waterfall surrounded by miles of nature
Seljalandsfoss: This was the moment when I fell in love with Iceland (no joke). Absolutely took my breath away! A must visit waterfall.
Geysir: Hot thermal springs that bubble up! Super cool, there are several locations to choose from
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach: Famous Black Sand Beach, can be tricky to find but worth it
Hallgrimskirkja: A large church that overlooks Reykjavik, very Scandinavian in design and different from others I have seen in Europe
Northern Lights! Can be seen pretty much anywhere, but some nights may be too cloudy. If you’re staying for longer, definitely a treat to catch them more than once
Blue Lagoon: This goes without saying, and I won’t even include a link to this. Breathtaking, relaxing, and honestly such a great spa day
Reykjavik Streets.
OTHER STUFF:
Because we only stayed for a limited amount of time, we pretty much only had time to do what I listed above. However, my friends and I diligently planned a detailed list, in the event that we were able to make it happen. Here are some ideas I wished we had had time to visit (maybe you can!):
Thingvellir: National park with hiking, horseback riding and more, about a 40 min drive from Reykjavik
Kerid Crater Lake: A large lake surrounded by volcano rocks, about a 50 min ride from Reykjavik
Kiosk - If you fancy thriving/shopping (not very inexpensive, as I mentioned all of Iceland is expensive)
Legendary Blue Lagoon :) Happiness
Iceland took my breath away. As a city girl, I don’t get out too often, and Iceland really challenged my perceptions of our world. It was definitely freezing, and I definitely was uncomfortable at certain points (not many people of color, plenty of stares, and did I mention cold?) I still think I was able to learn more about myself, like the fact that visiting places out of your comfort zone can sometimes be one of the best trips you take. And it doesn’t even have to be that long. Thanks for reading!