Iceland is the island of glaciers, natural pools, geysers and if you’re lucky, the northern light. We traveled to Iceland with high expectations and we can easily say these have all been fulfilled. The landscapes are very diverse and you won't be bored for a minute in terms of activities. The country counts more tourists than there are residents so at some spots it can be quite touristy, but if you are motivated to go out of bed early in the morning, you will experience the quietness of the Iceland landscape. Then there is the weather. It can rain a lot in Iceland so be prepared for that but we also thought this actually gave the country it's beautiful moody scenery. Iceland is the perfect country to visit if you are adventurous and in love with nature.

Accommodations

Iceland is not a budget friendly destination and unfortunately this also applies to the accommodations. The best tip we can give you is to plan your trip early so that the more budget friendly hostels or hotels are still available to book. Iceland also offers campsites all over the country, so a (4x4) camper or a tent and a sleeping bag would save you a lot of money.

5 Million Star hotel

Transport

The options to get around in Iceland are with your own car, busses or with private drivers. Based on these options, we would definitely recommend renting your own 4x4 as the easiest way to travel across the island. Also, it is not allowed to go off the main road with a normal car so with a 4x4 you can see the most of Iceland. The costs for driving a 4x4 ranges from €120-€150 per day plus you have to pay for petrol. Do you really want to go for the cheapest option? Hitchhiking is actually a big thing in Iceland. Normally this way of traveling is a bit tricky, but Iceland being the safest country in the world for many years and the fact that there is one road going around the island, we would say this is a good option to think about!

The Golden Circle is a 230-kilometer route that takes you past three of Iceland's hot spots: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area and the Gullfoss Waterfall. The route is so popular partly because the whole circle can be done in one day from Reykjavik which makes it the perfect starting point of your trip!

Thingvellir national park

Thingvellir is one of Iceland's national parks and one of the locations used in the popular TV series Game Of Thrones (go watch it if you haven’t already). Thingvellir was created by the drifting apart of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This has created a kilometer-long gorge that you can walk and swim through. If you can handle a bit of cold it is possible to snorkel in the icy clear waters of Thingvellir.

Geysir Geothermal Area

The geyser of all geysers, no wonder this is where the word itself has its origin. Geysir in Iceland was the first geyser to be described in literature and is therefor the most well known. The water used to reach up to 170 meters high, but unfortunately Geysir is not active anymore. To see an active geyser you just have to turn around and look at the Strokkur geyser which spouts every 5 to 10 minutes and reaches up to 30 meter. Geysir Geothermal Area is the most touristy spot we visited in Iceland, but when we waited until late in the evening, we were the only ones.

Gulfoss Waterfall

The Gullfoss waterfall is a two stage waterfall that gives a different perspective from every angle. It's one of the few waterfalls in Iceland that you view from above instead of below and this makes your visit to Gulfoss a special one.

The Icelandic Highlands are vast zones of volcanic landscapes and also forms the largest area of uninhabited and undisturbed nature in Europe. The sceneries are beautiful and changes almost with every step. Two popular areas of the highlands are Landmannalaugar and Kerlingarfjöll, but they are not similar at all. They are both worth visiting but as the area is quite large you may have to choose between one of them. We have been to both and we will tell you about their differences.

Landmannalaugar or Kerlingarfjöll?

Landmannalaugar

The drive from Selfoss takes about 2,5 hours if you take the F208 road and is only accessible with a 4x4. The Landmannalaugar campsite is the starting point of all the trails. The duration of the routes runs from half an hour to 8 hours, so decide for yourself how challenging you want to make the hike. Depending on your trail, you will walk between ánd over the colorful mountains while steam escapes from the mountains’ holes and the tops are covered with a layer of snow. The area is well maintained and it is only allowed to walk on the marked trails. After your hike, you can relax in the natural pool at the campsite or set up your tent to sleep between the snow covered mountains of Landmannalaugar.

Kerlingarfjöll

This area is a bit further inland and the drive takes about 3-3.5 hours from Selfoss with a 4x4. The trails are displayed on signs with the area map and the starting points are not the same for all the trails. The path where you are allowed to walk is less strict than in Landmannalaugar, this gives you the feeling that you are walking into no man’s land (*badum tss*). We would recommend checking the weather before you head out inland since it really differs per day and it can get pretty rough.

Landmannalaugar

Kerlingarfjöll

Vík is a small village in the southern part of Iceland, but that doesn't make this place any less special. The beach has a unique scenery and the native Icelandic wildlife can be spotted up close. We will list all the things you can do around this small village.

Chase the waterfalls

On the road from Selfoss to Vík there are many waterfalls to be found. Some can already be seen from your car window but we will list the ones which are worth stopping:

- Seljalandsfoss & Gljúfrabúi
- Skogafoss
- Kvernufoss

Tip: hungry after your visit to Skogafoss? Mia's Country Van sells the freshest fish and chips on the island.

Skogafoss (our favorite)

Visit the Solheimasandur plane wreck

This deserted place has something magical. The plane that crashed in 1973 is now an abandoned wreck in the middle of a vast black beach. Fortunately, all occupants survived the accident and this attraction is now a popular sight in Iceland. The walk is approximately 7 kilometers from the parking lot but don't let that stop you from visiting this unique spot.

Solheimasandur plane wreck

Spot the Atlantic puffins

It is only possible to see the puffins from April till September since they are at sea the rest of the year. But when you are in Iceland in these months, you will definitely spot them at Dyrhólaey. At this mountain you can drive all the way up by car and here you will find hundreds of penguin look- a-likes sitting on the rocks.

Visit Hálsanefshellir beach

Vulcanic black sand, basalt rock columns, an impressive cave and stunning basalt sea stacks. This spot is so much more than just a beach, it has even been ranked as one of the ten most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world!

Dyrhólaey, home of the puffin

Hálsanefshellir

Whether it's winter or summer, you'll find the ice of Iceland around the glacier lagoons. The landscape is constantly changing as ice blocks break off the glacier and float in the lagoon. A beautiful piece of Iceland where you're up for some special activities.

Admire the canyon

Famous since Justin Bieber shot one of his clips in this place. Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon is breathtaking and well worth a stop on your way to Jökulsárlón.

Visit one of the glacier lagoons

The most popular glacier lagoon is Jökulsárlón. From this big glacial lake, the broken ice blocks of the glacier are floating in the Atlantic Ocean. Many people enjoy this soothing piece of nature. If you are looking for less other tourists you should try the smaller glacier lagoon Fjallsárlón.

Go on a zodiac tour

A more adventurous way to explore the glacier lagoon is to sail right through it on a zodiac! This gives you the opportunity to get a closer look at the cute seals resting on the ice blocks. At both glacier lagoons Jökulsárlón and Fjallsárlón there are companies that offer zodiac tours. Make sure to book a few weeks in advance, as spots fill up quickly.

Walk on a glacier

Why only look at a glacier if you can walk on it? The scenery during the activity is beautiful and if you have a good guide you will learn a lot about the glacier. The Glacier Adventure provides you with spikes under your shoes and the necessary safety measures.

Visit Diamond beach

Perhaps the most popular sight around the area is Diamond Beach. The broken ice chunks from the glacier flow from Jökulsárlón into the sea where the waves push them on the shore. The glittering ice and black sand make you feel like you're walking among diamonds. And if you haven't seen seals during your trip yet, you will definitely spot them here!

The glacier walk

Fjaðrárgljúfur

Diamond beach

If you have time to make the round trip through Iceland you should definitely make a stop on this east-side harbor town. Seyðisfjörður was an unexpected highlight of our trip and this was mainly due to the high-quality restaurants this town has to offer!

Ride an Icelandic horse

It doesn't really matter if you are a horse person or not, the fact that these horses use a gait which no other horse in the world uses makes this activity quite special. Tölt is a four-beat, smooth gait which makes this activity perfect for both beginner and experienced riders. We booked the tour at Finnsstaðir Horse Rental in Egilsstaðir, which is half an hour drive from Seyðisfjörður.

Enjoy the food

Where to eat in Seyðisfjörður? Don't worry, this town has a great culinary cuisine and we will list our favorites for you!

Norð Austur - not your average sushi, but better. The chef gives all the dishes an Icelandic twist which makes it unique and delicious. Make sure to book a table in advance at this stylish restaurant.

Nordic Restaurant - a small menu full of fresh and local food. This Scandinavian restaurant has a great ambience for a romantic evening with candle light.

Kaffi Lára El Grillo Bar - this bar is perfect if you're looking for something more simple but with an extensive beer menu. They offer over more than 20 different Icelandic beers and they even have a local beer from Seyðisfjörður itself.

Akureyri is the second biggest city of Iceland, but it actually still feels more like a large village. The main reason for all the tourism in this Northern town is because of the whale watching activities. Experienced sailors know exactly where to find them, which makes the chance of spotting these animals very high!

Whale watching

An unforgettable experience during your trip through Iceland! Icelanders are experts on marine animals, they can tell you all about them during a tour and often know where to find the whales (and dolphins). There are multiple companies in the area that offer tours. We chose Whale Watching Hauganes, which is the oldest whale watching company in Iceland. They have a 99% succes rate of spotting the whales. A 3-hour tour costs about $90 and includes warm overalls.

Hauganes Hot Pot

Need some relaxation after a rough morning at sea? Next to the whale watching company in Hauganes are some geothermal heated hot tubs. The view is breathtaking and the sound of the sea is soothing. The hot tub area is open from 9-20 and the fee is about $7 per person.

Where to eat in Akureyri

Bryggjan - located in a beautiful building in the harbor with a varied menu and delicious food.

Cafe Berlin - the best breakfast and brunch in town, they even won the award of best cafe in North Iceland!

Akureyri Backpackers - a simple menu and lots of beer on tap. Sports matches are often broadcast on the screens or they just turn up the music to make a little party. This place is also a nice hostel to meet other backpackers!

Lasagna and more (foodtruck) - for the best Italian take-away dishes.

Reykjavik may not be the biggest capital you've ever seen, but it is surprisingly vibrant! There are plenty of nice shops to see and above all there are lots of restaurants where you can have delicious food!

Visit a Geothermal Spa

The most popular outing is a visit to a geothermal spa and since a few years you can choose between the Blue Lagoon and the Sky Lagoon. Both are beautiful, relaxed and warm. We chose the Sky Lagoon because it is closer to Reykjavik. The best tip we can give you is to go a little earlier in the morning so that you are one of the first to enter. A ticket costs about 90$ per person without extras.

Stroll through the centre

The best street to shop in Reykjavik is Laugavegur. From the beginning of the street till the end you will find cute boutiques, trendy clothing stores and plenty to eat.

Where to eat in Reykjavik

Cafe Babalú - a special place to drink a cup of coffee. A lot is happening in their varied interior and the menu offers something for everyone.

The Coocoo's nest - a popular place in Reykjavik for a reason. They serve homemade, organic food with healthy as their main focus.

Flatey Pizza - just delicious Italian pizza’s.

The eruption of Fagradalsfjall volcano

Hi, we are Bren and Tess! We travel to the most beautiful places in the world, and with our video's, we hope you feel inspired to do the same.