Iceland

iceland

Known as the Land of Fire & Ice, Iceland lives up to its namesake with ice beaches, glaciers, volcanoes and steaming fumeroles.  The vastness and diversity of its landscape proves for an almost other-worldly trip you won’t soon forget.

things to know

• Language: Icelandic (English is spoken by many)
• Currency: Icelandic króna (ISK)
• Main Airport: Keflavík International (KEF)
• Train System: no
• Credit Card Friendly: Yes – Iceland is a cashless society so the only place you will need cash, more specifically coins, is for public bathrooms

reykjavík

Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland and the region houses more than half of the country’s inhabitants.  Established around AD 874, it is the world’s northernmost capital.  Situated on the waterfront, the views are breathtaking with colorful rooftops reaching across the city in front of a backdrop of ocean and mountain views.  Reykjavík is a modern city and the people were very warm and welcoming.  I enjoyed walking through the shops in different neighborhoods where it was not uncommon to see cats lounging among the merchandise.  There are many eateries and breweries including Iceland’s own Einstök, a beer made with pure glacial water, located near the rainbow road between Bergstaðastræti and Laugavegur streets.  Painted in honor of pride, this road highlights the fact that Iceland is one of the most LGBTQ friendly countries in the world and also a leader in women’s rights as the country with the least amount of gender gap.

Rainbow Road to Hallgrímskirkja Church


Elf Houses


Icelandic cat in a store

Seasons in Iceland

The best advice that I heard before going to Iceland (and since) is to dress in layers.  Not only does it rarely get above 55°F in the summer months, but the weather can change instantly.  It is not uncommon to see three to four different weather patterns in an hour.  Before visiting, it is wise to see what the average temperatures are for that time frame and pack accordingly.  I suggest always bringing a waterproof coat or jacket to wear as the outer layer since rain, waterfalls, geysirs, and beaches will most likely be on your agenda.

When planning your trip, it is also important to take into account the amount of daylight for each season.  Since Iceland is an Arctic country, this can vary drastically.  We were there at the end of June through the beginning of July when they have 24 hours of sunlight.  The sun would skirt the horizon and it would get a little like dusk but nowhere near dark, so definitely bring an eye mask for sleeping.  We loved this time of year because we could be out late hiking or driving and we wouldn’t have to worry about running out of daylight.

On the contrary, Iceland can have as little as a few hours of sunlight during the height of winter.  While it is great for seeing the northern lights, it won’t allow for spending much time in nature.  It is not uncommon for the roads to close during the colder months due to poor driving conditions, so you might find yourself stranded as heavy snow can come out of nowhere.

things to do in reykjavík

Visit the unique Hallgrímskirkja church & Leiff Eriksson statue

Eat at the famous hot dog stand Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur

Walk out to Grótta Island Lighthouse (only possible during certain seasons)

Walk along the scenic waterfront

our favorite food & drinks from Iceland

From hot dogs to meat soup, Iceland was full of new flavors for us to enjoy

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Buying alcohol

In Iceland, the only place outside of restaurants to buy alcohol are in state liquor stores called Vínbúðin.  Cocktails, wine, beer and spirits are generally about double the price we pay in the states and is not available in grocery stores.  The only other place that you can purchase alcohol is at the airport, which is the best choice because it is much cheaper there. 

When I think of Scandinavian countries, I think of drinking beer as being a typical part of the culture, so I was surprised to find out that Iceland was under prohibition during the better part of the twentieth century.  Iceland introduced prohibition on all alcohol in 1915, though this was lifted in 1921 when Spain refused to buy fish from Iceland unless they started selling Spanish wine again.  Oddly enough, the prohibition on spirits was lifted in 1933 while beer, a much weaker alcoholic beverage, was banned until 1985. 

During prohibition, Brennivín became the spirit of choice.  Iceland’s signature distilled beverage has flavors of licorice and caraway, making it very different than anything I have ever tried.  Some locals told us that it was common during prohibition for Icelanders to put Brennivín in their non-alcoholic beer.  Beer Day is now a cultural event celebrated on March 1st to mark the anniversary of the end of prohibition with many Icelanders taking part in a rúntur, or bar crawl.

where we stayed

• 
  Viking Village, Hafnarfjörður (about 10 minutes from downtown Reykjavík)
  
• Bedrooms: 1 + a loft
• Beds: 3
• Baths: 1
• Child Friendly: Yes
• Kitchen: No, though there is a restaurant on site
• Close to: Downtown Reykjavík, Sky Lagoon, Bars, Cafés & Waterfront
• This is a cute, kitschy place to stay that is great for families. We stayed in one of the viking houses, which was a row of bungalows that had a queen and single bunk bed and a queen bed in the loft. It was great for our family of 5 and a fun change from your typical hotel/airbnb

our 10 day ring road itinerary

To read about all of the places we visited, click the link below to see our family’s itinerary, sites we saw and travel tips

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