I went there in the spring. It's a nice place. Would go again. Make sure to visit Blue Lagoon or so I'm told. It's a hot spring park or something. We didn't go and were told we missed out.Has anyone else been to Iceland since this thread was begun? I have been invited by inner Web friends G and I made many years sgo. They had invited us, but G was too ill to travrl. Now, they think it would be good for me to have a complete change of scenery and culture. I don't disagree. I can afford it and I have the vacation time. I have not, however made such a journey. My travel has been limited to contiguous N. America. What months would you NOT go...what the hell does one pack to wear? Remember I am in Mo. Estados Unidos, so accustomed to humid and warm but really only kind of cold...just usually a few days of below zero temps...
3 drink maximum? WHAT THE FUCK. YEAH fuck that.lol, blue lagoon is interesting. I suppose worth a visit but huge tourist trap. In short it's a "natural" hot spring with this luxury building, restaurant, etc built around it. They serve drinks from a walk up bar but have a 3 drink max! Sucks for drunks like me. There are way better natural hot springs if you go looking.
You can take the bus from near the airport to the starting point for some great hikes. I did the landmannalaugar trail. It's about 5 days and if you like hiking will give you amazing spots for pictures. You see everything from mountain valleys, volcanish ash plains, forests, glaciers, mountain passes, and raging rivers. Would highly recommend it as a go to for anyone who likes hiking. The hut system there is really nice, way nicer than I thought. I brought all my tent camping gear because I didn't know what to expect.
reykjavik is a nice city but I can't imagine spending more than a day or two there with everything else iceland has to offer. Some beautiful waterfalls along the southern part of the island, most of which you can drive right up to. I stayed at "OK Hotel" here, which has themed sorta rooms, right downtown, a neat bar downstairs with awesome owner and bartender I ended up hanging out with for a few days.
Puffins are badass. Eat them, photo them, whatever. Westman Island is the best spot to view.
Almost no one goes to the north/east parts of the island. You can rent a car or do a bus tour that goes around the entire island, it's pretty up there and very isolated.
Nothing beats their wool sweaters! They've also got all the major shops I love right on main street. Fjallraven, 66 north, Icewear, etcThanks to all for your replies.
I still am using (even) the idea of traveling there as an excuse to shop for new clothes.
lol, blue lagoon is interesting. I suppose worth a visit but huge tourist trap. In short it's a "natural" hot spring with this luxury building, restaurant, etc built around it. They serve drinks from a walk up bar but have a 3 drink max! Sucks for drunks like me. There are way better natural hot springs if you go looking.
You can take the bus from near the airport to the starting point for some great hikes. I did the landmannalaugar trail. It's about 5 days and if you like hiking will give you amazing spots for pictures. You see everything from mountain valleys, volcanish ash plains, forests, glaciers, mountain passes, and raging rivers. Would highly recommend it as a go to for anyone who likes hiking. The hut system there is really nice, way nicer than I thought. I brought all my tent camping gear because I didn't know what to expect.
reykjavik is a nice city but I can't imagine spending more than a day or two there with everything else iceland has to offer. Some beautiful waterfalls along the southern part of the island, most of which you can drive right up to. I stayed at "OK Hotel" here, which has themed sorta rooms, right downtown, a neat bar downstairs with awesome owner and bartender I ended up hanging out with for a few days.
Puffins are badass. Eat them, photo them, whatever. Westman Island is the best spot to view.
Almost no one goes to the north/east parts of the island. You can rent a car or do a bus tour that goes around the entire island, it's pretty up there and very isolated.
Is there a preferred time of year to visit? I'm thinking about making a stop this summer. Some of the landscape photos in summer look beautiful but I don't know what else I would be missing out on. I don't think this is a place that I'll be going to multiple times so I'd like to go at the best time. How long would you suggest staying there? Like a week in Iceland to knock it all out? Or would you need less time than that? Seeing the Aurora Borealis is really high on my to-do list and I know that needs to be done in the winter, but I think I'd rather go all out for that and go to northern Norway or something someday.
I'm also thinking about hitting up the Faroe Islands. They look amazing.
Seeing the Northern Lights is kind of the primary objective and I have a feeling the remote eastern/northern parts of the island will be ideal for that.
Everyone I've talked to that's been to Iceland in the winter has said they've seen them - even if only for 20 minutes or so.