Why Here— Iceland

Dec 2016 – my first entirely solo trip. I bought the trip several months in advance due to a great deal I found on Travelzoo via Reykjavik Excursions. The deal was a complete package that included airfare with Icelandair, a hotel stay, and a few planned excursions, so when it came time to plan for the trip, I honestly didn't plan much. 

Getting There

ORD to KEF via Icelandair. 45-minute van shuttle from KEF to City- included in the package.

Money Exchange

Iceland Krona (ISK)—I exchanged money at the airport (KEF).

Visa

Not necessary for US citizens. 

Not EU but part of the Schengen area.

Hotel

Radisson Blu

A popular hotel brand in Nordic countries. While I would have preferred a hotel in a more central area with higher walkability, this hotel is located close enough to the city center. 

What to do 

Though planned and all bookings and arrangements were made in advance by the travel company, this was an unescorted trip. The excursions were as a group, though. One trip day excursion was a trip to the Golden Circle, which included- Thingvellir (pingvellir) National Park Rift Valley, Gulfoss waterfall, and Strokkur Geyser. Thingvellir, a World Heritage Site, is an amazing trip for anyone who, as a kid, was fascinated by geography. Here you can see the Mid Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasia tectonic plates meet. The one place where you have the chance to touch two continents at the same time!

This is actually one of the few places on earth where you can see. Although I didn't-- If you are feeling adventurous (and plan in advance), there is a "river" of water between the two plates called the Silfra Fissure. Here you can snorkel or dive in this cold water, you are provided a dry suit of course. 

Gullfoss Waterfall, part of the Hvita river, has 2 drops for a total height of 104 ft. You can expect to get wet if you are close enough to see this wet site, so dress accordingly.

Strokkur, a geyser in the river's geothermal area, usually erupts every 6-10 minutes.

Another planned excursion was an evening trip to a geothermal bath, dinner, and a northern lights safari. 

Laugarvatn Fontana has steam baths, relaxing pools, a sauna, a lake, and a kitchen. 

If you remembered correctly, my visit was in December, so an outdoor steam bath in the night of winter can be quite a shock to both the mind and body.

The hardest part is the "fast" walk from the locker room to the baths in your swimsuit and towel. Make sure to bring flip flops or water shoes. Once in the tub, it is very relaxing and warm. There are several baths at varying temperatures, so you may need to exit into the frigid air a few times to try out the different spas. We then took on the night to find the northern lights, but unfortunately, due to overcast that day and most of the trip, we didn't get to see it.

Hop on the on/off bus for a self-guided trip around Reykjavik:

Visit Hallgrimskirkja and get a view of the city from the top

Try some fermented shark

Walk around town and look for “abandoned babies”— it’s customary practice to leave babies (well bundled in their carriage) unattended outside while the parent is inside a bar or restaurant

Visit Harpan concert hall— architecturally modern glass building built to resemble Icelandic basalt formation

General Tips

Showers smell like sulfur, but they have amazing bottled water. 

What I'd do if I returned: well, I would have loved to see the northern lights, but you can't predict that. I'd probably explore the island more. Rent a car and drive around, see a volcano, and the famous black sand beaches. I'd also check out the blue lagoon if I had ample time. Although it's super touristy and mainly an Instagram photo-op site, I think it's still a beautiful place to visit. 

If I had to do again, I’d consider visiting

1.Basalt formations near Reynisfjara beach

2.Glaciers

3.Black Sand beaches

4. Ski Resorts

5. Go hiking and camping (hint hint, stay tuned)

Also,

Honestly, I was most worried about being prepared for the cold. Don't get me wrong, I know cold coming from Chicago, but I had this idea that Iceland in the winter was going to be even more brutal… wrong. In reality, Iceland's climate is much milder than the name gives it credit. Apparently, this is due in part to the Gulf Stream flow bringing a little warmth and its location above hot geothermal geography (think hot springs, volcanoes). 

Don't get me wrong, it's still cold but not freezing as I had expected, the temperature was a calm 40 F. So needless to say, I over-prepared when it came to packing. But do understand that I was primarily in Reykjavik or close by if you are visiting other parts of the island or have more off-roading excursions planned you may be in for a slightly different experience.