To those of you who follow me on social media, you’re aware that I just spent ten days in Iceland. To those of you who do not follow me on social media, well, now you know.
Iceland is an up and coming sojourn of choice. I can’t explain the trend, but all of a sudden it seems that every other person I talk to mentions that they know of someone who has gone, or is planning to go. A local in Akureyri informed me that Iceland hit a new record of tourists, about 1.5 million.
So…I digress, if this trend is consistent, you or some else you know will fancy this list of travel tips:
Rent a car
– you could hitchhike around the Iceland, as a lot of people do, but for the days when it’s pouring out, you’ll appreciate the reliable shelter
More specifically...
– rent a 4x4. The “F Roads” lead to some pretty dope sights, so you’ll want the ability to access them
Get a GPS
– I think that tip speaks for itself…
Gravel Protection Insurance
– a good idea because gravel roads could seriously f**k up your car
Waterproof EVERYTHING
– from backpack to boots to jacket. The weather changes every ten minutes
Expect a lot of pit stops
– various points of interest (⌘) will show up when you’re en route to a destination, and you’ll probably want to pull over and take a peak, it’s worth it.
Have music downloaded
– I know with Apple music and Spotify you have to have music downloaded when you’re offline, so if you can’t use cellular data, you’ll want to have that taken care of prior to a long excursion
Cell phones
– you don’t need an international plan. My friend's made out just fine without one, just about every café offers wifi
Icelandic sweaters
– a cliché souvenir, you’ll see them everywhere. Don’t buy the first one you see, the range anywhere between the $100’s and $200’s. Also, check the tag inside the sweater if you’re at a gift shop; shockingly enough, it may say “Made in China”
$$$
- Everything in Iceland is expensive, I rarely found a meal less than ten dollars. However, the Pylsa’s (hotdogs) are about 400 ISK, so roughly $3.50. Soup was typically 1200 ISK, roughly $10, and I found that to be more satisfying because you could grab like three slices of bread to shove down your throat with it.
DON’T get your hair wet in the Blue Lagoon
– it will seriously damage it, take it from someone who found that out the hard way! (Booze is hella expensive, too.)
The Golden Circle
– If you plan on covering all of Iceland, begin with the Golden Circle. Yes, Gullfoss and Geysir were both stunning, but after seeing the rest of scenic Iceland, it won’t have as much of a wow-factor. I was personally more stunned by the beauty of Godafoss and the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon.
Reykjavík
– the city that holds 2/3 of the population. Spend at least one day exploring, it's so quaint and cozy. Make sure to pick up a pastry at Braud, and sip some coffee at Fish Café!
