MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
SRjr the 2nd is off to Montreal for a gap year on the 29th of this month, and can get a flight from Gatwick that includes an 18 hour stop-over in Reykjavik. He would LOVE to do this, as the flight arrives at 2300 and doesn't depart again until 1700 the next day, and would give him a chance to see a bit.
That said, he will need to sleep somewhere when he arrives, and then (presumably) need to get transport to any interesting stuff the next morning.
If you were to be in the same situation, what would you do? Could he sleep on the airport floor, then catch an open-air bus to tour the city the next day? What would the practicalities entail? Do you think he would need to worry about his luggage, or would that likely remain checked-in?
What should he be thinking about visiting? He loves history and the outdoors, so would probably like to scope out the natural setting of the place more than a museum or some such thing.
Any advice from seasoned Reykjavik travellers will be much appreciated!
It’s a ~45 min transfer from the airport to Reykjavik. I didn’t see many open top buses.
What's he into- nightlife, culture, scenery?
Definitely NOT nightlife. He's pretty introverted, and loves culture and scenery. He would be quite happy touring on foot.
The simple answer is to catch a bus to Gullfoss. It can be arranged to pass via Pingvallir (Mid Atlantic rift, ancient Icelandic/ Viking era parliament, site of declaration of independance from Denmark in 1947? Massively impressive scenery, hugely important culturally.) Then onto Geysir- it does what it says on the tin- lots and lots of very hot water regularly spouts high up out of the ground. Incredibly wonderful. Take a walk away from the crowds up the hill a way.
Gullfoss is a few km up the road. think of the biggest waterfall that you have ever seen. Add quite a bit more. And then some more.
There are tours available to include all of these- google 'Golden Circle'. All the local bus companies will be available to offer something to suit. Hop off, hop on is normal.
Is there any possibility of vehicle hire?
The National Museum is top drawer, really really good.
Reykjavik food tour. Superb way to eat your way around the city.
Blue Lagoon is very touristy but is a bit unique and pretty much right next to the airport. Might not be that great (a bit sad and lonely) if he is on his own.
A bit too little time for any of the golden circle standard out of town tourist fare. Presuming if flying at 1700 he'll have to leave the city in time to check in no later than 1330ish.
Still just about worth a whale watching boat tour at the end of Sep but a bit early for a northern lights night time trip (and he would arrive too late to get on one)
Walk to the sun voyager (Sólfarið) sculpture and the Harpa music hall which are both pretty cool modern structures.
Big fan of the Nauthólsvík - a city spot for sea swimmers with a geothermal pool for a natter with locals. Lots of other swimming pools with hot tubs in the city - its a very Icelandic thing to do.
The National museum is pretty good.
'Walk to the sun voyager (Sólfarið) sculpture and the Harpa music hall which are both pretty cool modern structures.
Big fan of the Nauthólsvík – a city spot for sea swimmers with a geothermal pool for a natter with locals. Lots of other swimming pools with hot tubs in the city – its a very Icelandic thing to do.'
Good call.
Get into reykReykj and wander about there's loads of stuff to see dotted about, the sun Voyager, hallgrimskirkja church, some weird square cow sculpture things . And the svarta Kaffid is about as good as it gets (and not massivly expensive) for lunch.
Another tick for the National Museum. Also the Fishing Museum down by the docks,
That big cathedral thing was good fun. Just a roam around the place was worth while as well.
Not sure if it's been mentioned as I can't remember the name of it but there's an excavated viking long house in the basement of a modern office block that's well worth visiting. Oh and there's the penis museum!
Blue Lagoon is very touristy but one of those things that's worth doing anyway. We pre-booked tickets but fairly sure you can just turn up and queue.
The Golden Circle tours would be a bit much given his timings unless he hired a car for the day.
If it's a weekend, get into town runtour doesn't warm up until midnight anyway, even an introvert can find something they like about the Icelandic people. Party till the early hours, head via the golden circle on the way back to the airport.
In honesty transport will likely be the biggest problem, the airport is out of town in Keflavik (well the one I went to was anyway) where there is little to see/do and it's a former airforce base.
Blue lagoon is nice (despite being a tourist trap) when the coach parties have left and teeming with people when it's not.
I've heard that Icelandic women are quite stunningly beautiful so how about an airport hotel, coke, hookers?
So if it departs at 5pm the following day he's going to need to be back at the airport about 3-4pm.
An early morning golden circle tour is probably the answer, but he won't have a great deal of time...
If I could do only one thing it'd be toss up between Gulfoss & Geysir. Both totally mind blowing if you've not seen anything of that scale close up, & given he's going to Canada where they do have waterfalls, I think I'd edge towards Geysir.
Find a local Crossfit box and go train with one of the 'Dottirs'? There's a skydiving dropzone about 95KM away if he fancies a trek, but it may be closed by then.
Reykjavik is nice, but museums are just museums (and they're all nice but pretty small by normal capital city standards). For me, Iceland is all about the country and seeing things you won't see in many other places. And there isn't going to be time to do a Golden Circle bus tour if you only start in the morning....
Can you hire a car late at night? Is he old enough to hire a car? If so, I'd be driving straight to Geysir and then sleeping in the car. Up at dawn to enjoy the awesome geothermal stuff in solitude. Then onto Gulfoss (get some breakfast in the cafe). Then there needs to be some hot spring action - either the secret lagoon https://secretlagoon.is/ or drive to Hveragerdi and walk up to the hot river (about 4-5km easy hike).
Geysir and Gulfoss are the must see things. You could equally substitute Pingvellir and a hot pool in the city for the other things.
I actually bet that lot would be a damn sight cheaper than overnight accommodation, bus tour and Blue Lagoon etc 🙂
I would probably go see Reykjavic. Realistically he has to be back at the airport a couple of hours before so you won't want to cut it too fine.
The city can be wandered in a morning, Cathedral, docks, get some lunch and then have a nice relaxing lounge around in the Blue Lagoon en-route back to the airport.
Toursity I know...but would work perfectly with the time he has.
I’ve heard that Icelandic women are quite stunningly beautiful so how about an airport hotel, coke, hookers?
our Icelandic business partner suggested otherwise.....said that the Vikings had stopped off en-route and picked up British and Irish people - thus ruining the Nordic bloodline!
Have him read Independent People the week before (help him pack his bags as he'll be reeling in a daze from the emotional impact of it). On arrival in Iceland I'm sure he can leave his bags at the airport, then take a flask of strong coffee and head out onto the moors to contemplate the rocks and the sheep like Bjartur of Summerhouses before him.