Reykjavik

[arthurDALEY]

Morning All
With er indoors 50th fast approaching she has decided on Reykjavik for a break next February, any other travellers have recommendations for Hotels, restaurants, bars, sightseeing companies etc....

Thanks in advance

[tintin]

My son organised a 5 day 4 night tour for us both, picked up a hire car and travelled round the SE / golden circle area and it is absolutely amazing...... Reykjavik itself defo worth a wander but is beautifully small, can recommend "Tapas", excellent food and not expensive..... the Blue Lagoon obviously, we also went to a tomato farm for lunch, Yoda cave, countless (amazing) waterfalls, black sands, hot springs etc. but we drove everywhere and stayed in guest houses. I assume they would run golden circle tours from Reykjavik judging by the number of tour buses we saw at most of the stops we made 😎 but I can't personally recommend or otherwise any of them. If you do branch out alone let me know and I can provide more details of some of the places we went to that the coaches don't visit - for example an old farmers pool where the rain water runs over lava stones in the middle of nowhere... you drive down a track for a few miles, park up and hike over the hill, and there in front of you is a small shepherds hut and a (hot bath temperature) pool..... no sign of life / unnatural light as far as the eye can see, no buildings or anything..... we went at dusk it was amazing (as were the Canadian girls who turned up 20 minutes later and stripped down to skimpy swimwear - not just for the obvious reason but we'd just come out of lockdown and hardly anyone was travelling, chatting to some foreign people after 18 months of isolation / lockdown was a welcome return to the world community)..... we are planning to go back in the winter for a couple of weeks one day...... (We are 52 / 21 for reference)....

[KavKav]

My son organised a 5 day 4 night tour for us both, picked up a hire car and travelled round the SE / golden circle area and it is absolutely amazing...... Reykjavik itself defo worth a wander but is beautifully small, can recommend "Tapas", excellent food and not expensive..... the Blue Lagoon obviously, we also went to a tomato farm for lunch, Yoda cave, countless (amazing) waterfalls, black sands, hot springs etc. but we drove everywhere and stayed in guest houses. I assume they would run golden circle tours from Reykjavik judging by the number of tour buses we saw at most of the stops we made  but I can't personally recommend or otherwise any of them. If you do branch out alone let me know and I can provide more details of some of the places we went to that the coaches don't visit - for example an old farmers pool where the rain water runs over lava stones in the middle of nowhere... you drive down a track for a few miles, park up and hike over the hill, and there in front of you is a small shepherds hut and a (hot bath temperature) pool..... no sign of life / unnatural light as far as the eye can see, no buildings or anything..... we went at dusk it was amazing (as were the Canadian girls who turned up 20 minutes later and stripped down to skimpy swimwear - not just for the obvious reason but we'd just come out of lockdown and hardly anyone was travelling, chatting to some foreign people after 18 months of isolation / lockdown was a welcome return to the world community)..... we are planning to go back in the winter for a couple of weeks one day...... (We are 52 / 21 for reference)....

Highly interesting post, thanks for sharing!

[NickGaters]

Went there a couple of years back as a birthday present. I was expecting full on price gouging given what I had read on the internet, but pleasantly surprised to find it was really no more expensive than London prices for food. I don't drink though, so I think that's what really kept bills in check.

We stopped at Hotel Aurora rather than one of the swankier hotels in town, spending the extra on tours. There's a great cafe down near the main road that serves soup Again initially I was told it's soup at about 20 quid a go, but it's unlimited and served in hollowed out loaves, absolutely amazing food with free chocs between refills. Got to be tried to be believed.

Per other posters, we did all the usual tours via bus although (being from Yorkshire) I declined to pay for the Blue Lagoon and went instead to the local municipal baths for dirt cheap and it was awesome. 3 x diff temp plunge pools and the warmest one at about 40 degrees was outside where your teeth ache with cold above water (we went in a hurricane) yet your body boils underwater. Well worth the experience.

Pretty much zero crime as well so no worries there. All the bus tours were well organised and flexible, I don't think you could go wrong with any of the major tour companies - they all have a hub at the same place anyway,

I'm jealous as I'd love to go back again and explore further inland. Enjoy!

[craig1912]

Been twice and always relied on local guides rather than hire car. Weather can be changeable and be prepared to change itinerary. We’ve had two trips cancelled because of weather.
Lots of decent hotels in Reykjavik.
I can also recommend the local baths but also Sky Lagoon which I think is nicer than Blue Lagoon.

Golden circle, south coast, Snaefellsness. North coast for something less touristy.

Food is London prices and drink a bit more (although happy hours help)

Warmest clothes you’ve got as it can be bitter- especially on top of hills at midnight looking for the Northern lights.
For tours we used Artic Adventures but heard good things about

https://troll.is/

[Pitfitter]

Grand< i looked at this last year when flights were to start from local airport but was put off by stories of sky high costs, will look agin now.

[craggie]

This place is worth a visit:

https://www.jswatch.com/about-us

[Middo]

I’m a fan of the lebowski bar.

Use these for tours https://yourdaytours.is/

We stayed at the Foss hotel, a little walk to the man street but great bar and atmosphere.

https://www.islandshotel.is/hotels-i...iAAEgLDFvD_BwE

[joe narvey]

Restaurant Dill

https://www.dillrestaurant.is/en/home/

+1 for JS watchmakers

Here he is in front of the photos of his many more worthy customers.

[arthurDALEY]

Thanks for all the comments people, plenty to mull over and get some ideas
all of the comments i have read and heard say its a worthwhile trip and recommended

Regards

[Scepticalist]

• No idea if he's still running, but there was a guy who did free city tours (Reykjavik Citywalk I think) and was excellent - all he asks is that you tip him what you think he's worth at the end.
• Frankly awesome breakfasts at Bergsson Mathus - 5 Templarasund
• If your tour includes a trip to a tomato farm, take it. Bloody Marys with super-fresh tomato juice is an experience (and thermal powered greenhousing is interesting too).
• Laundromat Cafe

Take lots of layers and a good waterproof. Don't forget a hat. In the sun in summer it can get warm so layering is better than just taking thick jumpers.

If you have a fixed budget most of the hotels are pretty good so better to splurge on tours from an average one than skimp and stay in luxury.

[DavidL]

Takes me back. I went on a family trip in 1981; a month anticlockwise from Reykjavik all the way round in a Sherpa and an A series metro via a 3 day boat journey from Wick.
There were no tarmaced roads after the first 10 miles. We camped in various fields along the way, locals were very helpful if not very versed in English although it was a whole lot better than our Icelandic.
The glacier was amazing, especially as there was no night just an odd twilight. We walked on it merrily, maybe not such a good idea.
The waterfalls at Gulfoss were quite a sight.
At that time alcohol was only sold in 2 shops, one in Reykjavik and one in Akureyri. You could tell where they were as everyone in a mile radius was absolutely pished, can't walk sort of pished. Quite friendly all the same.
From Reykjavik we did some of the tours of the volcanic eruptions, the geysers at Geysir and the first parliament it Thingvellir.
It was quite expensive even then.
Metros don't like being run on paraffin it turns out, a slight misread of the petrol pump it turned out.
We made it round with a puncture, a holed radiator, a slightly misfiring metro, sorry Grandad, but the sight we met back at Reykjavik made us realise we had got round relatively unscathed. Cars had bits missing, battle scars and all sorts.
Quite a trip all the same.
Buy a jumper, they do great knitwear. Go in a thermally heated swimming pool, it's great and hot!

[Watchmanuk4]

If your wife likes fragrances go to Fischersund, the owner is the guy from Sigur Ros.

If you’re there for a while go up to Akureyri and Husavik area for skiing, lake Myvatn, northern lights.

[verv]

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restau...al_Region.html

The lobster soup here is glorious

[gcleminson]

[*]Laundromat Cafe

It closed down a while back, sadly. Was my go-to place for breakfast.


OP, if you're planning on treating her to a fancy meal out, the Fish Market is superb. Eye-wateringly pricey, but worth it IMO.

Most of the golden circle tour is easily accessible by car however in February you're really better off going with one of the organised tours, due to road conditions.

KEX Hostel towards the waterfront has a nice bar with a quirky vibe.

Hope you see the lights. Been a number of times and never been lucky...

[MattH]

If you go to the blue lagoon (which was great) - pay the extra to get your private bathroom.
You also got a private lounge access
with nibbles and drinks - a small pool in the lounge which linked through a door to
the main pool . Made the experience and was
fantastic before heading to the airport to
go home.

cheers

matt

[yumma]

It was many years ago we did Reykjavik, we really enjoyed it. We did the Blue Lagoon straight from the airport upon arrival. I think it was Greyline coaches who offered this as a transfer option, I couldn’t fault it. We stayed in the Main High Street in a chain hotel; sorry no help but it was just lodging. We went to the Lofts Hostel for Happy Hour drinks which was great and had been recommended to me. We ate a few times in the Chuck Norris Grill, great burgers and cheap westernised eats. As others have said, the free walking tour was absolutely superb, enjoyed the Gulfoss waterfalls and geyser tour. A very different but wonderful holiday, lovely and friendly people. I really couldn’t fault it and would go back.

[Orange Peel]

arthurDALEY, your in box is full mate?

[arthurDALEY]

Hi OP
Inbox clear

[arthurDALEY]

Just as a follow up to this thread
We have booked our Iceland trip for early February , staying at the Midgardur hotel
We have booked a harbour Northern lights trip and a Golden Circle tour
We have done these independently after reading some good reviews of certain tours
This leaves us 2 days to explore/ enjoy Reykjavik .Seem to be some good value Happy Hour bars , the hotel itself has a popular bar which is good value so looking forward to it

Cheers

[joe narvey]

Just as a follow up to this thread
We have booked our Iceland trip for early February , staying at the Midgardur hotel
We have booked a harbour Northern lights trip and a Golden Circle tour
We have done these independently after reading some good reviews of certain tours
This leaves us 2 days to explore/ enjoy Reykjavik .Seem to be some good value Happy Hour bars , the hotel itself has a popular bar which is good value so looking forward to it

Cheers

https://www.jswatch.com/-js-collection

A must visit, lovely chap.

[Spoonbed]

We too ,are heading there in Feb(half term week. Wife and thirteen year old daughters)

We’ve booked an Air bnb in the Reykjavik suburbs.
With regards to trips, we’ve booked the blue lagoon and the scuba/tectonic plate at Silfoss ( unfortunately I can’t do it as very claustrophobic and get a panic attack putting on a dry suit!)
Have hired a car, and plan on just driving around and seeing the sights ourselves, rather than guided trips ( we wouldn’t say no to going on some, just that they seem very expensive)

[thegoat]

The scuba diving is unlike any other dive you might do . The visibility is unreal as the water is so clear, there’s no distortion and you really feel like you’re floating in midair . Your dive profile is very unusual to as there’s lots of ascents and descents on the route . I think you’ll probably do it twice but there’s also the snorkelling option . The water is the same temp year round (I think) as it’s glacial run off . It’s also worth filling a couple of bottles as it’s the best tasting water you could possibly have .
Definitely recommend self driving . The Golden Circle tour is very very easy to follow and all the sights are free . The cafe at the waterfall serves an amazing stew and you can ( could) go back as many times as you want .
Don’t forget the Clinton hot dog stand .

[Viking72]

Here are a few suggestions I’ve shared with friends in the past

https://caitlinerlingurtravel.wordpr...i-c-e-l-a-n-d/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pacifichrono]

Never visited Reykjavik, but would love the experience...perhaps in August rather than February!

[earlofsodbury]

One of my exes was an Icelander, so I spent a lot of time there over the years - the notion of deliberately going there in February strikes me as demented: bitter cold (or worse, unceasing, sleety rain in a 'red winter'), depressingly short days, and many of the most beautiful (motor) routes impassible to all except specialist vehicles? Hell no! Reykjavik itself is painfully expensive and grows dull fast once you've done the attractions and overcome the novelty of domestic architecture based on outsized garden sheds and hot showers reeking of decaying eggs...

Midsummer every time - then it's truly exceptional

Pass the kæstur hákarl...

[Ax]

We too ,are heading there in Feb(half term week. Wife and thirteen year old daughters)

We’ve booked an Air bnb in the Reykjavik suburbs.
With regards to trips, we’ve booked the blue lagoon and the scuba/tectonic plate at Silfoss ( unfortunately I can’t do it as very claustrophobic and get a panic attack putting on a dry suit!)
Have hired a car, and plan on just driving around and seeing the sights ourselves, rather than guided trips ( we wouldn’t say no to going on some, just that they seem very expensive)

If you decide to drive read and keep an eye on https://www.road.is

Pass the kæstur hákarl...

..and some Brennivín with that!

[arthurDALEY]

One of my exes was an Icelander, so I spent a lot of time there over the years - the notion of deliberately going there in February strikes me as demented: bitter cold (or worse, unceasing, sleety rain in a 'red winter'), depressingly short days, and many of the most beautiful (motor) routes impassible to all except specialist vehicles? Hell no! Reykjavik itself is painfully expensive and grows dull fast once you've done the attractions and overcome the novelty of domestic architecture based on outsized garden sheds and hot showers reeking of decaying eggs...

Midsummer every time - then it's truly exceptional

Pass the kæstur hákarl...

Ill tell er indoors she will be chuffed
Didn't end well with the Icelandic lady then :⁠,⁠-⁠)