Welcome to the captivating Land of Fire and Ice, better known as Iceland! Brace yourself for an adventure-packed journey, as this extraordinary destination has an abundance of treasures to offer. Get ready to immerse yourself in awe-inspiring landscapes, frolic on black sand beaches, chase cascading waterfalls, indulge in serene lagoons, and explore majestic glaciers. With so much to choose from, planning your Icelandic escapade may seem overwhelming, but fear not! Embarking on a trip to Iceland will prove to be the most exhilarating decision you’ll ever make. To make your planning a breeze, I’ve compiled an epic list of must-do activities that will pave the way for an unforgettable Icelandic expedition of your own! Believe me when I say, you absolutely HAVE to visit Iceland! This curated list is specifically tailored for a winter wonderland experience, just like ours in the magical month of January.
Now, here’s a pro-tip for all you out there: If you’re an experienced driver, accustomed to the thrill of cruising on icy roads, renting a car is hands-down the ultimate way to unleash the full potential of your Icelandic adventure. It’s like unlocking a secret level of exploration and turning your journey into a turbo-charged joyride! Renting a 4×4 vehicle is a must, especially during the winter months, to conquer any terrain that comes your way and ensure an adrenaline-fueled, top-notch experience in Iceland.
Blue Lagoon
When it comes to Icelandic adventures, the Blue Lagoon is at the top of the list—and trust me, it’s totally worth the hype! This heavenly oasis is the ideal spot to recharge and rejuvenate after all your epic escapades. Picture this: immersing yourself in the tranquil waters of the Blue Lagoon, letting your worries dissolve as you soak in pure bliss. Now, here’s a tip for an unforgettable experience: make a splash at the Blue Lagoon either right at the beginning of your trip or as the grand finale. Why, you ask? The Blue Lagoon is conveniently located just a short 25-minute drive from Keflavik Airport and a mere 50-minute ride from Reykjavík. So, we kicked off our Icelandic odyssey by diving into the mesmerizing turquoise embrace of the Blue Lagoon.
Prepare to be blown away by the Blue Lagoon! If you haven’t heard of it, let me fill you in—it’s an otherworldly geothermal spa brimming with revitalizing minerals like silica and sulfur. Legend has it that these natural wonders possess extraordinary healing powers. And let me tell you, the experience was pure magic! Sure, it may be the go-to spot for tourists, but who can resist the allure of a heavenly spa day? They even give you these nifty bracelets that granted us VIP access to a swim-up bar. Picture this: sipping on refreshing drinks without a care in the world, all while floating in the blissful waters. You can forget about cash, credit cards, or even your phone. These bracelets also unlocked our lockers effortlessly meaning there was no need to worry about losing valuables while enjoying your soak. If you are looking to use your phone, I highly recommend this waterproof phone case. I personally used this one during my visit, and it was a game-changer. Not a glitch or water mishap in sight! So, dive into the Blue Lagoon, snap those Instagram-worthy pics, and let the good times flow!
There are three different packages at the Blue Lagoon:
The Comfort package is the cheapest option of the three. It comes with access to the Blue Lagoon, a silica mud mask, a towel, and drink of your choice at the swim up bar. This is priced starting at $76 USD per person and goes up to $83 USD a per person depending on the time of the day you book for (the earlier the cheaper and quieter).
The Premium package in addition to all of the Comfort package features, you also get an extra mud mask, a bathrobe to use throughout the facility, and slippers to wear. If you happen to dine at the Lava restaurant you also get free sparkling wine. This is priced starting at $94 USD per person and goes up to $101 USD per person depending on the time of day you book. This was the package we chose simply because I wanted both face masks, but realistically if you’re happy with the one mask, I would stick with the cheaper option! We did end up dining at the Lava restaurant and got our free sparkling wine. However, although the food (and specifically the bread) was good, it was not worth the CRAZY price we spent eating there.
The last package option is the Luxury option, featuring the Retreat Spa. This package offers completely different options compared to the Comfort and Premium options. If you are looking to splurge on yourself and have more privacy than the other two packages, then this is the package for you! The Luxury package offers access to the Retreat Lagoon (a private lagoon away from everyone else), along with your own private changing room, a massage, treatments, and you purchase this in four-hour chunks of time. This is priced at $618 USD which is significantly more than the two packages. Although I am sure this is a luxurious experience, this is A LOT of money for 4 hours.
I think your best options are honestly the first two. This is an amazing, relaxing, and romantic experience that you shouldn’t miss out on when visiting Iceland! You do need to book Blue Lagoon tickets in advance which you can do by heading to their website here: Blue Lagoon Website.
Side note: DO NOT get your hair wet in the Blue Lagoon, although it is great for your skin, it is NOT good for your hair. A lot of people used the conditioner they got from the shower and used it as a hair mask and kept it in while they were in the lagoon.
If you want to see even more photos of the Blue Lagoon, check out my Instagram posts and highlight reels here: My Instagram!
Sky Lagoon
The Sky Lagoon is a newer and more luxurious version of the Blue Lagoon. It has only been open since 2021 and if I’m being honest, I enjoyed the Sky Lagoon more than the Blue Lagoon (although both are great). The Sky Lagoon is also only 10 minutes from downtown Reykjavik which is more convenient. Unlike the Blue Lagoon, the Sky Lagoon offers a 7-step ritual along with gorgeous views overlooking the ocean. Their motto is, “revive your senses at the edge of the world.” This ocean view geothermal spa will do exactly that!
The Sky Lagoon also has three different packages or passes:
The Pure Lite pass is the cheapest option of the three. It comes with access to the Sky Lagoon, a public changing facility, and a towel. This is priced at about $50 USD per person.
The Pure pass in addition to all of the Pure Lite pass features, you also get to enter and experience the 7-setp ritual. This is priced out at about $71 USD per person. This was the package we chose because we wanted to experience this 7-step ritual. This is a series of different spa experiences that you visit in a specific order. Start in the lagoon, then go for a cold plunge, then head to the sauna with stunning views of the ocean, then you enter a cold mist, then head to an employee who will explain the body scrub application, then head to the steam room, and lastly, take a shower and head back into the lagoon. This experience was AMAZING, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend spending the extra money and ensuring that you experience this 7-step ritual. I left this experience feeling so relaxed and my skin was SO smooth.
The last package option is the Sky pass. This pass offers everything from the previous passes and private changing rooms along with access to the Signature Sky Lagoon amenities. This is priced at about $99 USD. Although it may be good for people who want more privacy, I personally don’t think it is completely necessary and the Pure pass has everything you need!
I personally prefer the Sky Lagoon over the Blue Lagoon because they did such a good job of making this experience feel truly magical. The lagoon itself is covered in these tall, gorgeous rocks that make you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere Iceland. Even the swim up bar was built into the rocks and made it look like they were in a cave. Overall, this experience felt more luxurious and a lot less touristy. Not to mention the lagoon overlooks the ocean. The Sky Lagoon even had some of the rocks formed into benches/chairs that you could sit down on!
You do need to book Sky Lagoon tickets in advance which you can do by heading to their website here: Sky Lagoon Website.
Side note: You CAN get your hair wet in the Sky Lagoon, which I did and loved it! My hair felt perfectly normal for those who may still be worried about it. Also, I brought with me a quick drying travel towel and it helped me many times throughout our trip! This is the one I used: quick drying travel towel.
Head to the Top of Hallgrimskirkja
When visiting Reykjavik, you need to pay a visit to the beautiful church Hallgrimskirkja! It is nearly impossible to visit Reykjavik and not get a glimpse of this magnificent church. I highly recommend giving this church a visit, especially considering it is FREE to enter! The church has a gorgeous and massive organ that weighs 25 tons and has approximately 5,272 pipes! This church is the tallest building in Iceland standing at 240 feet tall. This church has a lot of fascinating history for those who are interested in that.
However, my favorite part was experiencing the views that the church offers at the top. Although entry to the church is free, being able to take an elevator to the top costs about $7 USD. It is completely worth it though! Going to the top gives you gorgeous views of Reykjavik, especially if you visit on a day where the weather is good, and the sky is clear. The best part is that there is an elevator that takes you most of the way and very few stairs! You may notice that the shape of the church is interesting. This is because those who designed it wanted the church to represent Iceland’s beauty. They wanted to symbolize both the mountain and the glaciers soaring up through hexagonal columnar basalt. This church is gorgeous inside and out and it offers stunning views of Reykjavík.
Side note: A great place to get a good view of Hallgrimskirkja while staying warm and eating good food is Café Loki! The food tour we went on ended here with some delicious rye bread ice cream and great views of the church!
Take a Food Tour
Iceland has plenty of delicious and unique foods to try. Some of their most famous are rye bread ice cream, fermented shark, lamb, rye bread, boiled sheep’s head, whale, puffin, and more. One of the most infamous foods is their Icelandic hot dog which we did try! I highly recommend going on a food tour and specifically the one we went on! We booked through Viator and had an amazing experience. We visited 5 different places and tried over 8 different foods and a few different drinks too! They said during different times of the year and different times of the day they visit different places, so the foods I tried may be different from the ones you try if you go! This is the tour we booked: Food Tour We Booked.
What was especially nice about this tour is that it was also a walking tour that provided history of Reykjavik as well as yummy foods. The amount of time we had at each place was the perfect amount, we didn’t feel rushed at all. My favorite meals we tried were between the hot dog, the Arctic char (which means A LOT because I don’t even like fish normally), and the rye bread ice cream. Although my favorite experience was when we tried shark (didn’t like this one), but we all took a shot together afterwards. Our guide called this “The Viking Way”.
Our guide did an amazing job answering and encouraging questions. He was very friendly, knowledgeable, and fun! The tour is rated 5 stars from over 6,000 people for a reason! The food is delicious, the guides are wonderful, and we learned so much about Iceland in this tour. In case you’re curious, this is a detailed list of all the places we went and the foods/drinks we tried:
Fjallkonan
Address: Ingólfsstræti
– Lightly cured artic char on a chickpie bread
– Lamb on a flatbread from Vestfjords, served with carrot puree.
Messinn
Address: Lækjargata 6
-Arctic char baked in honey, butter and lemon with cherry tomatoes and almonds
– Plokkfiskur: boiled cod mashed with potatoes, onion, garlic, celery, lime, white wine, cream, and butter
– Icelandic rye bread with butter
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Address: Tryggvagata 1
– Icelandic hot dog with Icelandic ketchup, Icelandic mustard, remoulade sauce, deep fried onion and raw onion
Íslenski Barinn
Address: Ingólfsstræti 1a
– Traditional Icelandic meat soup
– Fermented shark
– Einstök White Ale
Café Loki
Address: Lokastígur 28
– Kleina Icelandic Pastry & Coffee
– Rye bread ice cream with whipped cream and caramelized rhubarb syrup
Our guide sent us this exact list of everywhere we went and everything we tried on our tour. I thought this was a nice touch to remember everything and have full descriptions. This tour does get you out of your comfort zone a little bit, but overall, it was a great and memorable experience. Our guide Dagur or Day was amazing and did a wonderful job showing us around Reykjavik!
Snorkel between Tectonic Plates – Silfra Fissure
This was one of our favorite experiences during the whole entire trip. When I was doing my research on Iceland and saw that you could go snorkeling between two tectonic plates, I immediately booked my flight. Let me tell you, this experience did NOT disappoint. This is the only place in the world you can snorkel (or scuba dive if you’re certified) between two tectonic plates. Although this may sound like it’s not for everyone, we wore so many different suits and layers that the only part of me that was cold was my lips. Every other part of me was warm and completely comfortable.
Silfra fissure is the crack between the American and Eurasian continental plates. Here, the water is SO clear you can see 100 meters about 328 feet down! The water is so crystal clear and beautiful, it is like nothing I’ve seen before. Our guides were knowledgeable and extremely helpful when helping us gear up into our many suits and layers. The specific tour we booked had over 1,800 5-star reviews! I can’t emphasize enough how unique and fun this experience was. Here is the tour we booked with: Snorkel Tour We Booked With.
For this tour you do change in a heated van, so I would recommend already having your base layers on if you’re uncomfortable with fully changing in front of other people. Make sure you get there at least 15 minutes early to start getting suited up as this is a long process. Although this process is completely worth it because I was not cold at all in 35-degree Fahrenheit water! The drive is a little less than an hour from Reykjavik so make sure you leave yourself plenty of time. This tour takes GoPro photos for you (for free), but you can still bring your own if you want! I liked being able to snorkel without having to worry about getting good photos, the guide did it for us! Also, a nice touch at the end of the 40-minute snorkel experience is they give you hot chocolate and a candy bar while you’re warming back up. Here’s a link to the base layers we wore: Base Layers.
See ALL the Waterfalls
One of the most popular and well-known waterfalls is Seljalandsfoss. This waterfall is absolutely breathing taking, cascading 200 feet over a cliff. One of the unique things about this waterfall is you can actually hike to the cave behind the waterfall and get some really cool photos. However, when we went the set of stairs were covered in snow preventing us from being able to go behind it. Keep in mind that depending on the time of year you may not be able to reach the cave. Either way, the waterfall has gorgeous views from the front as well as the back. It does cost 700 ISK (about $5 USD) for 2 hours worth of parking. This is plenty of time to view this waterfall and the next hidden waterfall that I mention next.
The hidden waterfall, Gljufrabui, is only a 10-minute walk from Seljalandsfoss. Please be careful as you must enter a canyon that has a stream of water and in the winter, ice too! This is a MUST-SEE waterfall, but you will definitely need some waterproof shoes and be prepared to get wet. Don’t let this stop you from seeing this waterfall because this waterfall was by far our favorite! Although this waterfall is smaller than Seljalandsfoss, only about 130 feet tall, you can get up close and personal with it! Gljufrabui seems to fall from the sky and enter this beautiful dark canyon. This set up allows for the best photo opportunities! Definitely take the time to head over to this waterfall, it will not disappoint!
Only about a 15-minute drive from the previous waterfalls is Skógafoss. This impressive waterfall is a little under 200 feet tall and 82 feet wide. This waterfall is truly magical and breathtaking, especially when we saw a rainbow stretching across it! People often see rainbows here depending on the light conditions. Skógafoss is located in South Iceland on the Ring Road. There is a large parking lot and it’s just a short walk to the base of the waterfall. You can also get a little wet depending on how close you get to this waterfall. There is also an option to climb to the top of the waterfall, but unfortunately for us, it was closed off during our visit.
About 1 hour 40 minutes from Reykjavik, is Gullfoss or the golden waterfalls. This road is well-maintained and makes for a great day trip on your own. What’s unique about this waterfall is you actually get to view it from above rather than below. There are many different viewpoints for this waterfall including one that was closed off for us, but in the summertime, I am sure is an incredible up-close view! This waterfall is open year-round, but as I mentioned, certain viewpoints may not be. There is a lower viewpoint that requires going up and down a decent number of stairs. During the wintertime I highly recommend wearing crampons to avoid any injuries! Here are the ones we used: Crampons We Used.
There is something magical about watching a waterfall disappear into the earth! This waterfall is stunning and 100% deserves a visit. There is also a large visitor center that may be a great place to grab some snacks, souvenirs, hot chocolate, etc.
Check Out the Black Sand Beaches
Iceland has multiple black sand beaches given its volcanic activity. If you’ve never seen a black sand beach before, they are gorgeous! Near the village of Vik in southern Iceland there is a beautiful black sand beach with stunning basalt columns. Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach is definitely worth the visit if you’re in the area. I didn’t get any great photos of this beach because we arrived before the sunrise (the sun rises very late in the winter months). But trust me, this beach is worth stopping and checking out! Make sure you dress warm, especially in the winter months because it is extremely windy! Considering how close Vik is, you should definitely stop and have a hot chocolate in town before continuing on your journey.
Across from the stunning Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is Diamond beach. This beach got its name from the large chunks of icebergs that wash up from the lagoon and onto the black sand beach. People claim that these chunks of ice glisten like diamonds, giving the beach it’s nickname. What’s unique about this experience is every time that you visit, it will look completely different! Sometimes there will be massive chunks of ice scattered everywhere and other times smaller chunks that all look completely different from one another. Visiting is free and there is a large parking lot that makes a great lunch spot. This beach is stunning and is perfect if you’re doing an excursion at the lagoon and have some extra time before or after.
Hike Glaciers & Explore Ice Caves
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is not only a beautiful spot to check out glaciers, but it also a meeting point for many fun excursions. We decided to go on a glacier hike on our way to seeing ice caves. At this meeting point you will greet your professional glacier guide who will then take you on a 4×4 Super Jeep to the beginning of the hike. This tour is about 2 ½ – 3 hours. About 30 to 45 minutes of this is walking through gravel on your way to and from the glacier. Make sure you stay with and follow your guide because going off on your own can be EXTREMELY dangerous. After a short hike on the glaciers, you journey inside of multiple different ice caves that have been formed by this brilliantly blue ice. You can only visit these caves during the winter months for safety reasons. Also, you can only visit with a professional guide. Here is the tour we booked with: Ice Caves Tour We Booked.
Sidenote: They provide you with crampons/ice spikes and helmets, so you don’t need to bring your own. This area is extremely windy, so make sure you are dressed well and have something to cover your face. You do enter small spaces and have the choice of going through a crawl space, keep this in mind if you don’t like small tight spaces! Also, glacier hiking isn’t a strenuous activity, but as mentioned before, stay with your guide, and do NOT wander off on your own.
This experience is truly unique to Iceland and is an absolute must do! Every ice cave is completely different and is completely captivating! This was a bucket list experience I didn’t know I even had. There are many different areas you can go ice caving in Iceland, so depending on the area you’re visiting, definitely look and see if there is a tour offered. Remember that these experiences book far out in advance so much sure to secure yourself a spot. The combination of hiking on a glacier and visiting ice caves was otherworldly. The photos don’t do this place justice, it was truly magical.
Chase the Northern Lights
If you’re visiting during the wintertime, odds are you are looking to see the Northern Lights. This is the number one reason people visit Iceland in the winter months. December through March are some of the best times of the year to see the Northern lights though you can see them other times of the year if you’re lucky! Remember that nature is unpredictable and there is no guarantee that you will see them during your visit. To see the Northern Lights, there needs to be very specific weather conditions including little light pollution along with clear skies. Seeing the Northern Lights is an experience you will never forget and should be on your bucket list! Watching the sky dance with beautiful green and if you’re lucky purple hues is an experience like no other.
You have two different options when chasing down the Northern Lights. The first is booking with a tour guide that takes you to one or two different locations. The second is renting a car and seeing them on your own. We experienced the Northern Lights both ways and they were both incredible. The tours are quite affordable, and the guides provide you with knowledge about the Northern Lights as well as hot chocolate and they even set up a fire! The guides also know the best locations to see the Northern Lights. However, going on a tour means being packed on a bus with a lot of other people and having to stay out until midnight or later. This is part of the fun and part of the experience, but I can see why everyone may not like it. The guide finds a good location and you essentially stand outside or wait in the bus for a few hours hoping to spot the lights. If you do, everyone runs outside, and they will set up a fire and hot cocoa station. I think everyone should go with a guide at least once and experience going with someone who is very knowledgeable on the topic. This is the tour we booked: Northern Lights Bus Tour.
If you want a different Northern Lights experience from a boat, I heard this tour is also good: Northern Lights Boat Tour.
I preferred seeing the Northern Lights on our own. We got very fortunate and saw the Northern Lights multiple times while driving the southern part of Iceland. The farther you are from light pollutions (large areas of light like Reykjavik) the better chance you have of seeing the Northern Lights. We drove all along the southern portion of Iceland and because we were so from Reykjavik, we saw the Northern Lights nearly every night from our accommodations. Every night I would continuously peak outside and see if we could see them. If we could, we would run outside like little kids and enjoy the show! For this reason alone, I highly recommend renting a car. Seeing the Northern Lights on your own versus on a tour is a way more exciting experience! One night near the town of Vik we saw Northern Lights that filled up the WHOLE entire sky, it was unbelievably beautiful. At this point we had already seen the lights multiple times on the trip, and I had seen them before in Norway a few years ago. However, this experience was like nothing I had seen before. The Northern Lights are a beautiful, stunning, and magical natural phenomenon and should be top priority if you’re visiting Iceland in the winter.
Some helpful apps to download if you’re visiting Iceland:
– 112 App – this is an emergency location assistance app! Download this just in case, especially if you’re renting a car on your own
– Veður – Iceland’s weather app that is a lot more accurate than the one already on your phone.
– Aurora Forecast – This app easily lets you plan to the see Northern Lights. It gives you a percentage of whether you can see the Northern Lights in certain areas on that particular day. This can be super helpful if you’re planning on chasing the Norther Lights on your own.
– Hot Spring Iceland – This app shows a detailed list of different waters in Iceland that will keep you warm. This includes swimming pools, hot tubs, and natural springs. It can detect how far these hot waters are from your current location and lets you know about the temperatures, location, opening hours, entrance fees, etc. This is perfect if you’re renting a car and are looking for some natural hot springs!
– Road.is – This is actually a website, not an app, but this was probably the most important information we had. This gave us updates on the roads we were driving on/too which we would check throughout the day to make sure it was safe to drive. If you’re planning on driving in Iceland, you NEED to check this website every single day to make sure the road conditions are safe.
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Link to my Norway Blogs:
https://smilesmilesaway.com/2019/11/04/what-to-do-tromso-norway/
https://smilesmilesaway.com/2019/11/04/where-to-eat-tromso-norway/
https://smilesmilesaway.com/2019/11/04/3-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-tromso-norway/
https://smilesmilesaway.com/2019/10/18/northern-lights-experience-norway/
