Looking for some BBI food, drink or entertainment recommendations. Heading there for a couple days and staying downtown by the harbor. Only thing on the agenda so far is the Blue Lagoon. Apparently, there’s nearly 24 hours of daylight this time of year, so looking forward to exploring the city.
I would skip Blue Lagoon and travel outside of Reykjavik.
-The Secret Lagoon, known locally as Gamla Laugin is the oldest Hotspot.....very cool and full of locals vs tourist.
-Dettifoss is the largest waterfall.....that you can walk to the edge....crazy but impressive.
The geysersare nice.....but like blue lagoon too touristy for me and if you were at yellowstone...similar.
Bæjarins beztu hot dogs aren't for everyone, but we liked them and are sort of a famous spot in Reykjavik.
My favorite parts of Iceland are outside of the city, but it's a cute town and is fun to explore. Have a blast.
Grill Market - ( New Window )
Some places to eat:
- Fish Market (Fiskmarkaðurinn)
- Jómfrúin for Danish style open face sandwiches
- Three coats (Þrír frakkar)
Things to do:
- Rent a car and get the windshield insurance. The highways outside of town are a loose gravel and you're almost guaranteed to get a chip in the windshield.
- You can comfortably drive to Vik in a day and see the following there and on the way: Hálsanefshellir Cave, Dyrhólaey, Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss (walk behind a waterfall!). You'll see some incredible black sand beaches and it will feel like you're on another planet. I've read of people making it as far as Jokulsarlon in a day to see the glaciers but we didn't get that far. It'd be a lot if driving so I think we'd plan an overnight somewhere when we go back.
- Do the golden ring(?) and see Geysir and Gulfoss on your own. We did a tour bus and we regret not getting a car for a second day to see these.
- Blue Lagoon is touristy but worth it. Hot bath + cold Icelandic beer in the mist is a nice relaxing morning.
Enjoy. It's an incredible place if you like the outdoors and good food.
https://www.facebook.com/saegreifinn.seabaron
Also, we went to a tomato farm Fridheimar. Never was a tomato soup fan until we ate there. Great bread. I think it's 30-45 minutes outside of Reijkavik though.
https://fridheimar.is/en/
We second going to Vik. If you get that far via a car, keep going to. There is a nice AirBnb, just outside of Vik, with farmer John. ( Vik Your stay at Martina And Jón's place)He will allow you to wonder his property and get back into the hills and little river. Vik ahs a number of noce pla e to see. On the way to Vik, you will pass by a number of waterfalls, to stop at. Just stay on the ring road #1 and you and scout/map those stops.
We left Vik and moved up the road a littel bit and stayed in Kirkjubæjarklaustur for a few days as oour base camp.
We actually booked a number of stays through Iceland Air, to get some better rated on the stays. WE actually stayed in very few of these places and we double booked things and stayed at the Airbnb location. We called and let the ose place know we would not be arriving so another guest could book our room. It worked for us, as we wanted to see different items, then just the standard tour stuff.
Once in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur, there is a natioanl park near by, the Justin Beaver, valley/gorge, that was in his video. Diamond beach is up the road and well worth a visit. Just driving arpound is intersting in its own right.
Sorry there are no tourist volcanoes at this time. Do be mindful and check the met office ofr up to date info. If heading to the east coast of Iceland, Barthabunga (sp) volcano and other s are rumbling.
https://en.vedur.is/
It is fun to plan your trip so do enjoy your self. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I am keeping this shofrt.
If you wish to keep up with local stuff
https://grapevine.is/
Oh, and do check out the concert hall in Reykjavik. Bring lawyers and be ready for the weather to change.
Unusual Blue Lagoon Background And The Lava Around Grindavik - ( New Window )
We toted it around 2 bottles with us and would pour some drinks while relaxing in the hotel lounge or in our room.
The current eruption is knocking at their doors. The main focus would be the try and save the power station. It looks like the lava will overflow the barriers.
Hopefully that is not the case.
Lava flow nearly at the top of the barriers - ( New Window )
I would check to make sure that your credit card doesn't have an international exchange charge. My wife's doesn't, but mine does.
I recall reading a thread like this before going and someone said Reykjavik was more like a ski resort than a major city. I didn't understand it, but once there, it made sense; it's intimate; so much so that if you're a light sleeper, you might not appreciate the bars staying open until 4 a.m. on weekends (not to mention the twilight!).
The street with all the shops that someone mentioned above is probably Laugavegur. One that intersects has the restaurant I enjoyed the most: Salka Valka. Middle Eastern-based but focusing on local foods (which aren't many): fish and lamb. But it had a great breakfast smoothie, too; useful if you're going to be walking around most of the day. I had cafe lattes in numerous places; Kaffi Brennslan was the best I came across.
The church there has a 5,000-pipe organ and I was fortunate to catch a fellow rehearsing for a performance. Imagine hearing Stairway to Heaven and Light My Fire among the classical pieces he ran through!
Then, of course, there's the Iceland Punk Museum, located in a rehabilitated public restroom. If it were expensive, it could easily be skipped, but what the hell! You get to wear the leather jackets and play the drums if you want.
I went to the Reykjavik Art Museum and since it's connected to two other museums, you get free entry to the any of the others for 24 hours if you visit one. I happened to be there when they were featuring 1950s art from Iceland; pretty nice. I bought a nice post card there and some art at one smaller gallery.
I did the Blue Lagoon. It was enjoyable; the place markets itself as high-end but you can avoid that there, too ... if it is in fact open these days.
I've read different things about the attitudes of the locals. Everyone I came across was extremely nice, and helpful when I needed it.
I was there for a series of concerts at Harpa and some after party shows at another local venue, Idno (?).
Had a really great time -- enjoy!