Iceland in recent years has become a destination whose stark beauty and natural wonders have come to attract increasing numbers of visitors from all over the planet - helped in no small measure by cheap airline fares, prominently including 24- and 48-hour layovers. If you come for a full visit, the best way to experience the country flexibly is by renting a vehicle, since public transportation outside the capital tends to be spotty. Reykjavík itself, though, is fairly compact and many of its major attractions - with several attractions - can be seen on foot. In any case, here are five interesting spots and experience not to miss:
Blue Lagoon
You've no doubt seen the country's most visited attraction, the Blue Lagoon in the media and Instagram. This large natural lagoon is full of water that's milky blue (thanks to silicates and other therapeutic minerals) and heated to 37-39°C (99-102°F) by Iceland's abundant geothermal energy, naturally occurring underground. It's a lovely experience, for an hour or two, to be sure, but at 43-96 euros for adults (depending on time and package level) it's not cheap - and even at these prices it's a bit too popular for its own good To avoid the crowds, aim to come as early in the morning as possible; rates are lower in the evening, but this is also a more crowded time. It's about 45 south of Reykjavík, and while reachable by bus and tour package, renting a car makes getting here far more convenient and flexible - especially since you need to pre-book online for a particular time slot.
Kerid Crater Lake
Heading inland, just under an hour east of downtown, this impressive natural crater lake is seven to 14 meters deep, and mostly surrounded by the steep walls of an extinct volcano caldera, but there's one side where a gentler slope lets visitors approach the lake shore. It's especially a lovely sight in spring and summer, when its aquamarine waters provide a vivid counterpoint to the green moss and grass that grows on the slopes in warmer weather.
Whale Watching and Puffin Spotting
If you're here between April and October (best due to temperature and other weather conditions), by all means take the chance to see take a whale watching boat tour to spot baleen and other whales as well as dolphins. They leave from Reykjavík as well as other ports such as Akureyri and Husavík. And if you narrow it down, from May through August, you can also spot adorable endangered puffins, either during whale watching cruises or on dedicated puffin-spotting excursions.
The Northern Lights and Midnight Sun
There are two singular experiences to be had in Iceland that involve the sky. Either visit during the height of summer, in late June/early July and see the sun shining at midnight, or come from September through March to view the spectacular aurora borealis, with a riot of colorful lights dancing across the night skies. For the aurora, there are some bus tours offered, but it's also an easy matter to drive yourself to various key spots away from light pollution (Internet research will help for directions, such as this blog post), such as the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula near Reykjavík; Thingvellir; Iceland's southernmost town Vík; and the East and West Fjords.
Bread-Bowl Dining in Reykjavík
To wrap up, I'll throw in a little budget tip. Reykjavik is known as an expensive city, including when it comes to eating, with many main dishes upwards of 30 USD. But do your homework and you can find a few places for a tasty feed that's light on your wallet. One good example is a cozy little family-owned downtown café called Svarta Kaffid, which serves a range of tasty soups (very appropriate to Iceland's usually cool/cold temperatures) and other comfort food. But its specialty is a hollowed-out round loaf of hearty bread filled with savory soups in both meat (say, bacon/pepperoni or Hungarian goulash) and vegan options (mushroom, broccoli, etc). It's filling, delicious, and just 20 USD.
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