Iceland is increasingly becoming a more popular European destination for Americans for its cheap flights and beautiful landscapes. Most people go in the summer when the sun barely sets and the temperatures are perfect. However, we recently visited in January which wasn’t a great time for weather reasons but still very cool!
History
Iceland was created by lava eruptions from volcanoes. Its isolated location made it difficult for settlers to find, but it was finally discovered by the Vikings before the 9th century. This early history was written down as sagas that are still told in Iceland today.
The island became part of Norway in the 13th century, but it retained its own laws and culture. In the 14th century, Norway became a dependent of Denmark, taking Iceland with it. It was a very rural and independent society with only 50,000 people in the country and no towns or cities.
In the 19th century, Iceland wanted its independence from Denmark, which was achieved in the 1870s. It remained a poor fishing community as the Great Depression hit, devastating the economy. During WWII, Iceland was occupied by the Allied forces to keep it (and its strategic location) out of the hands of the Axis powers. The military improved Iceland’s roads and airports during their time on the island.
In 1943, Iceland declared its complete independence. With its use of natural geothermal energy, its economy grew. In October of 1986, Reykjavik was the site of an important meeting between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to discuss the Cold War nuclear race.
In the 21st century, Iceland has become focused on tourism with many Americans and Europeans taking advantage of cheaper flights through the Reykjavik airport.
Visit
Reykjavik is a hot spot for tourism. The capital city of Iceland is easy to navigate and is a great base for any trip to see the natural wonders of Iceland. I won’t be able to cover all of the fun activities you can do in Iceland (check out Rick Steves’ guide for a comprehensive tour), but I do have some helpful hints and recommendations.
General Tips
One thing to know about Iceland before any trip is that it is expensive! Food, taxis, souvenirs – always check your conversion calculator before buying anything! And converting from Krona to the US dollar is not easy so use a calculator!
Weather: Iceland is best seen in the summer months. The days are endless and temperate. We visited in January and, as expected, experienced cold temperatures and lots of rain and wind. It made touring around challenging, so we focused on indoor activities!
Transportation: We did not rent a car for our short trip, relying on (expensive!) taxis and Ubers, as the city itself is walkable. The roads seemed pretty easy to navigate if you want to drive yourself. The airport is approximately an hour drive from Reykjavik.
Food: Iceland food is very expensive. We had a $35 individual pizza and a $12 soda upon arrival. It really adds up! We had a lot of pizza and burgers and didn’t brave the fancier restaurants with traditional Icelandic dishes like fermented shark! Some of our favorite places were: Posthus Food Hall (where we got the $35 pizzas!), Hafnartorg Gallery Food Hall, and the American Bar. We also had the best pizza of our life at La Trattoria in the airport!
- Don’t miss seeing the exotic food (like shark and horse!) at the Kolaportio flea market.
- Don’t miss the Icelandic hot dog at the iconic stand across from the Radisson Blu hotel.
Lodging: Hotels are expensive in Iceland. We stayed at The Reykjavik Edition which was fantastic with its great location and good room service.
Shopping: Don’t miss the bookstore – Penninn Eymundsson – with two locations in the tourist areas (near Posthus Food Hall and on the walk to the cathedral). You can pick up all the Icelandic noir you can fit in your suitcase! The road leading to the cathedral and the surrounding area is a great place to shop for souvenirs.
- For a fun experience, go to Hús máls og menningar which is a bookstore/restaurant with music.
Attractions/Historical Sites
Walking tour of Reykjavik – I really recommend having a guide take you around the city to learn about its history and go places you’d never find! We used HL Adventure, and it was awesome! Our guide was a history major and had such fascinating stories.
Northern Lights tours – I highly recommend hiring a company for this tour. Sadly, our tour was canceled due to the rainy weather. We used HL Adventure for this tour as well.
City Center area
The Settlement Exhibition – learn about Iceland’s earliest days
Volcano Express – we really liked this multi-sensory display of Iceland’s mighty volcanoes!
Around the Harbor area
Saga Museum – see the ancient folklore come to life here
Whale Museum – beautiful replicas of whales
Northern Lights Museum – if you can’t see the real thing, this is a good substitute!
Fly Over Iceland – we loved this ride that took us virtually over Iceland’s natural wonders as we weren’t able to see any of them in January! It is similar to Soaring at Disneyworld.
Lava Show – this looked amazing but we weren’t able to fit it in.
Outskirts of walkable town center
Cathedral – a must-see! It’s stunning! Just be ready for a wind tunnel as you near the entrance!
The Pearl – amazing natural history museum
Höfði House – where the 1986 summit between Reagan and Gorbachev took place
**Must-see attraction**
While in Iceland, you have to experience a thermal bath. A good way to do this is to visit The Blue Lagoon as soon as you land (it’s near the airport). We did this, and it was an amazing experience to watch the sun rise over the lava rocks while steam envelops you! There are other thermal experiences a little closer to the city including the Sky Lagoon.
Note: This experience is best for older children only (13+). There are individual changing rooms and showers.
Summer activities
In the summer, Iceland’s natural beauty shines. I would have loved to visit the Golden Circle to see lava tunnels, black sand beaches, and picturesque waterfalls! Check out Rick Steves’ guide to plan these activities.
Winter activities
For the adventurous, you can see part of the Golden Circle in the winter. I recommend getting a guide to take you out (HL Adventures does so). You can even see sled dogs!
Iceland is a once-in-a-lifetime place that is unlike anywhere else in the world. Its history may be unknown to most Americans, but it is rich and important.
Books to Read
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Adult/Young Adult:
- Rick Steves Iceland
- How Iceland Changed the World: The Big History of a Small Island
- The Sagas of the Icelanders
- Burial Rites
- Independent People
- Woman at 1,000 Degrees
- The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer
- Secret Nights and Northern Lights
Middle Grade:
- Journey through Ash and Smoke (Ranger in Time #5)
- Stranded!: A Mostly True Story from Iceland
- Welcome To Iceland: Packed With Facts You Need To Read!
Picture Books:
