Iceland Recap

Reykjavik and the Golden Circle

The first couple days of our trip were spent in Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital. This charming city was full of colorful buildings, quaint cafés, and beautiful landmarks. It was also extremely walkable. We spent the majority of our day exploring the city on foot, seeing popular sites like the Harpa Concert Hall, Hallgrimskirkja Church, and Tjornin Lake.

We also drove the Golden Circle, a scenic route located just outside of Reykjavik. There were three main destinations. The first was Pingvellir National Park, one of the few places on earth where you can walk in between the N. American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The second was Strokkur, a fountain geyser that erupted every 5-10 minutes just feet away from where we were standing. And the third was Gullfoss, an unbelievably large waterfall over 66 feet wide.

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

David and I dedicated a full day to drive around the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. I feel like this was our first true dose of Iceland. We experienced so many quintessential Icelandic activities. We hiked through a lava field surrounding a church built in the 1800’s. We walked through a huge crack in the earth to a secret grotto. We enjoyed homemade sandwiches and waffles at a café overlooking a massive sea cave. We saw an old shipwreck that washed up on a black sand beach. And that’s just naming a few. It was truly an adventure.

Northern Iceland

The northern region of Iceland is often overlooked, but there are so many unique landscapes that shouldn’t be missed. Mývatn Lake was created by an ancient volcanic eruption, and was completely surrounded by deep craters, lava fields, and fish-filled rivers. Just down the road were several geothermal areas that allowed us to walk right up to boiling mud pots and steaming sulfur vents. The north also houses the most powerful waterfall in Europe, Dettifoss. This region typically has better weather than the south, so we were able to watch the northern lights put on a show one clear evening in Akureyri, Iceland’s second largest city.

Eastern Fjords

When David and I reached the east coast of the island, it felt like we were getting off the beaten path. Its lush, untouched landscape was absolutely stunning. This was the first time we encountered some weather, but the fog only added to the ambiance. We lost count of the number of waterfalls we passed. Each fishing village was charming in its own way. And the beach in Stokksnes quickly became one of my favorite places on earth.

South Iceland

South Iceland was definitely the most crowded region in the country. When we envisioned Iceland, we thought of waterfalls, natural hot springs, and glaciers. All of which can be see in the two hour drive from Reykjavik to Vík, making it ideal for people with brief layovers. Although we’ve seen several photos of its iconic landmarks like the Jökulsárlón Lagoon, Seljavallalaug Pool, and the powerful Skógafoss – they certainly did not disappoint in person.