2 1/2 days in Reykjavik
 

Hello my Fodorites!! we're off to Reykjavik for 2 1/2 days. arriving at 6am, from the US.

please advise if i should change, add, or take out something from this itinarary.

Arrive at 6 am..check in, then go and relax in the morning at the Blue Lagoon for a few hours..then back in Reykjavik for shopping dinner and drinks.

Day 2: Golden Circle Tour..should i rent a car and go, or take an actual"bus tour"? please let me know personal experiences.

evening enjoy the town again.

day 2 1/2: what ever floats my boat

We rented a car and did the golden circle tour ourselves with a guidebook and printouts and very much enjoyed the experience. There are plenty of guided tours to choose from though if you enjoy that sort of thing.

How do you plan to get to the Blue Lagoon?

We're getting to Blue Lagoon with a transfer from the Htel. ...at least thats the plan

What month did u go in? how was the weather? was it extreme?

I have been to Iceland 3X, early May, October and most recently at the end of June. At those times the weather although not extreme was very variable. For example, one day in June we had sunshine (mostly)when a light windbreaker or sweater was fine, rain, some hail and a light snow shower. "If you don't like the weather, wait a bit and it will change" is the operative mode.

You say that you are going to the Blue Lagoon with a hotel transfer. Do you mean the transfer from the airport to your hotel or are they providing transportation after you check in? The Blue Lagoon is about a 1/2 hour drive from Reykjavik.

The transfer is from the Hotel to the Blue Lagoon. Thanks again for your replies.

I'm still undecided about doing day 2 on day one, or vice versa.
I'm thinking after a flight maybe better on day one.

Any advise on food? One place I've made reservations at is Silfur www.silfur.is

and thinking about Orange www.orange.is

have you been? or heard of it?

We did a stopover in Iceland on our way home from Paris. We went directly to the Blue Lagoon from the airport. It worked very well for us. We used a tour company that really just provided the bus. We had to travel by bus anyway into Reykjavik so it made sense to make the Blue Lagoon part of that bus trip. We loved the Blue Lagoon. It was early April and it was cold and spitting snow. There were very few people there and it was a wonderful experience. The rest of our stopover was spent in Reykjavik. We walked all over the city. Don't forget the church. It gives you a beautiful view over the city. We didn't shop. The prices in Iceland are unbelievable.

I enjoyed the Blue Lagoon just previous to my return flight; it's nice and relaxing and on the way to the airport!

I've been to Iceland three times, twice in summer and once in October, and the weather wasn't dreadful any of the times, but it's quite true it was changeable. But when the sun is out, it's just gorgeous.

The horse rides/whale watching are a plus to any trip to Iceland, and doable in your time frame in Reykjavik.

Here are a few suggestions, albeit started a while ago:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1278237

Everyone, thanks for your kind replies.
Amy, what a great list...and Opaldog, did u go at nite?


The Blue Lagoon doesn't open till 10 or 11am in October...so it looks as if we're going straight to the hotel, then back towards the Blue Lagoon. Is there stuff to do in the area outside the Blue Lagoon? Maybe we could go straight there, and after the Lagoon, to the hotel ....what do u all think?

Do u think there'll be any time to ride the horses in the lava meadows?

I think you've got a good start... the Golden Circle was worthwhile, but realize that you'll have to hustle a bit to see all of the sites thoroughly. All were worth the trip.

In Reykjavik, I can recommend the following for food...

1) The Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur hot dog stand (just ask, everyone will know what you're talking about. Get two with everything.

2) The Saegreifinn. Down by the docks. Great lobster soup. Order one and grab a skewer of your favorite fish that they'll grill fresh (not politically correct, but try the whale). A great, cheap, local dive.

3) Icelandic Fish and Chips. Organic, upscale fish and chips. Good food and cheap by Reykjavik stantards.

4) Pastries at the Sandholt bakeries.

On the remaining day, I really liked the Surtsey exhibit at the Culture House museum (it's a newly named World Heritage Site). It also has a some really nice exhibits on Icelandic life and history. The cafe is also good.

The coffee house at city hall is really good and you get save a bit of your baked goods to feed the birds on the Tjorn.

Enjoy!

We arrived to Reykjavik in the late afternoon. We headed right to the Blue Lagoon. If I were you I would consider doing the Blue Lagoon before your flight back to the U.S. There is nothing out near the Blue Lagoon that I could see except the airport. It would certainly be a great way to get all fresh and relaxed.

Opaldog is correct... there isn't anything in the way of commercial establishments out near the Blue Lagoon (no shops, restaurants, etc.).

There is some good hiking and some interesting geologic sites, if you have a car.

I think I am going to Rent a car, and see SELECTED items on the Golden Circle. Also I would Like to go Horse Riding.

Should i do the Riding on Day 1 or Day 2?

I am assuming it wouls be convenient to do when i have the car for the Golden Circle...

comments appreciated

That would probably work... I think there is a actually a horseback riding place out near Gulfoss and you can ride to the falls.

I would wait and see what the weather is like, and keep your fingers crossed. :)

I'm taking a trip in Feb and checking out a tolt is high on my priority list!

Sorry, checking out a tolt? What's that? We are going to Iceland at the end of February.
Doug

Tolt is the unique gait that Icelandic horse have...

I am going to Reykjavik end of March with a friend. Any recommendations for good Northern Lights tours/company? We will only be in town Fri-Sun and also plan to go to the Blue Lagoon.

here's a site where you can kind of forecast the strength of the aurora http://www.spaceweather.com/

scroll down a bit in that link and you'll see " current auroral oval" clik on that and you'll see if its even worth taking a tour or not.

Whatever you do, you'll have a blast