Southwest Iceland is the most populous region of the country, and is home to Reykjavik and the famous Blue Lagoon. The drive from Keflavik to the Blue Lagoon, and ultimately to Reykjavik was the perfect first taste of Iceland. I remember just looking out the window and seeing the moss-covered lava and thinking, “I’ve finally made it.”
Loves
Where I Stayed: Hótel Frón
Restaurant: Shalimar (Indian food); Bæjarins Beztu (hot dogs!); Sólon (delicious seafood)
Shopping: The Viking (for touristy goods); Kolaportið (flea market); street vendors
Museum: National Museum of Iceland
Church: Hallgrimskirkja
Historical Site: Tjornin; Alþingi
Experience: Blue Lagoon
Food(s): Arctic charr; Icelandic hot dog
What to Know
Blue Lagoon
Because I did a lot of research on this before I went, and came up relatively short on answers, I thought I’d let you know.. You do have to get completely and totally naked before going into the Blue Lagoon. As I’ve stated elsewhere, if you’re a prudish American like me, you’ll be happy to know that there are a few private areas to change. I think I ended up being naked in front of people anyway though, when stepping out of the showers and going for my towel, but I went to the Blue Lagoon just after arriving, so I was deliriously tired and didn’t really care so much at that point.
You’re required to shower and to use their products (which are provided for you) before getting into the water. This is for your own good, really, because they want to ensure that everyone is clean before getting into the chemical-free water. Also, I was given a tip by my cab driver on the way to the airport to leave Iceland which would’ve been most helpful to have known up front: Condition your hair more than once before you get in the water. He even suggested leaving it in your hair when you get into the water. And then wash your hair twice after you get out, and use the conditioner liberally. (I wish I’d known, because the water sort of destroyed my hair for the entire two weeks I was in Iceland.)
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is super easy to get around by foot. It’s a pretty small city, and if you book a centrally-located hotel for your stay, you can walk everywhere. Laugavegur is the main shopping and restaurant street, and just happened to be where I stayed. It was so nice to walk out the front door of my hotel and be amongst all the hustle and bustle. Little tip: Most shops don’t open until 10am and close around 6 or 6:30pm.
Eating
There are a ton of restaurants in Reykjavik. When I first arrived, I just wanted my fill of seafood, but by the time the end of the trip rolled around (and I found myself back in Reykjavik for two days), I wanted something different, and Reykjavik delivered. You can find most types of food, from basic sandwiches and seafood dishes, to Italian, Thai, Indian, Mexican, and more. (And if you’re more adventurous, you can opt for Icelandic delicacies like hákarl, horse, puffin, whale, etc.)
Shopping
I’m not particularly fond of picking up knick-knack souvenirs that will sit around my house and collect dust. I prefer to buy things that I can get some use out of, but that will also remind me of a place I’ve visited. So, for me, that typically means that I buy clothing, jewelry, scarves, etc. On this particular trip, I knew I wanted two things: a lopapeysa and some lava jewelry. In Reykjavik, I purchased lava jewelry from a street vendor. I just couldn’t find exactly what I wanted when looking in the more budget-friendly shops (though, I found plenty of very beautiful pieces when I window shopped at the high-price boutiques). It was probably my last day in Iceland when I was walking to an Indian restaurant for lunch and came across a vendor who was selling earrings, rings, necklaces, and more. I think I ended up purchasing about 10 things from them, for myself and my friends and family.
Why Go?
Relaxing spa weekend at the Blue Lagoon; experiencing Iceland’s largest city (which happens to be adorably small, colorful, and quaint); raucous nightlife.
Things to do
I’m not going to lie and say that Reykjavik has a ton of things to do. In all, I spent about five days in Reykjavik, and I could’ve probably skipped the last two (and spent them elsewhere in the country). You should definitely do the touristy things–go to the museums, take the elevator up to the very top of Hallgrímskirkja and check out the amazing views from up there, see Tjörnin lake, and just enjoy walking around the city.
Details
Possibly my favorite thing about Reykjavik was the colors. Everything there is so colorful, even on the dreariest of days. I also really loved that it’s the largest city in Iceland, but it’s about a sixth of the size of Austin, where I live, which is a mid-size city in the US. It boasts a lot of charm and is an easily likable city. I also really liked that it was close to the airport, close to the Blue Lagoon, and right on the water, so you can take whale watching tours from there!
