One day in Reykjavik - what to do?
Discussion
We're going to be in Reykjavik for just one day (well eight hours on a cruise stop to be precise) so what should we do / where should we go? There are six of us (family holiday) and we would like to see some of the volcanism that Iceland is famous for.
I plan to hire a taxi for a day rather than pay the stupid prices which the cruise line will charge for excursions (circa $1000 for 6 of us).
All suggestions will be considered.
I plan to hire a taxi for a day rather than pay the stupid prices which the cruise line will charge for excursions (circa $1000 for 6 of us).
All suggestions will be considered.
Superjeep, try a company called Highlanders, I think the web address is www.islanders.is.
Basically a Nissan Patrol rebuilt with some serious steroid abuse
You'll get all 6 of you in and they will drive you off for the day. Common is the "Golden Circle" tour, which is the geysirs, a drive over a bit of a glacier, the site of the first parliament and then often a drop in at the Blue Lagoon (although this is a good 20 miles outside Reykjavik).
The geysirs are great and I would spend a bit more tiem than normal there. With the Jeep you can go off onto the country roads which you cannot do if you do not have a 4*4. If you're taking the whole car I would ask them what kind of itinery they can do for you, might be able to get in a waterfall or two as well
If you have any time in the city itself, the Hallgrimskircha (big church that looks as though is has been made of bassalt columns) is worth a look around plus Perlan, which is a rotating restaurant / cafe sitting on top of hot water storage towers above Reykjavik. That gives nice panoramic views of the city and you can get outside so you don't have to eat there, ruinously expensive but really good cooking. I would stop by the hotdog stall down near the docks. Can't remember the name off the top of my head but a quick google will help as it's very famous as it's really rather good.
Final thing to see if you get time is a modern art sculpture called "Sun Voyager" which sits down near the shore. it's quite a way away from where the cruise ships stop but it is worth a quick taxi ride. It's a skeltal recreation of a viking longboat and really quite striking, esp at dusk / dawn.
HTH
Chris
Basically a Nissan Patrol rebuilt with some serious steroid abuse
You'll get all 6 of you in and they will drive you off for the day. Common is the "Golden Circle" tour, which is the geysirs, a drive over a bit of a glacier, the site of the first parliament and then often a drop in at the Blue Lagoon (although this is a good 20 miles outside Reykjavik). The geysirs are great and I would spend a bit more tiem than normal there. With the Jeep you can go off onto the country roads which you cannot do if you do not have a 4*4. If you're taking the whole car I would ask them what kind of itinery they can do for you, might be able to get in a waterfall or two as well
If you have any time in the city itself, the Hallgrimskircha (big church that looks as though is has been made of bassalt columns) is worth a look around plus Perlan, which is a rotating restaurant / cafe sitting on top of hot water storage towers above Reykjavik. That gives nice panoramic views of the city and you can get outside so you don't have to eat there, ruinously expensive but really good cooking. I would stop by the hotdog stall down near the docks. Can't remember the name off the top of my head but a quick google will help as it's very famous as it's really rather good.
Final thing to see if you get time is a modern art sculpture called "Sun Voyager" which sits down near the shore. it's quite a way away from where the cruise ships stop but it is worth a quick taxi ride. It's a skeltal recreation of a viking longboat and really quite striking, esp at dusk / dawn.
HTH
Chris
Cheers Chris, the link didn't work but I googled superjeep / Iceland and quite a few tour operators were listed. I've emailed two of these and anticipate spending the day with one of them. It's about one third the cost of using the cruise line plus we'll get to have more independence.
So thank you! Most helpful.
So thank you! Most helpful.
CVP said:
Final thing to see if you get time is a modern art sculpture called "Sun Voyager" which sits down near the shore. it's quite a way away from where the cruise ships stop but it is worth a quick taxi ride. It's a skeltal recreation of a viking longboat and really quite striking, esp at dusk / dawn.
Agree there - took this shot back in 2006 ...
Also worth a trip inland to see some impressive, rugged scenery - such as the fault line (North Atlantic Ridge) and the many beautiful waterfalls ...
Did someone mentioned mad trucks?!
I have done the sightseeing flight from the small airport in Reykjavik itself. On a clear day this is spectacular.
The Golden Circle is an extremely well trodden route, basically connecting a few sites worth seeing. But it is mostly a very barren landscape, with the key attractions being things like big waterfalls and geysers. Whatever rocks your boat.
Blue Lagoon is absolutely brilliant, eapecially in deepest winter with the weather coming in over your head. Remember to take your trunks. http://www.bluelagoon.com/ Basically it is a big depression bulldozed out of the lava into which they pump the output water from a thermal power station. Minerals in the water are supposed to be good for you and make the water startlingly blue.
Depending on the time of year snowmobileing is fantastic fun. You get out to the middle of nowhere and have a great blat.
Icelandic ponies are famous all over the world. There are people running excursions on them. They are very, very easy to ride, like a motorised mattress.
The Icelandic people mainly wear an insulated overall which they call an Icelandic Bikini. These are immensely practical as you wear normal clothes underneath. Then when you go outside you quickly put on the one garment that gives you total protection. A possible tourist buy?
The Golden Circle is an extremely well trodden route, basically connecting a few sites worth seeing. But it is mostly a very barren landscape, with the key attractions being things like big waterfalls and geysers. Whatever rocks your boat.
Blue Lagoon is absolutely brilliant, eapecially in deepest winter with the weather coming in over your head. Remember to take your trunks. http://www.bluelagoon.com/ Basically it is a big depression bulldozed out of the lava into which they pump the output water from a thermal power station. Minerals in the water are supposed to be good for you and make the water startlingly blue.
Depending on the time of year snowmobileing is fantastic fun. You get out to the middle of nowhere and have a great blat.
Icelandic ponies are famous all over the world. There are people running excursions on them. They are very, very easy to ride, like a motorised mattress.
The Icelandic people mainly wear an insulated overall which they call an Icelandic Bikini. These are immensely practical as you wear normal clothes underneath. Then when you go outside you quickly put on the one garment that gives you total protection. A possible tourist buy?
Definatley go for a jeep tour. I used these people when I went in the depths of winter a few years back.
http://www.arcticsafari.is/
Very accomodating and tailored the day to suit what we wanted to do. One part of the trip was called off as snow had blocked the road and I started talking to him about ice fishing. A quick call to his mate the other side of the mountain and we were parked up on a frozen lake in his friends back yard with a huge drill bit going through the ice - ace !!
http://www.arcticsafari.is/
Very accomodating and tailored the day to suit what we wanted to do. One part of the trip was called off as snow had blocked the road and I started talking to him about ice fishing. A quick call to his mate the other side of the mountain and we were parked up on a frozen lake in his friends back yard with a huge drill bit going through the ice - ace !!
[quote=steve_amv8Did someone mentioned mad trucks?!
[/quote]
That's the fella, very cool and tons of fun
I did enjoy the Blue Lagoon but enjoyed the remote hot pools way out in the country a lot more as they are much less commercialised.
Icelanders are teriffic people, absolutely totally and utterly bonkers but very relaxed and nice you should have a great tiem with them.
Chris
[/quote]
That's the fella, very cool and tons of fun
I did enjoy the Blue Lagoon but enjoyed the remote hot pools way out in the country a lot more as they are much less commercialised.
Icelanders are teriffic people, absolutely totally and utterly bonkers but very relaxed and nice you should have a great tiem with them.
Chris
Duke of Rothesay said:
Blue Lagoon is absolutely brilliant, eapecially in deepest winter with the weather coming in over your head. Remember to take your trunks. http://www.bluelagoon.com/ Basically it is a big depression bulldozed out of the lava into which they pump the output water from a thermal power station. Minerals in the water are supposed to be good for you and make the water startlingly blue.
The Blue Lagoon really is a "must do."Pity you've got such a short stay in Iceland there's so much to see!
CVP said:
Icelanders are teriffic people, absolutely totally and utterly bonkers but very relaxed and nice you should have a great tiem with them.
You're not wrong there! I was there on business and was introduced to the chief of police, education minister and finally the foreign minister all in the same night club and they were truly mad as hatters, but up for a good time!Catz said:
The Blue Lagoon really is a "must do."
Pity you've got such a short stay in Iceland there's so much to see!
There is a lot to see, and the Blue Lagoon is great, but I wouldn't recommend this in preference to doing the Golden Circle tour.Pity you've got such a short stay in Iceland there's so much to see!
I'd recommend the Golden Circle Super Jeep Tour (AH140) with Iceland excursions
http://www.icelandexcursions.is/super_jeep_tours_in_iceland-4/ah140_golden_circle_super_jeep_tour-10/default.aspx) which includes the main sites, plus snowmobiling on a glacier - excellent fun!Enjoy !
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