Reykjavik

Attracting nearly 2 million tourists a year (pre-covid), Reykjavik is the most northerly capital city in the world, just narrowly beating Helsinki (Finland), Oslo (Norway), Tallinn (Estonia) and Stockholm (Sweden). I flew into Keflavik airport to find it in the grips of a snowstorm. I had an evening flight so landed close to midnight. Iceland offers a FlyBus service which will pick you up from multiple spots in Reykjavik, and take you to or from Keflavik airport. If you haven’t already you can book your bus tickets using the link below.

Although there are optimal times to visit Iceland, I wouldn’t say there’s a bad time to come here. Visiting in the winter will have some bitterly cold temperatures, and drastically less daylight. The weather can also be restricting. I had three experiences planned that got cancelled at the last minute due to snowstorms. But visiting dut the winter means you have a significantly higher chance of seeing the Northern Lights. You are also able to see some of the most beautiful snow-covered landscapes you could ever hope for. If you want to maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, check out my guide Know before you Go: Northern Lights.

Visiting during the summer makes Iceland a lot more accessible, the roads open up and there’s more daylight. In fact, at certain times of the year, they can have up to 24 hours of sunlight. Letting you sit back and relax in one of Reykjavik’s many bars or explore the Golden Circle to yourself. One of my favourite activities here was the Sky Lagoon. Here I could relax with a nice cold beer, enjoying the snowy views, all whilst warm and relaxed in the water.

I did originally intend to visit the Blue Lagoon, however the weather in February meant that our tour was cancelled. This was due to safety concerns of the volcano hike. That did mean we couldn’t just do the Blue Lagoon portion of the tour. Unfortunately due to the late cancellation all other tours and tickets for the Blue Lagoon had already been booked up. But that goes to show the importance of planning and knowing the area. Instead of letting myself feel dissapointed, I embraced the alternative and arguably experienced a better (and less expensive) time.

If you want to embrace the Icelandic way of life, check out my article Know before you Go: Iceland Edition below.

Even if the weather forces you indoors, I could not think of a better place to be. Reykjavik is full of weird and wonderful museums, like the Punk Museum which is based in a disused public toilet. The Phallological Museum is a popular stop, dedicated to the Penis’ of every Icelandic mammal, as we as mythical beings. Although if you’re travelling with family you may find the Perlan Museum or the FlyOver Iceland exhibits a bit more to your taste.