5 Tips to Know Before Arriving in Iceland
Reykjavik, Iceland, isn’t just a city full of snow and extremely cold weather, but a city with some of mother nature’s most gorgeous landscapes and attractions. It’s so easy to fall in love with the scenic routes, the hot and steamy blue lagoon and the charismatic culture. But, before you begin to fall head over heels, there are few things you need to know.
1) RENT A CAR
It is imperative to rent a car no matter what area of Iceland you are visiting. Those long scenic routes require some long miles to cover. If you choose to explore within the city, most attractions are about 20- 30 minutes away from one another. If you are feeling more adventurous and choose to explore outside the city, a typical drive to a site can take 40 mins up to 2 hours, depending on which attraction you choose to visit. If you are visiting Iceland during the winter, make sure your vehicle is a 4 wheel drive. The roads can become very icy and you don’t want to get stuck and end up freezing like a human ice sickle.
2) THE NORTHERN LIGHTS DON’T APPEAR EVERY NIGHT
Many tourists visit Iceland to see one of the world’s greatest attractions, the Northern Lights. Googling images of the lights can make you assume that the green night sky appears nightly, but thats not always the case. It’s very difficult predicting what mother nature chooses to reveal to us so it’s important to download , My Aurora Forecast App. This app will predict the appearance of the Northern Lights for you. It will tell you the recommended times to see the lights appear. The last thing you want to be doing it waiting in the cold without a light in the sky.
3) THE BLUE LAGOON IS ONE OF THE 25 WONDERS OF THE WORLD
The historical Blue Lagoon is located about 45 minutes outside of Reykjavik and is worth every pretty penny. No everyone gets to visit or cross one of the 25 Wonders of the World off their bucket list. It is one of the most prestigious global sites that anyone can visit. Whether it is 7 degrees outside or 70 degrees, the lagoon is always warm because of the geothermal plant that is next to the lagoon. Make sure to book a reservation ahead of time because of the over flow of tourists. Book Here: https://booking.bluelagoon.com
4) SHORT DAYS, LONG NIGHTS
The most challenging part about seeing the glorious views of Iceland is that you have to do it in a timely fashion. During fall/winter, the sun usually rises at 11AM and sets at about 5;30PM, so you only have 6-7 hours of daylight. Planning your day and how you choose to use is a good move because you definitely want to catch the amazing lighting for epic photos.
5) DINING AND EXCURSIONS CAN BE EXPENSIVE
Getting to Iceland might be inexpensive but prices begin to change when you arrive. According to Iceland Magazine, “consumer prices in Iceland are on average 66 percent higher than in Europe,” so the cost of eating out, shopping and excursions can add up quickly. It can help to pre-pay for your excursions before arriving in Iceland to help you budget out your stay. If you are eager to visit Iceland, Iceland Air has recently added some new routes for an inexpensive cost. Reykjavik is an easy 6 hour flight from the New York City/New Jersey area. If you plan ahead properly or catch a flash sale you will a bang for your buck! Click below for airline deals. https://www.icelandair.com
