Reykjavik and a Very Blue Lagoon
It wasn’t until towards the end of our time in Iceland when we finally got to wander the Rekjyavik city center. It’s definitely somewhat of an eccentric, yet very classic Nordic-style fishing town with an up-and-coming food and bar scene (shout outs to Ramen Momo and Icelandic Fish and Chips). Unfortunately this was the least affordable area we visited but was definitely worth it to see what this city is all about!
Starting out, we really enjoyed the top notch coffee scene; this is something they take very seriously! In Reykjavik we indulged in cake and lattes at Stofan Cafe, delicious breakfast waffles and espresso at Mokka Kaffee, and after lunch pick-me-ups at Cafe Babalu. An honorable mention goes out to a Scandinavian chain, Joe and the Juice, which we enjoyed at the airport and for one of our breakfasts.
Now one of the more famous stops here is the stunning church right in the middle of town. You could confuse it with a spaceship or a building out of the Hunger Games with its modern, winged look. It has a very simple yet striking interior and we listened in on an organ concert that happened to be playing. For a separate fee, we took an elevator to the top to visit the clock tower. OBVIOUSLY, with our penchant for tower climbing, we couldn’t miss this one and got some cool views of the city.
Another interesting landmark is the Viking ship statue right on the bay. This was our next stop after the church and it helped give some historical context to Reykjavik with its Viking roots.
We walked down a bit further and took a peek inside the sleek Harpa Music Hall.
And then promptly concluded that it was time for hot dogs! In addition to coffee, Iceland is famous for their take on this street food. We found our dogs of choice at Baejarins Beztu (your guess is as good as mine on what that means), the best known hot dog stand in Iceland. Soon enough we were chowing down on hot dogs with sweet mustard, ketchup, and deep fried crispy onions. It’s a strange mix of flavors, for sure, but they were SO GOOD.
One other point of interest that we visited was the Perlan. This is a futuristic, multi-purpose building housing massive water storage tanks, an ice cave and glacier exhibit, as well as an observation deck. It was super neat to walk through an ice cave and then climb to the top of the building for some more photos.
But I think the highlight of our time staying in town was the day trip we took to the famous Blue Lagoon! This is definitely a can’t miss if you are ever in Iceland and it will be unlike anything you’ve experienced! The lagoon is closer to the airport than to the city so a lot of people will either visit it before or after a flight. But we have a different recommendation if you are flexible: visit early in the morning! We got there right at 8:00am to beat the crowds and watch the sunrise.
It is advised to book in advance and arrive during your scheduled arrival hour. They have all sorts of packages that you can book, some of which include drinks, lunch, and various amenities. Another recommendation here: book one with a bathrobe! It gets very cold, very fast when you are out of the water!
We changed into our swimsuits, showered thoroughly, and then got into the lagoon via the indoor waterway- no streaking across the cold patio required. The whole pool is surrounded by lava rock so it feels like you are on an entirely different planet!
The water is heated through geothermal energy and has varying temperatures throughout the pool. Once in, we drifted around for a bit exploring the bar area and making our way to the spa area. The pool gets its chalky color from the silicon dioxide paste available to put on your face as a mask. There is a swim-up area for this and, depending on the package you book, also an option for an algae mask.
We found it so nice to just float around the pool (while enjoying freshly squeezed juices) as the sun rose in the distance. But after a few more hours lounging and dipping in and out of the pool it was time to head back. We didn’t want to leave and head back to town!
While people travel to Iceland to see the amazing scenery and spend as much time as possible in the great outdoors, we still found Reykjavik to be quite charming on the whole. Don’t forget to visit if you make it out to Iceland!
Look for our next adventure in Norway!
-GP