Any tips for Iceland?

[Goblinmonger]

My family (me, wife, adult son and daughter) are going over my Winter Break. We will be leaving on the 23rd and returning on the 30th.

We rented an apartment for the week on AirBnB that looks fantastic. We have a rental car (4-wheel drive). We have some things we want to do, but any suggestions are appreciated. My wife really wants to go snorkel at that place where the two continents meet. My two kids and I really, really don't like snorkeling.

[ginnyinWI]

1. Staying in Reykjavik?

If you are interested in Iceland's history, the national museum there is great. I remember it being free. And the Blue Lagoon is not to be missed! It is right near the airport, so if you are inclined and have time before check in, go there and soak!

We did the Golden Circle which features geysers and waterfalls. Did not have time to circle the whole island, but relatives have and it took two weeks to do everything.

I wish we would have had time to go on a boat and see whales and puffins.

Everyone is friendly and restaurants are easy to find. Even for vegetarians.

[Goblinmonger]

2. Yes. I think out by the airport.

The apartment is owned by a flight attendant.

Will have to check out the museum. We do plan on going to the Blue Lagoon. That might be the Christmas Day activity since a lot of stuff will be closed. Can the Golden Circle be done in a day? I did see the circle the island stuff but we won't have enough time. Maybe my wife and I can go back some summer and do that.

Puffins would be awesome. I'm wondering how much they are around in the winter or how easy to see.

I have been able to find some vegetarian restaurants that look quite good.

[ginnyinWI]

3. The airport is at Keflavik.

The blue lagoon is nearby, so that will be easy for you. To get to Reykjavik you will need to drive 30-40 minutes. It's the only real city Iceland has, so that will be where you will want to spend some time.

Yes the Golden Circle was a day trip for us, and we stayed at an AirBnB in Reykjavik. My husband, myself and one of our adult daughters. We were there in 2011. I remember gas being expensive.

Reykjavik is small enough to see on foot, the heart of the city anyway. It's quiet and clean, and the buildings are so colorful and interesting. When you walk around Keflavik you will see an interesting little cemetery. There aren't too many shops in that village, apart from at the airport.

[Goblinmonger]

4. Those pictures are awesome

I checked our reservation. We are in Kopavogur which looks like it is directly south of the airport across a harbor/bay/inlet.

[ginnyinWI]

5. thanks--we took hundreds of them.

The one of the water is Gullfoss, which means gold falls. Another interesting sight on the Golden Circle route is Pingvellir, an ancient meeting site where rules and laws were decided. There are rock formations and a creek and some pretty views.

We had a guidebook from Frommer's which was super useful and pointed us to all the best stuff. Just called Frommer's Iceland. And I have the name of that museum, but it has Icelandic characters I can't type. But it is also, "National Museum of Iceland".

http://www.thjodminjasafn.is/english

[Lisa0825]

6. How was your trip?

I wish I had seen this before you went! A friend and I also went to Iceland, from 12/26 - 1/1.

We had a great time, though the weather made the sightseeing pretty difficult. It was the wind more than the temperature that was the challenge!

[Goblinmonger]

7. We definitely overlapped.

As you know, it was a lot of bad weather. We only got out of Reykjavik once during our trip and that was a few hours of driving hell before the weather calmed down.

We had a great time, too. I'd love to go back in the summer and see more of the country. I feel like I got most of Reykjavik.