This is Holiday Extras’ Travel Guides and we’re here in Iceland.
We’ll be giving you all the essential information you need to Travel Better.
We’ll be covering money, language, tips on where to go and even how to see the Northern Lights.
But first, here’s a bit about the country itself.
Iceland is between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, about a three hour flight north
from London.
Iceland is unlike anywhere we’ve been before, its volcanic landscapes and picturesque backdrops
create this almost untouched feeling and it’ll make you fall in love with the country.
Most international flights will arrive at Keflavik (KEF) airport, which is 40 minutes
outside the capital city of Reykjavik and it’s here, where we’ll start.
Greyline and Flybus run transfer buses 35 minutes after each landing.
Both services offer a hotel drop off at selected hotels for an additional fee.
They cover most hotels but if yours isn’t on there, you can find out which stop is closest
and just walk the rest of the way.
An airport taxi will set you back around 12,000 Krona for the 45 minute journey.
However, self-drive holidays are really popular here and, if this is what you’re planning,
then it makes sense to pick up your hire car at the airport, before you head into Reykjavik.
Reykjavik is the base for most holidays in Iceland.
It’s the world’s most northernly capital city and it’s a hub for Icelandic culture.
Reykjavik is the embodiment of the Icelandic culture of proud self-sufficiency and fierce
interest in the arts.
There’s no McDonald’s or Starbucks here; instead, its streets are lined with independent
coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques.
There’s always something going on and the nightlife is legendary.
Don’t forget to pick up your free copy of the Reykjavik Grapevine for what’s going
on while you’re here.
It’s worth trying to stay in the centre as a room in the middle puts everything within
walking distance.
AirBnBs and hotels and plentiful but if you’re coming in the summer, book in advance because
it can get super busy.
If you want to book a tour out of the city, then head to Laugavegur.
There are loads of tourist information outlets here that can help you with anything you want to do.
After spending some time in Reykjavik, we recommend jumping in your car and taking a
day to explore the Golden Circle.
It’s one of Iceland’s most popular tours, taking in the Geysir, Thingvellir National
Park and Gulfoss.
If you’re staying a bit longer, then the south coast is a must.
Follow the Ring Road all the way to the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, stopping off at sites like
Skogafoss, Seljalandsfoss and some of the world’s most beautiful black sand beaches.
And of course, don’t forget to stop by the Blue Lagoon on your way back.
It’s only 20 minutes outside Keflavik airport and it’s the perfect way to end your Icelandic adventure.
Getting around Iceland on your own is surprisingly straight-forward.
The main Ring Road connects all the major towns and if you stick to it, you can’t
really go wrong.
Now bear in mind that driving here is nothing like driving at home so there are a few things
you need to know…
Summer is the time to do a driving holiday, as the roads will be open and the conditions
will be good with lots of daylight.
The weather in Winter can make driving difficult and once you leave Reykjavik it can get quite
dangerous.
It’s not recommended unless you really know what you’re doing; getting stuck in a white-out
isn’t fun.
If you plan on straying off the Ring Road, then hire a four wheel drive car.
the roads can be uneven and pot-holes are common.
Do not go on F Roads, as hire cars are not allowed on them.
Off-road driving is forbidden as it damages the environment.
You’ll get fined around 350,000 Krona if caught.
Speed limits: 50km in populated areas, 80km on gravel roads and 90km on paved roads.
You’re required to have your headlights on at all times when driving, even during
daylight.
Some bridges are single lane only; the driver closest to the bridge has priority.
Petrol stations are few and far between and often unmanned.
Fill up when you can and use a credit or cash card for payment.
The Icelandic website road.is has lots of detailed information on driving in Iceland,
so make sure to give it a read before you hire a car.
And remember - you drive on the right!
We’re here in November and it’s been fairly cold.
The weather today is about 4 degrees and since we’ve been here we’ve had every kind of
weather imaginable.
We’ve had freak rain, ridiculous winds, it’s been freezing cold right near the sea…
But as the traditional Icelandic saying goes, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.”
and it’s certainly true here!
So no matter the season, be prepared.
Always bring wind-proof and water-proof clothing and a good pair of walking boots is essential.
In Winter the temperatures will plummet below freezing so layer up; thermal underwear, hats,
gloves and scarves are a must.
Now temperatures are more forgiving in the Summer, with averages of around 13 degrees
in the south.
Catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is a big reason why people come to Iceland,
so here’s a few of out tips for the best possible chance to see them.
Winter is the best time to go, as the nights are longest at this time.
It’ll be freezing cold but you can’t see the lights unless it’s dark.
Go for as long as possible.
You’ll often have cloud cover in Iceland.
We were there for two weeks and only managed to see the Northern Lights twice.
Your best chance is to go somewhere where there’s no light pollution so get out of
the city and go somewhere dark.
We used the Icelandic weather website, belgingur.is.
We found it the most accurate for predicting cloud cover.
White areas show where the skies are clear and this gives you your best chance to see
the Northern Lights.
The second website we used was the Icelandic Met Office.
Now this gives you the aurora forecasts, the stronger the better, sunset times and moonrise
times.
This just means that you can plan for when it gets dark.
Now we’re in downtown Reykjavik and we’re in a restaurant called Laekjarbrekka, and
they’ve given us this traditional Icelandic platter to try.
So I’m just going to talk you through a few things that are on there.
We have the smoked lamb on flatbread, wind-dried fish with seaweed, gravlax, which is like
a salmon, and this is fermented shark, which some of our crew have already tried and assured
me it’s disgusting.
I’m not even going to open it up because the smell is overwhelming.
But this is why, when you have fermented shark, you chase it with Brennivin, which is the
original Icelandic spirit.
Anyway, here’s a look back at all the food that we’ve had during our time here.
The currency here is the Icelandic Krona and, right now, £1 will get you roughly 130 to
140 Krona but you can check this on xe.com and they have a handy app too.
Anyway, here’s a breakdown of our costs since we’ve been here.
Our flights were around £60 each way; Our three-bedroom AirBnB apartment in Reykjavik
was £414 for two nights; Our car was £850 for 8 days with two drivers.
This includes collision damage waiver, sand and ash cover and gravel damage cover;
Fuel was roughly £1.67 per litre; Iceland’s National Parks and landscapes
are all free to enjoy; An ice cave tour will set you back roughly
£130 per person; Our hotel rooms in Vik were £143 each per
night; Prices at the Blue Lagoon start from £33
in Winter to £42 in Summer.
And don’t forget, if you spend over 6,000 Krona on clothes and souvenirs, you can claim
14% tax back.
Just keep your receipts and show them in the refund office at Keflavik airport.
Finni has been helping us with our filming in Iceland and he’s kindly agreed to teach
us some Icelandic, so let’s do it!
I love that one…”Já”
“Talar thu ensku?” Yeah…
That was pretty good!
Thanks!
This is my personal one:
How do you say the numbers? So, from 1 to 10?
And how do you say the big volcano?
So, as you can see, Icelandic isn’t the easiest language but massive thanks to Finni
or, Takk?
Verði þér að góðu!
So that’s our essential guide to Iceland.
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