Reykjavik

Downtown Reykjavik from Hallgrímskirkja, the tallest structure in Iceland

Reykjavik. The name name alone conjours up images of a cold icy tundra inhabited by Vikings centuries ago. But in reality, Reykjavik is a beautifully colorful city—the biggest city capital closest to the North Pole, but in reality, it isn’t that big.

I visited Iceland a few years back with a couple friends in the middle of winter. Yes, Iceland in the middle of winter. Like many tourists, we started our trip at the Blue Lagoon where the powers of geothermal seawater create transformational spa journeys. If you’re visiting Iceland, I highly recommend a few hours at the Blue Lagoon. It’s a great way to relax and recharge and get ready for the rest of your trip.

There are now towering skyscrapers in very walkable downtown Reykjavik. Maybe this is why the city gives off the feeling that you’re in a toy town. The brightly-colored, closely-stacked houses line the streets and small coffee shops and cafes welcome cold and thirsty visitors.

Since we visited in winter, we only had a few hours of daylight each day to go out exploring.

One of the visits was to Geysir Strokkur, also known as the Great Geyser, where every few minutes, the geysir was erupt and blow water and steam 70 feet straight up into the air, and because of the sulphur content, prepare for something that smells like eggs.

Part of the tour was a drive around what is known as the Golden Circle which included a stop at Thingvellir National Park where you can see the deep cut in the land where the two tectonic plates that separate the European and North American continents. This is a very important spot for Icelanders as back in the day this is where many pivotal decisions were made for the community. It’s also where they discussed law and tried to settle disputes without violence.

And while we visited Gullfoss waterfall, it was winter so the waterfall was frozen—literally and in time. It still made for a spectacular sight.

Personally, I found Reykjavik to be very expensive. And it’s no surprise since almost everything has to be imported. Remember, the island only gets a few summer months each year. I remember paying the equivalent of $9 for a coffee and a donut.

I’d love to go back in the summer to see how the landscape changes between the seasons, and maybe take a tour around the outskirts of the island. I’ve been told the east and west coasts are very different but both are incredibly picturesque.

What was your favorite part of visiting Iceland?