Iceland Holidays

Reykjavik isn’t the first place the average person would think of when conjuring up ideas for a quick getaway, but it works wonderfully, whether as a long weekend or tagged onto a more extensive Icelandic adventure.

With a population of only 215,000, it is a quiet city, whimsical and brimming with street art and history.

The first thing you should know is that Iceland is expensive, and that includes accommodation. Reykjavik does offer some budget lodging, such as hostels, but the prices may still make you wince. One advantage of choosing a hostel is that you can save money by not having to eat out very often - you can pick up supplies at the local supermarket and use the shared kitchen to cook for yourself.

Reykjavik is also home to some amazing boutique hotels, and everything in between. Whatever the occasion or whatever your budget, we will help you find the perfect place to call home for a few days.

The most famous landmark in the city is the Hallgrimskirkja Church, standing tall at a lofty 74m. You can climb right to the top, and it is steeped in Viking history. This will give you the best view of the city!

Head to the waterfront to take the quintessential photo of the Solfar sculpture with the ocean in the background. Keep walking, and you will soon come to the uber modern Harpa Concert Hall. The award-winning architecture of this building makes for some great photos - the rainbow light dancing through the honeycomb glass structures is very pretty.

Visit the old Harbour with its Whale Museum, wander around downtown and shop for icelandic wool and traditional pottery in one of the many independent boutiques.

There are free walking tours to take advantage of - great for learning all about the elves that the Icelanders believe still inhabit their land. It is the perfect city to explore on foot, so grab your camera and hit the streets!

This will probably be your first or last stop in Iceland, as the Blue Lagoon is right by the airport. They offer luggage storage and it is ideal to include on your itinerary before or after a flight to maximise your time. What better way to refresh yourself after a long flight or relax in readiness for the long journey home, than jumping into a warm thermal pool and rubbing clay all over yourself?

This is the most ubiquitous of all of the seventeen thermal pools in Reykjavik alone, however it is also the most luxurious. The price might make your eyes water, but it is totally worth the splurge! 

Located in a lava field, the water is naturally heated to a blissful 38°C. The water is 70% ocean water and 30% fresh water. 

Once you pass through the immaculate changing rooms, you will find yourself floating around under walkways, in and out of hidey hole caves with the steam rising all around you.

Pay a visit to the mask bar - there you will have silica, clay and algae ladled into your hands to rub all over your body - it is very good for the complexion!

Many tickets include a drink at the swim up bars dotted around the water’s edge. What a great place to sip a cocktail!

When looking at where to start journey planning in Iceland, you may notice a beaten path known as the ‘Golden Circle’. Yes, it’s stops are full of tourists, but it is popular for a reason. This is the ultimate Icelandic excursion! You can complete the loop on a guided day trip via bus, or you can complete it over the course of a few days if self driving or booking a longer adventure. The Golden Circle consists of:

• Haukadalur Geothermal Valley - visit the erupting geysers and a plethora of geothermal springs, boiling hot and steamy. Home to Strokkur, one of the most famous hot springs in the country - it erupts every 5 to 10 minutes, shooting hot water 20m into the air - it is quite the spectacle!

• Gulfoss Waterfall - boasting cascades of water and ice falling 32 metres into a narrow canyon, this is one of the most popular postcard images in any kitsch Icelandic souvenir shop. Gulfoss means ‘Golden Waterfall’. When the sun hits the falls, they shine a beautiful golden brown colour.

• Pingvellir - the stunning continental rift valley, overflowing with Viking history. This national park landscape is in the middle of two tectonic plates, hence the incredible scenery and geology that abounds. 

Iceland is one of the best places in the world to see the majestic aurora borealis, being well situated on the southern edge of the Arctic Circle.

If you’re in Iceland between October and March, chances are chasing the Northern Lights is high on your bucket list. Best spotted around midnight, there are a couple of options to give you the best chance of seeing them.

There are many guided coach trips from Reykjavik which will take you to the most likely spots each night, depending on the weather and conditions. Often they will offer another excursion the next night for free if you are unlucky enough to not see any geomagnetic activity.

If you are self driving then you can head out further afield to find them. Snæfellsnes Peninsula offers one of the best vantage points if you can get off the beaten track.

Driving around Iceland is a brilliant way to take in the sights and spectacles that are dotted around the country at your own pace. There are looping roads that encompass the country, making it relatively easy to plan an itinerary. The most popular one is the Iceland Ring Road, which is 1330kms long. We would suggest a 7 - 10 day itinerary to allow you to experience everything along the way.

Roads are generally in a well maintained condition, although there are some gravel roads in the east of the island. Driving in snow and ice can be challenging so we would recommend undertaking a road trip from March to November unless you are experienced in treacherous conditions.

They drive on the right in Iceland - great if you’re used to driving in the US, but a bit more tricky for those from Europe.

If you’re a solo traveller but looking for a group holiday we can help. We have some small group guided tours, don’t worry! They’re not the traditional stuffy tours of the 1980s! These are modern cycling or trekking tours with plenty of free time, other solo travellers and a guide. Contact our team to find out more.

Our travel experts are familiar with the practicalities of travelling with children in Iceland, some of whom have been here with their own young families. We will be able to give you all the hints and tips to make your time as enjoyable as possible, creating you an easy to follow itinerary which includes something for everyone. 

The country is extremely family friendly. There are always western food options available, and english is widely spoken and crime levels are low. The air is pure and natives frequently leave their babies sleeping in their buggies outside houses and shops - an alarming practice for the uninitiated!

Some of the more extreme trips such as volcano trekking and some whale watching boats will have minimum age restrictions, but these can be worked around. 

This amazing country will provide you and your children with a myriad of educational experiences and memorable moments.

If you’d like to see more of Iceland than a typical holiday, why not consider joining one of our small group guided tours? These aren’t the old fashioned stuffy coach tours and we promise there won’t be any guides with flags in sight! These are guided but free flowing adventures taking you to explore your destination and experience the local life. Certainly most tourists won’t experience where these tours will take you.

Hiring a car and driving yourself is a great way to see the country and feel truly free (see Road Trips in Iceland)

There are local buses within Reykjavik with easy to read timetables, although the city itself is compact enough to get around by foot.

There are multiple companies offering door to door transfers to and from the airport, Blue Lagoon and major sights around Reykjavik, allowing travellers to easily create their own itineraries.

We also offer an abundance of day trips, and longer adventure trips.

For general sightseeing, May to August are good months to visit because of the long midnight sun days and warmer temperatures. If you want to do some hiking, then July and August are considered peak times for this.

February, March, September & October are the best months to spot the Northern Lights.

Prices can be seasonal and you might be able to pick up a great holiday deal if you consider travelling slightly outside of these months.

The currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona.

Flying time from the UK is about three hours.

Local emergency numbers are:

Ambulance - 112

Local Police - 112

National Police - 112

Coastguard - 112