Iceland! The land of ice and fire……

It’s true, although spectacularly snow covered from November – March, you are also able to enjoy incredible natural hot springs and geo thermal pools reaching temperatures of 44 degrees C on this unique island!

After years of buying, my significant other and I have now decided to swap Christmas gifts for a travel experience.  Booking now, for a first quarter mini break to Iceland, is the perfect timescale, maximising your chances of experiencing the Northern Lights whilst there too! Here are our pointers…. we can’t recommend it enough!

Reykjavik is the perfect quirky, stylish, arty, compact, independent, cosy, clean, interesting, scenic place to base yourself.  Over 90% of Iceland’s population live in or around the capital, so this is where it’s at!

We stayed just off Laugavegur at Centerhotel Thingholt, a super cosy, funky (as seems to be the general theme here) hostelry. The location was absolutely spot on, right in the centre. The service, breakfast and accommodation equally pleasing.

We pounded the streets in practical footwear and thermal layers, enjoying inviting coffee and gin bars at every turn with occasional Nordic interior and accessory shops to boot. Joy. Period.  

From the modern Hallgrímskirkja church elevated above Reykjavik down to the Miðbakki old harbour and Harpa Concert Hall , the whole town is accessible on foot.

We ate at the Island’s oldest seafood restaurant Kaffivagninn, offering delicious, traditional fayre in basic surroundings overlooking the water and also at Sumac at the other end of the foody spectrum where we enjoyed a fusion of Moroccan and Lebanese cuisine in the most uber cool surroundings also dipping into everything in between over our 3 night stay. Rok offers an irresistible sharing platter menu alongside Moet Happy Hour(s) from 4pm-7pm, this chilled champagne served with Icelandic Liquorice and Melon!  It’s a thing! And we approve..….. Finally, Burro served up the best tapas (not a gambas pil pil or Potatas Bravas in site) followed by ‘grown up’ dancing upstairs in the quirky Pablo Disco Bar!

The foodie scene is such we couldn’t tear away to head out of the city for an evening on the promise of ‘possibly’ catching the Northern Lights, and hey, we need an excuse to go back.  We did however hire a jeep and driver to do the essential Golden Circle Tour and visited the Blue Lagoon both are a MUST! 

And I’m sure we saw Bjork across the bar on the last night……

We flew with Icelandair

https://www.icelandair.com/