by Azarya Mukhi
When you hear “Iceland,” many people think it’s just a county of ice but this could not be less accurate. There is plenty to see and do within Reykjavik to enjoy the country’s natural beauty. Reykjavik is the largest city of Iceland and the hottest it gets there is about 50 degrees. On top of that the sun only sets in this country for about six hours, setting around midnight and rising at 6 a.m. If you are looking for an exotic and stunning city, Reykjavik is the place to be.
What To Do
Although Reykjavik is Iceland’s largest city, there is not much to do within the city itself besides basic boutique shopping and little cafés. To witness the beauty Iceland has to offer, you have to drive out of the city and into the outskirts of the country. Rent a car and enjoy the most beautiful scenery on a traffic-free road trip filled with mountains, horses, waterfalls at every corner and an unlimited amount of greenery. A must-see is the black sand beach, also known as Reynisfjara, the famous Blue Lagoon and Gullfoss Waterfalls. A fun family activity that you can also do is go whale watching. Iceland is surrounded with many whales and you are almost guaranteed to see one up close on a tours. Just enjoy the freezing cold wind while you keep your eye out for some incredible whale sightings. Other activities that are popular include glacier hiking and horse riding.
Where To Eat
Reykjavik has some incredible boutique cafés that serve Icelandic specialties such as their meat soup as well as their famous fish and chips. They aren’t big on five-star restaurants but you will definitely be satisfied by their little cafés and waffle trucks all around the city. Ironically, they serve incredible Italian food at almost every corner and some incredible hot risotto will help warm you up. Ítalía Veitingahús, a cozy little Italian place in central Reykjavik, is a must.
Where To Stay
Despite being a gorgeous country, Iceland doesn’t believe in luxury shopping or hotels, thus all their shops and hotels are boutiques. Even the biggest and most expensive room is small compared to what we would be used to here in the United States. It is an expensive country with the standard price for a room at $150 and while that doesn’t seem too expensive, the size of your room would probably be the size of a shoebox. Try AirBnb for some more affordable options and the experience to get to know some locals.
