As part of my 30th birthday celebrations, I took a superb trip to Iceland. We arrived on Thursday afternoon and left early on Monday morning and made the most of every last minute. If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, keep reading to see my recommendations on accommodation, activities, what to pack and where to eat.

Accommodation

We stay in Hotel Natura, close to the BSI bus station and Reykjavik domestic airport. It was approx. 25-30 minutes to walk to the city centre. The time to the airport is approx 45 minutes. I would recommend taking a bus as a taxi will set you back approx €200. We took Fly Bus Plus from the airport for €30 each and a kind American family gave us a lift back to the airport in their rental car because we missed our bus – oops!

Activities

Iceland is packed with exciting places to see and visit and we chose to visit The Golden Circle and the south coast, which are two very different tours. On a tour of The Golden Circle we saw active geysers and a stunning waterfall and walked between the American and the Eurasian Tectonic Plates. On the other hand, while visiting the south coast, we visited more stunning waterfalls (but not as large as one on The Golden Circle), we walked along Black Beach, and we hiked a glacier which was a super cool experience.

In addition, we took a Northern Lights tour on one of the nights. We were due to see them on our first night but the tour got cancelled because of weather conditions and we easily got rebooked to another night at no extra charge. It is recommended to book your Northern Lights tour as early in the trip as possible to account for any cancellations.

If you have time, spend a couple of hours at the Perlan museum. It is interactive and you can make your way around at your own pace. This place will teach you lots about the volcanoes and glaciers of Iceland, as well as the Aurora borealis and much more. There is a cafe and viewing deck on the upper floors for when you’re finished. There were different price offerings available and we chose the most expensive for full access and we have no regrets. It even includes a tour through an indoor glacier!

Packing

We flew with Iceland Air and our package included one small bag, one hand luggage and one checked bag. While you will probably pack less items than you would for a sun holiday, what you do pack is much more bulky for a trip to Iceland, compared to a sun holiday.

Comfort and warmth are the two main criteria to think about when packing. We lived in leggings, thermal tops and jumpers, and depending on the activity, we wore either runners or snow/hiking boots. If you have ever been skiing, it will be very similar clothes you’ll pack. A warm and waterproof coat is essential, and if purchasing new, go a size up so it comfortably will fit all of your layers underneath. A hat, scarf and gloves are also essential, especially if you plan to go out at night chasing the Aurora borealis. I would recommend packing fluffy pyjamas and socks for comfort when you’re back in your room, but be assured everywhere is well heated inside from all of the geothermal energy.

The water in Iceland is delicious to drink so I recommend packing a reusable water bottle. There are lots of refill stations to keep you hydrated.

Eating

Breakfast was included in our hotel booking and we made maximum use of this by making our packed lunch at the buffet every morning. The hotel didn’t seem to mind, however we did hear of other hotels that charged a small fee for taking lunch supplies from the breakfast buffet. Food and drink in Iceland is comparable to Dublin so if you can stock up at the breakfast buffet absolutely do so!

Each evening, we enjoyed dinner out and a glass (or few) of wine. Here are some of my recommendations:

Hlemmur: Many options under one roof

Ban Thai: Delicious Thai food

Brauð & Co: Tasty cinnamon buns

Valdís: Yummy ice cream

Umami: Fantastic sushi

All in all, a fantastic trip that I would 100% recommend.