Getting ready for a trip to Iceland
Northern Lights! At least that is what most folks think of when they think of Iceland. We traveled to Iceland in March of 2023 to experience the Northern Lights and so much more.
A few tips to set your trip to Iceland up for success:
Book your flights...but maybe not too in advance.
We booked our tickets less than a month (22 days) in advance of the trip and we got a decent deal. We booked directly on SAS for $700 roundtrip from San Francisco to Reykjavik with a ~3 hour layover in Copenhagen ( there weren't any direct flights with that kind of pricing ).
Book a car in advance.
We used Europcar and it worked out pretty well! We drove ourselves around the country and it was very easy. The roads are great, clear signs, and the roundabouts take a little getting used to but are pretty easy once you get a few rounds in.
Figure out where you want to stay.
We stayed in Reykjavik in an Airbnb which had a great location but was snug for 4 adults and 1 kid. It was three stories (including basement) with narrow stairs so that was tough for the youngest and oldest of our group. We went with this since it was pretty tough finding a place with more than one bathroom. The hosts were fantastic and the place had everything we needed. The location was amazing! Close to wonderful coffee and fresh pastries as well as sightseeing in the city. Highly recommend this spot if it makes sense for your group!
Staying in Reykjavik worked well for us as it was our home base for the trip. We would do day trips out and always return here. We would have liked to stay in other parts of the country to explore but most roads are closed during this time of year due to icy conditions.
Bookmark these cafes in Reykjavik
Braud & Co - the pastries here are AMAZING! Go early in the morning, like 6:30 in the morning to get the fresh, just out of the oven, pastries. They've got the classics (croissants) as well as local delights.
Sandholt - the breakfast here is lovely! Such great options for vegetarian and non-vegetarians as well as a great display of pastries to select from. Their coffee here is wonderful as well, creamy deliciousness. Get here early as there is usually a wait.
Reykjavik Roasters - not much of a food stop but the coffee was delicious! Great variety - something for everyone!
Stock up on gear.
March in Iceland is really cold. We did some shopping at our local REI before the trip and stocked up on some essential gear that made it possible to enjoy the outdoors and stay cozy.
Wool...everything. We're fans of Icebreaker but it can also be a bank breaker. REI sometimes has sales but Smartwool and other brands will do fine. We found that having wool layers, especially tops, bottoms and socks, helped keep us warm and not sweaty under layers. My outfit generally consisted of an underlayer (wool top and cotton tights), a middle layer (sweater), and an outerlayer (waterproof jacket & pants). I usually had one pair of socks but there were a couple of nights were I needed two pairs. Gloves were essential and so was a beanie (I wore two because my head tends to get cold fast). I could see a scarf being useful to keep your face warm but I tend to find that uncomfortable.
I used Sorel waterproof boots which felt like a lot on the plane but I was very grateful for when in Iceland. They are very comfortable shoes and kept my feet warm and dry.
I used the Patagonia rain jacket which did a good job keeping me and my layers underneath dry as well.
We didn't do much hiking so we didn't carry any day packs with us. With this time of year, car trips made the most sense and what we saw most folks doing.
Alright, next up will be a Top Things to See and Do in Iceland!
