Steal My Iceland Itinerary
My second-ever international solo trip was a Memorial Day weekend getaway to Iceland. Why? Because the flight was $400 roundtrip! That’s it. I didn’t know much about Iceland before I went. But I was itching to stretch my solo travel legs.
I read it was safe for solo female travelers (I agree!) and the Blue Lagoon is of course iconic. But this wasn’t a “bucket list, I’m-dying-to-go” type trip for me. However, I truly fell in love with Iceland, which is kind of wild to me because I hate the cold weather.
The nature in Iceland is unmatched, the air is so fresh, and the tap water is the absolute best water I’ve ever drank or bathed in. Period. The entire trip was such a pleasant departure from my normal day-to-day hustle.
Since then I have been on a mission to get everyone to Iceland! So here are the details of my solo Iceland trip! And if you have a little less time, both Play Airline and Icelandic Air have stopover programs. I took advantage of this program on my way home from Paris and spent an extended overnight in Iceland as well. You can see my 24-hour Iceland itinerary here!
Both times I’ve gone were during the summer so that significantly changes the trip. The summer brings milder temperatures, more tourists, and up to 24 hours of sunlight during it’s peak. However, all this sunlight does make the summer the off-season for the Northern Lights. You’ll have to brave the cold months of October-March for that.
Accommodations:
Centerhotel Skjaldbreid:
Centerhotel is a local chain of boutiquey hotels and I chose this one because of the location and cost. The location of this hotel was perfect. Walking distance to all the Reyvavik tourist attractions, bars, and restaurants. And it was on a road blocked to traffic making exploring the city on foot even easier. The rooms range from $150-$300 a night depending on room type and season. I paid around $150 per night two months out from my trip. It was a comfortable, clean, basic stay. I tend to go for something more bougie, but this was just fine for one person for a short stay.
Book here: https://www.centerhotels.com/en/hotel-skjaldbreid-reykjavik
Eat:
My Michelin guide meal at Sumac
Sumac:
This is my current favorite restaurant in the world. I often daydream about taking a weekend trip just to eat here and lounge in a lagoon. I just so happened to see the restaurant while I was walking around and saw the Michelin sign. Having never been to a Michelin restaurant at that point, I immediately looked at the menu and booked for the next evening. Shout out to being a solo diner! It was plenty busy but the wait staff took good care of me. It is a Mediterranean restaurant and everything was bursting with flavor. Michelin definitely got this one right! This was the official start of my fine dining journey because I loved it here so much.
Reservations here.
Lava:
This was another excellent fine-dining restaurant. It’s one of the two fine dining restaurants at The Blue Lagoon and it serves up modern Scandinavian cuisine. The views of the lagoon and upscale atmosphere were really to die for. And I thoroughly enjoyed eating in my robe. My favorite courses were the langoustine soup and sorbet. And of course, champagne to wash it all down.
Reservations here.
Reykjavik Fish:
I tried arctic char for the first time in Iceland. It’s a cousin of salmon but less flavorful to me. It was a hearty meal, good for eating after walking around fighting jet lag. I’d eat here again but try something else.
Icelandic Street Food:
I wasn’t planning on eating here, but it was one of the closest restaurants open after 10. I had fish and chips and sat outside enjoying the evening sunshine. Nothing to write home about here. Again, I’d give it another chance if I was looking for something more casual but I’d try something else.
Valdi’s:
For some reason, Icelanders are obsessed with ice cream. And that works for me! I got a scoop of dairy-free ice cream while I walked around. (Very American of me, I know!) Two thumbs up.
Braud and Co.:
I wanted to get a cinnamon bun, but I slept in that morning and only cardamon was left. It was still an excellent choice. I sat down to eat outside this time to take in the great weather before walking around again.
Experiences:
The Sauna At Sky Lagoon in Iceland
The Blue Lagoon:
When you think of Iceland, you probably think of this iconic world wonder. And it’s a must-see for everyone in Iceland. I had a truly fantastic time here. I soaked, ate lunch, and soaked some more. I’m usually an on-time person, but I almost missed my bus because I did not want to leave. It’s just something about lounging around in a heated lagoon, drinking green juice and champagne that does it for me. I ended up speaking to some locals, some other solo travelers, and even a sorority sister! And yes… the water is really that blue.
Booking here.
Sky Lagoon:
Sky Lagoon is the new kid on the block in terms of tourist lagoons. It’s a different experience from the Blue Lagoon but just as nice. The water here is clear and you have views of the surrounding harbor and mountains in the distance on a clear day. Also, you have a seven-step skincare routine you can partake in including a clod, plunge, sauna and more. Sky Lagoon also provides private changing rooms. Icelandic custom is that you shower naked before getting into the lagoon. The showers have stalls, but of course, the changing rooms give you a bit more privacy. I found it to be fine either way.
Booking here.
Wondering which lagoon is best? I wrote an entire blog comparing the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon.
Southern Iceland Tour:
This tour was when I truly fell in love with Iceland. The natural landscapes of Iceland are so otherworldly. And this tour was particularly amazing. I was between this Southern Iceland Tour and a geyser tour. I chose the Southern Iceland tour because it visited a waterfall you can walk behind. That is something I never in my life thought I’d do! I left feeling so alive at that moment like I hadn’t since COVID hit. It also made stops at a different waterfall, the iconic red church in Vik, a black sand beach, and a glacier. However, on my next trip, I'm going to try the geyser tour.
Artechouse:
This was underwhelming. I’ve been to other Artechouse locations and other immersive art installations and this was just… kind of boring. You can skip this. There are more entertaining things to do. Like my next experience.
The Icelandic Phallological Museum:
At first, I didn’t think this was a real place. It’s mindblowing to think that someone dedicated their life to collecting and displaying male genitalia from across the animal kingdom. It was a wild experience. It was casually located in a shopping district near an H&M in downtown Reykjavik. The museum originally started at the founder’s house and his wife (yes.. wife…) obviously made him move his collection of petrified animal dongs out of the living room. I learned way more than I ever needed to know about male reproductive anatomy and styles of coitus amongst our furry and not-so-furry animal friends. And if you’re “thinking I’d love to take my kids here”, they are welcome! I saw several children as young as 8 or 9 running around.
Hallgrímskirkja Tour:
When you think of Reykjavik, you might think of the famous church, Hallgrímskirkja. It is an absolutely stunning piece of architecture that pierces the Reykjavik sky. After I lit a candle I paid the few dollars to go to the top of the church. Totally worth it! You can see the city from multiple views on a clear day. At the top of each hour, the bells rang and that was cool to see (and hear). As this is a functioning church, check to see when it is open for tours versus in use for religious purposes.
Final Thoughts on Solo Travelling in Iceland
Overall, Iceland is my favorite solo destination to date. It feels very safe for solo travelers or anyone for that matter. It runs a bit on island time, but as an American on vacation, I could use a bit of a break from time rigidity. I have at least one more trip planned to Iceland but I see myself visiting the land of fire and ice many times in my life.
