Iceland in the Winter

Overview

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Iceland is a beautiful and pristine country. It is small enough that you can spend less than a week in the capital, and still get a sense of Icelandic culture. Yet it is so charming, that it is certainly a place that you could stay for longer. Iceland's chaotic tourist season is in the summer when there is 23 or so hours of daylight. In the winter, the sun rises at about 9 in the morning but you are able to observe a more quiet Iceland, and that is one I can appreciate.Quick Tips: Get to know the local culture by talking to the people that live there. Young Icelanders are very friendly and eager to engage in conversation. Best Way To Get Around: I was able to walk to most o...Read More

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Hotel Skjaldbreid

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Hotel

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Hotel Skjaldbreid is probably not the best hotel in all of Iceland but the location is what I most appreciated. Located on Laugavegur, it is on the main street of the shopping district, in which many coffee shops, restaurants and stores selling Icelandic sweaters were highly accessible. A five minute walk (up hill) could bring you to the majestic Hallgrimskirkja Church.I have read some other reviews of this hotel, and some people have commented on the noise coming from the bars and clubs. Perhaps, because I went in the winter, the club scene weaned, and I never found myself with a terrible night sleep. The room that I stayed in faced a bookstore.The room was on the small side, bu...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 1, 2007

Hotel Skjaldbreid
LAUGAVEG 16
Reykjavik, Iceland
354-511-6060

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Laekjarbrekka

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Restaurant

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I usually don't go to romantic restaurants, and on the rare occasion that I do go, I don't go by myself. However, I read a small review of Laekjarbrekka in my Iceland guidebook that touted the lobster feast, so I felt compelled to check it out.The lobster feast consisted of a cream of lobster soup with cognac (a better version of a lobster bisque), grilled lobster en croute, and a dessert involving icecream and a waffle. It was amazing.The ambiance of the restaurant would be romantic for any couple. There were candles lit at every table, and the wait staff was very attentive. The interior had a homey feeling. I remember a George Michael song playing in the background. With the ex...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on December 1, 2007

Laekjarbrekka
Bankastraeti 2
Reykjavik, Iceland 101
551-4430

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Reykjavík Art Museum

Attraction | "Reykjavik Art Museum"

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The Reykjavik Art Museum offers contemporary art by its locals, and has a permanent display of work by an Icelandic artist named Erro. Erro's art is striking. All of water color paintings are in bold, bright colors, and some have a very strong political message, anti-Bush, anti-capitalism, etc. The collection of his work was called "The Forgotten Future." Much of his work was sort of "comicky" but it was definitely thought provoking, and gave me a more clear picture of what Europeans may think of the US and its political system and culture.The Erro exhibit was the only exhibit I saw at the time, I believe another room was under construction.The museum is open from 10am t...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 1, 2007

Reykjavík Art Museum
Tryggvagata 17
Reykjavik, Iceland
+354 590-1200

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Ishestar Riding Tours

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Attraction | "Ishestar"

Riding Instructors at Ishestar Stable Photo - Ishestar Riding Tours, Iceland, Europe

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For some reason, whenever I travel to a new place, I always feel like its never complete unless I am riding on top of some 4-legged animal. I only stayed in Iceland for 4 days, but I went horseback riding twice.Through Icelandair, I was able to pay for my excusions to horseback ride at Ishestar. What is great about going through Icelandair was that a bus would come to my hotel and pick me up, and then drop me off when the activity was done. It was very convenient.The first horseback riding tour was called the "Midwinter Madness Lava Horseback riding tour." It was on a Wednesday morning, and the total cost was $45.The second horseback riding tour, included an afternoon ho...Read More

For some reason, whenever I travel to a new place, I always feel like its never complete unless I am riding on top of some 4-legged animal. I only stayed in Iceland for 4 days, but I went horseback riding twice.

Through Icelandair, I was able to pay for my excusions to horseback ride at Ishestar. What is great about going through Icelandair was that a bus would come to my hotel and pick me up, and then drop me off when the activity was done. It was very convenient.

The first horseback riding tour was called the "Midwinter Madness Lava Horseback riding tour." It was on a Wednesday morning, and the total cost was $45.

The second horseback riding tour, included an afternoon horseback ride, and then a ride over and admission into the Blue Lagoon. The total cost was $109.

In this review, I will mostly be talking about the morning horseback ride because it was more memorable.

Riding a horse in the winter time is an interesting experience. My guide outfitted me in a big, evergreen jumpsuit, and I secretly thanked myself for bringing my hat, gloves, scarf, and heavy boots. It was snowing as we rode through the lava fields, but it was unforgettable. The lava fields looked like something you would see on Mars. With the first tour, I was fortunate enough that noone else signed up for the tour, so it was just me and two instructors. One of the instructors was just learning the ropes. I felt like we were in another world.

The name of my horse was Blackbeard. He still holds a soft spot in my heart. He had a very gentle and mellow personality.

There are about 70,000 horses in Iceland, and are believed to be brought to Iceland from Vikings. An interesting note: Once an Icelandic horse leaves Iceland, he can never return.

At one point, my guide directed to me to get off my horse, and walk fifty feet with his apprentice, to "a big hole." I can only surmise that it was a mini crater. It looked bottomless.

We rode for a good hour or so, and I quietly soaked in the scenery. As a New Yorker, I don't see lava fields very often. Horseback riding in Iceland was one of my favorite activities.

The website for Ishestar is www.ishestar.is

Ishestar offers tours year round. People can ride for one hour to a full day. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 1, 2007

Ishestar Riding Tours
Sorlaskeid 26
Hafnarfjördur, Europe IS-220
+354 555 7000

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Blue Lagoon (Geothermal Spa)

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Attraction | "Blue Lagoon"

Blue Lagoon Photo - Blue Lagoon (Geothermal Spa), Reykjavik, Iceland

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The Blue Lagoon is definitely a tourist attraction, but it is a tourist attraction that one must go to if ever in Iceland.I can imagine that going to the Blue Lagoon in the summer would be a different experience than going in the middle of February. While on the bus to the Blue Lagoon, I got shivers just thinking about putting on my bathingsuit.There is a building that you must enter in order to get to the blue lagoon. Inside is a souvenir shop where I picked up a magnet, and a cafe selling drinks,icecream and sandwiches.When you get to the Blue Lagoon, you must shower first. There are locker rooms that offer free soap and shampoo, and there is signage that interesting s...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on December 1, 2007

Blue Lagoon (Geothermal Spa)
Grindavik lava field, Reykjanes Peninsula
Reykjavik, Iceland

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Sundhollin Swimming Center

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Attraction

Sundhollin Photo - Sundhollin Swimming Center, Reykjavik, Iceland

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Swimming pools and hot pots are abundant in Iceland, and going to one of the city center swimming pools enables the tourist to get a taste of authentic local life. Many go to the hot pots after work to decompress.Three of the main swimming centers are Lugardalslaug, Sundhollin and Vesturbajarluaug.I went to the Sundhollin center on Baronsstigur because it was the most accessible from my hotel. It is a quick five minute walk, and it is located very close to the Hallgrimskirka Church. Going to one of the swimming centers is very affordable, the price is about 2 or so in US dollars. With that, you get a towel and a key for your locker. Similarly to the Blue Lagoon, you mus...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on December 2, 2007

Sundhollin Swimming Center
Baronsstigur, 101
Reykjavik, Iceland
+354 551-4059

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Ash Day in Iceland

Story/Tip

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Ash Wednesday aka Oskudagur is uniquely celebrated in Iceland.

Serendipitously, I was in Iceland on Oskudagur, and I found many adorable Icelandic children dressed in costume. It felt like Halloween!

I bumped into a group of Icelandic children with their mother, who explained the tradition of pining an "ash bag" furtively onto someone's clothing. She demonstrated by pining me with one. Unfortunately, I lost the ash bag but I got some great photos. The children were off to collect some candy from the local markets.

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