Iceland – What to Do List

Iceland is for sure a bucket list country with plenty to do for everyone, one that I hadn’t thought much of but now I’ve been I will 100% be making repeated visits over the years.  My visit to Iceland was an 18^th birthday present that got postponed 2 years (thank you covid!) and the main reason for going was to see some Whales in the wild but we made sure to pack a whole lot else in over the week.

Starting off with our main reason for visiting… Iceland is a very popular country for Whale watching and something that was high up on my bucket list however it’s never guaranteed. Unfortunately this was the case for us as we went just outside of season so didn’t get to see any whales up close and had a very stormy boat trip.  The best time to see Whales in Iceland is between April and September and there are plenty of great Whale watching companies around the coast.  I have linked below the specific company we used in Reykjavik, they were great at keeping spirits up on a rocky day and I can guarantee they’d have an even better atmosphere on successful Whale spotting days.  They also give out free tickets if you don’t get the chance to see any whales on your visit.

Rest assured though, if you don’t manage to see whales in real life or don’t fancy a trip out on the water, Iceland also has a great selection of Whale museums.  We visited ‘Whales Of Iceland’ and it included headphones with a guided tour of the exhibits, life size sculptures of the mammals and a short educational film at the end.

A great way to explore as much of Iceland as possible is on a bus tour.  There are plenty available, most starting from the city centre Reykjavik and then giving you an immersive experience into the Icelandic nature and culture.  Our bus tour was split in two; on the first evening we drove to the Northern lights and had the most gorgeous views, lucky for us it was one of the most visible nights they’d had in months but it isn’t quite what you’d expect.  The lights are only slightly visible to the naked eye but as soon as you use a phone or camera, it becomes a whole new sky and is quite the spectacle.

On our second day of the tour, we drove out of the cities and towns of Iceland and into what felt like the middle of nowhere.  We visited some incredible landscapes, beautiful waterfalls and the world famous Geysers!  Standing in the Baltic weather was worth it to visit each of the individually spectacular stops.

Finally, probably the most well known and visited attraction in Iceland, The Blue Lagoon.  It truly was the most relaxing day and I could not recommend it enough.  We opted for the premium package which included a dressing gown, slippers, 3 face masks of your choice, a drink of your choice from the bar and use of a towel.  Having the extra items such as the gown and slippers were a god send if you’re planning to enter the water through the outdoor entrance but the general package does provide everything you need too.  The general package includes entrance to the lagoon, a towel, one silica mud mask and one drink.  Not only is it perfect for zoning into relaxation mode, it’s also the perfect place for a quick photo shoot!