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Message
Iceland - Late March
Posted on 10/2/25 at 7:51 pm
Posted on 10/2/25 at 7:51 pm
Going to Iceland in late March and looking for some recommendations. Will be staying near the "rainbow street" and have a week there. Will be 3 or 4 of us in our group who enjoy the outdoors. Anyone have any trip/tour companies they have used and had a good experience with? Any food /bar recommendations for in Reykjavík? Anyone have experience renting a car, if so would you recommend it? Looking for any advice in general/Do's or Don'ts. TYIA.
8
Posted on 10/2/25 at 9:30 pm to lsutiger_2002
You’ll be staying very close to Lebowski bar.. you absolutely must go there.. pay $20 to spin the wheel… it’s worth it and that night was one of the funnest nights of my life.
Alot of Americans hung out there and they’re playing Bon Jovi/journey/80’s classic rock… spin the wheel.. you can win free shots or beers or … nothing… I’m a gambler and spun it twice and won nothing both times .. but people start cheering and it’s such a fun atmosphere .. 2 people won 10 beers a piece back to back and they’re all just handing beers to anyone who wanted them.. got absolutely hammered.. singing to all these classic rock tunes .. I think about that night often. I hope your crew is fortunate to have a similar night
Alot of Americans hung out there and they’re playing Bon Jovi/journey/80’s classic rock… spin the wheel.. you can win free shots or beers or … nothing… I’m a gambler and spun it twice and won nothing both times .. but people start cheering and it’s such a fun atmosphere .. 2 people won 10 beers a piece back to back and they’re all just handing beers to anyone who wanted them.. got absolutely hammered.. singing to all these classic rock tunes .. I think about that night often. I hope your crew is fortunate to have a similar night
Posted on 10/2/25 at 10:43 pm to Lawyered
quote:
Alot of Americans hung out there and they’re playing Bon Jovi/
Why would you want to hang out with a bunch of Americans in a foreign country? Find a bar where locals hang and maybe you'll get to talk to one of them or not. I will say the weather will be shite in March so be prepared.
Posted on 10/2/25 at 11:08 pm to lsutiger_2002
Here are my recs based on the 48 hours I spent in Iceland on my way back from Ireland this summer.
In Reykjavik, the most interesting place we ate at was Islenski Barinn. Their menu featured Hakarl (fermented Greenland shark) as well as puffin and reindeer. Definitely worth a visit.
We rented a jeep and got a lot of sightseeing done in a short amount of time. I’d recommend it over booking a tour. On the golden circle, our favorite sight was Thingvellir national park. Swimming in the secret lagoon was also fun.
We drove down to the black sand beaches in Vik and that was also worth the trip. There are multiple waterfalls along the way. If we had had more time we would have driven past Vik to the glacier lagoon and diamond beach.
In Reykjavik, the most interesting place we ate at was Islenski Barinn. Their menu featured Hakarl (fermented Greenland shark) as well as puffin and reindeer. Definitely worth a visit.
We rented a jeep and got a lot of sightseeing done in a short amount of time. I’d recommend it over booking a tour. On the golden circle, our favorite sight was Thingvellir national park. Swimming in the secret lagoon was also fun.
We drove down to the black sand beaches in Vik and that was also worth the trip. There are multiple waterfalls along the way. If we had had more time we would have driven past Vik to the glacier lagoon and diamond beach.
Posted on 10/3/25 at 9:14 am to lsutiger_2002
I just got back from Iceland about 2 weeks ago, stayed in Reykjavik a total of 3 days so here are my thoughts. You will likely be landing in the morning and if that is the case for the first day I would recommend the Icelandic Food Tour. It is the highest rated tour in Iceland and is a great way to get an introduction to the culinary scene. I was able to try to fermented shark on this tour (its disgusting) without having to buy it separately.
I also stayed near the rainbow road, Cafe Loki (which was a part of this tour) was a great place to eat. Just know that the average meal while eating out will normally between $40-$50. My one nice meal I had was at Grillmarkaðurinn. I had puffin, a whale steak and a normal steak here. The puffin was really good and the whale tasted like a seafood steak. I would recommend buying sandwiches for lunch to save money.
Make sure you do the Golden Circle one day, Gullfoss Waterfall, Kerið Crater, Geyser and other natural wonders are on it. The tour I did had a final stop on the Blue Lagoon for this day which was a great way to unwind from a long day of travel and hiking. I also did the Icelandic History museum to learn more about the country.
I think if you plan on 2 days in Reykjavik and the others outside of the city you will have an excellent trip. Everyone there speaks English and were very welcoming but there is a bit of that nordic temperament about the locals that didn't lend to random conversations like you would with Irish or British People.
I also stayed near the rainbow road, Cafe Loki (which was a part of this tour) was a great place to eat. Just know that the average meal while eating out will normally between $40-$50. My one nice meal I had was at Grillmarkaðurinn. I had puffin, a whale steak and a normal steak here. The puffin was really good and the whale tasted like a seafood steak. I would recommend buying sandwiches for lunch to save money.
Make sure you do the Golden Circle one day, Gullfoss Waterfall, Kerið Crater, Geyser and other natural wonders are on it. The tour I did had a final stop on the Blue Lagoon for this day which was a great way to unwind from a long day of travel and hiking. I also did the Icelandic History museum to learn more about the country.
I think if you plan on 2 days in Reykjavik and the others outside of the city you will have an excellent trip. Everyone there speaks English and were very welcoming but there is a bit of that nordic temperament about the locals that didn't lend to random conversations like you would with Irish or British People.
Posted on 10/3/25 at 9:39 am to lsutiger_2002
Posted on 10/4/25 at 10:51 am to lsutiger_2002
Was just there the first week of September. Really enjoyed it!
We stayed in the Hotel Borg.
It was the city’s first luxury hotel. A beautiful Art Deco Hotel in a quiet side street. Ideally placed for the bus stops you need if attending booked tours, the shops, bars, restaurants and Museums. Not cheap, but it's Iceland.
There are a number of great restaurants in this area. We dined once at Hresso. This place was recommended by our hotel. Easy to walk to and provided local hearty Icelandic fare! The fish and chips were particularly good.
We took the all day Golden Circle with Kerid Volcanic Crater Day Trip from Reykjavik tour. HIGHLIGHT of our week in Iceland. Well worth it. They pick you up and drop you off at multiple bus stations around the city.
Tour company that does other tours was Nice Travel Iceland. You can book your options if you want through Viator or Trip Advisor.
Do's!
Do LAYER UP! By March, Iceland is still in late winter: cold, windy, and often snowy. It gets rainy and cold in a moment's notice. Take WATERPROOF not WATER-RESISTANT coats. I did a waterfall hike one day in Seydisfjordur where it poured. SO glad I had my rain pants. Might not happen to you, but if it does, you're prepared.
Most of the waterfall trails are either paved or gravel paths. You don't always have to hike to the very top. BUT, if you want to, like the aforenoted one, you MUST have hiking shoes or boots with lugs on the outsole tread. I took my Salomon Ultraglide 2 GTX. Gortex. Good grip. Note: I took a pair of Allbirds for "walking around". Hiking boot/shoes get kind of clunky in urban settings.
BTW: I took my collapsable hiking sticks. Used them twice and damn glad I had them lest I die on some of those rocky trails.
Try the less "touristy" Sky Lagoon over the Blue Lagoon. Sky Lagoon is often preferred over the Blue Lagoon because it’s less touristy, closer to Reykjavík, and offers a dramatic oceanfront setting with a 7-step Icelandic bathing ritual. The Blue Lagoon is iconic and convenient near the airport, but it’s busier, pricier, and more commercialized.
You'll really want to try the local Gins and Vodkas. Nothing like it. Pro Tip: Buy your fill at the duty-free store at the airport on the way home!
Don'ts!
Money: Don't exchange large amounts of cash at the airport may result in less favorable rates. Carrying significant amounts of cash is unnecessary and could attract unwanted attention. Not all cards are accepted everywhere; Visa and Mastercard are generally accepted, while American Express may not always be.
Don't worry about the language. You'll never figure it out and everyone speaks English!
Don't worry about tipping. Not expected in Iceland. Service charges are included, and locals don’t tip. If you round up a bill, it’s appreciated but not required.
Don't sweat how damn expensive everything is there. You made the choice, so just roll with it. Find a reasonably priced hotel if you need to that offers breakfast included. Snack at lunch. Enjoy your main meal at night. Or make your main meal lunch and snack at night. Saves some money if you go to the local grocery stores.
It is an amazing country.
Selected Photos
We stayed in the Hotel Borg.
It was the city’s first luxury hotel. A beautiful Art Deco Hotel in a quiet side street. Ideally placed for the bus stops you need if attending booked tours, the shops, bars, restaurants and Museums. Not cheap, but it's Iceland.
There are a number of great restaurants in this area. We dined once at Hresso. This place was recommended by our hotel. Easy to walk to and provided local hearty Icelandic fare! The fish and chips were particularly good.
We took the all day Golden Circle with Kerid Volcanic Crater Day Trip from Reykjavik tour. HIGHLIGHT of our week in Iceland. Well worth it. They pick you up and drop you off at multiple bus stations around the city.
Tour company that does other tours was Nice Travel Iceland. You can book your options if you want through Viator or Trip Advisor.
Do's!
Do LAYER UP! By March, Iceland is still in late winter: cold, windy, and often snowy. It gets rainy and cold in a moment's notice. Take WATERPROOF not WATER-RESISTANT coats. I did a waterfall hike one day in Seydisfjordur where it poured. SO glad I had my rain pants. Might not happen to you, but if it does, you're prepared.
Most of the waterfall trails are either paved or gravel paths. You don't always have to hike to the very top. BUT, if you want to, like the aforenoted one, you MUST have hiking shoes or boots with lugs on the outsole tread. I took my Salomon Ultraglide 2 GTX. Gortex. Good grip. Note: I took a pair of Allbirds for "walking around". Hiking boot/shoes get kind of clunky in urban settings.
BTW: I took my collapsable hiking sticks. Used them twice and damn glad I had them lest I die on some of those rocky trails.
Try the less "touristy" Sky Lagoon over the Blue Lagoon. Sky Lagoon is often preferred over the Blue Lagoon because it’s less touristy, closer to Reykjavík, and offers a dramatic oceanfront setting with a 7-step Icelandic bathing ritual. The Blue Lagoon is iconic and convenient near the airport, but it’s busier, pricier, and more commercialized.
You'll really want to try the local Gins and Vodkas. Nothing like it. Pro Tip: Buy your fill at the duty-free store at the airport on the way home!
Don'ts!
Money: Don't exchange large amounts of cash at the airport may result in less favorable rates. Carrying significant amounts of cash is unnecessary and could attract unwanted attention. Not all cards are accepted everywhere; Visa and Mastercard are generally accepted, while American Express may not always be.
Don't worry about the language. You'll never figure it out and everyone speaks English!
Don't worry about tipping. Not expected in Iceland. Service charges are included, and locals don’t tip. If you round up a bill, it’s appreciated but not required.
Don't sweat how damn expensive everything is there. You made the choice, so just roll with it. Find a reasonably priced hotel if you need to that offers breakfast included. Snack at lunch. Enjoy your main meal at night. Or make your main meal lunch and snack at night. Saves some money if you go to the local grocery stores.
It is an amazing country.
Selected Photos
This post was edited on 10/4/25 at 1:40 pm
Posted on 10/4/25 at 1:38 pm to lsutiger_2002
Loved our trip to Iceland. Rent a car for sure. We drove the golden circle and did our own things on our own schedule. We drove by a bunch our Icelandic horses and stopped to look at them and they walked right up to us and let us pet them. Can’t do that on a bus tour. Our favorite days were just going for a drive, stopping in at random cafes for lunch and sightseeing.
I agree on avoiding Blue Lagoon. We went to Secret Lagoon and it was nice and low key.
We didn’t make it to diamond beach. That’s the only thing I feel like we missed out on.
I agree with the food tour. We went on one and downtown Reykjavík it was really good. Tried horse jerky and brown bread ice cream.
Go to the top of the church for a great view.
Enjoy the trip, it’s an amazing place!
I agree on avoiding Blue Lagoon. We went to Secret Lagoon and it was nice and low key.
We didn’t make it to diamond beach. That’s the only thing I feel like we missed out on.
I agree with the food tour. We went on one and downtown Reykjavík it was really good. Tried horse jerky and brown bread ice cream.
Go to the top of the church for a great view.
Enjoy the trip, it’s an amazing place!
Posted on 10/4/25 at 1:57 pm to Nigel Farage
quote:
I would recommend buying sandwiches for lunch to save money.
The lamb sandwiches you can buy at the gas stations are delicious.
Posted on 10/6/25 at 4:29 am to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
quote:
HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Amazing trip report
That is my review, Iceland deserves two trip on in the winter and one in the summer
Posted on 10/6/25 at 2:32 pm to GOP_Tiger
quote:quote:
I would recommend buying sandwiches for lunch to save money.
The lamb sandwiches you can buy at the gas stations are delicious.
We stayed at the Hilton and would go to the Nettó a block away each morning. We’d split a breakfast sandwich, buy a sandwich and some chips for lunch and head off down the road. Was a great time!
Posted on 10/7/25 at 9:37 pm to Nole Man
Great info. Thanks!
Posted on 10/9/25 at 11:41 am to lsutiger_2002
Try Sky Lagoon. My wife liked it more than Blue Lagoon.
We went to Efstidalur Restaurant on a Golden Circle tour and absolutely loved it.
We scheduled a tour straight from the airport because we arrived in Reykjavik at 6 a.m. and our Air B&B was not ready until 3 p.m. It was a good idea but we were exhausted when it was done.
edited to correct typo
We went to Efstidalur Restaurant on a Golden Circle tour and absolutely loved it.
We scheduled a tour straight from the airport because we arrived in Reykjavik at 6 a.m. and our Air B&B was not ready until 3 p.m. It was a good idea but we were exhausted when it was done.
edited to correct typo
This post was edited on 10/9/25 at 11:42 am
Posted on 10/9/25 at 3:02 pm to lsutiger_2002
Beware Horse is on the menu in some places.
What do you do if you get lost in an Icelandic forrest?
Stand up.
What do you do if you get lost in an Icelandic forrest?
Stand up.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 3:22 pm to travelgamer
quote:
Beware Horse is on the menu in some places.
It is and it's delicious.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 3:25 pm to GoCrazyAuburn
I will try almost anything once, this is one I passed on.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 3:30 pm to travelgamer
Posted on 10/9/25 at 3:35 pm to travelgamer
quote:
I will try almost anything once, this is one I passed on.
Shouldn't have, it is really good. Puffin was great as well. Can't remember the name of the restaurant right now, but one we went to in Reykjavík. Tasting menu of traditional Icelandic dishes. Horse is a really, really good meat and Icelandic horse is especially unique. Only horse in the world that is disease free. This is the horse dish they had:
ETA: Apotek was the name of the restaurant.
This post was edited on 10/9/25 at 3:56 pm
Posted on 10/9/25 at 3:42 pm to GoCrazyAuburn
be sure to vist
Posted on 10/9/25 at 4:12 pm to travelgamer
Penis museum was fun, nice you can drink throughout it too.
We did a bus tour around the whole island and it was a blast, our guide was great and the group we were with were all lots of fun and punctual, so that really helped
Really enjoyed the Myvatn nature bath. They have their own beer they brew with some of the volcanic water and stuff, it was really damn good. If the OP is mainly staying around Reykjavík, won't be a good option as it is on the opposite side of the island, but a good one for others if they are in that area.
The Wilderness Center is another place I recommend to anyone going. It is off the path a bit, but it was such a great stay for the night we stayed there. it is an old horse farm converted to a hotel, in a valley. Great spot to see the lights that time of year. They did a family style dinner for us and had an incredible breakfast the next morning. Absolutely loved it. Great people that run it, so try and give them some love when I can. Has its own hot spring and sauna as well.
We did a bus tour around the whole island and it was a blast, our guide was great and the group we were with were all lots of fun and punctual, so that really helped
Really enjoyed the Myvatn nature bath. They have their own beer they brew with some of the volcanic water and stuff, it was really damn good. If the OP is mainly staying around Reykjavík, won't be a good option as it is on the opposite side of the island, but a good one for others if they are in that area.
The Wilderness Center is another place I recommend to anyone going. It is off the path a bit, but it was such a great stay for the night we stayed there. it is an old horse farm converted to a hotel, in a valley. Great spot to see the lights that time of year. They did a family style dinner for us and had an incredible breakfast the next morning. Absolutely loved it. Great people that run it, so try and give them some love when I can. Has its own hot spring and sauna as well.
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