Things To Do
Why we chose these things
Hello and welcome to our favorite things to do on the south and west coasts of Iceland! Iceland is amazing, and we could post "things to do" all day long. We focused on the south and west coasts because our pre-wedding brunch and private horse show on Tuesday will be at Fridheimer farm in the Golden Circle in the South, and our wedding is in Budir which is in the Snaefellsness Peninsula in the West. Make your trip your own, but if you want to focus your adventures around our wedding events, spend time in the south leading up to Tuesday, and time in Snaefellsness after the wedding. Welcome to Iceland!
Blue Lagoon
For geothermal spas this place is world renowned for a reason. Here you can swim up to the bar, get facials, enjoy the incredibly blue water. If you think this may be your only trip to Iceland, we recommend it. It's near the Keflavik airport so many people go immediately after their flight. It may also be paired with a 1/2 day in Reykjavik or a trip for lunch in Grindavik (if it's back open after the volcano eruption). It's also convenient to the Golden Circle. RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST.
Laugarvatn Fontana
The Fontana Spa is in the Golden Circle area. In addition to the lake for a cold plunge there are geothermal baths and a true Finnish style sauna. Also at this location, you can get a demonstration of Lava bread - baked right on the premises under the ground in the geothermal lava sand, you can actually help dig it up, and eat it with smoked fish caught right in the lake. We stayed near here on our last trip and hope to go back to enjoy the spa! It's a good half day event paired with touring the Golden Circle. This is a very local spa venue, peaceful and quiet.
Sky Lagoon
Right outside of Reykjavik city center is Sky Lagoon. It's new to us but our friends say it's beautiful. If you're staying a few nights in Reykjavik, take in the harbour views from Sky Lagoon while enjoying a full service geothermal spa. Stunning. It's on our short list!
Reykjavík
Explore our modern, Nordic city, Reykjavik. Here are some must dos. Take the elevator up the tower in one of the most iconic churches in the world, Hallgrimskirkja - views are incredible. Walk down to the iconic Sun Voyager sculpture. Visit one of Reykjavik's museums like the Settlement which explores ancient ruins below the city or the National Museum of Iceland for a plethora of historical artifacts and to learn the story of Iceland. Shop and get a warm beverage on Laugavegur street. Stroll up Skolavordustigur, Reykavik's iconic rainbow street. Reykjavik is a great place for foodies, one of our family faviorites is Kol! Note, tipping is optional in Iceland...but always appreciated.
Ring Road between Selfoss and Vik
Take your time between Selfoss and Vik, there is so much to see. First, the amazing waterfalls: Seljalandsfoss where you can hike behind the waterfall. Skogafoss, one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland, there's a beautiful hike with more falls for those willing to climb the stairs to the top. Along the way, you will see Icelandic horses, sheep, and a sod house on the left where a farmer is so kind to build stairs over his fence so you can take a peak inside. As you near Vik, pull off to the right to see the natural arches of Dyrholaey and a stunning aerial view of Black Sand Beach. Next drive around to the entry of Black Sand Beach, climb the cliffs, and see the stone trolls in the water. PRO TIP: Black Sand Beach is best explored near Low Tide. This drive takes about a half day, so once you finish up at the beach, head into Vik for some fish and chips.
Fjaðrárgljúfur
The drive from Vik to Fjaðrárgljúfur is about an hour. Once you arrive at Fjaðrárgljúfur take plenty of time to hike and explore. This would be a great place for a picnic. Make sure your phone is charged ~ you will want to take a lot of pictures. This is literally one of our favorite spots in Iceland! Between Vik and Fjaðrárgljúfur are the Lava Fields ~ not hot lava, but petrified lava. There are some overlooks as well as places to hike. Take your time. It's other-wordly. Vik to Fjaðrárgljúfur and the Lava Fields, in between, is about another half-day. If you're staying near Selfoss, it is possible to do the road to Vik and the road to Fjaðrárgljúfur in one day.
The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is an easy drive from Reykjavik or Selfoss. The main attractions are the Kerid crater, Geysir which is exactly how it sounds - a geyser, Gulfoss which is like the Niagra Falls of Iceland, and Thingvellir National Park which has ancient historical as well as geological significance as this is one of the places where the tectonic plats merge. This could be paired with Blue Lagoon or Fontana Wellness Spa.
Snaefellsness Peninsula
In the middle West Coast of Iceland is the Sanefellsness Peninsula. This is where Budir church is ~ the site of our wedding! Snaefellsness is sometimes called "Little Iceland" as it has a bit of everything. One of the landmarks of Snaefellsness is Kirkufell Mountain, which we sometimes call the Candyland Mountain. It is shaped as if it were made of meringue. Fun fact for Game Of Thrones Fans: The jaw-dropping Kirjufell mountain and the nearby Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall are perhaps the most photographed landscapes in Iceland. Located on the Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland, it's known as Arrowhead Mountain in Game of Thrones - one of the landmarks beyond The Wall. It is also the birthplace of the Night King, and you can spot Kirkjufell in Season 6 when Bran meets the Night King and his army. We look forward to welcoming you to Budir church and Budir Hotel for our wedding and reception. See you there, but while in Snaefellsnes, please make the most of it!