By Anna-Kate Ladbrook.

For my masters I had the opportunity to go on a short study abroad to Germany in May, and as my summer break started after the trip ended I decided to make the most of my fist trip to Europe by stopping over in Iceland for a week. As my Dad didn’t want me traveling on my own in Iceland, he met me in Reykjavik so we could go exploring together (plus he really wanted to explore Iceland too). We have a family friend who lives in Iceland so we were able to stay at their holiday house just outside the city – and did day trips every day. Because of this we only explored the Southern and Western region, but would love to go back and explore more another time. Because there’s so much to say about the places we went, I’ll limit this post to Reykjavik and Waterfalls … and talk about other things in a later post.

Reykjavik:

Reykjavik is a fun town to walk around, there a a varietiy of museums and attractions for you to enjoy. The 4D roller coaster ride is a great way to start your trip at FlyoverIceland – which takes you all across Iceland to see the beautiful views, all while still in Reykjavik! It will definitely get you excited for the rest of your trip. This museum is in town so its a great first stop after you land.

We visited the giant cathedral, Hallgrímskirkja, which has a strikingly brutal aesthetic, inside and out, and is in stark contrast to the elegant cathedrals I’ve visited in mainland Europe. Still, it seems appropriate for the conditions, where it was very windy, rainy, and relatively cold on the day that we visited. It’s 74.5m (244ft) tall, making it the second tallest structure in the country (the tallest is apparently Smáratorg Tower according to a quick Google search).

The blue lagon: This is the most famous, relaxing hot pools … but is something we did not have time for on our trip, and I regret not going! I would absolutely recommend this for the end of your trip, as a relaxing way to end your trip after all the hiking and road tripping. It will definately be on my itinerary for the next trip.

Bonus- Go to some of the thrift stores in town! There are the iconic Icelandic sweaters that are very expensive, but I was able to find one at the thrift store that was a third of the price of a new one. This is also a great place to stop if you need to get some light layers while traveling, I realized I didn’t have a good ‘medium’ jacket on my trip so I bought one at the thrift store and it is still use it to this day!

Waterfalls:

Iceland has the most amazing waterfalls, and I have seen some really beautiful ones in New Zealand and North Carolina. These are the ones that I liked the best:

Seljalandsfoss: A short drive from Reykjavik and truly magical. You can walk behind the falls and, if you’re up for it, hike all the way to the top. In May, we had the place almost to ourselves — it felt like stepping into a fairy tale. Wear your rain jacket if you venture behind the falls; the wind can whip the spray right at you. In the busy summer season, I understand that you need to arrive early in the morning to avoid the crowds (and delays). The waterfall is about 60m high (200ft).

Skógafoss: If you’ve seen The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, you’ll recognize it instantly. Photos can’t capture its sheer size—you’ll feel like an ant standing at its base … it’s 60m high (197ft), and 25m wide (82ft). The waterfall is known for its power and beauty, and it’s my Dad’s favorite waterfall (my second favorite). If you don’t love crowds, go early or outside peak season. There’s camping just 500m away if you’re road-tripping by camper van.

Gullfoss: Many people consider this ‘Golden Waterfall’ waterfall one of the most beautiful in Iceland. The water cascades down in two stages, one 11m (36ft) high, and the other 21m (69ft), into the 2.5km (1.6mi) long crevasse below. In the summer, with glacier melt, the average flow is around 140 cubic meters per second (4,943 cubic feet per second) – and has so much power … there was a perpetual rainbow over the falls which gave it a mystical appearance.

Brúarfoss: This is a relatively small waterfall that features stunning bright blue and turquoise colours, and an unique shape … where the water falls into a chasm in the center of the river. It’s a few miles to hike in from the main road, or you can drive most of the way on a nearby gravel road – and have a short walk to the waterfall (we were tired, from a long day, so drove in as far as we could).

Öxarárfoss: This waterfall is in the Thingvellir National Park, an iconic location where two tectonic plates meet – you can literally walk between the North American and Eurasian Continents. The Iceland parliament met nearby from 930 AD to 1798. The waterfall drops over one of the 13m (43ft) tectonic edges, and is very photogenic.

Anna-Kate’s Recommendation: Get up early so that you can avoid the crowds at popular waterfalls. It’s light for most of the day in summer, so make sure you go to bed at a ‘normal’ time (long before it gets dark). Also, it’s a great idea to go on a Dad-Daughter trip!!

Travel Tips: Budget wisely – Food and petrol are pricey, so pack snacks like granola bars and stock up at supermarkets. Dress in layers – Iceland lives up to its name, so wear easy-to-shed layers for when you’re hopping in and out of the car. Have a rain jacket with you always – even if it’s sunny, the wind and spray will find you. Car insurance is worth it – Iceland’s winds are no joke … on our trip, a piece of the windshield trim literally blew off… in May.