Iceland was never a country that I considered as a desirable travel destination. In fact, like many others, it never even crossed my radar. All that changed one fateful day when I was looking at flights to Europe and came across the Icelandair website.
A plane flight to Europe with a free stop of seven days or less in Iceland?! As I came to the word free, my heart stopped. It sounded too good to be true!
Then I started wondering: What is this Iceland place all about? I was soon to find out, as I began the 7-day, 832-mile journey to circle the island following the so-called Ring Road.
Day 1: Reykjavik
When I first started researching Iceland, I read repeatedly about the comparative low population density and remoteness of the country. Thus, I pictured the capitol city, Reykjavik, as merely a small bunch of pretty houses on a green slope above the ocean. That couldn’t have been farther from the truth! Reykjavik is a thriving metropolis. Truthfully, it’s not nearly as big as most European capitols, but it was definitely more than just a little fishing village.
Downtown Reykjavik is full of many little shops and cafes, and the streets are alive with people going about their daily business. As I explored, I was able to appreciate the particularly striking paint choices used on many of Reykjavik’s buildings and houses.
Day 2: Detour to the Golden Circle
One day in the city was plenty enough for me. The real reason people come to visit Iceland is for the beautiful natural landscapes, and the most famous of these is the Golden Circle. The Golden Circle is a route that encompasses three of Iceland’s major attractions: Gulfoss waterfall, the geothermal area containing Geysir and Strokkur, and Þingvellir National Park.
As much as I dislike organized tour groups, I decided to make an exception and join a 7-hour tour of the Golden Circle. I wasn’t disappointed! The beautiful waterfalls, geysers, glaciers, and mountains I glimpsed only whet my appetite to see more of this unique and amazing country.
Day 3: Reykjavik to Hrisey Island
After experiencing the city life of Reykjavik and the beautiful (though slightly touristy) Golden Circle, I was ready to see another side of Iceland. I wanted to see how Icelanders outside of Reykjavik live. So what better place than a remote island off the northern coast? Thus entered Hrisey Island.
The road north from Reykjavik is stunning to say the least. Breathtaking fjords and mountains marked the way to my final destination. At this point, I was coming to realize that seven days was not going to be nearly enough to see this country. I was left longing to stop and explore, but couldn’t due to time restrictions.
Day 4: Hrisey Island
Quaint and idyllic, Hrisey Island sits a ferry boat ride and a half hour’s drive away from Iceland’s second biggest city, Akureyri. There are few things in my life that I can truly say took my breath away, but Hrisey Island was one of them.
Situated in a fjord and surrounded by snow-capped mountains on both sides, the green grassy slopes of Hrisey Island strike an amazing contrast. The total population of the island is around 150 people, mostly fishermen and mussel farmers. The one grocery store on the island has a total of less than 5 shelves and is open only from 3:00 – 6:00 PM daily.
That night, as I watched the Aurora Borealis from a meadow, I sighed….peace at last.
Stay tuned for more adventures from this island nation…in Around Iceland’s Ring Road in 7 Days (Part Two)!
September 26, 2012 at 9:26 pm
I guess I never thought much about Iceland either! Tell me more about how you traveled around the island — are the roads in good shape? unbearably curvy if you’re susceptible to motion sickness from the back seat of the bus? How long did it take to drive to Akureyri? How long was the ferry ride to Hrisey? Do many tourists go out there?
September 27, 2012 at 6:18 am
The Ring Road is in good shape – but it’s pretty much the only good paved road in all of Iceland. Most of the other roads are unpaved and unaccessible in wintertime. I didn’t have a problem with motion sickness (and I usually do in most places!).
Akureyri is only about a 5 or 6-hour drive from Reykjavik, and the ferry ride to Hrisey was only less than 10 minutes. I think there are some tourists who do day trips out to the island, but I didn’t see many. Maybe there are more in summer? I walked out to the northern part of the island and didn’t see a soul for 2 hours.
September 27, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Hannah, you have a fine eye for composition, both in the written word and with a camera.
October 1, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Thank you for the compliment
September 30, 2012 at 6:47 pm
Did you hire a car to get around? How expensive is Iceland? I remember a friend going for a long weekend from London and balking at the fact a beer in a bar cost US$25!
October 1, 2012 at 2:20 pm
Iceland is pretty expensive, as you say. Renting a car by myself was too expensive so I carpooled with some other people most of the way. It is possible to go on a budget, however, if you try hard enough and don’t mind eating sandwiches & crackers all the time.
Also, Couch Surfing in Iceland is possible (particularly in Reykjavik), but make sure you make requests WAY ahead of time. I waited until one week before my trip, so only was able to Couch Surf for 3 of the 7 nights I was there.
October 4, 2012 at 12:32 am
Iceland looks amazing, I’d never thought about Iceland either but after reading your post I would love to go there. Amazing photos as well
October 4, 2012 at 11:55 am
I definitely think that Iceland should be on more people’s to-go lists. And it’s not that hard to get to anymore, especially if you’re headed to Europe anyway.
It seems that people are just now starting to realize how amazing Iceland is; the number of tourists visiting Iceland each year is steadily on the rise. So my advice would be to go now while it’s still a relatively less-traveled destination!
October 6, 2012 at 12:38 pm
I took advantage of this option from Icelandair back in 1998 when I did my two month Europe trip, but it was only 3 days back then. It’s an amazing place, one that had always stuck with me through all my travels.
October 10, 2012 at 9:44 am
I didn’t even realize that the Icelandair deal has been going for so many years! Thank God that they’ve increased the time allowance to 7 days. I think it’d be hard to see much of anything in only 3 days!
October 7, 2012 at 1:32 pm
This looks spectacular, Hannah! One of these days I would love to visit Iceland too. There’s something so pristine about these places and you’ve done a great job at distilling its essence.
October 10, 2012 at 9:40 am
Thanks, Charu! Iceland does feel very pristine – especially when you consider that the population of the whole country is just over 300,000 people!