TRAVEL TIPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR TRIP TO ICELAND
Iceland Noir offers the chance to visit a country at the top of a many people's travel lists. Below you will find lots of information to help you get the most out of your time in Reykjavík. But no one should come to Iceland and just see the city. . .
The nature in the surrounding countryside is easily accessible and, with a little planning, you can be sure to experience the country's wild, natural beauty alongside the festival by taking a day trip.
Below, we've put together some information to help you make the most of your time in Iceland.
Iceland Noir offers the chance to visit a country at the top of a many people's travel lists. Below you will find lots of information to help you get the most out of your time in Reykjavík. But no one should come to Iceland and just see the city. . .
The nature in the surrounding countryside is easily accessible and, with a little planning, you can be sure to experience the country's wild, natural beauty alongside the festival by taking a day trip.
Below, we've put together some information to help you make the most of your time in Iceland.
Day and Evening Excursions
There are a huge variety of day trips by coach from Reykjavík that run in Iceland in November, most with pick-up and drop-off from your hotel. A few companies that we have used and we can give trusted recommendations for are:
www.hiddeniceland.is
www.re.is
Alternatively, you can hire a car for the day and drive yourself, giving you the chance to travel at your own pace and stop when you like. If you do this, you need to make sure the car is suitable for winter conditions, and check www.road.is regularly, as weather conditions can change and become dangerous very quickly, and roads can be closed at short notice. It is best to do this only if you are experienced in driving in winter conditions.
There are a huge variety of day trips by coach from Reykjavík that run in Iceland in November, most with pick-up and drop-off from your hotel. A few companies that we have used and we can give trusted recommendations for are:
www.hiddeniceland.is
www.re.is
Alternatively, you can hire a car for the day and drive yourself, giving you the chance to travel at your own pace and stop when you like. If you do this, you need to make sure the car is suitable for winter conditions, and check www.road.is regularly, as weather conditions can change and become dangerous very quickly, and roads can be closed at short notice. It is best to do this only if you are experienced in driving in winter conditions.
The Northern Lights
The Northern Lights are one of the most extraordinary and beautiful natural wonders on earth and to witness them is an experience you will carry with you forever.
November is one of the best times to see the Northern Lights in Iceland.
Although you can’t see them from the city centre unless they are really, really bright, or if you head to the edges of town where there is no light pollution, there are a huge number of Northern Lights tours that run from Reykjavík in the winter months at a range of prices. Most offer a chance to keep going on consecutive nights if you don’t see them the first time you go. Keep an eye on the Northern Lights forecast online at www.vedur.is, as well as the weather forecast – if there is total cloud cover the tour won’t run.
You can also track how active they are likely to be by downloading an app called Hello Aurora.
We recommend taking a guided tour with a proper tour operator for both safety, and the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights!
The Northern Lights are one of the most extraordinary and beautiful natural wonders on earth and to witness them is an experience you will carry with you forever.
November is one of the best times to see the Northern Lights in Iceland.
Although you can’t see them from the city centre unless they are really, really bright, or if you head to the edges of town where there is no light pollution, there are a huge number of Northern Lights tours that run from Reykjavík in the winter months at a range of prices. Most offer a chance to keep going on consecutive nights if you don’t see them the first time you go. Keep an eye on the Northern Lights forecast online at www.vedur.is, as well as the weather forecast – if there is total cloud cover the tour won’t run.
You can also track how active they are likely to be by downloading an app called Hello Aurora.
We recommend taking a guided tour with a proper tour operator for both safety, and the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights!
The South Coast
Is it possible to see some of the most wonderful sights of the South Coast in a day from Reykjavík - even in November. We recommend doing this as a guided tour unless you are experienced in driving in Iceland in winter conditions.
The South Coast road takes you past Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, which you can walk behind (take waterproofs!)
You will also see Skógafoss, another famous Icelandic waterfall, which you will recognise from many films. The last stop will be Vik, and the Reynisfjara black sand beach with its basalt columns and dramatic rock formations - this is one of the most stunning sights in Iceland. It is also very dangerous due to powerful sneaker waves, so stay well back.
Is it possible to see some of the most wonderful sights of the South Coast in a day from Reykjavík - even in November. We recommend doing this as a guided tour unless you are experienced in driving in Iceland in winter conditions.
The South Coast road takes you past Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, which you can walk behind (take waterproofs!)
You will also see Skógafoss, another famous Icelandic waterfall, which you will recognise from many films. The last stop will be Vik, and the Reynisfjara black sand beach with its basalt columns and dramatic rock formations - this is one of the most stunning sights in Iceland. It is also very dangerous due to powerful sneaker waves, so stay well back.
The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle trip, which is very popular and a great way to see some of Iceland’s awesome nature in just one day, takes you to Gullfoss, a truly breath-taking waterfall of unrivalled scale and power, then to Haukadalur to see some pretty amazing geysers – one of which blows 40 metres high every few minutes – and to Þingvellir, where the first parliaments took place in 900AD and the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
You can even take a trip that offers the chance to dive between them if you are feeling very brave!
You'll need to set off early to see everything in the daylight but it is possible in November and a wonderful way to sample Iceland's awe-inspiring nature.
The Golden Circle trip, which is very popular and a great way to see some of Iceland’s awesome nature in just one day, takes you to Gullfoss, a truly breath-taking waterfall of unrivalled scale and power, then to Haukadalur to see some pretty amazing geysers – one of which blows 40 metres high every few minutes – and to Þingvellir, where the first parliaments took place in 900AD and the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
You can even take a trip that offers the chance to dive between them if you are feeling very brave!
You'll need to set off early to see everything in the daylight but it is possible in November and a wonderful way to sample Iceland's awe-inspiring nature.
The Blue Lagoon... And other Spas
The Blue Lagoon is probably the most photographed place in Iceland, and world famous for it's milky-blue waters. Many tour operators offer a day trip from the city, and at just 40 minutes away by coach it is a wonderful experience.
You could also book a trip to the natural hot spring and spas Laugarvatn Fontana, The Secret Lagoon or even the Sky Lagoon near Downtown Reykjavík, all of which are considerably cheaper to visit.
Things to do in Reykjavík
Reykjavík is a small and very cosmopolitan city. You can walk pretty much everywhere and this is a great way to get to know the city.
Galleries
There are lots of wonderful galleries in Reykjavík where you can see artwork by the Icelandic greats like Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval, Ásmundur Sveinsson and Erró.
Reykjavík Art Museum is housed in three locations in central Reykjavík which you can walk between —Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir and Ásmundarsafn. You can buy a pass that lasts 24 hours and allows access to all three galleries and all exhibitions. It costs 1,950 ISK (£11.50, $15) for adults, free those with disabilities.
Listasafn Íslands/The National Gallery of Iceland – Is located in a beautiful building by the Town Pond and is a must-visit for any art lover. It houses many exhibitions that change regularly.
The Einar Jónsson Museum houses artwork by the world-famous sculptor The Einar Jónsson Museum. Right next to Hallgrímskirkja, the iconic church that stands proud over the city at the top of the hill, it offers a wonderful insight into the life and work of Jónsson. Once his home, it is complete with a sculpture garden and the flat that he lived in until his death in 1954 - which has been perfectly preserved.
Reykjavík Museum of Photography is well worth a visit and just a short walk from Kjarval. As well as exhibitions they have a vast digital archive of photographs that you can access.
Museums
The Settlement Museum is a unique and fascinating place that allows you to step into the Viking era. In 2001, during excavation work, a remarkable find was made; archaeological remains that turned out to be the earliest evidence of human settlement in the city, with some dating to before AD 871. Careful excavation revealed a 10th century hall or longhouse, which is now preserved in its original location as the focal point of the exhibition.
Þjóðminjasafn Íslands/The National Museum of Iceland is a majestic museum that covers in great detail the history of Iceland from settlement to the present day. You can spend hours in here! They have a feature on ‘The Woman in Blue’ – a 1,100-year-old young woman whose remains were found in Eastern Iceland in 1938. Her jawbone was preserved by a copper brooch. A short walk along the pond and up the hill will take you there, entry is 2,500 ISK (£15.50, $19) and your ticket is valid for a year, so if you do't have time to see everything in a day you can always go back.
The Saga Museum is situated by the harbour and is a great place to learn about Iceland's history if you don't have time to do The National Museum.
The Icelandic Phallological Museum – Yes, you read that right, and it is probably the only museum in the world to contain a collection of phallic specimens belonging to all the various types of mammal.
The Perlan is the iconic round building that looks out on to the town, and is the country's largest natural history museum. It includes a labyrinth of ice, lots of multimedia fun and a planetarium.
Gljúfrasteinn – Once the home and workplace of Halldór Laxness (winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1955) and his family, the house has now been opened to the public as a museum, unchanged from when Laxness and his family lived there. Learn about the giant of Icelandic literature and experience the place that inspired so much of his writing. You will need to drive or take a bus as the museum is outside of the city - but well worth it.
Reykjavík is a small and very cosmopolitan city. You can walk pretty much everywhere and this is a great way to get to know the city.
Galleries
There are lots of wonderful galleries in Reykjavík where you can see artwork by the Icelandic greats like Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval, Ásmundur Sveinsson and Erró.
Reykjavík Art Museum is housed in three locations in central Reykjavík which you can walk between —Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir and Ásmundarsafn. You can buy a pass that lasts 24 hours and allows access to all three galleries and all exhibitions. It costs 1,950 ISK (£11.50, $15) for adults, free those with disabilities.
Listasafn Íslands/The National Gallery of Iceland – Is located in a beautiful building by the Town Pond and is a must-visit for any art lover. It houses many exhibitions that change regularly.
The Einar Jónsson Museum houses artwork by the world-famous sculptor The Einar Jónsson Museum. Right next to Hallgrímskirkja, the iconic church that stands proud over the city at the top of the hill, it offers a wonderful insight into the life and work of Jónsson. Once his home, it is complete with a sculpture garden and the flat that he lived in until his death in 1954 - which has been perfectly preserved.
Reykjavík Museum of Photography is well worth a visit and just a short walk from Kjarval. As well as exhibitions they have a vast digital archive of photographs that you can access.
Museums
The Settlement Museum is a unique and fascinating place that allows you to step into the Viking era. In 2001, during excavation work, a remarkable find was made; archaeological remains that turned out to be the earliest evidence of human settlement in the city, with some dating to before AD 871. Careful excavation revealed a 10th century hall or longhouse, which is now preserved in its original location as the focal point of the exhibition.
Þjóðminjasafn Íslands/The National Museum of Iceland is a majestic museum that covers in great detail the history of Iceland from settlement to the present day. You can spend hours in here! They have a feature on ‘The Woman in Blue’ – a 1,100-year-old young woman whose remains were found in Eastern Iceland in 1938. Her jawbone was preserved by a copper brooch. A short walk along the pond and up the hill will take you there, entry is 2,500 ISK (£15.50, $19) and your ticket is valid for a year, so if you do't have time to see everything in a day you can always go back.
The Saga Museum is situated by the harbour and is a great place to learn about Iceland's history if you don't have time to do The National Museum.
The Icelandic Phallological Museum – Yes, you read that right, and it is probably the only museum in the world to contain a collection of phallic specimens belonging to all the various types of mammal.
The Perlan is the iconic round building that looks out on to the town, and is the country's largest natural history museum. It includes a labyrinth of ice, lots of multimedia fun and a planetarium.
Gljúfrasteinn – Once the home and workplace of Halldór Laxness (winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1955) and his family, the house has now been opened to the public as a museum, unchanged from when Laxness and his family lived there. Learn about the giant of Icelandic literature and experience the place that inspired so much of his writing. You will need to drive or take a bus as the museum is outside of the city - but well worth it.
Other things to see and do
Reykjavík is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but there there is plenty to see if you want to explore on foot - and just stop off for a warming cup of coffee on the way. Here are some of the most iconic sights in the city.
Harpa – Explore the concert hall on the harbour front. A majestic building, the stunning architecture is a wonder to experience from both the inside and outside.
The Sun Voyager – The beautiful and now iconic sculpture that imitates a Viking long boat on the seafront is a great place to watch the late-morning, November sunrise.
Hallgrimskirkja – It is free to enter and explore this working church when there is no private service on. You can pay a small fee to take the lift to the breezy viewing station, which has amazing, panoramic views of the city.
Tjörnin/The City Pond – The wonderful town pond! There are sculptures placed all around it, as well as lots of birdlife.
Reykjavík is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but there there is plenty to see if you want to explore on foot - and just stop off for a warming cup of coffee on the way. Here are some of the most iconic sights in the city.
Harpa – Explore the concert hall on the harbour front. A majestic building, the stunning architecture is a wonder to experience from both the inside and outside.
The Sun Voyager – The beautiful and now iconic sculpture that imitates a Viking long boat on the seafront is a great place to watch the late-morning, November sunrise.
Hallgrimskirkja – It is free to enter and explore this working church when there is no private service on. You can pay a small fee to take the lift to the breezy viewing station, which has amazing, panoramic views of the city.
Tjörnin/The City Pond – The wonderful town pond! There are sculptures placed all around it, as well as lots of birdlife.
Swim
Swimming, and relaxing in deliciously warm 'hot pots', is a massive part of Icelandic culture and across the country, in villages of 30 people to cities like Akureyri and Reykjavík, you will find the most wonderful, clean, cheap, state-run swimming pools.
Sundhöll Reykjavíkur, near Hallgrimskirkja, has two pools, one indoor and one outdoor as well as several hot tubs, spring boards, a cold tub and sauna. Sitting in a gloriously warm hot tub, outside in any weather, surrounded by locals, is the quintessential Icelandic experience. For 1060 ISK (about £6, $8) you can use all of the facilities, and swimsuit and towel hire is also available. Please note, as with all pools in Iceland, you must shower without a swimsuit before entering.
Eat
Reykjavík has a huge number of places to eat, varying from Michelin-stared restaurants to cheap and cheerful food halls.
Here are our some of our favourites.
Dill – Dill is a very special, the first Icelandic restaurant to receive a Michelin star. This Nordic restaurant is very popular so be sure to make a reservation with plenty of notice.
Matur Og Drykkur – This gem of a restaurant can be found in the harbour and boasts an impressive menu that celebrates traditional Icelandic food.
Austur-Indíafélagið – You may not expect to go to Reykjavik and have the best Indian food of your life, but then Iceland is full of surprises. This wonderful restaurant isn't cheap but is very special, and a favourite of our founders.
Snaps Bistro – A upper/mid-price restaurant thats always full of locals, Snaps is great for brunch on Friday, Saturday and Sundays, and lunch and dinner any day of the week. Try the catch of the day! Find it near Hallgrimskirkja.
Duck and Rose – A great, mid-priced spot for lunch or dinner, conveniently located right next to Kjarval.
Apotek – A slightly more pricey but brilliant spot for brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner – or just cocktails. Again, very close to Kjarval.
Messinn – A lovely fish restaurant not far from Kjarval, this restaurant is great for a quick, good quality meal.
Laundromat Cafe – For a more relaxed meal any time of day, head to laundromat, opposite Kjarval. Giant portions, vegetarian options and great coffee – and of course, you can do your laundry in the basement while you eat, should you so wish.
Hlemmur Mathöll – The fairly-new, European style food court in the old bus station has a wide range of options including pizza, tacos and open sandwiches, as well as beer, wine and cocktails. Excellent prices and long, shared tables make this a popular place for the locals. It's about a 15-20 minute walk from Kjarval which gives you chance to explore the shops, bars and restaurants along the city's main road, Laugavegur.
Noodle Station – The cheapest dinner option in town! Big, hearty bowls of noodle soup, very close to Hlemmur Mathöll.
Garðurinn Cafe – A lovely vegetarian cafe thats perfect for lunch, or just cake. Find it just off Laugavegur.
Sægreifinn – One of the most iconic food stops in Reykjavík. A trip to this famous hut (it really is a hut...) on the harbour for a bowl of their 'world's best' creamy lobster soup on long shared tables amongst fishing ephemera is a must.
Café Babalú – Nothing fancy at all, this lovely little cafe near Hallgrimskirkja offers very cheap coffee, cake and and toasties and is a favourite with the locals and students.
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur – Downtown, not far from Kjarval, you will find Reykjavík’s famous hotdog stand, which has been visited by Beyoncé, Justin Bieber and Bill Clinton over the years. Get the 'one with everything', for something like £2/$3. They are open until 4.30am on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Mokka Kaffi – Iceland's oldest coffee shop hasn't changed much since the 1960s and, if you can get a table, is a wonderful place to visit. The waffles with cream and jam is a hearty meal in itself. Find it by the rainbow crossing on the road that leads up to Hallgrimskirkja.
Brauð and Co – This bakery offers the most delicious pastries, bread and cakes in Iceland. Get the liquorice snúður (pronounced snoo-thur) for the full Icelandic experience! There's no seating, but pastries this good will be consumed in minutes, so there's no need to sit down and eat. You can always grab a takeaway coffee to go with it from the brilliant Reykjavik Roasters just up the hill.
Iða Zimsen Bookshop Café – This lovely cute, cosy coffee shop has its own bookshop and is just a short walk from Kjarval. Perfect for book lovers!
Swimming, and relaxing in deliciously warm 'hot pots', is a massive part of Icelandic culture and across the country, in villages of 30 people to cities like Akureyri and Reykjavík, you will find the most wonderful, clean, cheap, state-run swimming pools.
Sundhöll Reykjavíkur, near Hallgrimskirkja, has two pools, one indoor and one outdoor as well as several hot tubs, spring boards, a cold tub and sauna. Sitting in a gloriously warm hot tub, outside in any weather, surrounded by locals, is the quintessential Icelandic experience. For 1060 ISK (about £6, $8) you can use all of the facilities, and swimsuit and towel hire is also available. Please note, as with all pools in Iceland, you must shower without a swimsuit before entering.
Eat
Reykjavík has a huge number of places to eat, varying from Michelin-stared restaurants to cheap and cheerful food halls.
Here are our some of our favourites.
Dill – Dill is a very special, the first Icelandic restaurant to receive a Michelin star. This Nordic restaurant is very popular so be sure to make a reservation with plenty of notice.
Matur Og Drykkur – This gem of a restaurant can be found in the harbour and boasts an impressive menu that celebrates traditional Icelandic food.
Austur-Indíafélagið – You may not expect to go to Reykjavik and have the best Indian food of your life, but then Iceland is full of surprises. This wonderful restaurant isn't cheap but is very special, and a favourite of our founders.
Snaps Bistro – A upper/mid-price restaurant thats always full of locals, Snaps is great for brunch on Friday, Saturday and Sundays, and lunch and dinner any day of the week. Try the catch of the day! Find it near Hallgrimskirkja.
Duck and Rose – A great, mid-priced spot for lunch or dinner, conveniently located right next to Kjarval.
Apotek – A slightly more pricey but brilliant spot for brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner – or just cocktails. Again, very close to Kjarval.
Messinn – A lovely fish restaurant not far from Kjarval, this restaurant is great for a quick, good quality meal.
Laundromat Cafe – For a more relaxed meal any time of day, head to laundromat, opposite Kjarval. Giant portions, vegetarian options and great coffee – and of course, you can do your laundry in the basement while you eat, should you so wish.
Hlemmur Mathöll – The fairly-new, European style food court in the old bus station has a wide range of options including pizza, tacos and open sandwiches, as well as beer, wine and cocktails. Excellent prices and long, shared tables make this a popular place for the locals. It's about a 15-20 minute walk from Kjarval which gives you chance to explore the shops, bars and restaurants along the city's main road, Laugavegur.
Noodle Station – The cheapest dinner option in town! Big, hearty bowls of noodle soup, very close to Hlemmur Mathöll.
Garðurinn Cafe – A lovely vegetarian cafe thats perfect for lunch, or just cake. Find it just off Laugavegur.
Sægreifinn – One of the most iconic food stops in Reykjavík. A trip to this famous hut (it really is a hut...) on the harbour for a bowl of their 'world's best' creamy lobster soup on long shared tables amongst fishing ephemera is a must.
Café Babalú – Nothing fancy at all, this lovely little cafe near Hallgrimskirkja offers very cheap coffee, cake and and toasties and is a favourite with the locals and students.
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur – Downtown, not far from Kjarval, you will find Reykjavík’s famous hotdog stand, which has been visited by Beyoncé, Justin Bieber and Bill Clinton over the years. Get the 'one with everything', for something like £2/$3. They are open until 4.30am on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Mokka Kaffi – Iceland's oldest coffee shop hasn't changed much since the 1960s and, if you can get a table, is a wonderful place to visit. The waffles with cream and jam is a hearty meal in itself. Find it by the rainbow crossing on the road that leads up to Hallgrimskirkja.
Brauð and Co – This bakery offers the most delicious pastries, bread and cakes in Iceland. Get the liquorice snúður (pronounced snoo-thur) for the full Icelandic experience! There's no seating, but pastries this good will be consumed in minutes, so there's no need to sit down and eat. You can always grab a takeaway coffee to go with it from the brilliant Reykjavik Roasters just up the hill.
Iða Zimsen Bookshop Café – This lovely cute, cosy coffee shop has its own bookshop and is just a short walk from Kjarval. Perfect for book lovers!
ICELAND NOIR, REYKJAVIK, ICELAND | 20 - 23 NOVEMBER 2024
