Planning My Solo Trip to Iceland
This week, I’m excited to escape the barrage of doom and gloom for the serenity of the Iceland landscape and hopefully 🙏🏼 to a better state of mind.
This trip is not a traditional “tour” but I have arranged for day trips and excursions. Mostly everything has been set up in advance. I am going solo and expect to meet some new travel friends along my path.
I don’t expect any volcanic activity, although there were some geothermal rumblings discovered on my Google search. People say that the sight of flowing lava is uplifting, but I prefer to be a safe distance away. I trust that Icelanders keep a watchful eye on this stuff.
Flying from New York to Reykjavik
The flight on Icelandair is direct and only 5 - 6 hours from JFK to Reykjavik. I arrive at 6 am Iceland time. I will meet the shuttle at the airport and get dropped off at the hotel ~45 minutes later. Easy breezy.
Did I mention I’m wearing my hiking boots on the plane?
My motivation for going to Iceland this month is the limited window for viewing the Northern Lights due to increasing daylight. While there are no guarantees, I think the odds are in my favor. Fingers crossed. 🤞🏻
I want to get some nice photos, so checked out YouTube for instructions on shooting the night sky. Using a tripod is the way to go, did a click on Amazon, and a tripod is arriving today for $20.
It remains to be seen whether the transformer explosion at Heathrow yesterday will impact my travels. As of this morning, the flight is on time. I’ve heard that some flights were diverted to Reykjavik yesterday so I'm expecting that airport to be in a state of chaos when I arrive but I’ll hope for the best.
Yet, there was another surprise today with the JFK Airtrain. It was out of service so a shuttle bus drove us to a station where it was working. Nothing was explained so I just followed everyone else. It would have been nice to get a heads-up about the construction and connections. At least the LIRR worked.
Need I mention the very long lines at Icelandair check-in? People, please don’t chat with the TSA agents. Just take off your shoes and be done with it!
Patience is a Virtue
Getting from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavik
It seemed like forever getting from the airport to the hotel. Once I found the correct bus after several failed attempts (jet lag?), you have to transfer to a van specific to your hotel’s location at the bus terminal. It is organized by color codes and you are dropped off at a designated bus stop within a 2- minute walk to your hotel. The strategy makes sense so that the streets don’t get clogged with tourist buses, but just adds another layer of complexity. It’s a lot to deal with, with no sleep.
Puffins are a big draw in Iceland. Breeding season is April through August. In March, the only Puffins to be seen are the thousands of stuffed toys, mugs, and magnets in souvenir shops on Laugavegur Street or at the Perlan Museum. Hey, Icelanders need to make a living too.
Live Puffins (courtesy of Central Park Zoo, NYC😁)
My First Impressions of Reykjavik
The first impression is that Reykjavik is pristine and safe. Reykjavik’s cold tap water comes from naturally filtered groundwater. The hot water has a sulfur smell from the geothermal activity.
None of the stresses that usually accompany city dwellers seem to be present here as far as I can tell. Our tour guide, “BG”, who is a local, described a very wholesome upbringing for his 3 kids.
Interesting fact: all kids have to learn to swim by high school graduation. Icelanders have access to numerous natural geothermal pools throughout the country which is a big part of their ecosystem.
BG has seen the aurora borealis thousands of times and runs a side business taking tourists out for sightings. He took us to the Aurora Reykjavik museum which was very cool and entertaining.
What to See in Reykjavik
We were all over town today and saw so many attractions.
Aurora Reykjavík is an interactive museum devoted to the science, history, and legends of the Northern Lights. Its exhibits explain how the aurora forms, why its colors vary, and what conditions are needed for a successful sighting. Visitors can also watch beautiful displays of the lights and learn how to photograph them.
Tip: It is a helpful stop before taking a Northern Lights tour—especially since seeing the real thing is never guaranteed.
The Perlan Museum is a wonderful place to learn about Iceland’s extraordinary natural environment. Its interactive exhibits explore volcanoes, glaciers, earthquakes, geothermal activity, and the Northern Lights. Highlights include a man-made indoor ice cave and a panoramic observation deck offering beautiful views across Reykjavik and the surrounding landscape.
Laugavegur is Reykjavik’s main shopping street and one of the liveliest areas in the city. Lined with colorful buildings, it is filled with restaurants, cafés, boutiques, street art, and souvenir shops selling everything from Icelandic wool sweaters to countless puffin-themed gifts.
It is an enjoyable place to people-watch and experience downtown Reykjavik.
Hallgrímskirkja is Reykjavik’s most recognizable landmark and one of the tallest buildings in Iceland. Its design was inspired by the country’s lava columns, glaciers, and mountains. In front of the church stands a statue of Leif Erikson, the Norse explorer believed to have reached North America centuries before Columbus.
Tip: Visitors can take an elevator to the tower for panoramic views over Reykjavik’s colorful rooftops, harbor, and surrounding mountains.
Höfði House is best known as the site of the historic 1986 summit between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Their discussions helped pave the way for a major nuclear arms treaty and the eventual end of the Cold War.
Remnants from Berlin Wall 
“The Bureaucrat”
The Sun Voyager is one of Reykjavík’s most recognizable landmarks. Created by Icelandic sculptor Jón Árnason, the sculpture resembles a Viking ship but was actually designed as a “dreamboat” and an ode to the sun. It symbolizes hope, freedom, discovery, and promise.
Its waterfront location, makes it one of the city’s most beautiful and photographed sights.
Random Idyllic Streets in Reykjavik
MY FIRST DAY IN REYKJAVÍK
My first day touring Reykjavík provided a wonderful introduction to Iceland’s history, culture, and remarkable natural environment.
From Hallgrímskirkja and the colorful shops along Laugavegur to the fascinating Perlan and Aurora Reykjavík museums, there was plenty to discover. Visiting historic Höfði House and seeing the city’s sculptures, street art, and waterfront completed a busy day.
Reykjavík felt clean, safe, welcoming, and surprisingly easy to explore—an excellent beginning to my Iceland adventure.
Continue reading about the rest of my Iceland adventure:
Iceland’s Golden Circle and Northern Lights: What to Expect
Iceland’s South Coast: waterfalls, glaciers, and black-sand beaches
Reykjavík, Sky Lagoon and Blue Lagoon: My Final Days in Iceland