You forgot the Blue Lagoon/Sky Lagoon. They are only filled with tourists, no one from Iceland would go there because it is a ripoff, IMO. Every city has its own spas, which are cheaper, with multiple tanks, and even rent you swimwear. Bonus can be found all over but if you can go to Costco. Your choices seem to be focused on Reykjavik.
I totally agree. The Blue lagoon is over commercialised and expensive. They don't even dare to show the prices. You have to ask for it. And it's not even natural. The bottom is concrete and water is surplus water piped from the powerplant.
When I visited Iceland, I did not go to the Blue Lagoon. And I enjoy hot thermal baths having gone to them in Germany. Switzerland, Ecuador and Italy. But I heard the BL was a tourist trap. When I returned home to New York, everyone asked me about the Blue Lagoon and acted like I had killed my mother when I told them I didn't go there. So I always wondered if I missed something. Thanks for mentioning it is a tourist trap.
I bought my button up sweater at the Handknitting Association. It's gorgeous and has eliminated most of my coats. They have all sizes and the variety is amazing. Plan to spend a lot of money for them. They are quite expensive - mine was $350 and worth every penny. You can't beat native wool, hand knit by Icelanders. Take care of it and it will last forever. I also picked up a scarf that was so soft and beautiful. It was only $20. One dead giveaway on the fake sweaters is seams. If any part of the sweater has seams of any kind, it's fake, and the price will be just as high as a real one. Real ones are all one piece with sewing almost exclusively limited to the buttons and tag. Places to find fakes include attractions that have gift shops or just general souvenir stores and some boutiques. Be very careful.
For an art lover like myself the sculpture would be something I would love to see. Especially if the artist is Icelandic. The sculpture is beautiful against the backdrop of the mountains.
As a nine-time visitor to Reykjavík, I agree with everything you said except for #1. As a public art work, Sun Voyager is stunning, day or night. With Faxaflói and Esja as a backdrop it is wonderfully situated, and the brisk walk makes you feel like you have earned it. I’ve had some very nice interactions with tourists there as well. And it doesn't cost anything, a rarity in Iceland!
When staying in the old city, that 10-11 is so convenient, but the prices really are a trap. There is a Bonus to the west near the traffic circle by the harbor and there is Kronan to the east not far from the Rainbow Street. One thing I will say for the 10-11, if you are staying the old city and you have an early tour pickup, breakfast can be a challenge and will likely be fairly pricey in that area. So a couple days we picked up a sandwich roll from the 10-11 for the next AM. We were surprised at the quality and how good the Icelandic sandwiches and rolls were everywhere we found them. That way you can have a bite in the AM while heading out to meet your local small group tour and guide. Wake up Reykjavik is an amazing company! Cannot recommend them enough.
Just here to add basically every gas station and coffee shop outside Reykjavík is a tourist trap. 7€ for a cup of coffee is unbelievably expensive and that from someone who has lived in Singapore.
Shop at the Handmade shops in all the towns. Real icelandic made products. Bought our sweaters at the Knitting Assoc shop and also Handmade boutique in Husavik.
I took out ISK2000 from the airport ATM for my last trip to Iceland and came home with ISK2000. Used credit cards for everything including the pay toilets.
To me the Sun Voyager is great art. The design, form of expression makes it dynamic, materials reflect the daylight and it composes well with surroundings. Looks light but very symbolical. And the location is epic. This is what a foreigner sees 😂
Whatever Dan says is gospel, y'all hear? I did two Wake Up Reykjavik tours last year and I honestly couldn't be happier. Avoided the puffin stores like the plague and while I loved the Sun Voyager, I could never get it all for myself for that perfect photo... My Mum also told me not to do drugs. I wonder what she knows that I don't.
I do not mind walking 2 miles in one direction. As you say in Iceland " There is no bad weather only bad clothing." I am planning my trip in June. Good to know about the water, souvenirs and currency.
Bottled water is a rip off in my country too (Scotland has some of the best quality tap water anywhere). I only buy water if I’m out and about in desperate need to take pills and have already finished the tap water I took out and don’t have access to a tap. Fortunately, there has been a huge move towards installing water refill taps in cities like Glasgow and there’s an app that lists places near you that will fill your bottles for free (usually coffee shops).
About some points: 1. I saw it, made a photo and get to explore the city. Noting special. 2. I was one week in Iceland doing road trip adround the whole island and I was paying everywhere by my card. And I actually never had iclandic money in my hand. So you really do not need iclandic currency. 5. I am used to drink a tap water back in my home country but once you are in Iceland you need at least one bottle that you will be able to refill. 6. Yeah... I was on that parking spot and realized that I can spend that time around something more amazing. 7. I totally agree... I had rentend car... The best think I could do.
I just got back from a 2 week trip. I can say easily without a doubt its not more expensive then the same thing here in Florida at any sit down restaurant. Honestly better quality then we get here as well.
True about the water, but in Reykjavik you need to make sure that you turn on only the cold water tap otherwise you might fill your water bottle with water that smells like sulfur
So many spectacular sights on the south coast. On the day we might have seen the plane wreck, we instead saw Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, went snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull, and visited Dyrhólaey. And Skógafoss, Gljúfrabúi, and Reynisfjara would have also been on the list, but we just didn't have time.
I don’t agree with the big bus point you made. We paid a small amount to do a bus tour of the golden circle and another day for the south coastal tour. The benefits of the bus tour is that parking is all paid for at the sites so no hassle, parking can also be a stress but all the stress is put onto the driver and your guide so you can sit back and relax, the guides are really knowledgeable and they have a mic so you can sit back and listen to what they have to say, they also put a good structure into the day so that you see everything and don’t spend too long at the one place. Driving can be stressful for some especially in a foreign country. Small busses also prone to motion sickness as it’s not as easy to see out the window. A big bus has large windows and is comfortable
Thank you for the tips! I will be there next month and I'd already located a 10-11 near my apartment....now I'm looking for the nearest Bonus! Your mom was right - Don't do drugs and don't exchange at the airport! These were great and I will keep them in mind.
Great video! We just got back from a trip to Iceland. My tip to add is about the swimming pools-or just pools in general. There are expensive geothermal pools along the way around Iceland, but on the other hand, most towns we visited have local pools that also have geothermal warm water and are much less expensive. Some might say they aren't always as nice-looking, but a pool is a pool.
10-11 was very expensive, I found that Netto was a great supermarket to go to instead as they were much cheaper and had a bakery section where you can get a snack from. Was very suprised though when I first visited an Icelandic supermarket and was looking around for ages in vain trying to find a proper real beer though.
10-11 is deeefinetly a scam, but Nettó can be good! Next time try Bónus and Krónan - even cheaper! And we don't have alcohol in the grocery stores, just under 2,5% beers - so that's why you had a hard time with that one 🍻
I visited in 2010. I like the Sun Voyager. Not worth an effort to go just for it, but if you're wandering the Reykjavik shoreline it's nice to stop and it's very photogenic.
As a native some of these sound a bit strange. Like to avoid the Sun Voyager due to wind? It´s a great spot to take photos and enjoy the scenery. And the plane wreck in the south coast is pretty picturesque on that pitch black beach. Great story behind it where two pilots just saved their lives landing there..
I wish we had walked a bit further to the Sun Voyager as we had walked along the bay to the Höfði Lighthouse and did not realise it was so close until I just looked while watching this video... DOH
My wife & I have just visited Iceland for our honeymoon. We went knowing it was going to very expensive & it definitely was. However, as the video states, if you’re smart & look around the local area & ASK THE LOCALS you’ll find it isn’t unrealistic prices. The main traps are food & drink prices during the tours or activities where you can’t seek alternatives. We did the small personal tour of the Golden Circle & the big bus Southern Coast tour. I didn’t find there was much difference other than during the golden circle the places we stopped for food & drinks were MUCH cheaper than the Southern Coast Tour. We went to the Perlan & we had dinner there. The scenery was amazing & actual made the price “bearable”. However 2 meals & drinks costs us almost £70. Yes, it’s expensive. To really enjoy your stay in Iceland you’re going to be spending an extra £1000-£2000 on tours, meals & gifts but I PROMISE YOU, it’s worth it. I’ve been to many places around the world & Iceland has been the only country to honestly take my breath away every day.
If you're going to do the Golden circle anyway you really should go with some sort of group so that you don't have to deal with parking. We did a medium size bus tour in 2010 and it was fine. Going in a private car would have been a pain.
With my recent experience booking a northern lights tour prior to a katla ice cave tour was the wrong move and a waste of money...whole day katla ice cave tour ended at night time with bus stops at black sand beach and one of the southern waterfalls both stops had a clear view of the northern lights and due to the location was way better than what the northern lights tour had to offer. So my suggestion if you plan on ice caving at katla, do that first. The northern lights tours are 3-4 hours of driving around light polluted spots with a chance of not seeing them at all. But with the ice cave tour you at least for sure will experience what you pay for with a good chance of seeing the northern lights.
I thought the Sun Voyager sculpture made for a great photo in the evening when it was lit up. I also enjoyed visiting the plane wreck and got some interesting photos there. (Trivia: Justin Bieber did a music video on Iceland and included the plane in it). The blue lagoon is the most overrated attraction but everyone is still going to do it. (The water comes from the power station next door so it's not exactly an experience in a natural setting)
I went to Kronan close to the Oddson hotel ….the food at the deli was really good, just ready to eat chicken , sandwiches, giant apples … Hope I’ll be back to Iceland soon ….!
I visited Iceland and loved it. I did not get caught in any of these tourist traps. However, we did go to the Blue Lagoon, which everyone raves about. I detested it: it was hot, crowded, and smelly. Other than that I loved every thing I saw & did in Iceland!
I've been three times and everything he advised is completely true. The resale shops, also, in my opinion, have some good finds like Icelandic wool sweaters and other unique items. Managing food costs is the hardest part about visiting Iceland. Rent a car and buy a cooler and shop at Bonus if you have kids you will be glad you did. Iceland restaurants are few and far and very expensive. Pre-planned itinerary will help with making a great trip to Iceland. Wonderful people and great scenery. Enjoy.
I am working in Iceland during summer and I see that lopapeysa done by wife of boss here costs 22 000 while in shops in Ísafjörður 38 000. I bought Icelandic sheep wool and I will make my own sweater for around 15 000 (cost of wool, pattern and kneedles) 🥰
Water in Iceland, depending how close you are to a volcanic pocket, can have a sulfuric flavor/smell. At least the sun voyager is free! Be prepared to spend when you're in Iceland; it's an island nation with steep prices. That said, it's beautiful and you should go at least once!
I also wanted to go to the plain wreck. But after reading some reviews I decided to send my drone from the parking lot :D yeah, it is a nice footage but not really worth it to go there. If someone is interested to do so, just follow the bus to find the wreck and use rth to get back.
I went to Iceland last May and booked several excursions through Wake Up Reykjavik. Really enjoyed our private group Golden Circle tour, the food tour, and a whale watching tour. We will be coming back this November and want to do a northern lights excursion. Must say, I disagree that Sun Voyager is a tourist trap. I thought it was really beautiful and moving. I had studied that sculpture in college and was delighted to see it and thought it was beautifully situated. I do see comments about the Blue Lagoon, and while I fully agree that it is a tourist trap, I still feel like the experience was worth it. We flew into Reykjavik at 6:00 a.m. on a Tuesday. I do not sleep well on flights at all, so after a very long travel day being able to immediately stop at the Blue Lagoon and soak for 2 hours was wonderful. At that time the lagoon was not crowded, it was a lovely introduction to Iceland, and it killed some time before we drove to Reykjavik to check into our hotel.
Hey again! Thank you so much for the great feedback! The tourist traps are more of a personal though from us an our team, but I definitely get that it might be interesting for an artistic point of view - thanks for sharing! 🥳
That’s why if it’s handmade and local people making it, they should not be charged taxes. This is a good incentive for local to make it locally instead of ship to another country. If they ship it to another country you can charge them for import taxes. This is fair.
I visited Iceland last September and yeah...Esja Mountain is an absolute sight to see. My hotel was right on the harbourside and I ended up taking tons of pictures of it because none of them did the mountain justice. While I got some pretty cool pictures of the Sun Voyager at sunset I absolutely understand why a local would be underwhelmed. In my hometown we have a random archway that none of the locals care about even though its technically the city's 'landmark' and even includes the tagline but it would be VERY weird to see flocks of tourists taking pictures of/with it like there was at the Voyager 🤣 I did actually go in one of the puffin stores only to find that there were actually nicer little souvenir puffins for way cheaper in the duty free at the airport so I guess they got me.
Right now, and for the foreseeable future, I would agree. The ongoing volcanic activity in the peninsula makes a successful trip there too insecure for tourists.
Thanks for excellent insider insights! For me, the Sun Voyager sculpture worked out because I simply happened upon it while walking, and it made for a good photo to post on Facebook 😅. It’s beautiful and there are nice ocean views. I agree it does seem overhyped and I’m glad I didn’t go out of my way to see it!
How do I find the best small group tours for September 2025? I want to combine perhaps a week in Reykjavík and an Airbnb with a couple of chores at the beginning and end of my trip. Thanks
We hope to visit from the UK sometime soon,great video......am hoping the eather will be a bit warmer when we visit..Lol!!! Great tips and recommendations.....cheers!!!!
It’s hard to spend $200-$300 on a hand knit sweater… I spent all my money getting here… I wish there was an option for those of us in a lower tax bracket.
10-11 is pricey but saved us from a hungry night once. But VERY pricey. I’d add the Geysur to this list too. Too many ppl there and not that impressive compared to so many other incredible things to see.
I am going to Iceland next month, Where do you recommend I stayed. Reykjavik or Selfoss? My final destination for our small group tour start on the 5th in Selfoss..Thank you
Kolaportið used to be an actual flea market, now it's just a charming and sugarcoated version of the puffin stores downtown. As a matter of fact, it's always full of tourists and very few locals. You can tell that it's a trap because, as in many other cases, the majority of the signs are in English
If I booked a tour with you guys would you do hotel pickups, if there was a cost would be more than happy to pay I very much dislike the bus stop queue and that whole scene?
Hey there! It depends on where you book a hotel. Many streets in Reykjavík are so narrow that the sprinters are not allowed leagelly to drive them (or any car for that matter) so a great tip is to look at the booking page of our tours and there you can see a full list of hotels with pick up! If if does NOT have direct pick up, then a bus stop will be listed on the back of the hotel like (Go to Bus Stop #8) if it does not have that, then you have direct pick up there! Hope that helps! 🥳
Other than a bank, are there ATMs available if one wants to tip Tour Guides? Yes, I know about the tipping culture, but have heard otherwise from others.
I noticed you were wearing a 66North parka (looks like the Jokla). I'm considering purchasing a parka from 66North and trying to decide whether to get the Jokla or the Drangajökull. Would love to hear your thoughts on the matter. I'm an amateur photographer and am looking for something that can keep me warm and dry when stationary for long periods of time.
It's definitely an investment that is both stylish and comes in good quality. Both are good and I love the 66 brand. Choosing between the two, personally I would just go for what style I prefer since they are both have similar advantages! ☺️
@@WakeUpReykjavik.Is 66 North also produced in China ? I thought you are promoting production outside Iceland is not good . Here looks like double standard 😢
Actually prevented all of these, but not the voyager which is nice... and yeah wind...welcome to iceland😂 so better never do hiking? Bus tours are one of the best by country and as someone who even likes to stay in a hostel its a good way to meet interesting people. Renting a car, being flexible and with friends, sure a great thing. One more i can tell is actually from a employee in one of those souvenir shops: the lava bracelets are generally not made from icelandic lava and so probably the same with many stuff from there. One icelandic guy told me to dont do blue lagoon, cause of dirt and no icelandic goes or works there. Well, as a german i....better skip a comparison. It was nice. And the recommendation from him to the Sky Lagoon would lead to the same problem after time😅
There's a bus who drives to the plane wreck until like 5 or 6 PM. Do you think its possible to drive with your own car to the plane? I guess theres nobody there who controls it?
If bottled water is a tourist trap in Iceland, how about canned air ? Actually air from the glacier. Yes, I saw it in a shop in Iceland, canned glacier air. I think it was in Vík.
I’ve visited 10 times since 2010, once on a 10 day tour and the other times alone. The 10 day tour had the same guide and same bus driver throughout and we all tipped both at the end of the tour. But I think the decision to tip a guide/driver for a day tour can be a personal choice, especially if it’s a smaller tour and you receive exceptional service.
Thanks for the insights, we are in Iceland now near selfoss, today gonna visit Reykyavík any advice? Further I'm travelling with my parents , further do you know cheapest but good quality restaurant in the capital or nearby? About the bottles we are not used buying waterbottles of tap water, cause the water in our home country is drinkable. Do you know where the warmwater river is? I heared about it, it's the cheaper option compared to blue lagoon which is super expensive, parrents are maybe planning to go there, but I mentioned the river. Greetings! 👋
I wish I saw this video first. I am visiting today and I exchanged money at the airport and bought drugs to take whilst at the Sun Voyager.
😂😂😂
I see you are living the dream.
Oh men 😢
Can we get an update?
The Midnight Express Theme starts again...
You forgot the Blue Lagoon/Sky Lagoon. They are only filled with tourists, no one from Iceland would go there because it is a ripoff, IMO. Every city has its own spas, which are cheaper, with multiple tanks, and even rent you swimwear.
Bonus can be found all over but if you can go to Costco.
Your choices seem to be focused on Reykjavik.
I totally agree. The Blue lagoon is over commercialised and expensive. They don't even dare to show the prices. You have to ask for it. And it's not even natural. The bottom is concrete and water is surplus water piped from the powerplant.
We went to Forest Lagoon in Akureyri instead, one of the best decisions we all made in trip.
don't be jealous because you can't afford it 😅@@PoulHansenDK
Yeah, but Getting the shuttle there, right from the airport, after flying all the way from Victoria, BC is really nice! But yes, pretty spendy!
When I visited Iceland, I did not go to the Blue Lagoon. And I enjoy hot thermal baths having gone to them in Germany. Switzerland, Ecuador and Italy. But I heard the BL was a tourist trap. When I returned home to New York, everyone asked me about the Blue Lagoon and acted like I had killed my mother when I told them I didn't go there. So I always wondered if I missed something. Thanks for mentioning it is a tourist trap.
I bought my button up sweater at the Handknitting Association. It's gorgeous and has eliminated most of my coats. They have all sizes and the variety is amazing. Plan to spend a lot of money for them. They are quite expensive - mine was $350 and worth every penny. You can't beat native wool, hand knit by Icelanders. Take care of it and it will last forever. I also picked up a scarf that was so soft and beautiful. It was only $20. One dead giveaway on the fake sweaters is seams. If any part of the sweater has seams of any kind, it's fake, and the price will be just as high as a real one. Real ones are all one piece with sewing almost exclusively limited to the buttons and tag. Places to find fakes include attractions that have gift shops or just general souvenir stores and some boutiques. Be very careful.
A great way to remember a great holiday! Thanks for watching and commenting! 🥳🧡
Thanks for the sweater tip!
$350 is very low considering the time it takes to knit a sweater as well as the cost of quality wool.
Alrún has very nice textiles too.
Did you get any yarns?
I loved the Sun Voyager sculpture, walked to it twice from the hotel I was staying at (no wind).
... Once during the light, once during darkness.
I appreciate your honesty. I'd rather spend time visiting with farmers and fishermen.
I went on your company foodie tour in Iceland last week ( the tour guide was Dave) I would recommend it, and Dave was a great tour guide.
So did we! He was great 👍🏼 😊
For an art lover like myself the sculpture would be something I would love to see. Especially if the artist is Icelandic. The sculpture is beautiful against the backdrop of the mountains.
As a nine-time visitor to Reykjavík, I agree with everything you said except for #1. As a public art work, Sun Voyager is stunning, day or night. With Faxaflói and Esja as a backdrop it is wonderfully situated, and the brisk walk makes you feel like you have earned it. I’ve had some very nice interactions with tourists there as well. And it doesn't cost anything, a rarity in Iceland!
😂
When staying in the old city, that 10-11 is so convenient, but the prices really are a trap. There is a Bonus to the west near the traffic circle by the harbor and there is Kronan to the east not far from the Rainbow Street. One thing I will say for the 10-11, if you are staying the old city and you have an early tour pickup, breakfast can be a challenge and will likely be fairly pricey in that area. So a couple days we picked up a sandwich roll from the 10-11 for the next AM. We were surprised at the quality and how good the Icelandic sandwiches and rolls were everywhere we found them. That way you can have a bite in the AM while heading out to meet your local small group tour and guide. Wake up Reykjavik is an amazing company! Cannot recommend them enough.
I liked the Sun Voyager, both during daytime and at night with Aurora above
Just here to add basically every gas station and coffee shop outside Reykjavík is a tourist trap. 7€ for a cup of coffee is unbelievably expensive and that from someone who has lived in Singapore.
most countries in europe have high price on things in gas stations
I just bought a cup of drip coffee to satisfy my coffee addiction needs daily. 😂
I didn't mind 450ISK ($3ishUSD) for a 6-8oz cup.
'62, not had even a sip of coffee, ever!
Though my tea consumption makes up for the lacajava.
😁
Something can be expensive without it being a tourist trap. Its just a trap, period 😂
I get my daily coffee at the Gas station here in Sydney and I pay 1 AUD. Don't think I could physically bring myself to spend €7.
Shop at the Handmade shops in all the towns. Real icelandic made products. Bought our sweaters at the Knitting Assoc shop and also Handmade boutique in Husavik.
I took out ISK2000 from the airport ATM for my last trip to Iceland and came home with ISK2000. Used credit cards for everything including the pay toilets.
To me the Sun Voyager is great art. The design, form of expression makes it dynamic, materials reflect the daylight and it composes well with surroundings. Looks light but very symbolical. And the location is epic. This is what a foreigner sees 😂
I kind of regret visiting the plane wreck, but at least the landscape is truly awesome. It feels like you're walking on the moon
Notices Stormtrooper mask on shelf, instant Thumbs Up.
The sun voyager is beautiful , a wonderful piece of work, in a wonderful position
I loved the sun voyager, the way the sun hits it differently according to clouds and time of day. :)
Hey to each their own! Great to hear that you like it, perhaps we have to check it out again 👀
Then it's like the CN Tower in Toronto. If you live there you probably don't care.
Ha ha. I just went to 24/7 store in Reykjavik today. Walked right back out. Good tips. Cleanest water I bet.
Whatever Dan says is gospel, y'all hear? I did two Wake Up Reykjavik tours last year and I honestly couldn't be happier. Avoided the puffin stores like the plague and while I loved the Sun Voyager, I could never get it all for myself for that perfect photo... My Mum also told me not to do drugs. I wonder what she knows that I don't.
as a knitter I am very much looking forward to my visit to iceland :) thank you for letting me know to look out for authentic lopapeysa :)
I went to the plane crash in 2015 when it was free and you could drive there. I still thought it was over hyped. 😎
Great tips. Glad we avoided the plane wreck and we found Kronan was the cheapest supermarket at the time of our visit
Happy to help! 🥳
I do not mind walking 2 miles in one direction. As you say in Iceland " There is no bad weather only bad clothing." I am planning my trip in June. Good to know about the water, souvenirs and currency.
Bottled water is a rip off in my country too (Scotland has some of the best quality tap water anywhere). I only buy water if I’m out and about in desperate need to take pills and have already finished the tap water I took out and don’t have access to a tap. Fortunately, there has been a huge move towards installing water refill taps in cities like Glasgow and there’s an app that lists places near you that will fill your bottles for free (usually coffee shops).
About some points:
1. I saw it, made a photo and get to explore the city. Noting special.
2. I was one week in Iceland doing road trip adround the whole island and I was paying everywhere by my card. And I actually never had iclandic money in my hand. So you really do not need iclandic currency.
5. I am used to drink a tap water back in my home country but once you are in Iceland you need at least one bottle that you will be able to refill.
6. Yeah... I was on that parking spot and realized that I can spend that time around something more amazing.
7. I totally agree... I had rentend car... The best think I could do.
I just got back from a 2 week trip. I can say easily without a doubt its not more expensive then the same thing here in Florida at any sit down restaurant. Honestly better quality then we get here as well.
That’s what I was suspecting coming from Los Angeles also! That’s good to hear we’re going in a couple of months!
@@IsabellaOropel You will love it, we went to Germany after, but I can easily say Iceland has been my best trip! The people are so nice there.
True about the water, but in Reykjavik you need to make sure that you turn on only the cold water tap otherwise you might fill your water bottle with water that smells like sulfur
So many spectacular sights on the south coast. On the day we might have seen the plane wreck, we instead saw Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, went snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull, and visited Dyrhólaey. And Skógafoss, Gljúfrabúi, and Reynisfjara would have also been on the list, but we just didn't have time.
Thank you for the tips. I'm visiting Iceland on 4th of june and sooo looking forward to it.😊
How was your trip?
I don’t agree with the big bus point you made. We paid a small amount to do a bus tour of the golden circle and another day for the south coastal tour. The benefits of the bus tour is that parking is all paid for at the sites so no hassle, parking can also be a stress but all the stress is put onto the driver and your guide so you can sit back and relax, the guides are really knowledgeable and they have a mic so you can sit back and listen to what they have to say, they also put a good structure into the day so that you see everything and don’t spend too long at the one place. Driving can be stressful for some especially in a foreign country. Small busses also prone to motion sickness as it’s not as easy to see out the window. A big bus has large windows and is comfortable
Wow honest and concise.
I trust this guy.
Thanks
Thank you for the tips! I will be there next month and I'd already located a 10-11 near my apartment....now I'm looking for the nearest Bonus! Your mom was right - Don't do drugs and don't exchange at the airport! These were great and I will keep them in mind.
Great video! We just got back from a trip to Iceland. My tip to add is about the swimming pools-or just pools in general. There are expensive geothermal pools along the way around Iceland, but on the other hand, most towns we visited have local pools that also have geothermal warm water and are much less expensive. Some might say they aren't always as nice-looking, but a pool is a pool.
10-11 was very expensive, I found that Netto was a great supermarket to go to instead as they were much cheaper and had a bakery section where you can get a snack from. Was very suprised though when I first visited an Icelandic supermarket and was looking around for ages in vain trying to find a proper real beer though.
10-11 is deeefinetly a scam, but Nettó can be good! Next time try Bónus and Krónan - even cheaper! And we don't have alcohol in the grocery stores, just under 2,5% beers - so that's why you had a hard time with that one 🍻
I visited in 2010. I like the Sun Voyager. Not worth an effort to go just for it, but if you're wandering the Reykjavik shoreline it's nice to stop and it's very photogenic.
A great pointer!
As a native some of these sound a bit strange. Like to avoid the Sun Voyager due to wind? It´s a great spot to take photos and enjoy the scenery. And the plane wreck in the south coast is pretty picturesque on that pitch black beach. Great story behind it where two pilots just saved their lives landing there..
Thank you for the tips I’m on my way there in January for my bday. Do you have any hotel recommendations ?
Don’t forget to ensure your vehicle. Wind, sand, dents happen and if you don’t ensure your vehicle you will likely have an unexpected fee
Very very very true!
I wish we had walked a bit further to the Sun Voyager as we had walked along the bay to the Höfði Lighthouse and did not realise it was so close until I just looked while watching this video... DOH
Heading to your incredible country in August. Really appreciate the tips!! Thx.
Looking forward to my visit in November, thanks for the advice x
My wife & I have just visited Iceland for our honeymoon. We went knowing it was going to very expensive & it definitely was. However, as the video states, if you’re smart & look around the local area & ASK THE LOCALS you’ll find it isn’t unrealistic prices.
The main traps are food & drink prices during the tours or activities where you can’t seek alternatives. We did the small personal tour of the Golden Circle & the big bus Southern Coast tour. I didn’t find there was much difference other than during the golden circle the places we stopped for food & drinks were MUCH cheaper than the Southern Coast Tour.
We went to the Perlan & we had dinner there. The scenery was amazing & actual made the price “bearable”. However 2 meals & drinks costs us almost £70.
Yes, it’s expensive. To really enjoy your stay in Iceland you’re going to be spending an extra £1000-£2000 on tours, meals & gifts but I PROMISE YOU, it’s worth it. I’ve been to many places around the world & Iceland has been the only country to honestly take my breath away every day.
If you're going to do the Golden circle anyway you really should go with some sort of group so that you don't have to deal with parking. We did a medium size bus tour in 2010 and it was fine. Going in a private car would have been a pain.
Why ? We‘ve been there in 2014 in a rental car and we’re not really experienced drivers but it was no problem at all.
With my recent experience booking a northern lights tour prior to a katla ice cave tour was the wrong move and a waste of money...whole day katla ice cave tour ended at night time with bus stops at black sand beach and one of the southern waterfalls both stops had a clear view of the northern lights and due to the location was way better than what the northern lights tour had to offer.
So my suggestion if you plan on ice caving at katla, do that first. The northern lights tours are 3-4 hours of driving around light polluted spots with a chance of not seeing them at all. But with the ice cave tour you at least for sure will experience what you pay for with a good chance of seeing the northern lights.
I thought the Sun Voyager sculpture made for a great photo in the evening when it was lit up. I also enjoyed visiting the plane wreck and got some interesting photos there. (Trivia: Justin Bieber did a music video on Iceland and included the plane in it).
The blue lagoon is the most overrated attraction but everyone is still going to do it. (The water comes from the power station next door so it's not exactly an experience in a natural setting)
I went to Kronan close to the Oddson hotel ….the food at the deli was really good, just ready to eat chicken , sandwiches, giant apples … Hope I’ll be back to Iceland soon ….!
Thank you so much -great tips!!
See you on Monday!
I visited Iceland and loved it. I did not get caught in any of these tourist traps. However, we did go to the Blue Lagoon, which everyone raves about. I detested it: it was hot, crowded, and smelly. Other than that I loved every thing I saw & did in Iceland!
Thanks! The 1011, wool and souvenir shop were goo tip
Cya soon Iceland!
Thank you for your tips ❤ newly subbed 😊
Thanks for subbing! 🧡
I've been three times and everything he advised is completely true. The resale shops, also, in my opinion, have some good finds like Icelandic wool sweaters and other unique items. Managing food costs is the hardest part about visiting Iceland. Rent a car and buy a cooler and shop at Bonus if you have kids you will be glad you did. Iceland restaurants are few and far and very expensive. Pre-planned itinerary will help with making a great trip to Iceland. Wonderful people and great scenery. Enjoy.
Thanks for the comment! Great tips! 🥳
Excellent content
Much appreciated
I am working in Iceland during summer and I see that lopapeysa done by wife of boss here costs 22 000 while in shops in Ísafjörður 38 000. I bought Icelandic sheep wool and I will make my own sweater for around 15 000 (cost of wool, pattern and kneedles) 🥰
Thank you! Very informative. Subscribed 😊
Thank youuuu!
I never knew a youtuber speaks my language it´s nice to know that
Super useful!
Thank you fir tge informative video
Water in Iceland, depending how close you are to a volcanic pocket, can have a sulfuric flavor/smell. At least the sun voyager is free! Be prepared to spend when you're in Iceland; it's an island nation with steep prices. That said, it's beautiful and you should go at least once!
So helpful for me in the USA!!!
Thanks for the info :)
I also wanted to go to the plain wreck. But after reading some reviews I decided to send my drone from the parking lot :D yeah, it is a nice footage but not really worth it to go there. If someone is interested to do so, just follow the bus to find the wreck and use rth to get back.
I look forward to taking a tour with your company. I’m visiting from New York
I went to Iceland last May and booked several excursions through Wake Up Reykjavik. Really enjoyed our private group Golden Circle tour, the food tour, and a whale watching tour. We will be coming back this November and want to do a northern lights excursion.
Must say, I disagree that Sun Voyager is a tourist trap. I thought it was really beautiful and moving. I had studied that sculpture in college and was delighted to see it and thought it was beautifully situated. I do see comments about the Blue Lagoon, and while I fully agree that it is a tourist trap, I still feel like the experience was worth it. We flew into Reykjavik at 6:00 a.m. on a Tuesday. I do not sleep well on flights at all, so after a very long travel day being able to immediately stop at the Blue Lagoon and soak for 2 hours was wonderful. At that time the lagoon was not crowded, it was a lovely introduction to Iceland, and it killed some time before we drove to Reykjavik to check into our hotel.
Hey again! Thank you so much for the great feedback! The tourist traps are more of a personal though from us an our team, but I definitely get that it might be interesting for an artistic point of view - thanks for sharing! 🥳
Than you. Great video. We are heading to Iceland in August
Thanks for watching! 🧡
I'm at moment doing a 10 day around Iceland
I arrived in Iceland early yesterday morning and went to the nearest supermarket that was already open... 1011 😂
We are leaving in two days, my family is going on vacation and I'm just going to lift the dritvik and husafell stones lol
I lived at 15 skipholt, seconds away from a Bonus. I've never seen the 10-11 while I was there. The Bonus was still pretty damn expensive.
That’s why if it’s handmade and local people making it, they should not be charged taxes. This is a good incentive for local to make it locally instead of ship to another country. If they ship it to another country you can charge them for import taxes. This is fair.
A great point!
I visited Iceland last September and yeah...Esja Mountain is an absolute sight to see. My hotel was right on the harbourside and I ended up taking tons of pictures of it because none of them did the mountain justice. While I got some pretty cool pictures of the Sun Voyager at sunset I absolutely understand why a local would be underwhelmed. In my hometown we have a random archway that none of the locals care about even though its technically the city's 'landmark' and even includes the tagline but it would be VERY weird to see flocks of tourists taking pictures of/with it like there was at the Voyager 🤣 I did actually go in one of the puffin stores only to find that there were actually nicer little souvenir puffins for way cheaper in the duty free at the airport so I guess they got me.
Avoid the Blue Lagoon!
Right now, and for the foreseeable future, I would agree. The ongoing volcanic activity in the peninsula makes a successful trip there too insecure for tourists.
Thanks for excellent insider insights! For me, the Sun Voyager sculpture worked out because I simply happened upon it while walking, and it made for a good photo to post on Facebook 😅. It’s beautiful and there are nice ocean views.
I agree it does seem overhyped and I’m glad I didn’t go out of my way to see it!
Just returned from Iceland, if you are passing the Sun Voyager take a photo, but I wouldn’t make a special trip to see it.
How do I find the best small group tours for September 2025? I want to combine perhaps a week in Reykjavík and an Airbnb with a couple of chores at the beginning and end of my trip. Thanks
quality. good to support the local economy by buying the real products.
We hope to visit from the UK sometime soon,great video......am hoping the eather will be a bit warmer when we visit..Lol!!! Great tips and recommendations.....cheers!!!!
Believe me we hope so too! 😅 See you soon! 🧡
What about buying a Lopapeysur at the Flea market downtown from one of the vendors?
It’s hard to spend $200-$300 on a hand knit sweater… I spent all my money getting here… I wish there was an option for those of us in a lower tax bracket.
That same water is literally $2 here. I have tons of it for drinking or cooking regional dishes.
Yeah having your PIN number memorized is definitely convenient! Haha
It's definitely a good tip!
Do you need to bring your own bags to the grocery stores?
10-11 is pricey but saved us from a hungry night once. But VERY pricey. I’d add the Geysur to this list too. Too many ppl there and not that impressive compared to so many other incredible things to see.
The geysir and hot spring area is fascinating to see and definitely worth going to, it's a brilliant experience to see Strokkur erupt.
I am going to Iceland next month, Where do you recommend I stayed. Reykjavik or Selfoss? My final destination for our small group tour start on the 5th in Selfoss..Thank you
I would add that you should not bother with anything wildlife-related during the winter period.
Kolaportið used to be an actual flea market, now it's just a charming and sugarcoated version of the puffin stores downtown. As a matter of fact, it's always full of tourists and very few locals. You can tell that it's a trap because, as in many other cases, the majority of the signs are in English
If I booked a tour with you guys would you do hotel pickups, if there was a cost would be more than happy to pay I very much dislike the bus stop queue and that whole scene?
Hey there! It depends on where you book a hotel. Many streets in Reykjavík are so narrow that the sprinters are not allowed leagelly to drive them (or any car for that matter) so a great tip is to look at the booking page of our tours and there you can see a full list of hotels with pick up! If if does NOT have direct pick up, then a bus stop will be listed on the back of the hotel like (Go to Bus Stop #8) if it does not have that, then you have direct pick up there! Hope that helps! 🥳
Other than a bank, are there ATMs available if one wants to tip Tour Guides? Yes, I know about the tipping culture, but have heard otherwise from others.
I noticed you were wearing a 66North parka (looks like the Jokla). I'm considering purchasing a parka from 66North and trying to decide whether to get the Jokla or the Drangajökull. Would love to hear your thoughts on the matter. I'm an amateur photographer and am looking for something that can keep me warm and dry when stationary for long periods of time.
It's definitely an investment that is both stylish and comes in good quality. Both are good and I love the 66 brand. Choosing between the two, personally I would just go for what style I prefer since they are both have similar advantages! ☺️
@@WakeUpReykjavik.Is 66 North also produced in China ? I thought you are promoting production outside Iceland is not good . Here looks like double standard 😢
Nice video - thanks for being honest. See you in Reykjavik...
sem íslendingur veit ég ekkert afh ég horfði á etta en mér fannst etta mjög calming vídjó
Actually prevented all of these, but not the voyager which is nice... and yeah wind...welcome to iceland😂 so better never do hiking? Bus tours are one of the best by country and as someone who even likes to stay in a hostel its a good way to meet interesting people. Renting a car, being flexible and with friends, sure a great thing. One more i can tell is actually from a employee in one of those souvenir shops: the lava bracelets are generally not made from icelandic lava and so probably the same with many stuff from there. One icelandic guy told me to dont do blue lagoon, cause of dirt and no icelandic goes or works there. Well, as a german i....better skip a comparison. It was nice. And the recommendation from him to the Sky Lagoon would lead to the same problem after time😅
There's a bus who drives to the plane wreck until like 5 or 6 PM. Do you think its possible to drive with your own car to the plane? I guess theres nobody there who controls it?
If bottled water is a tourist trap in Iceland, how about canned air ? Actually air from the glacier. Yes, I saw it in a shop in Iceland, canned glacier air. I think it was in Vík.
We will be doing some day trips and would like to tip the guides. In your opinion do we need krona for that? (We are from the USA)
I have just returned from Iceland, tipping is not a “thing” in Iceland , but obviously entirely up to you.
I’ve visited 10 times since 2010, once on a 10 day tour and the other times alone. The 10 day tour had the same guide and same bus driver throughout and we all tipped both at the end of the tour. But I think the decision to tip a guide/driver for a day tour can be a personal choice, especially if it’s a smaller tour and you receive exceptional service.
Icelanders never tip. It is not part of the culture here
Our guide on a Superjeep tour told us tipping was not a thing.
I had one of those sweàters lasted me for . long time
Thanks for the insights, we are in Iceland now near selfoss, today gonna visit Reykyavík any advice?
Further I'm travelling with my parents , further do you know cheapest but good quality restaurant in the capital or nearby? About the bottles we are not used buying waterbottles of tap water, cause the water in our home country is drinkable.
Do you know where the warmwater river is? I heared about it, it's the cheaper option compared to blue lagoon which is super expensive, parrents are maybe planning to go there, but I mentioned the river. Greetings! 👋
Can you drink from any of the streams or running water?
My husband and I are planning to go for 4days only. Can someone recommend places we MUST visit?