Here are some of the things I picked up along the way.

  1. Rent a car and drive yourself places. Renting a car wasn’t cheap by any means (we booked through enterprise) but the ability to be on our own time and avoid crowds made it worth it.
    • Make sure you have a GPS. It’s a big country and there aren’t many places to ask directions.
    • Download the 112 emergency app. It never hurts to be over-prepared when you find yourself stranded in the middle of a National Park. Or something.
    • Fill up your tank when you find a fuel station, you don’t know where the next one will be.
  2. Try to hit stuff at off-peak hours. Gullfoss in the middle of the night, Reykjavik before sun up, and Blue Lagoon before closing were amazing experiences. We didn’t have to contend with buses of tourists wielding their selfie sticks and got the most out of where we were, even if it was for a little less time.
  3. Buy booze at the airport. When you’re leaving Keflavik you can hit up duty-free and take it with you. Do this.
    • Icelandic vodka is awesome.
    • Drinks are EXPENSIVE and I’m talking by Seattle standards. Our wallets were quite glad for the pre-drinks before going out.
  4. Try to pick up the basics of the language. Icelandic people are really nice about speaking English *looking at you Parisians* but they appreciated, and laughed at, our bungled attempts at speaking the native tongue. If I can attempt Eyjafjallajökull and Þingvellir in my weird Northwest accent so can you!
  5. If the Aurora Borealis show up stop what you’re doing and watch. You can’t control when or if you see them but they are the most magical natural phenomenon I’ve experienced. Standing in 0* F temps to watch them dance across the sky was SO worth the frozen feet and noses.
  6. Don’t try the Puffin. I did the leg work for you on this. It’s gross. Think of a gamey oyster, that’s the flavor and texture profile you’re dealing with. Just don’t do it. Even Icelandic people don’t like it.
  7. Do your research. Reading blogs and books helped shape the trip to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
  8. Dress warm!