Our 9 day trip was finally here and we couldn't wait to get started! The flight was only 6 hours but the night we flew, there were weather issues so we were delayed for several hours. But we finally took off close to midnight on Delta Airlines.
We arrived in Iceland around 10AM and picked up our rental. We were super excited to start the day! Our final destination was to end in Reykjavik where we rented our Airbnb for 2 days. But before we can check in at 3PM, we decided to drive south of the airport to see some sites.
Here are some of the places we visited.
REYKJANES CLIFFS
The drive to Reykjanes Cliffs was about 25 minutes south of the airport. The Reykjanes Cliffs is the most South Western tip of Iceland. You can climb up Valanjukur Hill and enjoy the view out to sea where you can see Eldey Island and the surrounding area. The area was so breath taking especially seeing the ocean.
BRIDGE BETWEEN TWO CONTINENTS
From Reykjanes Cliff, The bridge between two continents is a 9 minute drive.
The bridge between two continents is a small footbridge over a major fissure which provides clear evidence of the presence of a diverging plate margin. The bridge was built as a symbol for the connection between Europe and North America.
It was interesting to see this ridge that broke apart but it's a touristy stop so expect a lot of people. You can skip this if you're not into plate tectonics.
STEKKJARKOT
Stekkjarkot is a 16 minute drive from the Bridge between two Continents.
Stekkjarkot are cottages once common on the Reykjanes Peninsula and other coastal areas in Iceland. It was first built in 1855 and occupied by fishermen for 30 years before it was abandoned in 1917.
COSTCO
There is only one Costco in Iceland and it's near the capital, Reykjavik.
If you have a membership card, it does work! Before the trip, we decided to pick up a few bulk items for our drive around the island. Keep in mind, it's all Icelandic products. There is also no water but sparkling water. Water is safe to drink in Iceland from the tap or even the streams so you don't need to buy water in store.
REYKJAVIK: AIRBNB
We rented an Airbnb for two nights in Reykjavik for $300. It's a small studio apartment in the downtown area. It had a small dining area, kitchenette, bathroom and a queen size bed. Everything was in walking distance so we were super close to restaurants and grocery stores.
EXPLORING REYKJAVIK
After we had checked-in, we decided to walk around downtown Reykjavik. The buildings look so modern and cool. There were a lot of people walking so you never feel unsafe. We visited City Hall and Tjornin Pond. We also stopped by a 24 hour grocery store called 10-11. It was a little bit expensive but it was the only place opened after 7PM since most places close early. If you get a chance, stop by Bonus which is a grocery store that is affordable. Lastly we couldn't believe how bright it was at 10:30PM in Iceland. During the time we went, it was literally 24 hour sunlight except for 1 hour where it gets a little dark but it was still so bright out so don't forget your eye masks when you're trying to sleep!
FOOD
We had dinner at Cafe Babalu. It was a cute little cafe that stood out because of it's bright color. The inside was just as unique with money hanging as decorations. E ordered the grilled ham and cheese panini with chips. I ordered lamb soup with bread and Icelandic butter. The bread and butter was really delicious.
Overall, our first day was amazing! We got to see some great scenic views and experience some Icelandic nature. Reykjavik is such a cute town and everyone is truly nice and helpful. Everyone spoke English and it was easy to navigate downtown.
We couldn't wait to start our second day in Reykjavik.
Link to Day 1 Vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXersSFHgkQ
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