Iceland Travel Tips!

ICELAND TRAVEL TIPS! By the ÁRNI FAMILY - Tristan, Stefán, Tara, Milla & Leela

So many friends ask us for travel advice in Iceland I decided to write up a list of Iceland

Travel Tips - and get the family to chime in.

Note: This list is a work in progress because Iceaænd is always evolving - hope you find

this helpful!

Tristan has weekly Healing Flow Meditations on Sunday evenings (except for in

June and July) – not to miss! Be sure to Like Tristan’s Flow Meditation page: where you

will find all the details – where, when, what to bring, etc.

Handpicked Iceland: picked by picky locals- pick up a brochure at Handpicked stores -

and try the app!

Sights in Reykjavik you won’t want to miss:

Sky Lagoon - Official Website - Iceland’s all-new geothermal lagoon is located

oceanside, just minutes away from Reykjavík’s city center.

Harpa Concert Hall – stunning architecture, light shows at night, and fantastic line-ups in

music and entertainment!

The Settlement Museum – a fascinating place to learn about what is currently

considered Iceland’s very first settlement from the year 871 +/- 2 which happened to be

found in an archeological excavation in Reykjavik in 2002 – directly under the house

where Stefan’s father and grandmother and great-grandmother were all born!

http://www.minjasafnreykjavikur.is/.../deskto.../tabid-4206/

Iceland’s National Museum – Þjóðminjasafnið For information on The Sagas, the

history of Iceland and great coffee.

Fly Over Iceland - Official Website - SWEEPING GLACIERS, STUNNING FJORDS &

ANCIENT MYSTERIES. FlyOver Iceland utilizes state-of-the-art technology to give you

the feeling of flight. You will hang suspended, feet dangling, before a 20-metre spherical

screen while our film whisks you away on an exhilarating journey across Iceland. Special

effects, including wind, mist, and scents, combine with the ride’s motion to create an

unforgettable experience.

Hallgímskirkja in the center of town - take the elevator to the top and see Reykjavik in

360 degrees from the sky! Note: free parking around the church. Stefan and Tristan

were married there!

Laxness Horse Farm - just 25 minutes from city center - horsebackriding in paradise!

We’ve known this family run farm since 1995 - really one of the best experiences you

can find!

Grótta Lighthouse - beautiful nature walk by the coast, you might see some surfers!

Kólaportið - Reykjavik’s flea market - great place to find a handknit sweater!

Verzlunarhölinn - Second hand Icelandic clothing - locals love this place!

Hotels:

Our friends have had good luck renting from Air BnB.

If you are looking for a fancy hotel experience we recommend the Canopy or Edition.

They have a great restaurants and bars with exotic original cocktails.

If you are traveling around the countryside, some of our friends have rented from ‘Happy

Campers’ and have had wonderful experiences. This might be more comfortable than

tenting - as weather can be unpredictable - and Iceland is the most windy inhabited

country on earth.

SWIMMING:

Take advantage of the wide range of swimming pools all over Reykjavik and all over the

country! Being in Iceland is like living in a spa! Each pool will have a sauna, a steam

room, a cold plunge pool and jacuzzis with massage jets - not to be missed!

Places to Eat:

Sisterhood Cafe - aka Systrasamlægið - all organic! Fantastic soup, coffees, cacaos, all

kinds of smoothies, juices, and sandwiches. Tristan’s favorite. ;-)

Reykjavik Roasters – considered by many to have the best coffee in town. They use

Organic Milk whenever possible! For that reason, it is my favorite. There are three

locations - our favorite location: Freyjugata near Hallgrímskirkja. Note: there is an art

gallery upstairs and downstairs!

A favorite vegetarian café: Ecstasy’s Heart Garden: http://www.heart-garden.is/ Great

peaceful vibes here and always a wonderful lunch.

Mama Reykjavik - a local vegan cafe with cacao, great vegetarian food and cozy

atmosphere.

NETTÓ.

Best Icecream! SKÚBB - ORGANIC and amazing, also available in liter size at

Heilsuhusið has fresh RAW ORGANIC JUICE – and is the only place that sells

ORGANIC JUICE, and for that reason, it is my favorite juice place! Other places that do

great juices and smoothies are JOE and the JUICE and Lemon.

Kaffi Mokka – a place for delicious hot chocolate, coffee and waffles. Founded in 1958,

the place is charming as it has not changed - except it’s really crowded these days with

tourists. Has new art exhibits every two weeks!

Best bakeries: Bakeries that makes artisinal breads using only the best ingredients

BAKABAKA

SANDHOLT BAKARI

They also serve lunches, coffees, etc. YUM!

Buying Food:

Shop at BÓNUS to save money, and shop at NETTÓ to find a good selection of

Organic products.

TO AVOID GMOs in Iceland - you have to be careful and buy organic products, for

example milk products, greek yogurt and milk from BÍO-BÚ - available nearly in every

store. The normal dairy products sadly contain GMOS.

Buy Organic eggs in the light green box. All other egg producers use GMO feed.

Lamb meat is organically raised and therefore GMO free.

Fantastic seafood

Höfnin: http://www.hofnin.is/

Messinn

Kaffivagninn

Out at night

Happy hour at Hotel Holt – sit in a cozy place surrounded by artwork by Icelandic

masters Kjarval and others. http://www.holt.is/english/about/our-art/

Tolf Tonar - Official Website - 12 Tónar, established in 1998, is a legendary record store

and a label in the heart of Reykjavík. In 2019 we added a bar and a café which is very

popular with the locals. We regularly host concerts and events in the store or in our

beautiful backyard, where the sun always shines.

Bío Paradís - Official Website - Reykjavik’s cult art house cinema, the largest of its kind

in Europe and a hot spot for culture and the best films. Tara Njála works there!

Awesome Products to buy - Shopping Icelandic design & quality

Taste of Iceland on Laugavegur has all the best local and handmade products!

TARAMAR - Best most pure skincare line ever!

SÓLEY - Amazing skincare line featuring Icelandic herbs

66°NORTH - Outdoor apparel

FARMER’S MARKET - Icelandic Fashion brand

Aftur; http://www.aftur.is/

Hanknitter’s Association of Iceland: The BEST place to buy Icelandic woolens:

http://www.handknit.is/en/user/home

Geysir: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Geysir/138860732810963

Hildur Yeoman - designs clothes for Lorelee of Kraungbin!

Note: do not buy from IceWear or tourist shops known as “Puffin stores”

Fashion and not eco-friendly!

- this is Fast

Innovation scene:

KLAK - at Gróska

Ocean Cluster - Grandagarður 16 - in the harbour area

Art galleries!

Listasafn Reykjavikur

Hafnarhúsið

Kjarvalsstaðir

West Coast:

Snæfellsness Peninsula: If the weather is sunny and clear we suggest this is the most

magical area you can find in Iceland! There are many wonderful places around the

Snæfellsnes Pensinsula and these are our top picks:

Hotel Búðir for a cup of coffee or a meal and the view and walks around that area are

stunning. http://www.hotelbudir.is/

Hellnar Café: http://www.west.is/en/west-iceland-regions/hellnar

Djúpalónssandur: https://guidetoiceland.is/.../djupalonssandur-beach---a...

https://www.google.com/search?q=dj%C3%BApal%C3%B3nssandur...

The Freezer Hostel – a theatre and hostel and the BEST place on the peninsula for

soulful time – be sure to stop by and meet Kári Viðars who made this place from nothing!

Give him an Oscar! http://www.thefreezerhostel.com/

Some more photos of the area to be found here:

https://www.re.is/day-tours/the-wonders-of-snaefellsnes

and

https://www.google.com/search?q=sn%C3%A6fellsnes...

South Coast:

Gullfoss and Geysir https://www.google.com/search?q=sn%C3%A6fellsnes...

Sólheimar Eco Village – Scandinavia’s oldest Eco Village – over 80 years ago a close

disciple of Rudolph Steiner founded this place in the heart of the fertile Grímsbæ area.

Art, crafts, organic growing, Café,

- all the best things. On a very personal note Tristan’s

Dad connected Sólheimar to the Global Eco Village Network in 1996. His ashes are to

be buried there at the chapel churchyard this summer as was his wish.

http://www.solheimar.is/

The North:

Akureyri - Botanical Gardens

Syðra Holt - Biodynamic farm - Family-run Organic Farm with Biodynamic approach at

Svarfaðardalur