Reykjavík
Day 1: Keflavík to Reykjavík
Our flight landed at Keflavík airport in the early afternoon. We picked up our rental car and started our drive towards the capital, Reykjavik.
The city's architecture is really interesting. Most of the buildings are constructed from corrugated iron in various colours. Apparently Icelanders began using this material in the 1870s. It was an affordable material that provided protection against Iceland's harsh climate. Prominent structures include the Harpa concert hall, which was built in 2011 and has a distinctive shape covered in glass. Then there's Hallgrímskirkja, the tallest church in Iceland, built to resemble volcanic basalt columns. From the top of the tower is the iconic view of the colourful city below.
Eat
There are several really good restaurants in Reykjavík. One that gets mentioned all the time is a New Nordic restaurant, Dill. See our seven-course tasting menu here.
Golden Circle
Day 2: Reykjavík to Þingvellir
The Golden Circle is a route that covers several attractions within a short distance. It starts east of Reykjavík to as far as the Gullfoss waterfall before looping back. Some of the most popular attractions include:
Þingvellir National Park
Haukadalur geothermal area (Geysir and Strokkur geysers)
Gullfoss waterfall
Secret Lagoon
Kerið Crater Lake
Eat & Stay
Situated near Þingvellir National Park, the ION Adventure Hotel is a good base from which to explore the Golden Circle. It is also a unique design hotel in the middle of a lava field.
