I decided to make a personal injection of tourist dollars into the collapsed Icelandic economy. I’ve got a flight next week, and a hotel, but no other. What do you recommend?
Specifically, is the Golden Circle tour awesome, or super-awesome?
Do I need a warm coat, or a full-body ski suit?
Which sagas should I read to get in the mood?
I’m sure Worm the Red will have some advice to offer soon, but until then, I can give you a few tips. I was there about 1 year ago.
Certainly do the Golden Circle tour. Gulfoss and Geyser are amazing, and I think the tours are around $30 or less now, so you’d be a fool not to go. There are a bunch of tour companies, but they all seem to have the same thing at the same price.
You should also check out the Blue Lagoon. You can combine this with your bus trip to or from the airport pretty easily. The national church is worth a visit too. You can skip the saga museum in the big water tanks; there’s nothing wrong with it, but I wouldn’t call it a must see. The National Museum is worth a look, as are the manuscripts of the sagas in the culture house. (I think that’s what it’s called) You probably know that you won’t have much daylight each day in the winter, but you can look into a northern lights tour from the same companies that do the Golden Circle deal. I can ride horses and snowmobiles at home, but if you want to do that kind of thing, there are tours for that.
The bars on the weekends are awesome if you like the bar/club scene, but during the week and Sunday everything closes at 1:00, so keep that in mind if you like to party. If you like to meet women, that can be done too without much trouble. I don’t know if the party scene is still raging with the economic troubles, but what else are locals going to do with 19 hours of dark?
In general, Reykjavik is warmer in the winter than NYC, so no reason to bring any expedition grade clothing; warm jacket and gloves are all. Icelanders seem to like to look good, so don’t show up looking like a slob.
If you are going to be there on New Years Eve, they party like rock stars, or so I’m told.
Have a great trip, I’m planning on going back in the Spring.
G’morning!
I make a point of purchasing almost all of our sweaters in Iceland and don’t miss a chance to browse whenever I’m there. They’re generally relatively expensive (compared to the states), but last ‘forever,’ and are definitely worth it - if you’re a sweater fan.
Just a li’l bit it extra fun if you’re into sweaters. 
- Jesse.
Thanks T-SQUARE.
And Jesse, sweater-buying is definitely on my list now. I once bought a yakswool sweater in China that has lasted me years and years. So I look forward to adding to my international sweater wardrobe.
You’re going now, at the coldest time of year? I plan to go to Iceland someday, but it will definitely be in summer.
Good on ya, Richard, for going to Iceland when they really need some dinero.
I went many years ago, loved it, and hope to go back to see more of the country.
One impressive thing for me, a real water lover, was the geothermal swimming pools. They look to be open in winter. I went in May, still cold air, but had a great day just soaking in all the various modes of water temps and bubbling. I’ve never seen anything comparable in the US.
Not much to add, and I am sure Worm the Red will have oodles to say, but I too was in Iceland ages ago and loved every minute of it.
Really nice people, very odd landscape, and those sweater certainly are worth their weight in gold…they style will never go out of fashion and they do indeed last forever, of course assuming your waistline remains about the same so you can continue to wear them forever.
Reykjavik is warmer than NYC right now, you might be surprised to learn. The cold isn’t really an issue. The dark (5 hours of daylight) may prove more depressing.
It wasn’t really a choice born of strategy, but more the combination of some free time and Iceland’s unique economic circumstances. But, the Northern Lights are best during the winter (and some say the pools are too!). Plus you can ride Icelandic horses through the snow and I love traveling when there aren’t many other tourists.
Thank you for choosing to support our fledgling economy
Now, with flattery out of the way, lemme see:
T_Square’s advice is good and solid, but keep in mind that you can actually see the Northern Lights in town as well. So no need to spend mucho dineros on a bus tour into the hinterlands, when you can spend much less to soak yourself in a hot-tub (38-45°c) while still being able to see them.
Weather? We’ve had a cold spell for most of December (just below freezing) but it seems like Christmas isn’t supposed to be white 
so now it’s all disappearing into a rainy gray mush. Snow might be back next week, or not. The weather is notoriously unreliable; you can’t ever count on it.
Partying is still on! This weekend was dull, as expected, but I expect people to be back to normal come next weekend (or new years eve). You don’t head out until after midnight (around 1 AM) and don’t head home until early in the morning (5-7 AM). That will be even more valid for New Years, since most people will spend 12 o clock with friends and family.
Prices? A beer at a bar is around 700 ISK, a burger at a joint is about 1200 ISK, a cab is way too expensive to consider (at least a 1000 ISK for a really short ride).
Feel free to send me a PM if you’d be interested in getting a beer/coffee/hot dog when you get here. Or if you’ve got any other questions, just shoot.
We had to land in Iceland once to refuel towards Norway for a NATO deployment. The plane first got hit by lightning and then the pilot overshot the landing and had to go around for another pass. Fun times.
Sorry Worm. Hopefully your economy is on the upside.
Thanks WormTheRed.
A few more questions (for anyone who knows):
Do most places take Visa or do I need to get some ISK?
Are there good hot-tubs in Reykjavik closer than the Blue Lagoon?
Where should I go to buy a couple of sweaters?
Ever been dog sledding? Worth it?
All places accept VISA, but I’d check the exchange rate you’re getting before you leave. It might be a better deal to buy some ISK.
Only about 20 open air pools in the Reykjavik area 
You’ll want to hit Laugardalshöllin, since they’re both the largest and offer the best view of beautiful women who just finished their workouts.
Sweaters? There are a few shops on and off Laugarvegur (the main shopping and party street) that offer them.
Never been dog sledding. But it costs a lot and takes a whole day, since you have to head up on a Glacier. My advice would be to stick with the horses.
I have never been to Iceland but once had a very vivid dream about the thermal pools that is still with me after a dozen years. So, Yeah, I am a bit envious that you are going.
Things I would definately check on:
Book and music stores. Nothing brings back a vacation like local flavor music CD’s.
Local bars. (Bonus points for getting completely wasted and finding interesting pictures on your camera later on.)
knitting shops ( cause, behind every quaint store front of Ye Old Knitting Shoppe is a cauldron of hot, steamy, lustiness!) ok, YMMV. I’d go just for the yarn and books.
Definately get a sweater and maybe some kind of Iceland christmas ornament for future memories.
I am very envious.
There are a couple of really nice book stores right in the town center. Worm can probably tell you the name, but when you are on the main street walking toward the center (with the sea on your right) on your left along a majorish cross street is a multi story book store with a sushi bar on the top floor. They have a lot of stuff in English, as well as non-book souvineers; I got a nice translation of the Sagas there.
I can’t tell you the exact location, but close to the harbor is a great hot dog stand that is pretty famous. I found it by accident and was amused to see ole Bill Clinton’s picture inside the stand from when he stopped in for a dog.
I don’t really know how to spot a good sweater, but there are dozens of places that sell them on the main street. The wares in the shops all seem to be of good quality; not junky tourist stuff.
The pools in town are nice, but I wouldn’t miss the Blue Lagoon if you can help it, there’s nothing like it in the world.
$3 beers sounds pretty good. Kind of amazing a place can go from Paris prices to Oklahoma City prices in year’s time.
The book store is called IÐA, but I’d rather recommend Mál og Menning, which is on your right side just up Laugarvegur (the main street). It has more of a book store feeling, while IÐA is more touristy (which actually might be what you’re looking for).
The hot dog stand is a must, just because they sold one to Clinton when he was visiting.
Don’t miss out on the Blue Lagoon! I’m just saying there are other options if you’re crammed for time and still want to soak in the water for an hour or so.
And yeah, kinda amazing how the rest of the world went from being cheap to being really expensive
I went to Iceland in (their) summer in 2005. I enjoyed it greatly. This was the itinerary that I took:
Of course you’ll be there for winter, with much reduced daylight hours, so you won’t be able to see nearly as much.
When come back, bring hakarl.
I remember that bookshop, and I agree. It was very good.
Try a seared sheep’s head. The eye is the best part, apparently.
Cunctator, how long a time did you spend in Iceland? Cause that’s a quite lot of places.