Even with ten glorious days driving around Iceland, there are still experiences I missed – and they’ve been sitting in the back of my mind ever since.
Iceland is one of those places where you could spend a month and still run out of time, so I’m sharing the five things I wish I’d done on our trip…and exactly how I plan to make them happen next time.
If you’re planning your own visit, this list might just save you from saying “next time” too.
Contents
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Spend More Time in Reykjavik (Including Perlan)
We only had around 36 hours in Reykjavik, and honestly, that wasn’t even close to enough. The city has such a vibrant, creative energy, and I barely scratched the surface.
What I missed:
- Time to wander the colourful streets without rushing
- A proper visit to Perlan – especially the planetarium show and the ice cave
- The Reykjavík Maritime Museum or the Saga Museum
- A free walking tour (my favourite way to get started in a new city)
- The Lava Show, which everyone raves about
How I’ll fix it next time:
I’m giving Reykjavik a full 2–3 days. I want to slow right down, enjoy the cafés, explore the street art, and treat Perlan like the half-day attraction it deserves to be.
I think I could easily spend a week just in Reykjavík, what with the plethora of day tours available and the things to do in the city.
Before my trip I would have scoffed at that, and I do still think it’s definitely better to explore further afield. But if you can’t, I now I can see it’s entirely possible to see and do a lot from a Reykjavík base.
Snorkel Between the Continental Plates
This is the one that stings – everyone who does it says it’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment and it was the one thing I really considered squeezing in.
Silfra is the clearest water on the planet, and the idea of floating between the North American and Eurasian plates is wild.
I’m not sure how I will go in the cold water, but for this unique opportunity, I’d be willing to brave it.
Why I skipped it:
My husband isn’t a snorkeler, and we chose to prioritise things we both wanted to do. Totally fair at the time…but I’ve been thinking about it ever since!
How I’ll fix it next time:
Book a Silfra snorkel tour and go solo if he doesn’t want to join me. It’s safe, fully guided, and they provide all the gear.
Ride Icelandic Horses
Icelandic horses are small, sturdy and have that famous tölt gait – and every time one trotted past our camper van I thought “why didn’t I book this?”
I had my own horses as a kid, but as an adult I’ve not had the chance to ride often. I love it though and cherish every opportunity I have to get on horseback.
Why I skipped it:
Again…the husband isn’t really a rider. He’s done a few rides with me, and I’ll likely be abe to talk him into this one – otherwise, next trip, we’re splitting up for a few hours.
Important note:
There are weight limits, and they differ depending on the horse farm. I’ll be double-checking those before I book.
How I’ll make it happen:
A short countryside ride near Reykjavik or on the south coast. There are loads of options, many perfect for beginners.
See the Puffins
We missed them by days – DAYS! They return to the sea in mid-August, and we arrived just a little too late.
Why I missed them:
Timing. Puffins are usually on land from May to early August, peaking June-July.
How I’ll fix it next time:
Plan the trip a couple of weeks earlier, or perhaps before summer, in May.
I will make sure I include at least one of the well-known puffin locations on our itinerary. I now know the best places to see puffins in Iceland are:
- Dyrhólaey on the South Coast
- Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands)
- Látrabjarg Cliffs in the Westfjords
I might even book a dedicated puffin-watching tour. Some tours leave right from Reykjavik, so it’s super easy.
Do a Food Tour
We love trying local food, especially when someone else is doing the navigating and storytelling.
Somehow, with all the driving and long days, we didn’t make this happen.
What I wanted:
- To try more Icelandic staples with a local guide
- Learn the stories behind dishes like lamb soup and rye bread
- Maybe even try fermented shark…even though I’m not thrilled about that idea!
How I’ll fix it next time:
Book a food tour for the first day/night. That way we’ll jump straight into Iceland’s food culture before the whirlwind of waterfalls and hiking takes over.
Iceland is one of my favourite places on the planet, but even after ten days of waterfalls, volcanoes, beaches and hot springs, I walked away thinking “Oh…I wish I’d done that too.”
Travelling is like that though – sometimes it’s the things we miss that pull us back for round two.
And if you’re planning your own Iceland road trip, take a look at my 10-Day Iceland Itinerary and my Iceland Campgrounds review for even more ideas.
TRAVEL PLANNING ESSENTIALS
Find flights – I always use Skyscanner as my starting point when searching for flights. One search will give many options including airlines I may not have thought of. This means I can find the best possible flights to suit my needs
Book accommodation – my go to is always Booking.com for the best places to stay. It’s not just hotels anymore, but hostels, apartments, B&Bs and more. I love that the bookings are usually cancellable, and that I can book now and pay later.
Hire a rental car – RentalCars.com is my go to here. It allows me to do just one search and it finds cars from many of the different supplies, so no checking multiple websites to compare.
Get travel insurance – you would have heard by now that saying “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel”. If we’ve learnt anything from the last couple of years it should be how essential travel insurance is. I use CoverMore for my insurance.
Pick up an eSIM – I tried an eSIM on my last trip and it was fantastic. I set it up before I went so it was ready as soon as I landed, and I still had access to my home number for emergencies. Get your own eSIM at Airalo.
Book activities, tours & attractions – I use a few different websites for this. Viator and Get Your Guide tend to be the first places I look. In Asia, Klook often has more options, and in Australia it’s Experience Oz.
Manage your money – the best way to manage your different currencies is with an account from Wise. You can hold money in many different currencies, and use them with the ATM card or from your phone.
