"Where Hot Lava And Cold Glaciers Live Side By Side.“
Iceland is a Nordic island nation in the North Atlantic, often called the “Land of Fire and Ice” for its striking contrasts of glaciers and volcanoes. With a population of just under 400,000, it is one of Europe’s least populated countries, yet it boasts one of the highest living standards in the world. Settled by Norse Vikings in the 9th century, the country has a rich literary heritage, from medieval sagas to modern writers, and today it thrives on clean geothermal energy, fresh seafood, and quirky cultural innovations like skyr and even a dating app to avoid cousins. For travelers, Iceland offers both awe and comfort — a place where nature dominates daily life, yet safety, sustainability, and high quality of living are assured.
Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital and cultural heart, is a city that feels both intimate and cosmopolitan. Its name, meaning “Smoky Bay,” comes from the steam rising from nearby hot springs that greeted the first settlers. Today, Reykjavík is home to about two‑thirds of the nation’s population, yet it retains the charm of a small town with colorful houses, a walkable center, and views of snow‑capped mountains and the sea. Iconic landmarks like Hallgrímskirkja church and the glass‑fronted Harpa Concert Hall define its skyline, while the Old Harbor buzzes with whale‑watching tours, seafood restaurants, and art galleries. The city thrives on creativity, with festivals, music, and street art woven into daily life, and its cozy cafés reflect Iceland’s strong coffee culture. Reykjavík is a place where Viking history meets modern sustainability, offering travelers a blend of sagas, geothermal warmth, and a welcoming atmosphere that mirrors the country itself.
We chose Reykjavík as our base, a city that offers everything we need without the need to drive. Its walkable streets, lively harbor, and cozy cafés make it the perfect starting point. From here, our journey begins, and our stories start to unfold against the backdrop of Iceland’s fire and ice.
Reykjavík International Airport
Coming to Iceland from Denmark, our passports will not be stamped because both countries are part of the Schengen Area. Travel within Schengen is treated much like moving between regions of the same zone, so while border officers may check your passport or ID for verification, they do not usually mark it with an entry stamp. Instead, you will walk through the Schengen arrivals lane at Keflavík International Airport, pass any customs checks for food or goods, and continue into Reykjavík without formal immigration stamping. This system reflects the freedom of movement within Schengen, where the emphasis is on customs regulations rather than passport control.
Reykjavík’s Keflavík International Airport is modest in scale compared to the sprawling hubs of Europe, yet it serves as Iceland’s vital gateway to the world. With a single main terminal, it feels compact and easy to navigate, offering short walking distances between gates, shops, and customs. Though smaller, it is modern and efficient, with clean Nordic design and a surprisingly large duty-free store that locals themselves frequent for better prices on alcohol and goods. Facilities are limited compared to airports in Copenhagen or Amsterdam, but you will still find cafés, souvenir shops, and Icelandic wool products that immediately set the tone for your journey. What makes Keflavík distinctive is not its size but its atmosphere: stepping outside, travelers are greeted by the stark lava fields and sweeping Atlantic winds, a dramatic reminder that this small airport is the threshold to an extraordinary island.
Flybus
The Flybus is Iceland’s most popular airport transfer service, connecting Keflavík International Airport with downtown Reykjavík and major hotels. Operated by Reykjavík Excursions, it runs in sync with all arriving flights, so you’ll always find a bus waiting, even late at night. The journey takes about 45 minutes, with options to stop at the central bus terminal or continue directly to selected hotels and guesthouses. Tickets can be purchased online, at the airport desk, or directly from the driver, making it a seamless first step into Iceland.
The bus is modern, warm, and comfortable, with large windows designed for sightseeing. After the bustle of the airport, there’s a quiet hush as travelers settle in, often still wrapped in winter coats, clutching cameras or steaming cups of coffee. At the airport, I approached the Flybus counter even though I already had e‑tickets, just to confirm the details. After checking my e‑tickets, the staff handed me green tags and explained that the bus driver would ask for them.
On the Flybus, luggage handling is straightforward and efficient: large suitcases are stored securely in the under‑bus compartments by staff before departure, while smaller carry‑on bags can be tucked into overhead racks or kept at your feet.
Cushioned, reclining seats with armrests. They are designed for short to medium journeys (about 45 minutes to Reykjavík), so they’re comfortable but not luxury long-haul style.
As the bus pulls away from Keflavík, the landscape opens into vast lava fields, black and rugged, stretching endlessly under the sky. In winter, snow dusts the rocks, glowing faintly in the low light; in summer, moss softens the terrain with a muted green.
For many, this is the moment Iceland truly begins — the silence of the bus, the hum of the engine, and the stark, otherworldly view outside combine into a sense of awe and anticipation.
Tips: If you choose a seat on the left side which Offers sweeping views of the Reykjanes lava fields, stretching endlessly in jagged black rock and moss. You’ll catch glimpses of the Atlantic Ocean in the distance as the road curves north.
If you choose a seat on the right side that the Views are more inland, with rugged lava fields still visible but less dramatic. Occasionally you’ll see geothermal steam vents and the rolling volcanic terrain closer up.
BSI Bus Terminal
The BSÍ Bus Terminal is Reykjavík’s main transit point for airport buses. We took the general Flybus from Keflavík Airport to BSÍ, then transferred to another bus bound for our hotel, organized by zones.
When the bus stopped, we collected our luggage from the underneath compartment and walked through the terminal to the far end, where the “domestic zone” pick‑up points are located — mine was the green zone, bus stop number 9. BSÍ also serves as the meeting point for many popular tours across Iceland, making it a hub of activity for travelers. Inside, the terminal offers practical facilities such as ticket counters, luggage storage, car rental desks, restrooms, and even camping gear rentals. For departure, the process is just as smooth: a bus collects passengers from their zone (in my case, bus stop 9) and returns them to BSÍ, where they transfer to the general Flybus back to the airport. In short, BSÍ is both a gateway to Iceland’s countryside and a convenient link between Reykjavík and Keflavík, making it one of the capital’s most important transport landmarks.
There, my bus driver held up the green zone tag, making the signage and instructions unmistakably clear.
Inside the domestic bus bound for the green zone, the atmosphere was practical yet cozy. Passengers in winter coats settled into modern seats upholstered in blue and gray, while overhead handrails with hanging straps offered support for those standing. A wood-patterned floor added warmth to the otherwise sleek design, and bags clustered near the front hinted at fellow travelers’ journeys. At the front, a glowing green sign marked ‘DROP OFF,’ making the route feel clear and reassuring.
CenterHotel Laugavegur is a modern 4‑star hotel on Reykjavík’s main shopping street, opened in 2019, owned and operated by the Icelandic family‑run CenterHotels group.
Its facade reflects the city’s urban character — clean lines, large windows, and a modern exterior that blends into the lively rhythm of Laugavegur, Reykjavík’s famous shopping street
Stepping inside, the lobby feels warm and contemporary, with minimalist Nordic décor, soft lighting, and a stylish yet cozy atmosphere that immediately sets visitors at ease. The staff, known for their friendliness and efficiency, are Icelandic locals who embody the country’s welcoming spirit, offering guidance on everything from city walks to day trips into the countryside.
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| The scene outside the window is the bus stop 9. |
The hotel features 102 guest rooms, each thoughtfully designed to blend modern comfort with a distinctly Icelandic sense of warmth. Accommodations range from compact, cozy retreats to more spacious rooms with views over the city, all equipped with private bathrooms, contemporary furnishings, and inviting details such as soft linens and a calming palette inspired by the surrounding landscape. Despite its central location on Reykjavík’s lively streets, visitors often note the serene quiet of the rooms, making them a welcome refuge after a day of exploration.
Breakfast Culture
Iceland’s breakfast culture is rooted in simplicity, nourishment, and a deep respect for local ingredients, making it quite different from the heavy, diner-style breakfasts common elsewhere. Most Icelanders eat breakfast at home or pick up something from a bakery rather than going out to restaurants, which traditionally don’t serve morning meals except in Reykjavík where tourist demand has introduced more international options.
Overall, the atmosphere is calm and restrained: portions are modest, flavors are clean, and the ritual is more about starting the day with quiet sustenance than indulgence. For travelers, this means embracing a breakfast that feels both ancient and modern anchored in tradition yet perfectly aligned with contemporary ideas of wholesome eating.
Must book accommodation that includes breakfast
Breakfast restaurants in Reykjavík are surprisingly scarce, since most locals eat at home and cafés tend to open later in the morning. For travelers, this means that relying on finding an early sit‑down breakfast can be frustrating, especially with tours often departing before 8 a.m. Booking a hotel that includes breakfast is not just convenient — it’s practically essential. Icelandic hotel buffets are generous and varied, with skyr, rye bread, cheeses, smoked salmon, eggs, and fresh fruit laid out to fuel a long day of exploring. Securing a hotel with breakfast ensures you won’t waste precious time searching for an open café, and instead you’ll begin each day well‑fed, on schedule, and immersed in Iceland’s food culture from the very first bite.
Mornings begin at Lóa Restaurant, the hotel’s inviting dining space, where a generous breakfast buffet offers fresh breads, cheeses, cold cuts, fruit, hot dishes, and Icelandic staples like skyr. The restaurant’s atmosphere is relaxed yet stylish, serving sharing plates and local flavors later in the day, but at breakfast it is the aroma of coffee and the sense of being at the heart of the city that set the tone for the day ahead.
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| Icelandic porridge. |
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| Glad it is not the stinky kind, it is salty kind, I can accept. |
Below are the breakfasts we had throughout our days here, it is a good start afterall.
Water
Iceland’s tap water is often praised as some of the cleanest and purest in the world, and visitors are encouraged to drink it straight from the tap without hesitation. Its exceptional quality comes from natural sources: glacier melt and underground springs that are filtered through layers of volcanic rock, which act as a natural purifier. Because Iceland has a small population, minimal industry, and vast untouched landscapes, the risk of pollution is extremely low, meaning the water requires little to no chemical treatment before reaching homes. The cold tap water is crisp, clear, and refreshing, often described as tasting almost sweet compared to treated water elsewhere. Hot tap water, heated geothermally, may carry a faint sulfur smell, but the cold water is the true treasure — a daily reminder of Iceland’s pristine environment and volcanic geology. For travelers, it means carrying a reusable bottle and enjoying the luxury of glacier‑fresh water at every turn, a simple yet unforgettable part of the Icelandic experience. Remember to bring along a reuseable water bottle!
Our verdict: Icelandic tap water tastes exceptionally clean and pure, with a crisp, neutral flavour that many people find fresher than bottled water. It is very soft due to its low mineral content, giving it a smooth, light mouthfeel without any chalky, metallic, or chemical aftertaste, and there is typically no hint of chlorine. The cold tap water in particular feels refreshing and almost like natural spring or melted glacier water, while only the hot tap water may have a sulfur smell because it is geothermally heated and not intended for drinking.
Laugavegur Street is Reykjavík’s main shopping avenue, lined with boutiques, cafés, bars, and souvenir shops that capture the city’s lively spirit. By day it bustles with locals and visitors exploring Icelandic design, and by night it transforms into a hub of nightlife and music.
I will do a separate blog on the exploration of the Icelandic life along the downtown.
Golden Circle Tour
The Golden Circle feels less like a route and more like a pilgrimage through Iceland’s living heart. At Þingvellir, the earth itself opens in quiet grandeur, where continents drift apart and history whispers from the stones of the world’s first parliament. The air carries a crisp clarity, as if inviting you to breathe in centuries of human and geological memory. From there, the land trembles with anticipation at the Geysir geothermal fields, where Strokkur erupts in sudden bursts of steam and water—nature’s applause echoing against the sky. And then comes Gullfoss, the golden waterfall, thundering into its canyon with a force both fierce and tender, sunlight catching in its spray like scattered jewels. Each stop feels like a chapter in a saga: tectonic, volcanic, and glacial forces weaving together a story that is both timeless and immediate. The Golden Circle is not just a tour—it is Iceland’s soul, revealed in three breathtaking verses.
“I’ will dedicate a separate blog post to share more detailed insights about the Golden Circle tour.”
The South Coast Tour
The South Coast unfolds like a saga written in water, stone, and fire. At Seljalandsfoss, you step behind the shimmering veil of a waterfall, the world transformed into a secret chamber of spray and light. A little farther, Skógafoss thunders with unrelenting power, its mist catching rainbows that feel like fleeting promises. The road bends toward the sea, where Reynisfjara’s black sands stretch beneath basalt columns and sea stacks, guardians of a coastline both haunting and beautiful. Villages like Vík offer quiet pauses, their red-roofed churches standing against the vastness of sky and surf. And then, as if the journey saves its most ethereal vision for last, the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon appears—icebergs drifting in silence, their fractured brilliance mirrored on the nearby Diamond Beach, where shards of ice sparkle against volcanic sand. The South Coast is not just a tour; it is a pilgrimage through Iceland’s elemental soul, where every stop feels like a verse in a living poem.
“A dedicated blog post will follow, offering a more comprehensive exploration of the South Coast tour.”
The Northern Tour
The Northern Lights Tour feels less like a journey and more like a vigil beneath the heavens. You leave Reykjavík’s glow behind, driving into the quiet vastness of lava fields and snowy plains, guided by whispers of solar winds. The night is patient, the air sharp with winter’s breath, until suddenly the sky stirs—green ribbons unfurl, shimmering across the darkness, sometimes tinged with violet or pink. They dance like living brushstrokes, bending and weaving as if the cosmos itself were painting in motion. In that moment, silence becomes sacred; strangers stand together in awe, their faces lit not by fire or lamp, but by the aurora’s ethereal glow. The Northern Lights are not guaranteed, and perhaps that is their gift: when they appear, they feel like a blessing, a fleeting miracle caught between science and myth, reminding you that the universe is alive and endlessly mysterious.
“A forthcoming blog post will provide a detailed exploration of the Northern Lights tour.”
Classic and Authentic Icelandic Food
Icelandic cuisine usually does not feature pork or chicken, a reflection of the island’s harsh climate and geographic isolation, which historically restricted livestock farming to sheep and sustained communities through the riches of the surrounding seas. For centuries, the cold environment and limited arable land made raising pigs or poultry impractical, as they required more feed and shelter than the resilient sheep that thrived in Iceland’s rugged terrain. Sheep provided not only meat but also milk and wool, while the North Atlantic yielded an abundance of fish — together forming the backbone of Icelandic sustenance. From hearty lamb stews and smoked lamb (hangikjöt)** to dried fish (harðfiskur) and comforting fish soups, these staples defined the nation’s culinary identity. Pork and chicken, scarce and costly, never became woven into everyday diets. Even today, despite modern imports making them more accessible, Iceland’s most authentic restaurants continue to celebrate lamb and seafood as the true pillars of the country’s food heritage.
Although we love exploring cuisines from around the world, we aren’t particularly adventurous when it comes to traditional Icelandic food. After doing some research, we chose dishes we felt more comfortable with. Here are the meals we tried, and I’ll share more details about them in another blog post.
Once you’ve read through this blog and allowed Iceland’s spirit to seep into your thoughts, you’ll discover that you’re already well on your way—perhaps 70% prepared in mind and heart—for the journey that awaits. The words here are not just information; they are a rehearsal for your senses, a gentle initiation into the rhythm of the land. You’ll arrive not as a stranger, but as someone who has already walked the streets in imagination, tasted the air in anticipation, and felt the pulse of Iceland echoing within.
Souvenirs of Iceland: A Keepsake Collection
My suitcase home from Iceland was filled not just with clothes, but with memories captured in objects — each one a small echo of the landscapes and traditions I walked through.
Bought few boxes of LAVA milk chocolate wafers and a bag of Cheez Ballz remind me of Iceland’s playful side — comfort snacks to balance the stark drama of glaciers and geysers.
The Saltverk lava salt carries the volcanic essence of the island, while herbal teas like Arctic Mood Júratré and Perfect Peppermint speak of Iceland’s slower rhythms, a pause to breathe in the crisp northern air.
T‑shirts from Geysir, Hard Rock Café Reykjavik, and quirky Viking‑themed designs (including a mischievous Viking cat) capture the humor and modern identity of Reykjavík’s streets.
My Icelandic theme wool sweater, patterned in red, black, and white, feels like wearing a piece of heritage. It’s warmth woven with centuries of craft.
Magnets, zipper tags, and mugs painted with Reykjavík skylines and northern lights imagery let me carry the glow of Iceland’s night skies into everyday life.
Each item is more than a souvenir — it’s a fragment of Iceland’s spirit, from volcanic salt to woolen warmth, from rainbow streets to aurora skies. Together, they form a mosaic of taste, texture, and memory, a diary written not in words but in things.
POV: This anniversary journey to Iceland comes wrapped in both challenge and courage. My husband, still on the road to recovery after fracturing his toe last Christmas, has only had a month to heal. Yet he stands ready, armed with a walking stick and a larger shoe to cradle his toe support guard. These simple preparations are symbols of strength, of his willingness to adapt, and of our shared resolve to embrace the adventure despite the odds. Each step he takes will echo with resilience, and each moment we share will be a testament to love’s ability to transform difficulty into triumph.
A rainbow walkway at the airport drop‑off, guiding travelers toward the departure hall with a burst of color and cheer.
Leaving Iceland carries a mix of emotions—gratitude for the landscapes and memories you’ve gathered, and anticipation for what lies ahead. We are heading toward Amsterdam for a night and then home to Singapore, there’s a gentle shift from the wonder of glaciers and rivers to the warmth of family reunion. With Chinese New Year just two weeks away, the thought of Sonny and Akari returning adds a joyful rhythm: the promise of togetherness, celebration, and the comfort of home after a journey through the North.
And just like that, we’ve arrived at the final stop on this blog journey—thank you so much for walking alongside me through every story, snapshot, and sensory moment.
If you’d like to continue exploring, I’ve gathered links to my other posts from this trip below. Each one offers a different glimpse into the places, flavors, and feelings that made this adventure unforgettable:
It would mean so much if you had a moment to dive into a few more of the unforgettable adventures we've shared. Each one holds its own story, waiting to be rediscovered.
You're warmly invited to explore my other travel blogs, featuring adventures across France, Japan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, and even a few unforgettable cruises.
Last year, we ticked the bucket list of Mrs Lee who always wanted to visit The Great Wall of China, so this year we shall fulfilled Mr Lee's wish which will be Taiwan in March 2026.
Following trip after Taiwan will be Japan again, this time we are heading to Kyushu with a much deeper and blissful meaning.
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Thanks for being part of the journey!
"I travel because seeing photos in books and brochures was not good enough for me, To be there, that was everything"
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