Of course, that’s the extent of my flirtation with learning the Icelandic language. When you only have ten hours in a place, it doesn’t become essential to learn the linguistics. I did gain a few key takeaways, however. Including, but not limited to, when you travel to Iceland at the end of November, don’t expect the sun to come out before 10:30. A few other fun facts: Iceland formed the world’s first parliament, the prime minister is listed in the phone book, and half the population actually believes in elves.
Those last few facts are courtesy of Icelandair, my chosen mode of transportation that provided a direct flight from Denver to Reykjavik before making the final leg of the journey to London. While the extended layover sounds laborious, it was actually welcomed as it made for a trip within a trip. And let’s be honest: ten hours in Reykjavik is all you really need for a solid sample of Iceland to determine if you’d go back. The verdict? In a heartbeat. Though perhaps in the summer…
Reykjavik is cold, dark, and expensive (like the best kind of beers), but it was also quaint, friendly, and beautiful. A 50-minute bus journey from Keflavik Airport to the city center runs a bit more than you want to pay at $25 one way, but the bus has wi-fi and it was dark enough to sneak in some slumber. By the time the bus dropped us off in the middle of the city, it was about 6:45 a.m. Here’s a tip for you travelers looking to run around Reykjavik on an early morning layover: get coffee at the airport.
Walking through the chilly streets, John and I peered into every coffee shop window hoping to spot a single soul willing to open their doors to us. The only other people out in the streets seemed to be fellow Americans from our flight seeking a warm beverage. We hiked up to the Hallgrímskirkja church (the largest church in Iceland) and then made our way back down through the main street. The architecture was cheery and bright, and there were a lot of options to choose from—once they opened. We finally gained access to a cute coffee shop and fueled up on caffeine. By 10:00, we found the cool and cozy Laundromat Café serving breakfast.
With coffee and sustenance on our side, we went back out and braved the elements to see the sights in daylight. The charming shops lining the spotless streets were all too expensive to seriously consider a purchase, but they were toasty warm enough to pretend we were interested in $200 Icelandic hats or Nordic beer steins.
A few spots you can visit while on your Icelandic sojourn (just in Reykjavik):
- 871 Settlement Museum
- Famous Fish Market (Fiskmarkaðurinn)
- Islenski Barinn Pósthússtræti 9 (30+ microbrews from Iceland, pints starting at $5.50)
- National Museum of Iceland
- Solfar (Sun Voyager) Sculpture
Of course, the real Iceland would best be viewed by car over the course of a few days. Go off and see the majestic natural wonders of this intriguing country, soak in some hot springs, and partake in the famed nightlife (apparently you haven’t partied until you’ve partied in Iceland). Our little layover didn’t allot for such adventures, but the touch of Iceland I saw was worth the stop before we began our “real” journey. Next time I’ll stay a little longer—maybe see the aurora borealis and the Blue Lagoon. But for a trip within a trip, Iceland was ideal.
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