Considering basing in reykavik for 6-7 night trip...goals are the golden circle, snaefellsnes peninsula and a puffin or whale trip.
If this is terrible idea, can someone suggest one other base to split between. Forward momentum is great but trying to avoid moving every night.
thanks in advance
Personally, I wouldn't do it because getting back and forth to Reykjavik would waste precious time. You can rent a camper and have the flexibility to move where you want or stay at a campsite longer.
I’m basing in Reykjavik for my upcoming June trip because I did not want to rent a car. There’s lots of things you can do from there. You mentioned the puffin and whale boat tours. There’s also several options for day tours via bus. Check out Troll:
https://troll.is/day-tours-iceland/
Plus, lots of things to do in Reykjavik.
I would not base myself anywhere for that long. Yes, there is a lot to see and do in Reykjavik, but not for that long and it would mean you are wasting precious time backtracking. Iceland is best seen with quick one nighters, which I know is not what many people realize. We have been many times, so am very familiar with this.
What I would suggest though is this. If you are arriving from the US after an overnight flight, make the day of arrival easy. Pick up your car and head into Reykjavik. Check in to your hotel and head out on foot and see the city. In the morning head up to Snaefellsness. Since you don't want to move much, two nights here would be good and would let you slow down a bit. There is a lot to see in this area. Then head down to Reykholt and do the Golden Circle. Honestly that only takes one day, even adding more than just the usual big 3 sights. If you want to stay 2 nights, I would opt for a place closer to Selfoss for the night, and then with the extra day you can see more the GC if you run short on time the day before. If you have 7 nights, I would then add a night in Vik and then the last night back closer to KEF, which you could even do Reykjavik and have a bit more time there or see the Reykjanes Peninsula. The reason for being back closer to KEF is that you don't want to risk missing your flight for some reason. In winter, road closures are common, but even in the summer things happen like last summer when a bridge on route 1 washed out with glacial flooding.
Thank you all...
Basing in Reykjavik is most budget friendly (and available), but we might spend as much in time and effort on day trips.....
I totally see the appeal of one nighters -- we've done Ireland this way in order to do all forward momentum but there was less backtracking.
Any thoughts on where to do two nights in Snaefellsnes? Which town?
Via looks like a long drive?
We are planning this late and are a group of 5 which is impacting availability and possibly itinerary....and yes arriving from US
I personally like Stikkisholmur up on Snaefellsness. We have stayed there 3 times. Another option would be around Arnastapi.
From Reykholt area (GC) to Vik it's not that far, around 2.5 hours. There is a lot to see heading up there and right around there, so definitely worth the time.
As long as you have a car, I think you’ll regret basing in Reykjavík. The best part of Iceland is the scenery and natural beauty. Reykjavík is a city with traffic and all the rest of it. Also you’ll have to drive quite far each day to see new things.
Thanks for all the feedback...
I've secured some lodging (all can be cancelled) and given my tight window these are not exactly the right locations.
Night 1 - Land Reykjavik am; Stay Rekkjavik
Night 2 - Þorlákshöfn (golden Circle from here)
Night 3 - Þorlákshöfn
Night 4 Akanes
Night 5 Arkanes
Night 6 Reykjavik
Fly out day 7
Is Arkanes too far off beaten path for Snaefellnes Peninsula? VIk Area is completely locked up.
Debating just doing Reykavik instead night 4 and 5? There's a lot more availability and it's better priced.
Akranes is not a good base for Snaefellsness as it is pretty close to Reykjavik. I would head up further to Arnastapi at least.
Porlakshofn is not that close to the GC. I would look for something much more central. That would be a good hour each way to the heart of the GC, whereas if you stay in the Reykholt area you are just minutes from the sites.
Most lodgings are booked out 9-12 months in advance, so if you are looking for this summer yes you are behind the 8 ball. But, there are often times availability if you can tweak your preferences a bit. Such as for Vik, there are loads places that are not right in town, but along route 1 just south of town. Have you looked at google maps and then click on hotels at the top? More places come up doing that than what you will find on Booking.com etc.
