We are 4 older adults getting off of a cruise ship late August. We want to stay a couple of days to see some specific sights. We can do one the day we arrive which might be the Southcoast w/Waterfalls and black sand beach and Katla Ice Cave. Once we disembark we'd like to find a hotel for a couple nights to do the Golden Circle/Blue Lagoon and maybe any other tours that you might recommend. Would staying close to the airport be a good base? We don't want to rent a car though. any thoughts?
Posted by
Snohomish, WA
3201 posts
Tours typically pick up around 8am, so will you be able to be at a pickup spot by then on your arrival day? Where are you flying in from, as that will make a difference.
As for a hotel for a few night after the cruise, do not stay near the airport. You can stay in Reykjavik and do tours from there, but I highly recommend renting a car as it gives you so much more flexibility. Another option would be a multi day tour. That would leave the driving to the tour company, they would have hotel arrangements secured, and you can see more than if you do multiple day trips from Reykjavik as there would be far less backtracking.
The GC is ok, not my favorite. I would do the south coast as well as Snaefellsness. I would also opt for other lagoons over Blue Lagoon.
Posted by
Freedonia
17388 posts
The airport is a 45 minute drive from Reykjavik. Most tours leave from Reykjavik.
Posted by
Des Moines, IA
30 posts
Hotel Geysir is literally right across the street from the Geysir in the Golden Circle and is one of the nicest hotels I've stayed at. It was reasonably priced (for Iceland). It was a welcome stop after a 2 week trip when our hotel accommodations weren't especially luxurious. ;)
And I understand the reasons why you won't want to drive, but I'll put in a plug for driving anyway. I'm not a person who loves to drive and I thought Iceland driving was very easy. It's on the same side of the road that we are used to in the US. The speed limit on the Ring Road is something like 50 mph. And since you won't be there for too long, I doubt you'd be wanting to go on any sort of back country areas. We were there in June 2023 and traffic wasn't much of an issue.