Northern Lights tour

1 & 3): Most people take the Flybus to and from the aiport. The flybus coach takes you from the airport to the main bus terminal in Reykjavik where you change to smaller vans to take you to a stop near your hotel. (Or you can take a taxi from the bus station.) The entire trip should take about an hour.

You could also take a taxi from the airport but it will run you well over $100.

2) Look for hotels around Laugavegur Street. It is the main shopping/restaurant/art street.

4) Do you want to wear your hiking boots while walking around Reykjavik? This is a modern city.

5) You can get all types of food in Iceland. Lamb is popular as are numerous ethnic cuisines. They are known for the Icelandic Hot Dog. (Yum.) You will also find KFC, Subway and Domino's Pizza. No McDonalds, Burger King or Taco Bell. All tried but failed.

Flybus is what many people use, and we have in the past. It runs roughly $38 per person each way. You do not have a set time with your reservation, so whenever you are off the plane and ready to go, just go out and catch the bus. The thing with Flybus is that they take you in the big bus to the central bus terminal and then you switch to a smaller bus depending on what hotel you are staying at. The big buses are not allowed to drive through the main part of the city. So the transfer takes a few minutes and you do have to move your luggage yourself. Not a big deal, but thought I would spell all of this out. That said, we almost always rent a car but when we don't we prefer a taxi. Those are about $150 each way, but it is door to door, so super easy. You can book ahead of time if you wish with Hreyfill. Taxis do take credit cards, BTW.

There are loads of great hotels right in town walkable to all the sights. Look at booking.com and use the filter for your budget etc. Ones that we have stayed in that are central and we liked include the Centrum, Center Hotel Plaza, Hotel Fron, Center Hotel Midgardur, Center Hotel Laugavegur and 4th Floor Hotel.

We almost always only take our hiking boots and nothing else.

There are plenty of options for you for food. The lamb is very good there. I won't buy lamb from here int he US, but love it there.

I have bought a sweater and various things at the Handknitting Association store that is on rainbow road, just down from the church. Be careful and do not buy from Icewear. Those are made in China. "Designed" in Iceland, but made in China. You could also stop at the various thrift stores to look for sweaters. On your tour, there may well be places you stop for these. Many smaller hotels have a small section of handmade items like this, so keep your eyes peeled.

One of my favorite stores in town is Mjuk. They have the softest woolen items you can imagine! I have hats, gloves, headbands, etc from there and have given them as gifts. That store has a couple locations, including one on Rainbow road, but their main shop is on Laugavegur and you can't miss it. It sits on a corner and the building is one big black and white mural.

I remember when the smaller Flybus vehicles would actually take you to your hotel and pick you up there. Now it's bus stops.

I've also stayed at the Center Hotel Lauguvegar and enjoyed it. Prior to that I spent a few trips at the Canopy by Hilton. Great location, fantastic breakfast buffet, but noise from outside can be a bit much.

Frank--I remember that too from our first trip there:)

I stayed at Center Hotels Plaza - great location. Breakfast was good but exactly the same every day. I had a similar landing time and took the FlyBus to the bus station, then one of the shuttle busses to a stop near my hotel (City Hall). As it was about 9 a.m. when I arrived, my room wasn't ready (unless I wanted to upgrade for a price...I wasn't). The hotel is very used to early arriving flights and stored my bag and let me use their lobby bathroom to freshen up. Then I went out to breakfast at Laundromat Cafe and then for a big long (jet lagged) cold walk until my room was ready (2 p.m.). I wasn't totally prepared for a big long walk to kill time so make sure you plan for that potential scenario or find a hotel with early check in (or pay for the night before).

As for food, there are plenty of options besides fish and seafood, though I'd still recommend trying some of the local options, including the hot dog (delicious!). I did a food tour with Your Friend in Reykjavik and it was fantastic (and filling). They usually have two departure times a day and it includes a bit of history too. I ate at a Syrian restaurant (Mandi Ingólfstorg) that was tasty. Skúli Craft bar has good beer.

Thank you - Frank II, Mikliz97 and CL. You have given me some great information. I’m am checking out some of your suggestions.

Do you need to make reservations for Flybus or do you just go to the the bus stop at the airport? What are the hours for the bus?
I have read that you shower before entering the thermal pools. Do you need to wash your hair or can you go in with dry hair. My hair is a mess after it gets wet if I don’t have a blow dryer.
I’m sure I will be asking more questions before we leave. Thanks again.

Do you need to make reservations for Flybus or do you just go to the the bus stop at the airport? What are the hours for the bus?

No reservations needed from the airport to Reykjavik. They run all night. When one bus fills, another is waiting for the next group.

For the return, you will have to make a reservation so they know to pick you up at your nearest stop.

As for the lagoons, you are supposed to wash your hair as they do not want anything in the pools since they do not use chlorine etc. The commercial lagoons have hair dryers in the dressing rooms.

What about wearing a bathing cap instead of washing hair? I have the same problem. I think I read a recommendation to do so from Rick in the book.

Yes, you can wear a swim cap. Honestly though, with the wind in Iceland I don't even bother with my hair. I wash it and let it dry on its own and then I am in a wool hat the rest of the day. Nobody will see and it won't matter in photos.