A Traveler’s Guide to Splurge Worthy Stuff in Iceland

Iceland has become the place to see these days, the “must travel to” in advertising and the media. Bank commercials encourage people to visit there, many airlines, and almost every travel blogger out there is putting it out in there in bold type, GO VISIT ICELAND. If you have yet to visit our beautiful little country, perhaps because you have heard, accurately, that it is a bit expensive and you are unsure of what to do with your budget once you get there, we are here to help. We have compiled a short list of the things that may require splurging a bit but are absolutely worth it. We want you to have the best time possible in Iceland and for many, the best way to have the best trip is to not empty your bank while trying to have some fun. So we hope this list helps those of you who are hesitant about the money and gives you that final push to book your trip and see what all the hype is about.

1. Visit the Blue Lagoon

Most people who have heard of Iceland have heard of the very famous blue waters of the Blue Lagoon. And for a good reason. Not only is the Blue Lagoon and surrounding landscape mind-blowingly beautiful, the warm waters are soothing, relaxing, and known to be healing. Prices start around $57 if you buy your ticket online and go up from there, depending on the extra amenities you may want, like access to spas or any of the numerous massages and treatments. It is pricey but we guarantee that you will find it worth the money. We recommend that you plan to spend your day there to make the trip worthwhile. Relax in the blue salty waters, coat your body in the silica mud for an excellent skin treatment, sit in our natural steam baths, take in the mesmerizing landscape, and enjoy delicious foods and drinks.

2. Visit one expensive restaurant

There is so much amazing food to be had in Iceland. While we are also famous for cheaper snacks, like our hot dogs, candy bars, and delicious ice cream cones, we recommend that to immerse yourself in the Icelandic food culture, you should take yourself out to any one of the fantastic four and five star restaurants to be found in Reykjavik and all over the country. With fresh and local ingredients and many traditional recipes and dishes that have been around since the Viking era, you won’t regret spending some money on the unique and delicious food Iceland has to offer. You know what they say; the best way to experience a new culture is to immerse yourself in its cuisine. Restaurants like Kaldi Bar and Café or Fiskmarkaðurinn (Fish Market) are great choices but you can find many, many more online.

3. Visit any one of the fantastic bars and drink some amazing Icelandic beer

Iceland is also well known for its memorable beer and great bar atmospheres. Again, there are countless options to choose from and you can easily find the right setting for you online. You don’t have to try every drink but ask the bartender or the locals and they will recommend the most popular and the best beer that Iceland and the other Scandinavian cultures have to offer. If you appreciate good beer, you will appreciate the drinking experience in Iceland. One really popular bar is Slippbarinn, located in Berjaya Reykjavik Marina Hotel.

4. Buy wool or lava products as a souvenir

Like most tourists and travelers, you may want to pick up a few souvenirs to bring home with you. But shopping in Iceland can be very expensive so we figured we would help you sort through what’s worth buying. We will keep it simple and give you two suggestions. Iceland is famous for its wool products and the lava rock to be found all over the country. Wool sweaters are owned by all sweaters and are both traditional and functional. They tend to be expensive, ranging from $100 to closer to $200, depending on style and quality, but they are warm, timeless, and very much a part of the culture of Iceland. Wool blankets are another great option if you don’t think you will wear the sweater. The lava rock found in Iceland can be found in many different products, from jewelry to mini figurines and coffee table decorations in small, natural clusters of it. The lava rock is also very much tied to the Icelandic people and the landscape they are proud of, so bringing home a little bit of it will be a great story for your friends and family and a beautiful, natural way to bring a piece of Iceland back home with you.

5. Rent a car to explore on your own

While there are plenty of public transportation options to help you explore the capital city of Reykjavik, it does not extend to outside the city, where we would argue, the real beauty of Iceland is to be found and a landscape well worth seeing. You can find many different tours that take you and others to the countryside to do some sightseeing, in vans and big buses, with small groups and big. While we would recommend this as well because it can be fun and maybe less intimidating to explore a new country with a group of tourists, we would encourage any willing and adventurous traveler to rent a car and make the trip yourself. This gives you the freedom to take as long as you want at each tourist spot as well as allow you to see much more of the country than just the top three or top five of the famous tourist destinations. Iceland has a lot of untouched land to see and a car will get you there comfortably and easily. There are many places to get a rental car but we would recommend finding a deal online, where it will be cheaper and easier to find deals and discounts.

We hope this list was helpful to those of you who needed to make a budget in order to make a trip to Iceland happen. It truly is an unforgettable place and we promise you won’t regret a visit. And now you have to the tools to make sure to have some money left over in your wallet when your trip is over. From Berjaya Hotels who invites you to come visit and Enjoy!