Reykjavík and The Golden Circle
We love immersing ourselves in the local cuisine and culture at the start of any trip, and Reykjavik is definitely one of those places that you should stay for at least a couple of days. Reykjavik is the heart of the country and is the best place to explore the Icelandic culture. We decided to spend 5 days in the city, doing day trips to go see various places on our list to see. This was our base for our road trip to Kirkjufell and also the Golden Circle. Blue Lagoon is probably the most talked about and photographed places in Reykjavik, but we did not go to the Blue Lagoon as there was no availability during the days we were there. So do add it to your list and make sure to book it way in advance to ensure you get it.
City Center
The first night we landed we decided to walk the city center even though it was the day after Christmas and most of the places were closed. It was amazing with people still out on the streets and some of the eatery’s open. We grabbed some dinner, walked, window-shopped, and figured out what we wanted to revisit later.
For the next couple of days we had day trips planned. With the short daylight hours, our day trips ended around 5-6 pm and we were able to explore the city after, where festive spirit was in abundance. The houses are colorful and are covered in beautiful murals. The cold grey skies make for a perfect backdrop for these colorful buildings. Another place to see in the city is Hallgrimskirkja, one of the landmarks of the city. This parish church is 244 ft high and is one of the tallest structures in Iceland.
Hallgrimskirkja 
Colorful Rekjavik
Food in the city is amazing. Nothing beats a hot bowl of soup and Icelandic bread or Ramen or Fish and Chips. Iceland has protected waters which makes for delicious seafood, so Anoop and Anika loved it. Even so, being a vegan, I still had plenty of options – which was a pleasant surprise.
The next day we decided to head to Þingvellir National Park because the photographer wanted to capture the frozen falls.
Þingvellir National Park
Pingvellir is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iceland and sits directly between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. As the land is torn apart by the plates it makes for its unique geology.
Kerid Crater
Kerid crater is approx. 3000 year old and one of the younger caldera in Iceland. Most of the volcanic rock is red unlike black in the older calderas. The turquoise water of the lake offsets the vibrant red or crimson color of the volcanic rock. This along with the green moss makes for a special picture so get your cameras out for this one.
Öxarárfoss
Öxarárfoss is a man made waterfall, which was also a location/set for the Game of Thrones. Even though it is not the biggest waterfall in Iceland, it is a must see one because of its basalt rock formations, which are a perfect backdrop for the waterfall. Truly makes for one beautiful sight. Be prepared to get covered in a heavy mist and make sure your jackets are waterproof or get a rain coat as you definitely will get wet as you take your pictures.
Gullfoss
This is one of the most iconic waterfalls in Iceland. The water from Hvítá river cascades 32 meters/105 feet down to Gullfoss’ two stages in a stunning display of nature’s raw power. It has an interesting history and you can read about it on the Guide to Iceland webpage. It was extremely icy and cold here; taking a picture in winter is an adventure itself. The camera kept icing up and we were swaying in the heavy winds. Be prepared (bundled up and protected) for wet, cold and icy temperatures!
Silfra
Anika was really looking forward to seeing Silfra – a rift formed by the diverging tectonic plates. There is a walkway between the plates or you can even book a scuba dive there. It was way too cold to scuba dive so we decided to walk. It is however more of an experience then a photographic opportunity. We loved the walk to warm up in the icy weather.
