I recently booked a flight to Amsterdam through WOW Airlines, and it had a 19 hour layover in Reykjavik. Now, usually I try to avoid layovers altogether, but I’d always wanted to visit Iceland…so I took this opportunity. I was landing at 11:00am from Chicago, and I wanted to see an attraction other than just Reykjavik. Reykjavik Excursions offers a package where you hop on a bus (2o minutes) and go to the Blue Lagoon, then the bus picks you up afterwards and takes you to Reykjavik. Appointments are necessary at the Blue Lagoon, so book in advance. Don’t worry so much about the times for the buses. You can stay however long you wish, and the voucher will be accepted by the bus driver. The Blue Lagoon is a man made geothermal pool, known for it’s vibrant blue water and healing qualities. There is a swim up bar where you can get a Silica face mask and drinks. Don’t submerge your hair in the water–it will dry it out. It’s a great way to relax after a long flight. You can take advantage of the free amenities such as the sauna and steam room…it’s great for post flight bloating. I stayed for about 2 hours, then took the bus into town, which was about 45 minutes away.

The bus dropped me off at a stop near my hotel. You don’t want to pay for a taxi…the bus is the way to go. It’s $30 USD versus $175 USD!! Yowza. I checked in at Kvosin Downtown Hotel off of Bus Stop 1, which is right in the center of town and near everything. Reykjavik is very small, so you really can’t go wrong. I loved my room! It had a kitchenette and welcome chocolates…very inviting. They gave me two empty bottles to fill up with tap water, because the tap water in Iceland is the freshest you can get. It tasted amazing!! Don’t bother buying bottled water, it’s silly.

I met a new friend and decided to walk around and explore. The first stop was Harpa, which is a beautiful, mirrored concert hall. The glass facade is said to be inspired by the basalt landscape of Iceland. It reflects the harbor, sky and city–and at night it lights up in various colors. Next, we walked along the water’s edge to the Sun Voyager, a notable sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason. It is described as an ode to the sun, and “contains within itself the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress and freedom”.

From there, I wanted to see the best view of Reykjavik from above. This led me to the top of Hallgrímskirkja, the Lutheran church in Reykjavik, which took 41 years to build. I was lucky to have a clear, beautiful day, which allowed me to see the stunning views of the streets and Faxa Bay from the observatory. The admission was about $10 USD per person. Be sure to peak inside the church to marvel and the stunning architecture. From the outside, you can appreciate the ode to modernism, with its stepped concrete facade. “The basalt columns are formed when thick lava flow cools slowly into a polygonal pattern. The wings and the steeple…look like cliffs of basalt columns.”

Once the main tourist attractions were checked off the list, I wanted to enjoy the local vibe of the town. We stopped into a small pub for some beers…Viking beers of course. The brewery itself is located in Akureyri, Iceland, a small town just south of the Arctic Circle. While it’s not revered as being the most unique of beers, it’s classic Iceland, so you have to try it. After drinks, we got a bite to eat at a casual Thai restaurant, and we set out to watch the Midnight Sunset…which never fully sets. Be sure to pack a hat, gloves and a warm layer, as it gets chilly. Watching from the rocks next to the Old Harbor was the perfect end to the long day. The town was oh so quiet and oh so still (get it?), the view was spectacular and the long layover was a success.

Sources: Iceland Magazine; Travel Iceland