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Iceland in March - Advise me

belboid said:
Sod March, what we need to know (okay, what I need to know) is, were I to be going on, say, thursday, for, I dont know, three days, to stay mostly in reykjavikk with a mid-length Golden Circle tour as well, what kind of footwear would I need? Are snowboots really necessary? catinthehat
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Gulfoss might have 'proper paths' but they were under an inch of ice when we went, those snap on crampon things you can buy dirt cheap might be an idea.
 
catinthehat said:
Westfjords, Snafellsness and Akyeri are stunning - and fewer people. The best thing to do to get a sense of the place is either a road trip around the country in one week then do the Westfjords in week 2. Or the bus across the highlands (if you can stand many hours of being bumped up and down). Its like a crazy desert interspersed with mountains, glaciers and waterfalls - but you can only do that in the summer when the roads are open. Tourism has increased so much that the Golden Circle is now a circle of coaches. Ten years ago you could go to Gulfoss in April and have it all for yourself - not now.
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We found loads of places with no people around Skaftafell. I would love to go back, don't know if I'll have much child free opportunity though.
 
catinthehat said:
Have a great time (you will!). Top tips - take the lift up Halgrimmskirk (the big church overlooking the city) for a great view of Ryk and surroundings. You have to pay for the galleries but one payment gets you into the main ones and there are some great exhibitions if you are artsy. Wander round inside of Harpa (its as cool inside as it is outside). Eat a hotdog at the harbour (Benji Bestu). Go to Bergsson Mathus for the best breakfast ever. Dont buy anything in the 'Puffin Shops' its overpriced tat. If you have a fancy for something knitted in Icelandic wool (the jumpers last a lifetime) get it in a charity shop for 1/10th of the price of a new one. If you really want a new one get it from the Handknitting Association as these are made by individual local knitters rather than the mass produced ones in the other shops. Kex Hostel has good music and relatively cheap food and a good atmosphere.
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a top post for what to do in a day in Reykjavik! We did most of this, barring Kex, and it really was rather grand. the inside of Harpa is well worth calling in on, I had to talk mrs b into it, and she only agreed when a freezing wind blew up off the Arctic, but she was very happy to have done so. Great hotdogs too.

Weather wise, we'd probably have been better off in wellies than in walking boots, a few days that were apparently more like summer than the middle of winter meant that a hell of a lot of snow had just turned to mush. And, as i discovered my right boot leaked a little on day one, that we less than ideal.

but I coped, and so much of it was just amazing anyway, Gullfoss is really rather gorgeous (had to play Porcupine as soon as I got back), and the national park thingy looked lovely as the sun was rising (that was a bit odd, just how dark it was at 10am, I knew in theory it should do, but it still seemed so peculiar). Prices were nothing like as bad as I was expecting, there was a fair bit of very nice Icelandic beer (Gull is a bit shit, tho), and i had one of the very best meals I've ever had). Top stuff.

Could have done without the two hours standing around hoping for a glimpse of the Northern Lights on our last night, tho,but you can't have everything.

Oh, and Icelandic horseracing is hilarious.
 
wiskey said:
COLD!!
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In the summer it will be alright..... there looks to be some beautiful dives there

iceland-diving-2-day-holiday-27.jpg
 
2 nights in Rekyavik, 2 nights in Stykisholmur & another 2 nights in Rekyavik. Lovely, welcoming people and some amazing sights. And the food was delicious, despite the prices! We managed to polish off 100g of the Greenland shark - quite a powerful aftertaste to it. One thing that we found essential was the spike attachments for your boots - esp. when navigating west Iceland and the Golden Circle. I'd go again - in a heartbeat.
 
So glad you had a good time mate :) I'd love to see it this end of winter, when we went it was only having the first proper snows.
 
I hope you have a good time not-bono-ever, take an eye mask :)

We plan to go back again next easter to see all the things we missed first time, but we have Poland and Cyprus to do first.
 
Addy said:
I hope you have a good time not-bono-ever, take an eye mask :)

We plan to go back again next easter to see all the things we missed first time, but we have Poland and Cyprus to do first.
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Thanks. didn't update. The.. er car was written off by furious driving pissed pensioner at 9AM, about 6 hours north of Ryk with absolutely no one around and had my shoulder dislocated as the 4WD was smashed into a char filled lake. lolz
 
not-bono-ever said:
Thanks. didn't update. The.. er car was written off by furious driving pissed pensioner at 9AM, about 6 hours north of Ryk with absolutely no one around and had my shoulder dislocated as the 4WD was smashed into a char filled lake. lolz
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Umm

Don't do that again hey! Was the pensioner a local?
 
yep and was whisked off home by the filth as her car was also totalled - they knew her by the look of things. Obviously we were left to our own devices and no way to get out of it
 
What time of year did you go there rubbershoes ?

I'm at the planning stage. Will probably be booking a package through Iceland Air. Going with my partner, nearly 17 yr old step-son & 18 yr nephew. It will be the first time that any of us has visited & also a different type of break from what we usually do. Currently planning 3 nights. What would be the must do's?

So far I'm thinking:


Northern Lights - to do this from a boat or in a bus 'chasing' them? The latter I favour.
Blue Lagoon - this is expensive & there are other places but my thoughts are Blue Lagoon & maybe another spa?
Golden Circle Tour

Also thinking to add on snow-mobiling at least for the teens?

I really want to give the teenagers (& us) something mind blowing .
 
We went in August . Hired a car and did our own golden circle. Driving was fine as the weather was good and the roads were clear. I can't say anything about winter driving.

Reykjadalur was definitely my top place there. And it's free :thumbs:
 
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