Iceland - Day Four

Seljalandsfoss & Glufrabui Waterfalls - Exploring Reykjavik

Seljalandsfoss & Glufrabui Waterfalls

These two waterfalls were an absolutely fantastic stop and a very popular one for all tourists. You can really experience these waterfalls in the same way you can Kvernufoss in that you can walk behind and into the waterfalls. It's incredible! But you really need waterproof shoes and jackets for these visits, you will get wet! 

• You can find Seljalandsfoss & Glufrabui Waterfalls on the map here

• Parking and restrooms: Ample parking and restrooms available as well as a cafe with coffee and food. Parking is paid, and there are easy to use machines.

• Time spent: 30-40min. You can walk behind Seljalandsfoss (where you'll get pretty wet), then walk about 5-10min to Glufrabui on a gravel path where you walk up in to the waterfall, and get soaked. We loved this stop and it's absolutely worth walking into both of them. I'd recommend leaving cameras in the car and just using waterproof cell phones for photos. Waterproof boots are recommended.

Exploring Reykjavik

We have to admit that we did not do any planning for Reykjavik. Truly, zero. We knew the big sites to see, got recommendations from our AirBnb host, and let the day take us. Here's what we did:

• Parking in Reykjavik: Download the Parka app to pay for parking if you need to pay, parking is often free. Check the hours on parking signs and check if there's a holiday while you're there.  

• Where to stay: We got an AirBnb apartment right on Laugavegur road in the heart of Reykjavik and for a first time visitor, this location was fantastic. Laugavegur is pedestrian-friendly, safe, has tons of restaurants and shops, and is only a couple of blocks from the famous Hallgrímskirkja Church. It is a very touristy area, but not kitschy or corny.

Bastard Brew and Food: Bastard was recommended by our AirBnb host for lunch and boasted outstanding cocktails, tacos, and small bites.

Rúblan bókakaffi: This incredible coffee shop is also a massive bookstore that feels like a library. We stopped here after lunch, sipped on lattes, and enjoyed the scene. It's a very cute spot. 

Rainbow road: Skólavörðustígur road is a brightly painted, pedestrian only road that leads right up to the Hallgrímskirkja Church.  

Hallgrímskirkja Church: This is the "Reykjavik church". It was walking distance from our AirBnb, right up the Rainbow road, and is a real, functioning church. Because of this, they hold services regularly which means tours aren’t always available. Tickets to go to the top of the church were a bit pricey, but walking in and around sufficed for us.

Sun Voyager: The shiny, metal, "whale bone" sculpture right along the water near downtown is cool if you’re a short walk away, but it doesn’t need to be destination point, though the views of the harbor are beautiful.

Harpa Music Hall: This wasn't on our list, we just stumbled on it, but the Harpa Music Hall is extremely cool. It’s a hell of a walk from the main strip, so may only be worth a visit if you're going for a show or in the area, but we enjoyed exploring the building.

Dragon Dim Sum: Found via a quick Google search, we were craving Asian and Dragon Dim Sum has great reviews that lived up to the hype. Must gets are the chicken baozi (chicken and cashew dumplings) and the pork satay (we went back for seconds, it's that good). They're a very small shop with minimal staff running everything, so be patient. It’s worth it!

Sandholt: Another spot on recommendation from our AirBnb host, Sandholt is an adorable bakery/restaurant on Laugavegur. Sandholt is wildly popular early in the morning and we waited for a table for 30min, but by 10am it had started to clear out. We loved the shakshuka (eggs in a tomato sauce with home made bread) and danishes.

Street Art: There are murals and art everywhere in Reykjavik. Take a look down any alley or the face of any building and you'll find something.

Loo Koo Mas: Greek style donuts in Iceland. Who knew. But these were a highlight and always on our list of recommendations for travelers in Reykjavik. The lemon filled donuts are top-notch.

Other places/restaurants recommended to us:

• Free, guided walking tours of Reykjavik

• Reykjavik Roasters Coffee

• Reykjavik Art Museum

• Braud and Co.

We did visit the "Grand Harbor District", but it wasn't as lively or as cute as we thought it would be, so could be skipped.