48 Hours In Iceland Solo

When I’m faced with going somewhere alone, or not going at all, I always go. It’s how I ended up spending 48 hours in Iceland alone in March.

I won’t sugar coat it, it was wet and cold. Off season travel is always a tossup but I could actually park in Downtown Reykjavik without circling the blocks a few times, and most importantly, I was able to experience everything I wanted to in just 48 hours.

In Downtown Reykjavik, Braud & Co is known for its colorful building and cinnamon rolls. Sometimes places are only trending on social media because they’re eye catching but this place deserves the attention. The cinnamon roll was delicious and the sukkuladi croissant was somehow better.

I stopped along the Golden Circle, patiently waiting for Strokkur to erupt then wandering down to see the Gulfoss waterfall through the snow. Iceland is one of those countries where everyone is friendly and I felt safe the whole time, so planning an exact itinerary never felt necessary.

I popped into Friðheimar’s Winebar & Bistro, which doesn’t require a reservation. The space is a converted greenhouse, the oldest one on their property. Even on such a snowy day, it was really bright and inviting. It feels like the type of place you’d enjoy late in the afternoon, savoring a bowl of soup and remote working (or in my case a reading).

When I return, I’ll be making a reservation at their greenhouse restaurant. I just know I would have enjoyed eating amongst the tomatoes! If that’s an experience you think you’d enjoy, be sure to book it in advance.

Exhausted and cold, I was more than ready to check into Hotel Ranga. I only stayed the night but this hotel deserves at least a two night stay. The property was beautiful and the food beautifully prepared.After a long day exploring, I loved eat at the hotel so I could head back to my room right afterwards to curl up with a book, and wait. In this case, for the phone call telling me to go outside to view the northern lights. It’s never guaranteed, but I after tracking everything online, I was hopeful the clouds wouldn’t ruin it entirely.

This trip made me think of a quote attributed to Albert Einstein, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Getting the wake up call to view the northern lights, no matter how cloudy outside, felt like a miracle.

If you were to book another night, making it a long weekend, add a day trip to Vik. Just 10 minutes away from the hotel are the Caves of Hella, which you can tour at 10 am. If you want the best light, wait until noon. Then off to Vik. Think horseback riding on snowy black sand beaches, more waterfalls, and pizza of all things. Back at the hotel at night grab a glass of champagne, sit in one of the three geothermal hot tubs, and wait patiently in hopes the northern lights appear. When you do this, let me know it turns out. Better yet, let me book this for you, so I can get you exclusive perks along the way.

There’s a part of me that thinks I should have spent more time exploring Reykjavik or the Golden Circle on my second day. I always want to explore more, to share more. However, the older I get the more recognize that I need a balanced vacation. After a day spent outside in the snow, my body was craving geothermal spas. Okay maybe not the geothermal spas exactly, but definitely a day to to warm up and relax!

I felt unhurried, going from one lagoon to the next, comparing Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon. I know that most people won’t have the time or inclination to visit both, but you should absolutely include one on your itinerary. My review will help you decide which one is right for you.

Iceland is consistently ranked as a top destination for solo travelers, particularly for women, and I completely understand why. It gave me that small town feeling, where everything was easy to navigate and I always felt safe. Even without hiking, I also felt like there were plenty of things for me to experience. Only a short flight from the Northeast, it’s a no brainer.