Hello, travelers! Solivigants! Wandering adventurers!
Take a solo travel to Iceland and you will be shocked because you won’t feel alone.
For generations, Iceland has fascinated travelers. The terrain is surreal, with colorful rhyolite mountains, bubbling geysers, and beaches with black sand formed by volcanoes. This, together with the glaciers and lagoons dotted with icebergs, has left tourists in awe of Iceland’s natural grandeur. And that’s not even counting the ghostly, swaying northern lights or the midnight sun summers.
Solo travel to Iceland gives individuals a glimpse of the country’s rich culture and wild nature.
Destinations For Your Solo Travel To Iceland
There are breathtaking beaches, mountains, and waterfalls all over Iceland, making it an ideal travel destination. Here are a few of the best choices for individuals who prefer to solo travel to Iceland.
Reykjavik
You may plan your journey here because this small, walkable city is among the top solo travel destinations in Iceland. Discover the highlights of the city center, including the imposing Hallgrimskirkja Church and the vibrant Regnbogagatan or Rainbow Street. Some of the city’s more intriguing attractions are the Elf School and the Phallological Museum.
Even though the weather is chilly, there are lots of heated cafes and restaurants at which you can stay warm. Socialize with the locals at one of Reykjavik’s outdoor public swimming pools, where the geothermally heated tubs will keep you warm.
Indulge on an exciting journey to Sky Lagoon, an oceanfront spa including hot springs, a sauna, and a cold plunge pool, if you’re feeling particularly brave.
Sólheimajökull
With mountains around it on all sides, Sólheimajökull appears to be an unearthly glacier with a jagged blue seam of ice. Situated only a two-hour drive from Reykjavik, this glacier is among the easiest in Iceland to get to. Numerous day tours are available from the city, making them perfect for individuals traveling solo.
Sólheimajökull offers a plethora of opportunities for adventure. Fewer travelers visit this glacial lagoon than Jökulsárlón, so you can kayak across it or take a snowmobile tour to explore the surroundings. You can even hike across the glacier’s ice expanse while wearing crampons and being guided by a professional tour guide.
The Golden Circle
Most of the public’s favorite viewing route in Iceland is the 190-mile (300-kilometer) Golden Circle, which passes by some of the top destinations of Iceland, including the Gullfoss waterfall, the active geysers at Geysir, and the historic village of Þingvellir, which was the birthplace of Iceland’s first parliament.
It does get crowded, though, so I suggest traveling beyond the summer or to some of the Golden Circle’s less-traveled destinations. These include Friðheimar Greenhouse, a farm-to-table restaurant serving dishes produced from vegetables cultivated geothermally, and Gljúfrabúi, a waterfall concealed inside a canyon.
Vatnajökull National Park
Surrounding the Vatnajökull glacier while boasting ice caves, waterfalls, volcanic rocks, and even forests, Vatnajökull National Park is a protected wilderness area in south Iceland. It is well-known for both the glacier trekking adventures that are offered and for Jökulsárlón, the most well-known glacial lagoon in Iceland.
But if you want to venture off the usual path, the national park offers lots of opportunities for hiking on seldom-traveled paths, and there are even places where camping outdoors is allowed.
With carved canyons rising on both sides, hike along the Núpsá River and spend the night in a tent. A glacier tongue of Vatnajökull called Skeiðarárjökull is another place to camp, which you can then hike across the following day. This requires a certified guide, so you might want to sign up for a group tour.
Vest Mannaeyjar – The Westman Islands
Off Iceland’s south coast lies this little archipelago, which is made up of seven sea stacks and fifteen volcanic islands. Hundreds of homes were destroyed by a volcanic eruption on Heimaey, the largest island, in 1974. Despite the danger, residents bravely fought the lava by firing seawater at it. Its story is being told in their impressive museum.
The Westman Islands are the ideal travel destination if you’re in the mood for peace!
Mid-April through August is the best time to watch puffins, which are housed in one of the world’s largest colonies at Stórhöfði, on the southern tip of Heimaey. Using public transportation, you can travel to Heimaey by bus from Reykjavik to Landeyjahöfn, then you can take a ferry.
Landmannalaugar
Nestled deep among the Icelandic highlands is this geothermally active area boasting vibrant rhyolite mountains and naturally occurring hot springs. This is a great place for a nature-loving solo traveler to visit despite its isolated setting because it’s conveniently located near Reykjavik through the Highland Bus. The bus will take you off at the end of the road, where there is a geothermal swimming area, a campsite, and a sleeping house.
The Laugavegur hike, which National Geographic named one of the most breathtaking hikes in the world, begins at the Landmannalaugar campground. It is possible to hike this in a group or on your own. If a multi-day hike isn’t your thing, you can choose to stay in Landmannalaugar for a few days and go on a few shorter day hikes.
One such hike is the 850-meter-high Brennisteinsalda (Sulphur Hill) volcano, which gives breathtaking views of this bizarre terrain from its summit.
Things To Consider On Your Solo Travel To Iceland
Choose The Best Time For Your Travel
You can travel to Iceland at any time of year, but the best time of year to go will depend on the plans you have.
Summertime, from June to September
Winter, from November to March
Shoulder seasons, from May, and September to October
Consider Renting A Car
You can travel whenever and wherever you choose when you rent a car.
Join A Tour
While it is certainly possible to go solo to Iceland, there are also advantages to traveling in a small group. The total cost of your travel will account for shared activity expenses, letting you explore more remote destinations without worrying about logistics.
Rely On The Locals
Locals are the residents you meet by chance or tour guides who are knowledgeable about the place they live in. Getting their advice and suggestions can make your travel one to remember.
