One of the best ways to save money while exploring Reykjavik is to use the Reykjavik City Card. This handy card is a traveler’s key to unlocking Reykjavik’s culture, history, and activities. Dive into Iceland’s museums, enjoy the city’s geothermal pools, or take in the…

The water in Silfra is so clear that you can see roughly 100 meters ahead of you. The choice of how to experience it just got a lot clearer, too. I have been sending readers to Dive.is for years, because floating between two continents in…

If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, here’s something most first-timers underestimate: the rental car is often the single biggest line on the budget. Hotels and tours you can scale up or down, but a car is a car — and in Iceland, you’re going…

When I first wrote my Icelandic phrases guide back in 2021, the idea was simple: give visitors a friendly nudge towards a few words they could use on their trip. It’s been one of the most-read articles on Stuck in Iceland ever since. But re-reading…

Stranger Things fans, this one’s for you. The closing scene of the series finale — Eleven standing at a cliff edge above a vast canyon and a thundering waterfall — was filmed right here in Iceland. The waterfall is real, it’s called Háifoss, and it’s…

For geology students, Iceland is not just another beautiful travel destination. It is a giant outdoor classroom where the Earth seems to speak in steam, lava, ice, and stone. Imagine opening a geology textbook and watching the diagrams come alive in front of you. That…

Iceland is the kind of place that makes you stop mid-step and whisper, “Is this real?” One moment, you are looking at a black sand beach that feels like another planet. The next, you are standing near a waterfall so powerful it seems to shake…

Akureyri is my hometown, and I love it dearly. The town is both pretty and peaceful, and well-placed as a base for exploring northern Iceland. The first thing to know about Akureyri is that it is the largest urban center outside southwest Iceland and has all the…

The question I get more than any other is some version of this: “We’re thinking of bringing the kids to Iceland. Is it worth it? And how do we do it without spending a fortune?” I’ve been answering questions about family vacations for years. This…

I am pleased to announce that Iceland Mountain Guides have joined my family of partners — and they are bringing a 10% discount for Stuck in Iceland subscribers along with them. If you have been reading this magazine for a while, you know I do…

If there’s one thing an Icelander is qualified to write about, it’s where to get warm in cold water. We invented the concept. Every town in this country has a pool. Every valley seems to have a spring. Over the years on Stuck in Iceland,…

Hvammsvík Hot Springs sits at the end of Hvalfjörður — Whale Fjord — about an hour from Reykjavik, and it is quietly becoming one of the most talked-about experiences in Iceland. Unlike the big-name geothermal spas closer to the capital, Hvammsvík puts you deep inside…

I’ve just added 49 new discount codes to the Stuck in Iceland collection, bringing the total to 110 exclusive codes covering tours, rentals, spas, and travel services across Iceland. That makes this the largest single collection of Iceland travel discount codes available anywhere — and…

By Jón Heiðar Ragnheiðarson — Reykjavík local, Iceland travel editor since 2012 | Updated April 2026 I have lived in Reykjavik my entire life. So when people ask me what makes a perfect day in this city, I don’t have to look it up. I…

Iceland is probably the most musical country on earth, relative to its size. A nation of just under four hundred thousand people has given the world Björk, Sigur Rós, Of Monsters and Men, Laufey, Hildur Guðnadóttir — and that list barely scratches the surface. Per…

Iceland has a reputation for being expensive — and honestly, that reputation is not entirely undeserved. But after 14 years of writing about travel here, I can tell you that the difference between a trip that breaks the bank and one that doesn’t usually comes…

Iceland’s volcanic landscape tells a story of beauty and devastation in equal measure. Iceland’s rugged beauty is shaped by countless eruptions. However, that has come at a price. Throughout Icelandic history, cataclysmic eruptions have devastated the Icelandic people. If you want to immerse yourself in…

If someone asks me what they should do on an evening in South Iceland that has nothing to do with the Northern Lights, I now have a clear answer: go to Mr. Iceland and listen to Valdimar tell stories. Mr. Iceland is a working farm…

If you’re thinking about seeing Iceland from a helicopter, you’ll probably end up talking to Helena Gallardo at some point. Helena handles customer service at Volcano Heli, a small helicopter tour company based in Reykjavík. They’re not the biggest operation in Iceland, but they’re one…

Cold water diving in Iceland offers an unparalleled adventure for divers eager to explore unique underwater landscapes. However, the extreme conditions require careful preparation to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Understanding the specific challenges and necessary gear is crucial for anyone considering this exhilarating…

Reykjavík punches well above its weight when it comes to festivals. For a city of around 140,000 people, the capital packs its calendar with an extraordinary number of cultural events. These range from the depths of winter darkness right through the endless summer light. Here…

Planning a trip to Iceland can be overwhelming. Between the Northern Lights, glacier hikes, the Golden Circle, hot springs, whale watching, and everything in between, there’s a staggering amount to consider. And after fourteen years of publishing Stuck in Iceland Travel Magazine, I’ll be the…

Nine years ago, I bought myself a book before Christmas. It was the debut of a new author, Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdótir, who at the time was a journalist at the Icelandic National Television. The book was called ‘Eyland’ – a literal translation could be ‘Island…

If you’ve been dreaming about stepping onto an actual glacier in Iceland, I have fantastic news. I’m thrilled to announce that I’m rebooting my partnership with Arctic Adventures for their Glacier Tours on Sólheimajökull. Arctic Adventures is one of Iceland’s most respected tour operators and a…

When people ask me where to base themselves for exploring South Iceland, I’ve got a pretty good answer these days: Landhotel, just outside Hella. I’ve partnered with Landhotel because it genuinely solves a problem many Iceland travelers face – finding quality accommodation that’s both comfortable…

Iceland might not be the first place that comes to mind for snowboarding, but that’s exactly what makes it so appealing. Instead of busy resorts and long lift lines, you get mountains rising straight from the ocean, constantly shifting weather, and winter light that turns…

Before you start pinning waterfalls and booking tours, it helps to listen to people who actually know Iceland from the inside. Over the past year, Stuck in Iceland spoke with locals, guides, artists, scientists, and adventurers who all experience the country in very different ways…

We Icelanders take New Year’s Eve seriously — and it’s wildly fun. Forget tame countdowns: on December 31st, the whole country glows with thousands of fireworks, roaring bonfires, and late-night celebrations that echo well into the early morning. Reykjavík, in particular, transforms into one of…

It’s that time again—time to sit down with my good friend Sævar Helgi Bragason, Iceland’s stargazer-in-chief. He’s the person I always turn to when the spectacular Icelandic aurora is set to dance across the sky. Readers will remember Sævar from our previous conversations about stargazing…

Icelanders go big on Christmas. Not only is generous gift giving a core feature of Icelandic Christmas. The festival lasts 13 days. Like elsewhere in the western world, Christmas celebrations and preparations start obnoxiously early, but we Icelanders try to extend the ancient solstice festivities…