5 Mistakes EVERYONE makes on first trip to Iceland 🇮🇸 How NOT to make them!

[@Halli50]

Another Icelander here, and I fully agree with Guðný about the traditional food: To be avoided by tourists at all costs! Do not let ANYONE talk you into trying e.g. Hákarl, the fermented shark, it is a nasty practical joke a few deranged locals try to play on unsuspecting tourists. If, however, you are an adventurous soul, by all means have a go - at least you now know what you are getting into. Bear in mind that "traditional" Icelandic food is from an era when people were literally starving to death and were desperate enough to eat ANYTHING. What is now "traditional" is what people found not to be poisonous or even lethal. Some of it is actually quite tasty, but only after you have acquired the taste for it.

[@joancampbell9157]

I tried the fermented shark and I liked it. Ice cream is good and in fact I found all your food good. The walking tour of Reykjavik and I learned that the first part of its name means smoke. The Scots language word for smoke is reek which comes for the same Norse word. We also have our word for the last part. And I don’t mean the Scottish Gaelic language.

[@Halli50]

@@joancampbell9157 Reekwick?

[@joancampbell9157]

@@Halli50 yes, but we don’t pronounce the wick, we just leave it out except for two places. Wick and Innerwick then we pronounce it as a w as in we. Innerwick is a little inland from the sea, thus inner. The w in Berwick is silent although lots of visitors make the mistake of pronouncing it.

[@Halli50]

@@joancampbell9157 What about Prestwick? In Icelandic that could be "Prestvík" or Priest Bay.

[@joancampbell9157]

@@Halli50 I forgot about that one but your right. That’s one we mispronounce.

[@sharongardiner5076]

Perfect timing. I am arriving Monday, And I have our food tour booked. Hoping we get you as our guide! Love your enthusiasm.

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Hey there Sharon! Thank you so much for the comment. You are definitely off to a great start of your trip with that one! 🥳

[@TheDharmaDogs]

no! not too many things booked. Most favorite things... Walking around Reykjavik so much fun! walking to get Pizza! at flatbakan pizza!!!

[@albertnelson2868]

You do a great job on your presentation. Great attitude

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Thank you so much for your kind words 🧡

[@kaaytie84]

I made the most of the days i was there. I want to add that hiking boots are needed and on the windy days safety goggles. I went to the shark museum and ate shark meat. Stock up on food for long trips because places to stop are hard to find. I want to go again because there is so much to see and do.

[@professorbatty6850]

After nine trips to Iceland in the last 24 years, I can agree with all the points you presented here. I've done guided day trips, rented cars to explore and have even stayed entirely in Reykjavík with no car. Each way has its merits but, like you said in your first point, don't try to do too much. The local pools are a must-try to go every day-especially after your flight over, it's a great way to beat jet-lag and meet locals and other travelers. Regarding dining: If you don't mind paying for a Michelin-star restaurant Dill and Öx are each a once-in-a-lifetime experience. One thing I will add: if you go in the off-season Reykjavík has a ton of cultural activities including a vibrant theatre scene and, in the first week in November, The Iceland Airwaves music festival. Nice channel, Guðny, and good presentation, takk…

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Thanks for a great comment with some fantastic pointers! I agree with them all and we hope to see you here for your 10th trip! 🧡

[@brianodoherty8444]

Hey, what would you recommend doing for a week in Iceland. Stay in Reykjavik and do day trips. Or rent a car

[@blforbes0309]

We arrive tomorrow! I’m excited but quasi terrified of the winds as we’re renting a Campervan! Can’t wait to see Iceland.

[@dorotheagr]

I just visited Iceland with a group operator from Greece. The 6 day trip was amazingly well organised by Nordix, the travel agency I booked the trip with. Having watched your videos helped me prepare efficiently for this last minute booking and arrive at Iceland as a pro traveller. Thank you so much for that! Your country and people are amazing. I can’t wait to return and try some of your offered experiences.

[@katesommerville7217]

Only 3 1/2 weeks to go,cannot wait. I have the food tour on my first full day 😊

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Woohoo! The perfect start to the trip!! :)

[@taorminajoe]

Visited and drove the ring road back in 2018. I'm coming back in a week with my brother and we will be driving the ring road again. Really appreciate the tip on the safe driving app! I'm a very competent winter weather driver, but regardless, in 2018 there was a stretch of road up in the northeast that spooked the piss outta me! Will be checking the app on my upcoming trip- thank you!

[@fumangia]

I went there in nov. 2023 and it was great. We stayed for like 11 days and all I wanna do is comeback and do a couple of videos.

[@mixon734]

We will be in Iceland beginning next week and staying for 2 weeks, this was very helpful, thank you!!

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Glad it was helpful! Enjoy Iceland 🧡

[@Wolfman038]

Can’t wait for my food walk in mid June!

[@DrBrainspiller]

Not long now 😁

[@bigrplayer4070]

Thank you for these videos - they are helping me set up my journey to Iceland in 2026! (Yes, I will book a Food Walk!) I don't know if I will ever leave - your country looks amazing, can't wait!!

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

You are so welcome and thanks for the kind words 🧡 we look forward to seeing you here soon!

[@janiemyers3662]

We are coming later this year and I’m watching all your videos! Really excited to come, and so thankful for all the videos and tips y’all share.

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Hey Janie! Thank you so much for the kind words and we can't wait to see you here soon ❤️

[@franb_nz]

​@@WakeUpReykjavik. Hai Guðný can I please have you as my tour guide?? Solo traveller here all way from New Zealand so I'll be swapping the Aurora Australis for the Borealis 😍

[@Berion189]

Thank you. We had friends who had visited and recommended we get a local tour guide and I was skeptical at first but now that we've seen this I think that its better we follow your advice. This does not seem like your ordinary trip to Alaska or Florida where we can rent a car and go around sightseeing.

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Glad it was helpful! I think that is definitely a great idea :)

[@albamigliarese175]

Great video ! I love the way you talk :) Do you have some tips about 10 days with the Camper in mid January? Whatever..like places to absolutely visit, what to do in case of storms and backup activities to do indoor in that case.. Me and me bf already booked (not a 4x4 camper but equipped one). Thank youu

[@petebw]

I came to visit about a month ago and I'm delighted to see I didn't fall foul of these mistakes (except the food one - I just didn't have time!). One I would 100% agree with is the local pool tip - I went to one near a sports centre in Reykjavik and it was one of the best afternoons! HIGHLY recommend visitors do this - they're not your average non-Icelandic municiple pools!

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Wow well done! That means that you were well prepared 🇮🇸 I am so glad you enjoyed the local pools they sure are my favourite part about living here 🏊‍♀️

[@linkamoreno9959]

Great video, Thank you!

[@SmileyRays]

I love your stormtrooper helmet!

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

We do to! 👽

[@patriciagustafson5552]

Love your videos. You convinced me to try the local pools when I visit next month. I wasn't sure if they would be different that just a regular swimming pool.

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

I sure love them! They are definitely public pools, but I feel that they have their own charm to them here in Iceland! 🇮🇸

[@OCTAVIATAY]

Very good video ! Thanks ❤

[@barrysteven5964]

I've been visiting Iceland since 1997. My wife and I took our two children (aged 9 and 7 at the time) one snowy April. We stayed in a little cottage in Elliðahvammur near the lake. It was a different experience in those days. The Blue Lagoon was a few kilometres away from where it is now. There were just a few wooden buildings. It wasn't too expensive and there weren't many people there! When we went to Gullfoss there was only us and a young German couple on honeymoon. But one of the highlights was going to a local swimming pool. I think we went to Arbæjarlaug. It was so great. I've been to the new Blue Lagoon. It's a cool experience. But it's so expensive and not ideal for children in my view. If you have kids take them to the swimming pool. Especially wonderful if it's snowing a bit. Sitting in the warm water with snow flakes on your head is amazing. We've been back many times as have our children who are now grown up and they are still in love with Iceland. But haven't taken our grandchildren yet but we will!! Just writing this is making me want to go back again. 🤣

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Wow, thank you so much for writing this great comment 🧡! Árbæjarlaug is definitely one of my favorite local pools that we have here and I am so happy to hear that you guys got to experience that. We have some other fantastic ones so be sure to check out Laugardalslaug when you visit with the grandkids! 🙌

[@Skyeyedronography]

I didn't make any of these mistakes. Before my very first trip to Iceland, I researched everything intensively for more than half a year. And i had the best time in Iceland. To this day I still don't understand how you can't do this... just like if you want to emigrate. You inform yourself long enough before you set off, period.

[@jonkirk2118]

Great video. Another mistake would be not trying to learn some Icelandic. It's such a beautiful language. If only I could pronounce the 'r' correctly. I've watched videos on how to but I'm starting to think it's down to genetics. Takk fyrir!

[@josealcala9103]

Hi 👋- thanks greetings from Chicago Illinois ✌🏼

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Hi! Nice to see you here 🥳🇮🇸

[@motokenny8045]

You forgot the most important newbie mistake....bring 5 times the money you "thought" you were going to need..i remember before inflation prices paying 20 USD for a piece of avocado toast with 1/16 slice of avocado on it..i had only been off the plane 2 hours and was racking credit cards to oblivion.

[@Srnji_]

Yes it’s SO expensive😭. Coming from an Icelandic person.

[@Volundur9567]

For two people, five days: $8,000. Easily. No fancy hotels, no fancy food or touristy stuff.

[@kathleenh188]

Do we need international driver's licenses to drive in Iceland? (Coming from Canada)

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Hey there! A European, Canadian or American driver's license is sufficient and international driver's licenses are not necessary when driving in Iceland :)

[@heathertomczyk2822]

I like her . I’ll be booking . I ski so I think my ski clothes and boots should be perfect x

[@chelleb70]

Our biggest mistake was being there for only 5 days (minus travel days) but we’re already talking about what we’ll see next time!

[@TheMarkWilson]

My son is a VERY picky eater. How close in taste is Pylsur to an American hot dog? Is it more like that or a sausage?

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Hard to say for someone who has not much experience with American hot dogs 😅 I would say similar but the condiments are a bit sweeter ☺️

[@mookykitten]

Get a cinnamon roll from that bakery where people line up for the cinnamon rolls!!! And visit a book shop for books from Icelandic authors! Or the Bonus supermarket for their branded poetry book. Totally random and quirky for a supermarket but they had it one time I visited.

[@Volundur9567]

Brauð & Co.

[@gerardriordan1458]

Lovely 😂

[@throughthewindowpane]

Layers, layers, layers! I just came back from Iceland. It was beautiful and mesmerizing, but one moment you can walk in your T shirt in summer, and ten minutes later there is wind and rain and you need two extra layers of clothes…

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

A great tip and soooo true!

[@1GoldenSlumbers]

hiya! thanks for the epic tips !!!! i was wondering, im travelling for the first time to Iceland on the 12th of june for 6 days, do you think i will be able to travel the ring road? im a photographer and im really excited about landscapes!!!

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Thanks for Watching! 🧡 generally June is easily travelled (the gravel roads will depend on your vehicle though), so I would just follow safetravel.is, drive safe and get ready to enjoy! 💫

[@cynthianyross7355]

What's the current promo code for the walking food tour? I will be there in OCT 2023. Thanks! PS. “LOCAL” (promo code) doesn’t work for Reserve Now/ Pay Later on TripAdvisor.

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Hey there Cynthia :) Thanks for watching our video and taking the time to write a comment! Since we do not run TripAdvisor we can't add any promo codes to their site, so the promo code is only valid when you book directly through us! You can do that on www.wakeupreykjavik.com - hope that helps!

[@DawnToDawn]

Thanks for the tips. How is the car renting situation ?

[@What-h6s]

Can I do the ring road with a driver guide

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Hey there! Yes, if you would find such a serviceI am sure that would not be a problem :)

[@snowbike8032]

Thank you so much! We are planning a trip for next summer! Interestingly enough we haven't been able to find a "hikers itineary" online. We are planning 10-14 days and are not sure if we should explore areas thoroughly or do the ring road. If we want to hike and rent mountain bikes once or twice... what would you recommend? Thank you!

[@brianodoherty8444]

Would it be better to stay in the one place for a week (reykavik) and do the day trips. Or rent a car and stay in different places

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Hey there Brian! It does depend on the experience you want, but personally I would advise day trips from Reykjavík! ☺️

[@chloeellis6462]

How much money do you suggest for 2 people for four days just for food (everything else is paid for) I know it depends what you wanna eat, just want to know what to expect. We’ll not being having any fancy meals.

[@billxx188]

I am very tempted to take a tour of the ring road. I do realize that the ring road doesn't hit all the truly beautiful areas of Iceland and I know you should only attempt the ring road in summer. But I'm not someone who enjoys camping. I also would like to take this road trip solo. so I have a few questions. 1. Within a one day travel time period can a local cheap motel be reached each day or are parts of the ring road too remote? 2. I'm not a drinker but I enjoy my cannabis where it is perfectly legal where I live in Connecticut. What are the laws in Iceland regarding cannabis? 3. I wouldn't feel comfortable in a group or crammed in with a driver I don't know throughout the ring road but is there an option to rent a car and a tour guide that you can follow across the ring road or at least parts of it? 4. Are electrical cars available for rental and would that make the ring road trip more affordable? Are their adequate charging stations?

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Hey there! Thanks for watching and wow, great questions! I would love to help 😀 1. Yes, it definitely can be reach in 1 day. 2. It is illegal here in Iceland, sorry! 3. Not that I am aware of, either you drive on your own or you join in a group - but there are some small groups available. Unfortunately we don't have a ring road tour so I am not an expert in this matter! 4. Yes they are, it depends since electric cars will also cost more to rent, and then they don't necessarily have charging stations all around the ring road so although it is doable it might not be as easy to do I hope this helps at all!

[@aiidina67]

The number of people who land in Iceland and have noooo idea how to check Veður or the roads is too damn high.

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Right! It's a simple but important tip to know! 🌤️

[@AlexanderMOLINA-g3o]

I have been twice and I absolutely adored Iceland. I would like to go this summer, but I have 2 constraints: I don't want to drive around due to what you've mentioned, and I want to bring my small dog. Do any tour operator accept dogs? Or is it affordable to have a private tour guide for a couple of days? Thank you!

[@georgbjarni8447]

I Would Do An Inquiry About Your Dog ,Entering Iceland...heard a horrible story of a cat years ago animal was ,seized entering Iceland.

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Sorry for the super late reply! But since Iceland is an isolated island, our animal laws are very strict - any dog that comes here has to be quarantined for about 5 weeks so I would never recommend bringing an animal here unless it would be to live permanently. Sorry about that!

[@rebeccaattle284]

Can someone tell me what card I need to use as I know it's cashless I want to use Monzo can I use this I'm stressed

[@shrinishdonde343]

Thanks for the wonderful tips!

[@SDRsUnited]

Gudny, a glitter bomb of fun!

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Thank you for the kind comment 🎊🥳

[@SDRsUnited]

@@WakeUpReykjavik. Anytime, anywhere, anyhoooow!!!

[@DanWright-d9h]

In particular, I second #5! It is a huge mistake to not visit a local pool. We stopped at several on our trip to West Iceland, and were blown away by how inexpensive and wonderful the local pools are - usually with several different outdoor soaking tubs of different temperatures, and great views to boot. She's not kidding: even tiny towns with 200 people have a nice pool. Sure, some tourists freak out about the very strict requirement to shower naked beforehand (because Icelandic pools use minimal chlorine, it's necessary to be really clean), but I've never understood that. Message to my fellow Americans: if you've ever been to this thing called the *gym*, you showered naked. Really not that big a deal. Go to a public pool, spend a fraction of what you would at the fancy spa hot pots, shower naked amongst people of the same sex, put your suit on and enjoy a good soak. Bonus: our experience at public pools was there were more friendly locals than tourists!

[@sundaygirl006]

Hi, is your food tour suitable for people who don't eat meat? xx

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Hey there! Yes it is, just note it as you book in and you will get tasty alternatives 😋

[@BmX-by7qd]

Do you have halal authentic food?

[@DavidHaynes-df4vk]

It would help if you listed your email or web site prominently. I would like to look in to the Golden Circle tour and the Reykjavik Food walk, but moved too fast for me

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Heyyy there David! Thanks for watching 🧡 send us a line at [e-mail] for some assistance with booking! ☺️

[@PrinceofMacedonVlogs]

wow great video! I should have about 11 to 12 days in Iceland. I want to do the Ring Road (after spending the first night in Reykjavik). How far can I drive in a day on the Ring Road before needing a hotel? I want to book my hotels soon, but I have no idea where I should grab hotels along the road. I don't want them to be too far apart from each other. And I definitely don't want them too close together too.

[@mariogabor479]

Thank you for this video.

[@tondalea7097]

62 days from my first visit and I already feel like I should have booked more time 😫

[@davidb3738]

I'm visiting iceland for the first time the last week of July 2024.

[@RinoPassalacqua-d7o]

How was it and any tips ? September here

[@coronayona8320]

Mistake 2. Not trying authentic Icelandic cuisine --> *Looks at Iceland food prices* ...yeah, I could live with mistakes 😅

[@glynnjarrett4220]

I am vegan, hope I don't starve hahaha

[@Sarah-fs1xw]

Me too lol but we won’t, there’s vegan Iceland videos🥰💯💖🇮🇸

[@johnbradshaw7525]

When I went to Iceland, I went on a guided tour around the ring road. I had an amazing time. I did my research before my Icelandic adventure so I made sure that I took suitable clothes for all weather conditions. Though one of the women on the tour, decided that her idea of suitable clothes for Iceland was high heeled boots, skin tight jeans and a mickey mouse poncho from Disney world. All she did was moan because she got cold and wet.

[@WakeUpReykjavik.]

Oh man! Smart move from you - Iceland is such a special place that if you gear up and are ready for everything, you can't have a bad time I think!

[@johnbradshaw7525]

@@WakeUpReykjavik. It was the best holiday that I have had. I so want to go back to Iceland. I'll use some of my retirement money to go back to Iceland.

[@bekik9510]

If you don't mind - what was the name of the tour company?

[@jamesr1689]

Very helpful, thank you. Definitely won't be trying sheep's face 🤮

[@jameshchetwyndjr9739]

Be Iceland May 19 2025

[@pamsmith7369]

Thanks for the EXTENDED advertisement for your tours. I’m really not that interested in $150 worth of MEAT! I don’t eat meat and would not be able to eat $150 worth of food in a couple hours!

[@kenjohan]

A very unpleasant presenter.

[@j.allencrute7016]

She was "to the point" without gabbing about herself. Great advice. I live in a tourist town, and visitors can be rude and reckless.