17 Essential Items to Pack While Staying in a Hostel

Staying in hostels are an extremely affordable way to travel, meet others, avoid loneliness while traveling, and are also really safe. When staying in a hostel, you are sharing a room with others so complete privacy isn’t as easy to get. To help make your stay more comfortable, below is a list of essential items of what to pack for a hostel.

Disclaimer: post contains affiliate links

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1. Bag

First things first – stay organized and pack your belongings in a really good bag. Staying organized is the secret to a stress-free and enjoyable stay in a hostel because it makes it easier to find your stuff! In a hostel you are sharing your room with other people. Everyone is sleeping at different times, the room might be dark and you won’t want to disturb anyone. The washroom can sometimes be down the hall which will require bringing your stuff with you.

So what’s the solution to this? Staying organized! What can help you stay organized? Packing all of your essential items for a hostel in an awesome bag with lots of compartments!

When I travel solo I will bring a backpack as my main carry-on, and a purse. Both have lots and lots of compartments to keep my stuff organized. I like to look for bags with hip straps because it helps prevent any shoulder and neck pain!

2. Lock

While staying in a hostel, you will usually need to store your luggage in a locker in the room. To keep your belongings safe, bring a lock. Make sure it is a lock with a code on it though! I brought a heavy duty lock with a key, and almost locked my keys in my locker! If you have a lock with a code you won’t have to worry about keeping track of a key for it.

I also like to keep my backpack locked up JUST in case someone manages to break into my locker.

The locks below are great because they will secure a locker and also fit through the loops in a backpack to really keep your belongings secure. They also don’t require a key which is a plus!

3. Travel Towel

Hostels typically do not provide towels (when they do though, it is always such a great bonus!). A microfiber towel is ideal because they can roll up small. It saves space and they dry quickly.

Another bonus to a travel towel is that you can hang it up on your bed to dry (if you’re on a bottom bunk) to provide an extra layer of privacy if your bed doesn’t have curtains around it!

Check if your hostel provide towels before you go so that you don’t pack something you may not need.

4. Eye Mask

In a hostel you will be sharing a room with other people. They will be coming and going at different times during the night, so bring an eye mask so you won’t get jolted awake by a light being turned on.

Some of the best hostels are the ones with privacy curtains around the bed. But even if you are assigned a top bunk, the light can sometimes be RIGHT above your head with no curtain to block it.

5. Ear Plugs/Headphones

With hostels comes noise. It’s pretty much unavoidable. You can research which hostels are more quiet and have less of a party atmosphere (I like to use TripAdvisor). But at the end of the day you are sharing a room with multiple people who come and go at different times.

Usually everyone is very respectful. But there is always an early morning alarm clock, or someone checking into or out of the room when you’re trying to sleep, or someone that snores really loudly. The possibilities are endless! So bringing ear plugs can always help you get a better nights sleep.

Another option to earplugs are noise-blocking headphones/ear buds that fit really tightly in your ear so that you can listen to white noise, or calming music while you sleep.

I use something similar to the picture below (click on the picture to be taken to the link)

6. Flip Flops for the shower

Since the showers are shared between many people, it’s always a good idea to wear shower shoes to avoid anything you may not want to have your bare feet touch.

7. Toiletry kit

Hostels usually do not provide toiletries in the bathroom like a hotel would. So, you will need to pack your toiletries. Packing them in a nice kit to carry them while you’re bringing them back and forth from the washroom. in also keeps them organized, an Staying organized makes hostels stays much more pleasant since you need to carry all of your stuff around with you. A toiletry kit can help you find what you need easily without disturbing others. And it’s easy to carry to the bathroom and use while you shower and get ready for the day.

8. A Journal

This isn’t a completely essential item to pack while staying in a hostel, but it is worth mentioning. If you are back for the evening and are settling down for the night, then writing about what you did that day is a great way to not only avoid loneliness while travelling, but also a great way to document your trip!


Suggested Reading: How to avoid loneliness while solo travelling


9. Long charging cable

Sometimes the plugs are REALLY far away from the bed. This can make charging your phone while laying in bed a challenge. Bringing a long charging cable will give you a better chance of being able to use your phone while it charges, or have it close to you while you sleep.

10. External Charger

An external charger is great for many reasons. If the nearest plug is across the room and you want to charge your phone while you’re in your bed (see above point). And, if you are out for the day and your phone starts to die, then this will help you keep your phone charged so that you can still find your way around a new city!

I use this external charger – it is very light compared to others I’ve used, so it doesn’t add a lot of weight to my bag. Plus it has a cute little dog print on it that indicates how low the battery is, and a carrying pouch.

11. Travel Adapter

While traveling, it’s important to actually be able to charge your phone and electronics. Bring a travel adaptor so you will be prepared for any type of outlet!

12. Packing cubes

Since rooms in hostels are usually a bit small, having packing cubes makes it easier to find your stuff if it is organized in packing cubes. Especially if it is early in the morning, or dark, and you need to find your stuff without disturbing your sleeping roommates.

13. Flashlight

If your hostel room is dark because everyone is sleeping, and you don’t want to be that person who wakes everyone up by turning on the giant overhead light, then a flashlight can come in handy! I have a little flashlight on my keychain. Some wear headlamps. Your phone’s flashlight is another great alternative too.

14. Things to hide extra money in

When traveling, keeping your money in other areas to avoid losing it all if your wallet gets stolen is really handy. A great item for what to pack while staying in a hostel is clever items to hide money in.

15. Laundry bag & detergent

A laundry bag and detergent are great items to pack for a hostel. You can pour your own detergent in a travel sized container too. A laundry bag can help keep your dirty clothes separate and organized from your clean clothes – and will be easier to carry to the washing machine when you’re ready to use it.

16. Photocopies of your travel documents

Always keep photocopies of your travel documents on hand. If your passport gets lost or stolen, the process will be A LOT faster if you already have photocopies with you.

17. A positive and open mind

It’s not a tangible item to pack, but bringing a positive and open mind while staying in a hostel (and just traveling in general!) is always a good idea. I am a believer that hostels are for any age – I’ve met people of all ages whenever I’ve stayed in a hostel!

I personally prefer all-female dorms because they are more quiet, and it’s easier to meet other solo female travelers when I stay in those dorms.

If you are unsure of whether to stay in a hostel or not: This post may help you weigh the pros and cons: Should I stay in a hostel or hotel?


What is your essential item that you would bring and pack for a hostel? Let me know in the comments below!


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7 Tips to Actually Ease your Fear of Flying


A few years ago I was terrified of flying.  And I mean TERRIFIED.  I would literally prepare for the worst before a flight.  So many people would try and reassure me by saying “driving a car is more dangerous than flying in a plane” and that never worked.  Over the years though, I can now fly somewhat calmly, and I’ll share my tips on what actually helped my fear of flying!

Organize your items

Having all of your travel documents, passport, and even your earbuds, in a spot where you know you can easily find them can help ease your mind.   If I don’t have to worry about where my passport or any of my travel essentials are, then that is one less thing on my mind.  I can then focus on trying to relax.

Distract yourself

Download a movie you really want to watch on your phone or tablet and watch it on the plane.  If there’s a book you want to read, buy it or download it before you go.  Do something that will truly distract yourself.  One time, a movie kept my attention to the point where I wanted the flight to last longer so I could finish the movie.

Be tired

Okay, so hear me out on this one, since this may not be a typical tip.  If I am really tired before a flight, then it’s easier to fall asleep on the plane (even during a take-off!).  I have never taken sleeping pills or anything though.  I want to make sure that I’m not THAT drowsy when I land.  It is entirely up to you.

Watch flight crew videos on Youtube

This is probably one of the things that helped me the most with my fear of flying.  I watch flight attendant and pilot videos/vlogs on YouTube.  One of my favourite YouTubers is pilot 74 Gear and  flight attendant WonderfullyAle

Knowing the day-to-day life about what it is like for them to fly as a career, and without any fear,  gave me comfort in thinking that I could too.

If watching YouTube videos isn’t your thing, then I check to see what the flight attendants look like while flying.  If they look calm and are just going about their job then I try and be calm too.

Scared of turbulence?

This was something that always scared me, and two things helped with this:

  • In YouTube videos, a frequent question that the fight attendants were asked if they are scared of turbulence.  Their only concern about turbulence was making sure it was safe for the bar cart to go down the aisle (since it’s heavy and could easily roll down the aisle). Not ONCE did they even think about something happening to the plane.  Didn’t even cross their mind! 
  • Another thing that helped was this analogy:  picture a boat on the sea.  It’s bobbing up and down, riding the waves without any troubles.  That’s exactly what a plane is doing.  It’s riding the air waves, just like a boat going through water.  Now when a plane is shaking around because of turbulence I envision it as riding an air wave.

Just keep flying

The more you do it, the easier it can get.  In one year I took 3 different trips with multiple layovers, and after awhile I started to feel a bit more comfortable each time. Practice makes perfect right?

It probably also helped that at one point we had to wait on the tarmac for an extra 15 minutes, so I was able to watch other planes land.  A plane would land literally every 1-2 minutes.  That’s A LOT of planes that fly every day.  I just try to remind myself  how many planes are flying around, and how rarely things happen.

Remember: not all plane rides are the same

In the past, I would compare each flight to what I thought they should be like, and if they differed in any way.  If the plane seems to be approaching the runway faster than normal, was bumpy, noisy or making so making turns, etc. then I would think something was wrong.

Butttt! The weather changes all the time, so it could be that they are making adjustments for the weather.  Or for the length of the runway they sometimes need to adjust their speed, there are SO many reasons. I try and stop comparing the flight to how I think they should go, and take it for what it is.


Are you scared of flying? Were you ever scared of flying and also have less fear over flying, or completely cured of it? Let me know what your tips are for overcoming your fear of flying in the comments below!


A First-Timers Guide to the Blue Lagoon

So you’re planning a trip to Iceland…. and one of the top activities that is recommended is the Blue Lagoon.  For good reason too, it’s AMAAAAAZING.

However, with limited time in a new country so many questions begin swirling around.  When is the best time to go to the Blue Lagoon?  How much time should I spend in the Blue Lagoon?  Is it true you have to shower NAKED?

Well, I am here to help guide you through the Blue Lagoon so that your first visit goes by smoothly, and you know exactly what to expect.

Is it worth it?

Iceland is filled with so many incredible lagoons to swim in, that this is a question that comes up a lot.   Should I even go to the Blue Lagoon, or go to another one instead?  This opinion can vary based on your personal tastes.  I loved the Blue Lagoon so much that I went twice.  Is it touristy?  Yes.  But is it worth it?  Yes.

It is very organized and easy to get around, the landscape is gorgeous, and it’s huuuuuge so it doesn’t feel overly crowded.

How to Get to the Blue Lagoon

If you do not have a car,  and plan to go to the Blue Lagoon either before or after the airport, you can book your transportation through the Blue Lagoon’s website.  When you buy your Blue Lagoon ticket you can add on transportation options.

Or, if you already booked your Blue Lagoon Ticket, you can book your bus voucher with Reykjavik Excursions.

Going to the Blue Lagoon before or after the Airport

Since the Lagoon is so close to the airport,  a convenient option is to go after you land at the airport, or just before you go to the airport.  I did both, and I can tell you that either option is fine.   The Blue Lagoon will safely store your luggage too, so you don’t have to worry about lugging it around with you.

If your flight arrives early in the morning,  then this is a great way to relax before checking in to your hotel.  Our flight arrived in Reykjavik at 4:30AM, and the first bus to the Lagoon isn’t until 7:30am, so we killed time by eating breakfast at the airport.

Another option would be to include your visit to the Lagoon after a trip around the Reykjanes Peninsula. If you take a day tour, you will arrive at the lagoon at around 5pm.  You will get the chance to see the sun set and swim in the lagoon at night. The tour will drop you off at the Lagoon, and it will be up to you to get home. This is easy, since you can book your bus voucher online and go back to Reykjavik when the Lagoon closes.

Prices for the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon offers various packages when you book (as of 2019):

  • Comfort (6990 ISK – about $90 CAD)
  • Premium (9990 ISK – about $130 CAD)
  • Luxury (53000 ISK – about $670 CAD)

What does it include?  Each package includes a towel, a drink, and the Silica mud mask.  The Premium package adds in a robe, slippers, an Algae mud mask, a reservation at the Lava Restaurant and a champagne drink while you are eating there.   The luxury one is super expensive, check it out if it is in your budget.

If you have the extra space in your luggage, it is fine to bring your own robe and towel (that’s what I did).  It’s SO MUCH easier to find your robe among all of the other Blue Lagoon provided robes that are there.

If you don’t want to bring a robe or slippers with you, I would recommend getting the Premium package since it’s nice to get out of the Blue Lagoon and wrap yourself up in a nice warm robe, and you don’t have to walk around or shower in your bare feet.

Check out the Blue Lagoon’s website here.

Tip:  Book your Ticket in Advance!
This is essential! You need to reserve the time that you will enter the lagoon in advance, and these can fill up very quickly! The good thing is that once you start swimming at the Blue Lagoon you can swim around in the water for as long as you want, but you need to get there within your booked time.

Best time to go

The busiest time to go is in the afternoon. The early morning and evenings the crowd begins to thin out.

We went at 8am when it opened, and the sun was just beginning to rise.  It was so calm and quiet, and there weren’t a lot of people there.

By about 10am more people start to come and it gets busier.  This isn’t a deal-breaker since you can swim off to a more quiet area.  The Lagoon is huuuuge, so there were times we were the only two people in certain sections of the lagoon.

sunrise at the Blue Lagoon
Early morning sunrise

How much time to spend at the Blue Lagoon

2-4 hours is the usual amount of time that people spend at the Blue Lagoon.  We were there for four hours both times and didn’t get bored. We bobbed around in the water, put on the Silica masks, stood under the waterfall, went in the steam room, had a drink from the bar, and bobbed around in the water some more until about 12pm.

The entrance to the Blue Lagoon
The walkway to the entrance to the Blue Lagoon

Eating and Drinking at the Blue Lagoon

Keep in mind that the food in Iceland is EXPENSIVE.  I had heard this before I went, but nothing prepared me for how expensive it actually was. To give you an idea, each meal at a restaurant per person ranged from 30 to 40 dollars CAD.

If you eat at the Lava Restaurant, located at the Blue Lagoon (which looked amazing, btw), make a reservation at the same time you book your Blue Lagoon ticket.  Ours was initially at 1pm, but after seeing how expensive the food was we decided to get a snack at their lunch bar (which was also painfully expensive) and eat a meal in Reykjavik instead.

Tips for drinking at the Blue Lagoon

  • Don’t worry about bringing cash.  To buy drinks from the bar (which you can swim up to in the Blue Lagoon), you are given a bracelet which you can use to pay for your drink!
  • Bring a water bottle!  The heat from the water can dehydrate you,  save some money and re-fill your water bottle.   Don’t keep your water bottle in the locker room – you have to shower every time you leave the locker room!   Put your water bottle in the pocket of your robe, so that you can easily access it.
View of the Blue Lagoon from inside the cafe.

Where to store your belongings at the Blue Lagoon

To store your luggage,  the Blue Lagoon will store your luggage for you (for a small fee).  It is in a small separate building in the parking lot, just before the walkway to the Blue Lagoon.

To store your personal items,  (like your wallet, phone, camera, swimsuit, change of clothes, etc), they have secure lockers in the changing room.   The lockers can be a bit tricky to use.   To use them, scan the bracelet that you are given, choose any locker you want, and then scan your bracelet again to lock it.  There are instructions and attendants there just in case you need help.

Tip – Don’t leave your robe and towel in the changing room!  They have hooks outside next to the Lagoon so that you can easily grab them.  I kept my water bottle in my robe’s pocket so that I could quickly access it.

Taking Pictures

My tip for taking photos would be to enjoy the Lagoon when you first arrive, then go to your locker to get your camera.   You can always put your camera back in your locker after you’re finished.

Be wary about storing your camera in your robe while it’s hanging outside with the other robes.  All of the Blue Lagoon robes look exactly the same so it could be easy for someone to accidentally grab the wrong robe with your camera in it.

Showering 

Will you have to shower naked at the Blue Lagoon?  The answer to this is yes.  Will you see other people naked? Also yes.  But have no fear! No one will need to see YOU naked if you don’t want them to – here’s a step-by-step guide for how!

The changing room.   The changing room is essentially an open space with lockers.  A lot of people choose to just strip down and change in the open.  However, there are a few private changing rooms you can use.  If they are busy, you can either wear a towel around yourself and change under it.

The showers.  Ah, the dreaded showers.   They have open showers and LOTS of private showers.  I obviously opted for the private showers.

The trick to showering is go in one of the private showers with your bathing suit on AND a towel wrapped around you.   Once you’re in the shower, take off your bathing suit and hang your towel and bathing suit over the door.  You’re now ready to shower naked without anyone seeing you! Easy peezy.

Bonus, they have shampoo, conditioner and body wash there. Use LOTS of conditioner before and after because the lagoon makes your hair very, very dry. I tried using a shower cap my second time there but ditched it because it got too annoying.

Lava rocks at the Blue Lagoon
Lava rocks surrounding the Blue Lagoon

Wearing glasses or contacts

Ah, for any glasses wearers out there, you know that the struggle can be real.  The short answer is – wear your glasses!  Both times I was there I wore my glasses because I was too nervous about getting the water in my eyes (it stung even without contacts in). The water will hurt your contact lens, and your eyes even more if there are contacts in.

Water WILL get in your eyes, no matter how careful you are. If you want to stand under the waterfall to massage your neck, or put on one of the Silica Mud Masks (which you most definitely should, my skin has never looked so good), then you will need to use the water to get the mask off.

The only downside to wearing glasses is that they can steam up in the early morning, and water droplets will get on them. But if that happens you can just go to your towel and wipe it off (again – make sure you DON’T store your towel in the locker room!  Take your towel outside and hang it up!).

You can choose to not wear glasses at all, but my vision is waaaaay too bad to do that. It was fine wearing glasses.

There is a little trail you can walk around before (or after) you go to Blue Lagoon

Other random – but important – things to know for the Blue Lagoon

The depth of the Blue Lagoon varies. I am 5ft tall, and there were some parts of the Blue Lagoon where I had to stand on my tip-toes because it got to about 5 ft deep. Other sections are super shallow (like maybe 1 foot deep).

What does the bottom of the Blue Lagoon feel like? I don’t like swimming in lakes because it freaks me out when I can’t see the bottom. You also won’t be able to see the bottom of the Blue Lagoon either. But it’s fine, I promise. The bottom of the Lagoon is concrete in the majority of areas, and in other areas it is sandy.

It will dry out your hair. I’ve already mentioned this, but the Blue Lagoon will make your hair feel like straw. Wear LOTS of conditioner before, and condition it thoroughly after. It may take a couple of days for it to return back to normal. I wore a shower cap my second time, but it got annoying and I took it off.


Have you been to the Blue Lagoon before, or are planning to go there? Let me know in the comments below!


How to visit Iceland in 5 days without a car!

Lava fields, black sand beaches, waterfalls, hot lagoons and endless stretches of gorgeous scenery.  How do you choose what to do if you only have 5 days in Iceland without a car?

Below is my itinerary for how to explore Iceland in 5 days without a car, and the recommended day trips to take. Even if you are renting a car while you are there, this will also give you a good idea of what you can see during your 5 days in Iceland!

5 day itinerary for iceland - tips for what to see and do

Should I spend 5 days in Iceland without a car?

Renting a car during your 5 days in Iceland is more expensive, but it gives you A LOT more freedom.  You are able to stop any time you see something, for as long as you want. After 2020, this is also the safest option.

Day trips take the stress away from navigating in a new country.  Especially if you are not used to driving on the right hand side of the road, or in unpredictable weather conditions.

Your budget is also something to consider. The price of small group tours during my 5 days in Iceland without a car was much cheaper compared to renting a car.

For more information on whether to rent a car in Iceland or not read this post here.

waterfall

How to get to Reykjavik (and the Blue Lagoon!) from the Airport

To get to Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon from the airport, you can book bus vouchers either when you purchase your Blue Lagoon ticket, or through  Reykjavik Excursions.

Reykjavik Excursions is a coach bus, and there is free Wi-Fi on board!  They will drop you off at your hotel. If you stay in an AirBnB you will need to walk from the closest hotel.

If you want to go to the Blue Lagoon before checking into your hotel, the bus will stop at Blue Lagoon. Your ticket will be valid from the Airport, with a Blue lagoon stopover, and until you reach your hotel. This makes it convenient stop before or after the airport, or during a layover.

Day 1:  Blue Lagoon and Northern Lights Tour

Morning day 1

Most flights arrive in Iceland REALLY early (like 4:30AM early).  This is too early to check to a hotel. There are early morning walking tours available in Reykjavik if you prefer, or you can visit the Blue Lagoon.

The first bus to the Blue Lagoon is at 7:30AM.  This will give you time to eat breakfast in the Airport. We chose to have bacon, eggs, toast, beans and coffee at Bergsson Mathus.

The Blue Lagoon is a great place to go either before or after a flight.  There are barely any other people in the Lagoon early in the morning.  We were there for FOUR hours – so relaxing after a long flight!

For a small fee, there is a storage place for your luggage.

Suggested Reading: A First-timer’s Guide to the Blue Lagoon

blue lagoon
The Blue Lagoon at 8:00AM

Evening day 1

During your 5 days in Iceland without a car, you will want to go somewhere really dark to see the Northern Lights. Booking a Northern Lights Tour is a great way to do this.

We booked our tour with GeoIceland.

TIP:  If you book a Northern Lights tour early in your trip and you don’t see them, you can go on another tour later in your trip for free! 

Even if you are staying in downtown Reykjavik, you will still be able to see the Northern Lights! We were lucky and saw the Northern Lights in Reykjavik as we were waiting for our tour bus. We saw them again on the tour.  It was an incredible experience!

northern lights in Reykjavik
Northern Lights tour - what to do in Iceland for 5 day itinerary
The Northern Lights in downtown Reykjavik

Day 2: Reykjanes Peninsula Tour and Exploring Reykjavik

I highly recommend this tour – it was one of my favourite day trips during my 5 days in Iceland without a car. We saw lava fields, a geothermal area, we walked up a cliff to see some incredible views of the ocean, and got to walk between two tectonic plates.

We booked this tour through Gateway To Iceland

Reykjanes penisula tour
walking through geothermal area in iceland

This tour offers the option to be dropped off at the Blue Lagoon.  If you do not visit the Blue Lagoon on day one, this is a good alternative. You will be responsible for your own travel back to your hotel.

We opted to be returned back to Reykjavik at around 5pm.  This gave us TONS of time to explore the town of Reykjavik!

Evening day 2

If you didn’t choose the option to stay at the Blue Lagoon after the Reykjanes Day Tour, you will have time to explore Reykjavik in the evening.

Places to visit in Reykjavik: Go inside Harpa, walk along the harbour, visit the Sun Voyager sculpture, go to the top of Hallgrimskikja church to see the views of Reykjavik, and visit the shops on the main shopping street.

view from Hallgrimskikja church
View from the top of Hallgrimskikja church
Hallgrimskikja church
Hallgrimskikja church

Dinner:  We ate at Café Loki, which gave us a great view of the church and the opportunity to try local dishes (fermented shark is def. not my favourite, but the lamb is AMAAAAZING).

Added Bonus – we saw the Northern Lights as we were walking back to our AirBnB!!

Dinner at Cafe Loki
Dinner at Cafe Loki

Day 3:  Hot Golden Circle Tour

The Golden Circle takes you to Þingvellir National Park, the Gullfoss Waterfall, and a Geysir that erupts every 5 minutes.  On this tour, we also went swimming in the Secret Lagoon!  This Lagoon has a little Geysir that bubbles hot water into the Lagoon.

We booked this tour through Gateway to Iceland

When we arrived back in Reykjavik we still had more time to explore the city and eat supper.  We tried the local hotdog (with everything on it) from a street vendor, and they were delicious.

The Secret lagoon
The Secret Lagoon

Day 4:  South Coast Tour

Our fourth day in Iceland we explored the South Coast.  We saw two waterfalls (Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss), the black sand beach, and walked right up to the edge of a glacier!  We went as far as the town of Vik, before heading back to Reykjavik.

This tour was booked through GeoIceland Day Tours

This tour was the longest, and we arrived back in Reykjavik at around 7:30pm.  This gave us time to shop and eat supper.  We also walked down to the Sun Voyager statue so that we could watch the Northern Lights – and they were spectacular!

waterfall during a group tour

Day 5:  Last Day (free day with many options)

This day was originally intended as a free day to explore Reykjavik.  Since we were able to explore Reykjavik in the evenings during our 5 days in Iceland without a car, we went back to the Blue Lagoon! 

This was booked last minute, which I don’t recommend doing since time slots get booked far in advance.

We were lucky that were was an opening (at 8:00am).  It was just as nice the second time, and a great way to relax before the flight home!

Reykjavik
Reykjavik

If you have some free time on your last day, there are other options that you can do in 5 days in Iceland without a car:

  • Ride an Icelandic Horse.  We saw these all over the country, and they SO cute, and are truly special.
  • Go inside a Volcano.  This is a very expensive, but you can do this in half a day.
  • Visit a Museum.  A Penis Museum is one of them! Check the hours in advance since most close at 5pm.
  • Shopping in Reykjavik.  Some shops close at 5, so spend the afternoon buying new souvenirs!

Iceland scenery

Have you been to Iceland, or are planning a trip there?  What was your favourite thing to do?  Let me know in the comments below!


5 days in Iceland: an itinerary for what to do, see and eat

5 day iceland itinerary: day trips from Reykjavik