WHY REYKJAVIK ICELAND SHOULD BE YOUR FIRST SOLO TRIP

The Ultimate Guide To Reykjavik, Iceland: Everything You Need To Know and More

Photo of me at the Blue Lagoon

Do you ever want to travel, but all your friends are either busy or just aren't interested? Yeah, I have experienced this numerous of times. Eventually, I was able to get to a place where I was tired of waiting on people and was ready to see what the world had to offer. After a month of going back and forth on if traveling internationally solo for the first time was ideal, I finally decided to do it.

Let’s be honest, the idea of traveling solo to a different country is SCARY! There are so many factors to consider: safety, language and culture barriers, currency rates, transportation, and accommodations just to name a few. When you factor in the fact that you will be alone, it can be intimidating. Not to mention, those worst-case scenario thoughts going through your head. Hopefully this post will decrease your anxiety and worries on if you should book you first solo adventure.

Now, the fun part begins, picking the perfect destination for your first solo adventure. Here’s why I choose Reykjavik, Iceland as my first destination:

SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY

As a solo female traveler, it is important to do your research. As a black solo female traveler, it is even more important to research each destination you are thinking of traveling to.

According to Global Peace Index, Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008.

Making Iceland great for solo adventures.

From arriving at the airport, to traveling by bus to the Blue Lagoon, to roaming the streets at 2am, there was not a moment that I felt unsafe in Iceland. It is important to note that everyone’s experience is different. The Icelanders were nice and welcoming.

LANGUAGE BARRIER

Remember that not every country’s second language is English. As a first solo trip, I think it is important to choose a destination that either fluently speaks your primary language or your primary language is taught as a secondary language. Hence another reason why I chose Iceland as the perfect first solo destination, English is taught as a second language. Each Icelander that I had the pleasure of encountering with spoke English, making it easier for me to converse with the locals. I even learned a few phrases in their native language.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL, DUH

Now let’s get into the REAL reason why Iceland was my number one go-to destination for my first solo travel. Iceland is BEAU-TI-FUL! Depending on the time you are visiting, it is even more beautiful. I made the decision to go in February, which isn’t for the weak. There's a reason why it's called Iceland; it was freezing, and the winds were HIGH. On the bright side, it made for the most perfect winter wonderland.

NOW, ICELAND FROM MY SOLO POINT OF VIEW

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LIVING ACCOMADATIONS

Choosing where to stay will make or break your trip! For me, the most important factor I consider when choosing where to stay is the proximity of the area. I always choose a location that is either in the heart of city (makes it easier to walk around if you decide not to rent a car), or close to the main attractions I am considering. So usually before I book a trip, I always check to see what the city/country has to offer.

PHOTO BY: hotels.com

ADVENTURE

If you’re anything like me, adventure is key. I like to explore as much culture and experience as I can. I personally am always up early on vacation. The earlier, the better. It gives me enough time to fit in all my desired activities for my whole trip.

Iceland has so much to offer and explore. I went on a 4-day trip to Iceland and still felt like I needed more time. If you want full details of my itinerary, check back soon. You don’t want to miss all the beautiful places this country has to offer.

Photo of me at Skógafoss Waterfall

WHAT TO EAT

It’s no secret that Iceland is expensive. If you didn’t know, secret’s out. Much like Hawaii, Iceland is an island requiring majority of its goods to be imported. If you like seafood, Iceland is the place to be. The lobster soup is popular and divine in Iceland. I also found that Iceland had a ton of American style foods.

There are plenty of great restaurants in the center city, another reason why choosing the right accommodations is important if you don’t rent a car. Just remember that the food in Iceland is pricey. To save some money, I went to the grocery store one night as opposed to eating out.

GETTING AROUND ICELAND WHEN YOU DECIDE NOT TO RENT A CAR

To rent or to not rent is the perfect question to ask yourself when solo traveling. Especially when you’re in a different country. Important things to consider when renting a car are the country's driving laws, styles of vehicles, and gas. Depending on the country, you may end up driving on the right-hand side of the road or the left. Because Iceland is an Iceland, I can imagine that gas doesn’t come at a cheap price. So, do the research before deciding to rent a car.

WHAT TO WEAR

I can’t tell you how the weather is in Iceland year-round, but I can tell you how it was in February. Freezing, Iceland is freezing in February. I made sure to pack heavy. A waterproof parka, thermal wear, gloves, hats, hand warmers, scarves, boots with traction, fleece socks and tights, and long sleeve shirts were my go-to for this packing trip. Again, research is KEY. Be on the look out for my blog post on what I packed. for Iceland in February.

OTHER THINGS TO NOTE

CURRENCY

The Iceland currency is Icelandic Króna (ISK). 1 Icelandic Króna equals 0.0078 US dollar. I found that many restaurants, boutique shops, and shopping malls will take US dollars. I mainly used my credit or debit card for the simple fact that I didn’t feel like exchanging my US dollars for Icelandic Króna. I had some US dollars on me and when spent, I was given Icelandic currency back instead of US dollars.

$$$

As previously mentioned, Iceland is expensive. While the flights may be cheap, nothing else is. So, I would do detailed research into all the activities you are wanting to do, living accommodations, and restaurants you are wanting to try to get an idea of how much you will want to budget for this trip.

It takes a lot of courage to step outside of your comfort zone and travel solo. Do it anyway. We make no progress staying in our comfort zone. If you find yourself going back and forth on if you should travel solo or not, just book the flight. Sometimes, you have to just do it. I hope this has alleviated some anxiety or stress you have around booking your first solo trip. I hope you make Iceland your first destination. Be sure to like and share this post. SAFE TRAVELS!