TRANSIT June 19 - 20 2025 in transit Toronto to Reykjavik Iceland
Day 1: Reykjavik (Iceland) June 20 2025 FRIDAY
Toronto ON - Reykjavik Keflavik Miles 2598 Miles
Date 19 Jun 2025 Departing 2300
Airline Icelandair Flight/Class FI604
Arriving 0835 / 20 Jun 2025
Estimated Time 5 Hrs 35 Mins It was 4 hrs 40 minutes
Iceland is located in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, directly below the Arctic Circle (66°N).
Reykjavík, Iceland is 4 hours ahead of Toronto, ON
2:31 p.m. in Reykjavík, Iceland is 10:31 a.m. in Toronto
Uber and Icelandic check in were super easy. The agent wrote the lounge name, the bus info on the boarding passes. Security line was a little long.
We were entitled to the Plaza Premium Lounge, however the line up was out the door and they put up the Maximum Occupancy sign.
We headed towards our gate and found a bar to pass the time. Ridiculous prices when you have to do all the work.
Arrival at the airport 8:35 AM (ITALICS TOUR DESCRIPTION)
Take the shuttle bus to your accommodation or the nearest bus stop. Check-in at your hotel.
Klettur 3* hotel (or similar) in a standard room. Hotel Bar.
The rest of the day is free for you to start your exploration of Reykjavik, the capital and largest city in the country.
The rest of the day is free for you to start your exploration of Reykjavik, the capital and largest city in the country.
We landed on the petrified lava field at Keflavik Airport at Iceland time (GMT) and immediately activated our phones with our eSims.
We used Airalo on Portugal with absolutely no issues.
You simply switch from your main SIM to the eSIM.
We also bought our duty free as alcohol is cheaper than the state store (Vínbúðin) and alcohol is not sold in general grocery .
Due to Reykjavik's bustling tourism, there are policies restricting tour buses from accessing certain streets and areas. As a result, the city has established specific pickup points for tour buses. These pickup points are strategically positioned close to downtown accommodations, ensuring you have only a brief walk (under 10 minutes) to commence your journey.
The first sign (blue-yellow) is for the traditional public transport bus stops. You'll need to look for the second sign (blue-pink) for Tour Bus Stops:
Take the shuttle bus to your accommodation or the nearest bus stop STOP #14 SKULAGATA MAP
Check-in at your hotel. Center Hotels Skjaldbreid 3* hotel in a standard room. It is one of Reykjavik's oldest buildings with only 33 rooms in the heart of the city.
Check in 2 PM.
Laugavegur 16 - 101 - Reykjavik
Laugavegur is pronounced “Low-ga-veh-gur,” with emphasis on the first syllable.
Free wi-fi and breakfast.
We were first bussed to the BSI main bus terminal and then transferred to other buses based on your hotel location. Our stop #14 was a couple of minutes away from our hotel.
Iceland uses the same plug types (Type C and Type F) as many countries in Continental Europe.
We couldn't check in early so we left our bags and headed out for coffee.
I booked The Reykjavik Food Walk Tour for noon, figuring our hotel room wouldn't be ready, we would be hungry and needed something to do until we crashed with jetlag.
It is about a 10 minute walk to the meeting place.
UBS STOP 14 - hotel - Harpa
The Reykjavik Food Walk meets in front of the big automated slide doors of the Harpa
Concert Hall, the guide will be waiting there either right out front or just inside wearing a blue backpack.
Iceland is a country known for it's 'worse' food options, think rotten shark, 'black death' vodka and boiled and singed sheep's head, so it was with a little trepidation that I booked a Reykjavik food walk tour of the city for us on our visit. I will try anything but John is a little more discerning.
Of course, I needn't have worried as I also knew that Iceland is known for its amazing fresh fish, seafood and tender lamb too.
We met our tour guide, in front of Harpa the concert hall at the harbour. You can't miss it if you are a tourist as it's pretty spectacular.
Our guide was spectacular too, and you couldn't miss him either, Haddy, blond and blue eyed.
The small group departed from Harpa to our first stop. Group was 12, all American (sigh). Texas said "oh, you're the Canadians" when they were seated with us. I'm not sure what that is meant to mean. I kinda had a feeling they were tRumpsters based on his ballcap, but nothing was said. They were the most interesting of a very boring group.
2 couples Texas on a cruise ship
2 young girls D.C. doing their post grad European trip
1 single girl on her own California
1 couple plus daughter (PITA wouldn't try or didn't like anything) Maryland
1 couple don't know anything about
At our first stop at The Mat Bar we had lamb slices with a wasabi (very mild) sauce, reminded us of chimichurri, topped with Icelandic equivalent of parmesan.
Lambs roam freely in Iceland and you will find lamb on most restaurant menus.
Haddy told us that if we didn't finish our drinks we could put them in plastic glasses to the next place, however, you should/must finish it before entering, it is only polite.
Technically it is illegal, however it is done by everybody. He says you often see members of parliament wandering with their drinks after a session. Parliament is just down the street.
Outside our next stop. Sjávargrillið
Haddy liked to make fun of the dour Danish and Finns.
When asked about how everyone spoke such great English, he said from TV or video games. Western/English TV shows are not dubbed so you just learn. They are still required to learn Danish in schools, however, when they go to Denmark they are laughed at for their antiquated Danish (think French Canadians going to Paris).
Butter with licorice lava salt.
Hákarl, Iceland's fermented shark dish, is made from Greenland shark or other sleeper sharks that are cured with a fermentation process and then hung to dry. The process can take several months, and the resulting meat has a strong, ammonia-rich smell and a distinctive, somewhat acquired, taste. This is an Icelandic rite of passage.
OMG I should never have smelled it first, it didn't taste as bad as the smell.
In fact, according to Food Atlas, it is the third worst dish in the world!!
Canada holds 2nd place with Pizza Cake, which I have never heard of.
First place goes to Russia for inddigirka salad, which doesn't sound that bad.
At least it was followed by delicious langoustine tacos!
Believe it or not, I did NOT like this lobster and mussels soup and yet John loved it.
They give you a shot of Brennivín (a.k.a the black death), a clear and unsweetened Icelandic schnapps with a 37.5% alcohol content, is considered the national drink of Iceland. The very name "Brennivín" translates to "burning wine," and it is typically served cold as a shot, alongside a beer, or as a base for various cocktails.
At least it was followed by delicious langoustine tacos!
Believe it or not, I did NOT like this lobster and mussels soup and yet John loved it.
Sæta Svínið Gastropub or Sweet Pig.
This little piggy has an extensive wardrobe to model. She is all dressed silver to represent Iceland's Eurovision song contest entrants, with the song "Róa", written by Gunnar Björn Gunnarsson, Hálfdán Helgi Matthíasson, Ingi Þór Garðarsson [is], and Matthías Davíð Matthíasson, and performed by Hálfdán Helgi and Matthías Davíð as Væb. They wore silver jumpsuits and sunglasses.
Absolutely delicious.
Pulled lamb with wasabi mayo and red onion.
Lightly cured arctic char on traditional Icelandic flatbread “flatkaka” with cream cheese, dill and lemon oil.
Onto our next stop. Now as food in Reykjavik is so expensive, the next item had to be the famous Iceland hotdog, the cheapest and most popular street food in Iceland. It is called Bæjarins Beztu Pylsu, which translates to best hot dogs in town. While locals often order eina með öllu, or “one with everything,” a hot dog with mustard only is called a Clinton, a jocular reference to the U.S. president who ordered just that while visiting Iceland in 2004 for a UNICEF conference.
We were told to have it with 'the works' this consisted of a ketchup sweetened with apple sauce, a sweet brown mustard, crispy onions and a remoulade that was sweet and a little sour. These hotdogs are made with lamb and were incredibly yummy.
Some of us were full and only had a bite.
He gave us a brief history lesson.
The Alþingishús, Iceland's Parliament House in Reykjavik, was built in 1881 and is one of the oldest stone buildings in the city. It was designed by Danish architect Ferdinand Meldahl and is made of hewn Icelandic basalt. The building is located on Austurvöllur square and is a symbol of Icelandic democracy
Austurvöllur is a public square in the center of Reykjavik and a popular gathering place for both locals and visitors. Surrounded by history and daily life, it offers a unique view into the cultural heart of Iceland's capital.
In the middle of Austurvöllur stands a tall statue of Jón Sigurðsson, Iceland's national hero and leader of the 19th-century independence movement.
The Dómkirkjan Cathedral, the central Lutheran church in Iceland.
Haddy also talked about the weather. He mentioned that at Christmas everything is lit up against the really long days of darkness.
He also mentioned the Golden Bitch, the sun or sol.
She never shows up when she promised, or arrives and leaves with no notice.
Our final stop for dessert is Hressó.
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KLEINUR: THE TWISTED DOUGHNUT
Kleinur is an Icelandic fried donut that's fluffy and light on the inside and crispy on the outside. Iceland's traditional sweet donut is available at most bakeries and grocery stores around the country.
You don't tip in Iceland and that includes guides. I did see the cruise shop couples give him a tip.
We wandered back to the hotel to get settled in. We both thought the Reykjavik Food Walk was a really great introduction to Icelandic food from street food to gourmet food. Our guide was funny, interesting and really made the tour entertaining.
In terms of museums, it has just one ... the tiny but fascinating Punk Museum! It is not its only unique museum.
After a nap we went back out at 7.
Our hotel is on Laugavegur Street and is the main shopping and cultural hub in Reykjavik, bustling with activity, art, and a vibrant mix of shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes. It’s one of the oldest streets in the city, and today, it's a must-visit for locals and visitors looking to experience Reykjavik’s charm.
Its name roughly translates to "the Water Road," a reference to the days when women would carry their laundry along this route to be washed in the hot springs of Laugardalur Valley.
Almost next door to us is a bookshop/bar/cafe with live music every day.
Beyond Laugavegur, several nearby streets and pathways are also well worth exploring. The bustling Hverfisgata Street runs parallel to Laugavegur, while smaller connecting streets like Skolavordustigur Rainbow Street, Klapparstigur Street, and Ingolfsstraeti Street offer charming spots.
We decide to find where we need to go in the morning for our 9 AM whale watching tour.
One of the art museums.
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Found it. So we meandered back.
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Pósthús Food Hall & Bar, situated in a historic building that once served as Reykjavík's main post office, offers a diverse culinary experience. The food hall features nine eateries, each specializing in different cuisines: Funky Bhangra presents a fusion of Indian and Scandinavian flavors; Pizza Popolare serves authentic Italian pizzas; Drykk is a cocktail and coffee bar; Enoteca focuses on Italian wine and food; Finsen offers French bistro cuisine; Yuzu specializes in Asian-inspired burgers; Fuku Mama provides Korean street food; Mossley serves burgers, wings, and tacos; and Djúsí Sushi by Sushi Social offers handmade sushi and poké bowls. The vibrant atmosphere and variety of options make it a popular destination for both locals and visitors.
Skólavörðustígur - The rainbow street in Reykjavík is a sign of joy and support for diversity. The initiative is organized by the city of Reykjavík in cooperation with Reykjavík Pride. The rainbow will be there through the six day Reykjavík Pride celebration and onwards until September.
Hallgrimskirkja
The Icelandic Parliament was responsible for the church being built. The rules for the design competition (announced in 1929) specified that the church should seat 1200, and have a high tower that could potentially be used for transmission of radio signals. The state-architect, Guðjón Samúelsson (1887-1950), started to work on the design in 1937. A nationalistic style typified his work, as was common among Nordic architects of the period. Among many important buildings by Mr. Samúelsson in Reykjavík are the main building of the University of Iceland, the National Theatre, and the Roman Catholic Church of Christ.
I have a puffin obsession, especially because we were too late to see them in Newfoundland.
Typical snack food.
Drekinn (The Dragon) on Njálsgata 23is an inexpensive place to grab a bite to eat. Drekinn has been open for more than 40 years as a small convenience shop. It was only a year ago that the shop extended its services to fast-food.
Another hot dog spot.
Any finally we topped off our day with a Guinness at TheIrishman's Pub.
That is quite a start to your Iceland visit.
ReplyDeleteI didn't expect so much colour, that's lovely. I like that church, interesting design. The food tour would have been fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your food tour with us! It looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteWe love a food tour. It's a great way to get to know a place.