Surviving Iceland

Below is a suggestion for a swell day plan in Grindavik. Most of the places mentioned are not common knowledge among the tourists or travelers that come to Iceland. It is constructed by me, Sigrún, for you my fellow traveler friend :) I tried to keep the budget for the day low so some of these things cost no money and I try to keep the others at least as cheap as possible. I hope you'll enjoy. Click on the name of a place to see its location on a map.

What you need for the day: Swim suit, towel, warm clothes (depends on the time of year. If summer time then a warm sweater and rain clothes), snacks (see below), backpack for your extra stuff, good walking shoes (good sneakers will do), bottled water, money.

1) 10 am - Breakfast
Eat well for the day ahead....


2) 11:30 am - Herastubbur Bakery
Now it's time to buy some snacks for the nice hike ahead. Herastubbur offers fresh bread rolls, crumpets and cakes. Suggestion: Buy yourself a nice buttered bread roll for example, an icelandic kleina or chocolate covered cinnamon buns (snudur) and some cold chocolate milk (kokomjolk).
Price: About 500 ISK

3) 12 pm - 2 pm - Hike on Thorbjarnarfell mountain
Time for the hike of the day. This will be an easy one, just for fun. The mountain Thorbjarnarfell (Sometimes called Thorbjorn) is right outside of Grindavik town. It doesn't take more then 1/2  - 1 hour to reach the top of this quaint little mountain so take your time and enjoy it. Eat your snack on top of the mountain and enjoy the view.
Price: FREE

4) 2 pm - 3 pm - The Icelandic saltfish museum
Time to feed the mind and learn something about icelandic culture while you're at it. In the late 19th century salted fish was to Iceland what oil is to Saudi Arabia. Every summer people would flock to small villages scattered by the coastline to work in the processing of salted fish for export. The Icelandic Salt fish Museum in Grindavík offers visitors a unique view into the core of Icelandic culture and heritage. Perhaps you can buy a couple of postcards to write home later (not included in below price)?
Price: 750 ISK

5) 3:30 pm - 5 pm - Hópsnes circle
Think you're done hiking for the day? Well think again...you can't be tired from that tiny little stroll up Thorbjarnarfell. Take your camera out, there are some very photogenic places ahead. It is time to do the Hopsnes circle walk. This is very popular with the locals and there are many interesting things on the way; shipwrecks, a beautiful old lighthouse, rick birdlife and more.
Price: FREE

6) 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm - Bryggjan Café
Hungry yet? I'm sure you are. Time to head over to the really cosy Bryggjan café for an early dinner. This place used to be a net factory but is now a warm and welcoming café with charming sailor related decor. It is just by the harbour so you can spend your time watching the boats, the people and birds. If you bought postcards at the saltfish museum now would be a great time to write to somebody back home. If you have a travel diary perhaps you can write about your experience in Grindavik. Bryggjan is famous for their delicious lobster soup so check if there's a special on that today.
Price: About 2.000 ISK (all depends on what you have to eat and drink off course)

7) 8 pm - 9 pm - Grindavik Swimming Pool
When in Rome.... Icelandic people love their geothermal swimming pools and to warm you up for some local interaction it is a good idea to hit the Grindavik Swimming pool for an hour or so. Do a few laps in the pool if you like swimming but a MUST is hanging out in the hot tubs and going to the sauna, just to feel the social vibe. Remember to wash your entire body with sope BEFORE you go to the pool area. Icelandic people tend to be very picky about cleanliness and you don't want to start off on the wrong foot with the locals.
Price: 300 ISK

8) 9:30 - until bed time:
Time to interact with some locals. There's a bar in town called Lukku Láki (Lucky Luke). Head over there, grab a beer and use your personal charm to win the locals over. I can't help you there.... Have fun and good luck :)
Price: Impossible to predict. 3 beers is about 2.500 ISK

Images:



Thorbjarnarfell




Hopsnes lighthouse




Grindavik harbour




One of the many Shipwrecks by Grindavik




The Saltfish Museum