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Iceland is one of the most otherworldly destinations on Earth, reachable by plane rather than a billionaire’s startup.
Offering some of Europe’s most astounding natural landscapes, including staggering volcanoes, gushing geysers, and geothermal springs to soak in for our own leisure, Iceland has soared to new heights over the past decade or so as an immersive postcard no longer deemed a far-away fantasy.
With the help of failed budget airline Wow Air, which has since transformed into PLAY Airlines, along with more popular staple Icelandair, Americans can now fly nonstop to Keflavik from 17 U.S. cities with the recent announcement of the country’s flagship carrier’s expansion with their latest venture in American skies.
Even though Northern Lights season is all but wrapped up, puffin season is just beginning! Plus, you won’t find the frigid cold weather Iceland is known for, come May through the end of Summer.
Springtime In Iceland: Experience Lush Landscapes & Puffin Tours
There’s no place like Iceland. In fact, rather than living up to its name, there’s a common joke running amongst locals and tourists that Greenland and Iceland should swap names.
This sentiment couldn’t be more true than May through summer when icy roads begin to welcome road-trippers looking to check off their bucket-list goal of Iceland’s famous Ring Road passing vast unearthly landscapes reminiscent of Lord of the Rings film sets, among other truly wild natural wonders you just can’t compare.
As the freezing cold slowly turns to tolerable breezes, Iceland becomes so much more of a travelers playground from the picturesque streets of Reykjavik to the black sand beaches of Vik.
But there’s one excursion that always grabs the attention of tourists this time of year since April is the unofficial end to Iceland’s notorious dancing green skies.
Iceland’s adorable puffins begin making appearances again as does money in the bank accounts of many tour guides.
According to Wake Up Reykjavik, this is the top puffin excursion in Iceland: Rib Boat Puffin Adventure.
Offered from April 20 to August 15, as part of this tour you’ll have the chance to witness puffins up close and personal in a small group setting on an hour-long tour with sweeping views of Iceland’s astounding nature and the scenic cityscape of the quaint capital.
But, if you want to venture away from Reykavik, you could visit Iceland’s new travel hotspot Akureyri, where it was just reported puffins are making an early appearance this year.
Reykjavik Vs. Akureyri: The Usual Suspects Or A More Affordable Adventure?
It’s safe to say 99% of Icelandic tourists have begun their adventures in Keflavik, the main airport near Reykjavik.
From there, Iceland is your oyster. Despite becoming mainstream over the past decade or so, much of Iceland seems untouched until you visit the usual spots listed in everybody’s and their mother’s travel blogs.
Truth be told, I’ve had the fortune of visiting Iceland twice. If I had to pick my favorite country, it’s probably still Iceland, but I’m afraid to visit again because the secret is out of on it’s true magic and only continues to grow with the recent surge of Akureyri as this vibrant village opened their airport to commercial flights.
So, that begs the question, which side of Iceland should you visit? It’s still true that most travelers will fly into Keflavik, where Reykjavik typically makes the most sense as your base.
Problem being Reykjavik has become as touristy as any of Iceland’s popular waterfalls, landmarks, and world-famous Blue Lagoon — and the sky-high prices definitely reflect the supply and demand.
When I first visited Iceland, I scored a comfortable boutique hotel under $40. That’s unheard of now.
Here’s a small sample size this spring
3-star ODDSSON Midtown hotel, not anywhere close to the city center, goes for $193 in May and even more in the summer.
Not to mention how expensive the Blue Lagoon has become. It’s $78 just to enter.
That’s where the question of Akureyri comes in, which sets up the northern side of the island nation along the aforementioned Ring Road.
Akureyri may be trendy, but it’s undoubtedly more affordable. You can opt to pay an enormous amount of fuel for a road trip or let the bus driver handle it by taking a 6-hour ride on the Route 57 bus.
Upon arriving, you’ll find much cheaper stays such as 3-star Hotel Edda for less than half the price of Reykjavik’s selection at just $122 per night this summer.
And if the Blue Lagoon was on your wishlist, the price may deter you. But Akureyri has a better selection of spas with more palatable prices like Forest Lagoon for $50.
Congrats, Nashville! You Are Icelandair’s 17th U.S. Destination
There’s no shortage of flights to Iceland, backing up my fear of going back. You know, kind of like when your favorite restaurant is no longer a secret, you might not enjoy it as much….
But that’s for you to decide. There’s no arguing how stunningly beautiful Iceland is and I believe everybody should visit at least once.
Nashville (BNA) is Icelandair’s latest U.S. destination with the recent launch to Keflavik on April 11. This route will continue on with 4 flights per week until the end of October.
Between Play and Icelandair, there are 17 U.S. markets, which are:
- Baltimore
- Boston
- Chicago
- Denver
- Detroit
- Miami
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- Newark
- New York City (including Stewart)
- Orlando
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Seattle
- Washington D.C.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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