Take your bathers to the land of fire and ice because neither Reykjavik nor most of Iceland is actually icy in the summer, and you will go swimming. Reykjavik is small and very walkable. Jean walks you from the Harpa where the shuttle bus drops you off, up to the church, Streets of the Gods and on to The Perlan using her Google Maps. It is a cultural and cosmopolitan city, with great restaurants and lively nightlife. It has moved beyond religious baptism to a citizenship service which requires study and voluntary work and happens at the age of twelve. The city where minerals bubble up from 5,000ft below the earth’s surface has a population of about 200,000.
The steaming healthy open-air hot spring pools are heated by the geothermal springs that inspired Reykjavik’s name. Reykjavik means smokey or steamy Island. Welcome to the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’. The ice however not easy to find unless you are on a tour or it is winter.
Blue Lagoon – hot springs – where to do it and how
If you wish to visit the Blue Lagoon, book in advance for both entrance and transport. If the ship tours are booked, you need to use the Blue Lagoon’s own bus and buy a ticket for the Blue Lagoon. You need to book two bus trips, there and back. They need your hotel for pick up and return. These prices were Sept 2023. There are bus stops and they do visit hotels sometimes. We were picked up from the hotel. 
It is unlikely you will get a slot at the Blue Lagoon trying to book while you are there. It is busy. It is not cheap, but nothing is cheap in Iceland. There are other versions of hot springs, see our film of Aykureyri. For a more detailed explanation of the transport and a film with that detail on, go to our Blue Lagoon blog for details.
Schedule your time in Reykjavik – The Perlan
Do not miss The Perlan, which is about a thirty-minute walk from the church (which can be done superfast as the Perlan has a better rooftop vista and there is always a queue to go up the church tower). The Perlan is an interactive experience and nature educational wonderous look at Iceland. Give The Perlan interactive nature museum the time it deserves and note it has a cafe/restaurant so you can take a break there. The time needed there may be another reason that the springs get pushed to be done somewhere else like Akureyri. Here on Doris Visits, you can study all the ports. The Perlan also has a planetarium-type swapping 8k Northern Lights show which is about thirty minutes long. Áróra, is a beautiful story about Northern lights, voiced by the goddess of dawn. It’s a tale of many stories, combining science and art to create a unique experience. We didn’t see them for real while we were there as it was too cloudy. There is an introductory film before you walk through the Ice Caves. Check out their website PERLAN
The Town
Aurora Ship Tour SAGA SoA Ship Tour Arcadia Ship Tour Marella Ship Tour
What to Wear?
Take clothes that will work for summer, or winter, and in the wind. T-shirt or big coat; who knows? It changes.
The water smells a little, but you get used to it quickly. It is the sulphur content. But the drinking water is fabulous.
Game of Thrones
Are you a Game of Thrones fan? For an incredible Game of Thrones tour, Iceland is essential. Landscapes as magical as Westeros and sites that star as the lands beyond The Wall. Tour and trek on Svínafellsjökull glacier, where White Walkers roamed north of The Wall. Go where Arya and the Hound followed the trail to “The Bloody Gate” which is at Thingvellir National Park. The volcanic terrain of North Iceland is where Jon Snow and the wildlings camped out. The filming sites are best found on a tour from Reykjavik. It will take time. It needs to be planned.
Fred Olsen cruises that go to Iceland – look, check and book – click here to FredMarella Cruises, cruise options to Iceland – click here and book direct via our link
Take a look around Doris Visits and get more out of your cruise research – guides, tours, cabin tours, ship tours, news. ANDALSNES BERGEN FLAM OLDEN OSLOFJORD SKJOLDEN STAVANGER TROMSO REYKJAVIC AKUREYRI ALESUND ALTA BODO EIDFJORD KLAKSVIK TORSHAVN GEIRANGER HAUGESUND HELLESYLT HEIMAEY HONNINGSVAG ISAFJORDUR KRISTIANSUND LOFOTEN ISLANDS LONGYEARBYEN NARVIKNUUK QAQORTOQ TRONDHEIM
We have a number of chat sites, for your favourite ship, and your favourite cruise route, so here is a cooperative knowledge base where you can ask questions and find answers from people who have been there.
