Reykjavik Flashcards
Blue Lagoon - open 8am until 8pm
From Keflavik Intl Airport to Blue Lagoon: 23 km
From Reykjavík to Blue Lagoon: 47 km
TRAVEL TIME (BY CAR)
From Keflavik Intl Airport to Blue Lagoon: 20 mins
From Reykjavík to Blue Lagoon: 50 mins
GPS COORDINATES
Latitude: N +63.881363 (63°52’52.9068”N)
Longitude: W -22.453115 (-22°27’11.214”W)
RENTAL CARS AND PARKING
Whether you are driving from the international airport or from Reykjavik, the roads are all in good condition. During winter, and on snowy days, they are regularly cleared and salted.
We have a large car park, with plenty of space, and parking is included in your Blue Lagoon entrance fee.
Pre-booking essential for blue lagoon
Sun-rise 11:30am Sunset 3:30pm
From mid-May to mid-August the sun only sets for only a few hours per day, and it is effectively light for the whole 24-hour period. This phenomenon is known as the “midnight sun” and it creates a sort of lingering twilight in the nighttime hours. In contrast, there are around 4-5 hours of effective daylight during mid-winter. But Iceland’s inexpensive geothermal energy means that streets and buildings are well-lit during winter darkness.
Reykjavik means “Smoky Bay” in Icelandic, as a result of the geothermal steam witnessed by the country’s first settler, Ingolfur Arnarson. Today, a majority (about two-thirds) of the island’s population lives in the greater Reykjavík area. The city population is 118,898 and the entire capital area contains about 202,341 inhabitants. First-time visitors to the city often remark on how the city centre is very compact and walkable and how the locals seem very laid-back.
Reykjavik is known for its colorful buildings, unique design boutiques, cosy cafes, beautiful seafront walkways and mountain views on nearly all sides.
The Leifur Eiríksson International Air Terminal in Keflavik (48 km from Reykjavik) is the gateway for most passenger flights and air-freight flights to and from Iceland. The airport is open 24 hours per day. All retail shops and services operated in the departure hall are located within the duty-free zone and are, therefore, duty- and tax-free. It takes roughly 50 minutes to travel by car or airport bus from the airport to Reykjavik.
Driving is the most popular way of getting around for travellers in Iceland, and the roads are generally safe for attentive drivers. Cars are driven on the right side of the road in Iceland, and the biggest hazard are probably speeding in wet weather conditions or sheep that wander into traffic in rural areas.
Most Iceland Guest car rental packages include drives on the Ring Road (Route 1), the national highway that loops around the island. The total distance is 1,339 kilometres (832 miles), and most of it is paved. It is considered a generally safe journey – just keep the basic rules in mind:
Drivers drive on the right side of the road.
The general speed limit is 50 km/h in urban areas, 80 km/h on gravel roads in rural areas, and 90 km/h on asphalt roads
Motorists are obliged by law to use headlights at all times day and night
All driving off road or on unmarked tracks is prohibited by law
Passengers are required by law to use safety-belts
Icelandic law forbids any driving under the influence of alcohol
Please watch out for sheep near the roads in the rural areas
Reduce your speed on gravel roads
Mountain Roads (F-roads)
Only sturdy 4x4 (all wheel drive) vehicles are allowed on mountain roads (called F-roads on maps), and we recommend that only experienced drivers attempt these roads. These roads, most of which lead into the interior highlands of Iceland, are very rough and have a surface of loose gravel. The surface on the gravel roads is often loose, especially along the sides of the roads, so one should drive carefully and slow down whenever approaching an oncoming car.
The code to Iceland from overseas is +354 plus a seven-digit number. There are no area codes in Iceland.
The best months to see the northern lights are October through April, with peak visibility from December through February. However, as it is a natural phenomenon, sightings cannot be guaranteed—even if your tour is operated. The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are the result of charged particles from solar flares colliding with the earth’s atmosphere. They can only be viewed in the darkness of night when there are no clouds blocking your view to the sky.
