10 Hour Layover in Reykjavik - Enough time for downtown and Blue Lagoon?
September 25, 2013 7:50 AM
I've got a layover in Reykjavik Keflavik next month that lasts just over 10 hours. I definitely want to check out Blue Lagoon, but will I have time to go into town and stroll around there briefly too?
If I do just Blue Lagoon that seems like it would be a lot of time spent just there. I arrive at 6 a.m., and my understanding is that Blue Lagoon doesn't open until 10 a.m. How feasible would it be to catch a bus after getting off the plane to town, spend a couple hours there, and hop a bus back to Blue Lagoon before getting to the airport to check in before the 4:10 flight time? Also, is Reykjavik airport pretty standard in terms of time spent checking in/going through security?
If I do just Blue Lagoon that seems like it would be a lot of time spent just there. I arrive at 6 a.m., and my understanding is that Blue Lagoon doesn't open until 10 a.m. How feasible would it be to catch a bus after getting off the plane to town, spend a couple hours there, and hop a bus back to Blue Lagoon before getting to the airport to check in before the 4:10 flight time? Also, is Reykjavik airport pretty standard in terms of time spent checking in/going through security?
Keflavik is pretty standard in terms of time spent checking in and going through security. It's not that big of an airport, so perhaps it'd take even a bit less time than average? There are shuttle buses that leave pretty regularly (I think every half hour or so) to and from the main bus terminal BSI.
Blue Lagoon is a bit of an overpriced tourist attraction in my opinion, but that aside, I'd say you have enough time to get breakfast in downtown Reykjavik, stroll around (it's very walkable, weather permitting) and then take the bus to the Blue Lagoon (about 40-45 minutes by bus), maybe spend 2 or 2.5 hours at the Blue Lagoon, and then go to the airport (about 20 minutes by bus). It's a pretty popular itinerary, to go to the Blue Lagoon right before heading to the airport, I believe.
Have fun!
posted by gemutlichkeit at 7:59 AM on September 25, 2013
Blue Lagoon is a bit of an overpriced tourist attraction in my opinion, but that aside, I'd say you have enough time to get breakfast in downtown Reykjavik, stroll around (it's very walkable, weather permitting) and then take the bus to the Blue Lagoon (about 40-45 minutes by bus), maybe spend 2 or 2.5 hours at the Blue Lagoon, and then go to the airport (about 20 minutes by bus). It's a pretty popular itinerary, to go to the Blue Lagoon right before heading to the airport, I believe.
Have fun!
posted by gemutlichkeit at 7:59 AM on September 25, 2013
You will definitely be able to do this. I thought going to the Blue Lagoon before getting on a plane was excellent and relaxing and I would definitely do it again. Even though it is a little crowded and touristy, still worth it.
Let's say you arrive at 6, get out of the airport at 7 after clearing customs or whatever, get to town by 8 or 830 at the very latest depending on the buses. Then you can spend 2+ hours in town, leave around 10:30, get to the Blue Lagoon around 11. Change and wait in line, at the latest you are swimming by 11:30. Then you have at least 2 hr to hang out. You're out by 1:30, to the airport by 2, and all checked in and ready to fly with plenty of time.
posted by rmless at 8:18 AM on September 25, 2013
Let's say you arrive at 6, get out of the airport at 7 after clearing customs or whatever, get to town by 8 or 830 at the very latest depending on the buses. Then you can spend 2+ hours in town, leave around 10:30, get to the Blue Lagoon around 11. Change and wait in line, at the latest you are swimming by 11:30. Then you have at least 2 hr to hang out. You're out by 1:30, to the airport by 2, and all checked in and ready to fly with plenty of time.
posted by rmless at 8:18 AM on September 25, 2013
It's doable. Though the bus to the city is 45 minutes, not 30, and in the winter you might have a 10-15 minute wait before it leaves, so budget an hour.
posted by Nothing at 8:25 AM on September 25, 2013
posted by Nothing at 8:25 AM on September 25, 2013
Thanks so much for the answers, all! rmless, that's more or less what I was thinking. The only thing I'm unsure about now, though, is do I need to book that bus/shuttle from Blue Lagoon to the airport ahead of time? If so, I'm a little confused since when I look up, say, FlyBus they have this schedule which for "Blue Lagoon - KEF Airport" only lists times for 12:15 and 14:15. Are there more regular shuttles leaving from Blue Lagoon to the airport that I'm just not finding online?
posted by the other side at 8:25 AM on September 25, 2013
posted by the other side at 8:25 AM on September 25, 2013
Iceland tourist board has pretty much set things up so that you and everyone else can do exactly this. It's a smaaaaall country,things are close together and the roads are good. When you get off the plane go to the flybus ticket window and tell them what you want to do and they will sell you tickets for the whole meal deal.
Tips: if you want to save a few bucks take your own towel to Blue Lagoon, and definitely be prepared for wind when you leave the airport.
enjoy
posted by OHenryPacey at 9:00 AM on September 25, 2013
Tips: if you want to save a few bucks take your own towel to Blue Lagoon, and definitely be prepared for wind when you leave the airport.
enjoy
posted by OHenryPacey at 9:00 AM on September 25, 2013
You should have just enough time to get a hot dog at Baejarins Beztu Pylsur.
posted by baseballpajamas at 9:04 AM on September 25, 2013
posted by baseballpajamas at 9:04 AM on September 25, 2013
Or you could go where the locals go: Laugardalslaug
Six hot pots of varying temperatures. Lots of fun, not at all touristy, right in town, far cheaper, easy to get to by public transportation, and it opens at 6:30 a.m.
posted by sixpack at 1:02 PM on September 25, 2013
Six hot pots of varying temperatures. Lots of fun, not at all touristy, right in town, far cheaper, easy to get to by public transportation, and it opens at 6:30 a.m.
posted by sixpack at 1:02 PM on September 25, 2013
Totally enough time to check out the Blue Lagoon and walk around in Reykjavik. I spent a week driving around the entire country on the Ring Road and the Blue Lagoon was actually the last thing I did before going home. And you know what, despite seeing tons of incredible sights in the rest of the country, I still really enjoyed it. Yes it is a little touristy but not overly so, and definitely worth doing.
Reykjavik is tiiiiny. For being the capital and largest city, it feels like a small town. A few hours is almost more than enough time to walk around there.
posted by pravit at 3:25 PM on September 25, 2013
Reykjavik is tiiiiny. For being the capital and largest city, it feels like a small town. A few hours is almost more than enough time to walk around there.
posted by pravit at 3:25 PM on September 25, 2013
Book online instead of buy on-the-day and you get a discount.
Keflavik - Reykjavik - Blue Lagoon - Keflavik in less than half a day? Doable.
Here's the web site
posted by seawallrunner at 7:20 PM on September 25, 2013
Keflavik - Reykjavik - Blue Lagoon - Keflavik in less than half a day? Doable.
Here's the web site
posted by seawallrunner at 7:20 PM on September 25, 2013
seawallrunner, I was actually looking at that site earlier; do you know if the bus on the return trip to Keflavik stops at Blue Lagoon? The page you linked says "The Flybus airport shuttle will take you from Keflavik International Airport to Reykjavik city and vice versa," but it doesn't mention Blue Lagoon at all.
As I mentioned earlier, if I click on the "Blue Lagoon" entry on the left side of the page and click on "Schedule" underneath on the bottom right of the page it only lists times for 12:15 and 14:15 for going from Blue Lagoon to the airport.
posted by the other side at 5:48 AM on September 26, 2013
As I mentioned earlier, if I click on the "Blue Lagoon" entry on the left side of the page and click on "Schedule" underneath on the bottom right of the page it only lists times for 12:15 and 14:15 for going from Blue Lagoon to the airport.
posted by the other side at 5:48 AM on September 26, 2013
Ah, nevermind, I made a mistake with military time; 14:15 should actually be fine for getting back. Thanks again for the help.
posted by the other side at 8:13 AM on September 26, 2013
posted by the other side at 8:13 AM on September 26, 2013
Most def, the bus system is set up to do this trip.
The view from the Church tower is pretty cool too.
I found breakfast's to be awesome in Reykjavik. Fruit, cheese, pancakes and more.
posted by Burgatron at 12:32 PM on September 27, 2013
The view from the Church tower is pretty cool too.
I found breakfast's to be awesome in Reykjavik. Fruit, cheese, pancakes and more.
posted by Burgatron at 12:32 PM on September 27, 2013
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posted by ignignokt at 7:58 AM on September 25, 2013