We Travelled to Iceland for a 50th Birthday… and Got Hit by Icebergs, Sulphur Showers and Salty Loads

Heads up! Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and book or buy something, we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It helps us keep sharing our adventures here on Bucket List Bound, so thank you for the support!

---

So what do you do when someone hits the big five-oh? Grab your warmest thermals, pack a load of camera gear, and fly off to Iceland to celebrate in the most dramatic way possible. Because nothing says “happy birthday” like being slapped in the face by glacier wind and accidentally drinking geothermal water.

Iceland has been on our bucket list for years, and this felt like the perfect excuse to finally go. What followed was a week of freezing temperatures, overpriced burgers, surreal landscapes, missed whale sightings and more laughs than we could count.

Here’s how it all went down.

Prefer to watch instead of read? Check out the full vlog here:

Iceland Travel Vlog 2024 | Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, Glaciers & Waterfalls

Our Arrival in Reykjavik: Sulphur, Showers and Street Noise

We landed in Keflavík International Airport after barely sleeping and immediately discovered that early flights are a terrible idea. After a very windy 45 minute bus ride from the airport to Rekjavik, there we were, bleary-eyed and dragging our cases through the city, fuelled by caffeine and confusion, waiting for our hotel check-in time like hobos with credit cards.

Our hotel, Hotel Vera, had the kind of reviews that make you second-guess your choices. Booking.com said it was lovely. TripAdvisor said it was a waking nightmare. Turns out the truth was somewhere in the middle. The room was actually fine. Spacious, clean, and with a bed that felt like a marshmallow after 22 hours awake. The curtains were weirdly far from the window and the street noise drifted in like a lo-fi soundtrack. But the real shocker was the shower. We turned it on and got hit with a faceful of rotten eggs. Iceland’s geothermal water system is legit, but it does come with a healthy helping of sulphur. Romantic.

Still, it was central, walkable, and comfy enough to crash in. And honestly, at that point, you could’ve parked us in a bin with a duvet and we’d have slept through the night.

Perlan: Science, Snow & a Giant Dome

We weren’t entirely sure what to expect from Perlan. It’s part museum, part planetarium, and part giant glass dome that looks like something a Bond villain might build. But it turned out to be one of the coolest things we did in Reykjavik. Literally. There’s a walk-through ice cave inside, made with real snow and ice. You step in and immediately feel like you’ve been dropped into the Arctic. It’s silent, freezing, and weirdly peaceful.

The exhibitions were surprisingly impressive too. There were interactive glacier models, a full-on volcanic display, and a cinematic Northern Lights show that almost looked too perfect to be real. It was so good we actually wondered if seeing the real thing would live up to it.

And then there’s the 360-degree viewing deck at the top. From up there, you get panoramic views across Reykjavik, the surrounding bay, and distant mountains that look like they’ve been photoshopped. Steve got blown to bits trying to take a few photos.

If you're looking for something fun to do indoors that still feels like an adventure, Perlan is absolutely worth it. It’s part science centre, part snowy wonderland, and a great way to see Iceland from a new perspective.

Blue Lagoon: Spa Day, But Make It Boil

No trip to Iceland is complete without a dip in the Blue Lagoon, and as much as it’s become a bit of a tourist cliché, we loved it. That thick, milky water surrounded by black lava rock feels otherworldly. We spent a few hours floating around like prunes, dodging other people’s elbows and trying not to fog up our cameras.

Now, a few things they don’t tell you in the brochures. The water is hot. Like, your-shins-are-burning hot in places. The taste? Absolutely vile. Do not drink it, even by accident, unless you enjoy downing the ocean's oldest, saltiest bathwater. And glasses? Don’t even think about it. They fog up, crust over, and leave you blindly paddling into strangers.

Still, floating around with a beer in hand, mud mask on, sun shining overhead… there are worse ways to celebrate a birthday. We left feeling soft-skinned and slightly cooked.

The Golden Circle: Geysers, Cracks in the Earth and a Very Lost Camera Bag

The Golden Circle is Iceland’s classic tourist route, and we hopped on a day tour to tick off some of the country’s most famous landmarks. It started with Þingvellir National Park, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are slowly pulling away from each other, creating deep fissures and dramatic cliffs. Standing between continents was oddly humbling, even if we were surrounded by 40 other tourists all trying to get the same shot.

Next came the Geysir geothermal area, where bubbling pools lead up to the mighty Strokkur, which erupts every few minutes like clockwork. Just enough time for Steve to turn his back and get soaked. Perfect.

After that, Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls, roaring down in layers with mist rising like steam from a kettle. Absolutely stunning, and very wet.

Of course, no tour would be complete without a bit of mild panic. Steve left our entire camera bag at Geysir, only realising it had vanished once we were at Gullfoss. Thankfully, our tour guide was an absolute legend and made some calls. The bag had been found, and we were able to swing by and collect it on the way back. Crisis averted. Steve’s heart rate? Not so much.

After Gullfoss, we stopped at Kerið, a vivid volcanic crater with bright red slopes and a blue-green lake at the bottom. It looks like someone turned Iceland’s saturation up to 100. You can walk around the rim or hike down to the water’s edge. Very photogenic. Very windy. Very worth it.

The scenery throughout the day was unreal. The only downside was the crowds. These tours are popular, and it shows. Getting a clear photo without someone in a neon parka was almost impossible. But if you’re not keen on driving icy roads and navigating solo, a guided tour is definitely the stress-free way to go.

South Coast Adventures: Waterfalls, Icebergs and a Movie Set Vibe

Our second big tour took us along the South Coast, and it was easily one of the highlights of the whole trip. We saw Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, two colossal waterfalls that make everything else you’ve ever called beautiful feel a bit underwhelming. We got soaked, frozen, and slightly deafened, but it was absolutely worth it.

The real highlights for us though were Sólheimajökull Glacier and the nearby black sand beaches of Reynisfjara. Actual icebergs drift past like floating sculptures, while razor-sharp basalt stacks loom in the sea. It looked like a movie set. Probably because it has been, several times.

We didn’t lose anything this time, but we did nearly get blown into the sea. Icelandic weather really doesn’t mess about.

Food, Beer and the Sudden Onset of Bankruptcy

Let’s talk about food. Iceland does not mess around when it comes to prices. A pint of beer? About £10. A burger? Anywhere from £22 to £25. A meal for two with a drink each? Kiss goodbye to £50. And that’s before dessert.

That said, almost everything we ate was excellent. We highly recommend Two Guys for insanely good burgers, Viet Noodles near the docks for mind-blowing pho and Vietnamese coffee, and Sandholt for gorgeous cakes and bread. There was also a mystery bakery Steve wandered into for cinnamon swirls that changed his life. No notes, just vibes.

If you’re trying to save money, Bonus supermarket is your friend. We made DIY wraps and ate them on tour buses like weird little picnic goblins. It wasn’t glamorous, but it worked.

Top Tips, Travel Fails and Things We Missed

A few final thoughts that might help if you’re planning your own Iceland trip:

• Don’t book an early flight unless you enjoy starting your holiday exhausted.

• Get your airport transfer sorted in advance. The kiosks at the airport offer options, but some are more expensive than others.

• Stay central in Reykjavik if you're planning day tours. It’s walkable, convenient, and full of great places to eat, drink, and people-watch.

• Use GetYourGuide or BusTravel Iceland for tours. They were reliable, flexible, and friendly.

There were a few things we didn’t get to do, sadly. Whale watching got cancelled twice due to weather. We didn’t manage a glacier hike, and we skipped the penis museum after being told it was “too short and over too quickly.” That review alone was enough.

So… Is Iceland Worth It?

In a word, yes.

The landscapes are like nowhere else on Earth. One minute you’re surrounded by icebergs, the next you’re standing on lava fields, then watching geysers explode while your face is slowly frozen by the wind. It’s dramatic, unpredictable and absolutely unforgettable.

We drank too much, barely slept, made questionable decisions, and ticked off some major bucket list moments with friends we love. And honestly, we wouldn’t change a thing.

If you’re even remotely considering a trip to Iceland, do it. Just bring layers, a flexible plan, and a sense of humour.

You’ll need all three.