Sightseeing – Page 2 – Fasten Ur Seatbelts

The first question I asked myself when I heard about the Golden Circle: “what is the Golden Circle?” Well, just about some of the most amazing sights in Iceland! You can either book a Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik (there are loads of operators), or rent a car and drive the route by yourself, which is much more convenient, because you are able to stop at the countless stopping points along the route.

Here are the most important stops:

Strokkur Geyser

The fountain is located in the southwest part of the country. The entrance is for free, similar to all the natural attractions in Iceland. In front of the geyser, it took only about 4 minutes and I saw the first eruption. Then I had to wait another 7 minutes for the next eruption, which was directly followed by a small one. Its height was about 15 – 20 m but it can also be higher. You don’t have to worry that you will not see the eruption. It is one of the most reliable geysers I have ever seen. Be careful, the water is really hot.

Gullfoss Waterfall

One of the most impressive waterfalls I have ever seen and it is just a 10-minute drive from Geysir. The waterfall is so big! Even though some sections were covered in ice, it was an amazing sight. The stairs are quite slippery at the moment. The view is great from both platforms. Sometimes the lower part is closed due to weather conditions. On your way back you can buy some accessorises in the gift shop.

Thingvellir National Park

Personally, I could not make it to the UNESCO World Heritage but I have heard that it is wonderful and that you can see lakes, waterfalls and pure nature. Furthermore, it belongs to the Golden Circle tour.

Ultimate Place for the Golden Circle tour

Guesthouse Fludir is just 25 minutes away from the attractions mentioned above and 1 hour drive away from Reykjavik. The peaceful and beautiful environment will let you relax from your everyday life. I loved the river, which I could see from my balcony every day. My room was spacious and very clean. Especially the bathroom was excellent.

The freshly made breakfast was exceptional. During my seven-day stay in Iceland, it was the first time that I got a self-made smoothie and fruits. In addition, the breakfast included a variety of cheese, ham and hearing. Dinner can be taken, too, at the restaurant. The running people are very nice and helpful.

What to do in Fludir?

The secret lagoon is just 10minutes away. I have been horse riding at Riding Tours South Iceland. It has been the best experience during my whole trip. The staff was more than kind, so warm and friendly. The horses seemed so happy and healthy. I had the feeling that they all gave me a warm welcome. Marcus, who was my tour guide, was super friendly and always looked after to me, to make sure I was ok. The scenery during the riding tour was unbelievable. I always wanted to ride through the snow. I felt really safe on the horse and even it was cold outside, I was not freezing due to the ski suit. If you want to have an amazing experience, have a tour at Riding Tours South Iceland.

Canal Cruise

I met such nice people on my cruise with Rederij Paping! The cruise felt like a picnic with friends. Everyone can bring their own food and drinks, and sit together around a table. Paap, the captain, made us feel very welcomed on his boat, and gave us blankets so that we did not freeze during the tour. His guided tour through the magnificent canals of Amsterdam was like a story telling, and the 90 minutes passed so quickly that I was sad when I had to leave the boat. Paap, who is a local, could answer every question about Amsterdam. He did not just show us the center of Amsterdam, but also the wonderful surroundings of Amsterdam. He also offers private tours, and an Amsterdam Light Festival cruise. A cruise with Rederij Paping should definitely be on your list when you visit Amsterdam!

If you want to be your own Capatin, and explore Amsterdam’s canals on your own, rent one of Sloepdelen’s electric boats. It is so easy to rent them, just book the boat online, start the boat with your smartphone and discover Amsterdam yourself! You don’t need a boating license and the boats are for up to 12 persons. It is not that difficult to drive the electric boat but you should feel comfortable enough to do it on your own.

Bike tour

Feel like a local and explore Amsterdam on a bike. Honestly, this was one of the most fun activities I have done. You will see so much of Amsterdam in just two hours and the bikes from Yellow Bike are so comfy and easy to ride! Amsterdam is a bicycle city for sure!

Red Light District Tour

A totally different tour compared to the other tours is the Red Light District tour, offered by 360 Amsterdam. Before you start the tour, you are welcomed with a typical Dutch tasting to feel ready for the tour. During the 1,5 hour walking tour , you will see the beautiful ladies working behind the windows, Amsterdam’s night scene and sex clubs. The Red Light District tour will be in Amsterdam’s oldest area. You will learn things about Amsterdam, which you have never heard before!

Shopping

Like every city, Amsterdam has Zara, H&M and so on. If you want to see small individual shops, go to the following streets: Reestr., Hartenstr., Berenstr., Wolvenstr., Runstr. and Huidenstr. .
Don’t worry if you don’t see dozens shops at first sight. They are spread all along the streets. These unique shops sell clothes, accessories, art, gifts, furniture and beautiful flowers. In between you will see several small cafes and restaurants, which are worth visiting, too! Winkel 43 for example has the best apple pie with cream!

Food

Don’t forget to visit one of Amsterdam’s supermarkets. I went to a supermarket called, Marqt! It is a total new experience with all the local products. I bought chocolate sprinkles as a souvenir for my brothers.

Foodhallen is an indoor food market with different types of restaurants. Whether you like to eat Italian, French or Asian food, everything is there. I ate a burger with chips and drank a cider. It was so delicious! Foodhallen just opened a year ago.