Source
r/travel•
devananne

Reykjavik in January

I've heard that Reykjavik is a very safe place for people to visit, since crime against tourists is so low. Has any one been and can vouch for this for a single female traveler?

I've come across a phenomenal travel deal, but it requires me to stay in a hotel included with the package. I would only go for 3 days, I believe. How could I meet people outside of couchsurfing/hostels? What could I do those days (preferably without renting a car)? Generally my trips have been longer so I have had time to get to know the area/people.

Also, packing for winter? I'm all for minimalist packing, but how do you stay warm while packing small amounts? Just wearing a large jacket on the plane so it doesn't take up bulk in a bag? Would Reykjavik be horrible in January since there isn't too too much daylight?

I figure there's really no other time for me to visit this country and seems like an opportunity to seize. Thanks in advance.

Posted Dec 4, 2012, 6:01 PM UTC

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pittsburghbiscuit•

Reykjavik should be fine for a solo female traveler. Your biggest risk would be from falling off the side of a waterfall or down a hill without anyone knowing you were there. Just keep your wits about you and be aware of your surroundings if you go out late night on the weekends as it gets rowdy. Safe, but rowdy. It will be dark more than daylight, and the days will be grey, but it's still beautiful. And because of the gulf stream, the air temps on the coast can actually be warmer than in the northern US. It will be colder in the interior.

Also, layering should be fine for staying warm. Just note that the weather can change from sunny, to raining, to light snow and all in just a matter of minutes.

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thexbreakCanada•

You'll be totally fine in Iceland, other than one obnoxious drunk I ran into everyone was incredibly friendly.

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JimmyMarshallCanada•

I just got back from Iceland in early November, and we never managed to find a dingey part of Reykjavik. Perhaps we weren't looking in the right places, but even the sketchier spots looked totally safe compared to our sketchy spots back home (in Vancouver).

In early november it was EXTREMELY cold. Although that was mostly because apparently the worst windstorm of the past 30 years or so was blowing us around, and the windchill dropped the temperature down to -15 or so. The actual air temperature was hovering around 0. So I imagine it'll be worse in January, but perhaps less windy. Either way you'll need to bundle up.

Also the MOST fun that I had in Iceland was renting a car and driving around all over the countryside, going down side roads and running around the landscape and climbing hills. There's not much going on in the city itself, but the landscapes are fantastic.

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devananneOP•

I hear a lot of people are renting cars.. do you need some sort of itnl driver's license there? Are they just a lot more common than I thought? haha

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JimmyMarshallCanada•

Nope, any driver's license will do. It's not too expensive too, especially with a group. I rented mine with SadCars (it was indeed a sad little car), and aside from getting pulled over by the Icelandic police because the car looked so shitty they thought I was a drug dealer it worked great!

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jbeach403Canada•

-15 is extremely cold? =/

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fact_bears_eat_beets•

Probably meant Fahrenheit. I have the same confusion when talking to my Canadian friends: "What do you mean it was hot in Toronto? 35? That's not hot!"

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JimmyMarshallCanada•

Nope, meant Celsius, I'm just from Vancouver, where it never gets colder than -2 or so.

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jbeach403Canada•

Yeah just threw me off as OP indicated they're Canadian and than referenced -15 as extremely cold, which as a Canadian I was surprised by. Especially as it is currently lower than that here with the wind, and i gets a hell of a lot colder than it is right now.

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JimmyMarshallCanada•

Not in Vancouver ;) we rarely drop below 0 here.

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AKneelingOx•

i took myself to reykjavik for my 27th birthday.

i was only there for a couple of days, but the people were friendly and helpful, and the blue lagoon is one of my top 3 places i plan on returning to.

that said, it was march and cold as fucking balls. pack accordingly.

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