Beloved spouse and I are going a'travelling and plan to take a short 3
night trip to Reykjavik, Iceland at the end of May. (We'll be
departing from Manchester UK).  But what do we do? Where do we go?
What should we see?
I don't want to cram too much into our short trip so I figure that
staying in reasonably close proximity to Reykjavik will be enough for
now. So, my question is, what things/places qualify as "must do"/"must
see" in Iceland's capital?  Boiling mud and thermal pools are pretty
cool, but which ones do we go to?
Happy to visit the geothermal power plant ... and very interested in
wandering around museums, markets, etc. and taking tours. But call me
a party pooper, this Aussie sheila *ain't* eating  hákari (rotten
shark)!!

Dear Stressed Mom, 

It is a delight to answer one of our regulars, and especially one that
goes to iceland (how great for you!).

Here are few online suggested itineraries: 

Fodor's - For Four Days, but you can do the first three: 

Great Itineraries
<http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=iceland@252&cur_section=fea&feature=30002>

Frommers - For Three Days

Suggested Itineraries 
<http://www.frommers.com/destinations/iceland/0260022927.html> 

Iceland in Three Days 
<http://www.igougo.com/planning/journalEntryFreeForm.asp?JournalID=46377&EntryID=22595&n=Iceland+in+Three+Days>
(not very detailed, but still provides some tips)

A Taste of Iceland - 5 Day trip
<http://www.gjtravel.is/gjensk/gjservice/gjdr1.html> 

You can also try the TripAdvisor , and especially their forums: 

TripAdvisor - Iceland
<http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g189952-Iceland-Vacations.html> 
(Forums here: 
<http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g189952-i223-Iceland.html>). 

I hope this answers your question. Please contact me if you need any
clarification on this answer before you rate it.

Have fun (in Manchester and in Iceland!).

Absolutely, positively *exactly* what I was looking for! Thanks very
much, politicalguru! I'll send you and Bryan a postcard from
Reykjavik!

Hi S-M

I met an old friend very recently who was raving about Iceland. I
wished now that I had paid more attention. If I should see her again
in the near future, I will make further enquiries.

More importantly, as you will be in Manchester in May, please visit
Oldham (my old home town) and see if it's still there.

Bon Voyage

Bryan & Olivia

I was Political Advisor (POLAD) to the NATO commander in Iceland from
1976 to 1978, living on our base in Keflavik and making the drive to
Reykavik (about 25 miles) from time to time. Be forewarned: It's an
expensive place to visit!

Thanks for that, Bryan. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you see your
friend and can get the goss on Iceland.

I'll certainly say hello to Oldham. I'll be saying g'day to Denton and
Gorton too, to where my family used to live, then I'm over to Lytham,
then back the other way to Sheffield. After that, I think we just
twiddle our thumbs until we head home, because there's nothing to do
in England, is there? ;)

Cheers to you and Olivia ... and dear Daisy too.

Thanks for the advice, Nautico. The expensive side of Iceland has
certainly been a recurring theme in everything I've read so far.
That's the main reason we're only making it a quick visit!!

Hiya

I went to Rejkavik 4 year ago at the end of May - a great time to go
before too many tourists descend. It IS expensive, so do plan food
carefully (we ate every kind of take-out going!).

For 3 days I would recommend:
- Doing the golden tour one day: this includes a powerstation, the
Ting, the geysirs, the most beautiful waterfalls, and essentially, is
a peek into Iceland's astoundingly and bleakly beautiful interior.
- Spend a day in town: go up the cathedral for views of the city,
visit a municipal baths (esp outdoor ones with mineral salted hot tubs
of differing heat available for your delectation). Wander around the
streets looking at the wooden houses and jaw-dropping hills in the
distance on the other side of the bay. Snoop around the harbour or
arts& crafts shops.The city library has free internet access and is a
beautiful building by a man-made lake in city centre.
- A day on a whale siting trip, or riding near Reykjavik. Followed by
divine once-in-a-lifetime dip in the Blue Lagoon spa (can be combined
with trip to airport on your way home, as is right next door to
Keflavik airport. Many buses to tickets from the city there via the
spa).

Enjoy!

Anna

Thank you for the rating and the tip!

Stressedmum --
I spent 2 weeks in Iceland a few years ago and if you're into crafts
at all and/or need to find unconventional souvenirs to bring back to
friends and family, I highly recommend this beautiful shop in
Reykjavik:

Kirsuberjatred   (don't ask me how to pronounce it)
address:  Vesturgata 4
101 Reykjavik

It's right in town and convenient to walk to.  The most amazing things
to buy are called "Valas."  They're beautiful colored boxes made of
...dyed pigs bladder!They're icelandic fortune telling boxes!  Inside
each one is a piece of bone and you ask the Vala a question, fling the
bone on the table and the way it lands determines your fortune. 
They're fabulous.   Be sure to ask the clerks to give you the
directions to go with each Vala.  They have them printed on little
scrolls in every language.

There's also fabulous weavings, ceramics, you name it there.  It's a
beautiful upscale gallery/shop, despite the novelty of the pig
bladder!

Here's the website.  If you want to look at the Valas, click on the
box on the 2nd line of photos that says "knucklebox."  But don't
believe the colors -- they're all murky in the photo -- the real
colors are lovely.  (I bought me a red one).

http://www.kirs.is

P.S.  I agree with everyone else here -- you must do the Blue Lagoon. 
Best bet is make time for it on your way to the airport at the end of
the trip.  You'll sleep like a baby on the plane.

Thank you very much for your insights, akl13-ga and cryptica-ga. 

I can't wait to get there. I'll certainly keep an eye out for those
valas -- I'll see if it can tell me if we're ever going to be able to
pay for all this!

We're definitely doing the Golden Circle tour and the Blue Lagoon. I
wish I could do the Blue Lagoon before my journey back to Oz so that
I'd sleep like a baby all that lo-o-o-o-ng way home!

Thanks again everyone. I'll let you know all about it when I get back!