Claire in Iceland · 17—20 August 2026
Fourteen years after the wedding, three days based at home in Reykjavík—to South Coast waterfalls, across the harbour, through the city, and into warm water after dark.
Two visits / one friendship
Claire’s first time in Iceland: here for Sigrun and Martin, with the country experienced through people, celebration and friendship.
Back fourteen years later, with Reykjavík as home base: coastal weather, local culture and time together rather than a greatest-hits circuit.
Monday · 17 August
A deliberately gentle first day, with enough air around the flight.
DL178 from Detroit. Airport transfer, then home in Reykjavík around 09:15.
Breakfast, unpacking and sleep if needed. No heroics after the overnight flight.
Ease back into Reykjavík, then walk down toward the Old Harbour.
A short harbour-view pause at Geirsgata 5, directly beside the tour boats—coffee without a detour before check-in.
Coffee stopA compact one-hour trip—late in the season, weather and sea permitting.
Elding tourFine-casual small plates by Hallgrímskirkja, with wild mushroom risotto, lamb, duck, chicken and beef alongside a few fish dishes—flexible, shareable and not seafood-led.
RestaurantTuesday · 18 August
Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss lead the day. Coffee in Selfoss follows, then straight to Sümac for 17:30.
first on the road
17:30Sümac reservation
Waterfalls first. Check the live road map before moving; today’s main route is passable, with a short reduced-speed work zone near Holtsnúpur.
Live roadsAllow about thirty-five minutes for the path and viewpoints. Waterproof layers help: spray reaches the trail even on a calm day.
Open locationDrive east for roughly thirty minutes, then spend about thirty-five minutes at the lower falls and stairs as conditions allow.
Open locationA twenty-minute coffee-and-cake pause on the direct return route. It opens at 11:00 on Tuesday. If it is busy, American SchoolBus Café in Hella is the earlier on-route backup, open 09:00–17:00.
Primary coffee stopPark near Laugavegur and leave the rest of the buffer for traffic and a short walk. No Port 9 stop.
Open main routeFirst seating: lively sharing plates, cocktails, and a firm 19:45 departure for the lagoon.
RestaurantSigrun and Claire check in for their 20:30 ticket. Martin collects them around 22:30.
Visitor detailsWednesday · 19 August
A small ferry journey, Reykjavík seen through art, then live jazz.
From the Old Harbour for lunch, coastal paths, art and Reykjavík history.
Ferry scheduleBack at the harbour around 14:50, leaving the afternoon unhurried.
Martin and Claire see “Big Little City — Reykjavík in View.” Sigrun joins later.
MuseumThe original Kárastígur 1 café is a natural pause between Kjarvalsstaðir and the waterfront, with no real backtracking.
Coffee stopSara Magnúsdóttir Quartet: Icelandic jazz moving from blues to bebop. ISK 5,200.
ConcertLive Iceland watch · official feeds
Reykjavík forecast
Reykjanes earthquake watch
Reykjanes volcano watch
Data: Icelandic Meteorological Office. Live and automatic observations can be preliminary; official warnings and local instructions always take priority. Data terms ↗
Field notes
No luggage relay, no hotel choreography. Each day starts and ends in the city.
Use Kjarvalsstaðir, Lava Show or Perlan. The trip still works without forcing the sea.
Keep the day in Reykjavík with Perlan, Lava Show or Kjarvalsstaðir, then coffee before Sümac.
Go directly to Sümac for 17:30—there is no Port 9 stop. Leave dinner by 19:45 and arrive at Sky Lagoon by 20:15 for the 20:30 entry.
Thursday · 20 August
Airport transfer from the Reykjavík flat to KEF for Claire’s 08:45 DL179 flight to Detroit.
KEF guidanceWorth booking now
Trip memories · live album
A growing collection from the visit, with new photos and videos appearing here from the shared iCloud album.
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