After several years on a hiatus (mainly due to my previous hosting service deleting my blog and having to recover everything from scratch, a story for a different day) I finally have a new post up! To say it was exciting to dust off the old blogging skills is an understatement. While I am not sure how frequent the blogging bug will hit me just yet I hope you stick around as I continue to make my way through my old posts to get them back on the blog. Stay tuned! Now on to today’s post.
This post is for all my fellow Bachelor Nation readers out there.
Did any of you see this season’s episodes that were filmed here in Iceland?
Finally, the Bachelor was filmed in Iceland!!
Of course, it has to happen when I am not here, but I won’t complain, I am glad this gorgeous country got some much-deserved screen time.
Now I have a confession to make…
If you couldn’t already tell, H and I are totally a part of the Bachelor Nation.
We all have our guilty pleasures right? And reality tv is definitely one of ours. So as I watched the cast explore Iceland it got me thinking, we need a post to round up all these gems so other Bachelor Nation fans can have their own Bachelor-inspired Iceland adventure!
Okay, in all honesty, my mom called me while she was watching the show wanting to know why I hadn’t taken her to these cool places she was seeing on tv (next trip mom I promise!). Then she told me to write a post about it, so thanks mom for the post-inspiration, this one is for you.
Below I have rounded up the locations shown in season 26 of The Bachelor so you can all add them to your Iceland itinerary. And to my non-Bachelor fans who probably are wondering how we can watch that nonsense on tv, you will still want to save this post, it is full of some stunning locations. I mean they were tv worthy so clearly, they are more than worth a visit!
I also might be biased, but I think Iceland is an excellent place to fall in love 😉
Now a quick preface to the rest of this post.
While it would be grand if we could all travel with such flare as they show on the Bachelor, I am realistic and a budget-friendly kind of traveler, so most of us are not about to spend a day having our own private helicopter tour. Instead of going full Bachelor on my Bachelor-inspired itinerary, I have broken down the locations where each of the three dates were filmed and provided some additional ideas of similar activities shown in the Bachelor that you could add to your Iceland trip.
Are you ready to fall in love with Iceland on your Bachelor inspired tour of the country?
I can guarantee it will be your most dramatic trip yet. And by dramatic, I am talking about the dramatic Icelandic landscapes.
Day One
Fargadalsfjall volcano
The Bachelor dating frenzy began at Iceland’s newest natural wonder, Faragalalsfjall volcano.
Even though Iceland is a volcanic island it is not often a new volcano erupts, so they are a rare occurrence to get to witness.
But in March 2021, after several weeks of thousands of earthquakes rumbling in the Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland welcomed Fagradalsfjall and what a welcomed sight it was, just look at the beauty it created.
Did you catch that part above where I mentioned thousand of earthquakes?
By thousands of earthquakes, I truly mean thousands of earthquakes. There were several times we were woken up in the night to the building shaking! I will always remember when the first big one hit us (a 5.7!) while I was in a zoom meeting and my boss jumped up to look out his window shouting “I wonder if an eruption happened”. Now even though I have lived in Iceland a long time hearing the words “eruption” combined with experiencing my first big earthquake had me more than shaken up, the Icelanders in the meeting, it hardly phased them.
Okay back to the volcano.
This eruption was not the explosive type like Iceland saw back in 2010 with Eyjafjallajökull, but instead, it was an effusive fissure eruption, meaning there was a steady flow of lava output versus a big eruption.
And wow did lava come out!
Three months after the eruption started the lava was estimated to cover a total area of 3 square kilometers, and the eruption still had months to go!
Fagradalsfjall was an extra special eruption in the fact that it had multiple fissures open up. At one point there were 6 craters erupting at the same time! The volcano remained active for over 6 months making it one of the longest eruptions in Iceland before it took a pause this past fall. While there are no active craters at the time being the area is still considered active with magma detected below the surface, you never know if it will erupt back up again.
For those wanting to visit this area, Fagradalsfjall occurred only 32 kilometers from Reykjavik, close by to the international airport, so you don’t have to drive for hours to reach it. In fact, when the eruption was still active some evenings the glowing red from the lava could be seen from the city!
Even without fresh lava coming out the area is a sight to be seen. You won’t regret a hike out to see the newly created lava fields and volcanic craters.
During my 9 years living in Iceland, I have gotten to see some pretty breathtaking things, but nothing compares to seeing a volcano in action. Nothing has had me more in awe of nature than when I turned the corner and got that first sighting of the red lava splurting out. I could have sat for hours watching the lava flowing at the base of the crater, it was truly a sight to behold and I feel beyond lucky that I got to do so. Clearly, I need to write a post about this experience since I can’t stop talking about it!
Þríhnúkagígur
The next stop during the first day was to the dormant volcano, Þríhnúkagígur. Don’t worry, the locals won’t expect you to be able to pronounce the name, but if you are looking for a once in a lifetime experience a tour inside Þríhnúkagígur needs to be on your list!
The tour at Þríhnúkagígur will take you 700 feet down into the volcano in an open elevator, so you can get a 360 view of your stunning surroundings. At the bottom you can explore the magma chamber to get a closer look at the unique shades of color inside the volcano. To have your own inside the volcano experience you can learn more about the tour here.
For those wanting to experience the inside of a volcano, but are looking for a more budget or family-friendly option (or find the idea of being lowered into a volcano slightly unnerving), I have another great option, a tour at the Lava Tunnel.
The Lava Tunnel tour allows you to explore one of Iceland’s longest and best-known lava tubes, Raufarhólshellir. The tour takes you on a footbridge and several well mainted walking paths so you can explore at ease. Even your little travelers 3 and up can join the fun.
Perlan
The final stop of the first day was dinner at the Perlan, a large glass-domed building atop a hillside overlooking the city. This building is one of the most distinctive landmarks in Reykjavik, you won’t be able to miss the glass-dome as you explore the city.
The restaurant sits on the top floor of the building under the glass dome, and is on a rotating floor, so you will be able to get 360 views of the city while you enjoy a delicious meal.
The Perlan is also a great attraction to visit for more than just a meal with an incredible view. Here you will find several exhibitions, an observation deck with some wonderful views of the city, and a forested area with several walking trails. It is a great area to take the family while in the city.
Day Two
Black Sand Beach ATV Adventure
The second day of dates kicks off with an ATV adventure along the black sand beaches in the south of Iceland. I am not sure the exact beach and area the show filmed at, but don’t worry, there are several options for exploring black sand beaches on an ATV tour as shown on the Bachelor, and they all will be just as epic!
You can find ATV tours in several parts of the country, but for the sake of this post, I will stick close to Reykjavik. Below I have rounded up a few different ATV tour options you could look into.
Black Beach Tours – this company operates tours on the black sand beaches near the town of Þorlákshöfn, which is located around 45 minutes from Reykjavik. This is one of my favorite areas to go to when I am after a quick day trip from the city, and the black sand beaches are often quite empty which adds to their beauty.
4×4 Adventures Iceland – explore the Icelandic coastline, a small fishing town, lava fields, and a black sand beach with this tour. Located in the Reykjanes peninsula, this tour would be a great option to add as a last adventure before heading to the airport.
Icelandic Mountain Guides – this tour will pack a two-for-one with both a black sand beach adventure and a stop at the famous Sólheimasandur plane crash.
Lunch in Þorlákshöfn
In the show, the lunch date was at the restaurant “Hafíð Bláa restaurant with a view”, and trust me this restaurant has an incredible view, that part wasn’t edited for reality tv.
While I highly recommend enjoying a meal at this location it does operate on reduced hours so it isn’t a guarantee it would be open during your visit. If that is the case don’t worry I have a few other options to check out in this area so you won’t go hungry after your ATV adventure.
Ölverk Pizza & Brewery – sometimes you just need a pizza and a beer after a day of exploring, and this stop will fulfill both those needs.
Ingólfsskáli – for those looking for a unique dining option this is the place for you. At Ingólfsskáli you will be eating inside a longhouse, drinking from a horn, and enjoying a menu of traditional dishes the Viking would have ate, but with a modern twist.
Mjólkurbúið Mathöll – a newly opened food hall in the town of Selfoss, this stop even has the added bonus of a cozy wine and cocktail bar located in the upstairs of the food hall.
Höfði
The last stop of day two was to the building Höfði. This famous building is located in downtown Reykjavik close to the seaside. The show films a dinner date at Höfði, but sadly Höfði is in fact not a restaurant and is closed to the general public. While can’t have your own Bachelor-inspired meal inside Höfði you can still enjoy a stroll on the grounds surrounding the building and take in the views over the waterfront.
What makes this building so famous you may be wondering? Built-in 1909 and originally the location of the French Consulate, it is best known for the famous 1986 meeting of President Regan and USSR General Mikhail Gorbachev.
Day Three
Sky Lagoon
The final day of dates was a bit more low-key, which makes these locations perfect for one of those days you want to stay closer to Reykjavik and relax a bit.
The day starts off with a visit to the newly opened geothermal spa the Sky Lagoon. And when I say new this spa is really new! Opening just this past spring, the Sky Lagoon is one of the newest geothermal spas in Iceland and is a welcomed addition. The amount of detail that went into the design of this spa is evident as soon as you open the front doors.
When designing the spa a focus was put on combining Icelandic nature and culture into the overall look and experience. Special care was given to have the spa feel as natural as possible, and I think they nailed it! Tucked into large rocks with beautiful views over the sea, it will make you completely forget that you are minutes away from downtown Reykjavik. Be sure to jump into the turf house and try the seven-step spa ritual for a complete relaxation experience.
Now for a quick side story.
If you watched the show you saw how windy it was when they filmed at the Sky Lagoon. I caught myself laughing as I watched them talk about how crazy the wind in Iceland was.
Girl, been there, dealt with that!
My first experience at the Sky Lagoon was just weeks after they opened and was in the middle of an insane wind storm. And when I say wind storm this comes from my Icelandic classification of what a wind storm would be, aka it was really, really windy!
Even though we could hardly look over the sea without water slapping us in the face it was still an incredible experience. The below image is clearly not from my stormy visit, but you get the idea of how lovely a spa visit can be from the picture.
The point of this story, even if it is a stormy day in the city it won’t dampen your experience at the Sky Lagoon.
Þingvellir National Park
While it doesn’t really show it on the episode, the final portion of the third date was at Þingvellir National Park. I would have loved to have seen the cast exploring some of the stunning scenery in this area, but I am going to guess that wind storm from earlier caused a change of plans, so instead we see them inside a cozy cabin.
There are many cabins in this area that you could rent so you can still have this Bachelor-inspired experience. You can find your own cabin to stay in on sites such as Airbnb or Vrbo, or check out these cabins near Lake Þingvellir.
Whether you stay in a cabin at Þingvellir, or just to the national park for a short adventure, be sure to get out and explore the wonders of the national park, it is a real stunner in all seasons.
Additional Locations
The above locations are the ones that received the most screentime, but there were a few additional locations shown that I want to mention so you can add them to your itinerary.
Downtown Reykjavik
Strolling the streets of downtown Reykjavik is a must for everyone’s Iceland itinerary, in my opinion, you can’t come to the country and not visit its quirky capital. The Bachelor did a good job of highlighting a few of the most scenic locations around town. I just loved seeing the city I called home for so long on the big screen.
There were various locations shown on the episode, but I rounded up a few that are some of my favorite spots to visit while exploring downtown Reykjavik.
- Laugavegur – the main shopping street in Reykjavik, on this street you will find a variety of unique Icelandic design shops and souvenir stores. I have a whole list of Icelandic design shops to check out, if you are interested reach out and I will share!
- Hallgrímskirkja – One of the most iconic landmarks in Reykjavik, Hallgrímskirkja is a must-see in the city. At 74.5 meters high, the famous church is both the tallest church in Iceland, and one of the tallest towers in the country. There is a tower visitors can go up to and take in some of the best views over the city.
- Skólavörðustígur– if you caught sight of the rainbow-colored street leading up to Hallgrímskirkja I hope you added that to your Iceland bucket list! Not only is it an iconic viewpoint in the city, but the street itself is lined with local craft and design shops and some delicious restaurants and cafes.
Grotta Lighthouse
Fun fact, the paths around Grotta lighthouse were the #1 place you would find H and I strolling around on the weekends back in the day. A special place is in my heart for the charming Grotta area which is located on the westernmost edge of Reykjavik. In this area, you will find Grotta lighthouse, a nature reserve, and even a little hot pool that you can soak your feet in. Look for it near the wooden fish shed.
Insider tip, Grotta is the perfect area to take in a sunset or sunrise, or even the Northern Lights while in Reykjavik!
Harpa
Lots of crying and uncomfortable tv moments were filmed in Harpa during this season of the Bachelor! But let’s forget about that part and talk about how Harpa is a must see spot in Reykjavik.
Standing out along the shoreline of Reykjavik, Harpa is one of the most interesting structures in the city. When it isn’t being used to film infamous moments in reality tv, Harpa is a performance and conference center and is home to the Icelandic symphony. The glass facade is a sight to be seen and the inside of Harpa features the same unique glass design so be sure to spend some time looking up when you are inside the building.
– – –
And there you have it, your complete guide to Iceland, Bachelor style.
Make sure you download the map below so you can find all the above locations on your visit.
Enjoy seeing example itineraries for Iceland? Did you know I offer customized itineraries?
If you are looking for some help planning out your Iceland adventure I would love to work with you! Reach out and let’s start planning the best Iceland adventure that fits your travel interest and needs.
Question of the Day?
Any other Bachelor fan’s out there? What location in Iceland did the show have you adding to your bucket list?
