The Icelandic Art of Doing Nothing: A Cozy Autumn Escape to Reykholt

Sometimes the best thing to do in Iceland is absolutely nothing. And we know just the place.

Somewhere along the way, travelling became a competition.

How many waterfalls can you see in one day? How many kilometres can you drive? How many attractions can you squeeze into your itinerary before dinner?

And, perhaps most importantly, how many photographs can you take before your phone runs out of battery?

Don't get us wrong. We love exploring Iceland. We love our waterfalls, geysers, mountains and spectacular landscapes.

But sometimes, especially in autumn, there is something rather wonderful about doing absolutely nothing.

And as it turns out, Icelanders have been practising this particular art for generations.

Welcome to Reykholt.

The Icelandic tradition of escaping to the countryside

Ask an Icelander what they are doing for the weekend, and there is a good chance the answer will be:

"We're going to the summer house."

It doesn't necessarily matter whether it is summer.

It could be October. It could be raining sideways. There might even be snow on the ground.

The summer house is still the summer house.

For Icelanders, escaping to a cabin in the countryside is almost a national pastime.

We pack far too much food, bring books we may or may not read, and convince ourselves that this will finally be the weekend when we get some proper rest.

Sometimes we even succeed.

The beauty of it is that there doesn't have to be a plan.

A slow breakfast. Another cup of coffee. A walk outside. Perhaps a hot tub.

And suddenly, doing very little becomes the highlight of the weekend.

Reykholt – where slowing down comes naturally

Tucked away in the countryside of South Iceland, Reykholt in Bláskógabyggð is one of those places where life seems to move at a slightly different pace.

There are no traffic lights to worry about, no busy shopping streets and certainly no need to rush for the next underground train.

Instead, there are open landscapes, greenhouses, distant mountains and the changing colours of the Icelandic countryside.

In October, the last autumn colours linger in the landscape. The air becomes crisp, the evenings grow darker and the first frosty mornings remind us that winter is on its way.

Some mornings begin with beautiful sunshine.

Others begin with mist drifting across the fields.

And sometimes the weather seems unable to make up its mind.

That's Iceland.

But whatever the weather decides, Reykholt has a special kind of peacefulness.

The kind that makes you want to put your phone away, take a deep breath and simply enjoy being exactly where you are.

A cabin, a coffee and absolutely no schedule

Imagine waking up in your own private cabin.

Outside, the countryside is quiet. Perhaps the mountains are dusted with the first snow of the season.

You make coffee.

You look out of the window.

You consider going somewhere.

Then you make another coffee.

Excellent decision.

At Blue View Cabins, each cabin offers its own private space surrounded by the open landscape of South Iceland, along with a private hot tub.

And there is something particularly satisfying about sitting in warm geothermal water while the October air reminds you that winter is approaching.

No appointment.

No timetable.

No one asking whether you have seen all three major Golden Circle attractions yet.

Just you, the countryside and perhaps the difficult decision of whether to stay in the hot tub for another ten minutes.

We suspect you already know the answer.

Prefer a hotel? We've got that covered too.

Of course, not everyone dreams of spending their weekend in a cabin.

Some people prefer the comfort of a hotel room, a good night's sleep and the possibility of having breakfast prepared for them.

And that is perfectly understandable.

After all, doing nothing becomes considerably easier when someone else takes care of breakfast.

Blue Hotel Fagrilundur, located in the heart of Reykholt, offers a comfortable and welcoming place to stay while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the countryside.

Start your morning with breakfast and coffee before deciding what the day might bring.

Perhaps you'll head out to explore.

Perhaps you'll visit a nearby restaurant.

Or perhaps you'll simply enjoy a slower morning than usual.

There is no wrong answer.

But what if you actually feel like doing something?

Now, we realise that doing absolutely nothing for an entire holiday may be a little ambitious.

Especially when you're staying in the middle of Iceland's Golden Circle.

The good news is that some of the country's most famous natural attractions are just a short drive from Reykholt.

You can visit Geysir, watch Strokkur erupt, admire the magnificent Gullfoss waterfall or explore the extraordinary landscape of Þingvellir National Park.

And then there are the smaller pleasures.

Enjoy lunch among the tomato plants at Friðheimar.

Treat yourself to dinner at Mika in Reykholt.

Visit Laugarás Lagoon for a relaxing geothermal bathing experience, perhaps followed by a meal at Ylja.

Or discover the charming villages, local swimming pools and quiet country roads of South Iceland.

The wonderful thing about staying in Reykholt is that you don't have to do everything in one day.

You can choose one or two things.

Enjoy them properly.

And return to your hotel or cabin without feeling that you've missed something.

Sometimes less really is more.

Autumn has its own kind of magic

Summer in Iceland is extraordinary.

The endless daylight, green landscapes and long evenings invite you to keep exploring.

But autumn offers something different.

The countryside becomes quieter.

The light softens.

The air feels fresher.

And as the evenings grow darker, there is once again the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights.

Of course, the aurora doesn't appear on demand. Neither does the Icelandic sunshine, for that matter.

But that's part of the charm.

You might spend an evening watching the clouds move across the sky.

Or you might step outside your cabin or hotel and discover the Northern Lights dancing overhead.

Either way, there is something lovely about being somewhere peaceful enough to notice.

The best memories aren't always the busiest ones

When people return home from Iceland, they often talk about the big experiences.

Gullfoss.

Geysir.

The dramatic landscapes.

The Northern Lights.

And rightly so.

But sometimes the memories that stay with us are the quieter ones.

That first cup of coffee overlooking the countryside.

The sound of rain against the window.

A long conversation over dinner.

Sitting in a hot tub while the cold autumn air brushes your face.

Or waking up and realising that, for once, you don't have to be anywhere.

Those moments rarely appear on a travel itinerary.

Perhaps they should.

Your autumn escape starts in Reykholt

Whether you prefer the privacy of your own cabin or the comfort of a hotel, Reykholt offers the perfect setting for a slower kind of Icelandic getaway.

At Blue Vacations, you can choose between the peaceful Blue View Cabins, each with its own private hot tub, or the welcoming Blue Hotel Fagrilundur in the heart of the village.

Both offer an opportunity to enjoy the Golden Circle without rushing through it.

Explore when you feel like exploring.

Relax when you feel like relaxing.

And remember that you don't need to fill every hour of your holiday to make it memorable.

Sometimes the best plan is to have no plan at all.

Come to Reykholt. Slow down. Do a little less. Enjoy a little more.

And if anyone asks what you did on your Iceland holiday?

Just smile and say:

Absolutely nothing.

It was wonderful.