A 3 Day Iceland Itinerary: A Guide to the Highlights

The beauty of Iceland stretches far and wide. For this reason, you could find yourself enjoying the allure of this country for weeks on end. Don’t let this deter you from a shorter visit to Iceland. You can easily explore the highlights with a 3 day Iceland itinerary. Whether you are planning a stopover or just a quick getaway, let this be your guide to experiencing what Iceland has to offer.

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Arrival to Iceland

There are several carriers that operate direct flights into Reykjavík from the United States. I do believe that a red eye flight lends itself to best explore with a three day itinerary. Most carriers leave from the US in the evening arriving relatively early the next morning. On my visit, I did just that landing in the morning and using the remainder of the day to start my travels. Use the link provided here to search your options from TRIP.COM for all of your flight routes and carriers.

Prior to leaving the Reykjavik airport, you may want to make a stop in the duty free store located near the baggage claim. It is a great place to pick up snacks for the road and also possibly a bottle of wine to enjoy in the evening.

Transportation

While you can make Reykjavik your home base and explore the areas below via day trips, I believe renting a car is the best way to explore all of the hidden areas Iceland has to offer at your own leisure. Driving in Iceland is not difficult outside of potential bad weather conditions. If you do travel in the shoulder season or winter, make sure that your rental is equipped to handle those conditions. My recommendations include a 4X4 that has winter tires with spikes. The terrain in Iceland can be unpredictable. I advise purchasing insurance to protect you from damage such as gravel, etc.

When making your decision about which company to rent from here are a few considerations. Avis, Budget, and Europcar have their rental desks all located in the airport. There are others that have a bus that transports you to the rental location such as National. This made wait times longer and my experience with National at this particular airport was terrible. On a future visit, I would rent from one of the companies that have their rental desk immediately accessible in the airport. You can search your options for rentals here to start your road trip of Iceland with DISCOVER CARS.

While navigating in your rental, here are a few last pieces of advice. It is wise to monitor the road conditions prior to setting out for the day. You can use the website linked here for up to date conditions, road closures, etc. Finally, there will likely be rather spotty cellular service during portions of your travel. Even with downloading maps in advance, I still found having a map of Iceland extremely helpful. I utilized the Michelin 750 map of Iceland to guide our travels.

Itinerary

This three day itinerary will allow you to see all of the major highlights of Iceland maximizing your time. I recommend spending one day traveling the Golden Circle, another exploring the South Coast, and the final day getting a feel for Reykjavik and enjoying the blue lagoon. Here are all of the details:

Day 1 : Golden Circle

Once you land in Iceland and set off to explore, I found the perfect start to the trip was driving the Golden Circle. If you land in the morning, visiting the sites along the Golden Circle are very doable during daylight hours dependent upon whether you are visiting in summer or winter. For reference, I visited in October with sunset taking place somewhere between 5:15 to 6:45. Here are the major sites that you will stop at in order along your tour of the Golden Circle.

Thingvellir National Park.

This park is located approximately 29 miles from Reykjavik. As you approach, follow the signs and you will see a large parking lot that you will come to first (P1). I found ample parking here during my visit. You can walk from your car to the interactive visitors center for an overview. This park allows you to visualize the fissure formed between the American and European Tectonic Plates. Plan your time here dependent upon your goals for the day. It is easy to spend the most time here as there is more territory to cover. Due to the weather being poor during this stop, I didn’t explore much during my visit.

Geysir.

This is your second stop on the Golden Circle. You will see parking on your right if traveling from Thingvellir. Adjacent to the parking area, there is food, restrooms, and a large gift shop. Most of the food is quick “to go” bites. Make your way across the street to view Geysir. The original Geysir has been mostly inactive, but you are able to see Strokkur that typically erupts every 5 to 10 minutes. It is reasonable to expect to spend approximately one hour at this stop.

A more recent addition to this area is the beautiful HOTEL GEYSIR, which opened in August of 2019. The rooms and bathrooms are beautifully designed with minimalistic decor. If not staying here for the evening, a visit to their lovely restaurant may be in order to experience this property.

Gullfoss.

If forced to choose, this would be my favorite stop along the Golden Circle. This breathtaking waterfall has to be viewed from all vantage points, and it is a sight to behold. You can visit Geysir or Gullfoss first as you have to turn around and continue past Geysir to complete your visit to the Golden Circle. At this stop, you will also find bathrooms, a gift shop, and the Gullfoss Cafe.

Much like Geysir, there is also an option to stay at HOTEL GULLFOSS. This hotel is family owned and operated. For reference, it is a 90 minute drive east of the capital.

Kerid Crater.

Whether you stop on your day one tour or the following morning before enjoying the South Coast, I don’t recommend skipping a visit to the Kerid Crater. You will pay a small admission price via credit card or Icelandic Krona to view. The water has spectacular blue and green hues against the red rock.

There are a few options to visit the Golden Circle without a car rental. The tours leave and return to Reykjavík. Here is a popular full day tour that includes everything mentioned above from Get Your Guide. Another option is a half day tour that covers the same sights with a slightly shorter duration.

Where to Stay

ION Adventure Hotel. The perfect landing point after spending a day exploring the Golden Circle is the ION Adventure Hotel. This remote hotel will mesmerize you with its otherworldly surroundings perfect for a possible sighting of the Northern Lights. I also believe it aligns you in a great location to start day two exploring the South Coast. The hotel will provide you with pertinent tips prior to checking in such as information about what vehicles are best for arrival and also what route is best to access the property. Click here to explore booking your stay at ION Adventure Hotel.

Day 2 : South Coast

Use day two of your travels through Iceland to explore the South Coast. While touring the South Coast, I recommend stopping at the following sights:

1. Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. This is the first major sight you will come across as you start your tour of the South Coast. As you arrive to visit this waterfall, you will need to pay for parking. Here are a couple of other considerations for your visit. In the morning, there may be more of a shadow on the waterfall. Keep this in mind for photographs. You could always stop on your drive back if the timing isn’t quite right. Don’t miss the opportunity to walk behind the waterfall and ensure that you bring along a waterproof jacket. At this stop you will also find free restrooms and a small cafe.

2. Gamla fjosid. This restaurant along the South Coast is the perfect stop for lunch. I loved the fresh ingredients utilized to create their meals including vegetables from their garden and 100% free range unprocessed beef. Bread is baked fresh daily.

3. Skógafoss. This is another one of the iconic waterfalls on the South Coast. You cannot walk behind this waterfall, but you do have the opportunity to climb the stairs to the top of the waterfall for a different vantage point. As an aside, you will also find free restrooms at this stop.

4. Sólheimajökull. A short drive from Skógafoss you will find your next stop, a glacier. There is a large parking area with a wide trail that will take you down to the glacier. Walk on the trail for approximately 10 minutes for views of the glacier. With a shorter itinerary, there isn’t as much time to see other glaciers such as Jokulsarlon located along the Ring Road, so I enjoyed the opportunity to see this glacier.

5. Dyrhólaey. This is a rocky plateau with great views of the water and rock formations. You can overlook the ocean and watch the waves come crashing in. The current is very strong, and you should stay much further back than you feel is a safe distance. This will be most important at your next stop, one of the black sand beaches.

6. Reynisfjara. This is the black sand beach, and for my tour of the South Coast, the last stop of the day. The scenery here is breathtaking. Walk out onto the beach for better photos and views of the basalt columns. If you need anything prior to your drive back to Reykjavik, there are restrooms and a large indoor cafe at this stop.

End your day with a drive back to Reykjavik versus making the longer portion of your drive at the beginning of the day starting with Reynisfjara and working your way slowly back to the city.

I want to provide an alternative option for those that prefer not to rent a car. Here is an option from Get Your Guide that is a full day tour of South Coast that includes transfer from Reykjavik. There are some stops that differ slightly from the itinerary provided above, but it hits all of the major highlights.

Where to Stay

ION City Hotel. This hotel in the heart of Reykjavik leaves you in a great location to spend the morning exploring the city. When you arrive the evening before, walk downstairs for dinner at Súmac restaurant. I found the food to be wonderful and a pleasant end to the long day. As you may tell from the name, this is a sister property to the adventure hotel.

The Reykjavik EDITION. This more recent addition to the Reykjavik hotel scene offers a modern touch and lovely views of the harbor area being located adjacent to the Harpa Concert and Conference Center. EDITION hotels are always well appointed with all of them having their own unique style.

Exeter Hotel. Here is one final option for your stay in Reykjavik also located near the harbor. The Exeter showcases local art and rooms are equipped with organic bath products. You also have access to their complimentary sauna and gym.

Day 3 : Reykjavik & Blue Lagoon

To start your day, begin at BRAUD & Co. This bakery has several locations but you can easily identify the location near the famous church Hallgrimskirkja by its rainbow colors painted all over the two story building. Not only are the breads and pastries wonderful, but they are made from organically grown high quality ingredients.

No visit to Iceland would be complete without visiting the Hallgrimskirkja Church. Make the climb to the top of their tower for beautiful views over Reykjavik.

Finally, wander around Laugavegur the main shopping street in Reykjavik. I loved window shopping and stopping in to some of the boutiques and more eclectic stores for souvenirs to bring home.

After enjoying the morning in Reykjavik, check out of your hotel and head to the Blue Lagoon to spend the remainder of the day and evening before flying out the next morning. I know that there are now alternatives to the Blue Lagoon, such as the Sky Lagoon, as it does become rather crowded. However, I believe that there are several ways to enjoy the Lagoon and also be in the perfect location close to the airport for an early morning flight.

There are two hotels on the property of the Blue Lagoon. They are the Silica Hotel and The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon. Staying at one of these two hotels offers some distinct advantages. Each hotel has their own private lagoon that leaves you away from the crowds present at the Blue Lagoon itself.

The Silica Hotel is the more inexpensive of the two options. It has beautiful, otherworldly scenery located just outside your windows. With a stay here, some of the inclusions are an extensive complimentary breakfast spread, a premium ticket to the Blue Lagoon, unlimited access to the Silica’s lagoon, Blue Lagoon products, and more. Going to the lagoon in the evening at the Silica hotel was such a memorable experience, and I was lucky enough to view the Northern Lights while soaking in the lagoon. Keep in mind that children under the age of two are not allowed at the Silica Hotel. You can book your stay by clicking here.

The other option is the more luxurious Retreat Hotel. The Retreat provides a few additional advantages to the amenities listed above at the Silica hotel including afternoon coffee and Icelandic pastries, unlimited use of the Retreat spa, lagoon, and Blue Lagoon, and concierge services. My experience at the Retreat Spa was wonderful, and the crowds are minimal compared to the Blue Lagoon itself. Of note, children under the age of 12 are not allowed at the Retreat Hotel. You can look further into booking your stay at the Retreat Hotel by clicking here.

Summary

If you are eager to explore Iceland, three days gives you the ability to see all of the major highlights the country has to offer. Start your first day in Iceland by exploring the Golden Circle, travel the South Coast on day two, and end your trip by spending time in Reykjavik and at the Blue Lagoon. Renting a car is the best way to explore on your own time, but you could always travel via day trips from Reykjavik. I hope these travel tips allow you to plan your perfect 3 day Iceland itinerary.

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