Using Iceland as a stepping off point to explore Europe is a very enticing option. If you haven’t already, please read our Iceland overview for more context on this beautiful country. Some airlines allow you to book a “stopover” which gives you less than 24 hours to explore Iceland. Experiencing Iceland is such an other-worldly experience that any amount of time you can spend there is worth it. Whether you have just a stopover or a few days in Iceland, it is possible to get an authentic and amazing experience. In this Iceland itinerary, we will provide you with separate guides for a stopover and a 3 day visit. Enjoy!
Stopover Itinerary
Flights to Iceland from the US land very early in the morning, usually around 4 or 5am local time. When you book a stopover you will have a flight that leaves the next morning so you’ll get about 24 hours in this beautiful country. Any lodging accommodations will most likely not let you check in until the afternoon so you will have to fill in that void of time with as many activities as you can, it’ll be worth it!
Blue Lagoon
On the way from Keflavik Airport to downtown Reykjavik is The Blue Lagoon. They offer transfers for 38 Euros per person and pick up hourly at Keflavik Airport and will drop you off at your lodging accommodations.
The Blue Lagoon offers a few different packages and you can pick the one that suits your needs: Comfort and Premium. All tickets give you access to the Blue Lagoon for the entire day.
- Comfort provides you entrance to the lagoon, a mud mask, a towel, and a drink of your choice. Currently this runs at 55 USD.
- The Premium package will get you all of the above and adds in extra face masks, bathrobe, slippers, and reservations at their on site restaurant. Currently this package is at 78 USD per person.
Reykjavik
After relaxing away that long flight at the Blue Lagoon use their transportation to bring you to downtown Reykjavik. Iceland’s capital is home to 300,000 of the country’s 400,000 population. Reykjavik is a coastal town and has a multitude of things to do.
By this time you’re probably pretty hungry and need some sustenance! We stopped at the Reykjavik Fish Restaurant for some amazing fish and chips that we still talk about. We grabbed a local Icelandic beer for our meal while overlooking the streets and harbor.
Some of the most Instagram-able spots are all within walking distance in the town. Some hot spots for you to enjoy are:
- Hallgrimskirkja – a Lutheran Church Cathedral that has a beautiful organ. They also allow you access to the top where you get amazing views of all of Reykjavik for a small fee.
- Sun Voyager Statue – is on it’s own jetty out into the harbor. It is supposed to be a symbol of a “dreamboat” that can take you to undiscovered territories.
- Laugavegar – this is an area around central Reykjavik that is the hub of the city. It has shops, restaurants, and coffee houses and stretches for miles so you can find plenty to do.
Walking tours in Reykjavik are increasingly popular. There are many companies to choose from that look at various different aspects of Reykjavik so find the one that suits you.
Lodging in Reykjavik can be expensive. Hotels there cost about 200 USD per night. We rented an Airbnb for 150 USD per night. However, our suggestion is to stay somewhere within the city center. With only being in Iceland for 1 day this will put you in the center of it all. It will also be easier to hire an Uber, Lyft, or taxi from the center of town for your inevitable 6am flight out the next day.
3 Day Itinerary
We recommend spending a few days in Iceland to take advantage of the breathtaking sites. We had the privilege of using Iceland as a starting point of a 2 week European adventure, but wished we would have spent more time in this beautiful country.
Day 1
The first day closely mirrors our above stopover itinerary. We were lucky our Airbnb host allowed us to check in early so we didn’t have to carry our luggage around all day. Remember our 3 tips for beating jetlag:
- Hydrate – your body is dehydrated from traveling at high altitudes in a pressurized cabin. Drink plenty of water to get it up to speed.
- Stay awake – you’re tired from getting little to no sleep on the flight, but taking a nap runs the risk of further disrupting your body’s natural circadian rhythm. It’s better to stay awake and go to sleep at a (somewhat) normal bedtime.
- Keep moving – keep your body moving on the first day. Sedentary activities will only magnify the jetlag. One example we recommend is a walking tour of the city you’re visiting, which provides you areas of the city you might’ve missed during planning.
Day 1 is always about getting used to the new time zone and taking it easy for the trip ahead, so relax, grab a local beer, and start making friends in your new country. This is also a great time to stock up on food essentials at a local grocery store for the rest of the trip.
Day 2
We hope you’re rested because you’ll want to wake up early to explore!
Get on the road early. Rush hour in Reykjavik is minimal but you’ll want to maximize your time at these various sites before they become crowded from the tour buses. The first day is all about water – waterfalls, water caves, and black sand beaches on the Atlantic. You’ll quickly learn in this post that “foss” = waterfall in Icelandic.
Seljalandsfoss – a beautiful waterfall that allows 360 degree access (yes, you can walk behind the waterfall as well). Another waterfall is found about 100 yards south for which we never found a name. Both are stunning.
Skogafoss – if you’ve ever Googled “Iceland”, you’ve likely seen a picture of Skogafoss. It is the most popular waterfalls. Traversing the staircase to the top can be difficult, but nonetheless it is well worth the effort. An additional hike is located at the top of the waterfall that follows the river for many miles depending on how much time you want to explore.
Reynisfjara – this black sand beach is at the end of a long gravel road where you will happen upon a restaurant and parking lot. It’s also home to the well known black basalt columns. Hope you’re ready for some strong winds as the Atlantic can be unpredictably fierce any day of the week.
Vik – the southernmost city in Iceland is this small picturesque town. Stop in to a local restaurant for a beer or a nice meal.
Day 3
Secret Lagoon – as discussed in our Iceland overview post, this was our #1 favorite spot of the trip. Tour buses start arriving around noon so go early for a more remote and serene experience.
Gull Foss – your next stop is a spectacular force of nature. It rivals Niagara Falls for the amount of water the flows over it. There is a store and visitor center available for those visiting.
Geysir – this geyser and his little brother, Strokkur, are both active. Strokkur erupts every 30 minutes hundreds of feet into the air. You’ll find that the open spots to view the geyser before it erupts are likely those that will get you the most soaked. You can also hike around the geyser fields for fantastic views of the surrounding area.
Thingvellir National Park – this is a gem of Iceland. While expansive, it is easy to navigate. We recommend snorkeling the Silfra (space between the North American and European tectonic plates). See our overview post for more information.
Overall Thoughts
As you can tell, we fit a lot into our Iceland trip. We wish we would have stayed longer, however that’s the case with most trips. Since this was the beginning of our European trip, we rightly figured we would have the energy to cram as much into this trip as possible.
One goal for the next time we visit this wonderful country is to drive the Ring Road. This is the main highway that encompasses the entire country and generally takes 5-7 days to traverse.
We hope you enjoyed this Iceland itinerary, and it helps you plan your trip to Iceland! Get in touch and let us know what you think!
What a great itinerary…..