I’m adding another holiday itinerary to the mix today! This time, one of the countries I’m asked most about, incredible ICELAND.
I already have a lot of Iceland content (head over here to see all of my past Iceland posts) but I’ve never done an itinerary post so thought this could be useful. I’ve chosen 4 days, firstly because that’s how long I visited for, but also because a lot of people combine Iceland with a trip to the States. It’s a good stop to break up the journey and makes for a pretty epic trip combo.
So yes a 4 day itinerary of Iceland. I’ve incorporated a lot to make the most of your time there so beware, it’s pretty full-on! This isn’t an R&R holiday!
Four Days Itinerary in Iceland
Day 1: Arrive and Explore The Blue Lagoon (plus possible Northern Lights?)
When you arrive in Iceland (after marvelling at the fact that it looked like you were landing on another planet), you’re going straight to one of Iceland’s biggest attractions, straight from the airport!
The Blue Lagoon is halfway between the airport and Reykjavik (where you’ll likely be staying) so it saves time going straight there if you have a packed schedule. Don’t worry there are lockers there for your bags and lots of people do this. Spend some time relaxing in the warm waters, having a face mask and taking in the view! (Read more about the Blue Lagoon over here)
Then head into Reyjavik to get settled. If you want a recommendation on somewhere to stay, I highly recommend KEX, a very industrial hipster-esque hostel with lovely private rooms and views of the mountains.
After your flight and spending time at the Blue Lagoon today, you might not be up to it, but if it’s the right time of year for it, you could do a Northern Lights tour tonight. Because when in Iceland. The best time to see them is between September and March FYI. And if you do want to see them, tonight would be a good shout as tomorrow is a bit more chilled.
Day 2: Reykjavik and a Brewery Tour
It’s time to explore beautiful Reykjavik! I feel like the capital city is often overshadowed by Iceland’s natural beauty, but it’s a pretty cool city in it’s own right.
Go for coffee at one of the very cool coffee shops in the city. My faves are Vinyl and Stofan Kaffihus. Then head to Hallgrímskirkja church for awesome views of the city’s colourful Lego-like houses.
For lunch you HAVE to go to the famous hotdog stand – Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. They do tasty dawgs and it’s a really cheap lunch option. Plus it’s where all the rich and famous go on visits, so y’know, has to be done.
Other sights to check out include the Sun Voyager sculpture and the pretty architecture of Harpa Concert Hall.
Late afternoon it’s time for the Olgerdin Brewery Tour. It’s a session at a microbrewery not too far out of the centre of town. There’s not much to “tour” as it’s pretty small but it’s a lot of fun, you learn about the fairly recent prohibition in Iceland and the host is awesome. Definitely worth a go! (Read more about the brewery tour over here.)
Day 3: Horse Riding and the Golden Circle
Today is a big day, trying to fit in as much of Iceland’s natural beauty as possible!
Now, the Golden Circle is on most people’s Iceland Bucketlist but I decided to do a bit of a combo tour – a morning of horse-riding the gorgeous Icelandic ponies in the mountains, followed by an afternoon of exploring the Golden Circle’s best stops. I did this one by Reykjavik Excursions and really enjoyed it. It’s a full-on day with an early start but oh-so-worth it.
If you wanted to do it yourself, you totally could but would need to rent a car. I did the horse-riding with Eldhestar Horse Farm and it was ideal for someone that’s only been horse-riding once or twice. Then on the half-day Golden Circle tour, I stopped at Geysir for incredible geysers, the beautiful Gullfoss Waterfall and Thingvellir National Park for both natural beauty and Game Of Thrones filming locations. Just saying.
Day 4: More Reykjavik Goodness!
Ok I haven’t actually put much on this day as it depends on your flight time. But if you have some spare time, you should explore some of Reykjavik’s street art as it’s really top notch. Ooh and if you’re into vintage shopping there are a LOT of cool shops in town to explore.
If you want a more relaxing trip and have a later flight, you could always do the full-day Golden Circle tour the day before (think black sand beaches and abandoned aeroplanes) and do a bit of horse-riding this morning before you go. But either way I think both experiences are definitely a must!
It’s a crazy 4 days but I think this itinerary really gives you a good feel for this beautiful country with a good mix of attractions, adventure and city-exploring!
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