Length: 6 Days | Budget: $$$
On my very first date with my (now) husband, he told me that it was one of his dreams to travel to Iceland. At the time, I had never even considered Iceland as a destination option. It seemed so far away, so isolated, and so challenging to get to. I was surprised to find out that that’s not actually the case!
Over the past few years, Icelandair’s famous Layover program (which offers customers a free multi-day layover in Iceland on the way to/and from several major European destinations) has conveniently brought thousands of tourists to the country. Additionally, the filming of several Hollywood shows and blockbusters (for example, Game of Thrones and Prometheus) within the country has led to Iceland becoming quite the tourist hot spot. In fact, tourism has grown so rapidly that the country is considering implementing tourist caps and taxes as a way to fund better tourist infrastructure.
Our Iceland trip was truly the trip of a lifetime – not only because it crossed an item off my husband’s bucket list, but because it also introduced us to so many awe-inspiring scenes and new experiences. It’s a land filled with wonder, of giant waterfalls, sprawling alien-like landscapes, mighty volcanoes, and more. If you can, I’d recommend that you stay in Iceland for ~10 days. But, if you’re like us and have limited PTO, then follow this 6-day itinerary to get a great sampling of what the country has to offer. It is truly a magnificent place.
Day 0: Getting there/preparation
The first thing we did after arriving at the Keflavik International Airport was pick-up our rental car. We had gotten a recommendation from a friend to rent our car with Icerental 4×4 through a 3rd party site…there were a few hiccups (for example, we waited for almost an hour for the car rental shuttle) but all-in-all was probably worth it in the end as they were much more affordable than the standard car rental companies (e.g. Budget, AVIS, etc.). Our car was an older but sturdy Nissan XTrail – we named it Agor.
TIP: There are a lot of blogs out there that will tell you it’s not necessary to rent 4-wheel drive. I’m here to tell you that you DEFINITELY should. There were so many off-the-beaten path places that we were able to explore because our car could handle the side roads (err, or lack of side roads). Plus, despite the weather forecast stating that it would be clear skies the whole time we were there…we found ourselves getting caught in a random snowstorm towards the end of our trip. My husband also wanted me to add here that “if you don’t need a 4-wheel drive, then you’re not doing Iceland right”.
After getting our car, we drove the 45-minute drive towards Reykjavik and made sure to make a pit stop at a local grocery store (Bonus is one of the most popular chains, and it’s affordable as well!). I would highly recommend doing this because Iceland is CRAZY EXPENSIVE. I knew going into the trip that things would be pricey but I almost went into shock when our first dinner (which comprised of two simple bowls of soup and a single salmon skewer) cost us almost 50 dollars. So, if you have time, stock-up on food items at the grocery store and save some money.
If you’re looking for a recommendation for a place to stay while in Reykjavik, I highly recommend the AirBnb we stayed in. It had a quirky, retro vibe and was super centrally located. You can check out the AirBnB listing here.
Day 1: Reykjavik
We spent the first day of our Iceland trip exploring Reykjavik. The city center is very walk-able and can actually be done in a few hours. However, we spent the day relaxing, meandering the streets, exploring the various shops, and enjoying meals over long, leisurely conversations. I mean, we were on vacation!
Breakfast was at the Laundromat Cafe, which is a great restaurant featuring quality food. Kevin ordered the ‘dirty brunch’ which basically took every breakfast item imaginable, and put it on a platter. It. was. awesome. It’s such a cute place – featuring a colorful rainbow bookshelf and laundry machines where you can ACTUALLY DO YOUR LAUNDRY. Hence, the name.
TIP: While in Iceland, you absolutely must try skyr (an Icelandic cultured dairy product). It tastes a bit like greek yogurt, but it’s actually a cheese. It’s rich and creamy, but is made with skim milk so it’s not as fattening. I couldn’t get enough of it while I was there (the pear flavor was my favorite). It’s typically served with breakfast.
We walked along Skólavörðustígur Street, which is considered to be the most beautiful street in Reykjavik because it is filled with independent shops and leads up to the striking Hallgrímskirkja church. The Hallgrímskirkja church is Iceland’s tallest building, and the design was inspired by one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland (Svartifoss).
TIP: For the best panoramic views of Reykjavik, take the elevator to the top of Hallgrímskirkja. It costs money (~10 USD/ticket) but I thought it was worth the price.
Afterwards, we walked along Laugavegar Street which is the longest shopping street in Reykjavik. Must-visits include: Vínberið (an assorted candy and chocolate shop) and Brauð & Co (an AMAZING local bakery featuring the most delicious nougat-stuffed bread).
From there, we took a stroll along the waterfront and visited the famous Solfar (Sun Voyager) sculpture before exploring the exquisite Harpa Concert Center building, and admiring it’s unique architecture.
Dinner was near the harbor at Saegreifinn (The Sea Baron), a tiny restaurant adored by tourists and locals alike. The Sea Baron only serves a few food items – mainly a hearty lobster soup, bread, and a variety of seafood skewers. The food was delicious, relatively affordable compared to other restaurants within Reykjavik (though by no means cheap), and sorely needed after a long day’s worth of exploring in the cold. (Seriously, it was SO COLD).
My favorite part about Reykjavik was the number of amazing wall murals and colorful buildings scattered around the city center. Seriously, Reykjavik could give colorful Notting Hill a run for its money!
If you’re visiting Iceland between September and mid-April, there’s a chance you’ll be able to see the Northern Lights. If you have your heart set on seeing the Northern Lights, I’d recommend going out during the earlier part of your trip to increase your chances. The Northern Lights can be quite finnicky, and it’s crucial that the temperature is cold, the nights are dark, and the skies are clear. It’s best to check the Aurora Forecast before your outing! We visited Iceland in mid-April and were bummed that we didn’t get to see the lights…next time…
Day 2: Golden Circle
Day 2 of our Iceland trip was spent driving the famous Golden Circle route. The route itself is about 190-miles long and takes ~5 hours of actual driving. It’s best to budget a whole day for the Golden Circle as it will take ~8-9 hours to really see all the stops, and have time to explore. We added a couple of extra sites to our ‘Golden Circle’ route, to make the most out of our experience. Check out our driving route below!
TIP: There are only 3 ways out of Reykjavik (Route 41 towards Keflavik Airport and Route 1 splitting towards the North or the South). You can drive the circle either way on Route 1, but most guides tell you to start off to the North because it’s simpler to get out of the city.
Stop 1: Thingvellir National Park. Here, at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, we saw the Silfra Fissure (where North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly being pulled apart) and the church where the oldest existing parliament in the world first assembled in 930AD.
Stop 3: Brúarfoss Falls. This waterfall is technically not part of the main ‘Golden Circle’ tourist route and is off-the-beaten-path. My husband really wanted to visit because it’s known for having the bluest waters in Iceland…and it actually ended up being one of my favorite waterfalls of the trip (and trust me, we visited a lot!) There aren’t very well-documented directions to get to Brúarfoss – most guides simply say to visit the ‘summer house area’ off road 355, make a left turn off the gravel road, park on the left where there is room for 4-5 cars, and walk through a field of tall golden-colored grass. Helpful right? I wish I could give more concrete directions…but unfortunately, the route we took was not extremely straightforward. In fact, we had essentially declared ourselves lost after having driven in circles for a ridiculous 20-30 minutes. And then of course, somehow, right before we had given up finding Brúarfoss altogether….we miraculously found the ‘left’ parking lot.
Stop 3: Haukadalur Geothermal Area. Haukadulr is home to Strokku and Geysir (which is where the general term geyser comes from!). Strokkur is one of the most reliable geysers in the world, erupting every 10 minutes. I personally wasn’t too impressed with the eruption….but that’s probably because I grew up visiting Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park as a child. In any case, it’s right along the Golden Circle route and still worth visiting. These hot springs have been active for over 10,000 years.
Stop 4: Gullfoss Falls. The Gullfoss (Golden) Waterfall is located off the main Golden Circle road, and is one of Iceland’s most popular waterfalls. It’s absolutely stunning – we were lucky enough to see a rainbow dancing along the roaring, cascading water. Take note though, the area can get SUPER windy and I’d highly recommend wearing a waterproof jacket while visiting.
Stop 5: Lunch at Fridheimar Farm. Fridheimar is conveniently located along the Golden Circle route, and is unique in that it serves primarily tomato dishes. Meals are served in the same greenhouse where the tomatoes are grown (they grow 4 varieties). We enjoyed a buffet of tomato soup with fresh basil (so fresh, we pulled it directly off the potted plant and were able to enjoy to our heart’s content!), cucumber salad, and a variety of freshly-baked bread. Dessert was a green tomato and apple pie…who knew that the pairing could be so absolutely delicious?! It was one of the best meals of the trip – we loved that it was a family-run farm and the owners clearly put a ton of love into their plants…you could taste it in the food!
TIP: If you want to have lunch at Fridheimar Farm, make sure you make reservations in-advance. It was absolutely packed when we visited and we were so glad we called ahead. It would have been a bummer if we hadn’t been able to experience such a wonderfully unique meal. Also, order the dessert. You won’t regret it.
Stop 6: Skálholt Cathedral. Just a short 10-minute drive away from Fridheimar Farm is the famous Skálholt Cathedral, one of Iceland’s larger churches. Skálholt is where Iceland’s first Catholic bishropic was founded, and is a very important and holy place for most Icelanders.
Stop 7: Gjáin in Þjórsárdalur Valley. Another off-the-beaten path site, and also one of our favorites. Gjáin is a gorge located in the lush and fairy glen-like Þjórsárdalur Valley. The Gjárfoss Waterfall can also be seen in the area. It’s one of those “wow” areas where you truly feel like you are in another world. Getting there was tough (you need 4-wheel drive to get there) and there was a long stretch of driving where we thought we might be lost in a field of black lava rock, in the middle of nowhere. However, we stuck to our guns and ended up getting rewarded with incredible, tourist group-free views.
Stop 8: Kerið Crater Lake. Our last stop of the day was Kerið, a large crater lake surrounded by fiery red volcanic rock. Kerið is supposedly different from most crater lakes, because instead of being created from an explosion, it was actually created when the magma in the center of the caldera dissipated naturally, and the chamber below collapsed. This was probably my least favorite stop of the day….I thought I would be impressed, but it sort of just looked like a giant dark hole. It could’ve been the time-of-day we visited (it being the last stop of our day, there was not a ton of daylight). I also didn’t like that there was an entrance fee.
TIP: You’ll pass by several herds of Icelandic horses while driving the Golden Circle. If you can, I would definitely stop to say hello! These pint-sized beautiful creatures are extremely friendly and lovable. Plus, they are unique in that they are one of the purest horse breeds in the world.
We ended a long, tiring day by enjoying a simple meal of hot dogs at the famous Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur hot dog stand (the name also translates to: the best hot dog stand in town). A lot of blogs claim that the hot dogs are ‘overrated’, but being self-proclaimed hot dog connoisseurs (and by that, I mean…we will eat any hot dog really), we loved them. Hot dogs are basically the ‘unofficial’ national food of Iceland. These ones are made with a mixture of Icelandic lamb, beef, and pork – the best way to eat them is with everything (everything being ketchup, sweet brown mustard, caper mayo remoulade, raw onions, and crispy onions). It’s a bit gross to think back on it now, but we probably had 4-5 hot dogs EACH while we were there. When in Rome (err Iceland) right?
Read on! Check out Iceland Guide Part 2: Vik + Snaefellsnes Peninsula here.
This is so helpful! Thank you!