When I think of Iceland, it is always other-worldly landscapes that come to my mind. It is a truly unique island-country that boasts such a wide variety of geography.
If you are thinking or planning to head to Iceland, be sure to check out this epic 5-day itinerary to make the most of your time in and around Reykjavik!
The goal of this guide is to provide a complete itinerary for a 5-day stay in Iceland. It will take you through some of the best that Iceland has to offer including the Blue Lagoon, Snowmobiling, and a tour of Iceland’s south coast. You will also find recommendations for places to stay so you can easily access places of interest.
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The Best Way to Get to Iceland
Most people will likely have to get to Iceland by plane.
The best place to fly into Iceland is Keflavik Airport (KEF) located in the Reykjanes peninsula about 50 kilometers from the city center of Reykjavik.
Note that there is also a smaller airport named Reykjavik Domestic Airport (RKV). This is a much smaller airport that has very limited flights and will most likely cost lots more than flying to KEF airport.
If traveling from America, make sure to try and fly from major airports such as JFK, DTW, DEN, and LAX to get the cheapest flight price.
The easiest way to find the best flight for your trip to Iceland will be through Google Flights. I use them for every trip I plan.
To see flight options for Iceland, simply type in your home airport and put Iceland after it. For example, if I am flying from JFK airport, I just google JFK to Iceland, and Google will automatically load Google flights.
At Google Flights, you can check the best times to fly with their price graph. They also have a really useful price grid that will show you different prices of flights that are right around the time that you are planning to fly. Make sure to get used to using these two features to take advantage of getting a great flight price with Google Flights.
Volcanic Waterfall at Iceland’s South Coast
Where is Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital city of Iceland and is known for its stunning geen vistas, towering waterfalls, unique beaches, and other natural wonders located right outside the city.
There are tons of activities to Enjoy in Reykjavik, as well as in all of Iceland. In the city, you can learn about Viking history at a museum, watch a lava show, or enjoy some of Iceland’s traditional cuisine.
If exploring outside of Iceland, try snowmobiling, hiking, sightseeing, riding horses, climbing a volcano, or swimming in a hot spring.
When is the Best Time to Head to Iceland?
The peak tourist season in Iceland is in the Summer. This is when you will see beautiful green fields with wildflowers, and comfortably warm temperatures with the best chance of sunshine.
During the summer you will be able to see events like the Reykjavik Arts Festival, Reykjavik International Film Festival, Sjomannadagurinn (Festival of the Sea), Hafnarjorour Viking Festival, and Icelandic Independence Day.
During the fall and winter, temperatures can drop heavily in Iceland. During October, the average daytime temperature in Reykjavik is 40 degrees F. In January, the average daytime temperature hovers around 35 degrees F.
The fall and winter are good times to travel to Iceland if you want to avoid most of the tourists. Tourist season starts to disappear at the end of the summer as temperatures drop. You will have more of Iceland to yourself and be able to meet more locals.
We decided to travel to Iceland in the spring. During our trip, the average temperature was around 40 to 50 degrees F.
In some areas such as Reykjavik, a sweatshirt or light jacket was able to suffice for traveling in the city. However, as we made our way to areas such as the Black Sand Beach, with winds over 75 mph, a heavy winter jacket was needed.
During the spring you can see events such as Dark Music Days, Winter Lights Festival, Reykjavik Food and Fun Festival, and Fashion Festival and Design.
Many people travel to Iceland to see the northern lights. For this, the best time will be from November to February. During this time, temperatures drop to around 36 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The Aroura Borealis can be seen from all around Iceland.
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What do I need to know Before Heading to Iceland
In terms of safety, Reykjavik is a very secure country. Reykjavik is consistently ranked very high in healthcare low crime rates. During my travels, I found that tour guides were very helpful and friendly, and were excited to share the history and culture of their country with tourists!
Where to Stay in Iceland
When it comes to location, staying in Reykjavik will be your best bet. It is the heart and capital of Iceland and is a central location for restaurants, tours, excursions, and hotels.
I chose to stay at the Fosshotel Baron. It is located on the western side of Reykjavik and is right next to Highway 41.
Most rooms come with a balcony that provides a nice view of the ocean. It is also conveniently located next to a grocery store for any last-minute food or drink needs.
For transportation, it is very easy to order a taxi or an Uber to the hotel to get from place to place. The concierge desk was very helpful and took the time to book us transportation to a couple of the excursions that we booked.
Fosshotel Baron is moderately priced. A standard room hovers around $120 a night and can fluctuate depending on the time of year. Expect prices to be higher in the summer and less in all other seasons.
If you are looking for a cheaper Hostel, check out Kex Hostel Reykjavik, which is right next to Fosshotel Baron. This hostel provides shared rooms with a cozy gathering room stocked with books, tables, and a bar.
Kex Hotel regularly hosts live music and mixers so that you can meet up with other travelers. We visited Kex Hostel frequently in the evening and had a great time sharing our traveling experiences with others.
The price of Kex Hostel is around $80 per night but can get up to $150 if you are looking for a private room.
Day 1: Blue Lagoon Spa Day
Hanging out at the Blue Lagoon Spa, Iceland
Obviously, you should start your trip with one of icelands most famous activities: relaxing in the Blue Lagoon Spa. It will also be a nice treat to settle in after a long day of travel and plane rides. The lagoon is naturally heated to 102 degrees with waters that are rich in minerals. The lagoon provides a full-body relaxation.
Find the link to this excursion here.
When you first arrive, you will receive a locker to place your belongings in, along with a robe to cover up before and after your swim! You then make your way to the pool, where you can immerse yourself in the relaxing, ethereal blue waters of the lagoon.
Once inside the pool, you can swim over to the mask bar, where you can take your pick of a couple different face masks to exfoliate your skin. If you’re thirsty, you can wade your way over to a swim-up bar to grab a beer or a glass of wine.
After experiencing the beauty of the thermal waters, you will head back inside. Depending on your package, you can receive a delicious meal from their restaurant or grab a quick bite from the cafe that serves coffee, pastries, sushi, and cold sandwiches.
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Day 2 & 3: 2 Day Tour of Icelands south coast
The 2 day tour of icelands south coast provides the most convient way to take in the beauty of many natural wonders without having to worry about how to get around or where to stay. The guided tour showcases some of Icelands most popular sights with a one-night stay at a rural guesthouse and a chance to enjoy traditional Icelandic food.
Find the link to this tour here .
This tour starts with a pickup from your hotel in Reykjavik where you will get to enjoy a comfortable Sprinter van or minibus.
The tour will take you along Route 1 along the south coast of Iceland where you can stop and enjoy a ton of different sights.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall is the first stop along the route. The waterfall sits beneath the Eyjafjallajokyll volcano and is located 2 hours from Reykjavik. Seljalandfoss is a 200-foot volcanic glacier-fed waterfall that cascades from a sheer cliff. You can also walk behind it watch the powerful water pour down.
One of many waterfalls on Iceland’s South Coast
Next, the bus will take you to the Skogafoss waterfall. This one is located on the Skógá River in the south of Iceland at a cliff which represented the former coastline. Make sure to dress correctly! if you want to get a close-up picture, the mist will probably get you soaking wet.
This next stop is a favorite of mine, and a truly magical destination. The Black Sand Reynisfjara Beach is 30 minutes east of Skogafoss waterfall in the picturesque fishing village of Vik.
The black sand that makes up the beach comes from ground black volcanic rock that is formed when lava cools and solidifies.
Be aware that Black Sand beach is Reynisfjara is known to be very dangerous! The tide can change at any minute, and the wind whips around at very high speeds. Make sure not to climb on rocks near the water or step too close to the shoreline.
Looking over part of the Black Sand Beach, Iceland
There is also a cafe close to the beach so that you can warm up with Icelandic soup and lunches.
At the end of the first day you are taken to a country guesthouse where you can enjoy a cozy room in the Icelandic countryside. I found it very relaxing to be surrounded by nothing except the endless landscape of deep green moss and. black volcanic rock.
The second day of the south coast tour begins with an early drive in the minibus to the village of Vic and a stop at the Skaftafell National Park.
It is a park filled with diverse landscapes and features and is notable for its which flora growing between sands and glaciers.
Skaftafell National Park has many hiking trails that you can use, leading to breathtaking panoramic views.
Traversing an otherworldly landscape toward the Ice Caves
From Skaftafell you will continue to Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon where you will get to see magical ice caves!
This part of the tour includes a short hike where your tour guide will provide you with micro-spikes and a helmet, essentials for traveling into an ice cavern. This hike traverses over different valleys and streams that are crossed by bridge.
Once in the ice cave, enjoy the beautiful blue hue that leeches from the ice above. Make sure to bring a camera to capture this epic experience.
Admiring the turquoise roof of the Ice Caves
After the Ice Cave tour, the tour guide will drive back to Reykjavik where you can unpack and relax from the 2-day journey around Iceland’s south coast.
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Day 4: visit the Rekjanes volcanoes
If you want an exhilarating experience and a chance to learn more about Iceland’s geography, hiking to a volcano would be the best way to accomplish this. For this tour, you can make your way up the Fagradalsfjall Volcano and witness the bubbling red magma pour down along deep purple and black obsidian. It is really an awesome natural wonder to witness.
Find the link to this tour here.
The price of this tour is from $180 per person and takes around 6 hours. It is a physically active excursion as you will have to hike around 1.5 hours up the Fagradalsfjall Volcano.
The pick-up location is at Bus Stop 8 in Reykjavik. You can either walk or take a taxi to Grænaborg, Eiríksgata 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.
During this excursion you will hike up Iceland’s newest volcano with a small group and a tour guide to educated you about the history of the landscape and answer any questions that you might have.
The top of the hike boasts views of the lava field which show the forming of new land. Your guide also teaches you about how the composition of the lava influences the appearance of the rocks.
Horses along the road during our tour
Day 5: Ride Snowmobiles in Northen Iceland
For a chance to explore the vast tundras of the snow-covered northern Iceland, try this guided Snowmobile tour near Lake Myvatn. As an added bonus, you get to ride in an awesome lifted winter monster truck!
Find the link to this tour here.
Our lifted 4×4 takes us to Lake Mývatn for snowmobiling
The price of this excursion is from $160 per person. It is for ages 7 and above, and takes around 1.5 hours. The snowmobiling tour includes overalls to keep you warm, as well as a helmet while riding.
Lake Mývatn is where the snowmobiling takes place. It is loaded in northern Iceland.
For this tour, you will depart from the basecamp located right near Mývatn Lake. The tour guide will take you in one of their epic 4×4 off-road vehicles to get to the destination point. Keep in mind that it is a very bumpy ride, so make sure to load up on some Dramamine if you get car sick.
When riding the snowmobiles, you will follow the tour guide in a line with your small group. Looking around, you are immersed in nothing but snowy fields and towering snowy volcanic peaks in the background.
After your snowmobiling you can head back to Reykjavik to grab lunch or dinner and explore the rest of what the city has to offer.
Conclusion
In my visit to Iceland, I was captivated by the multitude of contrasting colors and unique scenery the country had to offer. Hiking up a flowing volcano one day, seeing the mist from a towering waterfall, and then riding snowmobiles in a white, frozen tundra, really felt as if the adventure never stopped! If you find yourself in Iceland, and better yet follow this guide, be sure to take advantage of all the glory of this unique volcanic island!
