A few years after graduation, our lives went separate ways—she went to the West Coast and I stayed in the East Coast— we settled down in our jobs and homes, yet we still remained best friends. With an entire country between us, we realized that the only way we will see each other was by plane. If we had to take a plane, we should meet somewhere fun, right?
For our first trip together, we decided to book tickets to Iceland. Until a few years ago, it seemed like Iceland was just a tiny island on a map that had an unappealing name and no one knew what was there. Out of nowhere, the country became a MUST SEE for any traveler and boasted beautiful waterfalls, hot springs and lava fields.
With the rediscovery of this island in the tourist industry, adventure seekers and curious minds started flocking to it—and no one left disappointed. After my visit, Iceland has climbed its way to one of my favorite countries to visit. In just a few days, I became absolutely obsessed with the nature, culture and people. Now, I want to share my experiences with you.
It has also become increasingly popular to stay in Iceland as a layover or for a short amount of time. While planning my trip, I decided to go on a 5 day trip with my best friend, which worked out well with our schedules and was a less expensive way to travel to Iceland.
If you were like me and want to see as much as Iceland in a short amount of time, take a look at my suggested itinerary and guide.
Day 1:
Being based in Pennsylvania, I drove to New York for a direct flight from Newark International Airport to Keflavik International Airport with WOW air. Like most travelers, I am always looking for the best deals on flights, since it is usually the most expensive part of your travel budgets.
WOW Air is Iceland’s new, low cost airline, I decided to book the flight over to Iceland with them. Most low-cost airlines have a certain reputation for gouging you with add-ons of food, baggage and charges. Due to the added cost of baggage and the length of our stay, we decide to only pack a carry on for our trip.
The view from WOW Air over Greenland.
Day 2:
Arrival to Iceland
Most likely, you are flying into Keflavik International Airport, which is about 45 minutes away from the capital Reykjavik. Depending on your flight schedule, you can plan to stop by the famous Blue Lagoon, which is a short drive away. If you are planning on taking a dip first thing, there are lockers for you to store your luggage. We decided to save this for last and go right before our departure – especially since you have to book your Blue Lagoon arrival and we worried about a delayed flight to Iceland.
When we arrived, our car company, Bali Car Rental, sent a driver to pick us up and take us to the car rental location. The driver was very friendly (like most people in Iceland) and gave us an overview of the culture and history of Iceland. Once we got our car, we were off to explore on our own!
Explore the City
Our flight arrived at 4:30 a.m., so by the time we got our car rental and drove to Reykjavik, it was 7 a.m. and we were exhausted. It was nice to find out that Reykjavik is an easy city to navigate and parking was not difficult to find.
Once we were in the center of the city, we had access to everything we wanted to see. After hunting down a delicious bakery for breakfast, we were ready to hit the streets and sight see.
For restaurant suggestions, check out: Eats and Treats of Reykjavik
Reykjavik is a city rich in Icelandic history and culture; however, it is very small. After a day, I felt like I saw enough of the sites I wanted to see and was ready to move on to the rest of Iceland. For that reason, I would only suggest planning to spend a full day or two in Reykjavik.
For a perfect day in Reykjavik, check out: A Perfect Day in Reykjavik
Suggested Schedule for Day 2:
7 a.m. - Check into Center Plaza Hotel
8 a.m. - Grab breakfast
10 a.m. – Meet at the Parliament Building for free CityWalk Tour
Noon – Lunch at Baejarins Beztu
1 p.m. - Walk to Kolaportið fleamarket
2 p.m. – See the Hallgrimskirkja
8 p.m. - Northern Lights Evening Tour
Alternative Adventures:
- Take a walk to the Grótta Lighthouse to admire the sunset on the harbor.
- Soak in a local thermal, like Laugardalslaug, Vesturbaejarlaug or Aebaejarlaug.
- Play bingo at Saeta Svini Gastropub hosted by Sigga Kling (Iceland's most famous fortune teller).
Day 3:
The Golden Circle
Depending on weather and length of stay in Iceland, you should definitely rent a car! Getting on the road and driving the Golden Circle route allows you to see amazing natural sites around the country. Geysers, waterfalls, hot springs and volcanoes are all packed into one day.
There is a short drive to each site, so it will not feel like you have spent the day sitting in your car and staring at the landscape. In this route, you will be immersed in the landscape and nature of Iceland.
For a perfect day route to the Golden Circle, check out: The Perfect Guide to Driving the Golden Circle
The gorgeous landscape of Thingvellir National Park.
Suggested Schedule for Day 3:
8:00 a.m. - Hveragerdi - Reykjadalur Hike
12:30 p.m. - Kerid Crater Lake
1:45 p.m. - Skrokkur Geysir
2:30 p.m. - Gullfoss Waterfall
3:30 p.m. - Bruarfoss Waterfall
4:30 p.m. - Thingvellir National Park
7 p.m. - Leave for Reykjavik
Alternative Adventures:
- Soak in the Secret Lagoon.
- Walk through the Geothermal Exhibit at the Hellisheidi Power Plant.
Day 4
A Day of Fire and Ice
No, I am not referring to any Game of Thrones books or characters…
Tip: You can do a Game of Thrones tour in Iceland, if you are a fan.
I am referring to the geological beauty of seeing a glacier emerging between volcanic rocks in the Southern region of Iceland. The route to Vik from Reykjavik is absolutely beautiful and scenic. On the right side of the car is a gorgeous coastline and the left side of the car is a stunning mountain range covered in waterfalls.
You can get up close and personal with nature at Seljalandsfoss. You will rarely come across a fence to stop you from areas. Iceland trusts their visitors to use common sense and safety awareness while visiting sites.
Suggested Schedule for Day 4:
8 a.m. - Leave for Vik
10 a.m.- Seljalandsfoss waterfall
12 p.m. - Skógafoss waterfall
2:30 p.m. - Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike
5:30 p.m. – Vik
Dyrhólaey
Reynisfjara
Reynisdrangur
Dinner
9 p.m. - Leave for Reykjavik
Alternative Adventures:
- Soak in a swimming pool in Hekla and view the famous Hella volcano.
- Walk to the Sólheimasandur plane crash.
Did you know that trolls turn into stone by the sun? The legend says the stone stacks were two trolls trying to drag a ship to shore, but they were too late and the sun turned them to stone. Do you see them?
The Reynisfjara on the black sand beach in Vik.
Day 5
A Fitting Farewell
On the last day of a vacation, I always feel my body dragging and anticipating the dreadful flight home. Even more so, the first day back to work. However, on my last day in Iceland, I was up early and ready to go, because I was about to check an item off of my bucket list: The Blue Lagoon.
Most people are very skeptical about the spa and even go as far as calling it a “tourist trap”. So often, people build up experiences in their heads and are disappointed with the outcome. After dreaming about the hot, blue water for months, my fantasies became a reality as I soaked for hours in the hot spring. I have to say, the spa was everything I anticipated, and even exceeded my expectations.
For my experience, check out: Is the Blue Lagoon Work It?
Suggested Schedule for Day 5:
7 a.m. - Leave Reykjavik
8 a.m. - Blue Lagoon
12 p.m. - Drive to Keflavik International Airport
On your way to the airport, stop at the Issi Fish and Chips food truck. It may look like nothing special since it is in a grocery store parking lot, but take my word for it. It is the BEST fish and chips your will ever taste.
Made with fresh Icelandic fish.
Keep In Mind
Buffer your itinerary with extra time, because I can guarantee you will be stopping at designated rest areas and sites to take pictures the entire trip.
This is your vacation, so make sure you take a vacation. It is so easy to over pack your itinerary of things you want to see. By doing so, you may be rushing around and miss the beauty of it all. So, relax and do the things you would regret missing.
Be flexible with you plans. The weather in Iceland is unpredictable, which can take a toll on the activities you have planned for the day. Be patient and wait for the snow/rain to pass.
Be safe. If you are planning on camping or going on hikes, register your itinerary with SafeTravel.is and know emergency contacts.
