Iceland is turning into a preferred stopover vacation spot on flights between North America and Europe, with Icelandair providing free stopovers in Iceland en route throughout the Atlantic. It’s additionally only a beautiful nation on the whole, so even if you happen to’re not flying to Europe it’s effectively value a devoted journey.
For those who stay in New York the flight time is round 5 hours 45 minutes to Reykjavik (so lower than the flight to LA) and if you happen to fly from London it’ll take simply 3 hours quarter-hour to get there.
Iceland is thought for its magical panorama of volcanoes, scorching springs, geysers and lava fields. For the reason that island is positioned far north it’s attainable to see the Northern Lights right here, though the local weather isn’t all the time as preferrred for viewing as someplace like Norway or Finland.
As with all nation there’s loads to see and do however this Iceland 3 day itinerary will permit you to cowl the fundamentals, together with Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon and the Golden Circle. I’ll additionally focus on some sensible info, comparable to the perfect time to go to and the place to remain.
Instructed Itinerary for 3 Days in Iceland
- Day 1: Reykjavik Sightseeing (+ Blue Lagoon if there’s time)
- Day 2: The Golden Circle
- Day 3: Iceland’s South Shore (or Blue Lagoon for a extra leisurely itinerary)
Day 1: Sightseeing in Reykjavik – Blue Lagoon, Harpa Live performance Corridor, Phallological Museum, Hallgrimskirkja
I’d advocate reserving a lodge for your complete three days in Reykjavik. The nation’s capital is a good base for exploring the remainder of the island and the vast majority of excursions depart from the town.
Reykjavik could also be small however there are literally a lot of issues to do because the majority of the nation’s inhabitants lives right here. It’s simple to discover on foot so e-book a lodge within the heart and produce your strolling footwear.
In your first day in Reykjavik you’ll need to discover a number of the metropolis’s main points of interest and finest eating places. The meals in Iceland is a number of the finest I’ve ever eaten, severely. Each dish is so contemporary and well-presented.
Blue Lagoon
Opening hours for the Blue Lagoon are from 9am to 9pm. The Blue Lagoon is positioned simply quarter-hour from Keflavík – Reykjavik airport so if you happen to’re actually quick on time, it’s finest to do it once you’re touring from or to the airport.
Once you go to will actually rely upon once you’re flying out and in of Reykjavik. In case your flight lands early within the morning at Keflavik Airport on Day 1 then you may cease on the Blue Lagoon in your manner from the airport to the town heart, then do your sightseeing.
Alternatively, you may forgo the tour to the south of Iceland in your third day and do the Blue Lagoon as a substitute. Doing the Blue Lagoon in your third day would enable for a way more leisurely itinerary and you may spend the entire day right here. It’s as much as you. For those who’re flying out of Keflavik within the afternoon/night on day 3 then you may do the Blue Lagoon on the way in which again to the airport.
Earlier than I went to go to the Blue Lagoon I had all the time assumed it was a pure out of doors scorching spring however it’s really synthetic, with the geothermal water coming from the close by geothermal energy plant.The geothermal water is enriched with silica, algae, and minerals which have therapeutic, nourishing and rejuvenating properties.Tickets costs fluctuate however they begin at round 6990 ISK for an grownup ($53) and there’s one free drink included within the worth, so you possibly can order a drink within the swim-up bar. If you wish to be taught extra about what it’s like, learn my full article on swimming within the Blue Lagoon in winter.
The Blue Lagoon isn’t only a scorching spring, it’s a vacation spot, with a luxurious lodge, spa and several other eating places on web site. If you wish to have a spa remedy and lunch then you may determine to make an entire day of it right here. If that’s the case then undoubtedly do it on Day 3.
Attending to the Blue Lagoon: You will get to the Blue Lagoon by taxi – the journey takes 20 minutes from Keflavik Airport or 50 minutes from downtown Reykjavik. Alternatively there’s a bus referred to as Vacation spot Blue Lagoon which takes you to the Blue Lagoon from the airport or the town. It may be booked on-line right here.
Seize a espresso at Laundromat Cafe
When you’re within the metropolis and also you’ve checked into your lodge, seize a espresso at Laundromat Cafe, which is a laundromat mixed with a bar/restaurant. The idea is enjoyable and quirky, permitting friends to do their laundry whereas they’ve one thing to eat or drink. The vibe is heat and welcoming with books, video games, maps and free Wi-Fi to maintain you occupied. This place is nice for breakfast or lunch.
Snap a photograph at Harpa Live performance Corridor
Subsequent up, stroll to Harpa Live performance Corridor, which is a contemporary live performance corridor and convention heart with a crystalline glass facade impressed by the Northern Lights and the basalt Iceland panorama. You don’t have to see a live performance right here to admire its magnificence; Harpa Live performance Corridor is a murals in its personal proper. Situated on the water with views over the ocean, the corridor is residence to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera. By day the constructing glistens within the solar and at night time the outside is illuminated in LED lights.
Go to the Phallological Museum
Sure, there actually is a Penis Museum in Reykjavik. Not removed from Harpa Live performance Corridor you’ll discover the Reykjavik Phallological Museum, which is a museum devoted to the penises and penile elements of land and sea animals that may be present in Iceland. It sounds bizarre (which it’s) however the place else on this planet are you able to stare upon over 200 penises preserved in formaldehyde? On show you possibly can see penises of walruses, seals, polar bears and even the penis of a 95-year-old man.
Icelandic Punk Museum
Up the road from the Phallological Museum you’ll discover the Punk Museum, which is a tiny museum positioned in a former set of public bogs! Yep, as you possibly can in all probability inform from this text thus far, Reykjavik is unquestionably offbeat and quirky. For those who’re a punk fanatic or curious about studying about punk historical past it is a enjoyable museum. Visitors are welcome to attempt on garments, play the drums and take heed to punk data utilizing headphones hanging from the ceiling.
Eat a scorching canine at Bæjarins beztu pylsur
You’d assume the U.S could be the perfect place to order a scorching canine however it seems the perfect scorching canines I’ve ever eaten are in Iceland. Courting again to 1937, this well-known scorching canine stand serves scrumptious scorching canines which are nice to eat as a snack when you’re strolling round Reykjavik. I ate scorching canines right here daily! Scorching canines price 550 ISK (round $4 USD) and it’s the most cost effective lunch you’ll discover in Reykjavik. There’s one thing in regards to the mixture of the tremendous smooth bun and the distinctive style of the mustard that makes these scorching canines simply so moorish, significantly after an evening out in town.
Snap a photograph with the Solar Voyager
Now that you simply’ve happy your starvation with a scorching canine, take a stroll to the Solar Voyager to burn off the energy. This large stainless-steel sculpture of a ship is positioned on the waterfront overlooking the ocean.
Go to Hallgrimskirkja
Hallgrimskirkja is Reykjavik’s most iconic landmark and one of many tallest buildings in Iceland. This concrete Lutheran church was named after Seventeenth-century Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson and the design is impressed by the basalt columns that you simply’ll discover throughout the nation. It’s a hanging constructing that towers over the town and if you wish to take photographs of Reykjavik from above, I’d recommend taking the elevator to the tower, which prices 1000 ISK (roughly $7.50).
Get pleasure from dinner and cocktails at Apotek
To complete your day, seize dinner at Apotek, which is without doubt one of the finest eating places in Reykjavik. Drinks are ready by a mixologist in a lab coat and the cocktail menu has a pharmacy theme, with drinks organized into “painkillers”, “stimulants” and “tranquilizers”. I ordered the seared tuna with avocado puree and pickled watermelon, adopted by the meat tenderloin. The meals was out of this world!
After dinner drinks at Lebowski Bar
When you’ve got some vitality left then head over to Lebowski Bar, which will get its theme from the Large Lebowski film by the Coen Brothers. This can be a nice bar for assembly fellow vacationers and locals. Inside there’s a bowling alley, a southern-style porch, a ‘50s diner, and a ‘60s lounge bar on the higher flooring. If you wish to keep in line with the Lebowski theme then it’s best to undoubtedly order The Dude’s favourite drink, a White Russian. There are over 23 totally different variations of White Russians on the menu!
Day 2: The Golden Circle & Northern Lights
On day two of your journey you possibly can go to the Golden Circle. Whilst you can actually hire a automobile and drive round Iceland, if you happen to solely have three days I’d skip the automobile rental and simply e-book a tour to see the Golden Circle. On quick stopover journeys like these I normally can’t be bothered with the effort of automobile leases, particularly when it’s really easy to get round by Uber.
We booked our Golden Circle tour with Reykjavik Excursions. We really booked a combo bundle to see the Golden Circle and the Northern Lights. For those who do that possibility you get a couple of hours to relaxation after the Golden Circle and then you definitely return out to see the Northern Lights.
Sadly the Northern Lights didn’t come out for us that night time as a result of climate situations and it was so unbearably chilly. For those who don’t see them then you’ve got the choice of going again out a second night time without cost however we determined to present {that a} miss and simply take pleasure in Reykjavik as a substitute.
When visiting the Golden Circle you’ll see:
Geysir Geothermal Park – The tour will take you to see the Strokkur geysir spurting out columns of water into the air each 4-8 minutes. For those who go to in winter then ensure you put on mountain climbing boots as a result of the realm may be fairly slippy as a result of ice.
Gulfoss Waterfall – Subsequent up you’ll see the Gulfoss Waterfall, which is a powerful waterfall created by the river Hvítá, which plunges right into a crevice some 32 m deep.
Thingvellir Nationwide Park – Lastly you’ll go to Thingvellir Nationwide Park, which is without doubt one of the few locations on this planet the place you possibly can see the North-American and Eurasian tectonic plates above floor. The plates are pulling aside at a charge of some centimetres per yr.
For those who determine to do the Northern Lights as effectively then you definitely’ll arrive again within the metropolis at round 18:30 and then you definitely’ll have a couple of hours to relaxation earlier than heading again out to see the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights tour lasts round 3 hours.
Dinner at Tapas barinn
For those who don’t go to see the Northern Lights then you may loosen up in Reykjavik and simply go to have a leisurely dinner. Try Tapas barinn, which has an intensive menu of fifty totally different small plates. If you wish to attempt conventional Icelandic delicacies, you possibly can attempt the Icelandic Gourmand Feast, which prices 8,990 ISK (roughly $68). It begins with a shot of Icelandic “Brennivín” adopted by six programs and a dessert.
Day 3: Iceland’s South Shore or Blue Lagoon
South Shore Tour
What you do on day 3 depends upon how relaxed you’d like your itinerary to be and once you’re flying residence. If you wish to cram as a lot as attainable into 3 days then you possibly can squeeze within the Blue Lagoon on Day 1 after which see Iceland’s South Shore on Day 3.
The South Shore is without doubt one of the most scenic elements of Iceland. Reykjavik Excursions runs a South Shore Journey which is an all-day tour that lasts round 10 hours and half-hour. The tour takes you to see Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which you’ll stroll behind, and Skógafoss waterfall, which was used as a backdrop in Thor: The Darkish World and The Secret Lifetime of Walter Mitty.
After visiting the waterfalls you’ll cease at Reynisfjara black sand seaside, which is without doubt one of the most breathtaking and rugged seashores in Iceland. Right here you possibly can see the Reynisdrangar rock formations and columnar basalt.
As well as, the tour takes you to Sólheimajökull glacier and an enthralling village referred to as Vík, which is surrounded by excessive cliffs.
Dinner at Sjavargrillid
Once you get again to Reykjavik, go for dinner at Sjavargrillid, which is run by chef Gústav Axel Gunnlaugsson, who traveled across the nation in search of the actual style of Iceland. The inside of the restaurant is adorned with driftwood and different items that Gustav collected and dragged again to the restaurant from his travels.The meal I ate right here was some of the memorable meals in my life and I want I may simply teleport myself there to eat it once more. My meal consisted of grilled & crispy langoustine with pan fried plaice, natural barley, golden beet, date and kale, adopted by créme brûlée with strawberry, caramel, sorrel and cocoa nibs.
Different possibility for day 3: Museums & Blue Lagoon
If you wish to fly out within the afternoon on day 3, you may go to the Blue Lagoon on the way in which again to the airport. Or, if you happen to’d simply want a extra leisurely itinerary on the whole, you may spend this final day exploring Reyakjavik’s museums, then go to the Blue Lagoon earlier than spending your final night time having fun with a pleasant dinner in Reykjavik.
Museums you possibly can go to in your final day embody the Nationwide Museum of Iceland, Reykjavik Artwork Museum, Reykjavik Maritime Museum, Saga Museum and The Settlement Exhibition. You would additionally go to Þúfa, an artwork set up which was created by artist Ólöf Nordal in 2013. The set up options an 8m-tall grassy mound with a spiral pathway that leads you as much as the highest.
The place to remain in Reykjavik
Apotek Resort
I stayed on the Apotek Resort, which is residence to the Apotek Kitchen + Bar. This lodge is a centrally positioned boutique lodge with 45 rooms, housed in a constructing that was as soon as a pharmacy referred to as Reykjavikur Apotek. The constructing was inbuilt 1917 by the previous State Architect of Iceland, Guðjón Samúelsson. Rooms are cozy and cozy, plus the meals and cocktails within the Apotek restaurant are unbelievable. I undoubtedly loved my keep right here.
Is three days in Iceland Sufficient?
3 days primarily based in Reykjavik will permit you to see all of the locations I discussed above. For those who’re ready to pack loads into every day, then you possibly can undoubtedly see the perfect of Iceland in three days. You’ll be busy and there’s not likely time for napping in your lodge room. If you wish to hire a automobile and see different issues, such because the Iceland Ring Street, then you definitely’ll need to spend as much as per week in Iceland.
For those who’re visiting Iceland on a stopover otherwise you simply have a couple of days off from work then 3 days might be all you’ve got. You possibly can undoubtedly profit from it and see Iceland’s finest sights. Nonetheless, like all nation, the longer you keep the extra you get to loosen up, transfer at a barely slower tempo and see extra issues.
Do I have to hire a automobile in Iceland?
For this itinerary and with just a few days in Iceland, I’d say ditch the automobile concept and simply get round utilizing taxis and excursions. I don’t learn about you however with such a brief period of time it looks as if a trouble to spend time on the automobile rental desk on arrival and worrying about parking. For those who’re planning to remain in Iceland for longer and also you need to drive the Iceland Ring Street then undoubtedly need to hire a automobile or 4×4 and self-drive so you’ve got the pliability to cease wherever you need.
What’s the perfect time of yr to go to Iceland?
That basically depends upon the person. There are execs and cons to every season.
I went within the winter and Iceland seems magical with snow on the bottom. I cherished it. The draw back is it’s freezing in winter and the times are quick, so that you don’t have many daylight hours to see the sights and points of interest. If you wish to take photographs, you solely have a couple of hours to take them earlier than it will get darkish. Nonetheless, you do have extra hours to see the Aurora Borealis aka the Northern Lights. Temperatures within the winter months between December to February can attain as little as -30 Celsius, so ensure you pack ski gloves, a giant puffy jacket and thermals. Once we went to do the Northern Lights tour I needed to spend most of my time on the bus as a result of it was simply so chilly.
If you wish to go mountain climbing and expertise Iceland’s dramatic surroundings, then the summer time months between June to August are a good time to go to. The times are infinite (severely the solar is up until midnight) and the climate is heat, plus there are many festivals comparable to Secret Solstice Pageant.
When’s the perfect time to go whale watching in Iceland?
For whale watching, April to October is the perfect time to see the orcas.
When’s the perfect time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland?
You possibly can see the Northern Lights between September and April, though the perfect months for viewing are February, March, September and October.
Is Iceland Costly?
Food and drinks in Iceland is on the costly facet. I didn’t discover it to be as costly as Norway however it was undoubtedly up there when it got here to costs. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re solely in Iceland for 3 days then you definitely received’t have a lot likelihood to burn by your money.
Iceland’s forex is named Króna (ISK). The excursions weren’t that costly however consuming out was.
A ultimate phrase…
I hope you discovered this steered Iceland itinerary helpful. When you’ve got solely 3 days in a metropolis you are likely to need to slot in as a lot as attainable however on the similar time you don’t need to really feel exhausted and burnt out. Whereas it’s attainable to in all probability cram Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon into at some point after which do two full day excursions, I attempted to make this 3 day itinerary a contact extra leisurely.
