The Best 5 Day Icelandic Itinerary

If you’re thinking about a trip to Europe, tacking on a stopover in Iceland is the best gift you could give yourself. Especially if you kinda like the idea of getting soaked by waterfalls, exfoliating your feet in soft black sand, or otherwise immersing yourself in wild selfcare, the likes of which are completely unique to this island nation.

Fly with Icelandair.

When you fly Icelandair via Reykjavik, you have the opportunity to hop off at the airport and stay there awhile without any extra fees added on!!! After studying the map of the area surrounding the capital, my bestie and I decided that we needed 5 nights in Iceland to get a true taste of this volcanic nation. We were on our way home from a absolutely amazing Italian tour that we took with Italian Fix. (Such a great Italian travel company! I’ll circle back to Italy in another blog post ;-) It seemed like a “must” to take a little extra time and up the ante on our unbelievably awesome vacation!

Reserve a rental car, grab it at the airport.

We went with the super compact option from Europcar. You’ve probably heard the rumor that Iceland is expensive… including the petrol. Don’t let fear of high costs stop you from visiting, but do consider gas economy. The route that I’m laying out here for you is “off-road-free”. (Not that I have anything against getting muddy—that’s good too—but sometimes a thrifty gal needs to prioritize.)

When you pick up your ride from Keflavik International Airport, pay close attention to the directions to the car. Maybe it was the jetlag, but we whiled away precious minutes wandering the wrong lot, pressing our fob repeatedly to see if anything lit up… Here’s the deal, the rental cars are parked over in front of the hotel, so look for the tall building over by departures and scoop up your wheels there.

Plan ahead for how you will navigate. I have a Verizon plan and so was able to pay $100 extra for the month to have an international travel pass, which meant that my Maps app, data, and hotspot worked well. Alternatively, you can pay extra for a GPS system for the car. If you’re old school, make sure you have good maps with you.

Grab Your Wheels!

Arrival: Nordic vibes!

Hotel Viking is the perfect place to stay on your first night in Iceland if you’re into comfort, value, and character. Our room was the size of a postage stamp but so was the cost shared two ways. There is also a restaurant right next door which serves up burgers and ale, among other things. The staff was absolutely lovely and the breakfast was next level. They served breads, fruits, meats, cheeses, yogurts, coffee, tea, and more! Oh, and the dining room was full of authentic Viking decor. If I had a horned helmet in my suitcase, this would have been the time to break it out!

Skál!

Day #2: Embark on your Golden Circle odyssey

Arrive at the Perlan just as it opens. Spend a few hours checking out their Glaciers Exhibition, Northern Lights Show, Lava Show, and observation deck. The 360 degree view of Reykjavik does not disappoint. This museum is the perfect launch pad for your next several days because it does a great job of orienting you to all that Iceland offers.

Once you’ve frosted yourself in the ice cave and enjoyed a tour of Iceland’s night skies, hop back in your compact and head out on the open road towards Thingvellir National Park. At this park you’ll visit the plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the Eurasian and North American plates separate. We donned our rain gear and took a brisk walk through the natural pathway between thrusting rock walls. Let me just say, you don’t need to be a geologist to feel a sense of awe.

From here, enjoy a beautiful landscape as you head towards Efstidalur II Farm, where a tasty lunch awaits. We had burgers again, because we were being economical and they were the most affordable option. They also happened to be juicy and delicious. Do NOT miss the ice cream. It’s frozen bliss from happy cows.

Take a few pics of the Icelandic ponies in the surrounding fields, and continue on towards Geysir Strokkur. This natural attraction is not far from parking and is worth the quick walk, as well as the quick wait for an eruption (usually occurring every 4-15 min). Keep your rain gear on — depending on the wind you may find yourself in the path of flying geothermal spray!

Ready to blow!

From here, daylight may allow you to continue towards Gulfoss, where an enormous waterfall thunders into the Hvítá River below. We wanted to have ample time to settle in and have soaking time, so we opted to hightail it to Gardur Stay Inn.

We LOVED our stay here. It was steps from the Secret Lagoon, and included bathrobes, pool shoes, and admission! There is a communal kitchen at the Inn, as well as snacks and hotdogs at the bistro inside the Lagoon reception area. It was hard not to fall straight to sleep after a nice evening soak, especially because the bed was super comfy and the bistro sells beer and wine which you can enjoy in the pool. (You’ll want to check the hours before arriving to ensure you have time to get your soak on.)

Day #3-4: Waterfalls, black sand, and a ferry ride to Westman Islands.

We love waterfalls, so we awoke before dawn and backtracked to see Gulfoss, which was a lovely way to start the day. I had grabbed a sub sandwich at the bistro the night before — which made for an easy picnic breakfast at the top of the falls —which we had all to ourselves at sunrise.

Afterwards, we doubled back towards the Secret Lagoon to enjoy one more soak before check-out, which was a wonderfully efficient way to warm up and let our rain gear dry. We stopped in the town of Fludir to gas up. We also picked up dehydrated soup, meat, cheese, and Ritz crackers at the Bonus store before making our way to Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrabui waterfalls.

Justin Bieber filmed a video here, which showcases the fall without the tourists (it was busy when we were there-and be prepared to pay for parking). Nonetheless, even if it’s crowded, it’s worth the stop. Once again, don your rain gear as the waterfall mist is real. And do chance getting your boots wet at Gljufrabui (the hidden waterfall just down the path from Seljalandsfoss). It’s soooo worth it!

Seljalandsfoss

From here, we hopped back into our silver Suzuki Swift and drove 15 minutes or so to Landeyjahofn, which is the ferry terminal for the boats which travel to Westman Islands (a.k.a. Vestmannaeyjar), which is an archipelago of 15 islands off the coast of South Iceland. Be sure to make a reservation for your boat far ahead of time, as in peak season they can be full. We accidentally arrived an hour earlier than planned, which was totally auspicious because there happened to be a beautiful, empty, black sand beach to explore. It was right next to the ferry and provided an incredible view of the islands waiting in the distance.

The 35 min ferry ride was stunning, especially because the sun and a rainbow were shining on us. We felt like we were arriving in another world as we disembarked onto the colorful island of Heimaey. We headed for the little tiny A-frame cabin we’d rented at Glamping and Camping. If you love a little adventure, this place will wow you! You have the option to rent some cozy bedding, and cook meals in the communal kitchen. There are shared bathrooms and showers (we went to the nearby community pool to shower, swim, slide, and soak). I cannot say enough about the view which sweeps from the sheer peek behind you out to the turbulent Atlantic Ocean. We stayed here two nights, which allowed us to really settle in and wander. On our last morning there were fluffy sheep wandering past the cabin!

For a small island, there are a lot of things to do. We visited Gott Restaurant, which offers an artistic vibe and exquisite dishes, I definitely would eat here again and again if I could. We also popped in to the harbor and enjoyed a buffet meal at Tanginn. The soups, bread, and various herb butters were off-the-charts tasty.

For activities, Eldheimar, Sea Life Trust, and the public swimming pool are all excellent choices. Eldheimar has a provocative photographic tour with headset that describes the 1973 eruption of Eldfell when the island of Heimaey was evacuated. At the Sea Life trust, you will view a pair of rescued beluga whales and a handful of puffins, and the public swimming pool has 4 hot tubs, a lap pool, and waterslides. There are also a variety of walks with jaw-dropping vistas that you won’t want to miss. Take your pick, the island is gorgeous no matter which way you look.

Day #5: Silica Hotel

Catch a late morning ferry off the island and head towards Grindavik. While this area had to temporarily close shortly after our visit due to volcanic activity, it is my truest wish for you that it has reopened by the time you are ready to visit. The Silica Hotel is posh and about as serene as you could possibly imagine.

After saving some pennies with a few days of glamping, we were ready to cap off our journey with a night of radical luxury. Upon arrival, we enjoyed a welcome drink in comfy chairs overlooking Silica’s very own turquoise lagoon. The room comes with bathrobes, sandals, and delightful body products to use before and after your trip into their steamy and calming oasis. A bowl filled with a pure white silica mask rests poolside, so as you glide past other masked bathers into the misty reaches of the lagoon, the effect is almost ghostly.

You can dine onsite, or travel across the road to the Northern Light Inn & Max’s Restaurant, as we did. In the morning, your included breakfast is both lavish and varied.

Day #6

Take time for one more soak before breakfast if you wish —or sleep late in a cloud of high count linen— then casually dine before checking out. Admission to the Blue Lagoon is also included with your stay, so we loaded up our Suzuki and travelled the short distance to this larger lagoon.

This is a wildly popular destination, and rightly so. Upon arrival you are given a waterproof wristband which will grant access to lockers, a swim up bar —and get this —a mask bar! Included with your Silica Hotel pass are 3 varying masks which you slather on and swim around with. When you are ready to rinse them off there are cold water fountains for this purpose. Make your way into the farthest corner of the lagoon, which is a designated quiet zone. If you have any worries left in your relaxed countenance, this is where they will simply drift away.

Oh, and lastly, be careful not to forget that this is the day you fly home! Be sure to check for any flight delays before you head out, as it’s only a 23 min drive to the airport, with a gas station on the way.

For us, we had a 7 hour direct flight back to Vancouver, and as we left at sunset, we chased orange and russet bands of color the whole way home, then landed at the “same time” as we left, given the 7 hour time change. It left us with a sense of perpetual glow, as do all our memories from this most epic vacation. Adventure is right there waiting for you — right alongside fuzzy bathrobes, light, laughter, and love.