With 3 EPIC 3 days in Iceland Itineraries to select from (plus journey ideas + extra!) – allow us to show you how to plan the proper Iceland stopover or mini-break!
Let me let you know immediately that it will be a disgrace for those who solely had 3 days in Iceland. This ruggedly stunning, wild nation has a lot to see and do this 2 weeks will not be sufficient to traverse by means of Iceland. But if 3 days are what you’ve gotten, whether or not or not it’s a deliberate weekend in Iceland or stopover journeys, listed here are 3 alternate choices to make one of the best of your time in Iceland.
These itinerary strategies would work properly in the course of the spring or summer time months with longer hours of daylight in Iceland.
The good half is whichever itinerary choice you select, Iceland won’t fail to impress. And if you may make extra time in Iceland, at the least 10 days or extra, then I extremely advocate the self-drive ring street itinerary for Iceland.
Disclaimer: Almost all posts on this website include Affiliate hyperlinks, and this one containing Itineraries for 3 Days in Iceland isn’t any completely different. This signifies that for those who click on on any of the hyperlinks on this submit (and make a purchase order) I could obtain a small fee at completely no price to you. Each submit is rigorously crafted to (hopefully!) reply all of your questions and suggestions are made the place we consider they may enhance your journey and assist together with your planning. As such we thanks upfront do you have to determine to click on & purchase. Read my full Disclosure right here.
– Iceland is topic to excessive climate swings. Use our Iceland Packing List for all seasons!
– You can drink the faucet water (even when it generally smells dangerous).
– Eating out is tremendous costly – however there are a number of Happy Hours in Reykjavik! and
– Park your automobile going through into the wind.
And if you wish to know extra, learn our 30+ ESSENTIAL Iceland Travel Tips right here.
3 Day Iceland Itinerary (Route 1) Explore Reykjavik and the favored Golden Circle
This itinerary combines the favored Golden Circle with Reykjavik and could be the primary selection for a first-time go to to Iceland.
It would additionally work in any season, even for those who go to Iceland in winter because of the proximity of the Golden Circle path to Reykjavik.
Day 1: Get into Reykjavik, in a single day keep at Reykjavik.
Reykjavik feels completely different from different European capital cities. It is compact in measurement and you’ll stroll round simply. You can cowl most points of interest in Reykjavik in a day. It is fashionable but not stuffed with boxy buildings.
Once you get into Reykjavik and examine into your resort, step out to discover the favored Hallgrimskirkja. This is the enduring church in Reykjavik that looms over most different buildings. This is the tallest church in Iceland, standing at 74.5 metres in top. You can climb up and get fantastic views of town throughout.
There are different points of interest to be explored in Reykjavik just like the Harpa live performance corridor and the Sun Voyager statue. You would stumble upon each these sights whereas strolling over the promenade on Saebraut Road.
If you might be travelling to Iceland with youngsters, they’d immensely take pleasure in a cease on the Perlan Museum. The Aurora present, the brief movie on volcanoes, and the ice tunnel are informative and gratifying for adults too. The remark deck offers you panoramic views of town beneath you.
Reykjavik being dwelling to greater than 60% of the inhabitants in Iceland has many high-end eating places and informal cafes, so do discover the Icelandic delicacies right here. It has a vibrant nightlife and music scene as properly.
Day 2: Drive to Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Hot Springs space and Gullfoss Waterfall, keep close to Golden Circle
Selfoss Waterfall, Thingvellir National Park
Most vacationers visiting Iceland for a brief trip take a small group tour to go to the Golden Circle from Reykjavik. You can lease a automobile (close to Keflavik International Airport) and do the self-drive choice for the subsequent 2 days.
Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Hot Springs space and Gulfoss Waterfall make the trio within the well-liked Golden Circle.
It is finest to stand up early and head to Thingvellir National Park on Day 2 of your Iceland itinerary. Being well-liked and near the capital, this nationwide park will get fairly crowded. But the place else would do you get to see the American and Eurasian tectonic plates drifting aside from one another?! There can also be a beautiful waterfall, Oxarafoss, which you can stroll as much as.
After Thingvellir, head to the Geysir geothermal space for a fast cease. The well-known Geysir itself is not lively, however you possibly can see Strokkur close by. The eruption of the Strokkur geyser happens each 6 to 10 minutes.
Make positive you persist with the strolling paths on this space. The water is extraordinarily sizzling and there’s a sulphur scent that you’d get used to (finally!). There are effervescent mud swimming pools and steam emanating within the surrounding space.
Gullfoss Waterfall
The final cease on the Golden Circle route is the well-known Gullfoss waterfall. Gullfoss is essentially the most visited waterfall in Iceland, partly attributable to its proximity to Reykjavik and partly due to its dramatic show. It contains 2 waterfalls, a shorter cascade of 11 metres after which a drop of about 21 metres.
The 3 stops plus the drive from Reykjavik would make this a protracted day, very doable in spring or summer time months. But Iceland in winter is a distinct matter. Driving is difficult and the brief daylight would make it tough to go to all the three stops in a day. They need to be unfold over 2 days. You ought to take into account staying in a single day close to Golden Circle.
Day 3: Visit the Blue Lagoon and again to Reykjavik, keep at Reykjavik or head to the airport relying in your flight timing
After a day exploring the Golden Circle, it’s time to loosen up and rejuvenate. You may drive to Grindavik to the well-known Blue Lagoon for that. Being well-liked, it will get very crowded in the course of the day. If you will get right here early within the morning, nothing prefer it. Soak within the geothermal water introduced over by a close-by spring.
You might want to pre-book your day go for Blue Lagoon. Also, take into account including lunch on the restaurant right here. After spending 2-3 hours stress-free at Blue Lagoon, it’s time to drive again to Reykjavik.
If your flight again house is that night, you’ll want to give again your rental automobile and take the taxi drop organised by your automobile rental firm to Keflavik International Airport.
If your flight again house is the subsequent morning, you must head again to Reykjavik, and examine once more right into a resort for an in a single day keep. Reykjavik has a vibrant nightlife. You may hit a number of the pubs at Laugavegur Street for drinks and dinner.
Iceland 3-day Itinerary (Route 2) Reykjavik and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Kirkjufell, Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Snaefellsnes Peninsula lies within the western a part of Iceland and is also known as the miniature model of Iceland. Driving by means of the scenic coastal areas of this peninsula mixed with the final day in Reykjavik would make for a beautiful 3 day Iceland itinerary.
This itinerary would work finest within the spring, summer time and autumn months.
Day 1: Get into Reykjavik and head to Snaefellsnes Peninsula, in a single day keep at Hellnar or Budir
After you get to Reykjavik, you might take into account taking a 2-day small group tour to Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Or simply lease a automobile, there are many choices out there close to Keflavik airport and head in the direction of Hellnar. There are many points of interest in West Iceland to be lined over 2 days.
If you might be into mountaineering, take into account a moderate-level hike to Glymur Waterfall, the second-highest waterfall in Iceland. You can view the Glymur Waterfall solely through a hike. Else head to Budir, which lies north of Reykjavik at a distance of about 180 km.
You may keep in a single day within the coastal city of Budir or Hellnar. Some of the points of interest that may be lined on Day 1 embody Ytri Tunga seal seaside, Budir black church, Bjarnarfoss (a waterfall positioned behind Budir), and Arnarstapi Cliffs.
As a plus, you get views of the Snaefellsjokull Glacier (a glacier-topped volcano!) from many components of your street journey.
Even greater than these sights in West Iceland, one of the best half about this space is the stunning panorama you stumble upon. Shoot
and click on at any level in Snaefellsnes Peninsula and it’s postcard-worthy!
Day 2: Explore extra of Snaefellsnes Peninsula, keep at Grindavik
One of Iceland’s oldest lava caves is a part of Snaefellsnes National Park. You must pre-book a tour to go to Vatnashellir Lava Cave. After this tour, drive additional to discover the Saxholar volcano crater, Londrangar basalt cliffs, and the lava fields of Djupalonssandur. And lastly, drive to essentially the most photographed mountain in Iceland – Kirkjufell (pictured above) and the close by Kirkjufellfoss.
Londrangar basalt cliffs
You may keep the second evening in your resort in Budir or Hellnar and have a relaxed night. Or if time permits, and that is fairly potential in summer time months with lengthy hours of daylight, you might head to Grindavik and keep near Blue Lagoon.
Soaking your fatigue within the geothermal water of Blue Lagoon after a protracted day of sightseeing is a superb thought. It is open till midnight in the summertime months and also you get much less crowded within the late hours.
Day 3: Head again to Reykjavik, keep at Reykjavik or head to the airport relying in your flight timing
The final day of your Iceland 3-day itinerary is so that you can drive again to Reykjavik. Enjoy the capital of Iceland on foot on Day 3 exploring the completely different sights and neighbourhoods right here (see the issues to do in Reykjavik from Itinerary choice 1).
Iceland in 3 Days (Route 3) Reykjavik and the South Coast of Iceland
The south coast of Iceland is immensely well-liked for a cause. There are numerous South Coast highlights to go to plus many actions that you just get to do right here. So combining the south coast points of interest with a day in Reykjavik makes for a very good itinerary for 3 Days in Iceland.
This itinerary would work finest within the spring, summer time and autumn months.
Day 1: Get into Reykjavik and head in the direction of Vik, keep in Vik
Once you get into Reykjavik, you might take into account a 2-day tour to the South Coast of Iceland.
This is a well-liked spot and there are a lot of tour choices out there. I really feel {that a} at some point tour is kind of wasted for the picturesque south coast. Better but, you might lease a automobile in Iceland close to to the worldwide airport and head within the course of Vik.
Vik is on the ring street of Iceland, about 190 km south-east of Reykjavik. It makes for a very good in a single day base to discover the South coast points of interest. You may take into account checking into your resort or house in Vik first after which seeing these sights, or see a few of them in your strategy to Vik.
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Seljalandsfoss waterfall and Skogafoss waterfall are 2 of essentially the most well-known Iceland waterfalls which can be proper on Route 1 or the Ring Road. You would attain them earlier than you get into Vik.
Seljalandsfoss is likely one of the few waterfalls in Iceland the place you’ve gotten a transparent path to get behind the waterfall. Make positive you might be carrying rain gear to keep away from getting drenched.
Skogafoss is gorgeous and visual even from the principle street. But wait until you get nearer to this waterfall. The mist is unbelievable.
Also price exploring on Day 1 of your Iceland itinerary is the well-known black sand seaside, Reynisfjara with its tall basalt columns and the rock formations close by within the ocean. Beware of the robust present within the ocean, it’s best to not get into the water.
You can drive as much as Dyrholaey Peninsula to get beautiful views of this seaside and in addition of the Atlantic Ocean, the place there’s a beautiful lighthouse on high of the peninsula.
Day 2: Explore extra of the South coast of Iceland, keep in a single day in Vik
Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon
There are too many issues to do in 2 days on the south coast of Iceland, so you would need to select. But I extremely advocate a glacier hike to the biggest glacier in Iceland, the Vatnajokull. This glacier hike, or a hike on the close by Solheimajokull glacier, can’t be executed and not using a tour information and a few gear like crampons and ice picks. So it’s best to pre-book
your glacier hike.
You can even guide a kayaking tour, or a ship tour to Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. Large iceberg chunks which have damaged off from the glacier float on this lagoon earlier than stepping into the Atlantic Ocean.
And you probably have a while left on the second day, be certain that to move to Diamond Beach. Ice chunks glinting towards the black sands of a seaside just isn’t one thing that you just get to see in every single place!
Day 3: Drive again to Reykjavik, keep at Reykjavik or head to the airport relying in your flight timing
Drive again to Reykjavik through the identical route from Vik. Spend the final day of your Iceland 3-day itinerary strolling across the metropolis (see the issues to do in Reykjavik from Itinerary choice 1).
And that’s a wrap people – our 3 Epic Itineraries for 3 Days in Iceland. We hope we’ve got helped you propose your Iceland journey. And for those who preferred this Iceland journey information – or have mates that need assistance with their journey planning – make sure you share this submit with them!
Reynisfjara seaside
READY FOR MORE EUROPE TRAVEL INSPIRATION? YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THESE TRAVEL TIPS, TRAVEL HACKS, TRAVEL ARTICLES, TRAVEL DESTINATIONS GUIDES, SOLO TRAVEL GUIDES, TRAVELER RESOURCES, AND RELATED POSTS ABOUT OTHER BEAUTIFUL CITIES IN EUROPE TO HELP YOU EXPLORE EUROPE AND TRAVEL THE WORLD:
Hi There! Thanks for studying our journey information to the proper 3 Days in Iceland Itinerary and Travel Tips. I simply wished to let that this submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks, which suggests if you buy one thing after clicking a hyperlink, I could get a small fee – which is at completely no price to you. If you loved this text and are going to be trying to find a number of the issues I point out anyway, I might find it irresistible for those who may click on by means of from the hyperlinks above & thanks upfront! Read my full Disclosure right here.
And an enormous Thank You for studying the MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld journey weblog.