Two week Iceland travel itinerary:
I know it says city guides (sorry for the deception) but I promise that everything we did in Reykjavik is below. The real beauty lies outside the city in my opinion, and that’s coming from a city girl. So make sure that your itinerary ventures out into nature.
The other planet like landscape, natural hot springs, powerful waterfalls, volcanoes, and glaciers has become immensely popular over the last few years. Iceland is one of a kind and easy to travel. In a country with more sheep than citizens you can’t drive faster than 90 km/h on the main roads. A two week trip is the ideal amount of time to experience the most of Iceland. Always keep an eye road.is to check if the roads are closed because of snow, wind, or any other weather conditions you’re bound to encounter.
Day 1: Arrival
We arrived at 6:45am and it took some time at the airport to go through customs, have our covid-19 tests checked, and renting our car. Because we visited at the end of October and beginning of November we decided we would need a 4x4 car. I would not recommend to start driving on day one, you’ll want to be well rested for the next days of driving ahead. After we secured our Dacia Duster (we quickly realized the car for tourists) we headed straight for the blue lagoon. Instead of staying in Reykjavik we stayed in the cute Hafnarfjörður, which was less expensive and closer to the volcano hike we planned on accomplishing the next day.
TO DO:
Blue lagoon: We were too early for our check in at our Airbnb so we decided to have some relaxation time at the blue lagoon. The lagoon is conveniently located 20 minutes from the airport so it was the perfect stop. Starting our trip off with a soak in the warm geothermal waters was one of the best decision we made all trip. We really enjoyed the silica face masks and swim-up bar. The lagoon is made up of 70% ocean water/ 30% freshwater and is enriched with silica, algae, and minerals. It’s said to heal, nourish, and rejuvenate the body and mind. This first day was the least amount of jet lag I have ever experienced and I’m chalking that up to the magical powers of the blue lagoon.
STAY:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/51409841 source_impression_id=p3_1636572601_3pYOmF87x8JfNlmY
EAT:
Brikk: An Icelandic chain offering pastries and coffee. We were all obsessed with the sourdough that came with your choice of spreads or as they called them “salads.”
RIF: Recommended by our airbnb host it was the perfect meal, relaxing environment and popular with the locals.
DAY 2: Fagradalsfjall Volcano
We were still a bit jet lagged this day so we spent most of the day planning for our big driving day, grocery shopping, and relaxing.
TO DO:
Hike volcano: The eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano started in March 2021. It took about one hour to arrive at the viewpoint. The trail is a little rocky and uneven, and does go uphill so bring some water and take it slow. We had no choice to take it slow because it was incredibly windy! So windy I could barely stand. We learned that October is the windiest month of the year in Iceland firsthand when we saw a few people topple over at the top of the volcano. Unfortunately it was no longer erupting but we could still feel the heat and see steam from the previous eruption.
EAT/ DRINK:
Pallet: The cutest cozy coffee shop with a small selection of pastries available. It’s right on the water and the coffee was one of the best of the entire trip.
DAY 3: Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is one of Iceland’s most popular routes. It is a route home to many popular attractions. If you only have a short time in Iceland I recommend spending the majority of your time in this area.
TO DO:
Reykajadalur- hot river hike: This hike was my favorite hike of the entire trip, the gorgeous sunny weather didn’t hurt either. The hike is about 2.5 miles each way. On the way to the river you’ll see several geothermal features. After about an hour of hiking we reached the thermal river. We were super relaxed, and melted into the rocks and mud.
Geysir: The geothermal area Haukadalur is most famous for the two geysers that are located there: Geysir and Strokkur. It’s also one of the most visited places in Iceland. Geysir is currently inactive and only erupts every few years. We visited at sunset and were lucky to see Strokkur erupt a few times. It erupts every 5 to 10 minutes. An absolute must see!
STAY:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/15574521?source_impression_id=p3_1636572653_f0VvNZDyFdVtx1Ax
DAY 4: Waterfalls
We started our day in a hot spring, ate an incredible tomato filled lunch, and then explored waterfalls around southern Iceland. It was an easy and relaxing day.
TO DO:
Hrunalang hot spring: One of my favorite hot springs. Picturesque and hot. We arrived early in the morning to avoid the crowds, which paid off. Make sure you pay the fee for the farmer near the parking lot.
Skógafoss is SO dramatic, and the birds flying all around really add to the atmosphere. Make sure you bring a rain coat if you plan one getting close to the waterfall the sheer power of the waterfall was incredible to experience.
Selalandsfoss is one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland, and for good reason. We followed a nice trail to all different views of the falls, and even walk behind it! The waterfall can be viewed from every angle which is very unique in Iceland. Don’t forget a rain coat even if it’s sunny, the spray from the falls can drench you quickly depending on the wind direction.
EAT:
Frioheimar: Iceland’s most unique tomato farm, offering lunch right inside the greenhouse. We ate tomato soup served with freshly baked bread and fought over the cucumber salsa. We also enjoyed a tomato salad with burrata and bloody Mary’s.
DAY 5: Vik
Our day started at Skool beans for coffee and a bagel in the small village of Vik. Vik is Iceland’s southernmost town and faces the open Atlantic Ocean, framed by a long beach of black volcanic sand. One of our favorite and most picturesque towns that we visited, definitely a must see stop.
TO DO:
Reynisfjara Beach is a beautiful stretch of coastline that is covered in black pebbles and sand. There are also some incredible basalt columns in this area that made for some great photos. This was one of my favorite stops on our road trip. Be mindful of the crazy sneaker waves at this beach, I ended up with a wet cold sock and it wasn’t the best feeling.
Dryholaey is a small peninsula with epic 360 views out to surrounding glaciers, coastline, mountains, and more. It is also famous for its picturesque rock arch and lighthouse perched on top.
Sólheimasandur plane wreck: The remains of a US Navy DC-3 are on a beautiful black sand beach. The hike (more like a walk) was a little boring and easy but it took a lot longer to complete than we thought (about 40 minutes each way).
Solheimajokull glacier: A quick hike/walk to the glacier is well worth it. Definitely the closest I’ve ever been to a glacier. We were able to walk around the lagoon to the mouth of the glacier and touch the ice.
EAT/DRINK:
Skool Beans: We loved this place so much, we went twice. Located inside a renovated school bus this unique local coffee shop was adorable. The staff were incredibly friendly and kind and the coffee was great! We bought little mugs as souvenirs and were ignored by Jeffery the coffee shops resident cat.
STAY:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/40633415source_impression_id=p3_1636572708_1%2FGQ4t%2BihRsyd1zu
DAY 6: Glacier & Hofn
We started the day in Vik with an early start and coffee at skool beans and ended the day in the fishing village of Hofn. The day included 3.5 hours of driving and lots of hiking, so be sure to start early. After hiking our tails off we settled for the night in Hofn and had the best meal of the trip and went to a local bar to enjoy some Christmas beers. All four of us agreed that this was our favorite day of the trip for obvious reasons.
TO DO:
Fjaorárgljúfur canyon also known as “the majestic canyon,” is an awesome first stop of the day to stretch your legs and see some of Iceland’s unique geology. A quick one mile round trip trail takes you along the top of its moss covered rocky cliffs and provides gorgeous views of the vibrant blue river below.
Skaftafell National Park is most known for the scenic Svartifoss, a basalt-columned waterfall at the base of Iceland’s largest glacier field, Svinafellsjokull Glacier. We chose to do a loop and first hiked up to the waterfall and then did a more challenging hike towards the glacier and then back down towards the visitor center. My second favorite hike of the trip (if there was a hot spring it would have been first).
Diamond Beach: Here, ice is taken out of the Jokulsarlon lagoon with the tide, then washed up on this stretch of coastline with the waves. There aren’t many places in the world where you can find ice on the beach, which makes this spot so unique. The amount of ice found on the beach will depend greatly on how much ice has fallen off the glacier recently and the current tide cycle.
Jökulsárlón lagoon is one of the most famous and beautiful places in Iceland. We walked around the lagoon and took beautiful sunset photos. A must see.
STAY:
Milk factory
EAT:
Otto Matur & Drykkur: One of the best meals we had in Iceland. Food was fresh and delicious. The service was also incredible our server went out of her way to make us feel welcome and taught us a bit about Icelandic food and culture. Make sure you make a reservation here, we made the mistake of not making one and we were cranky/hangry by the time the bread came out.
DAY 7: Eastern Fjords & Seydisfjordur
The Eastern Fjords make up a large region in eastern Iceland. This is the most beautiful and scenic drive day and we stopped a bunch of times whenever anything caught our eye. Take the driving slow and enjoy the views. Seydisfjordur is a quaint coastal town definitely worth checking out. A popular tourist attraction is the rainbow road leading to the town’s church, a symbol of Iceland’s progressive nature. This is also a great spot to grab a meal in town, enjoy the fjord views, and rest up.
TO DO:
Stokksness (also known as Vestrahorn). There’s an entrance fee of about 7.50 USD, but it’s well worth it. Sunrise is an absolute dream here if you can get your butt out of bed. After going to the bar on Halloween we couldn’t get our act together.
Foladafoss: A little detour off the ring road the blue water makes a very impressive contrast to the black basalt stones. We planned to stop here for lunch but it was way too windy so we ate our sandwiches in the car and enjoyed the view.
Hengifoss & Litlanesfoss: Hengifoss is the third highest waterfall in all Iceland and is famous for its cliffs. To reach it requires a steep 3 mile hike but if you don’t want to go the entire way to the base of Hengifoss, you can shave off a mile round trip by stopping at the bench viewpoint of Hengifoss above Litlanesfoss and turning around there. There are also restrooms and parking is free.
Explore Seydisfjordur: Located remotely in the Eastern Fjords of Iceland the town is home to only 700 residents and it’s filled with creative people. Surrounded by mountains on all sides it’s off the beaten path, but totally worth a stop. Seydisfjordur is most famous because of it’s connection with a famous artist, Dieter Roth, who had an art studio in the town; which drew other creatives to live here.
STAY:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/15350111?source_impression_id=p3_1636572742_22J2rYFEbsTt%2FM2p
EAT:
Skaftfell Bistro: The main reason I booked a night in Seydisfjordur was because of all of the great restaurants that would be available for the first time in awhile on the ring road. When we arrived on November 1st we realized that everything was closed for the season except for ONE restaurant. Without a lot of choice we went reluctantly to Skaftfell Bistro. We had a lovely time and tried local craft beers and delicious pizzas in an relaxed and artistic atmosphere.
DAY 8: Lake Myvatn
Known as the Northern Lights Capital of Iceland, the Myvatn area is home to Myvatn Lake- the fourth largest in Iceland and some landscapes that look literally out of this world. The whole region has an otherworldly feel to it with piles of lava stone suddenly approving on the landscape alongside craters. I wasn’t surprised to discover that this was one of the areas used for filming north of the wall in Game of Thrones.
TO DO:
Dettifoss is the second most powerful waterfall in all of Europe. You can view the falls from either the east or west side, but the west side is the more popular because of the restrooms, parking lot, and more manageable trails. There was a lot more snow than we were anticipating so once we made it to the waterfall we quickly turned around.
Hverir: Once here, you’ll soon realize why Iceland is named the land of fire and ice. Before stepping close enough to feel the heat from the geothermal area, you’ll be able to smell this place a mile before you arrive because it REEKS. We turned around pretty quickly because the smell was so nasty.
Gjotagja cave is a picturesque cave containing thermal water. It’s famous for the Season 3 scene of Game of Thrones. It’s no longer safe to bathe in the hot spring within the cave, but it’s well worth a quick visit.
Myvatn Nature Baths: Having walked through a snowstorm our reward for the afternoon was to warm our muscles in the geothermal waters of Myvatn Nature Baths. The baths are split into two main areas, one slightly cooler than the other, the cooler one has the better views. I however spent most of my time in the warmer pool, which has some rocky seats to lounge upon.
STAY:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/49037621?source_impression_id=p3_1636572777_BSicgMDWSYAnK9zj
DAY 9: Akureyri
is the second largest city in Iceland. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and shops in the city square to check out. At this point in the trip we were all getting tired so we spend this day recuperating and resting before the longest driving day of the trip.
TO DO:
Akureyri Botanical Gardens: Probably much more beautiful when in bloom, we walked around the snowy gardens and looked at the remains of what was once colorful in the fall.
EAT/DRINK:
Cafe Berlin: Our first brunch of the trip and it was delicious! The waffle was to die for!
Strikio: We went here for drinks and enjoyed a gorgeous view of the city and ocean.
Centrum: The best seafood/ lobster soup for sure! The fish was fresh and the atmosphere was casual and chill.
STAY:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/49037621?source_impression_id=p3_1636572777_BSicgMDWSYAnK9zj
DAY 10: Driving day
We spent almost the entire day in the car and only stopped twice. I thought I would spend most of the ride reading or sleeping, but the views were so spectacular I spent all of the trip gazing out the window.
TO DO:
Fosslaug: Nothing wakes you up quite like stripping down to your bathing suit, and getting into the water only to find it’s lukewarm at best. Changing back into my clothes in the snow and then braving the snowy hike back made me realize that we were probably to late in the season to enjoy this hot spring.
STAY:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/17494078?source_impression_id=p3_1636572834_TJn12vVGZWhCx1Uw
DAY 11: Snaefellsnes peninsula
Located in Western Iceland, the Snaefellsnes peninsula is home to waterfalls, lava fields, volcanoes, natural hot springs, Icelandic horses, massive cliffs, and small fishing villages. It contains almost everything Iceland is known for, hence it’s nickname “Miniature Iceland.”
TO DO:
Svörtuloft Lighthouse is a vibrant orange lighthouse at the western edge of the peninsula. There is also a short trail to the lighthouse, and it’s a great spot to grab some photos and enjoy the fresh sea air.
Saxhóll Crater: This was an easy stop along the way complete wit beautiful views at the top. At first it seemed like a pile of brown rocks but as we were going down the crater I was able to appreciate the geology a bit more. It wasn’t my favorite stop so if you’re short on time, it’s skippable.
Djupalónssandur beach: It felt like we stopped the car every few meters to get out and take in the views of the cliffs and ocean. This was a quick stop at another gorgeous black sand beach.
Kirkjufellsfoss is one of the most famous photography spots and has one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. The Kirkjufell mountain is the icon of the Snaefellsnes. There is a parking lot just on the side of the road so it’s easy to visit.
EAT:
Sker restaurant: We went here for lunch and all ordered seafood soup and fish and chips. It was cozy and modern and located in the cutest fishing village.
STAY:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/17494078?source_impression_id=p3_1636572834_TJn12vVGZWhCx1Uw
DAY 12: Travel to Reykjavik
On our way back to Reykjavik we made a few stops along the way. One of which was getting our Covid tests, which we thought this was going to be a 2-3 hour ordeal after looking how packed the parking lot was, but we were in and out in 15 minutes. The drive into the city was quick and easy.
TO DO:
Budir is a famous black church with dramatic mountain views. Mostly known as a photography spot, it was a nice little detour on our drive to Reykjavik.
Geðgberg cliffs: a row of perfectly shaped hexagonal basalt columns that run along a cliff. It was a bit muddy for a climb and we were slipping a bit. But definitely worth a quick stop to stretch your legs.
Hallgrímskirkja: One of the most iconic structures in Iceland. The church is named after an Icelandic preacher, and the structure is said to resemble the unique shapes and forms created when the lava cools into basalt rock. In front of the church is an impressive monument of Leif Erikson, the first European to land in North America. This church is undoubtedly different from other churches I’ve seen in Europe and definitely worth a peak inside. The church is free to enter; for 1000ISK, you can take an elevator to the top level. The panoramic view is a great way to see the city.
EAT/DRINK:
Reykjavik roasters: Probably the best and definitely our favorite coffee in the city. Their menu wasn’t in English and we felt bad making her translate the entire food section. So I just went with a bagel and lox, which was incredible, and called it a day. There are many different locations and we went to the one next to the church and it was eerily quiet, so if you want to talk I suggest taking your drinks to go.
Hi Noodle: After eating Icelandic food for 13 days we were ready to mix it up, and headed to eat some ramen. It’s a very small space so you may have to wait awhile for a seat, but it’s worth it. Highly suggest ordering the gyoza, they were 10/10.
Night life: Reykjavik is booming with more than 50 bars, lounges, and clubs all over it’s small downtown ares. They are all within walking distance which makes hoping around easy. Alcohol is very expensive in Iceland so the locals pregame at home with friends before heading out. We went to a happy hour at Bravo and then danced at the Kiki Club after. We headed out around midnight, which in Iceland is when people start showing up so it wasn’t crowded for us.
STAY:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/16893348?source_impression_id=p3_166572877_34CS0nJudHJC1dt8
DAY 13: Reykjavik
This was our worst weather day of the trip and we were starting wear down a little. We explored the city in the freezing rain and covered as much ground as possible, but we were cold, tired, and a little hungover, not the best combo.
TO DO:
Sun Voyager: Most believe it’s supposed to represent a Viking ship, however the artist Jon Gunnar intended it to be an ode to the sun, symbolizing light and hope. Throughout the day, the sun shines on various parts of the steel and gives beautiful reflections.
Harpa concert hall: A social and cultural center right in the heart of the city. Definitely worth a quick stop to check out the stunning architecture.
Shopping: The main shopping street is called Laugavegur. We popped into so many different shops checking out Christmas decorations and local souvenirs.
EAT/DRINK:
Kaktus Kaffi: Cute little coffee shop with tons of plants. The vibes were **chef kiss** They have a limited menu, but what they do offer was delicious.
STAY:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/16893348?source_impression_id=p3_1636572877_34CS0nJudHJC1dt8
DAY 14: Departure
Before leaving for the airport we went for a coffee and lunch. We had to return our rental car and wanted to be sure we had enough time to get through security and have our Covid tests reviewed. We arrived 3 hours before our flight which was a good idea because the lines were long and we still had enough time to shop.
EAT/DRINK:
Mokka Kaffi: The oldest coffee shop in Reykjavik, the coffee was okay, but the sweets were incredible.
Café Babalu: A cute café offering pastries, sandwiches, crepes, and soups. It was the perfect stop before heading to the airport because the sandwiches were huge.
Braud Bakery: The best bakery in the city in my opinion, the cinnamon buns were my favorites.
