With 3 EPIC 3 days in Iceland Itineraries to select from (plus journey ideas + extra!) – allow us to assist you to plan the proper Iceland stopover or mini-break!
Let me let you know immediately that it might be a disgrace in case you solely had 3 days in Iceland. This ruggedly lovely, wild nation has a lot to see and do this 2 weeks usually are not sufficient to traverse by Iceland. But when 3 days are what you might have, whether or not it’s a deliberate weekend in Iceland or stopover journeys, listed below are 3 alternate choices to make one of the best of your time in Iceland.
These itinerary strategies would work nicely in the course of the spring or summer season months with longer hours of daylight in Iceland.
The nice half is whichever itinerary possibility you select, Iceland is not going to fail to impress. And if you can also make extra time in Iceland, a minimum of 10 days or extra, then I extremely suggest the self-drive ring street itinerary for Iceland.
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– Iceland is topic to excessive climate swings. Use our Iceland Packing Checklist for all seasons!
– You possibly can drink the faucet water (even when it typically smells dangerous).
– Consuming out is tremendous costly – however there are a number of Comfortable Hours in Reykjavik! and
– Park your automobile dealing with into the wind.
And if you wish to know extra, learn our 30+ ESSENTIAL Iceland Journey Suggestions right here.
3 Day Iceland Itinerary (Route 1) Discover Reykjavik and the favored Golden Circle
This itinerary combines the favored Golden Circle with Reykjavik and can be the primary alternative for a first-time go to to Iceland.
It will additionally work in any season, even in case you go to Iceland in winter as a result of proximity of the Golden Circle path to Reykjavik.
Day 1: Get into Reykjavik, in a single day keep at Reykjavik.
Reykjavik feels totally different from different European capital cities. It’s compact in measurement and you’ll stroll round simply. You possibly can cowl most sights in Reykjavik in a day. It’s trendy but not stuffed with boxy buildings.
When you get into Reykjavik and test into your lodge, step out to discover the favored Hallgrimskirkja. That is the long-lasting church in Reykjavik that looms over most different buildings. That is the tallest church in Iceland, standing at 74.5 metres in top. You possibly can climb up and get fantastic views of the town throughout.
There are different sights to be explored in Reykjavik just like the Harpa live performance corridor and the Solar Voyager statue. You’ll come across each these sights whereas strolling over the promenade on Saebraut Street.
In case you are travelling to Iceland with youngsters, they’d immensely get pleasure from a cease on the Perlan Museum. The Aurora present, the quick movie on volcanoes, and the ice tunnel are informative and fulfilling for adults too. The statement deck offers you panoramic views of the town beneath you.
Reykjavik being residence 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 nicely.
Day 2: Drive to Thingvellir Nationwide Park, Geysir Sizzling Springs space and Gullfoss Waterfall, keep close to Golden Circle
Selfoss Waterfall, Thingvellir Nationwide Park
Most vacationers visiting Iceland for a brief trip take a small group tour to go to the Golden Circle from Reykjavik. You possibly can lease a automobile (close to Keflavik Worldwide Airport) and do the self-drive possibility for the following 2 days.
Thingvellir Nationwide Park, Geysir Sizzling Springs space and Gulfoss Waterfall make the trio within the in style Golden Circle.
It’s best to rise up early and head to Thingvellir Nationwide Park on Day 2 of your Iceland itinerary. Being in style and near the capital, this nationwide park will get fairly crowded. However the place else would do you get to see the American and Eurasian tectonic plates drifting other than one another?! There’s additionally a stunning waterfall, Oxarafoss, 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.
Be sure to stick with the strolling paths on this space. The water is extraordinarily sizzling and there’s a sulphur odor that you’d get used to (ultimately!). 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 probably the most visited waterfall in Iceland, partly attributable to its proximity to Reykjavik and partly due to its dramatic show. It includes 2 waterfalls, a shorter cascade of 11 metres after which a drop of about 21 metres.
The three stops plus the drive from Reykjavik would make this a protracted day, very doable in spring or summer season months. However Iceland in winter is a distinct matter. Driving is difficult and the quick sunlight hours would make it tough to go to all the three stops in a day. They should be unfold over 2 days. It is best to take into account staying in a single day close to Golden Circle.
Day 3: Go to 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 chill out and rejuvenate. You can drive to Grindavik to the well-known Blue Lagoon for that. Being in style, it will get very crowded in the course of the day. If you may get right here early within the morning, nothing prefer it. Soak within the geothermal water introduced over by a close-by spring.
You’ll need to pre-book your day cross for Blue Lagoon. Additionally, 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.
In case your flight again house is that night, you should give again your rental automobile and take the taxi drop organised by your automobile rental firm to Keflavik Worldwide Airport.
In case your flight again house is the following morning, you must head again to Reykjavik, and test once more right into a lodge for an in a single day keep. Reykjavik has a vibrant nightlife. You can hit a few of the pubs at Laugavegur Road 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 the scenic coastal areas of this peninsula mixed with the final day in Reykjavik would make for a stunning 3 day Iceland itinerary.
This itinerary would work greatest within the spring, summer season 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 could possibly take into account taking a 2-day small group tour to Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Or simply lease a automobile, there are many choices obtainable close to Keflavik airport and head in the direction of Hellnar. There are lots of sights in West Iceland to be coated over 2 days.
In case you are into mountaineering, take into account a moderate-level hike to Glymur Waterfall, the second-highest waterfall in Iceland. You possibly 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 can keep in a single day within the coastal city of Budir or Hellnar. A number of the sights that may be coated 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 elements of your street journey.
Much more than these sights in West Iceland, one of the best half about this space is the stunning panorama you come across. Shoot
and click on at any level in Snaefellsnes Peninsula and it’s postcard-worthy!
Day 2: Discover extra of Snaefellsnes Peninsula, keep at Grindavik
One in every of Iceland’s oldest lava caves is a part of Snaefellsnes Nationwide Park. It’s essential 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 at last, drive to probably the most photographed mountain in Iceland – Kirkjufell (pictured above) and the close by Kirkjufellfoss.
Londrangar basalt cliffs
You can keep the second night time in your lodge in Budir or Hellnar and have a relaxed night. Or if time permits, and that is fairly potential in summer season months with lengthy hours of daylight, you could possibly 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’s 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. Benefit from the capital of Iceland on foot on Day 3 exploring the totally different sights and neighbourhoods right here (see the issues to do in Reykjavik from Itinerary possibility 1).
Iceland in 3 Days (Route 3) Reykjavik and the South Coast of Iceland
The south coast of Iceland is immensely in style for a motive. There are a selection of South Coast highlights to go to plus many actions that you just get to do right here. So combining the south coast sights with a day in Reykjavik makes for an excellent itinerary for 3 Days in Iceland.
This itinerary would work greatest within the spring, summer season and autumn months.
Day 1: Get into Reykjavik and head in the direction of Vik, keep in Vik
When you get into Reykjavik, you could possibly take into account a 2-day tour to the South Coast of Iceland.
This can be a in style spot and there are a lot of tour choices obtainable. I really feel {that a} in the future tour is kind of wasted for the picturesque south coast. Higher but, you could possibly lease a automobile in Iceland close to to the worldwide airport and head within the route of Vik.
Vik is on the ring street of Iceland, about 190 km south-east of Reykjavik. It makes for an excellent in a single day base to discover the South coast sights. You can take into account checking into your lodge or residence in Vik first after which seeing these sights, or see a few of them in your option to Vik.
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Seljalandsfoss waterfall and Skogafoss waterfall are 2 of probably the most well-known Iceland waterfalls which are proper on Route 1 or the Ring Street. You’ll attain them earlier than you get into Vik.
Seljalandsfoss is without doubt one of the few waterfalls in Iceland the place you might have a transparent path to get behind the waterfall. Be sure to are carrying rain gear to keep away from getting drenched.
Skogafoss is gorgeous and visual even from the principle street. However wait until you get nearer to this waterfall. The mist is unbelievable.
Additionally value 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. Watch out for the sturdy present within the ocean, it’s best to not get into the water.
You possibly 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 pretty lighthouse on prime of the peninsula.
Day 2: Discover 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. However I extremely suggest 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 finished with out a tour information and a few gear like crampons and ice picks. So it’s best to pre-book
your glacier hike.
You may also ebook a kayaking tour, or a ship tour to Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. Giant iceberg chunks which have damaged off from the glacier float on this lagoon earlier than moving into the Atlantic Ocean.
And when you have a while left on the second day, be sure that to move to Diamond Seaside. Ice chunks glinting in opposition to the black sands of a seaside will not be one thing that you just get to see in all places!
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 possibility 1).
And that’s a wrap of us – our 3 Epic Itineraries for 3 Days in Iceland. We hope now we have helped you intend your Iceland journey. And in case you appreciated this Iceland journey information – or have associates that need assistance with their journey planning – you’ll want to share this put up with them!
Reynisfjara seaside
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