When I think of Iceland I think of exploring majestic glaciers, cascading waterfalls, and shimmering glass beaches. You can see a waterfall, a black sand beach, and glaciers all in one day! It is incredible the natural beauty this country offers. This comprehensive guide features a four-day itinerary, recommended accommodations, tips on driving in Iceland, what to bring, mistakes I made, and insider tips on discovering the hidden gem Gljúfrabúi waterfall, nestled just a few hundred meters north of Seljalandsfoss.

When to Visit

This is the big question everyone wants to know: when is the best time to go? The answer depends on what you are looking for. Looking for Northern Lights? The optimal time would be late September to late March. If you visit in these months, prepare for darker, chilly days. Do you want to hike, experience the midnight sun, or see Puffins? The time frame would be June to August as this gives you the best chances for good weather and roughly 23 hours of sunlight. Ultimately when you go depends on what you want to see and do.

When I visited during the first week of July, four out of five days were gray, cloudy, and rainy with strong winds. It wasn’t until the last full day that the sun finally appeared, which made a difference. If you have the option, I recommend staying longer than four full days to increase your chances of having good weather. No matter when you visit, be prepared for sudden changes in weather. During the summer months, it’s common for sunny skies to quickly shift to rain within a few hours, which is typical in Iceland. On our drive back from the Black Sand Beach to the Magma Hotel, a rainstorm hit unexpectedly. Thankfully, we knew where the windshield wipers were located, so make sure to check that your wipers are functioning before setting out, just in case of sudden rain.

How Long Do I need in iceland

One week is the typical suggestion for Iceland, though it is manageable for less than that. Ideally you could spend 2 to 3 weeks exploring the whole country, though that is not always an option.

Four days is enough time to experience a lot—provided you’re ready for action-packed days. While a longer trip would allow for even more adventures, four days was sufficient to cover a diverse range of landmarks, hikes, and natural wonders. Iceland quickly became one of my favorite destinations, and I can’t wait to return for a longer adventure.

Day 1: Reykjavik Sights and Almannagjá Hike

Most flights from the U.S. or Canada tend to arrive in the morning, while flights from Europe and Asia typically land in the afternoon. When I landed in Keflavík around 8:00 am, I had about eight hours to myself before my boyfriend’s flight was due. I decided to take the Flybus, which conveniently departs right outside the airport, to the BSI terminal in Reykjavik.

I had booked my ticket the night before and made sure to save a screenshot of the QR code, just in case I ran into any service issues upon arrival (though my service ended up working fine). You can easily reserve a seat and find more details about the Flybus on their website. To board the bus, head to the parking lot next to the airport. If you’re unsure, feel free to ask an airport staff member for directions—they were very helpful in pointing me towards the right lot.

After you exit the bus, walk into the bus terminal and straight out the doors to the backside of the terminal. Immediately to the left is a luggage storage drop off. Follow the instructions on the screen, place your items in the locker, and pay. There are restrooms inside the BSI terminal for a small fee, I believe it was around $1 USD.  

I didn’t want to take a taxi so I decided to enjoy a walk into the city center. It is about a 15 minute walk into Reykjavik, and the walk allowed me to explore the beautiful park, lake, and neighborhood just outside the city. 

Tip: On the way into town stop by City Hall to see a 3D printed model of Iceland! The reception staff was also incredibly helpful with advice on where I could eat or things to see. There are tables and chairs, which provided shelter as it started pouring rain, and restrooms which are open to the public. 

I had breakfast at BakaBaka and grabbed a cinnamon roll to go, as this along with Brauð & Co., were two spots I wanted to grab a pastry from. I loved BakaBaka as it was the perfect atmosphere for a gloomy morning. The cozy atmosphere made for a perfect place to figure out my plan for the day.

Make your way to Rainbow Row and walk the rainbow leading you to Hallgrimskirkja. It is free to enter and admire the church from the pews. More on this later. The streets surrounding Rainbow Row are home to adorable cafes, clothing stores, and gift shops. Be sure to stroll along the shops on Hverfisgata street. 

There is a grocery store in town, called Bonus, that’s fun to peek in and buy some Icelandic licorice. One thing I learned is that it’s uncommon, and rare, to buy plastic water bottles and often hard to find as many people drink straight from the tap. Bottled water is possible to find, though expensive and note most restaurants will give you tap water. I had heard Icelandic licorice is a must-try and I have to say, I didn’t like it- it was too salty.

For one more road trip snack, I grabbed a cinnamon roll at Brauð & Co. This bakery was charming though did not have any seating. This cinnamon roll I prefer to the one I had at BakaBaka.

Walk alongside the Reykjavik Harbor stopping by Harpa concert hall, Sun Voyager, and Höfði Lighthouse. 

After a coupe hours of exploring, it started to rain again and I decided it was time for a break, and stopped for a crepe and a hot chocolate at Cafe Babalu. This cafe was so unique- the walls upstairs were scattered with posters and frames from around the world it seemed. There is plenty of seating upstairs and downstairs and was the perfect spot to hang out.

Tip* Visit a geothermal hot spring like Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon. 

You can see most of Reykjavik in a couple hours; don’t spend too much time here. I saw Reykjavik in about 2 hours and that was taking my time and walking extra to visit the lighthouse which is a little further out than the concert hall. You can move the Reykjavik exploring to the end of the trip (in our case Friday) if you want to get straight into waterfall chasing!

Once my boyfriend landed, secured the rental car, and picked me up from the BSI terminal, we headed to dinner at Tommi’s, or Hamborgarabúlla Tómasar in Icelandic, located at Ofanleiti, 103 Reykjavík, Iceland.

The burgers here were absolutely delicious—easily one of my favorite meals in Iceland. They were reasonably priced, packed with flavor, and the perfect quick stop before heading out on our hike.

Almannagjá Hike

After dinner we drove straight to Almannagjá to hike Almannagjá and Lögberg. This is the hike we did. We didn’t start the hike until 8:30pm, and the late start meant we had the entire park to ourselves, which was surreal. Looking back, I wish we had embraced “chasing the midnight sun” —more on that below—and adjusted our schedule to hike at night and rest during the day. The weather on that first day was rainy and cold, so layering up was essential. A good rain jacket and waterproof shoes made all the difference, and I suspect the poor weather was why we didn’t see anyone else on the trail.

After our hike we drove straight to our hotel (more on where to stay below) as it was already 10:00 pm.

Day 2: Gullfoss, Bread Baking, Strokkur, Kirkjufell, Bruarfoss

Day 2 was action-packed and full of adventure! We started our day early and headed out around 8:00 am to drive to Gullfoss. This is the hike explored. It is a quick one mile hike out to large, beautiful waterfall. The speed of the water and the sound the water was such an incredible experience. If you decide to walk down the path to get close to the waterfall, you will absolutely need waterproof shoes, pants, and a jacket as the water is extremely powerful. The day we visited was raining, so even in the summer it can rain so be prepared! A safe rule is to always bring a rain jacket on the hike as you never know when it will start raining. If you stay at the top look-out point, the water shouldn’t touch you. This parking lot was free to park. 

Gullfoss

After Gullfoss we headed to Laugarvatn Fontana for a Geothermal Bread Baking Experience linked here. Flavu was our instructor and he was hilarious! We learned all about the process of geothermal baking, watched him demonstrate the process at one of the bread sites outside, and had a sample of the bread at the end of the class. The facility was very clean, offered restrooms, a restaurant, and even an outdoor pool. 

Bread Baking

We wanted to see Strokkur Geyser but the parking lot was closed and we didn’t see a good place to park on the street so had to skip this. The Geyser is only a ten minute drive from Gullfoss and would recommend adding it to your list. 

Next we embarked on the drive to Kirkjufell. With no stops, the drive takes about 3 hours. We had this “hike” as our destination in Apple Maps, though it really was a short walk from the parking lot to the waterfall. This parking lot does require payment, though can be done by phone, as most lots do not have a ticketing station. Failure to pay the parking fees can result in fines. While the drive seems intimidating at first, it is a gorgeous drive along the coast and the three hours flew by. We had very rainy and gloomy weather this morning though the drive was worth it. I imagine it would be even prettier on a sunny day or with the midnight sun illuminating Kirkjufell. We had planned to visit this Svöðufoss hike, but with our last-minute decision to go to the bread baking class, we decided to skip. 

Kirkjufell

Next we drove to Bruarfoss and used this hike as guidance. It is a rather short hike, about .7 miles out-and-back. There is a gravel road that takes you to the car park (the parking lot does require payment). We were cautious to drive on the gravel but it turned out to be no problem as we went very slow.  This waterfall was one of my favorites!

The water was the most beautiful, clear blue and the way the water cascaded down was incredible. I could not believe the colors I was seeing-this is absolutely a must see. By the time we arrived at Bruarfoss it was about 9:00 pm and we debated even going because we were tired. I am so glad we pushed through. Going late meant, yet again, the place was empty.

Bruarfoss

Day 3: Vík, Diamond Beach, Múlagljúfur Canyon, Svartifoss, Magnúsarfoss, and Hundafoss

We checked out of the hotel and started the drive for the South Coast. The drive from Hótel Laugarvatn to Diamond beach is just under 4.5 hours. Our first stop was Diamond Beach. Along the way, I noticed a beautiful church perched atop a hill in the distance. As we approached, a town emerged and I had a clearer view of the church. I knew we would need to stop on the way back as the church was too cute to pass up seeing. While you can drive up to the church in Vík for breathtaking views of the area, we saved that for the return trip since we were pressed for time (more on that later).

Vík

We arrived at Diamond Beach, parked the car, and explored the area. The car park does require payment, and paying by phone is simple and easy to do as the screens have step by step instructions. There are free restrooms and a couple food establishments in the neighboring parking lot. I had never seen anything like Diamond Beach nor icebergs and glaciers up close. While the drive is far, it is absolutely worth it. 

Diamond Beach

We wrapped up at the Beach and made our way to our first hike of the day. We drove to Múlagljúfur Canyon and hiked this trail. This is by far the best hike I have ever done. The scenery, the colors, the waterfalls, the animals, the tranquility, the glacier peeking through the lush green mountain, nothing I have hiked before can compare to this. The hike is about 3.6 miles and took us about 4 hours in total as we stopped frequently and continued climbing beyond the hike’s end point. You can keep climbing the trail to get higher, and as you do you will see a glacier in the near distance! Múlagljúfur was truly one of the most magical, unreal landscapes I have seen. 

Múlagljúfur Canyon

Since we took longer at Diamond Beach and at Múlagljúfur, we opted to only do one more hike after Múlagljúfur even though we planned for two. By this point we were tired, as a 4.5 hour road trip plus a 3.6 mile hike took a lot out of us. We drove to Svartifoss and hiked this trail (includes Svartifoss – Magnúsarfoss – Hundafoss along the same route). We were pretty exhausted from the hike we just did but I am so glad we persevered and went to Svartifoss. It was mostly uphill on the way there but worth it once we got there. The waterfall is shouldered by these wood-like slats of earth and it is so unique! In the parking lot, we saw some cute sheep roaming the grounds. The parking lot did require payment and had free restrooms. There is a campsite next door and many people were camping- would be a great spot to do so as there are so many great hikes nearby!

Svartifoss

Driving up to the hotel was felt unreal; it was around 10:00pm, the sun was starting to set, and the sky was a beautiful mixture of colors. This was one of my all time favorite hotels. See more about the stay below. 

Day 4: Fjaðrárgljúfur, Reynisfjara, Dyrhólaey, Kvernufoss, Skogafoss, Seljalandsfoss, and Reykjavík

Our final full day in Iceland began with a delightful breakfast at the Magma Hotel. It was, without a doubt, the best hotel breakfast I’ve experienced. The spread featured an array of fresh fruit, meats, pastries, homemade bread, juices, coffee, and more. Some of the cottages have a stunning view of the lake, while across the road, we caught sight of beautiful horses.

It was time to drive out to hike Fjaðrárgljúfur. This is one hike I would say is okay to skip. After hiking Múlagljúfur, this hike didn’t impress me. It is a beautiful hike, quick, short and a good option if you can’t visit Múlagljúfur.

Fjaðrárgljúfur

On our way to Reynisfjara Beach we made a stop back in Vík. This time we drove up to the hilltop church and the views were stunning.

We next drove to Reynisfjara Beach. We ended up on the wrong side of the beach as our intention was to walk on the beach but we drove to the side that has no access. You can read more about my tips below in the “Mistakes Made” section. We made our way to Dyrhólaey which was beautiful. There is a visitor center in the free parking lot which has restrooms for a cost. 

Reynisfjara Beach and Dyrhólaey

After the beach, we drove to Kvernufoss. This waterfall is severely underrated. There is a small river that leads you to the waterfall which is situated between lush greenery. This day was the only full sunny day we had and that truly made all the difference. The blue sky paired with the green mountain and the glistening waterfall provided incredible photos. This waterfall wasn’t too busy and we had no other tourists there for a while which was amazing for photos. This is the short hike we followed. 

Kvernufoss

Next we headed to Skogafoss. This is one of the most well known and photographed waterfalls in Iceland. You have likely seen it if you googled “things to see in Iceland”. The waterfall stands at 60 meters or 197 feet tall! There is a large parking lot, though it was getting full by the time we arrived, which was around noon, and many tour buses had shown up. And as you walk to the waterfall you will notice a large set of stairs. Take the stairs up and you will get a really incredible view of the top of the waterfall and of the sea.

This hike is a great option if you have the time and want to explore the area more. If you want to get close to the waterfall, be warned it is best to have on your raincoat, rain pants, and shoes and this waterfall will leave you very wet. 

The next stop was Seljalandsfoss, another famous and well-known waterfall. This parking lot was much smaller and a lot busier than the others. This parking lot does require payment. Between tour buses, vans, and other cars it was very crowded. There are free restrooms next to the parking lot along with a small food stand. This is the hike we followed, though I would classify this as a walk as it was mostly flat and rather short. This is another waterfall where you will want to put on your rain gear as walking behind the waterfall is a must do and will leave you very wet. This waterfall is amazing during the midnight sun, so if you get a chance to visit do so in the evening!

So how do you get to the not so secret “secret” waterfall? The secret waterfall is called Gljúfrabúi, located around the corner from Seljalandsfoss. There is the main path that you stand on when looking directly at Seljalandsfoss. Turn to the left and follow the path towards Gljúfrabúi. You will need to walk through water to get to the famous rock people stand on. While I don’t advise standing on the rock, people did, though it is very slippery so be very careful. 

The last thing on the itinerary was driving to Reykjavík. Parking on the streets do require payment and can be tricky to find so I suggest finding parking on the outside of town and walking in. Read more about what to do in Reykjavík on my other blog post. Experiencing an Icelandic hot dog was on many blogs and people’s “must see” lists. While it was good, I feel the Icelandic hot dog was overhyped and is something that could be skipped.

You can go to the top of Hallgrimskirkja for $10 (at the time of visit in July the price was around $10). I highly recommend going up to the church as the views are beautiful even on a slightly cloudy day. 

Have more time? Consider stopping by Perlan which is an interactive nature museum near Reykjavík. Visit their website here. 

Day 5: Saying goodbye

We both had early flights out so we returned the car early and headed to the airport. It is a small airport so the standard arrival advice of two or three hours is more than enough time. There are limited food options at this airport and I found it helpful to come with snacks.

You will note I did not recommend the Golden Circle as I believe there are so many more spots to see outside the Golden Circle. So many of these amazing sites I experienced were not part of the Golden Circle. While the drive time is long, breaking it up at viewpoints along the way is worth it. 

Where to Stay 

BOOK Hótel Laugarvatn

The first hotel stay was at Hótel Laugarvatn, Dalbraut 10, 840 Laugarvatn, Iceland in the Thingvellir National Park area. 

This hotel isn’t a far drive from the airport. This location was great since we were coming from Thingvellir National Park and was a convenient drive. The hotel let us check in very, very late and the check in process was easy over the phone. We only checked in over the phone since we were arriving after standard check in time. If you also require late check in, give the front desk a call before 9:00 pm. The room was modest and had everything we needed and included free parking. The hotel does offer breakfast at an additional cost. There are not many food options in the area, so bring snacks in case you arrive late/ after the restaurant closes.

Magma Hotel

Book Magma Hotel

Magma Hotel was one of my favorite hotels I have stayed at. The breakfast, the location, the aesthetic were unmatched. The property has 25 rooms situated on a beautiful, serene plot of land. The property was absolutely stunning. We arrived/checked in just about sunset, around 10:00 pm, and there was a golden glow to the property and made it feel so magical. The hotel breakfast was fresh and fully stocked with meats, fruits, breads, juice, and coffee. The location was a perfect stop on the way to the south coast. 

What to Bring to Iceland

The biggest takeaway from this packing list is bring a rain jacket everywhere you go, and ideally waterproof shoes. This ensures you are prepared in the event of a sudden change in weather.

Raincoat– Even in the summer a raincoat is essential. Assuming no rain, you will be near water from waterfalls and a proper raincoat is needed. There are many waterfalls where you can get very close and you will want proper protection. 

Waterproof hiking boots– These are the boots I purchased for the trip (non commissionable link) and I highly recommend. These were the only shoes I brought with me to Iceland and wore them everyday. Any waterproof boot will do- be sure to test out before you go as you do not want to learn the shoe fails you once in Iceland. 

Wool base layers– A wool base layer is a great option to keep you warm and is sweat-proof. Even in summer, it can be chilly on hikes, and a base layer is a good idea. In July, I wore a wool base shirt, a wool sweater, and a rain jacket and that was sufficient. 

Hat– The sun, when out, can beat down on you during your hike and you will want to have some sun protection. 

Waterproof pants– These are also essential as some waterfalls will blast you and you will end up soaked without the proper clothing. 

Snacks– Sometimes there is only one place to choose from, and if closed, you will want a back up. Stock up at the grocery stores as restaurants can be far and few in between depending on where you are.

Driving in Iceland: Don’t Hit the Sheep! 

Renting a car really is the best way to see the country and experience things on your time. This was my first time with a rental car experience in another country. My boyfriend picked up the car from Blue Car rental at the airport and said it was an easy experience. The signs throughout the country were in English and Google Maps proved to be reliable navigation. The roads were well paved and marked and there was no traffic. My boyfriend said it was easier driving there than in the U.S.! We encountered many animals in the road, whether it be sheep or horses, that would dart in front of the car or wouldn’t move. There are wild animals, mainly sheep and hoarders, that graze alongside the roads and often run into the road. Use caution when driving as this happened a couple times for us. Every gas station we went to took a card and most took Apple Pay. Overall, our experience with Blue Car rental was great and I would recommend it to anyone in search of a car. Visit the Blue Car website here. 

Mistakes We Made

Mistake #1: Midnight sun 

I watched many videos and read blogs that emphasized the midnight sun. The midnight sun concept is a natural wonder where the sun doesn’t fully set allowing you to take advantage of all-day light. The idea is to start your day closer to sunset and “chase the midnight sun” as the sun and sky can be brighter around this time with less people out. It is a unique approach and not everyone will want to do it, though if you can adjust your clock, you can see some incredible landscapes with a golden glow and fewer people in each picture. I wish we took this approach as the pictures you can get are stunning, and less people often are at these famous sites around this time.

Mistake #2: Puffins

The biggest mistake was missing out on seeing Puffins. I assumed they would be everywhere and was severely disappointed when not one Puffin was spotted the whole trip. There are certain areas that yield a higher chance of spotting them. There are many guides that highlight the best spots to see Puffins, like this one linked here.

Mistake #3: Reynisfjara Beach

The mistake here was going to the wrong end of the beach, to the inaccessible side. There are two ends of the beach and you will want to go to the beach on the left side. This blog does a great job outlining how to reach the beach that lets you walk on it. We went to the side that houses Dyrhólaey, a large sea arch that adds heat to the coast. This side of the beach was no less beautiful with a beautiful coastline and sparkling blue water. There is a tourist center in the parking lot that has restrooms. At the time of visit it was about $1 USD to enter the restroom. 

That’s it! That was the itinerary for four days in Iceland. Hope this was helpful in planning your trip to Iceland. Any questions, let me know. As always, happy travels!