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Iceland is changing into a preferred stopover vacation spot on flights between North America and Europe, with Icelandair providing free stopovers in Iceland en route throughout the Atlantic. It’s additionally only a beautiful nation typically, so even should you’re not flying to Europe it’s properly price a devoted journey.
If you reside in New York the flight time is round 5 hours 45 minutes to Reykjavik (so lower than the flight to LA) and should you fly from London it’ll take simply 3 hours quarter-hour to get there.
Iceland is understood for its magical panorama of volcanoes, scorching springs, geysers and lava fields. Since the island is positioned far north it’s attainable to see the Northern Lights right here, though the local weather isn’t all the time as excellent for viewing as someplace like Norway or Finland.
As with any nation there’s rather a lot to see and do however this Iceland 3 day itinerary will mean you can cowl the fundamentals, together with Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon and the Golden Circle. I’ll additionally focus on some sensible data, equivalent to the most effective time to go to and the place to remain.
Suggested Itinerary for 3 Days in Iceland
- Day 1: Reykjavik Sightseeing (+ Blue Lagoon if there’s time)
- Day 2: The Golden Circle
- Day 3: Iceland’s South Shore (or Blue Lagoon for a extra leisurely itinerary)
Day 1: Sightseeing in Reykjavik – Blue Lagoon, Harpa Concert Hall, Phallological Museum, Hallgrimskirkja
I’d suggest reserving a resort for your entire three days in Reykjavik. The nation’s capital is a good base for exploring the remainder of the island and nearly all of excursions depart from the town.
Reykjavik could also be small however there are literally a lot of issues to do for the reason that majority of the nation’s inhabitants lives right here. It’s straightforward to discover on foot so guide a resort within the heart and convey your strolling footwear.
On your first day in Reykjavik you’ll wish to discover a number of the metropolis’s main points of interest and finest eating places. The meals in Iceland is a number of the finest I’ve ever eaten, critically. Every dish is so contemporary and well-presented.
Blue Lagoon
Opening hours for the Blue Lagoon are from 9am to 9pm. The Blue Lagoon is positioned simply quarter-hour from Keflavík – Reykjavik airport so should you’re actually quick on time, it’s finest to do it whenever you’re touring from or to the airport.
When you go to will actually rely on whenever you’re flying out and in of Reykjavik. If your flight lands early within the morning at Keflavik Airport on Day 1 then you would cease on the Blue Lagoon in your approach from the airport to the town heart, then do your sightseeing.
Alternatively, you would forgo the tour to the south of Iceland in your third day and do the Blue Lagoon as a substitute. Doing the Blue Lagoon in your third day would permit for a way more leisurely itinerary and you would spend the entire day right here. It’s as much as you. If you’re flying out of Keflavik within the afternoon/night on day 3 then you would do the Blue Lagoon on the best way again to the airport.
Before I went to go to the Blue Lagoon I had all the time assumed it was a pure out of doors scorching spring but it surely’s truly synthetic, with the geothermal water coming from the close by geothermal energy plant.The geothermal water is enriched with silica, algae, and minerals which have therapeutic, nourishing and rejuvenating properties.Tickets costs range however they begin at round 6990 ISK for an grownup ($53) and there’s one free drink included within the value, so you may order a drink within the swim-up bar. If you wish to study extra about what it’s like, learn my full article on swimming within the Blue Lagoon in winter.
The Blue Lagoon isn’t only a scorching spring, it’s a vacation spot, with a luxurious resort, spa and several other eating places on website. If you wish to have a spa therapy and lunch then you would resolve to make an entire day of it right here. If that’s the case then positively do it on Day 3.
Getting to the Blue Lagoon: You can get to the Blue Lagoon by taxi – the journey takes 20 minutes from Keflavik Airport or 50 minutes from downtown Reykjavik. Alternatively there’s a bus referred to as Destination Blue Lagoon which takes you to the Blue Lagoon from the airport or the town. It might be booked on-line right here.
Grab a espresso at Laundromat Cafe
Once you’re within the metropolis and also you’ve checked into your resort, seize a espresso at Laundromat Cafe, which is a laundromat mixed with a bar/restaurant. The idea is enjoyable and quirky, permitting company to do their laundry whereas they’ve one thing to eat or drink. The vibe is heat and welcoming with books, video games, maps and free Wi-Fi to maintain you occupied. This place is nice for breakfast or lunch.
Snap a photograph at Harpa Concert Hall
Next up, stroll to Harpa Concert Hall, which is a contemporary live performance corridor and convention heart with a crystalline glass facade impressed by the Northern Lights and the basalt Iceland panorama. You don’t have to see a live performance right here to admire its magnificence; Harpa Concert Hall is a murals in its personal proper. Located on the water with views over the ocean, the corridor is residence to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera. By day the constructing glistens within the solar and at evening the outside is illuminated in LED lights.
Visit the Phallological Museum
Yes, there actually is a Penis Museum in Reykjavik. Not removed from Harpa Concert Hall you’ll discover the Reykjavik Phallological Museum, which is a museum devoted to the penises and penile components of land and sea animals that may be present in Iceland. It sounds bizarre (which it’s) however the place else on the planet are you able to stare upon over 200 penises preserved in formaldehyde? On show you may see penises of walruses, seals, polar bears and even the penis of a 95-year-old man.
Icelandic Punk Museum
Up the road from the Phallological Museum you’ll discover the Punk Museum, which is a tiny museum positioned in a former set of public bogs! Yep, as you may most likely inform from this text to this point, Reykjavik is unquestionably offbeat and quirky. If you’re a punk fanatic or occupied with studying about punk historical past it is a enjoyable museum. Guests are welcome to strive on garments, play the drums and hearken to punk data utilizing headphones hanging from the ceiling.
Eat a scorching canine at Bæjarins beztu pylsur
You’d assume the U.S could be the most effective place to order a scorching canine but it surely seems the most effective scorching canine I’ve ever eaten are in Iceland. Dating again to 1937, this well-known scorching canine stand serves scrumptious scorching canine which might be nice to eat as a snack whilst you’re strolling round Reykjavik. I ate scorching canine right here on daily basis! Hot canine price 550 ISK (round $4 USD) and it’s the most affordable lunch you’ll discover in Reykjavik. There’s one thing concerning the mixture of the tremendous tender bun and the distinctive style of the mustard that makes these scorching canine simply so moorish, significantly after an evening out in town.
Snap a photograph with the Sun Voyager
Now that you simply’ve happy your starvation with a scorching canine, take a stroll to the Sun Voyager to burn off the energy. This big chrome steel sculpture of a ship is positioned on the waterfront overlooking the ocean.
Visit Hallgrimskirkja
Hallgrimskirkja is Reykjavik’s most iconic landmark and one of many tallest buildings in Iceland. This concrete Lutheran church was named after Seventeenth-century Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson and the design is impressed by the basalt columns that you simply’ll discover throughout the nation. It’s a hanging constructing that towers over the town and if you wish to take photographs of Reykjavik from above, I’d recommend taking the elevator to the tower, which prices 1000 ISK (roughly $7.50).
Enjoy dinner and cocktails at Apotek
To end your day, seize dinner at Apotek, which is without doubt one of the finest eating places in Reykjavik. Drinks are ready by a mixologist in a lab coat and the cocktail menu has a pharmacy theme, with drinks organized into “painkillers”, “stimulants” and “tranquilizers”. I ordered the seared tuna with avocado puree and pickled watermelon, adopted by the meat tenderloin. The meals was out of this world!
After dinner drinks at Lebowski Bar
If you might have some vitality left then head over to Lebowski Bar, which will get its theme from the Big Lebowski film by the Coen Brothers. This is a good bar for assembly fellow vacationers and locals. Inside there’s a bowling alley, a southern-style porch, a ‘50s diner, and a ‘60s lounge bar on the upper floor. If you want to stay in keeping with the Lebowski theme then you should definitely order The Dude’s favourite drink, a White Russian. There are over 23 completely different variations of White Russians on the menu!
Day 2: The Golden Circle & Northern Lights
On day two of your journey you may go to the Golden Circle. While you may actually hire a automotive and drive round Iceland, should you solely have three days I’d skip the automotive rental and simply guide a tour to see the Golden Circle. On quick stopover journeys like these I often can’t be bothered with the trouble of automotive leases, particularly when it’s really easy to get round by Uber.
We booked our Golden Circle tour with Reykjavik Excursions. We truly booked a combo package deal to see the Golden Circle and the Northern Lights. If you do that possibility you get a couple of hours to relaxation after the Golden Circle and then you definately return out to see the Northern Lights.
Unfortunately the Northern Lights didn’t come out for us that evening attributable to climate situations and it was so unbearably chilly. If you don’t see them then you might have the choice of going again out a second evening without spending a dime however we determined to provide {that a} miss and simply take pleasure in Reykjavik as a substitute.
When visiting the Golden Circle you’ll see:
Geysir Geothermal Park – The tour will take you to see the Strokkur geysir spurting out columns of water into the air each 4-8 minutes. If you go to in winter then be sure you put on mountain climbing boots as a result of the realm might be fairly slippy as a result of ice.
Gulfoss Waterfall – Next up you’ll see the Gulfoss Waterfall, which is a formidable waterfall created by the river Hvítá, which plunges right into a crevice some 32 m deep.
Thingvellir National Park – Finally you’ll go to Thingvellir National Park, which is without doubt one of the few locations on the planet the place you may see the North-American and Eurasian tectonic plates above floor. The plates are pulling aside at a price of some centimetres per yr.
If you resolve to do the Northern Lights as properly then you definately’ll arrive again within the metropolis at round 18:30 and then you definately’ll have a couple of hours to relaxation earlier than heading again out to see the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights tour lasts round 3 hours.
Dinner at Tapas barinn
If you don’t go to see the Northern Lights then you would calm down in Reykjavik and simply go to have a leisurely dinner. Check out Tapas barinn, which has an intensive menu of fifty completely different small plates. If you wish to strive conventional Icelandic delicacies, you may strive the Icelandic Gourmet Feast, which prices 8,990 ISK (roughly $68). It begins with a shot of Icelandic “Brennivín” adopted by six programs and a dessert.
Day 3: Iceland’s South Shore or Blue Lagoon
South Shore Tour
What you do on day 3 will depend on how relaxed you’d like your itinerary to be and whenever you’re flying residence. If you wish to cram as a lot as attainable into 3 days then you may squeeze within the Blue Lagoon on Day 1 after which see Iceland’s South Shore on Day 3.
The South Shore is without doubt one of the most scenic components of Iceland. Reykjavik Excursions runs a South Shore Adventure which is an all-day tour that lasts round 10 hours and half-hour. The tour takes you to see Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which you’ll be able to stroll behind, and Skógafoss waterfall, which was used as a backdrop in Thor: The Dark World and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
After visiting the waterfalls you’ll cease at Reynisfjara black sand seashore, which is without doubt one of the most breathtaking and rugged seashores in Iceland. Here you may see the Reynisdrangar rock formations and columnar basalt.
In addition, the tour takes you to Sólheimajökull glacier and an enthralling village referred to as Vík, which is surrounded by excessive cliffs.
Dinner at Sjavargrillid
When you get again to Reykjavik, go for dinner at Sjavargrillid, which is run by chef Gústav Axel Gunnlaugsson, who traveled across the nation searching for the actual style of Iceland. The inside of the restaurant is embellished with driftwood and different items that Gustav collected and dragged again to the restaurant from his travels.The meal I ate right here was one of the memorable meals in my life and I want I may simply teleport myself there to eat it another time. My meal consisted of grilled & crispy langoustine with pan fried plaice, natural barley, golden beet, date and kale, adopted by créme brûlée with strawberry, caramel, sorrel and cocoa nibs.
Alternative possibility for day 3: Museums & Blue Lagoon
If you wish to fly out within the afternoon on day 3, you would go to the Blue Lagoon on the best way again to the airport. Or, should you’d simply choose a extra leisurely itinerary typically, you would spend this final day exploring Reyakjavik’s museums, then go to the Blue Lagoon earlier than spending your final evening having fun with a pleasant dinner in Reykjavik.
Museums you may go to in your final day embody the National Museum of Iceland, Reykjavik Art Museum, Reykjavik Maritime Museum, Saga Museum and The Settlement Exhibition. You may additionally go to Þúfa, an artwork set up which was created by artist Ólöf Nordal in 2013. The set up options an 8m-tall grassy mound with a spiral pathway that leads you as much as the highest.
Where to remain in Reykjavik
Apotek Hotel
I stayed on the Apotek Hotel, which is residence to the Apotek Kitchen + Bar. This resort is a centrally positioned boutique resort with 45 rooms, housed in a constructing that was as soon as a pharmacy referred to as Reykjavikur Apotek. The constructing was inbuilt 1917 by the previous State Architect of Iceland, Guðjón Samúelsson. Rooms are cozy and cozy, plus the meals and cocktails within the Apotek restaurant are unimaginable. I positively loved my keep right here.
Is three days in Iceland Enough?
3 days based mostly in Reykjavik will mean you can see all of the locations I discussed above. If you’re ready to pack rather a lot into every day, then you may positively see the most effective of Iceland in three days. You’ll be busy and there’s not likely time for napping in your resort room. If you wish to hire a automotive and see different issues, such because the Iceland Ring Road, then you definately’ll wish to spend as much as per week in Iceland.
If you’re visiting Iceland on a stopover otherwise you simply have a couple of days off from work then 3 days might be all you might have. You can positively benefit from it and see Iceland’s finest sights. However, like several nation, the longer you keep the extra you get to calm down, transfer at a barely slower tempo and see extra issues.
Do I have to hire a automotive in Iceland?
For this itinerary and with just a few days in Iceland, I’d say ditch the automotive concept and simply get round utilizing taxis and excursions. I don’t find out about you however with such a brief period of time it looks as if a problem to spend time on the automotive rental desk on arrival and worrying about parking. If you’re planning to remain in Iceland for longer and also you wish to drive the Iceland Ring Road then positively wish to hire a automotive or 4×4 and self-drive so you might have the pliability to cease wherever you need.
What’s the most effective time of yr to go to Iceland?
That actually will depend on the person. There are professionals and cons to every season.
I went within the winter and Iceland appears magical with snow on the bottom. I cherished it. The draw back is it’s freezing in winter and the times are quick, so that you don’t have many daylight hours to see the sights and points of interest. If you wish to take photographs, you solely have a couple of hours to take them earlier than it will get darkish. However, you do have extra hours to see the Aurora Borealis aka the Northern Lights. Temperatures within the winter months between December to February can attain as little as -30 Celsius, so be sure you pack ski gloves, a giant puffy jacket and thermals. When we went to do the Northern Lights tour I needed to spend most of my time on the bus as a result of it was simply so chilly.
If you wish to go mountain climbing and expertise Iceland’s dramatic surroundings, then the summer time months between June to August are a good time to go to. The days are limitless (critically the solar is up until midnight) and the climate is heat, plus there are many festivals equivalent to Secret Solstice Festival.
When’s the most effective time to go whale watching in Iceland?
For whale watching, April to October is the most effective time to see the orcas.
When’s the most effective time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland?
You can see the Northern Lights between September and April, though the most effective months for viewing are February, March, September and October.
Is Iceland Expensive?
Food and drink in Iceland is on the costly facet. I didn’t discover it to be as costly as Norway but it surely was positively up there when it got here to costs. Still, should you’re solely in Iceland for 3 days then you definately gained’t have a lot probability to burn by way of your money.
Iceland’s foreign money known as Króna (ISK). The excursions weren’t that costly however consuming out was.
A last phrase…
I hope you discovered this steered Iceland itinerary helpful. When you might have solely 3 days in a metropolis you are likely to wish to slot in as a lot as attainable however on the identical time you don’t wish to really feel exhausted and burnt out. While it’s attainable to most likely cram Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon into someday after which do two full day excursions, I attempted to make this 3 day itinerary a contact extra leisurely.