3 Days in Iceland Itinerary: Our Best Tips After Many Trips

With 3 days in Iceland, you can explore Reykjavik on foot and still get out to see the landscapes that this beautiful island is known for. We’ve been to Iceland many times, in summer and in the dark of winter, so we have some great tips on when to go and what to see in a short time. Here’s our 3-day Iceland itinerary, including where to stay, where to eat, and the best time to fit in the Blue Lagoon.

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👉 Choosing a hotel in Reykjavik? See our full guide on where to stay in Reykjavik.

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Getting to Reykjavik From Keflavík Airport

Most flights from the US land at Keflavík early in the morning, after a short overnight flight that will probably leave you pretty jet-lagged and ready for a nap. So, it’s a good idea to plan in advance how you will spend your first hours after arrival. We recommend booking a morning spa pass or the prior night at a cheaper accommodation like CityHub Reykjavik. Just be sure to tell them you are arriving early the next morning, so you’re not marked as a no-show. 

Icelandair has frequent fare sales, and you can add a free stopover of up to seven days on the way to Europe. 👉 Read more in our stopover flight tips and our Icelandair Saga Premium review.

Take the FlyBus into town for about $30 per person. It takes about 45 minutes and drops you off at a central terminal. Then you can walk to your hotel or catch a smaller shuttle from there. Don’t take a taxi. It will cost over $200 each way.

Driving Pro Tip: You won’t need a car in Reykjavik, but you can pick one up at the airport for convenience on arrival. We actually had ours delivered to our hotel on the morning we were ready to start exploring the island. We’ve rented from Blue Car Rental three times and highly recommend them. If you’d rather not drive, plenty of day trips leave from Reykjavik. But driving to the Golden Circle and Vik on main roads is very straightforward with no need for off-roading. 

👉 Only have a few hours between flights? See our Iceland layover guide.

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Day 1: Explore Reykjavik on Foot

Reykjavik is surprisingly small for a European capital, so you can see the main sights in one day without a car. Drop your bags at your hotel when you land and start exploring.

Visit Hallgrímskirkja

Start at Hallgrímskirkja, the big church at the top of town. The architecture is impressive, and you can take the elevator up the tower for a view of the city, though the elevator is small. I had a hard time with it, being claustrophobic, and was enforcing the capacity limit as more people tried to jump in. It’s still worth the view. 

Have Lunch at Cafe Loki and Walk Laugavegur

Cafe Loki is right across from Hallgrímskirkja and serves traditional Icelandic dishes. We loved the mashed fish and the rye ice cream. Trust us, you have to try them. Call ahead if you want a table upstairs with a view of  Hallgrímskirkja. After lunch, walk down Laugavegur, one of the city’s oldest streets, with shops, restaurants, and bars. 

Budget Tip: Iceland is expensive, so grab breakfast, snacks, and drinks at a grocery store and keep them in your room. For a cheap lunch, try a hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur or soup in a bread bowl at Svarta Kaffið. 👉 See more ideas in the Foodie Frontiers guide to cheap food in Reykjavik.

Walk the Waterfront to Harpa and the Sun Voyager

Head down to the water to see the Harpa concert hall and the Sun Voyager sculpture. If you have time, check the tour offices at the harbor for boat trips. I did a puffin-spotting boat ride on one trip, and there are whale-watching trips depending on the time of year. If the weather turns, duck into a museum. The National Museum of Iceland is known for its Viking artifacts, and the Icelandic Phallological Museum is a fun, quirky option.

Have Dinner at the Fish Market or Apotek

For a dinner splurge, Fiskmarkaðurinn, the Fish Market, is one of our favorite spots, with seafood, sushi fusion, Icelandic lamb, and a great wine list. The restaurant at Apotek is another favorite for dinner and drinks downtown, where you can try some elevated local dishes. Book dinner well in advance. It was nearly impossible to walk in. 

Day 2: Drive the South Coast to Vík

We drove to Vík ourselves in our Blue Car Rental car, and it’s a very easy drive along the Ring Road. You can see the waterfalls from the road, like Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, so it isn’t hard to figure out where to stop. Be sure to check out the black sand beach near Vík, and stop for lunch in the small town before you head back to Reykjavik.

Planning Tip: Plan for the weather. We had torrential downpours at times on this drive, but plenty of good weather, too, so we could still get out and see the sights and take some excellent photos. Be sure to pack rain gear and layers.

Pro Tip: If you have more time, continue on the Ring Road to the glacial lagoon at Jökulsárlón and stay the night somewhere nearby. We stayed at Hótel Höfn, which was basic and clean with a nice breakfast. While you can do this on a day trip from Reykjavik, we don’t recommend it. It would be a very long day and any weather issues would make it even longer. 

Day 3: Drive the Golden Circle

We also drove the Golden Circle on our own, and we had great weather. There are a ton of tour buses on this route, but that’s fine, and we were able to navigate around the buses and crowds pretty well. The geysers and the big waterfall, Gullfoss, were my favorite stops.

Honestly, I didn’t really get Þingvellir National Park unless you’re going to hike. The visitor center was just OK and crowded, and I felt like I could read all the history online. But that may be an unpopular opinion. 

Pro Tip: Add Kerið Crater. It was one of our favorite stops, away from the crowds. We parked, walked around the edge, and took pictures. The colors are so vivid!

Stop at the Blue Lagoon on Your Way to the Airport

The Blue Lagoon is closer to Keflavík Airport than it is to Reykjavik, so it makes a perfect last stop before your flight home. You can shower and change at the lagoon and store your luggage while you enjoy the pools. We had our rental car, so we just packed a little day pack and left the rest in the car, but the airport bus from Blue Lagoon is also super easy. Book your time slot in advance and leave plenty of time to get to the airport.

For an even more relaxing finish, spend your last night at the Silica Hotel, which has its own private lagoon, and take the bus to the airport the next morning. 👉 Read our full Blue Lagoon review here.

Iceland 4-Day Itinerary: Add a Night in Kulusuk, Greenland

If you have a fourth day in summer, you can fly from Keflavík to Kulusuk, Greenland, in under two hours and spend the night at the only hotel in the village. It’s expensive and not for everyone, but we absolutely loved the quiet, the icebergs, and the feeling of being somewhere so remote. 👉 Read about our overnight trip to Kulusuk, Greenland here.

👉 Planning to visit more of Europe? See our ranking of the best European countries to visit, the best European cities for solo travel, and the best premium economy to Europe.

Best Time to Visit Iceland for 3 Days

For day trips to Vík and the Golden Circle, go in the summer or early September. Airfare and hotel rates drop on September 1, so we recommend visiting around US Labor Day for the best combination of good weather and prices.

If you want the total darkness of winter, go for New Year’s Eve. You’ll get a great festive vibe along with the darkness, cold, and snow. But plan on staying in Reykjavik and visiting the Blue Lagoon rather than driving long distances. You might luck out with a northern lights view, but there are better times for that (see below).

Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Iceland

A lot of people think December is a great time to see the northern lights in Iceland, but March is the best month, followed by October. December was very snowy when we were there, with too much cloud cover. The week before our trip was crystal clear, so it’s possible in December, but it’s riskier.

Where to Stay for 3 Days in Iceland

• Stay in downtown Reykjavik so you can walk everywhere on your first day and pick up your rental car easily for the day trips:
• CityHub Reykjavik is our favorite budget stay, at about $150 a night in peak season.
• Alda Hotel and Apotek Hotel are great mid-range picks. 
• For your last night, the Silica Hotel at the Blue Lagoon is an amazing splurge and close to the airport.

👉 Compare all our accommodation picks in our guide on where to stay in Reykjavik.

3 Days in Iceland at a Glance

• Day 1: Explore Reykjavik on foot, from Hallgrímskirkja and Laugavegur to Harpa and the Sun Voyager
• Day 2: Drive the Ring Road to the waterfalls and the black sand beach near Vík
• Day 3: Drive the Golden Circle, with stops at the geysers, Gullfoss, and Kerið Crater
• Departure day: Stop at the Blue Lagoon on your way to Keflavík
• Optional day 4: Fly to Kulusuk, Greenland, for one night (but read our Greenland review before you decide)
• Getting around: Take the FlyBus from the airport and do day tours, or rent a car to explore the island on your own (which is very easy in summer on the main roads) 
• Best time to go: Summer or early September for exploring the landscape, March or October for the northern lights, New Year’s Eve to experience the dark winter. 

3 Days in Iceland FAQs

Is 3 Days in Iceland Enough?

Three days is enough to see Reykjavik, drive to Vík, and drive the Golden Circle if you go in summer or early September. You won’t see the whole island, but you’ll get a great taste of it. Add a fourth day for Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, Kulusuk, Greenland, or a night at the Blue Lagoon.

How Many Days Do You Need in Reykjavik?

One day is enough to see Reykjavik on foot, since the city is small and walkable. That’s why we spent one day in the city and used it as a base for two day trips. A five to six night trip would allow you to add Jökulsárlón, a night at the Silica Hotel at Blue Lagoon, and even an overnight trip to Greenland. 

Do You Need a Car for 3 Days in Iceland?

You don’t need a car in Reykjavik, but you’ll want one for the day trips to Vík and the Golden Circle. Plenty of tours also leave from Reykjavik if you’d rather not drive.

What Is the Best Month to See the Northern Lights in Iceland?

March is the best month to see the northern lights in Iceland, followed by October. December is dark, but snow and cloud cover can block the view.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Iceland?

We recommend summer or early September for good weather and day trips. Prices drop on September 1, so the week of US Labor Day gives you the best combination of weather and price.

Have you been to Iceland? Tell us what you’d add to our itinerary in the comments.

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