Are you traveling to Iceland soon and don’t know where to start? First, let me tell you that this remote country is worth the trip. If you’re a nature lover, this country has it all: from imposing glaciers and waterfalls to dangerous geysers and volcanic beaches, you’ll be amazed by the spectacular landscapes. In this post I’ll be sharing what to see and do in Iceland in 4 days, including a suggested itinerary and a map pinning all the locations. Ready to discover this fascinating land of ice and fire?
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Suggested itinerary for 4 days in Iceland
Based on my trip with friends from Washington DC to Iceland, this is what we planned for our four-day stay in the country.
Day 1
- Early arrival to Keflavik airport
- Blue Lagoon
- Reykjavik
- Northern Lights
Day 2
- Southern coast (Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, Fjallsárlón glacier, Diamond beach)
- Reykjavik
Day 3
- Golden Circle (Faxi waterfall, Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall, Þingvellir National Park)
- Reykjavik
Day 4
- Reykjavik
- Flight back to the USA
What to see and do in Iceland (in 4 days)
During our 4-day trip to the land of ice and fire, these are all the attractions we saw.
Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland
The capital city of Reykjavik, located on the western part of the country, is home to around 120.000 inhabitants (about a third of Iceland‘s total population).
You can easily walk around town and sightsee it in half a day. Below is a list of the most iconic landmarks in Reykjavik:
- Laugavegur: this is the main commercial street, around which most restaurants and shops concentrate.
- Hallgrímskirkja: this church is worth visiting because of its remarkable architecture. Make sure to head to the tower for stunning views.
- Harpa: distinctive building housing a concert hall and a conference centre.
- Austurvöllur: square in the heart of Reykjavik encompassing many public buildings such as lþingishúsið (the Parliament House) or Dómkirkjan (the city’s oldest church).
- Harbor or old harbour: this was the birthplace of Reykjavik, the city having grown around it over time. In case you’re interested in whale or puffin watching, this is your port of departure. You can stop by the nearby indoor Kolaportið flea market too.
- The National Museum of Iceland is a good way to learn about the country’s history and traditions.
Feel free to read my posts about these other Nordic capitals:
- Stockholm (Sweden)
- Copenhagen (Denmark)
The Blue Lagoon
Located a short drive from Keflavik airport and 50 mins away from Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular destinations in any trip to Iceland. This natural wonder features geothermal seawater. In a country where the weather is usually freezing cold, enjoying these warm healing waters translates into pure happiness. In addition to the lagoon itself, the facilities include two hotels, various restaurants, a retreat spa and a shop to take home your favorite skincare products.
The Icelandic southern coast
When we explored the southern coast of Iceland during our 4-day trip, these were the stops we did along the way:
- Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss: imposing waterfalls with ice all around them.
- Hekla volcano, from where you can see the famous Eyjafjallajökull peak which erupted in 2010 causing major air travel disruptions.
- City of Vik: located in front of the southern seaside, this tiny town housing over 300 souls is one of the most popularly photographed areas in the country.
- Fjallsárlón glacier: this iceberg-filled lagoon next to Vatnajökull glacier is a natural wonder that has to be seen to be believed.
- Diamond beach: this was probably by far my highlight of the trip. Imagine a beach with black volcanic sand topped with huge ice formations coming from the neighboring Fjallsárlón glacier. Definitely a must!
If you travel the same route, expect deserted snowy landscapes with no one in sight, except for the occasional tiny Icelandic horses.
The iconic Golden Circle
The famous Golden Circle is an itinerary of approximately 300 kilometers taking you around Iceland’s three most popular natural attractions: Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall.
During our circular route on the third day, here’s what we saw:
- Faxi and Gullfoss waterfalls: iconic waterfalls in the land of ice and fire.
- Geysir: this geothermal area is known for housing various geysirs, including the biggest one called Strokkur. If you can stand the sulfur smell and the cold, you should be able to see the geysir erupt every five minutes or so.
- Þingvellir National Park: this is one of the most important historical sites in Iceland. Back in the day, the ancient Viking Parliament used to gather here every year. What is more, the country’s independence was proclaimed in Pingvellir in 1944. On another note, the area is also known for its frequent earthquakes given the tectonic plates that lie underneath. The huge faults around the park actually form a canyon.
In addition to all the attractions mentioned above, these are some others you might want to consider including in your itinerary: Akureyri (the country’s second city after Reykjavik), lake Myvatn (the Hverfjall volcano and the Grjótagjá cave are located nearby), Dimmuborgir Black Castles (lava formations), Jökulsárgljúfur National Park, Jökulsá River, Asbyrgi and Dettifoss.
The Northern Lights
Iceland is a popular destination when it comes to chasing the Northern Lights. In our experience during this 4-day trip, we were lucky to (kind of) see them thanks to the tour organized by the hotel the first night we arrived. A lot depends on the weather conditions: since Aurora Borealis require dark and partly clear skies, a trustful resource is the Icelandic Met Office website.
Make sure to check the weather forecast in advance to ensure ideal conditions for capturing the Northern Lights.
If you’re into photography, pack your camera as you will obtain better quality shots than with a regular phone. I was actually surprised that the Northern Lights were difficult to see with a naked eye! (at least where we were, around the Þingvellir National Park).
What and where to eat in Iceland
Icelandic staple food items
During our 4-day trip to Iceland, we got introduced to the country’s cuisine. Heads up, since Iceland is a remote island, food here is extremely expensive and Icelanders very much rely on imported goods. Naturally, fish ranks high on the list of Icelandic goodies you should taste (be it salmon, whale, trout, shark, puffin or dried fish – bitafiskur).
You might have also heard of skyr, a strained yogurt with much milder flavor. Lava salt or Icelandic chocolate are famous too.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you could also try Brennivin, better known as ‘Black Death schnapps’. This distilled liquor is made of fermented potatoes and flavored with caraway seeds. The Viking lager beer is another drink worth trying.
Recommended bars and restaurants in Iceland
My personal recommendation if you want to taste the Icelandic cuisine would be to head to Old Iceland. We actually went there following the hotel’s advice and we loved it so much, we dined there twice during our trip. This restaurant located on Reykjavik’s most commercial street (Laugavegur, 72) is a family-owned business. They highlight Icelandic produce by using local herbs and spices that they then incorporate into the dishes. We ordered a soup with lamb, potatoes and carrots along with various fish dishes (including ling with root vegetables and parsnip purée), all of which were excellent. The desserts (the Catalan cream and the skyr) were delicious too.
Another restaurant we went to was Kol (Skólavörðustígur, 40), where I really enjoyed the mushroom risotto, the duck and the chocolate tartare.
Last but not least, we had drinks at Kaldi Bar, located on Laugavegur street.
In addition to all the above, here’s a list of restaurants, cafes and bars that were recommended by friends and that we didn’t have enough time to try.
- Restaurants: Dill (it received a Michelin star in 2017), Meze (Turkish), Gallery (French-Irish cuisine at the Holt hotel), hot dog truck in downtown Reykjavik, Sushi Samba (Japanese-Brazilian restaurant with an Icelandic menu), Kopar (near the harbor), Reykjavik Fish (Trggvagata 8).
- Bars and cafeterias: Islenski barinn, Rosenberg cafe (Klapparstigur), Lebowski bar (Laugavegur,20a), American Bar, English pub (Austurstraeti, 12), Den danske kro.
Where to sleep in Iceland
During the four days we spent in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik, we stayed at Skuggi hotel. Ideally located in the heart of the city and only steps away from the main street of Laugavegur, we couldn’t have asked for more.
Feel free to check Airbnb or Booking for more accommodation options.
How to move around Iceland
In our case, we flew directly from Baltimore to Keflavik airport near Reykjavik with WOW Airlines.
Shortly upon arrival, we were picked up by a bus from Reykjavik Excursions, the company we had booked to travel around Iceland. We had a local guide for the group, which was a great experience.
Other options to move around the country include renting your own car or campervan.
Want more? Check out these posts about other Nordic destinations in my blog:
Map of my Icelandic trip (4 days)
In case you want to check our 4-day itinerary around Iceland, here’s the map with all the locations mentioned throughout this post. Feel free to save it and use it when planning your next trip.
Tips for your trip to Iceland
The weather is generally cold all year round, so pack accordingly
Iceland is a remote country in the middle of the Atlantic, in between Norway and Greenland, so one thing is for sure: it’s cold, very cold most of the year, rarely raising beyond 15C in the summer months! Hence, beware of the cold and pack many layers of clothes. The weather in the country is notoriously variable, so you could easily get four seasons in just one hour.
Here are some of my favorite products when I’m heading to colder destinations:
Light hours
Given how far north Iceland is located, the country either gets too much daylight (24h during the month of June for instance) or barely at all (roughly four hours per day in the darker winter months). If possible, try to plan your activities while there’s daylight outdoors.
Depending on the season you’re visiting, the landscapes vary too: while you will encounter snow and ice everywhere during the winter time, landscapes might be greener around the summer. However, it might rain frequently.
The Icelandic language
No offense, but good luck understanding Icelandic. 🙂 The language is hard to pronounce and words seem to have no end in sight (try Grjótagjá, Jökulsárgljúfurfor or Skólavörðustígur for example). Luckily for us foreigners, Icelanders speak great English, so you shouldn’t have problems getting around.
I trust you found this post about what to see and do in Iceland in 4 days useful. If you have any questions, please drop me a line below!
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