Iceland, a land of breathtaking landscapes, fiery volcanoes, and mystical northern lights, has left a mark on my soul. This trip has been at the top of my bucket list for YEARS. I never thought I would get to enjoy this beautiful country first hand. Join me as I recount the unforgettable experiences, hidden gems, and practical tips that made my Icelandic escapade truly extraordinary.
(If you want to jump to a certain section you can click the days below.)
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
If you’re coming from the US, your flight will probably be an overnight flight. I flew out of Newburgh, New York on Play Airlines and had a great experience. My flight departed at about 7:30pm and I planned on getting some sleep, but I was too excited. I also read that you should sit on the left side of the plane flying to Iceland (again from the US) to have a chance at seeing the northern lights. So as any eager traveler hoping to see the lights, I was pressed up against my window the minute it got dark. I watched the sky in between my shows and it paid off. I was gazing out at the stars and noticed a faint green line going through the sky. The lights inside the plane were still on so I was trying really hard to block it out. I took my phone and pressed it against the window and pulled the shade down over it to take these pictures. I cried tears of joy that I was already seeing the northern lights and I haven’t even landed in Iceland yet. Needless to say, I did not sleep the rest of the flight.
I landed at 5am at the Keflavik airport. This is super important to keep in mind; your flight is going to Keflavik International Airport, not the Reykjavik airport. Keflavik is about 45 minutes from Reykjavik, but don’t worry there are plenty of options to get from the airport to the city. You could take a bus, rent a car, or call a taxi. I looked into all of these options. The bus is the cheapest option if you’re on a tight budget. A taxi ride could cost you a lot more than you want to spend. My group decided on renting a car and it was the best decision we made. We had our freedom to go when and where we wanted instead of being tied to a bus/tour schedule.
A couple helpful tips for car rentals:
Get the insurance – the road conditions can be unpredictable. The representative at the Hertz rental station advised that if we did not get the full insurance protection plan, we could be liable for the full price of the car and we would have been required to take photos of every inch of the car before leaving the pickup location.
(Side story: when we were driving into Reykjavik from the airport, it was rainy and icy. There was a small van that was in a ditch off the side of the road. After seeing that I was happy with the full insurance plan.)
You can get wifi for the car – we had this option but we never used the wifi since you could not use the wifi and the CarPlay at the same time. We always had the directions on the car screen rather than the wifi being plugged in.
For cellphone coverage, I used Airalo. It worked great and it was affordable! You download the app and purchase the plan you want before you go. Once you land in your destination, the service on Airalo becomes active. It was really easy to use and figure out. I also recommend to watch some Youtube videos on how to set it up before you go. I purchased 2GB for $7.50 to start and to see how it went. After the first day of successful use, I checked how much data was left and ended up upping my plan to the 3GB for $10. In reality I could have went with another 2, but I wanted to be safe and have extra in the event I used more than I thought.
During this adventure I had 2 different accommodations planned. The first 2 nights I spent at the Minna-Mosfel Guesthouse, which is about 20 minutes outside of Reykjavik. This little farm was the best! If you’re planning a trip to Iceland definitely try and book a stay for at least 1 night here, it is absolutely worth it! The guesthouse was located on the second floor and there were 3 rooms each with their own lock and key. The kitchen, living room/dining room, and bathroom were shared spaces. I never ran into the other folks renting the other room, but I was always up early and home late. Below are some pics from the guesthouse.
Day 1: Exploring Iceland’s Iconic Golden Circle
After checking into the guesthouse and meeting the host, I headed back out to see what Iceland had to offer. The host suggested to checkout the Golden Circle since it was very close. That is how I spent the whole first day, touring the Gold Circle tour. Venturing to amazing spots like the Kerid Crater, Skaholt Cathedral, Gullfoss, Geysirs, and a lot more. Shout out to my cousin who was already adjusted to the time change and drove the whole first day because my aunt and I were awake for over 24 hours.
Within the Golden Circle there is this cute greenhouse restaurant called Friðheimar. This cute place is famous for their tomato soup. The menu has a variety of tomato based items, even ice cream! The tomato soup was AMAZING! It really hit the spot after being out the the cold rain all day. Everything they serve is grown in house and there are no pesticides used at all! Our waitress stopped to tell us some of the history of the restaurant and we learned that they provide a decent amount of tomatoes to grocery stores within the country. The tomato soup station is serve yourself and you get to pick out some delicious homemade bread. Each table had a basil plant with scissors for you to cut and add your own basil to your food. Inside the greenhouse, there were bumble bees buzzing around to help pollenate the plants and you’ll get to see them come by as you eat among the plants. Definitely put this restaurant on your list of places to check out, it was absolutely worth it!
Also within the Golden Circle is another great food option called Restaurant Mika. We stopped here for dinner after a full day of exploring. We ordered a pizza and these delicious pirogies that I still think about all these months later. We also got this chocolate mousse with fruit dessert to share, which was also phenomenal.
Day 2: Thingvellir’s Depths and Sky Lagoon’s Bliss
The second day was another day full of activities. In the morning we had a nice breakfast of eggs, salami, and toast with raspberry jam (also something I think about often). After breakfast, we headed off to do a little hiking to see the Öxarárfoss waterfall in Þingvellir National Park. This trail was really cool. We walked in a rock cavern, which was a little snowy and icy, but the views were nice. The walk/hike itself only was about 20 minutes one way, but we took our time and took in all the sights.
After the short hike, we went snorkeling! Yes, you read that right, SNORKELING! This was also in Þingvellir National Park in the Silfra Fissure. This is a crack in the tectonic plates between North America and Europe. The water is extremely clear and it is even drinkable. I took a couple gulps of water while I was swimming through. The water maintains a constant temperature of 35°F – 37°F (2°C – 3°C). Right about now you are probably thinking that I’m insane for wanting to do this, but stick with me.
For this excursion I booked a tour with Dive IS so we had a guide lead the way and take photos. The tour group brought all the equipment to the meeting location within Þingvellir National Park. There were heated vans for changing and to store your outerwear while in the water. The first layer is a thermal suit and it is thick to help keep you warm from the cold water. This just went over your clothes and zipped up like a space suit. I wore fleece leggings, a long sleeve t-shirt, and a fleece quarter zip underneath this. The second layer was a drysuit that keeps you totally dry, aside from your head and hands. To protect your head and hands from the cold, we were given thick neoprene gloves and a hood. Water did get inside these, but your body temperature warms the water inside. The only part of your body truly exposed is your face and once you got swimming you barely noticed how cold your face got. Afterwards, our guides had hot chocolate and cookies for us.
After snorkeling, we found a service station a few minutes away that served food and was a gift shop. I decided to be daring and try lamb soup for the very first time. It was actually really good. I had heard stories to not sleep on gas station food in Iceland and it paid off.
After a long day in the cold, we ended by spending the evening at Sky Lagoon. We did the 7 step ritual. which consisted of soaking in the lagoon, a cold plunge, sauna, cold mist, body scrub, steam room, and a shower. This was a really nice place to hang out and relax. I loved looking out over the ocean while soaking in the warm water. The sauna was also my favorite and if I wasn’t over heating I could have sat in there all day.
After soaking in Sky Lagoon all evening, dinner was next on the agenda. By the time we left the lagoon, it was close to 10pm and there were not many options for food this late. There was a Mexican restaurant in Reykjavik that said it was open late, but when the online reservation went through the owner actually called and said they were closing up for the night and recommended a different restaurant that I cannot think of the name. (If I remember I will update this!)
Day 3: City Charms and Ocean Giants
The morning started with checking out of the Guesthouse and checking in at the Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel in Reykjavik. This hotel came with a parking space which was nice since we didn’t have to worry about paying to park somewhere else.
TIP: Make sure you pay the parking fees. There are cameras everywhere that will know if you didn’t pay and you will get mailed a parking ticket. Even in places you’d least expect.
After a morning spent soaking in Reykjavik’s unique charm, Browse colorful streets and enjoying fresh fish and chips from Reykjavik Fish Restaurant, it was time for an adventure of a different kind: setting sail into the open ocean!
There were several options for booking whale watching tours, from the big ferry boats to small speed boats that had you sitting close to the water. My tour was booked with Elding and I was on the large ferry style boat. The boat sailed out to sea on the lookout for whales. There was a knowledgable guide on the boat discussing the types of whales we might see and keeping an eye out for any activity in the water. I was eagerly waiting to catch sight of a whale.
After whale watching it was time to sightsee around Reykjavik. There are so many shops, bakeries and restaurants to see. I went in a thrift store hoping to find an Icelandic wool sweater. A must see in Reykjavik is Rainbow Road and Hallgrimskirkja. Hallgrimskirkja does allow you to go to the top to look out over the city, but it was closed by the time I arrived. Rainbow road is a short distance away from Hallgrimskirkja. It’s exactly what it sounds like, a cute street with a rainbow painted on it.
Nearby there are some good eats and treats! Sandholt bakery was very cute and had delicious hot chocolate and chocolate croissant. Near Hallgrimskirkja, there is a restaurant called Rok which is a small plates restaurant. You order multiple small plates so you can sample different menu items. I thought this was so fun and unique since I’m a foodie and sometimes can’t decide between multiple menu items. This was a good way to have some of everything. I ordered 3 different things and my aunt ordered 3 different things and we sampled what they other had. I would go back here again! I believe the famous hotdog stand is also in this area. I didn’t try it, but people rave about it!
Day 4: The Unforgettable South Coast
This was the day I was most excited for! When I told people “I’m going to Iceland” or “I’ve been to Iceland”, the most common response was “Why would you want to go there?” You’re about to find out why. The south coast has captivated my attention for years. From the dramatic landscapes, volcanic beaches, and powerful waterfalls, this is nothing short of breathtaking.
From Reykjavik to the town of Vik is about a 2 and a half hour drive. I went straight from the hotel in Reykjavik to Vik, specifically the Black Crust Pizzeria. I thought this was so unique, a black crust pizza to go along with the black sand beaches on the south coast of Iceland. My aunt and I shared the pizza with the langoustine and a side of bacon wrapped dates. Everything was phenomenal. I was unsure about bacon wrapped dates, but all the flavors went so well together.
After this delicious lunch, a walk was very much needed, especially after riding in the car for 2.5 hours. Vikurfjara Black Sand Beach is right behind the pizza shop, so of course that needed to be explored. There were groups out on a guided horse tour, there was even a guy surfing! While at the Pizzeria, one of the waitresses said a lot of people like to go to the Yoda Cave which was a short drive past Vik. This was a fun, unexpected stop. The cave formations really do look like Yoda!
After a nice lunch and some time exploring Vik, I headed back in the direction of Reykjavik. I thought traveling to the farthest point first and then stopping to see everything along the way back, would break up the drive and hopefully have less crowds. The first stop was Reynisfjara Beach, another black sand beach with amazing basalt columns (Garðar). Isn’t nature just incredible?! While visiting this area you definitely want to pay attention to the warning signs. This beach is known for sneaker waves (waves that can come out of nowhere and sweep you off your feet and even out to sea!) So, pay attention to the signs and don’t get too close to the water.
After Reynisfjara Beach, the next stop was Dyrholaey. Dyrholaey is about a 20 minute drive from Reynisfjara Beach, and you can see it when standing on the Reynisfjara Beach. In the late spring and summer months you might have the chance to see puffins in this area nesting! The puffins hadn’t arrived yet when I visited in late April. The views at Dyrholaey are inspiring, looking at the ocean in one direction, Reynisfjara Beach in another, and glaciers and mountains behind you. Nothing short of breathtaking.
The next stop is another 20 minute drive to Skógafoss, a powerful, majestic waterfall. The mist coming off this powerful force of nature will be sure to leave you awestruck in the beauty of a rainbow (if you’re lucky) and wet clothes. In other pictures I’ve seen of Skógafoss, there is sometimes a rainbow at the base of the falls, which looks so pretty, but I did not see it on this trip. Next to the falls there are stairs you can climb if you are feeling adventurous for a different perspective and additional waterfalls and beautiful landscapes behind it. If you have the time, I recommend going through the gate at the top and exploring the trails behind Skógafoss. While I was visiting this waterfall, there was a bride and groom getting their photos done, they looked amazing and I’m sure those photos came out incredible!
The next stop on the journey was 30 minutes to a waterfall called Seljalandsfoss. This was my favorite stop of the whole trip! Seljalandsfoss is a waterfall you can walk behind if the path isn’t closed due to dangerous conditions. This is another waterfall that will leave you soaked from all the mist. If you have time, take a walk about 1 mile down the trail from Seljalandsfoss to see Gljúfrabúi, a hidden waterfall inside a cavern. It is absolutely worth it and my favorite waterfall from the whole trip. Make sure you wear waterproof clothes and have good boots / water proof shoes. I had to walk through the stream to get inside and I got soaked inside the cavern, but like I said, it was worth it! It was like stepping into a fairytale.
Now that there was a full day of adventure, it was well past dinner time and towns were hard to come by on the drive back to Reykjavik, especially restaurants that were open. When driving out of a town and there wasn’t another one for many miles, there would be a street sign at the town limits with a picture of a town with a line through it, meaning no more civilization for a while, so if you need gas or food, this was the stop for a while. There was a viking restaurant, Valhalla Restaurant, that served delicious, mouthwatering burgers. The tables were cafeteria style, but they were giant wooden tables with long wooden benches. It was very unique. Inside, there was also an option to do axe throwing. There was a large travel group from Italy (I think) at the same time and it was fun hearing them talk about their adventures from their trip so far.
Day 5: Blue Lagoon Bliss and Farewell to Iceland
This trip had so much packed into it and it went by so fast, but we’re not done yet! The final day in Iceland was dedicated to pure, unadulterated relaxation at the world-renowned Blue Lagoon. After days of exploring dramatic landscapes and braving the elements, soaking in the milky-blue, geothermal heated waters felt like the ultimate reward. We slathered on the silica masks, let the warm currents melt away any lingering tension, and simply floated, taking in the serene, almost ethereal surroundings.
The journey to Blue Lagoon left us breathless before we even laid eyes on the peaceful lagoon. You could see the remnants of the volcano eruption and the destruction the lava created. On the Maps, the road we were driving on had a gap, meaning the lava took out the road. The road in was newly crafted (I think from lava rocks). There were signs all over that said “Hot ground, do not stop”. It was WILD! There were also bulldozers building a wall to protect the Lagoon from any future eruptions, and I have been following recent eruptions, one of them took the parking lot we parked in!
Upon entry to the Lagoon, the staff gave a full rundown on what to do if the alarm goes off for volcanic eruption. It was a tad nerve racking, but as soon as I stepped out into the water all of that melted away. There are swim up bars for drinks and face masks. When you go up to the window for your mask they slather it onto your hand and tell you how long to leave it on for. There are fresh water spigots where you can rise your face and even drink from. My skin felt to hydrated and smooth after the whole ritual. It was the perfect, tranquil send-off, leaving us feeling refreshed and completely rejuvenated before making our way to the airport.
Iceland continued to surprise and delight us at every turn, cementing its place as one of the most breathtaking destinations on Earth. If you have been considering visiting Iceland, this is your sign to book the trip! You won’t regret it!
Below are some more helpful tips to prepare for your trip!
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