Explore the beauty of Iceland via Reykjavik in 5 days. Save time on research and allow us to show you the best of Iceland's waterfalls, beaches, and lagoons in its golden coast as well as the south coast. In addition to adventure and relaxation hot spots, this itinerary contains transportation details, hotel options, restaurants, bars, and nightlife. Also, simplify your transportation and excursion needs with a few tips we have provided.

Iceland

Reykjavík, Iceland

Experience the Beauty of Iceland in 5 Days

* Keflavik International Airport (KEF) is approx. 32 miles away from city center (45 minutes- 1 hour depending on traffic)

* Reykjavik Domestic Airport (RKV) is approx. 1.5 miles away from city center (6 minutes). For flights within Iceland only.

* FlyBus Transfer (recommended) - ~$30 from KEF.  Can book return in advance. Free WiFi while on route to Reykjavik bus terminal (BSI Bus Terminal). Our hotel was walking distance but you can select direct hotel drop off for an additional fee if the bus is allowed on the street where your hotel is located (some streets are too narrow).

- Along with excursions detailed in the itinerary, bus transfers can also be booked at either of the links below: 

Get Your Guide

Viator

Arrive your hotel by late afternoon (3pm), if possible. We opted for a mid-ranged hotel with an excellent location in the heart of Reykjavik. Our hotel was walking distance from the BSI bus terminal and to the bars and restaurants of downtown Reykjavik.

Depending on when you arrive, if you are hungry, we highly recommend lunch or dinner at Hlollabatar. The hot sandwiches were so delicious and they are open late until 2am.

For our second day, we previously booked a south coast excursion via Get Your Guide, at the link above. 

For the fourth day, we booked a Golden Coast tour via Get Your Guide. We started the day with breakfast at the hotel and took a walk to the pick up point. First stop was the Geysir which was nothing short of amazing capturing the eruption every 8 minutes. Next we went to Gullfoss Falls which is beautiful to witness from the top. Lastly we went to Kerid Crater which is one of the most photogenic craters due to the contrast of colors between the lake and rocks.

Once you return to town, we recommend Dinner at Monkeys. This restaurant truly transports you to the jungle with tropical drinks and tasty food.

Once you return to Reykjavic, we recommend an icelandic dinner at Svarta. Truly delicious options!

If time permits and you visit during a high chance of viewing the Northern Lights, we say book it! Be sure to book a tour where they allow you to go every night until you see the lights so that you are not dissappointed.

For nightlife, two bars that we absolutely enjoyed were Prikid which plays mostly hip hop music, and Lebowski bar which has a cool twist on drinks, games and a fun atmosphere.

After a full day of the south coast excursion on day 2, we enjoyed a relaxing day on the third day. We took a walk to Braud & Co where we ordered their delicious hot chocolate and infamous cinnamon rolls! The smell of the fresh baked pastries reels you in and the taste leaves you craving more, daily!

To walk off the pastries, we went to visit Iceland's largest church.

Once, checked in, we recommend walking the streets of Laugavegur to explore the shops, bars, and restaurants. 

Another highly recommended hotel with a balance of budget and luxury would be:

If you are looking for luxury while in Reykjavik, please consider:

On our last day, we grabbed fish and chips before checking out of our hotel and took a 12 minute Uber to Sky Lagoon before heading to the airport for our long flight back home. We had a 6pm departure so with a few hours to spare, we spent a good two hours at Sky Lagoon relaxing and enjoying the 7 step ritual.

If you did not know, the Blue Lagoon also has accommodations. They are pricey and fill up fast but if you reserve well in advance and would like to stay there a day or more, see link below:

We started our day with breakfast at the hotel and walked to the pick up spot. After the most beautiful scenic drive, our first stop was the Skogafoss waterfalls which also came with a gorgeous rainbow! Of course the rainbow is not guaranteed but we are told they are plentiful. Next we made a stop at Diamond Beach which of course is given its name due to the blocks of ice scattered along the black sand shore. After diamond beach we headed to the Glacier Lagoon for either a boat tour or to take the views in from land while enjoying fish and chips, crepes, icelandic hot dogs and more at the various food trucks. You end your day at Seljalandsfoss waterfall right at sunset where you get to enjoy the picturesque sunset from behind the waterfall. This excursion was nothing short of amazing. We highly recommend!!

By noon we were ready to head to Blue Lagoon which we had previously booked admission as well as transportation to and from the Lagoon via Get Your Guide. After hours at the Lagoon, we had a late lunch in our robes at their Lava restaurant. Highly recommend! 

Sky Lagoon is new as of 2021 and is highly recommended with breathtaking views of the icelandic coast while enjoying the geothermal bath.

Experience the Beauty of Iceland in 5 Days

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