The weather in Iceland varies greatly from season to season with July and August being the two warmest months and thus the most popular times to visit. The shoulder months of June and September also have good weather and are slightly less crowded. If you are interested in hiking and want access to the most trails and roads then summer is your best bet as you can expect road closures through the winter months due to snow. If you are hunting the aurora borealis then it is best to plan your trip Mid-October through March. I really wanted to see the aurora and traveled using this 4 day Iceland itinerary at the end of March.
You can expect to see exceptionally beautiful landscapes, eat fresh seafood, soak in hot springs, and explore glaciers. I will say that I heard the food was expensive and that was absolutely (almost shockingly) true. We grabbed food at grocery stores and ate a lot of easy meals (think PB&J and ramen) to keep costs down. We also experienced many different types of weather during the trip and I would recommend researching what to expect of the weather and bringing layers to allow for flexibility.
Climb the Hallgrímskirkja Church TowerThe Hallgrímskirkja Church is 244 feet tall and towers over the rest of Reykjavík. It was designed in the 1940s by Guðjón Samúelsson. The columns on the side of the church are supposed to resemble cooled lava rocks and the building itself is a homage to Iceland’s unique geology. I wanted to check this out because the church has an observation deck where you can see the city and the mountains off in the distance
Wander through Harpa Concert HallHarpa Concert Hall opened in 2011 near the city’s waterfront. The design of this building also follows geology as the glass panels resemble the hexagonal shape of Iceland’s basalt rocks. The Icelandic Symphony Orchestra calls Harpa Concert Hall home but even if you don’t get to check out a show it’s still worth a stroll around the building. There is a bar, restaurant, and terrace with beautiful outdoor views.
Near the Harpa Concert Hall and along the waterfront is the Sun Voyager statue. It was designed as an ode to the sun and is constructed of stainless steel and granite. If you are lucky enough to get a clear day you may be able to see Mount Esja from across the Bay. The entire scene of the Sun Voyager was picturesque and it’s worth it to take a few minutes to enjoy the view over the water.
The Big Lebowski Bar has a curated menu with many different styles of white Russian (vodka, cream, coffee liqueur). There is also your classic bar food if you are in the mood for a snack. This bar was definitely a little touristy, but we enjoyed a white Russian (or two) here!
This restaurant is known for their amazing lobster bisque, which you can enjoy while sitting on a fish barrel at a shared table. We wandered down here after taking a nap in our room and it was the first meal we ate in Iceland. We chose a few fresh fish kebabs from the fridge and they tossed them on the grill. The food was amazing and so fresh!
The Golden Circle is a famous loop in southern Iceland. It took us a few days to make it through the entire tour, and the landscapes were some of the most beautiful that I have ever seen.
Spend some time touring Þingvellir National ParkFrom Reykjavík drive northwest for about 45 minutes to Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site. Þingvellir is actually located in a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonics plates. This is also the site where the original Icelandic Parliament was established in 930.
Check out the tectonic plates at the Silfra FissureThe Silfra Fissure is located in Þingvellir National Park, and is a geological remnant of tectonic plates shifting. The fissure itself is full of clear meltwater from Langjökull glacier. You can opt to snorkel or scuba dive here and are able to swim between two continents. I didn’t plan any diving when I was in Iceland because it was a short trip but I had major FOMO when I saw the Silfra Fissure. I will be coming back for this one!
Enjoy a relaxing soak at Gamla Laugin Gamla Laugin (AKA the Secret Lagoon) is Iceland’s oldest swimming pool. It is a naturally occurring geothermal hot spring with 100% of the water supply coming from Vaðmálahver, Básahver. There is a complete water exchange every 24 hours and the water stays a balmy 100 – 104 degrees F (38 – 40 degrees C). This was a beautiful and relaxing outdoor pool with towel rentals and a changing area. When we were there it was not crowded and didn’t feel at all touristy.
Be Amazed by Geothermal Features at Geysir Hot Springs AreaThis stop along the path was a little crowded but worth it. Strokkur, the site’s active geyser erupts 20 meters into the air every 8 minutes or so. This was the first geyser that I have seen in real life and I was shocked at the power of the eruption. I have since seen Old Faithful in Yellowstone which was also great but it was amazing that Strokkur goes off so often. Besides the geyser there are also boiling mud pits, steam vents, hot springs, and cold springs to check out. There is an entrance fee and a gate, and I would recommend checking the hours online prior to arrival.
Take a Step off the Beaten Path and Visit Faxi WaterfallI read about Faxi waterfall being one of Golden Circle’s hidden gems and I wasn’t disappointed. The waterfall is about 7.5 miles from the hot Geysir Hot Springs area. The area was remote and when we visited we were the only ones there.
a Black Sand Beach and Check Out DyrhólaeyDyrhólaey is a beautiful area that is surrounded by views including the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, black sand beaches, and the Reynisdrangar Cliffs. We were able to take a long walk down the black sand beach and check out the surrounding beauty. The area itself is named (it literally translates to ‘door hill island’) for the prominent rock with the hole in it.
Watch the waves crash on the Reynisdrangar Cliffs
Using a local tour company, we booked an ice cave excursion out of Vík. We rode in vans with off-road tires a few miles across the glacier and up to an ice cave. It was a really unique experience and we ended it by climbing up a small “mountain” and sledding down. Due to availability I would recommend booking these sorts of excursions ahead of time.
Be amazed by Jökulsárlón and Diamond BeachThis was my favorite landscape of the trip. Jökulsárlón is a glacier lagoon that is filled with icebergs. Take a short walk around the lagoon and you can see seals playing in the water. Don’t forget to wander to the other side of the lagoon and check out Diamond Beach. Diamond Beach is a black sand beach decorated with diamond-like ice chunks. Not long before this trip I read an article about someone who had sat on one of the glacier chunks for a picture and was taken out to sea (they were fine!). I thought, what a great picture but I’ll make sure I sit pretty far away from the water.
Make your way back towards Reykjavík and take the opportunity to check out any sites that you missed either along the way or in the city itself!
Spend an afternoon soaking in the Blue LagoonThe Blue Lagoon is seen in most quintessential Iceland pictures and is every bit as cool as it looks. I would classify it as a tourist trap that became popular because it’s just such a cool place. We made reservations ahead of time, but as it was a bit misty when we went it not at all crowded. The hot spring is huge and there are swim up bars with wine and mud facials! This was definitely one of the most touristy things we did but also one of the coolest.
All in all Iceland is an amazing country full of the most unique and stark landscapes that I have ever seen. This Iceland 4 day itinerary was enough time to explore the region but I could easily spend a week or two there! I visited in March and enjoyed seeing the snow, but would also like to come back in the summer to see more of the country and do some hiking.