4 Days in Iceland Itinerary: How We Fit the Best Stops Into a Short Trip
Iceland’s natural beauty almost doesn’t feel real. At one point, I felt like I had stepped into another world. I half expected one of the dragons from Game of Thrones to fly overhead, which tells you how surreal it felt.
In just four packed days, my husband and I saw thundering waterfalls, walked along black sand beaches scattered with ice, watched glaciers drift through lagoons, and stood in front of towering sea stacks rising straight out of the ocean.
It was fast, a little exhausting, and completely worth it.
This kind of itinerary really only works in the summer, when the Midnight Sun gives you long, never-ending daylight.
If you’re wondering how we made it all fit, I’ll walk you through exactly what we did.
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Day 1: Golden Circle
Arrive at the airport in Iceland on a red-eye flight at 9:35 am. Here is what I packed for this summer Iceland adventure!
1:15 pm: Arrive at Thingvellir National Park and see Oxarafoss Waterfall and Almannagjá Gorge, where the earth is pulling apart! Afterward, warm your body up with some delicious homemade tomato soup at Friðheimar Farm.
Day 2: Waterfalls + Glacier + Sea Stacks
10:00 – 11:30 am: Walk behind one of the most spectacular waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss. Drive 25 minutes more to Skógafoss Waterfall.
3 pm: Watch the floating icebergs at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. Enjoy hot, creamy lobster bisque at a food truck.
7:30 pm: Enjoy walking along the mystical Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon.
9 pm: Check into the hotel and grab dinner in the town of Vík. Then check out the towering sea stacks next to the crashing ocean.
Overnight: Hotel Kria
Day 3: Puffins + Hot Springs + Reykjavik
11 am: Drive to nearby Dyrhólaey to see if you can spot some puffins.
7 pm: After a hot shower, walk around Reykjavik to check off all the top sites: Bæjarins Beztu Pyslur (famous hot dog stand), Hallgrímskirkja Church, Harpa Concert Hall, and Sun Voyager.
8:15 pm: If you are a foodie, you will love checking out all the food vendors at the Hlemmur Mathöll Food Hall. Highly recommend Skal!
Day 4: Bakery + Blue Lagoon + Fly Home
10:45 am: Walk around downtown Reykjavik one more time and pick up some cinnamon buns at the local bakery, Braud & Co.
6 pm: Drop off rental car.
8:20 pm: Fly back home.
Map View of 4-Day Iceland Itinerary
Who Will Love This Iceland Itinerary
- Outdoor adventurers
- Road trippers
- Waterfall chasers
Best Time to Visit Iceland
- The best time to go to Iceland is mid May-mid August! This time frame is when the Midnight Sun occurs, where the sun never fully sets. We went in early July and were able to pack in a ton of activities and hikes late into the night.
- The other time to consider coming to Iceland is late September -late March IF you want to see the northern lights. The peak of the lights is in September and March, which corresponds with the Equinox. However, there is no guarantee. It all depends on the weather.
Hotels
- Skeiðvellir Panorama House (1 night)
- Hotel Kria (1 night)
- Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel (1 night)
Airlines
Icelandair
- 11:50 pm direct flight from the east coast of the United States to Keflavík International Airport (KEF), which took about 6 hours.
- 8:20 pm direct flight from KEF to the United States
Car Rental
- All the sites in Iceland are quite spread out. I would highly advise renting a car. We used the local company, Blue Car Rental. I highly recommend them!
Tours
- None. This is one of the few trips we did not need a tour for any portion of our road trip. Iceland is truly a DIY destination.
Dinner Reservations
- None. All of the restaurants we chose did not require reservations.
What I Would Have Changed
- Find out why I would skip the Reykjadalur Hot Springs in this itinerary.
- Of course, if you have more days to spare, the extra time would make this road trip much more relaxed.
- We LOVE snorkeling and have snorkeled 68 sites all over the world. If there was more time, I would have loved to snorkel between the two continents at the famous Silfra fissure. Next time!
- I would have loved to have seen the Blue Ice Cave while we were visiting Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
I’m Nichole, the author of all the blog posts on Enriching Pursuits. Think of me as your geeky DIY discerning travel friend who dives deep—Google Page 20 deep—to uncover the best ways to enjoy exceptional outdoor adventures and foodie experiences.
My husband and I are experienced snorkelers, day hikers, and casual cyclists who also love delicious street food, an incredible glass of wine, and the occasional Michelin-starred meal.
Balancing full-time careers, we cherish every second of our vacation days and love sharing tips to help you do the same. If this sounds like your kind of travel, subscribe below or drop me a note with any questions—I’d love to hear from you!
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