A Weekend in Iceland

Aurora Borealis Iceland

It’s amazing how much you can fit into one weekend in Iceland. In fact, it’s totally possible to fly in on the Friday and out on the Monday and see 3 of the main attractions or day tours.

Weekend in Iceland Day 1 – Exploring Reykjavik

When you arrive, have a good explore of Reykjavik, the Icelandic capital. You should go inside Hallgrimskirja Church. Make sure that you go to the top in the lift to get photographs from the top of the Church. The views of the colourful houses and spectacular scenery are amazing. Reykjavik is popular with digital nomads and you can spend the first morning exploring the street art and cafes of Reykjavik. 

In the afternoon of your first day, join on the Reykjavik free walking tour, which starts at 2pm at the Parliament building. Your guide will show you the main buildings and do a quick tour of the ‘Troll Village!’ Remember that some 50% of Icelandic’s believe in trolls! You will be introduced to the best Icelandic hot dog vendor (an Icelandic delicacy!) and also see some of the main monuments. The walking tour ends up at the town hall where you can explore Iceland’s geography through a 3D relief map. 

If you are looking for a more in depth or private walking tour, there are some excellent ones available on Get Your Guide…

If you still have energy after all that, pop to Kaffibarin or Micro Bar for an Icelandic beer.  But remember that prices can be much more expensive here than in the rest of Europe. 

Weekend in Iceland Day 2 – Golden Circle Tour

On the second day, you should pre-plan a Golden Circle tour to see the best of Iceland’s natural beauty. The first stop is the beautiful Gullfoss waterfall. You will then head to the geothermal area to see the Geysir in action.

Finally, with your guide, you will explore the beauty of Thingvellir National Park. Some tours also stop off at the Icelandic Horse centre to admire these beautiful horses in action.

Weekend in Iceland Day 3 – Blue Lagoon

I always recommend for people to do the Blue Lagoon tour on the last day, because it is such a relaxing experience. Pack your swimming costume along with a shower cap or hair bobble if you don’t want to get silica in your hair! Don’t worry if you forget your costume or your towel – they can be hired from the Blue Lagoon. Do book in advance to avoid disappointment. You can book through GetYourGuide, Viator Travel or directly on the Blue Lagoon website if you have your own transport. 

The Blue Lagoon is not too far from Keflavik airport, and so it is possible to combine the Blue Lagoon trip with transport to the airport. For the full on luxury experience, book the spa retreat tickets.

When to See the Northern Lights

If you are travelling to Iceland between November and March, you may be lucky enough to see the Northern lights. I was lucky enough to see them on a tour with Reykjavik Excursions and again when they were directly above Reykjavik.

Is it worth it just for a long Weekend?

So, is a trip to Iceland worth it for just a weekend? Absolutely! Enjoy the land of Fire and Ice!

If you have longer to spend in Iceland, you might want to consider Whale watching Iceland and visiting Vik for the Black sand beaches.

What to Pack for Iceland

Iceland can get cold in winter, and so you definitely want to be thinking about investing in a thermal base layer and thermal socks. A good wind and waterproof mountain jacket and walking boots are essential purchases for Iceland in the winter.

Iceland Mountain Jacket

Also remember to pack your hat, scarf and gloves. Regarding specialist equipment such as crampons and diving gear for Silfra, most tour operators supply these included in the price of your tour or for an extra supplement.

Winter in Iceland - Hat and scarf

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