{"id":887,"date":"2018-05-07T10:45:46","date_gmt":"2018-05-07T14:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefullpassport.com\/?p=887"},"modified":"2023-06-24T15:40:29","modified_gmt":"2023-06-24T19:40:29","slug":"three-days-in-iceland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefullpassport.com\/three-days-in-iceland\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Guide to a Fantastic Short Trip to Iceland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Looking to take a long layover or short trip to Iceland? Use this guide to see some of the best sights in a short time!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A few weeks ago, I shared an action-packed itinerary<\/a> from M’s and my trip to Iceland. Our visit came as a result of finding a great deal<\/a> for a three-night trip, which meant we didn’t have much time to waste in this incredible country that had been so high on our travel lists. We hit the ground running and didn’t stop, packing two full-day road trips<\/a> (totaling about 1,250 km, or 780 miles), a guided tour of the Golden Circle, and some quick wandering around Reykjavik into our three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s no question that Iceland<\/a> is a place that lends itself to exploration. Even though it’s not a big country, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things to do, places to see, and one-of-a-kind experiences available. While we put the pedal to the metal and loved every minute, there is a lot to be said for adopting a slower pace and not pushing to travel so far afield. There is plenty to see and do within a couple of hours of Reykjavik that will leave you absolutely enamored with this amazing island, including spots that M and I had to pass by in the interest of reaching our far-flung destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, as promised, here is a more leisurely itinerary for your quick stopover or long weekend<\/a> trip to Iceland!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n(Note: some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission from your purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Full Life, Full Passport! You can find the full disclosure here<\/a>.)<\/em>\n\n\n\n
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Itinerary at a Glance<\/strong>: A Short Trip to Iceland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Day 1<\/a>: Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon
Day 2<\/a>: The Golden Circle, with seasonal northern lights tour
Day 3<\/a>: Road Trip to V\u00edk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Day 1: Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of M’s and my biggest regrets from our trip was that we didn’t get to properly explore Iceland’s fun, funky capital city of Reykjavik. It’s a colorful town prettily situated along the water, with mountains looming in the distance, clean streets, interesting museums, good food, and lots to do. Especially if you are landing early in the morning after a red-eye flight, staying local and getting acquainted with this lovable city would make for a great, low-key first day!<\/p>\n\n\n

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The pretty, colorful streets of Reykjavik<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

On our final morning in Iceland, M and I used the few hours we had before our afternoon flight home to walk the city. Because our hotel<\/a> was located near Old Harbor, our journey largely took us along the water. We ended up at a little grass-covered hill (actually an art installation) called \u00de\u00fafa, which had a nice view of the sea, mountains, city, and marina. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can reach \u00de\u00fafa by heading toward the Saga Museum located at Grandagar\u00f0ur 2 (and well worth a visit in its own right). Follow Grandagar\u00f0ur street behind the museum until it forks in front of a low stone wall. Turn right and follow the wall to the end of the little peninsula and you’ll see \u00de\u00fafa!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Enjoying the view from atop the little knoll known as \u00de\u00fafa<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Afterward, we turned back toward the city center and wandered the streets, taking in the colorful buildings and enjoying the bright sunshine. When we return<\/a>, we’ll be doing a lot more of that! First on our list of things to see will be the iconic Hallgr\u00edmskirkja, the famous concrete church in the center of Reykjavik that adorns many postcards and Instagram feeds.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Hallgrimskirkja<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Designed to reflect Iceland’s rocky, icy, otherworldly landscape, Hallgr\u00edmskirkja is the most recognizable landmark in the city and one of the tallest manmade structures on the island. The tower soars almost a half-mile skyward. It has an observation deck that affords 360\u00b0 views out over the city, ocean, and surrounding countryside, which would be well worth the $10 USD admission on a clear day. For more information about visiting Hallgr\u00edmskirkja, check out this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

M and I were able to circle the church after dark one night, but I would love to visit again and see the interior – including the spectacular pipe organ – and take in the view from the top! I highly suggest you make Hallgr\u00edmskirkja a priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Other fun activities for your day in Reykjavik include:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Checking out one of the many excellent museums<\/strong>, which range from historical<\/a> to cultural<\/a> to natural<\/a> to phallological<\/a> (yes, you read that correctly). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Stopping into one of Reykjavik’s ubiquitous cafes<\/strong> to enjoy a tasty cup of joe with the locals<\/a>. If you, like M, are an ardent drinker of coffee, you’ll love Reykjavik’s thriving cafe culture<\/a>. Many of these cozy spots evolve nightly into hip bars, so you really never have to leave. Look for happy hour deals to cut down on your alcohol expenditure; drinking is pricey in Iceland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Admiring Harpa<\/a>, the concert hall<\/strong> and conference center that sits along the waterfront and dazzlingly reflects light off of its textured glass facade. If you’d like, tours are also offered for about $15 USD. As an added bonus, the famous Sun Voyager sculpture<\/strong> is only about a ten-minute walk away!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Harpa<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u2022 Making like a local and taking a dip in one of the many municipal swimming and thermal pools<\/strong> (sometimes called “hot pots”) that dot the city.  Popular places to do this include Laugardalur Park (which also boasts a spa, zoo, sports facilities, a botanical garden, and more), \u00c1rb\u00e6jarlaug (which is great for families), and Sundh\u00f6llin (conveniently located right in the middle of town).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Shopping<\/strong> on Laugavegur street<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Taking one of the many adventure and\/or sightseeing tours<\/strong> available outside of the city, if you’ve had your fill of the urban scene already. Tour providers abound, offering everything from horseback riding to hiking to Jeep adventures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To end your day, head about forty-five minutes outside of Reykjavik to one of Iceland’s most famous and popular tourist attractions, the Blue Lagoon<\/a><\/strong>. This paradise of relaxation offers everything you could need for a day of pampering: perfectly warm water, exfoliating mud, a spa, sauna, steam rooms, and a bar.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Looks like paradise to me. (Image credit here<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

For added bliss, treat yourself to an in-water massage<\/a>: float on a mat while someone kneads and rubs away all your stress! You’ll head back to Reykjavik feeling like a warm noodle and ready for your days of adventure to come!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blue Lagoon is a bit polarizing; some say it’s overpriced and overcrowded, while others count it as a highlight of their time in Iceland. There are plenty of other hot springs and thermal pools around the country if you’d prefer, but accessing the Blue Lagoon is very easy from Reykjavik if you’re on a short trip to Iceland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tips for Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n