From black sand beaches to natural geothermal pools, discover the best of Iceland in our 3 Day Itinerary
Are you visiting Iceland and can’t decide for how long? Wondering which places to visit, which activities to book and experiences to undertake? Then read this guide, as we detail out a perfect itinerary of spending 3 days in Iceland.
Although seems like a small island, Iceland is a vast country with abundant attractions spread across the country. Trust me, when planning a perfect trip itinerary to Iceland, it may get overwhelming for you. Planning a suitable duration to schedule your trip is a confusing task, if not sure about which attractions to visit. But, let me help you out here with this Iceland travel guide!
A holiday as short as 3 Days is enough to explore some of the major highlights of the country. You can maximize your itinerary to cherish every bit of this land’s richness. Of course, the choice of activities, however, can be a little tricky to shortlist. It may depend on a traveler’s perspective, preference, and suitability. But I would love to share my Iceland travel guide with you guys that can be worth your visit.
The days may seem short or the travel may seem like a city break. However, I have ensured the itinerary is crammed with loads of Iceland’s beauty that will be enshrined in your memories forever.
Is 3 Days in Iceland Enough?
This is a very common question I get from travelers. And honestly, it depends on several factors – how much time do you have, your interests or the activities you want to do. While there is no perfect itinerary suitable for all, I created several Iceland road trip itineraries that you can check out. These itineraries vary from destination to destination, outdoor activities, and experiencing phenomena like Northern Lights & Midnight Sun.
But if you want to see all of Iceland, then the answer is two weeks. Yes, 3 days is enough to see to the country’s highlights + experiencing offbeat tracks. If this is not the period you want to choose, then 7-8 days is ideal to explore the country’s major touristic attractions. You can either explore only the southern coast of Iceland or maybe explore bits & parts of the whole country.
No matter how long you stay in Iceland, trips to this country are always worth cherishing. I’ve been to the country few times to experience different seasons & every time it has felt like a home to me. Thus, ensuring your trips are memorable too.
Essential Planning Tips for 3 Days in Iceland
it’s important to ensure your travel trips are smoother and much efficient. This section is mostly for beginners or first-time travelers to Iceland – who may not be aware of the country’s facts. This section details out few important things you might need to know before spending 3 days in Iceland.
Visa – To visit Iceland, you will require a Schengen Visa that allows you a stay for a maximum of 90 days.
Seasons – Iceland has got only two seasons– summer and winter. Both seasons offer unique experiences to tourists traveling. If visiting during the summer months, then you’ll have longer days to explore around the country. During June and July, the sunsets as late as midnight and you will get to witness the Midnight Sun. However, if traveling during the winter months – then you get the chance to observe the dazzling Northern Lights. The nights are darker, which enables you to catch this magical experience.
Getting Around Iceland – The best way to explore the country is through hiring a campervan or renting a car. A campervan is the most recommended option if planning for a 7+ day’s tour. You’ll save a good amount of money on accommodation & you can utilize that to book guided activities. Also, it’s advisable to keep in touch with a rental car company to ensure you get your booking done well in prior. During the summer period, cars book out quickly, especially the ones that are a lot cheaper!
Note: For our 3-day Iceland itinerary, we recommend booking a rental car for your travels. Having a rented car gives you the freedom and flexibility to manage your schedule.
Expenses – Iceland is not a cheap destination! Trust me, if not well planned – it will go expensive on your pocket. I will suggest you do your homework on the cost and expenses part, otherwise, you will end up spending more than what’s needed.
Overview of 3 Day Iceland Itinerary
The itinerary designed for this Iceland trip is open for all age-groups. I wanted to keep this a simple, yet fun-filled tour so that everyone can enjoy its unique experiences. Since, we only have limited time – I also wanted to ensure to include exploration of the best sights in Iceland. These includes visiting the Golden Circle, Reykjavik city, geothermal hot springs, lava craters, black sand beaches, and amazing waterfalls.
3 days in Iceland Schedule
Day 1: Arrival – Blue Lagoon – Reykjavik City Exploration
Day 2: Golden Circle Tour – Thingvellir National Park – Geysir Springs – Gullfoss Waterfall
Day 3: Seljalandsfoss – Skógafoss – Vik Village – Gljufrabui – Sólheimasandur – Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach – Vik
Map of 3 Day Iceland Itinerary
Check out the below route map for your Iceland trip.
Detailed Itinerary for 3 Days in Iceland
Day 1 | Exploring Reykjavik & Blue Lagoon
Upon your arrival in Iceland at Keflavík International Airport, I recommend you start your day by visiting the Blue Lagoon. I urge you to visit this attraction first, if in case you’ve had a long flight with multiple hauls.
Blue Lagoon
Any trip to Iceland is incomplete without visiting this top tourist attraction. Millions of tourists travel to Blue Lagoon every year and are one of the most popular places to stop by. Make sure you take one of the transfer buses that are officially run by Blue Lagoon.
Once you arrive, you will have to drop in your bags at the luggage center and check in. Blue Lagoon is strict in terms of hygiene maintenance. Thus, you will have to take a shower before getting into the pool. Once done, you’re all set to witness this place by yourself. Relax, rejuvenate and calm down your senses by taking a dip into the pool. No matter which season you visit, you’ll have a wonderful experience. When I visited during the winter months, it was snowing and it was simply a magnificent sight to watch!
An important note – You must book the tickets well in advance! You cannot just drop in, otherwise, it will be hard to find any reservation. There are several packages for Blue Lagoon offering different services and amenities. I recommend you to take the basic one, as it’s the most preferred ticket choice for all of us. However, it’s entirely up to you to upgrade your tickets to more premium ones.
If you need more details on planning a trip to Blue Lagoon, then read our in-depth guide – ‘The Ultimate Guide to the Blue Lagoon‘. It will give you a brief idea on transport, ticket prices, activities & accommodation.
If you’ve reached Blue Lagoon in the morning, then two-three hours is enough for the exploration. Try to hit Reykjavik by noon, so that you get ample time to explore the capital city.
Reykjavik
Your next stop after Blue Lagoon is the capital city of Iceland – Reykjavik. It’s a 44-minute drive from Blue Lagoon and is one of the prettiest towns I’ve ever visited. A simple stroll around the city will make you observe Reykjavik’s treasured beauty. The best way to explore downtown Reykjavik is by foot or bicycle. In this way, you can cover most of the famous stops.
Walk around the riverfront to check out the iconic sculpture work, known as the ‘Sun Voyager (Solfar)’. Along the harbor, you’ll also find another prime attraction – Harpa Concert Hall. If you continue to walk alongside the main street, you will end up at Reykjavik Maritime Museum – home to historic ships and exhibits on the local fishing industry.
You can stop by for lunch at Grandi Matholl to taste some of Iceland’s delicacies. Post lunch, make sure to visit one of Reykjavik’s most popular attractions – the church of Hallgrímskirkja. I’m pretty sure you must’ve seen this place by now while walking around the street. It’s almost visible from anywhere in the city. This tall Lutheran church is a majestic display of architecture that can be explored from the inside as well. You can access the top of the tower if interested in catching a 360-degree view of the city.
If you have some time in the late afternoon, then do visit Flyover Iceland. It’s a true experience for adults & children, with full-motion-based seating, elevating you up to a 20-meter height. The visual film display will take you on an exhilarating journey across Iceland, with special effects including –wind, mist, scents, and a musical score. Worth visiting this place if you are traveling in a small group or with family.
The exploration doesn’t end here, as the city of Reykjavik will be buzzing with nightlife. The lanes at the heart of the city will lead you to some amazing pubs, bars, and restaurants. Indulge in the colorful and vibrant nightlife – meet with locals – experience various cuisines and drink like a true Viking!
Alternatively, you can also consider the below guided tour for a different activity altogether.
Day 2 | Highlights of the Golden Circle
Your second day in Iceland is loaded with natural attractions that include exploring the Golden Circle, majestic waterfalls, hiking trails, and photogenic spots. Before you start your journey, my suggestion will be to pack some food en route, so that you don’t go hungry!
The Golden Circle starts and ends at Reykjavik. The road will take you first to the Thingvellir National Park, after which you will visit some of Iceland’s mighty waterfalls. The total journey will take you approx. 7-8 hours. So I suggest you start early in the morning by 8 or 9 am, enabling you to reach back Reykjavik in the late afternoon. This will ensure that you also have some evening time off to spend at the capital center.
Thingvellir National Park
One of the UNESCO sites of Iceland – Thingvellir National Park has become popular amongst tourists over the years due to its rich history and striking beauty. Excellent choice for short hiking trails, this is also where the first parliament took place during the Viking Era. It’s quite an interesting place to visit and to explore the parliament – which was responsible for shaping the history of Iceland. Although you won’t see any big city halls or a grand display of monumental structure depicting the Parliament, it’s something very unique & traditional to understand how instrumental this place has been.
Thingvellir National Park is also popular because of its geological traits that fascinate many travelers. This is where the North American and Eurasian plates touch. It’s only in Iceland that you can get to see the rifts, and nowhere in the world can you see the tectonic plates as clearly as in Thingvellir National Park. There’s also a natural lake called Silfra where you can opt to snorkel or dive. The activity has fewer requirements and can be done by tourists above age twelve.
Post your exploration of Thingvellir, you will travel towards another prime attraction of Golden Circle – Geysir Hot Spring.
Optional – Before reaching Geysir, you will come across Brúarfoss Waterfall. It is not much known and not an official point of the Golden Circle route. But, this is something that I witnessed and found out amazing! It’s a great location to click some photos for your Instagram posts!
Geysir
It’s time to explore the geological wonders of Iceland! Geysir Hot Springs is one of the most popular stops in Iceland. It’s a must-visit place if on the Golden Circle route. If you’ve never witnessed a geyser before, then this is something worth watching. There are two geysers in the Golden Circle route – Strokkur and the great Geysir.
The most active one in the region is the Strokkur which erupts every 2-3 minutes. Just wait and be ready with your cameras to capture the sight. Not only Strokkur, but the region has many hot springs, boiling mud pits, and small geysers. You can even boil an egg near the boiling water from the mud pits!
There are quite a few restaurants here to have a quick lunch. If you got something packed, then you can skip your lunch & move towards your final point – Gulfoss waterfalls.
Gulfoss
You might’ve seen some waterfalls along your way, but trust me – there’s nothing like Gulfoss! One of the mighty waterfalls of Iceland – this is the most photogenic place in the country. It’s also one of the highlights of your 3 days in Iceland itinerary. The water from Gulfoss streams down the Langjökull glacier and then cascades into Gulfoss 32 meters down. It’s an incredible sight to watch the natural force of the water running downwards with its full power.
There are two observation areas to view each side of the waterfall. You can simply take a leisurely walk to reach one of the areas to capture photos. The closer you get, the surreal will be the experience. Make sure you have waterproof jackets on to enjoy the views safely. There’s also a small café nearby – Gulfoss Panorama Café, from where you can catch the glorious views of Gulfoss.
This concludes your Golden Circle sight-seeing tour and you’re good to head back to Reykjavik.
Day 3 | Exploring the Southern Coast
The last day of your 3 days in Iceland is loaded with southern Iceland’s major attractions. The total journey to & fro will be almost 4 hours, but it will take a total of 9-10 hours for your total travel (including visits to each location). It’s advisable to start your day 3 early morning so that you can reach Reykjavik in the late afternoon.
Start early morning by driving towards the southernmost point of Iceland – Vik. The journey to the south is so lovely, that no matter what – you’ll see some of the country’s most amazing landscape features. You’ll pass through lava fields, volcanic craters, and black sand.
Seljalandsfoss
Your first stop is Seljalandsfoss waterfall. While Iceland is home to numerous waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss is one that you shouldn’t miss if on a southern coastal tour. This waterfall offers visitors a path to walk behind it. Thus, you’ll get even closer to photograph this splendid display. Make sure you wear waterproof jackets and keep your distance from danger points. The best time to visit and avoid crowds is during the morning. You’ll likely get fewer visitors and thus you can move around the place nicely.
Gljufrabui
If you walk just a few miles left to the Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, you’ll find another hidden gem – Gljufrabui waterfalls. Not many visitors are aware of this spot, but we got you covered. There’s always fun to find out and explore hidden locations of a place. I didn’t know if this waterfall earlier, but then during my second visit to Iceland, I made sure I don’t miss out. So make sure you reach Gljufrabui & get enough snapshots of it!
Skogarfoss
Next stop is the Skogarfoss waterfall. If you think you’ve seen enough with Seljalandsfoss & Gljufrabui, then you’re probably wrong! One of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland – Skogarfoss can be seen from the Ring Road as well. If the view isn’t right for you, then climb up 527 steps to get another perspective of the waterfall. Just be careful while you walk along, and take proper clothing precautions to not get wet. From the top, you can see the southern part of the Ring Road that offers magnificent views too!
Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck
Just a little ahead of Skogarfoss waterfall, you’ll come across a unique site – Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck. Well, the site looks scary but worry not! No one died in this plane crash. The accident is believed to happen due to some human error and since then the crashed plane has been a tourist site for all travelers. It’s right in the middle of a black sand beach, and it makes your stop worth it!
The crashed plane has been featured in many documentaries, shows, and movies and since then it has become quite a popular tourist attraction. If you’ve parked your car near Skogarfoss waterfall, then the walk may be a bit long (approx. 30-45 minutes). So if you aren’t traveling during summer, make sure you travel to the location fast enough before it gets dark.
Rejnisfjara Black sand beach
I’m pretty sure you must’ve seen this place somewhere – maybe in films or TV series. If not, this place has also been a desktop wallpaper for a lot many people (not even kidding). It’s one of my favorite locations in Iceland and the beach is as beautiful as it can get.
Voted by National Geographic – as one of the Top 10 non-tropical beaches – this place offers stunning panoramic views against the roaring Atlantic waves. With enormous basalt stacks & dramatic tides, this place can potentially be dangerous too. Meaning, the strong forces of Reynisfjara are violent and can sweep you away into the sea. So never turn your back against the waves & be careful of the surrounding. Not to forget – you can also meet up with Icelandic horses. If horse-riding is your thing, then why not do it?
Vik Village
Post your exploration at Reynisfjara, drive up ahead to reach this little cute town of Vik. It only has 300 residents staying in and often serves tourists as a stop-by place to relax, recharge and travel ahead. Plenty of options here to try out Icelandic cuisines and if you want to stay for a night, you can do so. If not, then you can travel back to Reykjavik in the late afternoon.
To ease out your efforts for day 3 planning, you can consider booking a full-guided tour to south Iceland that covers all of the activities I mentioned above. It goes well with the planning & will compliment your itinerary nicely.
This concludes your 3 Day Iceland Itinerary, and I’m sure you must’ve felt satisfied with the destinations & tourist highlights included. If you want to extend your itinerary, do check out my other itinerary guides – 5 Day Iceland, 7 Day Iceland, and the Ring Road Iceland Tour.
From Vik, you can continue your journey south-west to Jökulsárlón and Vatnajökull National Park. Accordingly, you can stretch your southern Iceland tour even to a greater extent.
Accommodation for 3 Days in Iceland
There are plenty of options for Iceland accommodation. Be it luxury hotels, budget stays, hostels, campsites, and campervans – Iceland has it for you!
It is no secret that Iceland is an expensive country. If not planned well, things may go heavy on your pocket. So even if you’re a budget traveler, the country will make sure to put down options that suit you! Airbnbs help a lot when it comes to accommodation and you can find a pretty good range of them across the country.
Many of the Airbnbs have a ‘shared accommodation option that lets you share space with other guests. This is more affordable in terms of room cost, plus it will save you a lot of money if your itinerary is long. If the option doesn’t suit you, then do not fret. Most of the Airbnbs also have the option of ‘entire accommodation’. It depends on your choice & budget preference after all.
I also suggest checking out Tripadvisor. This is where you can compare prices for different hotel platforms and book the cheapest one available. I always use this as my go-to hotel rate checks to find the best deal for the right property.
During my 3-day visit to Iceland, I stayed in a mixed sort of accommodation – that included Airbnb and hotels. I wanted to experience it all under different circumstances, thus ensuring you get the right info presented.
Since you will be staying in Reykjavik for this itinerary, I have mentioned a detailed list of hotels that might help you decide –
Luxury Hotels in Reykjavik –
- Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre – Located at a 5-minute from Reykjavik Harbour (near Sun Voyager)
- Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel, Curio Collection By Hilton – Located right next to the Icelandic Phallological Museum.
- Tower Suites Reykjavik – Located near Höfdi House.
- Hotel Borg by Keahotels – Opposite to the Icelandic Punk Museum. Budget Hotels in Iceland
- Central Guesthouse Reykjavik – Located next to Lake Tjörnin.
- Kex Hostel Reykjavik – Located near Sun Voyager.
- Aurora Guesthouse – Located next to Hallgrimskirkja.
- Hotel Fron – Located in downtown Reykjavik
Budget Hotels in Iceland –
- Central Guesthouse Reykjavik – Located next to Lake Tjörnin.
- Kex Hostel Reykjavik – Located near Sun Voyager.
- Aurora Guesthouse – Located next to Hallgrimskirkja.
- Hotel Fron – Located in downtown Reykjavik
Well, that’s all! Hope you liked my curated itinerary for a 3 day trip to Iceland. I will be updating the post frequently with more suggestions, travel tips & unique excursions. So do you keep a tab on this blog-post.
Further Readings & Resources
Similarly, you can check my other Iceland travel guides that will help you plan a perfect, memorable trip to the country.
Explore Iceland’s Itineraries – 5 Epic Road Trips (+ Iceland Ring Road Itineraries)
Experiences in Iceland – 12 Stunning Things to Do in Iceland in October
Discover Iceland – Guide To Iceland’s Amazing Attractions
Iceland Diaries – Guide To 3 Days In Iceland
The Blue Lagoon – The Ultimate Guide to the Blue Lagoon in Iceland
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