Iceland is one of the most beautiful and dramatic countries I’ve ever visited. Despite being a (relatively small) island, there is simply so much to see and do here. There’s a lot to see, so having the freedom of your own car is a must. But where to go? What to see?! Here’s what I did to see the best of Iceland—a 3-day itinerary to discover the best of this country!

Day 1 in Iceland

You’ll most likely be flying into Keflavik Airport, so once you’ve landed, pick up your car. Reykjavnes Peninsula, the peninsula where the airport is located, is your first stop!

Bridge Between Continents

This is purely symbolic, as the actual rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates can be best seen in Thingvellir National Park (see below!). But less than a 20-minute drive from the airport, you can technically walk across the bridge between two continents! The bridge is divided between North American and Eurasian sides.

Gunnuhver

This is Iceland’s largest geothermal mud pool, which is constantly blowing steam from the geysirs. The water is a toasty 570˚F! It’s right by a geothermal plant, so can be a bit tricky to find the entrance from the highway. I didn’t get out to see it, but it was definitely worth driving past!

Brimketill

This is a small, naturally formed pool along the coast. According to the legends, it was the home of a giantess. This is a fantastic stopping point, and you get amazing views along the coast here. It can be windy and the sea can be a bit dangerous, so be careful!

Blue Lagoon

This is the main thing to do and see in Iceland for a lot of people. While I chose not to pay 71€ and go to the actual Blue Lagoon, I drove along it to see it from the outside. There are also blue lagoons and a walking path around them, which I loved! I even got to see a perfect rainbow over it. I do plan on doing this on my next trip (when I’m obviously a millionaire) so there’s always next time!

Reykjavik

After doing the full circuit of Reykjanes Peninsula, head back to Reykjavik. Iceland’s capital is where more people start their adventure, and there’s a few main sights to see. Don’t miss Hallgrimskirkja and the quintessential view from the tower, the Sun Voyager sculpture, and Harpa, the concert hall (try to see it at night, too!). You can also check out the Iceland Phallological Museum for a whole lot of animal penises if you’re so inclined (I thought it was hilarious!).

I’d also recommend trying some weird Icelandic food like puffin while you’re in Reykjavik, and hitting up a few of the city’s never-ending happy hours. Reykjavik is full of restaurants, cafes, and bars, and trying the local cuisine is a must. I got puffin at Saeta Svinid gastropub, and I tried fermented shark (hákarl) at Islenski Barrin. I’d recommend both venues, but I have to say I didn’t like the shark at all! Make sure to do some research beforehand to find the best happy hour deals.

Sleep in: Reykjavik (1 night)

Day 2 in Iceland

Today is a long day of driving! Head out along the South Coast to Vik. The actual drive is about 2.5 hours, but it’ll take all day with the stops along the way.

Selfoss

I loved this pretty little town! There’s a big river flowing through the middle of town, and picturesque church as well.

Hella

Hella is worth a stop just for the name, and so that you can take pictures of the town’s sign! It was hella worth it.

Seljandfoss

The first main stop on the drive is Seljandfoss, one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland! Parking costs 750 ISK for 24 hours in the main parking lot, but the small lot right by the exit from the highway is completely free! There will be lots of crowds here, but make sure to take your time to enjoy it. Walk along the left to see other the other waterfalls. My favorite was Gljufrabui, back behind the cave!

Eyajafjallajokull

While no one can pronounce it, most of us have heard of this before: it’s the volcano that erupted in 2010! You can book onto tours to go see the volcano and the glacier, but there’s also a nice pull-over point off the highway to take some photos. This volcanic eruption grounded flights for days, and wrecked havoc over Iceland and European airspace.

Skogafoss

Another one of Iceland’s major waterfalls is Skogafoss! This waterfall is much wider, and luckily the parking here is free. It’ll depend on the time of day and weather, but you can often see a rainbow here! Make sure to climb all the steps up to the viewing platform to look down on the waterfall from above—the views are phenomenal.

Plane Wreck (DC-3 Sólheimasandur)

This plane wreck on a beach along the South Coast is the definition of Instagram famous. There’s no signage or directions, there’s just a large, unmarked parking area east of Skogafoss off the highway. I ended up running out of time due to the short daylight hours, so I didn’t actually make it to see the wreck! Keep in mind it’ll take roughly an hour to walk out to the wreck, and an hour to walk back.

Dyrholaey

This peninsula is famous for its arch with the hole in it, and for fantastic bird-watching opportunities. The views along the South Coast are stunning. You can see out to Reynisfjara (more below!), and the black sand beach that connects the two points of the coast. It’s divided between high and low parts—note that the high part is only accessible by 4×4 in winter, which is marked by signs. There’s free parking in the lower part, but the toilets cost 150 ISK.

Reynisfjara

The Black Sand Beach is one of the most popular spots in all of Iceland! This is the iconic Black Sand Beach, with the giant basalt columns. There are two cave areas to explore, and you can see the sea stacks that (according to folklore) were formerly trolls. Be especially careful, as the waves on this beach (“sneaker waves”) can be extremely dangerous and deadly. Parking here is free. Toilets cost 200 ISK if you enter from the outside, but if you go inside the café, you can use the toilets for free.

Vik

The final stop of the day is Vik, the main town in the area. For those doing a full circuit of the Ring Road, this is the last main town for a while! Vik is very small and pretty sleepy—the church overlooking the sea is the main attraction. There’s only one restaurant here, but if you want to get a taste of what Iceland outside Reykjavik is actually like (with limited time), this is a good place to stop.

Sleep in: Vik (1 night)

Day 3 in Iceland

This is another long day of driving! You’ll head back along the South Coast and explore the Golden Circle, before finishing in Reykjavik. The Golden Circle is a popular tourist/sightseeing route, which is easy to drive in a loop. The morning is a great chance to set off early and stop anywhere that you missed out on the day before!

Kerid Crater

The first stop on the Golden Circle is Kerid Crater! This crater is 3000 years old and approximately 55 meters (170 feet) deep. You can walk around the entire top of the crater, but it was so windy when I was there that it would have been really dangerous with the snow. You can go down to see the base though, which I really recommend. Parking is free, but there’s a 400 ISK entrance charge to see the crater.

Geysir

This is where the noun geyser comes from: Geysir itself! This hot spring is one of the main stops on the Golden Circle, and a great place to see the eruptions. It goes about every 5-10 minutes, although because of the wind on the day I went, it wasn’t anywhere near as high as its 70-meter maximum height! There’s a big parking lot here, with a massive gift shop, cafeterias and cafes, and free toilets. Parking is free.

Gulfoss

One of the most magnificent attractions in all of Iceland: Gulfoss is one not to be missed. This waterfall (which translated means “golden falls”) is 32 meters or 105 feet high, with two separate stages. The waterfall is a powerful one, and chances are that you’ll get wet from the spray. Seeing it partially frozen over in winter was absolutely incredible! There’s a big free parking lot, and Gulfoss itself is free too.

Thingvellir National Park

The last main stop on the Golden Circle is Thingvellir National Park. This is Iceland’s first national park, and was also the home of its government from the 10^th to the 18^th centuries. It’s also famous as this is where you can best see the rifts between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates!

If you’re brave (or rich) enough, you can go diving between the two continents at Silfra. You can best see the tectonic plates from the visitor center and the gorge (Almannagja). I parked in parking lot P5 and walked up. The views over the National Park are amazing!

Oxararfoss is another beautiful waterfall, and I loved seeing this one partially frozen as well! Oxararfoss is closest to the P2 parking lot. 24-hour parking pass costs 750 ISK per car—you can pay online if you want.

After finishing at Thingevellir National Park, head back towards Reykjavik (or near the airport) to settle in for the night after the long driving day. Bonus points if you can catch an incredible sunset like this one over the mountains!

Sleep in: Reykjavik or near airport (1 night)

Iceland: The Basics

Iceland is country in Northern Europe, an island located in the North Atlantic Ocean. The official language is Icelandic, although most everyone speaks perfect English. The official currency is Icelandic Kronur (ISK). Iceland has a population of roughly 338,000 people, 122,000 of whom live in the capital of Reykjavik. The country is a member of the Schengen Zone, but is not a member of the European Union (EU).

Getting Around Iceland

The best way to explore Iceland is without a doubt to hire your own car. Car rental is relatively affordable, although gas can be expensive. From an American perspective, it’s very expensive! From a European perspective, it’s slightly more than we pay in England (think motorway prices). The freedom to have your own set of wheels means you can stop whenever you want to take photos, which you’ll be doing a lot! Iceland drives on the right side of the road, and most of their cars are manual transmission. In winter, all rental cars are required by law to have studded snow tires. Public transportation can be infrequent and expensive, but there are lots of popular day tours that will run from Reykjavik.

Where I Stayed in Iceland

I stayed for one night in Reykjavik, one night in Vik, and one night outside of Reykjavik. I’d definitely recommend Vik HI Hostel! It wasn’t cheap (roughly £35 for a bed in a 6-person dorm), but the kitchen is massive and very well-equipped, dorm rooms were clean and warm, and there’s plenty of free parking. I also stayed at First Hotel Kopavogur, which is located just outside Reykjavik. It was a really nice hotel, with plenty of free parking, and an easy drive both to Reykjavik and to Keflavik Airport. Check out Booking.com to make a booking!

And that’s it! Three days definitely isn’t enough to see Iceland. But if you have limited time (or budget, or both), this 3-day itinerary gives you the best of Iceland! Reykjanes, Reykjavik, the South Coast, and the Golden Circle are real highlights and definitely accessible on a short trip. I absolutely loved my time in Iceland and I already want to go back!

Have you been to Iceland before? Where were your favorite places?!

You might like my other Iceland posts:

20 Photos To Convince You Iceland Is The Most Magical Place On Earth

How Much Does It Cost To Travel Iceland For 3 Days?

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