A European vacation doesn’t need to be 10 days long. It takes just as long to fly to Reykjavík from New York City as it does to fly to Los Angeles. So, if you’re thinking four days is too short a trip to visit Iceland, think again.
Transform your next long weekend off from work into an adventure around Iceland. In four days, you can explore some of Iceland’s best natural wonders, from towering waterfalls to oceanside cliffs.
In this itinerary, we’ll cover Reykjavík, the Golden Circle, and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. You can base yourself in Reykjavík and take day trips outside of the city or spend the night in different towns.
This four-day itinerary works for summer and winter. In the winter, it’s best to take guided tours to the Golden Circle and Snæfellsnes Peninsula because the strong winter winds can make driving hazardous for inexperienced tourists. If you’re visiting in the summer, rent a car to go at your own pace.
Without further ado, let’s get into it.
Day 1: Exploring Reykjavík
You’ll hop off your flight and get right down to business by exploring the capital city of Reykjavík.
Bakery hopping for breakfast
Reykjavík is known for its delicious bakeries, especially its cinnamon buns. After landing in Reykjavík, your first stop is Braud & Co., the bakery with the best cinnamon buns in Reykjavík. The buns have an ooey-gooey center that will immediately make you warm up to the city.
Braud & Co. has multiple locations around Reykjavík, but you’ll want to go to the one on Frakkastígur, so you’re close to the next stop on our mini bakery tour: Sandholt Bakery.
Compared to Braud & Co., Sandholt is more of an upscale spot with French-style pastries beautifully displayed in glass cases. Don’t be fooled by the fancy pastries; it still has a down-to-earth vibe. You can sit down for a proper breakfast or brunch at Sandholt or grab a pastry to go to continue on your adventure.
ThatPlannerFriend Tip: The line inside Sandholt is to wait for a table. If you’re just taking pastries to go, you can walk right up to the counter on your left to order.
Stroll around the city center
Walking around Reykjavík is like stepping into an outdoor gallery. The houses are painted in bright colors, and there are murals on almost every block. Stroll around the streets and marvel at the art.
See the Skólavörðustígur rainbow street
Bright colors in Reykjavík aren’t just for walls; the streets are painted, too. Skólavörðustígur is known as the “Rainbow Street.” This multi colored street leads you to the top of the hill.
Visit Hallgrimskirkja
Iceland’s largest and most famous church stands tall on the top of a hill. Hallgrimskirkja has become a symbol of the nation’s capital. The architecture was inspired by Iceland’s volcanic geological features.
You can go to the top of Hallgrimskirkja for 1400 ISK (about $11) in the summer between 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. It’s one of the few places to get a rooftop view of the city since most buildings are no more than six stories tall.
Hot dog hopping for lunch
Hot dogs are a thing in Iceland. Icelandic hot dogs are a blend of lamb, pork, and beef, with allegedly better quality ingredients than an American hot dog. For lunch, grab a dog from the two most popular hot dog stands in the city.
Víkinga Pylsur serves Icelandic hot dogs with a gourmet twist outside of Hallgrimskirkja. Stop here for a bite after you visit the church.
Next, go to Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur for a more traditional dog. A classic Icelandic hot dog is served with ketchup and a sweet brown mustard. You can also add sauerkraut, crispy onions, and more.
The flagship Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur is near the harbor on Tryggvagata. It’s a little stand that has been serving hot dogs since the 1930s. There is also an outpost on the east side of town within a convenience store on Laugavegur.
Shop along Laugavegur
Laugavegur is the main shopping street in Reykjavík. It’s the perfect place to shop for souvenirs. My favorite stores are Epal, a Scandinavian home goods store, and Verzlanahöllin, a secondhand shop where locals go to find deals.
At the very end of Laugavegur is Hlemmur Mathöll, a popular food hall where some of Reykjavík’s best restaurants started (including the one you’ll have dinner at).
Wine at Vínstúkan Tíu Sopar
Before dinner, grab a glass of wine at Vínstúkan Tíu Sopar, a lowkey natural wine bar on Laugavegur. On sunny days, they’ll put chairs and tables on the street, but it’s always a cozy vibe inside.
Dinner at Skál!
Skál means “cheers” in Icelandic, and at this small restaurant in Reykjavík, it also means you’re about to have one of the best meals of your life. Skál! cooks with local, seasonal ingredients and makes beautiful and delicious small plates.
For about 100 USD, you can enjoy eight courses. Just order the Skál! Experience and the kitchen will take care of you. Skál! was recently featured on the New York Times, so you’ll definitely need to make a reservation a few days in advance.
Day 2: The Golden Circle
On the second day, you’ll get out of town with a day trip to the Golden Circle, a scenic drive loop that takes you to some of Iceland’s best natural landscapes. The three main stops are Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss. To learn the bonus stops included in the map below, read “The Self-Guided Tour of the Golden Circle.”
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park
It’s rare that a national park is the meeting point of two tectonic plates and the former meeting point of parliament. Well, actually, Þingvellir may be the only national park where that’s true.
Þingvellir National Park tells the story of Iceland’s history amongst its waterfalls, hills, and canyons. A walk around the park will show you natural beauty and deeply-rooted history. All of the main attractions in the park are concentrated within one area, making it easy to walk to each spot.
Start your journey at the Öxarárfoss P3 Parking Trailhead. From here, walk through the Almannagjá gorge between the tectonic plates to Öxarárfoss, the waterfall. If you keep walking along the trail, you’ll run into the visitor’s center.
Down the hill, you’ll find the more historical parts of Þingvellir, like the church and the first meeting point of Parliament.
Visiting Þingvellir National Park is technically free, but you need to pay for parking. It’s a daily rate of 1000 ISK or about 8 USD to park. You can use the Parka app in places designated P3 or pay at the parking kiosks.
Lunch at Friðheimar tomato farm
After all the walking and learning, you’ll probably work up an appetite, take a detour to Friðheimar, a tomato farm where you can enjoy tomato dishes in the greenhouse where they are grown. Friðheimar is famous for its bottomless tomato soup, but there is a variety of tomato dishes to choose from — even tomato ice cream.
Friðheimar gets crowded during high season. Reservations are recommended for more than four people, but if you’re traveling in a pair or solo, you can get a seat at the bar. Make a reservation here.
Geysir Geothermal Area in Haukadalur Valley
Every five minutes, the Strokkur geyser erupts in the Haukadalur Valley, shooting water into the air. The area has the name Geysir because of the formerly active geyser aptly named “Geysir.”
Strokkur is currently the only active geyser in the area, but you’ll see plenty of geothermal activity. The Geysir geothermal area features bubbling mud, blue chromatic pools, and steam rising from the earth.
There is a visitor’s center with shops, bathrooms, and a cafe next to the parking lot, which is free to park.
Gullfoss
At the end of the Golden Circle is the famed Gullfoss, a huge two-tiered waterfall. It’s a short walk down stairs and on a trail to reach the falls. Expect to be sprayed by the waterfall’s mist if you get close. Hopefully, you’ll catch a rainbow on a sunny day. You’ll be rewarded with free parking after making it to the official end of the Golden Circle.
Dinner in Selfoss
Selfoss is a small town at the base of the Golden Circle loop. Whether you’re staying in Selfoss or just passing through, there are great dinner options in the area. The Old Dairy Food Hall in Selfoss has a bunch of restaurants within it to choose from. For something more upscale, go to MAR Seafood for the fresh catch of the day.
ThatPlannerFriend Tip: Many restaurants in small towns in Iceland close around 9 p.m., so make sure to wrap up your outdoor adventures before then to make it to dinner.
Day 3: Snæfellsnes Peninsula
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula gets the nickname “Iceland in Miniature” or “Mini Iceland” because it’s home to so many natural landscapes from all across the island in one place. This makes a trip to the peninsula a must-do for travelers who don’t have the time to explore the entire country.
It takes a little over two hours from Reykjavík to reach the first stop on Route 54 on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. For a full guide to exploring and driving the peninsula, read “Iceland Guide: An Adventure on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.”
Ytri Tunga (Seal Beach)
The first stop along Route 54 on the southern part of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is Ytri Tunga, a beach with seals. Harbor and grey seals call Ytri Tunga home. You can see the gentle giants lying on rocks in the distance and playing in the shallow waters along the shore.
Búðir Church (Búðakirkja)
At the end of the road is the iconic black-painted church Búðakirkja. “Kirkja” means church in Icelandic. The church is a traditional Icelandic design. The black contrasts beautifully with the blue skies and lush green grass of summer. You can’t go into the church, but you can take as many photos as you want outside.
Arnarstapi Cliff Walk
Arnarstapi looks like you’ve stepped into a postcard from a quintessential Icelandic fishing village. The Arnarstapi Cliff Walk is the main attraction with views of the cliffs, ocean, and village.
It takes less than an hour to complete. Although it’s not a loop, you can walk back to your car or hotel by cutting through town. The most famous rock formation is Gatklettur (pictured above).
Snæfellsjökull National Park
The tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula belongs to Snæfellsjökull National Park. There aren’t many places to stop, but it’s a beautiful drive through nature with a view of the towering glacier.
Malarrif Lighthouse
Within the Snæfellsjökull National Park is the Malarrif Lighthouse. It’s a lighthouse with a unique Icelandic design that I’ve never seen in any other part of the world. Arctic foxes hang out in the area of the lighthouse, so keep your eyes peeled on your walk to and from the lighthouse.
Kirkjufell
On the northern part of the peninsula is the famed Kirkjufell. This hill was featured in Game of Thrones as Arrowhead Mountain, which made it a tourist destination. In Icelandic, “Kirkjufell” means “church mountain.” It was given this name because the top looks like a church steeple, but it resembles more of a witch’s hat to me. You need to pay to park in the lot adjacent to Kirkjufell, but we just ran out for a quick photo.
Day 4: Goodbye Reyjavík, Hello Blue Lagoon
You’ll wind down your Icelandic adventure at the Blue Lagoon before your flight out. In the morning, go to any of the places in Reykjavík you missed during your first day in the city.
For a full Reykjavík guide, read “The Mini Guide to Reykjavík, Iceland” and check out “The 2-Day Reykjavík, Iceland Itinerary” for more details on exactly what to do while you’re in town.
Relax at the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is considered a must-do experience in Iceland. It’s a geothermal spa that is heated by a nearby power plant. While it’s not a natural wonder, it’s a fun one. The Blue Lagoon gets its name from the blue hue the silica in the water gives it. The silica also has healing powers for people with psoriasis.
It costs about 120 USD per person to visit the Blue Lagoon. This includes a welcome drink and face mask in the lagoon. Many people recommend going to the Blue Lagoon as soon as you land in Iceland, but I think it’s a great ending to your trip. You can shower after the spa experience, so you’re nice and clean for your flight home. It’s about a 20-minute drive to the airport, so it’s easy to go straight from the spa to the terminal.
Where to stay
Reykjavík
In Reykjavík, it’s best to stay in the heart of the city. We loved staying at Þingholt by Center Hotels on the east side of the city center, within walking distance to the old harbor and major sights. Center Hotels is a chain of hotels in Iceland with a boutique-like feel. There are plenty of Center Hotels to choose from in Reykjavík.
Near the Golden Circle
The main town to stay at near the Golden Circle is Selfoss. We stayed in Hotel Selfoss and continued on the Ring Road the next morning. If I were only spending four days in Iceland, I would look for a guest house or Airbnb near the Golden Circle in the middle of nowhere to be one with nature.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
On the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Arnarstapi Hotel is the best place to stay. Arnarstapi is one of the furthest places on the peninsula, so you can crash there at night after exploring the village.
What to come back for
After you fall in love with Iceland, you’ll want to come back for more. The biggest part of Iceland that this guide leaves out is the South Coast. Many geological features found in the South Coast are also in the Golden Circle and Snæfellsnes Peninsula, like waterfalls, glaciers, and lava fields. So what did you miss? Glacial lagoons, canyons, puffin colonies, and black sand beaches, but don’t worry, they’ll be waiting for you when you come back.
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