3 Days in Iceland: Our Perfect Stopover Itinerary

Most people who land here are doing one of three things: planning a proper short Iceland trip, working out whether a stopover on the way to Europe or North America is worth a few extra nights, or trying to figure out whether 3 days is enough at all. We’ve driven this route in three different seasons, and the short answer is that yes, 3 days is enough to see what makes Iceland special, but only if you accept what the trip can and can’t be.

This guide is built around that honesty. You’ll get a day-by-day self-drive itinerary with realistic clock times, current parking fees, accommodation picks for each night, and an early-arrival decision tree if your flight lands at 5am at Keflavík (which is the most common stopover failure mode). We’ve also included a month-by-month section, because the same itinerary changes shape quite a bit between June, September, and November, and a no-drive alternative if you’d rather base yourself in Reykjavik and take day tours.

We’ve also put together a few longer guides for if you have more time, including our Iceland Ring Road itinerary and a 5 day Iceland itinerary that covers more of the south and east.

Is 3 Days in Iceland Enough?

Three full days in Iceland will give you a great trip. You’ll see the Golden Circle, the famous south coast waterfalls, black sand beaches, and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. You won’t see everything, and for something like the Iceland Ring Road we’d recommend at least a week. But three days is enough to understand what makes Iceland so special, without the cost of a longer trip.

That said, the longer you stay the more you’ll find. Our last Iceland trip was over four weeks, and we still felt we barely scratched the surface.

If you do decide to visit for longer, check out some of our longer Iceland guides and itineraries, including our Iceland Ring Road itinerary, our seven day Iceland road trip itinerary, and our guide to spending five days in Iceland.

 

Practical Tips Before You Go

 

Parking Fees

If you’re used to Iceland from a few years ago, one big change is that most major attractions now charge for parking. This caught us off guard on a recent visit, and it’s worth knowing about in advance.

For the stops on this itinerary, expect to pay around 750 to 1,000 ISK per stop. Payment is usually through the Parka app, though some sites use checkit.is or contactless card machines. We’d strongly recommend downloading the Parka app before you arrive, as it covers the majority of sites and saves fiddling with payment machines in the cold.

Here are the current fees for stops on this itinerary:

• Thingvellir National Park costs 1,000 ISK (valid all day across all park lots, payable via checkit.is or card machines).
• Geysir is 1,000 ISK (Parka app).
• Gullfoss is free.
• Brúarfoss is 750 ISK (Parka app).
• Seljalandsfoss is 1,000 ISK (checkit.is or card machines).
• Skógafoss is 1,000 ISK (Parka app, valid 8 hours).
• Dyrhólaey is 750 ISK (Parka).
• Reynisfjara is 750 to 1,000 ISK (Parka).
• Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is 1,000 ISK (Parka).
• Skaftafell (for Svartifoss) is 1,040 ISK (Parka, and you get a 50% discount if you also park at Jökulsárlón on the same calendar day, valid until midnight).
• Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach are each 1,000 ISK (Parka).

Kerið Crater is slightly different. The 700 ISK charge there is an entrance fee per person rather than a parking fee, payable at the kiosk.

 

Car Rental, Fuel, and the New Road Tax

There’s a new wrinkle for 2026 that’s worth flagging upfront. As of January 2026, Iceland has replaced its fuel-based road tax with a per-kilometre charge of 6.95 ISK/km. Your car rental company will add this to your final bill automatically based on the kilometres you’ve driven, so don’t be surprised by the extra charge when you return the car. For a 3-day trip following this itinerary you’ll cover roughly 900 to 1,100 km, which works out to around 6,000 to 7,500 ISK in road tax on top of your rental.

The upside is that the fuel-tax change means petrol now sits at around 215 to 220 ISK per litre at the pump, with diesel a little higher at around 259 ISK per litre. Bensínverð.is tracks live prices across the country, so it’s worth a quick check the morning of pickup.

For car rental, we recommend checking Discover Cars to compare providers, or Northbound which is based in Iceland and lets you add the various Iceland-specific insurances upfront, avoiding the hard sell at the pickup counter.

See more on insurance and general driving advice in our tips for driving in Iceland post.

 

Getting Online

WiFi is widely available at hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops across Iceland. If you want mobile data while you’re out exploring, we’d recommend picking up an eSIM before you travel. We use Airalo, which lets you buy and install a data plan on your phone before you leave home. It’s much simpler than trying to find a physical SIM card on arrival, and works in most modern smartphones. See our guide to getting online when you travel for all the options.

 

A 3 Day Iceland Self-Drive Itinerary

Our 3 day Iceland itinerary is for three full days in Iceland. It would work for either two nights or three nights, assuming you have an early morning arrival and an evening departure. It could also be adjusted slightly to work for 2.5 days if you can’t make the flights work.

If you don’t have quite so much time, our suggestion would be to either base yourself in Reykjavik and do some day trips, or plan a two day trip that doesn’t include so many sites, either by dropping the Golden Circle, or only going as far as Vik on the south coast.

For now though, let’s look at how we suggest you spend three days in Iceland, driving yourself.

 

If You Land at 5am at Keflavík: Your Three Options

Most Icelandair and Play stopover flights arrive at Keflavík between 05:00 and 07:00. By the time you’ve cleared passport control, picked up bags, and walked over to the rental car desks, it’s likely to be 06:00 to 08:00 with no sleep on the plane. The Day 1 itinerary below assumes you start your sightseeing around 09:00, which is fine if you’ve slept on the flight, but most people haven’t.

We’ve done this drive in all three of the configurations below, and each one works for different people. The right call depends on your tolerance for tired driving, how much you slept on the plane, and whether you’ve booked accommodation for the airport area or further inland.

Option 1: Sleep first, start late. Book a room near Keflavík (the Northern Light Inn or Start Hostel are both good for an early arrival, with Start Hostel doing breakfast from 03:30). Sleep until late morning, then start the Golden Circle around midday. You’ll lose Brúarfoss or Kerið Crater from Day 1 but everything else fits. This is what we’d pick if you’ve come off a red-eye and didn’t sleep on the plane.

Option 2: Lagoon first, then sleep. Head straight from the airport to the Blue Lagoon (about 20 minutes’ drive) or the Sky Lagoon (about 45 minutes, closer to Reykjavik). Spend two or three hours in the warm water, eat something, then drive on to your Day 1 accommodation for an afternoon nap before starting fresh tomorrow. This effectively turns your trip into 2.5 days but with a wonderful first stop, and most people find a soak in geothermal water is a better hangover-from-flight cure than a hotel bed.

Option 3: Push through. Pick up the car, head straight to Þingvellir, and run Day 1 as published with the understanding that you’ll be running on coffee. Tempting if you’ve slept on the plane, dangerous if you haven’t. Iceland’s main roads are well maintained but they’re not forgiving of inattention, and the gravel turn-offs to waterfalls and viewpoints add micro-decisions that compound when you’re tired. We’d say push through only if at least one person in the car has had four solid hours of sleep on the flight.

If you’re not sure which option fits, our default recommendation is Option 2. The lagoon stop costs you a couple of hours of sightseeing but gives you a memorable first experience and resets your body clock more effectively than a hotel room.

 

Day 1: Golden Circle (Arrive ~9am, Accommodation by ~5:30pm)

We’ll assume you arrive in the morning at Keflavik airport, where you’ll pick up your car rental. See our Practical Tips section above for car rental recommendations and what to expect with insurance.

If you’re going with the lagoon-first option above, this is where you’d factor in either the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon before heading inland. You can book the Blue Lagoon here and the Sky Lagoon here (both require advance booking, walk-ins aren’t accepted).

Note that the Blue Lagoon has experienced temporary closures due to volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula. See our detailed note on this in the Blue Lagoon vs Sky Lagoon section below, and check the Blue Lagoon’s status page before booking.

From the airport (or lagoon) we’re going to head straight for the Golden Circle. This is a popular circular route that takes in a number of Iceland’s big attractions. The name Golden Circle derives from the name of the major waterfall on the route, Gullfoss, which means gold waterfall in Icelandic.

The Golden Circle route contains a number of highlights that you’ll want to stop at.

The first of these is Þingvellir National Park, pronounced Thingvellir in English. This is an important cultural and geological site, and is one of Iceland’s UNESCO world heritage sites.

The national park has a number of attractions. First, it was the location of Iceland’s first parliament, and for hundreds of years Icelanders would convene here to discuss laws and politics. It’s also geologically interesting, as the continental divide can be seen here, with two continental plates moving apart from each other. You can actually walk (or snorkel!) in these rifts, which is a pretty cool geological experience.

Another attraction here that’s worth seeing is Öxarárfoss, which will be the first waterfall you see on this three day trip, but by no means the last. Near Öxarárfoss is a rift through the rock, which was used as a Game of Thrones filming location.

On the way from Thingvellir to Geysir, it’s worth making a short detour to Brúarfoss, sometimes called “Iceland’s Bluest Waterfall.” Until 2023 this waterfall was essentially inaccessible without trespassing on private land, but there’s now an official parking area and marked trail (parking is 750 ISK via Parka). The walk takes about 15 to 20 minutes each way on a well-maintained path. The waterfall itself isn’t huge, but the vivid blue colour of the water is unlike anything else on the Golden Circle. Check bruarfoss.is for current trail conditions, as the path closes in winter.

On the way to Geysir you’ll pass the Efstidalur II farm restaurant, which has excellent food and ice-cream options. You’ll also go past the Laugarvatn spa, where you can enjoy the waters and can also pick up geothermally baked “lava” bread, which we found to be very tasty.

Your next stop will be the Geysir thermal area, home to bubbling mud pots, steaming earth, and geysers that shoot boiling hot water and steam into the air on a regular basis. The geothermal area here is also home to a geyser called “Geysir”, which is where the word for geyser in English actually came from.

The Geysir area is a good spot for lunch. Friðheimar is a tomato farm and greenhouse restaurant nearby that’s become one of the most popular lunch stops on the Golden Circle. They grow tomatoes year-round using geothermal heat, and the restaurant serves excellent tomato soup and fresh bread right in the middle of the greenhouse. It’s open daily from 11:30 to 16:00, but it’s very popular, so we’d recommend booking in advance through their website.

The last major attraction on the Golden Circle is Gullfoss, the aforementioned “Gold” waterfall.

This is definitely one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland. It’s a wide, two-tiered waterfall that plunges a total of around 105 ft. It’s quite the sight to behold, and there are a number of viewpoints that you can enjoy the falls from, as well as an on-site gift shop and cafe.

From Gullfoss, we suggest you head towards your accommodation for the night.

If you have time (and stamina), an optional stop on the way to your accommodation is Kerið Crater. This 3,000-year-old volcanic crater lake has striking red and black volcanic rock surrounding vivid blue-green water. It’s a quick visit (15 to 20 minutes is plenty) and costs 700 ISK per person, payable at the entrance kiosk.

 

Where to Stay

Our suggestion for your first night is to book accommodation somewhere between Flúðir and Hvolsvöllur, depending on how far you want to drive and what’s available. Here are some options to consider.

• Farmhotel Efstidalur. As the name suggests, this is found on a working farm. Private rooms are en-suite and there’s an on-site geothermal hot tub. The farm restaurant here is excellent too.
• The Hill Hotel at Flúðir. We stayed here on one of our Iceland trips and it was very comfortable, with an on-site restaurant. Formerly the Icelandair Hotel Flúðir, it’s now independently run.
• Garður Stay Inn by the Secret Lagoon. Well reviewed and handy for Flúðir’s “Secret Lagoon”, a lovely geothermal bath.
• Midgard Base Camp. Found in Hvolsvöllur, this highly rated hostel is a great budget option with a hot tub and a good base for the south coast the next day.

You can see more options in this region on Booking.com here.

 

Day 2: South Coast Highlights (Depart ~8:30am, Accommodation by ~6pm)

For your next two days in Iceland, we’re going to focus on the south coast, primarily following Route 1, which is also known as the Ring Road.

Whilst this can be done in one day if you skip things, we think a better option is to go a bit slower and take in more of the attractions, of which there are many.

The trip out to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, which is the end point of our route, will require you to drive the same route there and back. We’re going to take advantage of this, and split the sightseeing across the two days so you don’t feel you have to see everything in one day.

Our first stop is the Lava Centre in Hvolsvöllur. This award-winning interactive museum covers the volcanos and geology of Iceland, with exhibits that include earthquake simulators and a 12-metre recreation of Iceland’s magma flow. Given the ongoing volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula (more on that in the lagoon section below), a visit here gives you real context for the landscapes you’ll be driving through. There’s also a good on-site restaurant, Katla, if you want an early lunch or coffee stop. Allow about an hour for the visit.

You can book your Lava Centre tickets on GetYourGuide here.

From the Lava Centre, you’re going to head to some of Iceland’s most iconic south coast sights, including waterfalls and black sand beaches.

The first of these is Seljalandsfoss. This is an impressive waterfall found just off Route 1. Seljalandsfoss is one of the few waterfalls in Iceland you can actually walk behind.

Note that Seljalandsfoss has a parking fee of 1,000 ISK, payable via checkit.is or the card machines in the car park. I’d also add a word of warning about walking behind the waterfall: you will get seriously wet. On our visit I had a waterproof camera cover and I still struggled to keep the lens dry as the spray poured over me from every direction. Worth bringing one for your phone as well.

Despite the soaking, walking behind the falls is one of those experiences I’d recommend to everyone. There’s something quite special about standing behind a wall of falling water with the Icelandic landscape framed through it.

As a bonus, there’s actually another waterfall near Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi. Note that this does require a short wade up a stream through a canyon to view, so don’t do this if it doesn’t sound like something you would be comfortable with, and ensure the stream is not too high before attempting it.

To get to Gljúfrabúi from Seljalandsfoss you head along the path (there’s a little sign pointing the way) to the right of Seljalandsfoss as you look at it (away from the Ring Road). A short 5 to 10 minute walk will bring you to a stream coming out of a narrow canyon in the rock.

If you are feeling brave, have waterproof boots on, and the stream is not too high, you can head up this stream a few meters, where you’ll be rewarded with the gorgeous Gljúfrabúi waterfall, which tumbles into the canyon, and is quite spectacular.

Next, you’ll continue along the Ring Road to another of Iceland’s incredible waterfalls, Skógafoss. This is notable for its width and height. At 15 metres wide and with a drop of sixty meters, the amount of water thundering over these falls is an amazing sight to behold.

You can admire this from ground level, and you can get very close to the base here (although the spray will likely get you very wet), or you can hike up the staircase to the viewpoint for a different perspective.

Parking at Skógafoss costs 1,000 ISK via the Parka app, valid for 8 hours.

Near Skogafoss is the Skogar Museum, which is a lovely regional museum focused on the cultural heritage of the area that has three large sections: Icelandic culture, Icelandic technology and transportation, and an open-air museum complex that includes old traditional turf buildings.

Your journey now continues to one of Iceland’s famous black sand beaches. The first stop though will be at Dyrhólaey, a rocky peninsula that is home to a massive black lava arch which juts out to sea. From atop the 120 metre high Dyrhólaey there are quite spectacular views, especially to the west, where a black sand beach stretches out for miles upon miles.

This is also one of the few spots on this three day tour from where you will be able to spot puffins. Every spring Iceland is home to millions of these cute little seabirds, who come here to nest and raise their pufflings. If you’re interested in seeing them, see our guide to puffins in Iceland, which has lots of information on the best places to see them.

Note that Dyrhólaey is normally closed to visitors during the early part of the puffin nesting season each year, usually from mid May to mid June.

From Dyrhólaey it’s a short drive down to the beautiful Reynisfjara Beach. This stretch of black sand is famous for its black basalt columns, which appear to rise out of the beach itself. There are also caves, and sea stacks in the distance.

One important safety warning about Reynisfjara: this beach is known for powerful “sneaker waves” that surge up the sand without warning. These waves have killed visitors, and you should stay well back from the waterline at all times. There’s now a colour-coded warning system at the beach (green, yellow, red) indicating current wave danger. Pay attention to these signs and check SafeTravel.is for current conditions before visiting.

It’s also worth knowing that storms and coastal erosion can dramatically change the beach. In February 2026, severe storms eroded away most of the sand, with sand starting to return through the spring and access directed to the upper viewing platforms. The beach is open, but your experience may vary depending on recent weather conditions.

From Reynisfjara you will continue along Route 1 through the town of Vik, which is the best spot on Day 2 for fuel, a coffee, and lunch. We’ve eaten at a few places here over the years and our two picks are:

• Suður-Vík. A family-run restaurant and café set in a historic hilltop house on the edge of the village, with sea views and Icelandic comfort food. The fish stew and lamb dishes are particularly good. They typically close for December and January each year for the off-season, so check Facebook for current hours if you’re visiting in winter.
• Smiðjan Brugghús. A casual brewery and burger spot in the centre of Vík. Excellent burgers (the lamb burger in particular), a solid range of house-brewed beers if you’re not driving, and a relaxed atmosphere for an hour off the road.

After Vik, the road continues across the Eldhraun lava field.

This is the largest lava flow in the world, covering an area of 218 square miles, and it was formed when the Laki volcano erupted in 1783. The eruption lasted eight months, and 42 billion tons of lava was spewed forth. The eruption had far-reaching global consequences, with the ash in the air affecting the climate across Europe and causing crop failures and famine.

Today, the moss covered Eldhraun Lava Field is a unique and beautiful site, unlike anywhere else we saw in Iceland, and there are a number of spots you can stop to admire its vastness. Just be sure to stay to the marked paths and not to walk on the moss, as it is very fragile and takes decades to regenerate.

Our last stop on Day 2 is at Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon (parking 1,000 ISK via Parka). This 100-metre deep canyon has been carved by glacial meltwater over the past 10,000 years, and the winding shape of the walls makes for wonderful photography. For the best views, walk to the lookout platform, about ten to fifteen minutes from the parking area.

One thing to be aware of: Fjaðrárgljúfur was declared a nature reserve in 2024, and is occasionally closed during the spring (typically anywhere between April and June) to allow vegetation to recover from foot traffic. The closure isn’t a fixed window, it shifts with conditions year to year. If you’re visiting in spring, check the Environment Agency of Iceland website before making the detour, as it would be a shame to arrive and find the gates locked.

That finishes up our second day. Now for some suggestions on where to stay.

 

Where to Stay

Our suggestion for your second night is to stay somewhere between Hof and Jökulsárlón, which will set you up nicely for your third day. Some suggested accommodation options are as follows.

• Hotel Skaftafell. Found by Route 1, this hotel is 40 minutes drive west of Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, and offers lovely views, WiFi, on-site restaurant, and bar.
• Old Cottage. A little east of the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, this budget hotel offers rooms with shared bathrooms, a restaurant, and an on-site kitchen.
• Fosshotel Nupar. Around an 80 minute drive west of the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, this property is part of the well-rated Fosshotel range. These sit in the mid to upper range of hotel options in Iceland, and rooms offer lovely views. There’s also an on-site restaurant.
• Hunkubakkar Guesthouse. A family run guesthouse found five miles from Kirkjubæjarklaustur. WiFi, on-site restaurant, and colourful cottages.

You can see more options for this region on booking.com here.

 

Day 3: South Coast Highlights & Reykjavik (Depart Early, Aim for Reykjavik by ~6pm)

For your third day, you’re going to start at the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. This is a huge lagoon formed by run-off from the melting Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. It’s around 7 square miles in size today, and is the deepest lake in Iceland.

The lake is filled with eerily blue icebergs, which break off the glacier and float around in the lake. After a long period of doing this, they become small enough to float out to sea, where many of them end up on the so-called Diamond Beach, named because all the washed up icebergs look like diamonds strewn across the sand.

At Jökulsárlón you have a couple of options for activities depending on the time of year. In summer (May to October), you can take a boat tour on the lagoon, which gets you close to the glacier edge with a chance to see seals. The amphibian boat tours are the most popular option and typically last around 40 minutes. The lagoon has too much ice in winter for boat tours to operate.

In winter, you can do an ice cave tour instead, with departures from Jokulsarlon. These tours, which last around three hours, take you up onto Vatnajokull Glacier where an experienced guide will take you inside a beautiful ice cave. An ice cave tour is a popular activity, so do book this one in advance. Also be aware that it will take some time, so you might need to adjust the remainder of your day’s activities to accommodate it.

From Jokulsarlon, you’re going to start heading back to Reykjavik. However, there’s still lots to see on the way back.

The first stop is Svartifoss, or the black falls. These waterfalls are found in the Skaftafell area of the Vatnajökull National Park.

Parking at Skaftafell costs 1,040 ISK via the Parka app. A useful tip: if you also park at Jökulsárlón or elsewhere in Vatnajökull National Park on the same calendar day, you get a 50% discount at the second location (the discount is valid until midnight that day). So visiting Jökulsárlón and Svartifoss on the same day (as this itinerary suggests) saves you money.

The hike up to the falls is fairly steep, and will take 50 to 90 minutes round trip, depending on your fitness levels. We think it’s worth it though, the water cascades over beautiful black basalt columns, and it’s a unique look amongst the other waterfalls you’ll be seeing on this three day road trip.

Continuing along the south coast, our next stop is the DC-3 plane wreck. This is a popular stop off the Ring Road, with a hike leading you to the wreck of a DC-3 that crashed here some decades ago. A second DC-3 was placed at the site in 2025, so the scene now includes both wrecks, which is worth knowing before you set out (some older photographs and guides only show one).

The walk out to the planes and back takes about 2 hours, and this is a very popular stop. It’s not for everyone, but if you do decide to head out here, make sure you are properly dressed and prepared for it.

See our full guide to finding the Iceland plane crash, so you know what to expect.

Again, this walk takes a bit of time, so do consider this as part of your whole day and what else you want to see before committing to it.

As you head back, we have three options for what to do for the final part of your last day in Iceland: bathe in the Seljavallalaug swimming pool, visit one of the lagoons (Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon, decision frame below), or explore Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital city.

The first option is Seljavallalaug swimming pool. Having done a bit of walking on your trip, we thought that maybe it was time for a dip in a free hot spring. Iceland has a wide range of geothermally heated pools around the country, which range from fairly pricey experiences like the Blue Lagoon, through to entirely free options.

The Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool falls into the latter category. This 25 metre long, 10 metre wide pool is about a fifteen minute walk from the parking lot (which you’ll find here on Google Maps), and there are changing rooms here so you can get in and out of your bathing clothes. We think visiting a geothermal pool whilst in Iceland is a must-do activity, and this is an excellent free option.

If you’d prefer to head straight to Reykjavik, you can skip Seljavallalaug and Svartifoss combinations and head west. We’d suggest checking out the beautiful Hallgrímskirkja, the Sun Voyager statue, and the pretty town centre. The tower at Hallgrímskirkja is well worth a visit for the best view in the city, with tickets 1,500 ISK for adults (1,000 ISK senior or student, 200 ISK for children 7 to 16). Tower hours are 09:00 to 19:30 in summer (May to September) and 10:00 to 16:45 in winter (October to April), with the tower closed for the morning service on Sundays. Worth knowing if you’ve arrived in late afternoon, as winter hours are tighter than you might expect.

This would also be a good opportunity to have a nice meal if your budget will stretch to it.

If you have a bit longer in town, and want to do some more sightseeing, consider a Reykjavik city card. A 24 hour card is good value and gets you free access to many of the city’s top attractions, as well as free public transport on the city bus services.

And that finishes off the last day of our 3 day Iceland road trip itinerary. Now let’s go over where to stay, followed by some more information to help you plan your trip.

 

Where to Stay

You’ll be overnighting in Reykjavik tonight, or, if you have an evening flight, you can head straight to the airport. There are also some accommodation options closer to the airport if you have an early morning flight.

We’ve stayed at a number of hotels near the Reykjavik city centre which we are happy to recommend:

• Hotel Reykjavík Grand. Around 1.2 miles from the city centre, offering four star accommodation, free wifi, spa and fitness centre, and free parking. We’ve stayed here.
• Berjaya Reykjavik Natura. Near the city airport, this hotel offers free parking, a free city bus pass, on-site restaurant and spa facilities. Formerly the Icelandair Hotel Natura. We’ve stayed here.
• Guesthouse Galtafell. A good value option around ten minutes walk from the city centre and a quick walk from the BSI bus station. Offers both guest rooms and apartments with kitchenettes. We’ve stayed here.
• KEX Hostel. A well-located hostel in central Reykjavik with a great atmosphere, bar, and restaurant. A good social option for solo travellers or those on a budget.

If you’d prefer to stay near the airport, we’ve also stayed at the Northern Light Inn. This is conveniently located right next to the Blue Lagoon and is about a 17 minute drive from the airport (note the volcanic activity caveat in the lagoon section below).

Travellers on more of a budget will like Start Hostel near Keflavik, which offers both private rooms and dorms, breakfast from 03:30 (handy for early flights), free parking, and a shared kitchen.

 

What We’ve Learned: Three Honest Choices for 3 Days in Iceland

Three days is enough to see the highlights, but it isn’t enough to do everything we’ve listed above without making some choices along the way. We’ve driven this route enough times to know which trade-offs are worth making. Here are the three choices we’d flag in advance, framed as decisions rather than warnings:

Day 1, Brúarfoss or Kerið Crater (not both). If you start the Golden Circle at 09:00, you’ll have time for one of these but not both. Brúarfoss is the more rewarding stop if you like waterfalls and a short walk; Kerið is the easier visit if you’re tired and just want to look at something beautiful for 20 minutes. The two are also at opposite ends of the loop, so picking one keeps the day flowing. We tend to pick Brúarfoss.

Day 2, Skógar Museum or Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon (not both within the 8:30am to 6pm window). The full Day 2 stop list assumes you skip the Skógar Museum, which is a lovely museum but adds an hour you don’t have if you want to reach your Hof-area accommodation before dark. If you want the museum, drop Fjaðrárgljúfur and stop at it on the way back on Day 3 instead.

Day 3, Svartifoss or DC-3 plane wreck (and pick one lagoon, not all three). Day 3 is the tightest day. The Svartifoss hike is 50 to 90 minutes; the DC-3 walk is around 2 hours; the drive back to Reykjavik is roughly 4.5 hours by itself. Doing both walks plus all three lagoon options is not a thing that works. Our usual call is Svartifoss plus one lagoon, with the DC-3 as a Day 2 alternative or a separate trip.

None of these are problems; they’re just the shape of fitting Iceland’s south coast into three days. Picking in advance turns them from end-of-day regrets into deliberate calls.

 

Blue Lagoon vs Sky Lagoon: Which to Pick

For most 3 day visitors, a geothermal lagoon visit lands somewhere in the trip. There are now two main options, and they’re different enough that the choice matters.

Blue Lagoon sits on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 20 minutes drive from Keflavík airport. Entry passes start at around 11,990 ISK for the standard Comfort admission. It’s the iconic Iceland experience and probably the photo that’s drawn you here, with the milky-blue silica water and the lava field surroundings.

The complication is volcanic activity. The Reykjanes Peninsula has experienced a series of eruptions since late 2023 (the Sundhnúkur crater row), with the most recent eruption ending on 5 August 2025. Magma continues to accumulate at Svartsengi (which is the geothermal field that feeds the Blue Lagoon), and the Icelandic Met Office considers a new eruption likely in the months ahead. The Blue Lagoon has remained open through most of this period with strong safety protocols and has closed only during active eruptions. Our advice: book refundable tickets, and check bluelagoon.com/seismic-activity and SafeTravel.is both in the days before your visit and on the morning of.

Sky Lagoon sits in Kópavogur, about 10 minutes drive from central Reykjavik. The two main pass options are the Saman pass (13,990 ISK and up for an adult, public changing rooms) and the Sér pass (16,990 ISK and up for an adult, private changing rooms). Hours are 11:00 to 22:00 in winter and 08:00 to 23:00 in summer. Sky Lagoon opened in 2021, so it’s newer than the Blue Lagoon, and it isn’t on the Reykjanes Peninsula, so it isn’t affected by the Sundhnúkur eruption series. The setting is an infinity-edge pool that looks out over the North Atlantic, with a seven-step bathing ritual included.

Our quick decision frame:

• Pick the Blue Lagoon if you want the iconic Iceland experience, if you’re flying in or out via Keflavík and want to slot it next to the airport, if the current eruption status is calm, and you’re willing to live with the small risk that your booking gets cancelled at short notice.
• Pick the Sky Lagoon if you’re basing yourself in or near Reykjavik, if you want certainty that your visit happens regardless of volcanic activity, or if you prefer the cliff-edge ocean view to the silica setting.
• Pick both, on different days, if you have the budget. They’re different experiences and the comparison itself is part of the trip.

For a 3 day stopover with a Keflavík arrival, our default suggestion is Sky Lagoon as the lagoon visit on Day 3 (close to Reykjavik, no eruption risk) and Blue Lagoon as an optional Day 1 arrival stop if you’re going with the lagoon-first option in the early-arrival section above.

 

3 Day Iceland Itinerary Road Trip Map

To help you visualise this 3 day Iceland itinerary, we’ve put it into a map form, with the route and highlights marked. You can also see this on Google Maps here.

 

3 Days in Iceland: Overview Itinerary

Here’s a summary of our 3 day Iceland itinerary for quick reference.

• Day 1, Golden Circle. Thingvellir, Brúarfoss, Geysir, Friðheimar (lunch), Gullfoss, optional Kerið Crater.
• Day 2, South Coast Highlights. Lava Centre, Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi, Skógafoss, Dyrhólaey, Reynisfjara black sand beach, Vík (lunch), Eldhraun lava field, Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon.
• Day 3, South Coast Highlights and Reykjavik. Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach, Svartifoss, optional DC-3 plane wreck, Seljavallalaug or one of the lagoons, Reykjavik.

 

3 Days in Iceland Basing Yourself in Reykjavik

We appreciate that not everyone wants to drive in Iceland as car rental is relatively expensive and the various insurance options are fairly complicated to deal with (not to mention expensive). Also those who are used to driving on the left side may not feel comfortable driving on the right.

The good news is that it’s very possible to see the majority of the highlights from our 3 day self-drive itinerary by basing yourself in Reykjavik, and taking tours from the city. This also has the advantage that you can find somewhere to stay for three days, and not have to be packing or unpacking. You’ll also have time to explore the city, either on one of your days, or in the evenings.

We have a detailed guide to the best day trips from Reykjavik, which we do recommend you take a look at. Here’s our shortlist of the day trips we think work best for a 3 day visit.

 

A Day Trip to the Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is relatively close to Reykjavik, and thus makes for a popular day trip. There are a wide range of operators offering Golden Circle day trips from Reykjavik, including:

• A Golden Circle tour that includes Kerið Crater, an 8 hour day trip covering all the main highlights plus the volcanic crater lake.
• A Golden Circle tour with Brúarfoss and Fontana Spa, which covers the Golden Circle highlights plus Brúarfoss waterfall and includes time at the Laugarvatn Fontana spa with a tasting of geothermally baked rye bread.

 

A Day Trip Along Iceland’s South Coast

In our itinerary we suggest you take two days to visit Iceland’s south coast, however, it is also possible to do this as a long day trip from Reykjavik.

Whilst these don’t see everything, they do cover the major highlights, including the black sand beaches and the most popular waterfalls.

Some day tours also go as far as the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, although as this is a fairly long round trip from Reykjavik, those versions usually only run in the months of the year with longer daylight hours.

Here are some options to consider.

• The year round South Shore adventure tour. This tour takes around 10 hours, and covers all the highlights all the way out to Vik, including the main waterfalls and the black sand beach. This is a similar tour.
• A summer-only south shore tour that goes all the way to the Glacier Lagoon, and includes a boat ride on the lagoon. This is a lone 14 hour tour.

 

Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Whilst we haven’t included the Snaefellsnes Peninsula on our 3 day self drive itinerary, we did want to include it here as an option.

The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is around a two hour drive from Reykjavik, making it very accessible as a day trip. It has a number of attractions, including a massive glacier, the beautiful Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall, basalt columns, seal watching opportunities, the Shark Museum, and more.

It makes for a great alternative to the Golden Circle or South Coast, and is a day trip we can highly recommend.

Take a look at this Snaefellsnes Peninsula small group tour as well as this tour to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula which includes a home cooked meal.

 

Northern Lights Viewing from Reykjavik

If you’re visiting Iceland in winter, do try and see the northern lights. This display in the sky is something special, and one that is high on visitors’ wishlists when coming to Iceland. See our guide to how to photograph the northern lights for some tips on getting great shots.

Being based in Reykjavik will mean that the city lights will get in the way of good viewing opportunities, but the good news is that there are multiple tours available, at a wide range of price points. Many also offer a guarantee that if you don’t see the lights, you can take another tour, so we suggest booking one of these tours for one of your first nights in Iceland.

There are a lot of tours to consider. Some we suggest you include in your shortlist are this small group tour, this well reviewed and good value coach option or this private super jeep tour.

For more ideas don’t forget to check out our guide to the best day trips from Reykjavik.

 

3 Days in Iceland as a Group Tour

If you don’t want to drive, but also don’t want to base yourself in the city, we’ve got another option, take a group tour.

We’ve put together a detailed guide to a number of guided tours of Iceland, which range from a couple of days to a couple of weeks and more, but we wanted to share a few of our favourite shorter options here for you to consider.

• This 2 night / 3 day tour includes the Golden Circle, five waterfalls, amphibian boat ride on the glacier lagoon and a glacier hike. It also includes free WiFi on the bus.
• This 2 night / 3 day tour includes the Golden circle, an ice cave, glacier lagoon and black sand beach. Free WiFi is also included.
• A 1 night / 2 day tour that focuses on the south coast. This tour includes the famous black sand beach at Reynisfjara and goes all the way to the incredible Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. It also includes ice caving and northern lights watching. This shorter tour would be a great option to combine with a night in Reykjavik, where you could take in some of the city’s sights, or head out to one of the lagoons, or even take a day trip to the Golden Circle.

See more tour options on GetYourGuide here, TourRadar here, and Viator here.

 

When to Visit Iceland by Month

Iceland has very distinct seasons, and the same 3 day itinerary changes shape quite a bit depending on when you visit. We’ve been here in winter, late spring, and summer, and the differences are big enough to plan around. Below is a month-by-month read on what to expect, written specifically for a 3 day stopover or short trip.

June. Peak summer in Iceland. Around 21 hours of usable light per day (with civil twilight filling the rest, so it never gets properly dark), temperatures around 8 to 13°C in the south, all roads open, all attractions accessible. This is the easiest month to run the published itinerary, with the most flexibility in the day. Booking pressure is high, especially in 2026 because the 12 August total solar eclipse is driving demand across the whole summer season. Book accommodation 4 to 6 months out if you can. Northern Lights are not visible (too much daylight).

July. Slightly warmer than June (10 to 15°C in the south), still around 19 to 20 hours of usable light. Same itinerary advantages as June, similar pricing. Whale watching is at its peak. Roads to Fjaðrárgljúfur are reliably open. Puffin nesting is in full swing at Dyrhólaey from late June (Dyrhólaey closes from mid May to mid June for the early part of nesting).

August. The 2026 solar eclipse on 12 August deserves its own line. Totality lasts about 59 seconds in Reykjavik and 1 minute 39 seconds at Keflavík airport, with the path of totality crossing the Reykjanes Peninsula. If you’re planning a 2026 August trip, this is the single biggest event of the year for Icelandic tourism and accommodation in the path of totality is already running hot. Otherwise, August is a quieter month than July, with similar weather and 16 to 17 hours of light. Late August is when the first faint Northern Lights become possible (cumulative darkness returns).

September. Shoulder season and arguably the sweet spot for a 3 day visit. Around 12 to 13 hours of daylight, autumn colour in the hills, cooler temperatures (5 to 10°C), much lower crowds, and the start of the Northern Lights season. The published itinerary fits cleanly with all stops accessible. Pricing on accommodation drops noticeably from late September onwards.

October. Autumn proper. 8 to 10 hours of daylight, temperatures 2 to 7°C, first snow possible on the south coast in late October. The Day 3 leg back from Jökulsárlón becomes tighter with shorter days; aim to leave Jökulsárlón by 13:00 to be back in Reykjavik before dark. Northern Lights probability climbs through the month. Fjaðrárgljúfur path conditions degrade after the first frosts.

November. Winter approach. Around 5 to 7 hours of daylight, temperatures hovering around 0°C, ice forming on some trails. The published 9am-to-5pm winter envelope starts to bite. The Day 2 stop list needs trimming (drop either Skógar Museum or Fjaðrárgljúfur), and the Svartifoss hike becomes slippery (carry YakTrax or similar). The Brúarfoss trail typically closes in November. Day 3 effectively becomes a daylight race; we’d recommend overnighting somewhere closer to Vík rather than Hof to shorten the Day 3 morning. Northern Lights probability is strong.

December and January. Deep winter. Around 4 to 5 hours of usable daylight at the December solstice (the sun barely clears the horizon in Reykjavik), temperatures around -2 to 4°C with frequent wind. The published self-drive itinerary doesn’t really work in this format; you’ll need to either compress it to two daylight stops per day or accept some driving in the dark on the way back from Jökulsárlón. We’d strongly recommend the Reykjavik-base alternative (in the section below) in these months rather than self-drive, with the south coast done as a single guided day trip. Northern Lights probability is highest in this period. Friðheimar and most attractions remain open; Brúarfoss path is closed.

February and March. Daylight starts to come back fast (8 to 11 hours by mid-March), but ice is still common on roads and trails. February is the peak for Northern Lights tour guarantees actually paying off. The published itinerary becomes possible again from mid-March onwards with the caveats from November.

April and May. Spring transition. 14 to 18 hours of daylight, snowmelt creating spectacular waterfall flow rates, road conditions improving rapidly. The Fjaðrárgljúfur nature reserve closures (April to June, conditions-dependent) start in this window; check before driving the spur. Dyrhólaey closes from mid May for puffin nesting. Pricing is still shoulder-season for early April, climbing into May as the summer season opens.

To be honest, we don’t think there’s a bad time of year to visit Iceland, as long as you are prepared and know what to expect. The best month for you depends more on what you want from the trip than on objective ranking.

 

Where to Stay in Iceland

Iceland has a variety of accommodation options, from self-catered apartments through to hostels and hotels. Prices vary, but Iceland is far from a budget destination, so expect prices to be relatively high even for hostels.

For the self-drive trip we’ve included links to some recommended hotels on each day. If you choose to base yourself in Reykjavik, check out our recommended options under Day 3 of the trip, plus you can check out more options in Reykjavik on booking.com here.

We usually recommend Booking.com as they have pretty much everything from hostels to hotels to apartments, and they offer very competitive pricing and a great cancellation policy.

 

Practicalities for Visiting Iceland

To help you plan your Iceland trip, we’ve put together some information that we think you’ll find helpful. We also suggest you read our detailed guide to planning a trip to Iceland, which has loads more practical information.

 

Driving

Driving in Iceland isn’t too difficult. The roads are well maintained and not too busy, and for the 3 day road trip we suggest, 99% of the driving is on paved roads. There will be some short sections of unpaved road (such as those leading to Seljavallalaug), but these are very short and fine in a standard two-wheel drive car.

Winter conditions can be more challenging, with snow and ice common. Check umferdin.is for real-time road conditions before setting out each day (this is the current site, replacing the older road.is portal).

As covered in our Practical Tips section, fuel costs around 215 to 220 ISK per litre for petrol and 259 ISK per litre for diesel, and car rental companies now add a per-kilometre road tax of 6.95 ISK/km to your final bill (as of January 2026).

We have lots more information about driving in Iceland (see our guide to things to know before you drive in Iceland, as well as our guide to driving in Iceland in winter for lots of helpful advice, tips on renting a car, the right insurance for you, and more resources).

 

Electricity / Power

Like Europe and much of the world, Iceland uses a 220v system. It uses two pin plugs as you would find in much of Europe. If you are coming from the UK, the USA, or anywhere else that has a different shaped plug system, you will need a travel adaptor like this.

See more on travel adapters and how to choose one for your trip in our guide to the best travel adapters.

If you have a few devices, we also suggest you pick up a travel power strip so you can charge everything.

If you are coming from the USA or Canada (and several other countries with 120 V systems), you also need to be aware that the voltage in Iceland is different, so you’ll need to check your devices are compatible. Devices will have their voltage compatibility written on the power adaptor in most cases.

In our experience, low power electronics like laptops, battery chargers and smartphones support a range of voltages, whilst higher power equipment like hair dryers, curling irons, and hair straighteners will not, unless they are travel specific dual voltage models. If you need one, check out dual voltage appliances such as this travel hairdryer.

 

Cost of Travel in Iceland

Iceland is one of the more expensive countries to travel in. Everything from accommodation to car rental to food is relatively expensive, and there is the potential for price shock if you visit unprepared for this fact.

Our suggestion if you want to visit Iceland on a budget is to plan ahead as to how to achieve this. Travelling as a group, booking low cost accommodation, going grocery shopping, and avoiding expensive restaurants are some tips. For more, check out our detailed guide to visiting Iceland on a budget.

 

Internet Access

See our tips on getting online in the Practical Tips section above, including our recommendation for eSIM data plans.

 

Safety

Our final point is safety. Iceland is rated as one of the safest countries in the world to travel in, but this doesn’t mean you should be complacent. In particular, petty crime has started to rise, so you’ll always want to be vigilant with your belongings, and don’t leave anything on view in your car when you park it. Otherwise, practice basic safety precautions and be sensible, and you should be fine.

The greatest dangers are usually presented by the landscape and changeable weather rather than other people, so if you just use common sense and don’t put yourself in any unsafe situations, you should be fine.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How early should I arrive in Iceland for a 3-day trip?

Most Icelandair and Play flights land at Keflavík between 05:00 and 07:00, which is earlier than the published Day 1 itinerary assumes. If you can sleep on the flight, you can pick up your car and start the Golden Circle by 09:00. If you haven’t slept, we’d suggest either booking accommodation near Keflavík (Northern Light Inn or Start Hostel) for a morning nap before starting late, or driving straight to the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon for a soak, then heading to your Day 1 accommodation for an afternoon rest. See the “If You Land at 5am” section above for the full decision frame.

 

Should I do a self-drive or Reykjavik-base 3-day trip?

Self-drive gives you more flexibility, lets you reach Jökulsárlón (which most day tours from Reykjavik don’t reach in winter), and is generally the more rewarding experience for the Day 2 to 3 south coast leg. Reykjavik-base is the better call if you don’t want to deal with car rental insurance, if you’re nervous about driving on the right or in winter conditions, or if you’re visiting in December or January when daylight makes a self-drive Day 3 challenging. Both can work for a 3 day trip; pick based on your driving comfort and the season.

 

Do I need a 4×4 for 3 days in Iceland?

For this itinerary, no. The route follows Route 1 (the Ring Road) and paved secondary roads. A standard two-wheel drive car is fine for all the stops we recommend. A 4×4 is only necessary if you plan to drive highland F-roads, which this itinerary doesn’t include. In winter, a 4×4 can give you extra confidence on icy roads, but it’s not essential.

 

How much does 3 days in Iceland cost?

Iceland is an expensive destination. For two people on a moderate budget, expect to spend around 4,000 to 6,000 ISK on parking fees across the three days, plus car rental (prices vary hugely by season, but budget 15,000 to 30,000 ISK per day plus the 6.95 ISK/km road tax, which is around 6,000 to 7,500 ISK for this itinerary), accommodation (typically 20,000 to 50,000 ISK per night for a double room), and fuel. Food is also expensive, with a restaurant meal typically costing 3,000 to 5,000 ISK per person. See our Iceland budget tips for ways to reduce costs.

 

What is the best time of year for 3 days in Iceland?

This itinerary works year-round, but the experience differs significantly by season. Summer (June to August) gives you near-endless daylight and the best weather, but it’s also the busiest and most expensive time. Winter (November to February) brings the northern lights and ice caves, but daylight can be as short as four to five hours in December and January, so you’ll need to adjust the itinerary. The shoulder months of May, September, and October often give the best balance of decent weather, reasonable prices, and fewer crowds. See the “When to Visit Iceland by Month” section above for a month-by-month breakdown.

 

Can I do this itinerary without a car?

Yes. We’ve included a section in this guide on doing the same highlights as day tours from Reykjavik. The Golden Circle and south coast are both available as guided day trips, and there are multi-day group tours that cover the glacier lagoon as well. You’ll see slightly less than on a self-drive trip, but it’s a great option if you don’t want to deal with car rental and winter driving.

 

Is the Blue Lagoon safe to visit with the volcanic eruptions?

The Blue Lagoon has remained open for the majority of the Reykjanes Peninsula eruption series (late 2023 onwards, the Sundhnúkur crater row) and has strong evacuation protocols. The most recent eruption ended on 5 August 2025, with magma continuing to accumulate at Svartsengi and a new eruption considered likely in the months ahead. The lagoon has closed temporarily during active eruptions, sometimes at short notice. We recommend booking refundable tickets and checking bluelagoon.com/seismic-activity and SafeTravel.is both in the days before your visit and on the morning of. Sky Lagoon, which is closer to Reykjavik and not on the Reykjanes Peninsula, is an excellent alternative that isn’t affected by the volcanic activity.

 

Further Reading

And that’s the end of our guide to spending 3 days in Iceland on a stopover. However, we have more content to help you plan your trip, based on our travels in Iceland.

• If you are looking for more road trip ideas of different lengths, we have a detailed 1 week Iceland Ring Road itinerary, a 7 day winter Iceland itinerary and a 5 day Iceland itinerary.
• We have an introductory guide to help you plan a trip to Iceland.
• We have a detailed guide to driving in Iceland in winter, as well as a general guide to driving in Iceland.
• We’ve created a list of some of our favourite photography locations in Iceland to help you get awesome photos.
• We have a guide to finding the Iceland Plane crash, which is a fun photography location.
• We have a complete guide to visiting the Golden Circle, which has a map, suggested itinerary, and more.
• If you’re visiting Iceland in winter, check out our guide to the best winter activities in Iceland and my tips for cold weather photography.
• On a budget? Here’s a guide to visiting Iceland on a budget to help you make the most of your trip.
• We have a detailed review of Airalo eSIM for staying connected while travelling.
• We have a detailed packing guide to help you decide what to pack for Iceland.
• We have a guide to visiting the Blue Lagoon.
• We’ve also got a guide to the best day trips from Reykjavik should you wish to base yourself in the capital rather than self-drive around, as well as a guide to the best guided tours in Iceland.
• The weather in Iceland can be fickle. The best website for real-time cloud cover is this one from the Icelandic Met Office.
• Whilst Iceland is generally safe for visitors, the country itself is home to extreme conditions and all sorts of seismic activity. So to stay safe as you go, check out the Safetravel Iceland page.
• We have a guide to how to photograph the northern lights if you are lucky enough to see this wonderful phenomenon.
• Finally, if you’re not sure what camera gear to take with, take a look at both our guide to picking a travel camera, picking a travel lens, travel tripods, and our personal travel photography gear.

And that’s it. If you’ve got any questions or feedback on the above, just let us know in the comments below, and have an awesome trip in Iceland.