6 Days in Iceland | An Iceland Trip Guide | What to do in Iceland
Iceland was so fun. I had such a great time there. All the landscapes were stunning, the waterfalls were majestic. I’m glad I was able to go to Iceland this summer.
If you’re looking to go to Iceland, here’s a quick guide on things to do in Iceland.
Some Notes:
I did not exchange cash at the airport. I was headed to Reyjkavik, and I knew my credit card would work fine until I find an ATM to take out cash.
With my current phone plan, I also had international service in Iceland so I did not have to purchase anything additional there. If you do need to get an international plan, I’ve used Airalo before and they’ve been great.
I also went with a tour group so this guide will cover the things I did with the tour group and also gems our tour guide took us to that were not on the itinerary! BUT you can totally do this trip without the tour guide! You will need to rent a car but it’s totally doable on your own.
Even if you only a week, you can explore Iceland. Here is a quick guide on what to do in Iceland.
DAY 1:
Checked into our hotel in Reyjkavik, then walked into downtown to explore. We stayed at Reyjkavik Lights Hotel which was a mile from downtown. It was convenient because it was just a 20 minute walk. It also has breakfast!
We visited the infamous rainbow road. We also explored the different gift shops.
101 Reyjkavik Street Food:
We got lunch here. There is a line and limited dine-in space. The restaurant has a small menu but a great introduction to Icelandic food! If you’re looking for a quick light meal, definitely check out this restaurant.
Nebraska Restaurant:
Located downtown, this is a clothing store and restaurant. The food was great. The atmosphere was lowkey and chill. Definitely a different experience but so great!
Isbudin Valdis:
This is an ice cream shop. If you want a dessert after dinner, check out Icelandic ice cream! It has great flavors.
DAY 2:
Thingvellir National Park:
The rock formations here were so cool to see. There is also a museum you can visit to learn more about the continents in this area.
Definitely visit Oxarafoss while you’re here!
Also stop by Hrafnagja Observation Deck to view the canyons.
Geysir:
The water here is HOT so please do not touch or step where you shouldn’t. There is an active geyser, and it’s so cool to see it go off.
If you have time, hike Laugarfell mountain! At the top is a beautiful view of the geyser area and lush green hills.
Bru Horse Farm:
We made a quick stop here to visit the Icelandic horses. There is a food stall where you can purchase food to feed the horses. The horses were majestic and super cool to see upclose.
Gullfoss:
This waterfall is majestic and huge! Highly recommend walking all the way to the platform. Beware you will get wet but it’s so worth it and so fun! You can also walk to get a top view. At the top there is also a gift shop and restrooms.
Secret Lagoon:
This is a thermal heated lagoon. It was so fun to stop here after a long day. Highly recommend! The water was perfectly hot and it wasn’t too deep. You get the beautiful nature scene in the back.
Smaratun Guesthouse/Hótel Fljótshlíd:
We stayed at this farm guesthouse and the surrounding landscape was absolutely stunning! There were goats, sheep, and chicken. There were mountains and greenery all around. If you’re looking for a place to stay for a night on your visit, do not miss this hotel!
DAY 3:
Seljalandsfoss:
This waterfall is beautiful. You can walk behind it, which is so cool! Prepare to get wet, but it’s so worth it!
Faxi Bakery:
Do not miss this bakery if you’re going from one water fall to the next. It has great coffee and amazing cinnamon rolls!! Definitely get a cinnamon roll.
Skogafoss:
This is a very popular waterfall and I can see why. It’s stunning and majestic. There is a stairway that takes you to the top of the waterfall. Highly recommend going up the steps, it’s worth it! The views are stunning up there.
Lagey by Dyrholaey:
This is a little area on a cliff where you can see puffins. If it’s puffin season and you want to see puffins on the south part of Iceland, make a stop here! We saw a few.
Black Beach:
The infamous black beach. The rock formation here is phenomenal. The black sand beach is truly stunning.
Lunch in Vik:
Vik is a little town you will drive through. We stopped here for lunch.
Fjadrargljufur canyon:
This is an easy hike with very little incline. You walk along the canyon. The view of the canyon is breathtaking in every way. It’s absolutely beautiful.
Skaftarstofa visitor center:
If you’re looking to make a quick bathroom break, stop by this visitor center and walk to the rooftop! Such a beautiful view. Love the architecture of this center.
Gerdi Guesthouse in Reynivellir:
We stayed here for the next two nights. It’s right by the coast which is beautiful. The land around here is also stunning. It has breakfast and dinner which is also convenient!
DAY 4:
Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour:
If you are looking for an experience to learn more about the glaciers and explore the lagoon, this is it! You get on a duck boat and get transported onto the lagoon. You will circle around the glaciers and learn about the history and the different colors of the ice bergs.
Diamond Beach:
This beach was stunning! In the winter it has even more ice, and I get why it’s called Diamond Beach. The ice totally looks like diamonds against the black sand.
Skaftafell to Svartifoss:
This is an area of the national park in the south part of the Iceland. We hiked to Svartifoss. This waterfall is beautiful. The hike was easy with some elevation but very doable. The rock formation around the waterfall was also very unique.
Glacier Hike on Breidamerkurjokull:
You cannot miss out on a glacier hike!! We got to walk on the glaciers and then hike through an ice cave. If nothing else, this is a MUST DO in Iceland!
DAY 5:
Svinafellsjokull Glacier Trail:
This is a trail short trail that will give you the most beautiful glacier view. There is a parking lot where you can park and then walk towards the glaciers. There is not a huge sign so you can miss the turn into the parking lot, so make sure to look out for the small sign.
We drove back to Reyjkavik on this day.
Elding Whale Watching:
This is a speedboat whale watching experience. Highly recommend! We saw a couple minke whales and a group of dolphins that swam around the boat! It was super cool. We also stopped by the small island to see the puffins which was super fun.
Loa Restaurant:
We had dinner here. The food was good. Loved the vibes of this restaurant!
DAY 6:
Stayed my final night at Reyjkavik Lights hotel.
I flew out the next morning.
However, if you have time left to spend in the city, here are some honorary things to do:
Explore downtown – do final souvenir shopping
Food tour
Blue Lagoon
Sky Lagoon
Reykjavik Botanical Garden
Iceland is truly majestic. I get why it’s the land of ice and fire. It’s beautiful all around. Highly recommend visiting! If it’s not on your bucket list, it should most definitely be.
Follow and see more of my Iceland trip on Instagram: @mainouexplores
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