Best 5-day Itinerary in Iceland

Welcome to Iceland! It's time to start your journey around this volcanic island's incredibly diverse natural wonders.

You'll start by picking up your rental car from Keflavik International Airport after you land. As soon as you load up, grab the keys and hit the road! To reach Reykjavik, you'll take the short 40-minute drive through the charred and blackened lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula.

On your way to Reykjavik, you could take a detour with a dip at the Blue Lagoon. It is often seen as the perfect way to start your trip to Iceland by relaxing and rejuvenating in the mineral-rich healing waters of the lagoon after a long day of traveling.

Situated amid a volcanic landscape, the Blue Lagoon is an amazing attraction worth visiting. Its regenerative water features silica and sulfur, benefiting people with various skin ailments.

With a temperature averaging 98 to 102 F (37 to 39 C), the Blue Lagoon offers a comfortable and relaxing feeling in both the swimming and bathing areas.

If you choose to add the Blue Lagoon on this day of your visit, it will be booked for a time based on your flights. However, if there's no time to visit on this day, you can simply add this to another day of your visit. Your travel consultant will be able to arrange this for you.

Afterward, you'll drive straight for the capital city of Reykjavik to check in to your accommodation and freshen up before heading out into the city. Once you're ready, and have enough time, check out some of the best attractions, such as the Hallgrimskirkja church, the Perlan observation deck, and Reykjavik harbor.

Make time to walk around the city center streets and explore the vibrant and bustling cafes, restaurants, galleries, museums, and numerous boutique shops.

You'll then retire for the evening in your Reykjavik accommodation, with plenty of rest for your next day of sightseeing.

Your first full day in Iceland involves exploring the most famous sightseeing trail in the country, the Golden Circle.

Your first stop on this route will take you to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Thingvellir National Park. Sitting in the middle of two tectonic plates, Thingvellir is a beautiful and diverse location of canyons, forestry, numerous waterfalls, and the largest natural lake in Iceland, Thingvallavatn. 

The place offers many interesting and intriguing information about the history of the world's first parliament (Althingi in 930 AD), the rich geological imprints on the terrain, and their cultural impact.

Joining a snorkeling tour here will allow you to experience a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Nearby, the immaculate crystal clear waters of the Silfra fissure will enable you to snorkel directly in this otherworldly void between two continents. 

The waters are so clear that guests frequently recount the ability to see nearly 328 feet (100 meters) in front of them at any part of the fissure.

Your next stop is the strange and delightful Geysir geothermal area. It is known for its variety of steaming vents, bubbling hot pots, spouting geysers, and natural hot springs that attract countless travelers to Iceland.

Here, you'll find most visitors surrounding the powerful hot spring, Strokkur, which will erupt boiling water up to nearly 66 feet (20 meters) every five to 10 minutes, giving you plenty of time to get the perfect shot.

Your last stop of the Golden Circle will take you to the mighty Gullfoss waterfall. This gigantic waterfall is fed by the meltwater of the nearby glacier Langjokull down the Hvita River before plummeting 105 feet (32 meters) over two cascading steps into the deep cavern below. 

The sheer magnitude and sound of the falls will stimulate your senses. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a rainbow protruding down through the mist at the top of the waterfall.

If you're keen on trying your hand at snowmobiling, you can join a tour from the Gullfoss visitor center. Once your guide has kitted you up and given a safety briefing, you'll head straight for the top of the nearby Langjokull glacier. Once at the top, you'll zoom across the snowy tundra, gazing at the magnificent mountain peaks surrounding you.

However, if neither snorkeling nor snowmobiling appeals to you, you can take the chance to join a horse riding tour through the rugged terrains of part of the Golden Circle. It will also give you the opportunity of getting closer to the charismatic and stylish Icelandic horse.

After your adventurous day, you'll rest for the night in your accommodation in Southwest Iceland.

Your journey now takes you eastwards across the wondrous South Coast of Iceland.

You will pass by the towering waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, which are 197 feet (60 meters) tall, before heading to the glacier outlet Solheimajokull. Here, you'll have the opportunity to join a glacier hike. 

If you choose to join the hike, you'll notice the darkened tinge this glacier outlet has on your ascent, which is the resultant ash from the 2010 volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajokull. 

Reaching the top of the glacier will give you some of the most impressive panoramic views of Iceland. Interestingly, you can fill up your water bottle and taste some of the world's purest waters.

If a glacier hike doesn't appeal to you, you can choose an adrenaline-pumping snowmobiling tour atop the Myrdalsjokull glacier. The glacier sits on top of the largest volcano in Iceland, Katla.

Another activity to consider is ice caving in Katla. Joining a Katla ice cave tour will take you to a glacier world you've never imagined. You'll see naturally formed tunnels and ice sculptures with stunning shades of blue. 

Just before the village of Vik, you'll stop off at the famous Reynisfjara black sand beach. This volcanic setting is blessed with the picturesque basalt sea stacks of Reynisdrangar. 

You'll also see some large darkened caverns dotted along the shoreline, making it a great yet eerie place to visit. Make sure to keep your distance from the powerful waves that could suddenly sweep under your feet.

The next highlight is the Skaftafell Nature Reserve, which sits by the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajokull. Skaftafell, now part of the Vatnajokull National Park, hosts many beautiful hiking trails of various difficulty levels. 

One of the better-known trails will take you to the unique Svartifoss waterfall, about 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) away. It's hidden in a canyon and renowned for the volcanic hexagonal basalt columns it pours through.

After leaving Skaftafell, you'll head straight to what is considered the crown jewel of Iceland, the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. As Iceland's largest and deepest lagoon, Jokulsarlon is the best setting to watch huge icebergs break from the glacier tongue of Breidamerkurjokull and head out to sea. 

This surreal experience is further enhanced by visiting the spectacular Diamond Beach on the other side of the road, where the icebergs wash up onshore and melt in the sunlight.

By the end of the day, you'll retire for the evening in Southeast Iceland.

Start the day by spending extra time at Jokulsarlon to watch this incredible natural wonder.

We also highly recommend joining a boat ride on your stop if you visit during the summer months. You have two options for enjoying this boat ride. The first is riding a larger amphibian boat out into the lagoon, which will take you gliding through the pristine blue icebergs floating in the lagoon. 

The second is through a smaller zodiac vessel, where you'll get to speed between the glaciers and get closer to the icebergs. This option is perfect if you prefer something more adventurous.

Be sure to watch for seals that frequently go on top of the ice to get some sunlight.

On your way back to Reykjavik, you can take the opportunity to stop off anywhere you missed on the previous day.

We highly recommend visiting the spectacular Fjadrargljufur canyon near the village of Klaustur. Now better known for its feature in the hit HBO show, Game of Thrones, this deep canyon provides a beautiful hike along its cliffs, offering amazing photo opportunities.

We also recommend visiting the small lighthouse at the top of Dyrholaey, around 12 miles (19 kilometers) from the Reynisfjara black sand beach. If you're arriving in the summer, this is one of Iceland's best places to spot puffins nesting on the cliff edges.

A final recommendation worth checking out is the Seljavallalaug pool. It's hidden between a mountain and the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, just past the village of Skogar. If you're brave enough to dip in the waters here, stay close to the south end of the pool, where the geothermal water pipe pumps through the warm water.

Once you're back in Reykjavik, take your time to check out any of the landmarks you may have missed earlier. We recommend the Harpa Concert Hall, the City Hall, some of the city's beautiful parks, and some late-open museums.

However, if you're more interested in the nightlife scene, check out some of the hustling and bustling pubs and bars in the city center, and try some local beers.

You'll then rest for the night in your Reykjavik accommodation.

It's your last day in Iceland! We hope you had a blast exploring some of our shores’ most incredible sights and sounds. Feel free to contact us if you're keen enough to extend your trip, and we can arrange that for you.

If you have a later flight, you could use your time to take a dip in the Blue Lagoon if you weren't able to on your first day. It is the perfect way to unwind and relax after a long adventure trip. Relax in the warm, azure waters and reminisce on your great time in Iceland.

Alternatively, you could use the time to spend in Reykjavik and complete some last-minute souvenir shopping and sightseeing.

If you have an earlier flight, we wish you a safe journey back home and look forward to welcoming you back in the future.