Arrival – Friday noon
Departure – Monday morning
Friday: Reykjanes Peninsula
On arrival, the wonders of Iceland are already waiting for you near Keflavík International Airport. The Reykjanes Peninsula is a special place, and it is often referred to as a condensed version of Iceland. The rugged and dramatic landscape is filled with volcanic craters, lava fields, geothermal water and hot springs, as well as countless restaurants, museums, churches, lighthouses and festivals.
Among the sites not to be missed are Gunnuhver, Iceland’s widest bubbling hot spring, Brennisteinfjöll sulphide mountains, Brimketill lava formation and the bridge that connects the Eurasian and American tectonic plates. Stay in the peninsula overnight, then head to the capital, Reykjavík.
3 days in Iceland – Saturday: Reykjavík
There is a lot to see in the Icelandic capital. The famous Hallgrímskirkja church is at the top of the exclusive street Skolavordustigur. Its organ is beautiful and an absolute must-see – you can also go to the top of the church for a breath-taking view of the city. You can continue your walk to Perlan and Oskjuhlid and if you feel like it, go for a swim in the sea, followed by a hot bath at the geothermal beach Nauthólsvík. Back in the city centre, a visit to the beautiful Harpa is necessary; This building that houses concert halls and events is an architectural gem. Then head to the little lake by the town hall Tjörnin, and meet the local ducks.
The weekend flea market, Kolaportið, is fun to browse, with or without buying anything. You can taste the famous Icelandic delicacies, such as shark-fish or dried fish, and walk in the alleys filled with clothes, books and handicrafts. The beautiful peninsula Seltjarnarnes, to the west of the centre of Reykjavík, is worth exploring. The neighbourhood has a very nice swimming pool, including a large pool for swimmers, a small one for children, four Jacuzzis, a sauna, a pool with seawater and a beautiful view of the Icelandic capital and surrounding area, awaits you there.
Stroll down the shopping street Laugavegur, without a doubt this will occupy a substantial amount of your day. If you want to know a little more about the city and discover the best places to visit, according to the locals, you can join a guided tour of the city. There are a few to choose from, some have a fixed price and some are free with an option to donate (you give what you want). Take a walk around the harbour area, and why not join a whale watching tour?
To learn more about Icelandic history and culture, many museums are at your disposal. The Árbær museum consists of over twenty buildings that form a central square, a village and farm, and aims to show the Icelandic way of life, throughout the ages. It is the only open-air museum in the capital, but there are dozens of other interesting places to visit.
Sunday: Golden circle
The Golden Circle is Iceland’s most popular tourist destination, and includes Þingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir. Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is the National Park where the Althingi (parliament) was founded in 930 and continued until 1798. The next stop on the tour is the hot spring area of Geysir. this is the first geyser known to Europeans and first that has been written about in a printed source.
Geysir does not erupt very often, but his companion Strokkur delights visitors with eruptions every ten minutes or so. Gullfoss, the golden waterfall is certainly the most popular waterfall in Iceland, and is a must see in the south of Iceland. The waterfall is 32 meters high, but the canyon in the vicinity can reach up to 70 meters high. The waterfall is located on the white river Hvítá, which is supplied by the second largest glacier in Iceland, Langjokull. After a busy day of sightseeing, spend the night in the capital or near the airport, if your flight is early the next morning.
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