3 Days in Iceland: The Perfect Itinerary for First Timers
Are you planning on spending 3 days in Iceland? If this is your first trip to the country, here is the best way to spend your time.
The very first time we visited Iceland, we didn’t know a whole lot about the country. We knew it was beautiful, but that was about as far as our knowledge went. And, I suspect, if you’re visiting Iceland for the first time, you’re probably in a similar situation!
Although 3 days will only scratch the surface of what Iceland has to offer, there’s still quite a lot you can see with just a few days. That first-ever trip was actually 3 days long – plus it was in December, so it was one of the darkest and rainiest months of the year.
But we still managed to see so much! This was where our obsession with Iceland and northern Europe began. All because of that little 3-day trip!
So, if you’re planning this little getaway, prepare to have your mind fully blown. I’d also prepare to book a trip to return to Iceland pretty soon after you get back home!
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Iceland Must-Do’s!
Short on time? These are 5 bucket-list experiences we recommend doing in Iceland! ❤️
- Tour the South Coast
- Go on a Glacier Hike
- Soak in the Blue Lagoon
- Chase the Northern Lights
- Explore the Golden Circle
Our fave hotel: Center Hotels Plaza
Day 1: Arrive in Iceland
How you spend your first day in Iceland largely depends on when your flight lands. We always try to go for an early morning flight, so we land around midday and can spend our first half-day exploring the country.
So, for this itinerary, I’ll assume you’re landing just after lunchtime.
14:00 – The Blue Lagoon
For your first stop, we recommend the Blue Lagoon. This is Iceland’s most famous hot spring and one of the country’s most popular attractions.
The unique colour of the geothermal waters and the beautiful surroundings make it a perfect introduction to Iceland’s wonders.
You will definitely need to book tickets for the Blue Lagoon in advance. They will sell out quickly, especially during peak times, so it’s better to confirm your booking beforehand.
There are several package options. The basic package includes a towel, a mud mask, and a drink. The more expensive package included additional masks, a second drink, and a bathrobe as well.
We only opted for the basic package, but depending on the level of luxury you’re after, the more expensive option is good too – especially after a long flight!
You can even opt for a full spa experience with skincare products to take with you and access to the underground spa.
The packages range from 9,990 ISK to 20,990 ISK per person. This is roughly £55 – £116 or $74 – $155 per person. It’s not a cheap attraction by any means, but you can’t really visit Iceland and not relax in the Blue Lagoon.
❤️ We recommend this package for the Blue Lagoon in advance!
16:30 – Head to Reykjavik
After you’ve had a soak in the calming blue waters of the thermal pool, head to Reykjavik. Since you’re only in Iceland for 3 days, you don’t really need to worry about driving in Iceland.
You can find guided tours for everything you’ll be doing, so it’s not quite as necessary as if you were spending longer in the country.
To get to Reykjavik, catch the tourist bus from the Blue Lagoon directly to the city centre. You can buy this in advance, which makes things much easier. You can also purchase it at the airport.
When you arrive, you should see several machines that look a bit like cash machines. You can use these to buy bus tickets either directly to the city centre or to the Blue Lagoon and then on to Reykjavik afterwards.
17:30 – Explore Reykjavik
The capital of Iceland is around 50 minutes to an hour from the Blue Lagoon. Once you’ve arrived and checked into your hotel, go for a wander around the city centre.
Considering it’s a fairly small European capital, there’s a lot to do in Reykjavik, even in the evenings.
You can head to the famous Hallgrimskirkja Church, visit Rainbow Street, explore some of the bars and places to eat, or even visit one of the museums that open late.
I also recommend the Lava Show or FlyOver Iceland for unique experiences in the capital.
👉 If you haven’t decided where to stay yet, check out our favourite hotels in Reykjavik.
Day 2: The Golden Circle
On your second day in Iceland (and your first full day), we’re going to be exploring the thing that makes Iceland so famous – its landscapes. The Golden Circle should be on anyone’s Iceland bucket list, and it’s a must-see for all first-time visitors.
Since you haven’t got a car, we recommend this tour as it travels the opposite way to most of the tour operators, so hopefully, the sights won’t be quite as crowded.
10:00 – Thingvellir National Park
Your first stop will be Thingvellir National Park. This is the closest stop to Reykjavik and will take around 45 minutes to get to.
When we visited, it was winter in Iceland, so it was completely dark for the whole of our drive, which was a pretty surreal experience.
Thingvellir is one of the most magnificent landscapes in Iceland. You’ll be able to see where the two tectonic plates meet and walk between them.
Since you’re on a guided tour, the guide will give you a lot of information about the park first. You’ll then have a chance to walk between the plates and to some of the most picturesque viewpoints in the park.
It’s a wonderful introduction to Thingvellir. If you ever return to Iceland, there are lots of longer walking trails you can do here, as well as activities like snorkelling between the plates.
13:00 – Geysir
Your next stop will be Geysir, which is around 40 minutes by car from Thingvellir.
When we visited, this was one of the busiest places we saw in Iceland. Nonetheless, it’s incredibly cool watching the hot water spout up to 70 metres into the air.
When you arrive at the park, the guide will give you around an hour and a half of free time to explore the area. The one thing I loved so much about this Golden Circle tour was how much time they give you at each stop.
You can either explore some of the other spots in the park first or head straight to the main attraction. I recommend visiting the main Geysir first, as you might be waiting a while for it to erupt, and you may also want to see it several times.
Once you’ve had enough, several other springs in the area are worth seeing. As well as this, you can head into the cafe to grab some lunch. I recommend the soup – it’s perfect for a cold day and you get unlimited refills.
14:30 – Gullfoss Waterfall
Next, you’ll be taken to Gullfoss Waterfall. This is one of the most incredible waterfalls in south Iceland, but your experience will be slightly different depending on the time of year you visit.
In winter, the whole area is icy and snowy. There are several main viewing platforms – one at the top of the waterfall, and the second closer to the bottom. Both of these platforms are great for viewing the waterfall, but you won’t be able to get any closer.
However, in the summer months, you can walk down a thinner path to get right up close to the waterfall. This path is closed in the winter because it’s just too dangerous.
But, no matter what time of year you visit, Gulfoss is stunning. The sheer power of the water is insane (although it doesn’t compare to Dettifoss in the North), and it’s such a beautiful spot.
There’s also a shop here where you can grab some food if you didn’t manage to at Geysir.
16:00 – Kerid Crater
The final stop of the day will be Kerid Crater. This is a bit of a hidden gem on the Golden Circle, and many people and tour groups skip it completely.
However, it’s well worth seeing during 3 days in Iceland because it’s another example of how stunning Iceland’s landscapes can be. The colours on the crater are a beautiful mixture of reds, purples, and green.
There are several ways to see Keric Crater. You can go for a walk around the outside of the crater, or you can walk down the steps to see it from the bottom. If time and weather permit, I suggest doing both.
There are some great views from the top, and it’s a great way to see the colours. However, I also loved climbing down into the crater itself – you don’t really get a feel for how deep it is until you do this.
This will once again depend on the weather. During our first trip to Iceland in December, the stairs down into the crater were roped off due to how slippery they were.
The top of the crater is sometimes also blocked off depending on how windy it is – the weather can get extreme up there! So, you may not be able to see everything.
Once you’ve seen Kerid Crater, hop back in the coach and make the journey back to Reykjavik. This will mark the end of your tour and the end of exploring the Golden Circle.
❤️ This is the Golden Circle tour we booked and we loved it!
17:00 – Drive Back to Reykjavik
The drive back to Reykjavik will take around an hour. When you arrive back in the city, you can either wander around and grab some food, or you could head to Perlan.
This stunning museum is located a little outside the city centre (I recommend getting the bus). You’ll learn so much about the country’s vast landscapes, including some of the places you’ve visited and some of the spots you’ll be visiting tomorrow.
It’s one of our favourite museums in Iceland and a must if you’re spending time in Reykjavik. It shuts at 9pm and the tickets cost 5390 ISK, which is £30 or $40 per person.
Day 3: The South Coast
For your final day of this 3-day Iceland itinerary, head to the south coast of Iceland. This is the second most popular part of Iceland to explore and it’s a personal favourite of ours.
There’s an incredible amount of things to do in southern Iceland from glaciers to waterfalls and black sand beaches. You’ll once again be on a guided tour, which will take you to some of the South Coast’s most incredible spots – which includes everything I mentioned above!
This tour is our favourite tour we’ve ever been on in Iceland and I can almost guarantee that you’ll have a fantastic time.
This is a much longer driving day than the day previously, but, in some senses, the scenery is much better for it!
❤️ This tour is one of the most fantastic experiences in Iceland!
10:00 – Skogafoss
The first stop on this south coast day tour is Skogafoss waterfall. This is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the entire country.
It’s a huge 60-metre-high, incredibly powerful sheet of water. It can get quite busy, but it’s also completely beautiful and a must-see along the south coast.
There are several ways to see Skogafoss – from the bottom, where you can walk close to the base of the falls, or from the top. There is a staircase to the right of the waterfall, and you can walk almost 600 steps to view it from above.
We personally prefer the view from the bottom as it’s more impressive. But, the views of the surrounding countryside are amazing from the top. It’s also the start of the waterfall way hike.
We’ve visited Skogafoss several times, once during winter in Iceland and again in spring.
During winter, Skogafoss can get very icy and snowy, and you need to be extra careful when visiting. Spring can also be quite icy, but summer is lush and green. This is a beautiful time to see the waterfall.
Once you’ve explored both the top and bottom of Skogafoss, head to your next location.
11:30 – Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
From Skogafoss, the next stop will be Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. You’ll likely have around an hour and a half here and, trust me, you’ll need it. The beach is mesmerising and one of the most dramatic places you can explore in Iceland.
From Skogafoss, the drive is around 30 minutes. The beach is just before the beautiful town of Vik, which is one of the best places to stay on the south coast.
When you arrive at the beach, you’ll first pass the safety sign. This will tell you the conditions of the beach and where you’re able to explore. Please stick to this!!
The sneaker waves here can be really dangerous and have claimed lives, so it’s really important not to misjudge the ocean.
However, if you are being safe, then the beach is a wonderful place to visit.
You can walk down, explore the caves, admire the huge basalt columns, and see the rock formations jutting out to sea. We were even lucky enough to spot whales in the distance the last time we were here. It was amazing.
This is also a great place to stop for lunch. There’s a little cafe near the car park where you can grab a sandwich or some soup and bread.
13:45 – Solheimajokull Glacier Tongue
Next is one of the most incredible things you can do in Iceland – go glacier hiking! Even after visiting Iceland multiple times, this is still one of the most amazing things we’ve done. The whole experience is fantastic, and the scenery is out of this world.
If you want to do this, be sure to select a south coast tour with a glacier hiking experience.
This is also something you’ll need to book in advance, as there aren’t as many tours that go out on the glaciers compared to tours of the south coast in general.
Once you’ve arrived, walked to the glacier tongue, and geared up, you’ll head out onto the glacier. Your guide will tell you exactly how to walk on the ice to ensure you stay safe and will also lead the way onto the glacier.
You’ll spend about an hour and a half out on the ice. It also takes around 15-20 minutes to walk to the glacier tongue and another 30 minutes at least to go over the safety and get all your gear on. So the whole experience will take around 3 hours.
👉 Check out our full experience of glacier hiking in Solheimajokull here.
17:00 – Seljalandsfoss
Once you’ve got back in the minibus, you’ll head to the final destination on this day tour. The last waterfall is another of the most famous in Iceland, mainly known for the fact that you can walk behind it.
Seljalandsfoss is an hour from the glacier tongue back towards Reykjavik. When you arrive, you’ll be able to walk along the path right up to the waterfall and, depending on the season, walk behind it.
In the winter months, you aren’t able to do this at all because the path gets much too slippery to be safe. So, instead, you can only admire the waterfall from afar.
However, if you visit in the late spring, autumn, or summer months, you’ll be able to walk behind the falls.
The views are spectacular, especially if you visit later during the day when the sun is setting. Once you’ve viewed the waterfall, head back in the car and finish the journey back to Reykjavik.
❤️ This route can be done as a day tour if you don’t want to drive!
TOP TIP: We also highly recommend Kvernufoss, another waterfall you can walk behind in south Iceland.
18:00 – Back to Reykjavik
The final leg of the journey back to Reykjavik should take you around 2 hours. Once you arrive in the city, I recommend grabbing dinner and enjoying your final night in Iceland.
You could go for a walk along the oceanfront near the Harpur concert hall to see the Sun Voyager and the Höfði Lighthouse.
You could also visit the Sky Lagoon, the closest thermal spa to Reykjavik, for beautiful sunset views over the ocean or the Lava Show for an unreal demonstration of how real lava behaves.
We loved the Sky Lagoon, and you can read our full review here.
Either way, enjoy your final night in Iceland and head back to the airport the following morning to fly back home.
Is 3 days in Iceland enough?
No, I’m not going to lie to you – 3 days is not enough to see Iceland.
We’ve visited Iceland multiple times in the last few years, and even that isn’t anywhere near enough to see everything, without even considering driving the whole Ring Road.
If you’re short on time, 3 days is the perfect amount to get a taste of Iceland. You can see the most popular spots along the south coast, visit the Golden Circle, and explore the capital.
If you have a little extra time, check out our 4-day Iceland itinerary.
Iceland is a small island, but it’s huge in terms of things to do. If you love nature and the outdoors, you’ll most likely end up coming back here – I really don’t blame you at all!
We hope this itinerary has helped you plan your trip to Iceland. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to drop us a message or join our free Facebook Group!
👉 Planning on spending longer in Iceland? Check out our pre-made Iceland itinerary.
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