4 Days in Iceland Itinerary: The Ultimate First Time Trip

Are you wondering how to plan the perfect 4 day Iceland itinerary? After spending weeks exploring this beautiful country, here’s exactly how to spend your time.

Four days is the perfect amount of time for a first trip to Iceland. It’s just enough time to see the country’s incredible diversity, from towering waterfalls to vast glaciers, and even go on a mini road trip beyond the capital.

You’d be surprised just how much you can see and do in this short space of time.

On our first trip to Iceland, we only had 3 days – and this was enough to fall in love with it. With an extra day, you’ll be able to dive deeper into Iceland’s wonders whilst still checking the iconic spots off your bucket list.

So, if you’re having a tough time planning, you’re in the right place. Here’s exactly how to make the most of 4 incredible days in Iceland.

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Day 1: South Coast

For your first day, you’ll likely be arriving in Iceland. Many of the flights land early in the morning, which is ideal as it gives you the rest of the day to explore. In this case, you’ll be heading down the south coast from Reykjavik to Vik. 

10:00 – Collect hire car (pick up food)

First things first, pick up your hire car. For anything less than 4 days in Iceland (such as our 2-day itinerary), it may not be worth hiring a car. You can do most of the popular day tours from Reykjavik. 

However, 4 days is long enough to warrant having your own transport. 

Whenever we rent a car in Iceland, we always choose this company. They consistently offer the best prices and the widest range of vehicle options. Plus, we’ve been lucky enough to receive free upgrades on multiple occasions!

When it comes to insurance, we highly recommend purchasing rental car insurance separately rather than through the car hire company. Insurance offered by the rental company is often overpriced and tends to provide less coverage.

For instance, coverage for wind damage – which is essential when driving in Iceland’s unpredictable weather – is frequently excluded.

We always use this company for our rental insurance and have had a fantastic experience every time.

One thing to keep in mind is that buying insurance separately usually means putting down a higher security deposit with the rental company. However, this is just a hold on your credit card, not an actual cash charge.

Despite this, we’ve consistently found this approach to be both more cost-effective and comprehensive than going directly with the rental company.

Once you’ve picked up your hire car, it’s time to head down the southern coast.

❤️ This is our go-to car hire company, and this company always has the cheapest and most comprehensive rental insurance.

TOP TIP: Before you leave, I recommend stopping at a supermarket to pick up some lunch. Bonus and Kronan are usually the cheapest options. You can either nip into Keflavik or stop at the supermarket in Selfoss. 

13:00 – Seljalandsfoss

Your first stop on this 4-day Iceland itinerary is Seljalandsfoss, one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls.

This is such a unique waterfall because you can walk behind it. You can see right across the Icelandic countryside and the views are amazing. 

Plus, there’s a path here that leads to a second secret waterfall that most of the tours to the South Coast miss.

This is one of the reasons we suggest hiring a car – you’ll be able to see things that you just won’t get the chance to if you’re staying in Reykjavik. 

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13:30 – Gljufrabui

This next stop can be easily reached from Seljalandsfoss. You follow the path directly from behind the waterfall. In about 10 minutes, you’ll find yourself at a crack in the cliffs. 

Walk through this crack and you’ll find Gljufrabui. This is well worth visiting if you want to explore one of the region’s hidden gems. In fact, Gljufrabui is often referred to as the “hidden waterfall” because it’s tucked away in a canyon. 

You will get a bit wet, though! The best views involve wading through a small stream and, once you’re inside, the water spray will 100% get you. However, it’s well worth it and is one of the best waterfalls in the south. 

14:30 – Skogafoss

Next, head to Skogafoss, another of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. This is also located along the south coast and is about 30 minutes by car from the Seljalandsfoss car park. 

This is a much larger waterfall compared to Seljalandsfoss, but you can’t walk behind this one. Instead, you can climb over 500 steps to the top of the waterfall, where you’ll be able to see stunning views over the countryside. 

Skogafoss also marks the starting point of an incredible hike where you can discover around 27 waterfalls. But you won’t really have time to do this in just 4 days. 

After taking in the view from the top of the falls, make your way back down and admire Skogafoss from below. The 60-meter-high cascade is truly breathtaking and, in our opinion, the view from the bottom is much better than the one from the top. 

TOP TIP: There are toilets in the car park, so you can stop here for a loo break if you need to.

16:00 – Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Next, hop back in the car and drive to Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland’s most famous black sand beach and a must-visit stop in the south. 

It can get quite busy here, but because you’re arriving in the afternoon, you’ll likely avoid the busiest times when the tour buses arrive.

While this is a very popular spot, it can also be quite dangerous. The beach is known for its sneaker waves, which can wash up on the beach in seconds and knock people off their feet. 

There are warnings as you arrive telling you how dangerous the tides are – please stick to these warnings! 

Despite the potential danger, Reynisfjara is one of our favourite places in the south. The waves are mesmerising and we’ve spent a good hour here before just watching the ocean.

If you can, go for a walk down the sand and admire the rock formations and the basalt columns. The last time we visited, we even saw whales in the distance. It’s a magical place – as long as you’re sensible!

17:00 – Vik

Last but not least, head into Vik itself. This is one of Iceland’s most famous towns and a popular stop for visitors exploring the south.

Head up to Vík i Myrdal Church, the famous church overlooking the village, explore Vikurfjara (the other black sand beach), and stop at the cutest coffee shop in an old school bus.

Stay in Vik

We recommend staying in Vik for your first two nights. There are lots of great things to do in Vik.

Plus, this will mean you’re within easy driving distance of tomorrow’s activities, and it’s a lovely little town with a great range of restaurants and supermarkets.

👉 Check out our favourite places to stay in Vik.

TOP TIP: For dinner, head to Black Crust Pizzeria, a famous spot that sells very unique pizzas. You may find this place quite busy, though!

Day 2: South Coast Glaciers

Your second day in Iceland is going to be all about glaciers. This will be the most expensive day of your trip, but it’ll also be the most fun – we can guarantee it!

10:00 – Glacier Hike

Start your day with a hike on Solheimajokull Glacier. We did this as part of our south coast day tour from Reykjavik, and it remains one of the coolest things we’ve ever done in Iceland. 

Since this is a meet-on-location tour, you’ll be meeting the guide at the glacier tongue, which is around a 40-minute drive from the centre of Vik. 

We recommend leaving around an hour early to account for traffic getting out of Vik. 

Once you arrive, you’ll meet your guide, get geared up, and head out on the glacier. 

Overall, you can expect to be out on the ice for about 1.5 hours. We also walked through an ice tunnel, did some “glacier push-ups”, and drank the glacier water, which was so good. 

The views from the top are insane, and this tour is so worth it. 

👉 Read our full guide to the Solheimajokull Glacier hike.

TOP TIP: Once you’ve finished your glacier hike, head back into Vik for some lunch. We recommend The Soup Company which serves a delicious range of soups, salads, and pasta dishes. 

15:00 – Visit Katla Ice Cave

In the afternoon, head back towards Vik to visit the famous Katla Ice Cave. For this tour, you’ll need to meet your guide at the Ice Cave Bistro Restaurant in Vik and, once again, we recommend arriving a little earlier if possible. 

Katla Ice Cave is the only ice cave in Iceland that’s open all year round and is one of the most unique things you can do in the country. It’s located near the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier and named after the Katla Volcano beneath it. 

If this tour isn’t already on your Iceland bucket list, it needs to be! 

The tour typically involves a super jeep ride, followed by a guided tour of the cave itself. Because the cave is completely natural, it’s always changing, and no two visits are the same. This is one of the things that makes it so unique. 

Remember to dress warmly (check out our Iceland packing list) and wear sturdy shoes, as the conditions inside the cave can be both chilly and slippery. The guides will usually supply you with crampons and ice picks to help you grip the ice. 

❤️ We cannot recommend both a glacier hike and visiting Katla Ice Cave enough. They are both bucket list-worthy and wonderful experiences in Iceland.

Stay in Vik

Since you’re staying in Vik again tonight, take the opportunity to explore something you might have missed the evening before.

One experience we loved was the Lava Show. It’s a wonderful experience to witness real molten lava up close, and the heat coming off it was incredible. You can book tickets here. 

For dinner on your second night, we suggest Halldorskaffi. They serve a great range of traditional Icelandic dishes as well as burgers and pizzas.

👉 Check out our favourite places to stay in Vik.

Day 3: Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon

On your third day in Iceland, head to one of the country’s most popular spots – the Golden Circle. This will probably be the busiest day of this Iceland itinerary, but you just can’t miss the Golden Circle during your first time in Iceland. 

8:00 – Drive back down the South Coast

You’ll need to start quite early today as there’s a lot to see and also quite a lot of driving. We recommend leaving at 8am at the latest, but you may want to leave even earlier.

The drive to your first stop is around 2 hours from the centre of Vik, back down the south coast

10:00 – Kerid Crater

Your first stop on the day will be Kerid Crater. This stunning volcanic crater lake is a must-see on the Golden Circle route. It used to be a bit of a hidden gem, but more and more people and tour companies are including it as a stop now.

It’s also one of the only natural attractions in Iceland that has an entry ticket. Parking here is free, but tickets cost 600 ISK, which is around £3.50 or $4.30 per person.

Kerid is mostly known for its colourful volcanic rock in shades of red and purple, green, and brown. Combined with the bright turquoise water, it’s a truly beautiful place.

You can walk around the rim for panoramic views of the lake. You’ll have the best views from up here, and this is the best way to see the colours. There are also several viewpoints at the top which provide excellent photo opportunities.

Once you’ve walked around the rim, head down the steps where you can explore the water or the ice at the bottom.

TOP TIP: On windy days, be extremely careful walking around the rim of the crater. The gusts up here can be really strong and there often aren’t barriers around the edge.

11:00 – Secret Lagoon

Next, head north to the Secret Lagoon. This is one of the oldest swimming pools in Iceland and a complete contrast to the Blue Lagoon.

Located in the small village of Flúðir, the Secret Lagoon is a much more natural setting. You can soak in the warm waters surrounded by the beautiful Icelandic countryside. 

It’s also much more affordable than the Blue Lagoon and tickets are around £20 ($25) per person. This spot feels more authentic and less crowded, and is a lovely place to stop when driving around the Golden Circle.

❤️ We recommend booking tickets to the Secret Lagoon in advance as they can sell out.

13:30 – Gullfoss Waterfall

After your relaxing soak in the Secret Lagoon, head to another of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls: Gullfoss. This fantastic fall is located at the top end of the Golden Circle route.

Where Skogafoss and many of the waterfalls along the south coast are tall, Gullfoss is wide. The waterfall stretches across the Hvítá River, plunging across two shelves and into the large canyon below. 

There are several ways to view the falls depending on what time of year you are visiting. If you’re visiting Iceland in the winter months, you can explore via two platforms above the falls, separated by a set of metal stairs. 

Then, if you visit in summer, there is also another path that goes along the edge of the waterfall right up close to it. This is closed in winter because the ice and snow make it too dangerous. 

TOP TIP: While you’re here, it’s a good time to grab some lunch. There’s a cafe in the visitor centre which sells sandwiches, soups, and hot drinks. There are also toilets there.

14:30 – Geysir

Once you’ve explored Gullfoss, head 15 minutes around the corner to Geysir. This is the most famous geothermal area in Iceland, home to Strokkur. 

This powerful geyser erupts every 5 to 15 minutes, shooting boiling water up to 20–30 metres (65–100 feet) into the air. 

You’ll often find large crowds here. When we last visited Iceland in March, this was the busiest place on the Golden Circle and the only place we had trouble parking. However, it’s definitely worth seeing at least once while you’re in Iceland. 

Once you’ve seen Strokkur erupt, explore the rest of the area. You’ll find more hot springs, mud pots, and dormant geysers. While they don’t erupt, they’re very pretty to look at, and some have beautiful bright blue colours. 

There’s also a cafe in the visitor centre here as well as toilets. There’s also a hotel here (one of our favourite Golden Circle Hotels), which is perfect for visiting Geysir without the crowds.

TOP TIP: If you have time after you’ve visited Geysir, I also recommend paying a visit to Bruarfoss. This stunning waterfall is located between Geysir and Thingvellir and is one of the bluest waterfalls in Iceland.

16:30 – Thingvellir National Park

Your last stop on day 3 is Thingvellir National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Iceland’s most geologically significant locations. 

It’s most famous for being the place where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. You’ll find incredible landscapes: large lakes, waterfalls, cliffs, glacier springs, and a huge valley where you can walk between the plates.

Park in the main car park (be sure to get this one, as there are lots of car parks in Thingvellir) and head up to the first viewpoint.

Then, walk along the Almannagjá Gorge, where you can literally stand between continents, and visit the picturesque Öxarárfoss waterfall. 

17:30 – Drive to Reykjavik

Finally, drive to Reykjavik, where you’ll be spending the night. The journey will take around 45 minutes from Thingvellir, and the roads get noticeably busier as you get closer to the city. 

This is a much more urban side of Iceland, especially when you compare it with the wild landscapes along the southern coast. 

Stay in Reykjavik

You’ll be staying in Reykjavik for the next night. This will give you some time to explore the city and see a little of the culture of Iceland as well as the impressive museums. 

We stayed at Center Hotels Plaza during our time in the city and loved it.

It was conveniently located so we could walk everywhere, we had some fantastic restaurants right outside (as well as a hot dog stand – you HAVE to try Icelandic hot dogs), and it was super comfortable.

In the evening, depending on your energy level, you could go for a little stroll through Reykjavik’s charming streets. For dinner, we recommend Apotek, which is delicious.

👉 Check out our favourite places to stay in Reykjavik.

❤️ This is the hotel we stayed at in Reykjavik and we loved it.

Day 4: Reykjavik and Blue Lagoon

For your last day of this 4 day Iceland itinerary, you’ll be spending the morning exploring Reykjavik, before heading to one of Iceland’s most iconic attractions – the Blue Lagoon!

9:00 – Perlan

Start your day bright and early at one of our favourite museums in Iceland. Perlan is a must-see for anyone who loves the natural beauty and stunning scenery of the country. 

It’s a bit of a long walk from Center Hotels Plaza (around 40 minutes, plus some of it is uphill), so we suggest getting the bus. Take the bus from Ráðhúsið to Klambratún, then it’s around a 15-minute walk to the museum.

You’ll find so much information about the volcanoes, glaciers, black sand beaches, geysers, lava fields, and so much that has contributed to Iceland’s landscapes. 

As well as that, you can also learn about Icelandic wildlife such as whales, seabirds (including puffins), and even polar bears that once inhabited Iceland. 

There’s a cinematic experience about the Northern Lights and a real ice tunnel that you can walk through. Tickets cost around £30 ($39), but it’s a fantastic museum, you’ll most likely need the whole morning here. 

❤️ We loved this museum and highly recommend it!

13:00 – Hallgrimskirkja Church

Once you’ve finished exploring Perlan, take the bus to Snorrabraut and then walk to Hallgrimskirkja Church. This is such an iconic symbol of Reykjavik, and you can’t spend 4 days in Iceland without seeing it.

Admire the church from the outside, and you’ll immediately see how the design resembles the basalt columns along the South Coast.

Then, head inside and climb to the top for panoramic views over the city and the surrounding mountains. Entry to the church is free, but tickets to climb the tower cost 1400 ISK, which is around £8 ($10). 

14:00 – Rainbow Street

From the church, head to Rainbow Street. This is one of Reykjavik’s most colourful streets and iconic spots. It’s officially known as Skólavörðustígur and is lined with boutique shops, art galleries, and cosy cafés.

14:30 – Sun Voyager

Next, head towards the waterfront. This is one of our favourite areas of Reykjavik and is so beautiful. The views across the water and the stunning backdrop of Faxaflói Bay with Mount Esja in the distance are just gorgeous. 

The Sun Voyager is a striking steel sculpture resembling the shell of a Viking ship. It represents dreams and exploration and is another fantastic spot for photos, especially during golden hour.

15:00 – Harpa Concert Hall

For your final stop in Reykjavik, head to Harpa Concert Hall, an architectural masterpiece inspired by nature. This time, it’s inspired by icebergs and basalt columns. 

The exterior of Harpa is made up of geometric glass panels. We visited during the sunset on our first trip to Iceland in December, and the glow of the sun setting and the rain on the pavement made the whole thing look purple. It was beautiful. 

16:00 – Drive to the Blue Lagoon

Finally, head to the Blue Lagoon. You just can’t spend 4 days in Iceland and not visit this iconic geothermal spa. Spending your final evening soaking in the milky blue waters seems like the perfect way to end your trip. 

The drive from Reykjavik will take between 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic, but once you’re out of the capital, the journey is pretty easygoing.

17:00 – Blue Lagoon

If this isn’t the perfect way to end your trip, I don’t know what is! The Blue Lagoon is Iceland’s most famous geothermal spa. 

Admittedly, it’s pretty pricey and you’ll likely be paying £60 ($75) per person or more for a ticket. But it’s such a unique experience that it’s worth the price. 

The mineral-rich, milky-blue waters, set against a striking black lava field, are a pretty surreal landscape.

You’ll also get a mud mask and drink included in your ticket, and there are in-water massages and treatments available if you really want a luxurious experience.

Either way, it’s a great way to end your trip and one of the best things to do in Iceland. 

TOP TIP: If you don’t fancy changing hotels again, then we recommend visiting the Sky Lagoon instead. It’s in Reykjavik, so it will be much easier to get to, and you can return to Center Hotels Plaza at the end of the night. We loved the Sky Lagoon, and you can check out our review here.

Stay near Keflavik

After you visit the Blue Lagoon, you’ll be much closer to the airport than to Reykjavik city centre. For this reason, it’s more convenient to stay near the airport rather than drive back to the city. 

There are plenty of airport hotels to choose from but during our visit, we stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Keflavik Airport. 

It was comfortable, the staff were lovely, and it’s only a 10-minute drive to return your hire car at the end of your 4-day adventure in Iceland.

Is 4 days in Iceland enough?

Overall, 4 days is the ideal amount of time to get a taste of Iceland. While it’s a relatively short amount of time, it allows you to explore the highlights, especially in areas like the Golden Circle, the South Coast, and Reykjavik. 

But is it enough time to fully see Iceland? Not at all.

We’ve visited Iceland 3 times, spent weeks in the country, and still have not seen everything. Iceland is vast, and a lot of the scenery is spread out over long distances

If you have 4 days, you’re going to have to keep the drives relatively short, or you’ll end up spending your entire time on the road instead of actually seeing the sights. 

That said, there are still loads to see within 2-3 hours of Reykjavik and this itinerary focuses on that.

If you’re hoping to see more of the country or drive the Ring Road, you’ll need more than 4 days. But for a well-rounded introduction to Iceland, 4 days is a great starting point!

We hope this itinerary has helped a lot with planning your trip to Iceland, but if you need any further help or have any other questions, join our free Facebook Group and ask us anything!

👉 Considering spending longer in Iceland? Check out our 5-day South Coast itinerary!

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