How to Spend the Perfect 3 Days in Reykjavik, Iceland
Are you planning on spending 3 days in Reykjavik? This is the perfect place to base yourself for a short trip to Iceland and here’s exactly how to spend your time!
We’ve spent a lot of time in Iceland. It’s one of our favourite countries in the world and Reykjavik is easily one of our favourite cities. If you don’t fancy driving around Iceland or only have a short time to visit, it’s the perfect place to base yourself for your trip.
There’s a surprising amount of things to do in Reykjavik, from incredible museums to amazing wildlife encounters or even seeing real lava up close.
So, if you’re planning on visiting Iceland and want to know how to spend 3 days in Reykjavik, here’s our ultimate guide.
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Reykjavik Must-Do’s!
Short on time? These are 5 bucket-list things you NEED to do in Reykjavik! ❤️
- See the Golden Circle
- Explore Iceland’s South Coast
- Soak in the Sky Lagoon
- Go on a Food Tour
- Relax in the Blue Lagoon
Our fave hotel: Center Hotels Plaza
Day 1: Reykjavik Essentials
For your first day in Reykjavik, stick to the essentials. These are some of the most popular things to do in the capital and are must-sees on your Iceland bucket list.
9:30 – Climb Up Hallgrimskirkja
You can’t visit Reykjavik and not climb up Hallgrimskirkja! This beautiful church is the symbol of the city and one of the most popular places to visit in Reykjavik.
It’s located right in the centre of the city. Depending on where you’re staying, you’ll most likely be able to walk there.
As well as admiring the church from the outside, we highly recommend going inside. The inside is a great example of Gothic architecture and, when we visited, it was lit up in red and looked amazing.
While it’s free to go inside, you can also pay a small fee of 1400 ISK (about £8 or $10) to go up to the top of the tower. This is well worth doing as you’ll be able to see panoramic views over the colourful city and the surrounding mountains.
10:30 – Explore Rainbow Street
Almost opposite the church, you’ll find Rainbow Street. This is one of the most well-known streets in Iceland and a great place to photograph the church.
It’s also a fantastic spot for a bit of window shopping – or actual shopping! – as you’ll find places selling souvenirs, Icelandic wool jumpers, and much more. There are also several cafes, perfect if you want to warm up with a hot drink.
11:30 – Visit the Sun Voyager
Once you’ve explored the city centre, head to the waterfront.
This place is one of my favourite parts of Reykjavik as the views are completely incredible. On a clear day, you can see right across the water to the fabulous Mount Esja in the distance.
The Sun Voyager itself is a very interesting statue. I always say it looks like the skeleton of a ship and is meant to symbolise exploration and adventure in Iceland.
12:00 – Admire Harpa Concert Hall
Walk just 10 minutes further along the waterfront and you’ll come across Harpa Concert Hall. I’ve always said this place resembles a giant iceberg and it was the nature in Iceland that inspired the design.
Harpa is covered in hundreds of glass panels and literally shimmers in the sun. When we first visited (during our first trip to Iceland) it was sunset but had also just rained.
The combination of low sun and wet pavement meant the whole thing was bathed in purple light – it was beautiful.
You can also go inside Harpa, even if you’re not going to watch a performance. The reflective walls are pretty cool from the inside as well.
12:30 – Try an Icelandic Hot Dog
This is a must in Iceland! Icelandic hot dogs are just delicious and this is the perfect spot for lunch
They are slightly different from the hot dogs you might expect.
They’re made from lamb meat instead of pork, are smothered in Icelandic mustard, (which doesn’t have the tanginess of English mustard) and ketchup and are served in a brioche bun with crispy onions at the bottom.
It’s really scrummy and totally worth it if you’re in Reykjavik. The best stand is Baejarins Beztu Pylsur which you can find in the town centre.
TOP TIP: You can find an Icelandic hot dog stand here. It’s about 7 minutes on foot from Harpa Concert Hall.
14:00 – Visit Perlan Museum
For the final thing to do on your first day in Iceland, head to Perlan Museum. This wonderful museum is our favourite in Iceland.
It’s located a little outside the city centre. You can walk, but it’ll likely take you around 40 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a bus which will drop you off right outside.
Once you arrive, you’ll be in the best museum for the natural wonders of Iceland. It showcases so much of the country’s beautiful nature from geysers to volcanoes to glaciers.
You can learn about the wild animals that call the country home including whales, arctic foxes, puffins, and even the polar bear that used to inhabit Iceland.
Plus, it’s such an interactive museum. There’s a seabird wall replica, a northern lights theatre display, a volcano show, and an ice cave that’s constantly kept at -10°C. There’s also a restaurant and observation deck with a 360-degree view of Reykjavik.
You’ll probably need at least 3 hours to see everything here and tickets cost 5,990 ISK (£35 or $43) per person.
Day 2: Bucket List Reykjavik
Your second day in Reykjavik is all about unique experiences. Today, you’ll be combining amazing wildlife with some of Iceland’s most incredible attractions.
9:00 – Go Whale Watching
First things first, we recommend heading to the harbour to go whale watching. This is a bucket list experience in Iceland, as the country is one of the whale-watching capitals of the world.
Admittedly, the very best place to see whales is in Husavik, in the north. You can also go whale watching in Akureyri. However, there is plenty of chance to see these majestic creatures in the waters around Reykjavik.
You will have the chance to see Humpback Whales, Minke Whales, Orcas, Fin Whales, and Sperm Whales, along with several others. If you’re visiting in the summer months, you can combine this with a puffin-watching cruise too.
The best time for whale watching in Iceland is during the summer months (from June to August) when the whales are most abundant and the weather is milder.
However, some species, like the orcas and humpbacks, can also be seen during the winter months.
Whale watching is a very popular activity in Iceland, so you’ll need to book a spot in advance to make sure you get a place on the tour.
❤️ We recommend booking ahead – yon’t want to miss the chance to see these gentle giants!
12:00 – Lunch
There are quite a few restaurants around the harbour that are perfect for lunch.
A few of our favourites include the infamous Reykjavik Fish Restaurant, Kopar, which is more expensive but has fantastic views, or Flatey Pizza, a fab little pizza place.
13:30 – Visit the Whales of Iceland Museum
Once you’ve seen the whales in real life, we recommend heading to the Whales of Iceland Museum.
This is another of the best museums in Iceland and is located in the Reykjavik Harbour area, quite close to where you would’ve gone for your tour. This makes it really easy to visit afterwards.
This is an interactive exhibition that shows over 20 to-scale models of the whales that live in the waters around Reykjavik.
It’s a very educational experience and you’ll learn a lot about the whales themselves, their habitat and how humans are affecting their lives.
There’s also a theatre there where you can watch a short film about the whales and the ecosystem they live in.
16:00 – See the Icelandic Lava Show
Located almost right next to the Whales of Iceland Museum is the Icelandic Lava Show. This attraction is one of the most incredible things you can do in Iceland. If you’ve ever wanted to see lava in real life, then this is a must-see.
During the show, the hosts will first play a short film about the history of volcanic activity in Iceland. They’ll then dim the lights and pour real lava into the showroom down a kind of funnel.
It’s absolutely insane and one of the most impressive things we’ve seen in Iceland.
You can feel the raw heat of the lava immediately, and the host goes on to demonstrate how the lava behaves when it interacts with certain objects. For instance, they demonstrate what happens when lava comes into contact with ice.
They also created strings of lava in the air to show its consistency and created a mini lava tunnel. It’s fascinating and the only show like it in the world.
19:00 – Soak in the Sky Lagoon
For your final activity of the day, head to the Sky Lagoon. This is a wonderful way to finish a day in Iceland and it’s one of the best thermal spas in the country.
Although many people will flock to the Blue Lagoon, the Sky Lagoon is equally as impressive. Located overlooking the ocean, it’s like a giant infinity pool with magnificent sea views.
It’s also known for its 7-step ritual, where you can soak in a warm pool, visit a sauna, or even brave a cold plunge pool. It’s very invigorating – although I’m still not sure I like cool pools!
❤️ We recommend booking Sky Lagoon Tickets in advance
Day 3: A Day Trip from Reykjavik
For the third day in Reykjavik, take one of the many popular day trips outside the capital. These will take you to some of Iceland’s most incredible natural landscapes.
There are two different options that we suggest for today – the first is the Golden Circle or the South Coast.
If you have already done a road trip around Iceland and are spending some time in Reykjavik at the end of your trip, we’ll also include a few options if you’re staying in the city.
Option One: Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is a must-visit spot in Iceland. It’s made up of 3 key stops: Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir, and Thingvellir National Park.
Gullfoss is one of the most impressive waterfalls in southern Iceland. It’s also nicknamed ‘Golden Falls’ because of the way it reflects the sun in summer. This is also how the Golden Circle got its name.
Geysir is one of the country’s most impressive geothermal areas. It’s home to Strokkur, a large geyser that erupts every 5-15 minutes, shooting water 40 meters into the air.
Lastly, Thingvellir is a national park about 45 minutes from Reykjavik. It’s mostly known for its volcanic activity. You can walk between two tectonic plates here and hike to another beautiful waterfall.
There are lots of guided tours to the Golden Circle from Reykjavik – in fact, it’s one of Iceland’s most popular tours. Many of these will also include a fourth stop at either the Secret Lagoon or Kerid Crater.
❤️ We recommend booking your Golden Circle tour early – it’s popular for good reason!
Option Two: South Coast of Iceland
This is our favourite part of Iceland, and it’s completely beautiful. The south coast is a region mostly famous for its black sand beaches and stunning waterfalls. You’ll find some of Iceland’s best waterfalls here, including Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss.
As well as waterfalls, you’ll likely visit the cute town of Vik, one of the most popular places to stay in Iceland outside the capital, and visit the picturesque Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.
This is once again a very popular day trip from Reykjavik. Our first ever trip down the South Coast was via a guided tour, so there are plenty of options to book. It’s such a beautiful region of Iceland and more than worth the visit.
If we had to be completely honest, we would choose the South Coast over the Golden Circle. It’s less busy and, in our opinion, more beautiful.
❤️ You need to book a South Coast tour – it’s one of the best things we did in Reykjavik!
Option Three: Staying in Reykjavik
If you’re staying in Reykjavik, there are still plenty of other things you could do around the town. You could:
- Visit the Árbær Open Air Museum,
- Visit the Settlement Exhibition,
- Feed the swans at Tjörnin Lake,
- Visit the quirky Phallological Museum,
- Go on a food tour (we loved this one!)
- Soak in the Blue Lagoon
- Visit on FlyOver Iceland
- Go on a Northern Lights tour (if you’re visiting in winter)
There’s plenty to keep you entertained for an extra day in the capital!
So, there you have it! That’s exactly how we’d spend 3 days in Reykjavik. It’s one of our favourite cities, there’s a lot to do there, and it’s the perfect base for an Icelandic adventure.
👉 If you’re thinking of spending longer in Iceland, here’s our 4-day itinerary.
Is 3 days in Reykjavik worth it?
Yes, we definitely think so! Whilst Reykjavik itself isn’t (in our opinion) anywhere near as beautiful as the rest of Iceland, it’s the best place to learn about Icelandic culture.
The museums really are superb, and the fact that you can go whale watching from the harbour, see a real lava show, and the snowy mountain backdrop really adds to the city’s vibe.
We also think that 3 days is the perfect amount of time to visit Reykjavik. You can certainly visit the city for less time (check out our 2-day city guide and our 1-day itinerary here).
But 3 days will give you plenty of time to see Reykjavik’s main attractions, some hidden gems, and also go on a day trip.
We hope this itinerary has helped you make the most of your time in Reykjavik! If you have questions or want to ask us anything, head to our free Iceland Facebook Group.
👉 Still haven’t chosen a hotel in the capital? Here are our favourite places to stay in Reykjavik.
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