72 hours in Iceland

Long trips, short trips – I don’t discriminate. We all love a vacation. That said, there are times when the thought of packing up for a week away seems more stressful than the added benefit. Enter the under-rated, long-weekend vacation.

Reminder from my London post on this topic: Research actually indicates this type of trip may be best – short spurts of recharge sprinkled throughout the year offer more events to look forward to. We also derive nearly as much benefit from thinking about & planning for a vacation – as well as basking in its afterglow – than we do taking the actual vacation.

For me, a trip to Iceland delivered. Feeling adventurous? Here’s the itinerary.

Passport Snapshot
Who: Me & a friend
What: Long weekend trip
When: Friday – Tuesday in April  
Where: Reykjavik + road trip  
Why: Why not?
How: WOW airlines, $259 RT direct flight BOS to RKV*  
Spend: Approx. $650 per person (excluding flight)  
Tip: 53% of the Icelandic population does not deny the existence of elves 
Budget Tip: Iceland is moving to a cashless society – minimize the amount, if any, you get from AAA or exchange in country if needed
Fun Fact: Iceland is extremely expensive due to a unique combination of geography, economics and politics – be prepared to spend $100 on a  sit-down meal for two; save by grabbing breakfast foods & snacks at the grocery store

*Trip was taken Spring 2018 before WOW airlines went under

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Day 1, Friday – Reykjavik

Logistics

• Arrive on a red eye (just 5 hours from the East Coast) to Keflavík International Airport and take Flybus downtown for $20  – buses depart 35 minutes after each flight arrives
• Check in & drop bags at Hotel Reykjavik Centrum, Reykjavik ($175/night)

Exploration

• Get started with a 10am, free CityWalk Tour
• After touring, pause for lunch & top-notch espresso, pastries and people watching at Café Paris
• Circle your way back to Hallsgrimskirkja Church (tour stop) & the surrounding neighborhood to take in everything along Laugavegur, especially the street art
• Meander along the waterfront for incredible views; stroll into Harpa concert hall to admire its impressive, modernist architecture
• Wrap up in Old Harbour for a flashback to the city’s heritage as a small fishing village
• Enjoy the burgeoning food scene with a visit to Saegrinn – this casual joint serves incredible lobster soup. Any and all fish skewers are a must

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Day 2, Saturday – Road trip to Skogafoss

• Start slow with a visit/dip in one of Reykjavik’s public baths, Vesturbæjarlaug. Arrive as it opens for maximum quiet time. Favors functionality over scenery & gives you a native, cultural feel vs. the tourist feel of the Blue Lagoon (which is still a must do)
• Towel off, bundle up and wander over to the bakery directly across the street – the buttery, flaky baked goods pair perfectly with coffee from Kaffihús Vesturbæjar next door
• Pick up your rental car – Avis/Budget will send a shuttle to your hotel (email Budget@budget.is for details)
• You’re off! Iceland is an extremely easy country to navigate – mostly one lane, lightly trafficked roads

Route, Skogafoss & Reynisfara

• Drive 2 hours from Reykjavik to Skogafoss, home to one of the country’s most scenic waterfalls
• Climb the stairs to view the fall’s 197 foot drop & at the top, enjoy a picturesque hike through the highlands (recommend packing a picnic lunch)
• Continue on 30 min to Reynisfjara’s beaches on the southernmost coast. Tall, stone columns and caves are where they filmed Dragonstone from Game of Thrones
• After you’re done sticking your toes in the beach’s famed black sand, settle in for the evening at Farmhouse Lodge, Skeidflotur ($170/night), a farmhouse B&B with water views
• Dinner at Sudor Vik in town of Vik (Get the curry! Just trust me)

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Day 3, Sunday – Road trip to Skafatell

• 2 hr drive to Skaftafell, gateway to Vatnajokull National Park
• Spend the morning/early afternoon hiking Skafatell
• Continue on to an extremely unique Airbnb – Selglbudir, Villa by the River Bank ($190/night). Finding it is its own adventure
• Tip: Lodging is remote so pick up food & wine on way to check-in; enjoy the evening and farm’s views from the hot tub

If you have more than 72 hours…

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Bonus Day 1, Monday – Geysir & Gulfoss en route to Reykjavik

• 3.5hr drive to Geysir – a quick stop is all that’s needed for this touristy destination en route back to Reykjavik
• Continue on 10 min to the thundering Gulfoss Falls to truly feel small amidst nature
• Spend 1hr enjoying the falls before the 1.5 hr drive back to Reykjavik

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Bonus Day 2, Tuesday

Logistics

• Visit the Blue Lagoon the day you arrive or day you leave given proximity to the airport
• For functionality & to save $, stay at Bed and Breakfast Keflavík Airport Hotel, Reykjanesbaer ($100/night – very basic) to ensure an easy morning to Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon

• Enjoy the Blue Lagoon early, 9am – 12pm, before flying out
  • $100 per person, book in advance (before you leave for your trip)
  • No need to pay for any “upgrades” – basic ticket includes a mud face mask
  • Tip: Bring a waterproof pouch if you want to bring your phone in for photos, but there’s really no good way to do this & you’ll likely want to leave it in your locker
• Return rental car at airport (pay slightly more for convenience of returning to a different location)

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And…repeat. Will have to visit again for the Northern Lights!