While a quick stopover in Iceland isn’t nearly enough time to enjoy everything this small country has to offer, it’s still well worth a visit! One or two days is enough time to visit Reykjavik and make a day trip to one of the major attractions. Iceland is still my favourite trip to date (I’ve been twice!). It’s the third most expensive country to visit as a tourist, but it’s absolutely possible to do it on a budget. That being said, make sure to enjoy some of the outdoor wonders that Iceland has to offer! Read on for how to make the most of your Iceland Stopover.
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How Long to Spend in Iceland
If possible, spend more time in Iceland! If you fly with Icelandair, a stopover doesn’t cost more for your flights, you just need to account for the costs of staying in Iceland. There are a few day trips you can make that are well worth the hype! The Golden Circle, Southeast Iceland Waterfalls, Blue Lagoon, a Northern Lights excursion in the winter, whale watching, and even puffin spotting! You could easily make Reykjavik your home base and go on multiple day trips to stay for longer!
However, if you’re pressed for time, you can spend 24 hours in Reykjavik. Or, you can pick the day trip that sounds most fun for you!
Read more: Iceland Summer Itinerary | 3-days to see Waterfalls, Puffins, and more!
What to Pack for Iceland
“If you don’t like the weather in Iceland, just wait 5 minutes” is a common saying. Iceland is windy but a beautiful destination year round. Spring and summer temperatures also don’t get incredibly warm. In the spring, you’ll definitely want a rain jacket but you’ll spend most days in a sweater, pants and comfortable walking shoes. In the winter, you’ll want to bundle up in the evenings but it’s more moderate than Canadian winters. I wouldn’t bother with an umbrella because of the wind!
You may want your bathing suit (for Blue Lagoon/hot springs), warm gear for the winter, bundle up for the Northern Lights, or shorts for the summer.
Read more: Ultimate Iceland Winter Packing List To Stay Warm and Dry
24 Hours in Reykjavik
The Reykjavik City Card is a great purchase if you are spending most of the day in the city. The card offers free entry to select museums and galleries, all pools and unlimited public transit within the Reykjavik Capital Area. You can also save on some tours, shops, restaurants and services!
My personal favourite museums are the Settlement Exhibition (included in the City Card) and the Icelandic Phallological Museum (20% discount). The Settlement Exhibition is a museum that was built on an archaeological dig that uncovered a viking longhouse. The museum is very interactive and offers a great overview of the settlement of the vikings in Iceland.
If you’re visiting during the winter, try to catch the Northern Lights! It requires a night in Iceland, and there is no guarantee you’ll see the lights, but it’s worth a try. The City Card offers a 50% discount at the Northern Lights Centre.
Wander down to the harbour and visit the Sun Voyager and Harpa Concert Hall. The Sun Voyager is a free art installation and the Harpa Concert Hall is a distinctive building, that hosts various events you can purchase tickets for.
If souvenir shopping is more your style, shop along Laugavegur.
Stop at Hallgrímskirkja to climb to the top of the tower for panoramic views of the city!
Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is about a 20 minute drive from the Keflavik airport, so stop by on your way to/from the airport if you have a short stopover in Iceland. Is Blue Lagoon worth it? If you enjoy spas and taking time to relax, absolutely! The comfort package allows you to visit without breaking the bank. If you plan to have lunch/dinner at the Lava Restaurant, I do recommend the Premium package for 2,000 ISK more (about $20 CAD).
Golden Circle
You can book a tour or rent a car and drive to the Golden Circle yourself (about a 2 hour drive). A tour is easy to book and allows you to sit back and enjoy the drive; however, you have much more freedom renting a car and driving yourself. You’ll find there are a lot of places to stop along the way for scenic pictures and a beautiful drive. Most tours include a stop at the Gulfoss waterfall, Thingvellir National Park and Geysir Park.
Southeast Iceland Waterfalls
Book a day trip through Arctic Adventures, or rent a car and visit the waterfalls of southeast Iceland! The day tour should include Seljalandsfoss (the waterfall you can walk behind) and Gljufrabui (the waterfall through the crevise), Skogafoss, and Vik to stop for lunch. You might be able to travel to the Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier if time permits! This makes for about 8 hours of driving total, but you’ll have lots of sunlight to get through the day. If you do rent a car, make sure you hold on to your doors!
Other Day Excursions
If you’re planning on doing a day excursion, I recommend picking something that is unique to Iceland (and there are a lot of options!) There are so many unique experiences to choose from, finding one depends on your budget and interests! You can snorkel in Silfra (between two tectonic plates), go whale watching, see Elephant Rock, go puffin watching or walk through a Lava Cave.
