Iceland is one of the most photogenic countries in the world, so it’s no surprise that more people are visiting than ever before. You may be thinking about what to pack for your trip and how long you will need to spend there. I will cover all of these questions and more with this guide to spending a weekend in Iceland
Getting There There are several ways to get to Iceland depending on your budget. Icelandair is the most popular, has the most frequent flights and connects to 21 in North American and 23 European gateways to Reykjavík’s Keflavik International Airport.
The Best Time to Travel to Iceland The best time to go is during the summer, because the days are long and the weather is mostly mild, which makes them ideal for exploring outdoors as they offer almost 20+ hours of daylight daily. The fall offers fewer crowds, somewhat mild weather, but it can be more unpredictable. The winter is mild for their latitude, and it almost never snows in Reykjavík because of its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, but the days are short and dark. The winter does off the best possibility of seeing the Northern Lights, and there are some amazing skiing opportunities. If you dress properly and plan your itinerary well, a winter weekend in Iceland can also be fabulous.
Getting Around in Iceland The two most popular options are renting a car and heading to the sites you want to see at your leisure, or taking a shuttle from the airport to Reykjavik and signing up for a small-group excursion. There are many excursion options and they can sometimes be a very efficient way to see many different things as many of the popular sights on the Golden Circle are a 2 to 3 hour drive from Reykjavik. Either way you can see so much in a weekend. Focusing on the South Coast and its black sand beaches, hot springs, geysers and amazing waterfalls is the most ideal itinerary for a weekend trip. If you do rent your own car be sure to drive carefully and be sure not to leave the doors open if you pull over and pop out of your car to take a quick photo due to the strong winds that can easily blow the car over. It’s not unusual to see a few rental cars on teir side on a very windy day. Also, make sure you keep an eye on the car gas level and what you need to get from destination to destination, because there can be some very long stretches between petrol stations. Most of the attractions below are included on the Golden Circle excursions offered by the tour operators. Operators offer a half day and full day option, and different size tour groups.
What to See During a Weekend in Iceland Reykjavík Reykjavik is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It’s a beautiful small city with beautiful architecture and bustling streets lined with outdoor cafes and colorful houses. While I wouldn’t recommend devoting a full day in your itinerary to sightseeing here, I would take the time before and after your excursions to check it out. The striking Hallgrimskirkja church. It can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. You can go to the top of the church on Friday or Saturday to enjoy the panoramic views. If you’re into modern architecture, I also recommend the Reykjavík Art Museum and the adjacent botanical garden and checking out The Harpa Concert Hall. While seeing these sights, try Icelandic hot dogs at one of the stands in the city center or pop into café for a beer and the super fresh fish & chips.
The Blue Lagoon The Blue Lagoon is the most well-known attraction in Iceland. It’s a man-made geothermal spa with milky blue and mineral rich water that many think has healing properties. It’s located about 40 minutes from the airport and about an hour away from Reykjavik. Admission to The Blue Lagoon is $60 and includes all your towels, bath robes and slippers. There are lockers at the blue lagoon, so you can leave your items during the day. The blue lagoon sits next to beautiful black moss covered lava fields. Timing your visit is important as it can get really crowded during peak times. Another option is to head to The Retreat which is a first-class luxury spa hotel and spa at the Blue Lagoon. The spa offers a wide range of treatments and massages and the common areas are warm and relaxing. Day passes are available and offer access to the spa amenities including a steam room, sauna, hot tub and smaller private blue lagoon to relax in. It’s a nice option to consider if you have the time, and might be looking for a less crowded option. Also a great place to stay if you visit Iceland for a honeymoon, romantic getaway or in the winter months.
Viewing the Northern Lights in Iceland Seeing the Northern Lights is on the top of many peoples bucket lists. They are a natural phenomenon that only occur in the Polar Regions, like Iceland, and appear as curtains of light which can vary from blues to greens to reds or yellows, depending on how active they are at the time you see them. The winter does off the best possibility of seeing the Northern Lights, and there are some amazing skiing opportunities. If you dress properly (even more layers!) and plan your itinerary well a winter weekend in Iceland can also be fabulous. It’s still on my bucket list, as they didn’t appear during my August visit to Iceland. The best time to see the Northern Lights is between September and March, between midnight and two in the morning. While winter is best time, early spring and late fall still offer chances of spotting this rare natural phenomenon. The countryside on the North and South coast’s offer the most ideal locations for viewing, as they are clearer of light pollution. While the Northern Lights are hard to predict, there are several apps you can use if you want a little more control over your chances. Check out Northern Lights Alert, Aurora Forecast, and Solar Flare. Most hotels will wake you up, if the lights appear during the night.
Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss Waterfalls Seljalandsfoss water fall is one of the most popular and picturesque in Iceland. It is an hour and 50 minute drive from Reykjavik. Its 196 foot high waterfall can be fully seen from its front and behind. It’s really amazing to walk behind it. Be super careful when exploring as the rocks can sometimes be super slippery. Skógafoss is another waterfall just 30 minutes from Seljalandsfoss and is considered one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland. What’s cool about it is you can literally walk right up to it, just be prepared to get wet. It’s very picturesque and makes for an amazing backdrop in your photos.
Geyser The Geyser is a really popular tourist attraction it is a hot spring that has small water eruptions which can reach up to 15 meters. The Geyser sits in large bubbling pools which are surrounded by grasslands and trees. The best time to visit is usually in the later afternoon because many tour’s stop in the am before lunchtime.
Reynisfara Beach & Vik Reynisfara Beach is well known for its black sand beaches formed by the lava that flowed in the area during Iceland’s last volcanic eruption. The beach is also home to basalt sea stacks columns and striking offshore arch rock formations. The columns make for a cool photo-op, but be careful when climbing them! There is also a café and restroom on-site. The food was homemade and surprisingly good. Vik is Iceland’s southernmost village is about 15 minutes away and home to more black sand beaches and stunning offshore rock formation views. They are really cool to see especially at sunset since they’re all silhouetted against the horizon. Vik is also home to the often photographed Vik i Myrdal Church and the Solheimasandur Plane Crash Site. This charming town also has several restaurants and hotels. If you are exploring on your own and don’t want to make the drive back to Reykjavik you could overnight here and see. Hotel Vik is one of the most popular hotels in the village.
Thingvellir National Park Thingvellir National Park is only a 50 minute drive from Reykjavik. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is where you can view where the Eurasian and American Tectonic Plates come together. This happens in other places but it’s the most dramatic here. There are small group dry suit snorkel and dive Silfra excursions where you can see between the tectonic plates up close. The park also home the oldest Parliament in the world going back to the Vikings, and was also a featured on Game of Thrones. There are many in Iceland and there are tours that specifically highlight filming locations if you are a fan of the show.
Vatnajokull Glacier & Jokulsa Glacial Lagoon Jokulsa glacial lagoon which is in Skaftafell National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is home to the Vatnajokull Glacier which is sometimes called the ‘king of glaciers’ and it is the largest glacier in Iceland with a size covering more than eight percent of the whole country. You can explore the area on foot or schedule an organized tour to see more of the glacier and the ice caves. If you are exploring on foot hiking boots are a must, as it’s can be wet and muddy in the summer months.
Where to Eat and Stay in Iceland There are many hotel and dining options in Reykjavik. For dining I recommend planning ahead and making reservations especially in the summer months as its high tourist season and the wait for a table can be very long. The award winning
Grill Market restaurant in Reykjavik is considered one of the best restaurants in Reykjavik. The menu changes daily and they have everything from chefs tasting to small dishes and steaks. My lamb (an Icelandic staple) was cooked and seasoned perfectly!
Vik Diner is connected to the N1 Gas Station Hotel and is sell known for its burgers and fries. Great casual lunch spot if you are exploring the Golden Circle by car. Hot dogs are a big thing in Iceland!
Bæjarins Bestu Pylsur in the city center is considered the best and serves their hot dogs with all the traditional toppings of raw and fried onions, crispy fried onions with sweet brown mustard.
Fish & Chips are amazing in Iceland. I highly recommend you include a stop into either Reykajavik Fish Restaurant or Fish & Co. for the freshest fish and chips. 
Frioheimar is cool lunch option located in greenhouse-style setting. It’s an hour and half drive outside of the city and reservations are a must. The greenhouse grown tomato’s feature prominently in the dishes.
Hotel Ranga is a gorgeous five star hotel in Reykjavik with a great view of the city.
Hotel Borg is located right on top of Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center overlooking Reykjavík Harbor.
Hótel Leifur is a family owned hotel where guests can enjoy Icelandic hospitality and genuine service.
Ion Luxury Adventure Hotel, is an hour’s drive from Reykjavik near Thingvellir National Park is an often photographed hotel that looks like a Star Wars film set. The hotel juts out from the base of the Mount Hengill volcano into a green mossy lava field. Silfra is the restaurant on site is serving up Icelandic cuisine with a twist.
The Retreat Hotel at the Blue Lagoon is a luxury hotel and spa that is located inside the Blue Lagoon. The hotel has three restaurants (Lava, Moss & Spa) and a café. I was able to dine in my robe between treatments at the Spa Restaurant and the sushi was some of the freshest I ever had.
Moss Restaurant is recommended by the 2020 Michelin Guide and one of the best restaurants in the country.
Iceland is the perfect weekend escape.
Safe Travels.
