Reykjavik Reykjanes
5
Day Itinerary •
Iceland
Five days in Reykjavik and Reykjanes give you the full extraordinary depth of Iceland's capital and southwest peninsula, from the Hallgrimskirkja and the National Museum to the Blue Lagoon and the active volcanic fields of Reykjanes, a day trip to the extraordinary Snaefellsnes Peninsula with its glacier and sea cliffs, and the remarkable whale watching from the old harbour that gives the finest cetacean encounter accessible from a European capital. This route covers the complete Reykjavik and Reykjanes experience. Old town Reykjavik and the harbour, the Perlan dome and National Museum, the Blue Lagoon and the tectonic bridge, the Fagradalsfjall volcanic landscape, whale watching from the harbour, and the extraordinary Snaefellsnes Peninsula with Kirkjufell, the glacier and the extraordinary Snaefellsjokull National Park.
Best Time To Visit
Year-round. Jun to Aug for midnight sun. Nov to Mar for northern lights.
Getting There
Fly into Keflavik International Airport. 45 min bus to Reykjavik.
Getting Around
Car hire essential from Day 3. Bus or taxi for city days.
Budget Per Day
Approx 25,000 to 50,000 ISK per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, walking and driving
DAY 1
REYKJAVIK OLD TOWN
MORNING
HALLGRIMSKIRKJA AND THE OLD TOWN
Hallgrimskirkja's extraordinary 74-metre tower gives the finest free panorama over Reykjavik from the top, the extraordinary basalt-inspired facade below the most remarkable piece of sacred architecture in Iceland. The old town streets of Skolavordustigur and Vitastigur below the church have the finest collection of independent galleries and design shops in Iceland. The extraordinary Einar Jonsson Sculpture Museum in the garden beside the church gives the finest single-artist collection in the country. Travel: 15 min walk
MIDDAY
THE SETTLEMENT EXHIBITION AND THE HARBOUR
The Settlement Exhibition at Adalstraeti 16 is the most extraordinary archaeological museum in Iceland, built directly around the excavated remains of a Viking longhouse from 871 AD, the oldest discovered settlement in Reykjavik. The extraordinary original floor and hearth of the longhouse are visible through glass walkways. The old harbour at Grandi gives the finest waterfront in the city. The extraordinary Harpa Concert Hall glass facade is outstanding. Settlement entry approx 2,200 ISK. Travel: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
LAUGAVEGUR AND THE REYKJAVIK WATERFRONT
The extraordinary Laugavegur shopping street and the Sun Voyager sculpture on the waterfront give the finest afternoon walk in Reykjavik. The Sun Voyager by Jon Gunnar Arnason faces the Faxafloi bay with Mount Esja across the water. The extraordinary Grandi Matholl food hall in the harbour has the finest Icelandic food at the most accessible prices in the city. The Kolaportid flea market open on weekends has the finest Icelandic woolens.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Grandi Matholl food hall in the old harbour is the most extraordinary food market in Reykjavik, its extraordinary Icelandic food stalls far cheaper than the tourist restaurants. Open daily from 11am. The finest hidden food experience in the city.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Braud og Co Outstanding Icelandic bakery. The finest cinnamon bun in Iceland on Frakkastigur. | Lunch: Bergsson Mathus Outstanding all-day cafe. Local skyr, smoked fish and Icelandic soups. | Dinner: Fishmarket Restaurant Outstanding Icelandic seafood. Local cod, langoustine and extraordinary Icelandic fish.
DAY 2
REYKJAVIK CITY
MORNING
WHALE WATCHING FROM THE OLD HARBOUR
The Reykjavik whale watching tours from the old harbour give the highest success rate in Iceland, the extraordinary humpback whales and minke whales feeding in the Faxafloi bay visible from the boat year-round. The extraordinary Elding whale watching company has a success rate above 95 percent in summer. The Faxafloi bay with Mount Esja and the city skyline behind gives the finest approach to the whales. Tours run daily. Approx 12,900 ISK. Travel: 30 min walk
MIDDAY
THE PERLAN DOME AND ICE CAVE
The Perlan hot water dome above Reykjavik gives the finest free panorama over the city from the observation deck. The Wonders of Iceland exhibition within includes a real ice cave, an extraordinary artificial glacier walk and a northern lights planetarium show. The extraordinary views from the dome across the city to the Snaefellsnes glacier on the horizon are the finest in Iceland. Entry to exhibition approx 3,900 ISK. Travel: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND
The National Museum tells the complete extraordinary story of Iceland from the first settlers of 874 AD through the Saga age, the extraordinary medieval church period and into the modern era. The remarkable Viking age objects including the extraordinary Valur sword, the medieval wooden church portal and the extraordinary Thorvaldsen exhibition are outstanding. The museum gives the finest single overview of Icelandic history anywhere. Entry approx 2,500 ISK.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Reykjavik Botanic Garden in Laugardalur is the most extraordinary free garden in Iceland, its extraordinary collection of native Icelandic plants and remarkable Arctic and sub-Arctic species giving the finest introduction to Icelandic flora. Entirely free. Open year-round. The extraordinary greenhouses are outstanding in winter.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Reykjavik Coffee and skyr before the whale watching departure. | Lunch: Cafe Loki Outstanding traditional Icelandic food hall opposite Hallgrimskirkja. Hakarl and lamb soup. | Dinner: Matur og Drykkur Outstanding modern Icelandic. Traditional ingredients in extraordinary contemporary dishes.
DAY 3
BLUE LAGOON
MORNING
THE BLUE LAGOON
The Blue Lagoon's extraordinary milky blue silica-rich geothermal water at 38 to 40 degrees surrounded by black lava fields is the most famous bathing site in the world. The extraordinary in-water silica mud masks, the steam sauna rooms and the remarkable waterfall feature are outstanding. Book online well in advance as walk-in entry is not available. The extraordinary Blue Lagoon in winter with steam rising through cold air and potential northern lights above is the finest experience. Entry from approx 9,990 ISK. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
THE BRIDGE BETWEEN CONTINENTS
The Bridge Between Continents at Sandvik crosses the visible fissure where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart at 2cm per year. The extraordinary geological drama of standing between two continents and the remarkable Reykjanes volcanic landscape in all directions are outstanding. The extraordinary Reykjanes lighthouse on the peninsula tip is the finest viewpoint on the coast. Entirely free. Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANIC LANDSCAPE
The Fagradalsfjall volcanic system has been erupting intermittently since 2021, creating an extraordinary accessible lava landscape unlike anything in Europe. The hardened lava fields from multiple eruptions give an extraordinary moonscape visible from the road. The extraordinary steaming vents and the remarkable scale of the lava flows from recent eruptions are outstanding. Check safetravel.is for current access. Walking on cooled lava is extraordinary.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Gunnuhver boiling mud pools on Reykjanes are entirely free and far more extraordinary than their fame suggests, the extraordinary boiling grey mud pools and steam vents named after a 17th-century ghost. The smell is extraordinary. Entirely free. The Reykjanes UNESCO Geopark information centre beside the pools is the finest geological interpretation in Iceland.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Blue Lagoon cafe Outstanding geothermal breakfast. Icelandic rye bread and local skyr. | Lunch: LAVA Restaurant, Blue Lagoon Outstanding restaurant overlooking the extraordinary geothermal pool. | Dinner: Coocoo's Nest, Grandi Outstanding neighbourhood restaurant in the old harbour. Local fish and lamb.
DAY 4
REYKJANES GEOPARK
MORNING
KRYSUVIK GEOTHERMAL AREA
Krysuvik on the Reykjanes Peninsula is the most extraordinary free geothermal area in Iceland, its extraordinary boiling mud pools, sulphur vents and steaming ground giving the finest geothermal landscape accessible without paying entrance fees. The extraordinary Kleifarvatn lake beside the geothermal area, Iceland's deepest lake on the peninsula at 97 metres, has an extraordinary desolate black sand shore. The geothermal area is entirely free and largely unknown to international visitors. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
THE REYKJANES GEOPARK CIRCUIT
The Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark covers the entire peninsula and contains the most extraordinary concentration of active volcanic and geothermal features in Iceland outside the main Ring Road. The extraordinary Eldvorp crater row, the Seltun geothermal area and the remarkable Viking World museum at Njardvik telling the extraordinary story of the Vikingur longship replica are all outstanding. Travel: 45 min drive back to Reykjavik
AFTERNOON
REYKJAVIK FINAL EVENING
The final Reykjavik afternoon gives the extraordinary opportunity to explore the city's extraordinary street art on Hverfisgata, the remarkable Reykjavik Art Museum Kjarvalsstadir with the finest landscape paintings in Iceland, and the extraordinary Nautholl geothermal beach south of the city where warm geothermal water is pumped into a lagoon on the coast. The extraordinary Nautholl beach is the finest free geothermal bathing site near the city.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Selvogur lighthouse on the southern tip of Reykjanes is the most extraordinary undiscovered viewpoint on the peninsula, its extraordinary position above the meeting of the Atlantic Ocean and the Faxafloi bay giving the finest coastal panorama in southwest Iceland. Entirely free. The extraordinary black sand beach below the lighthouse is outstanding.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Reykjavik Coffee before the Krysuvik drive. | Lunch: Picnic at Krysuvik Pack Icelandic flatbread, skyr and smoked fish for the extraordinary geothermal landscape. | Dinner: Nautholl restaurant Outstanding restaurant beside the geothermal beach. Local lamb and Icelandic fish.
DAY 5
SNAEFELLSNES
MORNING
KIRKJUFELL, ICELAND'S MOST PHOTOGRAPHED MOUNTAIN
Kirkjufell at 463 metres on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula is the most photographed mountain in Iceland, its extraordinary conical shape and the Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall in the foreground giving the most famous landscape photograph in the country. The drive from Reykjavik takes approximately 2 hours via Route 54. The extraordinary dawn light on Kirkjufell before other visitors arrive is the finest single landscape experience near Reykjavik. Kirkjufell is entirely free to photograph from the road. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
SNAEFELLSJOKULL NATIONAL PARK
Snaefellsjokull National Park at the western tip of Snaefellsnes contains the extraordinary Snaefellsjokull glacier at 1,446 metres, Jules Verne's fictional entrance to the centre of the earth and one of the most famous glaciers in Iceland. The extraordinary Djupalonssandur black pebble beach with the remarkable lifting stones used to test sailors' strength and the extraordinary Londrangar basalt sea stacks are outstanding. The Vatnshellir lava tube cave gives an extraordinary underground experience. Cave tour approx 2,500 ISK. Travel: 2 hour drive back to Reykjavik
AFTERNOON
SNAEFELLSNES SEA CLIFFS AND RETURN
The extraordinary Arnarstapi sea cliff arch and the Hellnar village on the southern Snaefellsnes coast give the finest coastal scenery on the peninsula, the remarkable basalt formations and the extraordinary cliff arches carved by the Atlantic accessible on a free coastal path between the two villages. The drive back from Snaefellsnes to Reykjavik through the extraordinary Dalir valley gives the finest farewell to the extraordinary Icelandic landscape.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Budir black church on Snaefellsnes is the most extraordinary isolated church in Iceland, a tiny black wooden church standing alone in a lava field above the sea with the Snaefellsjokull glacier behind. Entirely free to visit. The extraordinary Hotel Budir beside it, one of the finest in Iceland, has a remarkable restaurant open to non-guests.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Grundarfjordur Coffee near Kirkjufell before the Snaefellsnes drive. | Lunch: Fjoruhusid Cafe, Hellnar Outstanding wooden cafe on the Snaefellsnes coast. Local fish soup and Icelandic bread. | Dinner: Farewell dinner in Reykjavik Outstanding final Icelandic meal. Local lamb and the finest Icelandic skyr dessert.
Where To Stay
Reykjavik, All 4 Nights Hotel Borg or Canopy by Hilton. Old town location. Approx 25,000 to 50,000 ISK. Budget Option Kex Hostel or Loft Hostel. Central on Laugavegur. Approx 8,000 to 18,000 ISK per night. Snaefellsnes Option Stay at Hotel Budir or Freezer Hostel for night 5 if extending.
Top Tips
1. Book the Blue Lagoon weeks in advance. Entry from approx 9,990 ISK. No walk-in entry available.
2. The Hallgrimskirkja tower at 8am before other visitors is the finest free view in Reykjavik.
3. Kirkjufell on Snaefellsnes is Iceland's most photographed mountain. Arrive at dawn for the finest light.
4. The Bonus supermarket on Laugavegur is the finest value food in Iceland. Essential for picnics.
5. Whale watching from Reykjavik harbour gives the highest success rate in Iceland. Book at Elding.
6. The Krysuvik geothermal area on Reykjanes is entirely free and far less visited than the Blue Lagoon.
Total Budget
25,000 to 50,000 ISK/day