Most three day Iceland itineraries are based in the Reykjavik area and reached through Keflavik International Airport. Keflavik International Airport sits about 50 km southwest of Reykjavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The three classic day trips from Reykjavik are the Golden Circle, the South Coast, and Reykjavik city combined with the Blue Lagoon.
How to structure a three day Iceland trip based in Reykjavik
Iceland's main road is Route 1, the Ring Road, which circles the country.
Day one on the Golden Circle route
The Golden Circle is a loop of roughly 230 to 300 km depending on which detours are included. The Golden Circle links three main stops: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. Thingvellir National Park is about 49 km from Reykjavik via Route 36. Thingvellir was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. Thingvellir lies in a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Iceland's parliament, the Althing, was founded at Thingvellir in 930. At the Geysir geothermal area the geyser Strokkur erupts roughly every 6 to 10 minutes. Strokkur usually erupts to a height of about 15 to 20 metres. Gullfoss is a two tiered waterfall about 10 km from the Geysir geothermal area. Driving the Golden Circle non stop takes about 3.5 hours, but most visitors spend 6 to 8 hours with stops. Use the Driving Distance Calculator to help plan your trip.
Day two along the South Coast waterfalls and black sand beaches
Seljalandsfoss is a waterfall about 63 metres high that visitors can walk behind. Seljalandsfoss is about 120 km southeast of Reykjavik along Route 1. Skogafoss is a waterfall about 60 metres high, roughly 156 km from Reykjavik. Reynisfjara is a black sand beach near the village of Vik, known for its basalt columns and offshore sea stacks. Reynisfjara and Vik are roughly 30 minutes east of Skogafoss by car. Sneaker waves at Reynisfjara can be dangerous, and visitors are warned to stay well back from the water on safetravel.is.
Day three in Reykjavik with a Blue Lagoon soak
Hallgrimskirkja is Reykjavik's landmark church and stands 74.5 metres tall. Hallgrimskirkja is the largest church in Iceland. The Blue Lagoon is about 20 to 23 km from Keflavik Airport, around a 20 minute drive. The Blue Lagoon's geothermal seawater is kept at about 38 to 39 degrees Celsius. Because the Blue Lagoon sits near Keflavik Airport, many travellers visit it on their arrival or departure day.
Adapting the plan by season and comparing guided tours
You can compare Reykjavik tours to see the current options.
