Have you been dreaming of a trip to the land of fire and ice? We were too, and the country of Iceland completely exceeded all expectations we had. Prepare for an epic adventure full of incredible views and other-worldly vistas.

In this guide, you will find the ideal way to spend 5 days in Iceland, as well as all the logistics behind the scenes.

glacier in iceland at Jokulsarlon lagoon

Main Regions Visited in Iceland

Reykjavik
Thingvellir
Golden Circle
Vik I Myrdal
Jökulsárlón

Know Before You Go

Iceland is absolutely up and coming as one of the most highly sought-after destinations to visit in the world. With flawless vistas and adventuring like no other, Iceland is absolutely epic in every sense of the word. At its closest point, Iceland is only 300 kilometers (186 miles) to Greenland, so just take note you will probably be reaching the Northernmost point in your life. Iceland is probably the country where I felt the safest visiting, and its diversity and rather a liberal population make it safe for people of all ethnicities and the LGBTQ+ populous.

Icelandic people are very friendly but don't expect anyone to be impressed by you. This is a proud, taciturn people. Culturally they're probably nearest to the Norwegians, but I think both nations regard the others as a bunch of bores. Everybody is courteous, but only the Baristas and Bartenders MIGHT smile at you or laugh at your joke. When they're boozing, though, they're a 20-year-old at a house party.

Iceland is an amazing nation in pretty much every measurable metric–everyone is literate (seriously) nearly everyone is multilingual, they pride themselves on being capable of solving their problems themselves, the first female PM in the world, invented parliamentary government, etc. They have harnessed their nation’s geothermal energy to be a completely self-sustaining and renewable energy source. Also, they were literally living in hand-dug earthen huts and burning peat for warmth 100 years ago in some parts of the country - you could argue they developed more rapidly than anyone in the Western World.

Cost

Iceland is pricier than most European countries because almost everything has to be imported from other nations, but living in an expensive American city, we did not find the prices to be excessive, and booking far enough in advance will prevent prices from being unreasonable for flights and lodging.

Food

Icelandic cuisine is not the best in the world, but it is not terrible either. In Reykjavik, you can find some pretty amazing bars with fantastic specialty cocktails. We only had one bad meal in Iceland, but other than that, everything was great, just pricey! Be prepared for a $16 hamburger.

Credit Cards and ATMs

You can use credit or debit cards almost anywhere in Iceland, and if not you will surely find an ATM within minutes in Reykjavik or at any gas station. Keep some cash on you for smaller purchases. Be mindful of foreign transaction fees if your card has any. American Express is not widely accepted, but can be used at several places in Reykjavik so it’s worth it to try!

Plugs

The plugs in Iceland and the rest of Europe are Type C and F. The standard voltage is 230 V, and the standard frequency is 50Hz. I recommend buying a universal adapter (make sure it has surge protection) and using a converter for hair dryers and hot tools.

Safety

Iceland has been deemed the safest country in the world from 2008 through 2020 by the Global Peace Index. Even in the city of Reykjavik, you do not need to worry about pickpockets, and violent crime is almost non-existent.

Best Time to Visit Iceland

Depending on what you are trying to accomplish on your visit to Iceland, there are several “best” times to visit. We went in early October and it was just perfect. We found extremely cheap flights from Washington, DC ($300 round-trip–thanks to Scott’s Cheap Flights). We also were able to do all the ‘summer’ hikes we wanted to and we even saw the Northern Lights one night from our hot tub in Vik. September or October is ideal for both outdoor activities and a chance to see the oh-so-special Aurora Borealis. If your main goal is to see as much of Iceland as possible, you will want to go in the summer as that is the safest time to complete the entire ‘Ring Road’ before the weather gets too crazy. The sun will be out so you can adventure late into the night, but just don’t expect to see the Northern Lights which is one thing that should be on everyone’s bucket list.

How to Get There

I am a Scott’s Cheap Flight stan, and since I first joined their newsletter, all our trips have been booked because of an email I received from Scott and his team. We booked this trip because there were $300 round-trip tickets from Washington, DC to Keflavik, Iceland. Now that was a no-brainer for us, because average fares run from $500-$700 USD per ticket for round-trip fares to Reyjavik.

There are plenty of other ways to score cheap tickets on your own. I also use Skyscanner and play around with the dates in Google Flights. On Google Flights, there is an option to follow prices for your specific dates/locations and get email notifications when the prices change.

5 Days in Iceland | Ultimate Guide to the Land of Fire & Ice

In a nutshell: Reykjavik (1 days) → Thingvellir (2 days) → Vik I Myrdal (2 days)

After a long redeye flight, I bet you can’t wait to finally get to your first stop of the trip: the Blue Lagoon!

In the past ten years, Iceland’s tourism numbers have skyrocketed with 42% of travelers visiting during its summer months. The influx of travelers being from the east coast of the United States and neighboring European countries. With unreal activities such as the Blue Lagoon, otherworldly vistas and waterfalls, and a chance to see the Northern Lights in the flesh, Iceland is one of a kind.

Day 1: Arriving in Iceland/Keflavik

Landing at Keflavik (KEF) International Airport is a great experience. As it is an international hub and popular stopover destination for North America to Europe flights, the airport can get rather busy. You may want to add in some additional time when arriving at the airport and any activities you plan to do after arrival. Getting a rental car was quite easy, as you just have to take a bus 5 minutes from the airport to your rental car agency. We opted for using Enterprise as I had a great corporate code I was able to apply for a discount on our ride. They will try to hard-sell you on extra insurance on the cars due to the harsh driving conditions in much of Iceland. Our credit card covered international rental cars, so we declined. Make sure you check if your credit cards have something similar, as it saved us a bit of money.

TIP: Buy some alcohol and snacks at the Duty-Free store at the airport. It is by far the cheapest option and will save you some money!

Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon lives up to its hype and after an overnight flight from the USA, we were able to get right into the Blue Lagoon at the opening at 8 am.

Make sure you book your tickets for the Blue Lagoon when planning your trip because tickets will book up in advance for the day. Prices for the Blue Lagoon are below:

Comfort Package: $65 USD
Premium Package: $84 USD
Luxury Spa Experience: $450 USD

It is definitely a touristy thing to do, but you cannot take a trip to Iceland without stopping here for at least some time. Many new hot spring lagoons like the Blue Lagoon are popping up around the country, but who’s to say you can’t go to more than one? We did not have time to check out Reykjavik’s newest hot spring: Sky Lagoon, but you can bet we will be back in Iceland and I will definitely make a stop here.

Lunch in Grindavik

We had a lovely first meal in Grindavik at the most popular: Fish House Bar & Grill. At only a five-minute drive from the Blue Lagoon (and 20 from the airport), this is a great stop to refuel before driving to Reykjavik. This place was full of locals when we got there around lunchtime. Their fish and chips are extremely popular and they also have several vegetarian options (for a seafood place). On the weekends, they have live music and dancing, which would definitely be fun because the restaurant itself is quite cute. Definitely grab a coffee before you head out because about now the jet lag and overnight plane travel will catch up to you.

Evening in Reykjavik

We were so tired driving to Reykjavik that it took almost everything out of us. When we finally reached Reykjavik, we were so happy to have a moment to relax. When checked in to our lodging at the ION City Hotel we were welcomed with a lovely adult beverage and a smiling host at the front desk. The amenities of the hotel were quite nice and we especially liked the hallways leading up to our rooms. Reviews online had stated that the hotel could get quite loud on the weekend, but we only were spending a Thursday night and I have no complaints about the noise. Location was everything to us as we only had planned less than 24 hours to explore Reykjavik. I personally would have liked to spend another day in Reykjavik, but we wanted to spend as much time in the outdoors as possible, so I will have to return to Reykjavik. To add more days to this itinerary, I would add another day in Reykjavik to the end or beginning of this journey.

Day 2: Reykjavik/Glymur/Thingvellir

Morning: Hike to Glymur Falls

This was my most anticipated hike of the year! On Instagram, it looked like a scene out of Game of Thrones mixed with Lord of the Rings, and in person, it was even better. While I was planning our trip, I saw someone post a reel of the most chilling view of a drone flying through the canyon and birds soaring all around and I was like, “I MUST GO”. I’m beyond thankful we went and the weather permitted. This is definitely a summer/early fall hike and we did it in mid-October. Glymur Waterfall Trail is a 4.9-mile moderately trafficked loop trail rated as moderate on AllTrails and I agree with that rating, as there are some tricky rock scrambles and you have to cross two freezing glacier rivers—well the same river twice rather. You will want to pack Tevas (or Chacos) and a quick-dry towel for the river crossings. Feel free to fill up your water bottle along the way in the glacier water–it was the best water of my life! This hike has everything—caves, the second tallest waterfall in Iceland, and the most gorgeous and other-worldly landscapes.

Afternoon: Thingvellir National Park

After spending your morning hiking up the second-tallest waterfall in Iceland, hop back in the rental car and take a tour of Thingvellir National Park. There are several stops to see along the way, so make sure you don’t miss the following:

The Hakid Visitor Center - This is a great first stop when you arrive at Thingvellir and a good point to set your GPS to. There is great parking here and it is central to all the main attractions in Thingvellir. Inside, you will find a fantastic gift shop and find guides on all things Iceland and Thingvellir.
Althing - The Alþingi is the supreme national parliament of Iceland. It is one of the oldest surviving parliaments in the world. The Althing was founded in 930 at Þingvellir, and in its place, you will find a flag of Iceland and a walkway around it. Make sure you read all the signs as you walk past because they have some juicy historical drama in them.
Pretend you are in Game of Thrones - This is important! If you are a Game of Thrones fan, this is where Arya Stark finds herself in the middle of an epic battle between the Hound and Brienne of Tarth. In the 10th episode of the fourth season of “Game of Thrones,” the fight to the (near) death occurs on cliffs near Hengill, an active volcano, and the Nesjavellir geothermal field, the site of a modern-day power plant.
Almannagja - This is a super cool spot to find where the two tectonic plates meet and to actually stand in between them both at once.
Snorkel Silfra Fissure - We did not get to do this, but it was totally on my Iceland bucket list, so I highly recommend you not be like me and actually do this activity. At Silfra, you will have the chance to snorkel in crystal clear blue (freezing) water between two tectonic plates.
Oxarafoss Waterfall - Although not as large as the waterfall you saw yesterday, this small but mighty waterfall has a deep and dark history. Read the signs next to it and you will understand why (hint: they drowned a bunch of women).
Thingvellir Church - Kind of tucked away in the park, make sure you seek out this tiny beautiful church before you leave. Althing parliamentary general assembly met between 930 and 1798 and Thingvellir has been home to a church for over 1,000 years.

Nesjavellir Geothermal Field: Nearby Thingvellir National Park and located next to the hotel, make sure you take a glimpse at the Nesjavellir geothermal field. The primary attraction for visitors within Nesjavallir is the Hengill Geothermal Area, located on a volcano of the same name. This is a beautiful site with many hiking trails, dramatic views, and seething geothermal areas.

nesjavellir geothermal field view from our window out of ion adventure hotel — Waking up to views of Nesjavellir Geothermal Field from our hotel room at ION Adventure Hotel was a great way to start the day.

Evening: ION Adventure Hotel

If you have any energy (or daylight) left, there are plenty of hiking trails just steps from your hotel. Scenic vistas and natural hot springs are tucked away in the mountains. If you were like us and exhausted from the day, make your way to the hotel hot tub/pool to soak away all your troubles. There is a sauna and changing room available to all guests and the pool itself is quite photogenic. I highly recommend taking a bottle of wine down here to just soak it all in (literally). As the sunsets, you can make your way to the hotel restaurant for a very overpriced (but yummy) meal. Good luck finding any other options, because the closest restaurant is a 40-minute drive. After dinner and before you hit the hay, head back down to the pool to try and catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

Day 3: Golden Circle

Morning:

This route is in order from the origin point of the ION Adventure Hotel. I highly suggest you splurge on this hotel, as it will give you a perfect early start to the Golden Circle. The hotel is epic and I still dream about the outdoor pool in it. Have some breakfast at the hotel and then make your way to the first stop on the Golden Circle: Kerid Crater.

kerid crater on the golden circle in iceland — To get a vantage point that really shows the size of Kerid Crater, climb down the stairs to the bottom.

Kerid Crater - While the exact origin of the Kerid Crater is debatable among scientists, the crater was most likely formed 6,500 years ago due to an explosive eruption. It is, therefore, known as an 'explosion crater'. When you arrive, there will be a small parking lot and a booth to pay the 400 ISK ($3 USD) Entrance Fee which goes towards preserving the area and the surrounding paths.
Skalholt Cathedral - Although this cathedral is not on most Golden Circle Itineraries, I highly suggest you take some time to stop by here for a couple of minutes. It is directly on your route and extremely picturesque. The cathedral was built between 1956 and 1963 on the site of the 9 previous churches that had stood on the exact site throughout the 1000 years since the establishment of the diocese. If you walk along the paths, you will see several paths that definitely look haunted.

Skalholt Cathedral is frequently skipped over, but is conveniently located right along the Golden Circle and worth the five minute detour.

Geysir Geothermal Area - Next on your Golden Circle tour, drive to the Geysir geothermal area. This is basically Iceland’s mini-Yellowstone. There is going to be a visitors center when you pull up and you should park in that parking lot as you will have easy access to everything in the area from there. Parking is 600 ISK ($5 USD). Inside the visitor's center, there are various gift shops with different types of products and will have a souvenir for everyone on your ‘list’. After browsing the shops, step outside and walk along the paths to the geothermal areas. The main attraction here is Geysir the geyser we actually coined the term from. Other geysers here will be less impressive than Strokkur which is basically a mini-Old Faithful in that it goes off frequently and predictably. Watch the geysers go off a couple of times and make your way back to the car after you have your fill.

geysir geothermal area iceland golden circle — Strokkur is the main attraction at the Geysir geothermal area, since Geysir stopped erupting. This spouting hot spring goes off every 8 minutes or so was formed by an earthquake back in 1789 and was active until 1896.

Gullfoss Waterfall - Keep driving and make your way to Gullfoss Waterfall. This epic waterfall is definitely the highlight of the Golden Circle in my opinion. This waterfall is massive and has several different viewpoints that will show the waterfall from different perspectives. I recommend you walk all the way to the bottom of the falls for an epic view that will make you feel the energy exuding off of Gullfoss.

There are multiple overlooks to view the ‘epicness’ that is Gulfoss. The one pictured is next to the visitor’s center and the parking lot.

Faxi Waterfall - If you still have time before lunch, stop by Faxi (or Foxi) Waterfall which is right down the road from both Gullfoss and your next stop: Friðheimar Greenhouse. We really enjoyed our stop at this waterfall because we had the entire spot to ourselves and the area is quite beautiful.

faxi waterfall iceland — Often skipped along the Golden Circle, a quick detour to Faxi Waterfall is definitely worth the quick stop for views like this.

Absolutely get the burrata at Friðheimar Greenhouse—phone did *not* eat first. I did. ;)

Lunch: Tomato Restaurant - Friðheimar Greenhouse

Okay, get excited about lunch, because this is absolutely the best culinary experience in Iceland. Friðheimar Greenhouse is the country of Iceland’s main producer of tomatoes and has a “tomato-themed” restaurant attached to it that is open for visitors to dine and tour the facility. Reservations fill up quickly, so ensure that you are booking a reservation at the same time you are booking your flights and hotels. To make a reservation, you can book directly on their website.

Once inside, you may have some time before your table is ready, so use this time to explore the grounds and see the tomato plants growing. Ask one of the workers any questions you may have, and they will share everything and more about the space. Don’t miss the tiny boxes of worker bees who pollinate the tomatoes. In each box, there will be a queen bee, so try and spot her!

Once your table is ready, do yourself a favor and get a bowl of unlimited tomato soup. It is hands-down the best tomato soup I have ever had and I miss it so much as I write this. We also ordered the burrata and the ravioli to share and that was more than enough to feed us both and boy was it delicious. The food really is so so fresh and the experience alone would be worth it if the food sucked. 10/10 recommend going here and let me know in the comments if you do so I can be jealous.

Fridheimar Greenhouse Iceland tomato restaurant — Walking around the tomato greenhouse at Friðheimar before you sit down for lunch is both a learning experience and quite picturesque.

Afternoon:

Secret Lagoon

After you stuff your faces and have three bowls of tomato soup, change into a bathing suit and take a dip at “Secret Lagoon”. This outdoor swimming pool is much smaller than Blue Lagoon, and it provides a quite different experience. When we were there it was freezing rain, but tbh it was awesome. The water was so hot in places and the brisk Iceland air on my face made me feel so interesting. If you can endure the cold, take a lap around the pool on the boardwalk to see the mini geysers and other geothermal activity surrounding the pool. There are also mini elf houses that look upon the sea (to them) that is the Secret Lagoon. You don’t really need to book in advance, but I am glad I did just for the sake of having plans made. For adults, tickets cost 3000 ISK ($21 USD) and children are free. I really enjoyed this spot and I am so glad we stopped here.

Hjalparfoss

As a GOT nerd, I really wanted to see this waterfall, as it was the partial filming location of the famous “Hodor” elf scene. This waterfall is very unique because it is split in two and leads out to a massive river. We had the place to ourselves (again) and it was so magical. I loved frolicking around the falls and enjoying the rainy weather.

Þjóðveldisbærinn Stöng

Another thing that is totally not on most Golden Circle itineraries, but is AWESOME is the Þjóðveldisbærinn Stöng. I found this spot on Instagram and it is so special. It is a replica of a viking homestead built into the Earth. In the summer, the grounds act almost as a festival/fair, but when we visited in October, everything was boarded up and the space was desolate. Yay, all to ourselves again! We finally whipped out our drone for the first (and only) time on the entire trip–everywhere else was too windy or rainy. This place was gorgeous and the waterfall behind it made the most picturesque backdrop for an epic end to the sightseeing on Golden Circle.

Selfoss

The drive to Selfoss may be long, but the drive is gorgeous and is lined with Icelandic horses the entire way. Get out to pet a few of these guys, and snap some pics of the only “wildlife fun” on the island.

Dinner at Kaffi Krus

We figured we would save a couple of bucks driving home from our day of fun to have dinner and explore Selfoss. We chose Kaffi Krus based on its glowing reviews and I’m glad we did. The food was amazing and there was a wait at the door. We were the only tourists here because this place is definitely a “locals” joint. I hope the Icelandic people don’t hate me for including this hidden gem on my blog. Sorry guys!

After dinner, be careful driving through the darkness back to your hotel. Jump in the pool again and try to spot those dang Northern Lights!

Gluggafoss falls is right on your way to Seljalandsfoss and worth the quick stop.

Day 4: Venture to Vik

Morning: Waterfall Hopping

Start your day bright and early to begin your “chasing waterfalls” day in Iceland. No seriously, you will be seeing waterfalls all day. Also, one is not more beautiful than the other, so you should see them all. If perhaps you get sick of staring at water rolling over cliff edges, you could skip some, but again, I don’t recommend it.

Gluggafoss

The first waterfall you will view is not very popular, but it is very unique and a great quick first stop. Gluggafoss just sounds like the name of a waterfall and glugga makes me think of the water glugging down its alcoves in the cliff.

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

I hope you enjoyed the serene calmness of having places to yourself before this because you will absolutely be surrounded by other tourists at Seljalandsfoss. This massive waterfall is one of the main tourist attractions in all of Iceland. Definitely put your water pants on for this one and walk the path that goes under the waterfall.

At Seljalandsfoss, my favorite place to take pictures-and where this photo was taken–is right at the top of the path when you come out from the other side of the waterfall if you walk the normal route counter-clockwise. The people look like ants from up here and they show you just how tall this waterfall actually is.

Gljúfrabúi Waterfall

Right next to Seljalandsfoss and surprisingly WAY less crowded is the hidden waterfall: Gljúfrabúi. Despite only being a 5-minute walk from the main attraction, people feel less obliged to visit this little beauty. Don’t miss Gljúfrabúi, because some of my coolest waterfall photos were from this spot. Also, you will get SOAKED, so wear your rain pants and jacket with the hood.

Skógafoss Waterfall

About 20 minutes down the road, you will reach one of the most epic waterfalls in Iceland: Skogafoss. Much like Seljalandsfoss, this spot will be packed with tourists. You can walk very close to the actual falls, but again you will get soaking wet, so however close you want to get will depict your level of drench. This is the first place I saw a 360° rainbow and it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. There is also a path to climb to the top of the waterfall, but my feet were hurting from all the walking, so we opted out of this climb.

The extreme power of Skogafoss can be felt even standing at the foot of the falls.

Kvernufoss Waterfall

Just a 3-minute drive from the parking lot of Skogafoss is the hidden entrance to Kvernufoss. This is by far my favorite waterfall in all of Iceland and we had it all to ourselves. Absolutely do not miss this one even if you have difficulty finding it at first. To get there, you drive to the other side of the parking lot from Skogafoss. Here is the exact location: 63°31'41.4"N 19°28'51.4"W (it will be where Google Maps says it is even though it does not look like it). There will be a no parking sign right next to the trailhead, but we parked there and I am sure you could find better and legal parking. After finding (hopefully legal) parking, follow the path all the way for about ten minutes.You can walk right behind the waterfall for the most magical scene that you may have all to yourself. I would simply like to be an Icelandic elf and live under this waterfall for the remainder of my days. I hope you stop here and love it as much as I did.

Although Kvernufoss may be difficult to find, it may be the best waterfall in all of Southern Iceland.

Was this picture worth a two hour walk in the freezing wind? I think not, but I am glad to have seen it once in my life.

Afternoon: Drive to Vik

After you have had your fill of waterfalls for the day, buckle up and head to Vik. Vík í Mýrdal is a remote seafront village in south Iceland. It sits in the shadow of Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which covers the Katla volcano. Reyniskirkja is a wooden church dating to 1929. Reynisfjara beach has black pebbles, basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar offshore rock formations. The cliffs of Reynisfjall mountain are home to seabirds such as puffins. Just west, the Dyrhólaey peninsula has a large rock arch.

Solheimasandur Plane Crash

I know you have seen epic pictures of this on social media, but this was probably the most miserable part of our trip. I absolutely would not do this again and I almost did not include it in this guide, if it weren’t for finding out about the new shuttle they have.

From the parking lot, it is a 2.5 miles each way (5 miles total) walk and takes about an hour there and an hour back. This is not to mention that the hike/walk is freezing cold and windy. In 2020, a couple of Chinese tourists who were not prepared for the walk actually died (article here), so be wary of what you are getting yourself into. The trail itself makes you feel like you are lost on some foreign planet, but tbh it is just not worth the trek. The crashed plane is super cool and makes for great pictures. We had a good time climbing around, but the whole experience can be done in five minutes. Totally not worth an hour's walk, so definitely take the shuttle if you are dying to see the plane wreck. It costs 2,900 ISK (about $20 USD). There are also ATV tours that take you directly to the spot. Anything but walking! No really, trust me.

Dyrhólaey

Dyrhólaey is translated to "the hill island with the door hole". The area of Dyrhólaey is a small peninsula that was a former island and is split into two parts- the elevated part and the part at sea level. We drove to the top, where there are breathtaking 360° views. When looking north you can see the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, and to the east, you will see the beautiful black sand beach Reynisdrangar. To the west, there is an endless black sand beach coastline, and right in front of the peninsula, there is a huge black arch of lava reaching out into the sea.

Dyrhólaey Lighthouse

Dyrhólaey Lighthouse marks the southernmost point of mainland Iceland and is the perfect viewing place. We were freezing up here, but the views were epic and we came back here to watch the Northern Lights at night due to its darkness.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

A ten-minute drive from Dyrhólaey will take you to the parking lot of the famous Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. In 1991, National Geographic voted Reynisfjara as one of the Top 10 non-tropical beaches to visit on the planet. In October, the sun sets around 6pm, so we were able to view one of the most dramatic and gorgeous sunsets of our lives here, and I recommend you do the same. Upon arrival to the beach, you will be immediately drawn to these rocky sea stacks sitting off the shoreline, known as Reynisdrangar. These basalt columns formed thousands of years ago and tourists will all be climbing on top of them for pictures. Again, I am a total GOT nerd and this was one of the filming locations in season 7 when Jon Snow goes “North of the Wall”. This beach was also used as the backdrop for Planet Eadu in Rogue One, and nearby Eyjafjallajokull became the icy planet of Hoth in The Last Jedi.

When visiting the beach, be extremely cognizant of the shore and potential “Sneaker Waves”. Never turn your back on the waves, and keep a safe distance of at least 30 meters (100 feet) from the water at all times to avoid being pulled out into the freezing water. Many people have died in this way, with the most recent being November 2021.

Watching the sunset on Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach was such a serene experience and is something I will never forget.

Where to Stay in Vik

Hotel Katla

I can’t recommend Hotel Katla enough! The rooms are spacious and clean, but the showers are a little small. I felt like we were staying in our own personal cabin despite being connected to the room next to us. We loved our stay here so much and on our second night, we were able to watch the Northern Lights from the hotel’s hot tub.

After checking into the hotel, head down the street to downtown Vik for some dinner. There are a lot of restaurants to choose from and I think our favorite dinner of the trip was at Restaurant Sudur. Try to make a reservation the day prior to ensure you will have a table at your desired time. This place is very popular among tourists and locals and the food is tasty and well-priced.

After dinner, head back to the hotel to enjoy a nice soaking in the hotel’s hot tub and keep an eye out for an appearance from the Northern Lights. Make sure you also read my guide on how to see the Northern Lights in Iceland.

Day 5: South Iceland

For your last full day in Iceland, I suggest you head a bit further north to the village of Jökulsárlón. This day will really put the ‘ice’ in Iceland, as you will see several glacier lagoons and the world-famous “Diamond Beach”. Today is also the most driving you will do on this trip, so bring lots of water and snacks for the road.

Yoda Cave is only a 10-minute drive from Vik, and an easy pull-off from the Ring Road.

Hjörleifshöfði/Yoda Cave

Drive ten minutes down the road and you will find the cave that was the filming location of the first scene in Rogue One where the main character Jyn hides as a child. The cave also is shaped like Yoda, so if you are a Star Wars fan in any capacity, I suggest you take five minutes to see the cave. We got kind of lost trying to find it, because there is not much information online outlining how to get to the cave, so we hiked around a bit thinking that was necessary. You do not need to hike at all and can drive directly up to the opening of the cave. If you keep driving past the hiking trailheads, you will find the mouth of the cave and can walk right in.

Skaftáreldahraun Lava Field

Put “Þjóðvegur Rest Stop” into your GPS for a great stop along your drive to view the Skaftáreldahraun Lava Field. This mossy wonder is out of this world cool and a great place to stretch your legs along the Ring Road.

Fjadrargljufur Canyon

Down the road from the lava field, you will turn onto the road that takes you to Fjadrargljufur Canyon. This stunning canyon’s origins date back to the Ice Age, and was formed by erosion from glaciers pushing through the rocks and palagonite. Currently, the river Fjaðrá flows through it and there is a fantastic 2.0-mile out-and-back trail that will take you to all the viewpoints. If you have a drone, this is a really cool spot to fly it and we saw several other people doing that such thing–we forgot ours and it was too far of a walk to the car to get it.

Generally considered an easy hiking route with minimal inclines, it takes about an hour to complete. You could also just walk up to the first couple viewpoints if you want to save time and see other things today.

All smiles in Fjadrargljufur Canyon. We did not walk the entire 2-mile trail, but the views right when you exit the parking lot are so beautiful.

Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour

There are two super cool glacier lagoons located right next to each other. The first one you will reach is Fjallsárlón and it is much smaller than its sister lagoon Jökulsárlón. Both lagoons offer boat tours, but we opted to visit Fjallsárlón because the timing of the tours worked better for us. The tour at Fjallsárlón runs every hour and costs 8,300 ISK ($60 USD) a person. They also offer private tours, but our small group was perfect and our guide was hysterical. Jökulsárlón Lagoon offers two types of tours. One on a larger boat and another on a dingy like the one we went on in Fjallsárlón. The smaller tour costs 11,000 ISK ($80 USD) and the larger tour group costs 6000 ISK ($43 USD).

We really liked our tour at Fjallsárlón, but it depends on what you want to do. Regardless of which lagoon you choose to do the boat tour on, definitely visit both glacier lakes to take in the views and see the quickly melting Vatnajökull glacier before it is gone forever. ;(

After the tour, we ate at Fjallsárlón Frost Restaurant for lunch, but it really was not good, so I recommend finding somewhere else to eat.

Jökulsárlón is a much larger glacier lagoon than Fjallsárlón, but both spots should not be skipped.

Diamond Beach

Located next to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, you can visit the magnificent Diamond Beach (Breidamerkursandur in Icelandic), where mini chunks of icebergs shine like diamonds as you weave your way between them. This beach makes for a lovely stroll along the coast, and if you are lucky, you may even spot seals peeking their heads over the wave crests. The iceberg pieces come from Breidamerkurjokull Glacier, a glacial tongue of Europe’s largest glacier Vatnajokull.

Vatnajokull National Park

If you still have energy left by the end of your trip and aren’t sick of waterfalls, take one last hike and explore the area of Skaftafell and journey to the spectacular waterfall: Svartifoss. Skaftafell is a nature reserve located in Vatnajökull National Park along the Ring Road you will drive home. It is an oasis in nature featuring diverse landscapes and features. The waterfall hike is 3.2 km (2 miles) and rated on AllTrails as ‘easy’. The hike should take about an hour out and back and features several waterfalls along the way. The first one is called Hundafoss and it's the is the tallest, the second is Magnúsarfoss and it's the smallest, but the third and coolest waterfall is Svartifoss. The waterfall features basalt columns surrounding it and is very unique in comparison to the other main waterfalls in southern Iceland.

Head back to Vik for your final night in Iceland. We ate at Ströndin Bistro and Bar and had a lovely meal. I recommend it if you are staying in Vik for the night. Enjoy one last night in Iceland and try to spot the Aurora Borealis for the final time.

The Ultimate 5-Day Iceland Itinerary for the Land of Fire & Ice