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f you only have 72 hours in Iceland, here are some things you can do to make the most of your time and what would be a great itinerary based on what myself and husband did when we visited.
DAY 1
As soon as we landed in Iceland, the first thing we do is pick up our rental car. Renting a car gives you so much more flexibility to explore at your own pace. Waist no time and drive straight from the airport to the Thingvellir National Park which is part of the Golden Circle. Here you will be fascinated to stand between both the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Parking is easy and costs 750ISK /£4.37 for 2hrs.
Next on the agenda is the Gullfoss waterfall which takes 1h 41 mins from the National Park. It is freezing and windy with the force of the waterfall but oh my… the views are spectacular and something you must see for yourself.
From Gulfoss we head to the Geysir where you witness the hot spring erupt with water 7ft above the ground. This happens every 7 mins. What an amazing thing to see nature do. The walk from the car park is very short so easily accessible. The days are very short Nov/Dec so it will start to get dark extremely quickly. Next end the night at Laugarvatn Fontana Spa. Being outside in the darkness, with many natural hot springs to pick from including steam baths and geothermal pools is perfect. If you are brave enough take a dip in the ice-cold lake! Finished off in the cafe with some famous Icelandic lava bread baked underground with the geothermal heat from the lava. Feeling relaxed and rejuvenated drive back to your hotel. We stayed at the ‘Storm Hotel’ in Reykjavik. We booked this as an easyjet package which was great! They have a small car park at the back which we got every time thankfully but, they have general street parking as overflow.
DAY 2
An early wake-up call is in order before sunrise to visit the Blue Lagoon Spa Retreat. Here, you’ll sink back into relaxation in the private geothermal spa and enjoy the beautiful scenery. We had 5hr exclusive entry to our own changing cubicle with his and hers showers, Blue Lagoon, Retreat Lagoon, Skincare amenities, drinks of our choice, access to the restaurant and access to 8 subterranean spaces which was truly epic and luxurious. The spa retreat costs 39 500 ISK / £223 pp and the couples massage costs 24900 ISK / £142. Access the outdoor blue lagoon after the retreat lagoon. You might encounter some wind, but you can embrace it and have a blast riding the waves! Icelandic weather can be unpredictable, so be prepared for all seasons in a matter of minutes.
As it was hubby’s birthday we had a couples massage followed by a lavish meal at the Lava Restaurant. Of course with a lavish price tag but it was a special occasion. The restaurant costs approx £80pp/ 13300ISK. Overall the Blue Lagoon is more pricey but a treat worth visiting when in Iceland. You can pay for a standard blue lagoon ticket which will work out cheaper than the retreat price.
After the Blue Lagoon, you will drive back to Reykjavik City to explore the town at night on foot as it is a walkable city. We visited the famous Church Hallgrímskirkja and the Harpa Concert Hall. We also went to the coast to the Sun Voyager which is quiet at this time. If you’re visiting in the winter, try to catch the Northern Lights and keep your eye on the weather forecast. We had booked the ‘Northern Lights Cruise‘ but unfortunately it was cancelled as the probability was very low, so more reasons to visit again! Stroll down the vibrant rainbow street past the main shops and keep an eye out for live music and cozy cafe’s. We happened to stumbled upon a live jazz band in a cafe/library ‘Hús máls og menningar‘. This was a chilled vibe and ends the evening perfectly.
DAY 3
The next day you will head east to Seljalandsfoss waterfall which takes 1hr45 from the city. This waterfall falls 200ft and originates from the volcano glacier Eyjafjallajökull. A short drive away you’ll visit another iconic waterfall Skogafoss Waterfall. This waterfall is coming from two glaciers Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull. Continuing your journey south of Iceland, you can stop off at Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck. The plane crash is the remains of a disaster dating back to the 1970s. It was also featured in one of Justin Biebers music videos. There are so many photo opportunities on this site and evidently, I could see why. It takes 45 mins to walk to the site (approx 2.5 miles there) from the car park and then there is an option to get the coach back to save your legs. Do be cautious of the weather conditions because it can be extremely cold, windy and treacherous where visibility can be really bad. So best to avoid it if it poses a risk to your safety. As you continue the drive south, you will ass a cute and charming church Vík í Mýrdal perched on a hill in Vik. The final stop is Vik beach where you will witness the dramatic black sand beaches as a backdrop. The golden hour makes for a beautiful photo. This is a perfect ending to and incredible day south of Iceland.
Next time I will try a spectacular hike as there are so many in Iceland. Honestly, the landscapes are out of this world! There are also special tours for whale watching, a unique experience to spot some marine life in Iceland. If you have more time to travel further north east, you can do the glacier walk and climb.
This post was about the perfect itinerary for 72hrs in Iceland.
Iceland is somewhere you should definitely visit!
