All guides
Iceland · Europe

Reykjavík

Base for Ring Road, Golden Circle, and Northern Lights hunts.

Best time
June–August (midnight sun) or Sept–March (Northern Lights).
Stay
5 nights
From US
5h from NYC/Boston
Lang / Cur
Icelandic (English universal) · Icelandic Krona (ISK)

Reykjavík is a walkable small capital that acts as a launchpad for waterfalls, geysers, glaciers, and (winter) auroras. Fly Icelandair on stopover.

01

Highlights

  • 01Golden Circle: Þingvellir + Geysir + Gullfoss
  • 02Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon
  • 03South coast: Seljalandsfoss + Skógafoss + black-sand Reynisfjara
  • 04Northern Lights winter tour
  • 05Whale watching from Old Harbour
02

Where to stay

Downtown ReykjavíkGrandi harbor district
03

5-day itinerary

  1. 01Reykjavík

    Harpa, Hallgrímskirkja, Sky Lagoon at sunset.

  2. 02Golden Circle

    Þingvellir + Geysir + Gullfoss self-drive.

  3. 03South coast

    Waterfalls + Reynisfjara, sleep in Vík.

  4. 04Glacier lagoon

    Jökulsárlón + Diamond Beach (long drive).

  5. 05Return

    Drive back to Reykjavík, Blue Lagoon on the way to airport.

04

Local intelligence

  • 01Rent a car — tours cover 30% of what a car does at 3x the cost.
  • 02Book Blue Lagoon in advance; day-of slots vanish.
  • 03Windproof rain shell + waterproof boots — non-negotiable.
Ready to book?

Turn this guide into your live plan.

TripTogether's AI concierge personalizes this itinerary and hands you booking links for flights, stays, cars, tours, and activities.

Plan my Reykjavík trip
05

More in Europe