Looking to travel to Iceland but only have a limited amount of time? While we loved spending 2 weeks in Iceland and taking a road trip of the entire country, we’ve also visited Iceland for a shorter amount of time. On our shorter trip, we only had 3 days in Iceland and we’re going to show you how we made the most of it.

On our most recent trip to Iceland, we spent three full days in the country (we flew out on the fourth day), proving that it’s easy to venture to Iceland for a long weekend. Justin and I based ourselves in Reykjavik and took day trips to the Golden Circle route and South Iceland for glaciers and waterfalls.

In this 3 days in Iceland itinerary, we’ll show you exactly how to plan a flawless trip. This travel guide details how to get around Iceland, where to base yourself, and how to spend your days.

This itinerary is perfect for the spring, summer and fall. Have a little more time? Check out our 5 days in Iceland itinerary, 7 day Iceland itinerary or 10 days in Iceland itinerary.

In the winter, simply check the roads before you embark on any longer drives as the weather conditions may disrupt your trip. The winter also tends to have far shorter days (five hours of daylight versus nearly 24 hours of daylight in the summer), though it’s ideal if you’re looking to spot the northern lights.

Getting Around Iceland

Getting around Iceland is easy when you rent a car. While it’s possible to take day tours in Iceland, I highly recommend renting your own vehicle. Having a car rental in Iceland allows you the flexibility of going where you want, when you want. Earlier in the morning or later in the evening will help avoid the large bus tours and you might even have some attractions all to yourself.

I suggest renting a car in Iceland for a road trip from Reykjavik, whether you decide to follow this travel itinerary or simply embrace the open road to see what you stumble upon. Pick up your rental car at the Keflavik Airport and return it back at the airport at the end of your trip.

While Reykjavik itself is very walkable, having a rental car allows you to easily get to Sky Lagoon for the afternoon. Then, take your car rental out for the day to the Golden Circle (day two of this itinerary) and South Iceland (day three of this itinerary).

Iceland in 3 Days Video

We created this Iceland travel video all about our adventures on the island for three days. Many of the places mentioned in this itinerary are featured in the video. Take a look and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel to stay in touch.

3 Days in Iceland: Day 1 (Reykjavik)

There’s a good chance that your flight will arrive early to the Keflavik Airport. Try to get some sleep on your flight as we’re going to hit the ground running straight away. With only 3 days in Iceland, there’s no time to be wasted! Plus, we’ll relax later in the afternoon at Sky Lagoon.

Here are some of the best places to visit when you spend one day in Reykjavik. I suggest walking around Reykjavik for the first part of the day. Visit Sky Lagoon in the afternoon, and then return back to Reykjavik for dinner. By night, you’ll likely want to get to sleep early to adjust to the time change and feel rejuvenated for the next two days in Iceland.

Hallgrimskirkja

Hallgrimskirkja is the tallest church in Iceland, and the sixth tallest structure in the country. It towers above the other buildings in Reykjavik, so it’s the best place for a scenic view. Not only is the architecture of this church quite unique and stunning, but there’s a 360 degree panoramic view from the top.

The church itself is free to enter. You can check out the exterior and interior of the church at no cost. However, you’ll want to splurge on the ticket to the top of the church tower. It’s an extra 1000 ISK. After a short elevator ride, you’ll enjoy an amazing view overlooking the whole city.

Laugavegur (Shopping Street)

This is the main shopping street in downtown Reykjavik. You’ll be able to do some window shopping, browse the boutiques, and perhaps bring some souvenirs home for family and friends.

There are quite a few restaurants and cafes on Laugavegur. Icelandic coffee is so delicious. Stop by Kaffibrennslan for a tasty cappuccino or latte. It’s open early in the morning and turns into a bar in the evening.

Street Art, Murals and the Rainbow Street

Even though Iceland offers a rather stark landscape, Reykjavik is one of the most colourful places I’ve been. There are stunning works of public art, street art, and murals all over the city. Go for a walk and you’ll likely run into many on your journey.

Don’t miss the Rainbow Street, a lengthy stretch where a rainbow is painted on the ground. This is a pedestrian-only street leading up to the Hallgrimskirkja church.

Reykjavik Waterfront (for Harpa and Solfar)

Take a scenic stroll along the waterfront, just a few blocks away from Laugavegur. Admire the views of the distant mountains across the water. One iconic sculpture you must check out is Sólfar, also known as the Sun Voyager. It is an ode to the sun, and the promise of undiscovered territory and freedom.

As you continue your walk, you’ll soon come across Harpa, the impressive glass concert hall building. Admire Harpa from the outside and then venture indoors to witness this beautiful glass structure from another perspective. Even if you aren’t attending a show, you’re welcome to visit Harpa at no cost.

Sky Lagoon

Spend a restful afternoon at Sky Lagoon, an oceanside geothermal lagoon. It’s only a short drive from Reykjavik’s city center. Sky Lagoon consists of one larger geothermal pool with a 75-metre infinity edge. Soak up those captivating views as you relax in the naturally heated lagoon.

We opted to participate in the 7-step Skjól Ritual. This consists of entering the warm lagoon, taking a cold plunge, relaxing in the sauna, getting refreshed by a cold mist, exfoliating with a body scrub, absorbing the hot steam, and drinking an elixir of krækiber (crowberries that are native to Iceland).

Essentially, you’ll alternate between hot and cold for an invigorating and therapeutic experience. It’s such a good idea to partake in this Icelandic tradition, especially on your first day in Iceland after an overnight flight or long travel day. Sky Lagoon also has a swim-up bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

3 Days in Iceland: Day 2 (Golden Circle)

It’s day two of our 3 days in Iceland trip and time to explore the famous Golden Circle route. The Golden Circle offers the quintessential Icelandic experience when it comes to its wondrous nature. It’s also incredibly easy to embark on a self-drive itinerary with your own vehicle.

Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s the site of Iceland’s first parliament (AlÞingi) in 930 AD. The first parliamentary proceedings laid the groundwork for a national identity and a united cultural heritage. It also led to the founding of the nation of Iceland.

Thingvellir National Park is the only place in the world where two individual tectonic plates are visible above ground. Most tectonic plate boundaries are only seen underwater. At Thingvellir, the ridges of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates tower above the ground. You can walk between them. The rift runs right through Þingvallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland.

Geysir

In the Haukadalur geothermal area, you’ll find a site with famous geysers. In fact, all geysers are named after the largest one in the area, Geysir. Unfortunately, Geysir rarely erupts anymore. However, there’s a slightly smaller one called Strokkur that erupts very regularly.

You can see the hot water burst from the surface once every two to ten minutes. While we were visiting, Strokkur erupted a few times. The water shoots anywhere from 15 to 40 meters high. It’s quite the sight!

Gullfoss

Gullfoss, or the Golden Falls, is a gigantic and stunning waterfall. It tends to get quite misty here (or at least it has on our previous two visits), so you’ll be lucky if you manage to catch it on a sunny day. There’s a path leading down to the waterfall so you can view it from up above.

Alternatively, you can walk further down the path to get up close to Gullfoss. On rainy and misty days, you will need to wear a waterproof jacket and pants, otherwise you’ll get soaked!

3 Days in Iceland: Day 3 (South Iceland)

On day three of our 3 days in Iceland itinerary, we’ll spend the entire day driving to the South Coast of Iceland and back. While you could plan to stay in a hotel on the South Coast, I suggest venturing back to Reykjavik at the end of the day. If you’re flying out the following morning, it’s a good idea to stay not too far from the airport.

We’ll witness two amazing waterfalls, a black sand beach (and plane crash, if time allows) and go hiking on a glacier. This is a packed day of adventure with quite a bit of driving, but it’s well worth the road trip.

Seljalandsfoss

Our first stop on our south coast Iceland self drive tour was the gorgeous waterfall, Seljalandsfoss. Seljalandsfoss is a famous waterfall with a 60 meter drop. It’s possible to walk behind the waterfall. Be sure to bring your rain jacket. Be sure to walk up to Seljalandsfoss and right behind it on this loop trail, it’s an incredible experience.

After you experience Seljalandsfoss, there’s a second “secret” waterfall at this location that not many tourists visit. Walk along the path to reach Gljúfrabúi, which means “the one who lives in the canyon”.  In a narrow entrance in the Franskanef Cliff, this waterfall location is thought to be the home of elves. Witness this waterfall inside the canyon – you can get up close, but you will get wet!

Skogafoss

The waterfall, Skógafoss, is one of the largest in the country with a width of 82 meters and a drop of 60 meters. From the base of the waterfall, there is a staircase built into the side of the mountain. We hiked up to the top of the waterfall for amazing views of the coastal lowlands and the Icelandic highlands.

Solheimasandur Plane Crash Site

A popular place to visit that’s off the beaten track is the Sólheimasandur plane crash site. In 1973, a United States Navy Douglas Super DC-3 airplane had to make a crash landing due to extreme icing. Fortunately, everyone survived the plane crash. The wreckage remains near the Sólheimasandur black sand beach.

There’s still a sizable parking lot at the entrance to the site. The walk to the plane crash takes about 45 minutes in one direction. Witnessing the crumbled wreckage of this small plane is well worth the trek.

With so many tourists and the passage of time, the plane itself is in poor shape. The sand has weathered the exposed interior, and the wings are falling apart. With tourists stomping around on top of the plane, posing for selfies, it’s going to eventually be completely destroyed for everyone. Please be respectful of places like this so everyone can continue to enjoy them in the future.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Finally, we explored the dramatic black sand beaches at Reynisfjara, just before the town of Vik. From the Ring Road, we drove down Route 218 to a parking lot at the end of the peninsula.

Justin and I admired the views from the peak before venturing down to the nearby Kirkjufiara Beach to put our own footprints in the sand. There’s nothing quite like this scenery: deep blue waters, black sand beaches, and far off rock formations, shaped over centuries.

Solheimajokull Glacier Walk

In the afternoon, Justin and I went for a hike on the Solheimajokull Glacier. You cannot go hiking on this glacier on your own. You are only allowed to visit with licensed guides and the proper equipment, so it is imperative that you book a tour in advance.

On this tour, you’ll wear crampons, hiking boots, a helmet and carry an ice axe. Admire the incredible scenery all around as you hike on top of the icy glacier. Walk across this rugged terrain, discover the varying colours of ice and dirt (from previous volcanic eruptions) and drink the water from the glacier.

This is one of the most beautiful scenes in Iceland and I could hardly believe that I was on top of an actual glacier! We missed doing this activity on our first trip to Iceland, and I’m so glad we were able to do it on our second visit. Walking on the Solheimajokull Glacier is an absolute must when venturing to the South Coast of Iceland.

Where to Stay in Reykjavik

There are many great options for hotels and apartments in Reykjavik. We loved staying at the Grandi by Center Hotels. It’s conveniently located in downtown Reykjavik and you’re able to reach most places by foot.

This hotel comes has an expansive breakfast buffet and a complimentary spa in the basement. Book out your time slot for the spa and enjoy the heated pools, sauna and relaxation spaces.

The hotel itself has spacious and comfortable rooms, free Wi-Fi, a fitness center and other modern amenities. Book your stay at Grandi by Center Hotels.