Arriv guide · Reykjavík
Iceland long weekend
Reykjavík, Iceland · 3-day adventure trip · 11 places
By ArrivLast checked
Waterfalls, black-sand beaches, and a lagoon before your flight. Trailheads, viewpoints, and drive times, in that order of importance. 3 days in Reykjavík with the early starts marked, because daylight is the thing that runs out first, and the parking lots go before the daylight does. Sort gear the night before, since every early start on this plan exists for one reason. The parking fills, and the lot at a popular trailhead is full long before the trail is. This guide maps 11 hand-picked places across golden circle, south coast, and reykjavík in Reykjavík, Iceland, grouped the way you would use them once you are on the ground. The map below is the useful part, because it shows how far apart the stops sit, which a plain list of names always hides. Duplicate the trip in Arriv to set dates, swap stops, and plan with your group.
Stays on this map
Hotels and rentals near these pins.
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How to use this Reykjavík guide
- Follow the day-by-day order as a starting spine, because it already accounts for what sits near what. 3 days is the intended pace, and once you duplicate the trip you can stretch it or compress it to fit the flights.
- Day 1 assumes you are checked in and moving, so the first big block starts on a morning that is already yours. Land the night before if the schedule allows it.
- 11 stops carry a note about reservations, timing, or where to eat after the main event. Read those first, because they are the ones that change what you end up booking.
- The lists are themed on purpose, which is why they hold together as sets: Golden Circle, South coast, Reykjavík, and more. Use them when you have finished the scheduled stops and still have an evening to fill.
- Pin the map so you have it on your phone at the airport. Duplicate into Arriv when you are ready to lock dates, add hotels, and share the plan with everyone coming to Reykjavík.
Building a longer drive from this guide? Use the road trip planner for drive times between stops.
3-day Reykjavík itinerary
Tap a stop to see it on the map. Adjust freely once it’s your trip.
Day 1Arrive + Blue Lagoon + Reykjavík
Blue Lagoon
3.6
Norðurljósavegur 9, 241 Grindavík, Iceland
Tip — Straight from the airport
Hallgrímskirkja
4.6
Hallgrímstorg 1, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Tip — Tower view to get oriented
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
4.4
Tryggvagata 1, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Tip — One with everything
Day 2Golden Circle + Sky Lagoon soak
Brauð & Co
4.8
Frakkastígur 16, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Tip — Cinnamon bun for the road
Þingvellir, Iceland
Tip — Rift valley walk
Geysir
4.7
Geysir, 806, Iceland
Tip — Wait for Strokkur twice
Gullfoss
4.9
Gullfoss Falls, 846, Iceland
Tip — Lunch at the visitor center after
Vesturvör 44, Kópavogur, Iceland
Tip — Soak off the driving
Day 3South coast waterfalls + black sand
Seljalandsfoss
4.8
Seljalandsfoss, 861, Iceland
Tip — Walk behind it
Skógafoss
4.9
Skógafoss, 861, Iceland
Tip — Stairs, then skyr snack
Reynisfjara Beach
4.7
Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland
Tip — Stay well back from the water
Where to go in Reykjavík
11 places across 4 themed lists — use these when you want options beyond the day plan.
Golden Circle
Þingvellir, Iceland
Walk the rift between two tectonic plates, which is the rare geology lesson you can stand inside.
Geysir, 806, Iceland
Strokkur erupts every eight minutes or so, so have the camera up before the water starts to dome.
Gullfoss Falls, 846, Iceland
A two-tier waterfall, and you will get misted, so bring a shell if you care about staying dry.
South coast
Seljalandsfoss, 861, Iceland
The one you can walk behind, which is exactly as wet as it sounds, so wear proper waterproofs.
Skógafoss, 861, Iceland
Climb the 527 stairs, because the top-down view is the whole reason this stop is on the list.
Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland
Black sand and basalt columns, though the sneaker waves are the real hazard, so stay well back from the water.
Reykjavík
Hallgrímstorg 1, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Take the tower lift, because the rainbow street below only reads as a rainbow from up there.
Tryggvagata 1, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
The famous hot dog stand, where you order 'eina með öllu', which means one with everything.
Frakkastígur 16, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Cinnamon buns from the mural-covered bakery, which is the stop to make before a long driving day.
Lagoons
Norðurljósavegur 9, 241 Grindavík, Iceland
It sits near the airport, so book it against your arrival or departure if you want to save a drive.
Vesturvör 44, Kópavogur, Iceland
An infinity edge over the Atlantic, and the 7-step ritual is worth doing in order once you are in.
Make this Reykjavík trip yours
Use this guide to duplicate the itinerary into your trips. Set dates, swap stops, invite your crew — then continue planning on the web or take it on the go in the Arriv app.