The Ultimate Iceland 4-Day Itinerary
Iceland is one of the most beautiful places in the world and will quickly become one of your favorite places to visit! Although you can spend a month exploring everything Iceland offers, you can spend 4 days in Iceland to see many of its must-see attractions.
We have visited Iceland multiple times for a variety of different lengths and were able to see most of the must-see attractions in four days! We made our basecamp near most of the attractions on our itinerary, allowing us to spend more time exploring and less time driving.
If you want to visit Iceland, you are in the right place! This Iceland 4-day itinerary explores some of the most stunning places in the country, including moss-covered canyons, black sand beaches, breathtaking waterfalls, and large glaciers.
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Tips for Spending 4 Days in Iceland
Planning a trip to Iceland may seem intimidating, but I am here to help! I have visited twice and have learned a lot from my trips. There are a few things you should know before planning your Iceland itinerary.
Important Things to Know
The daylight varies drastically throughout the year. In June and July, Iceland has about 21 hours of sunlight, but it only has about five hours of sunlight in December and January. As you can imagine, summer has high tourism, so many must-see attractions will have crowds, but the weather is beautiful. On the flip side, winter brings less tourism because of the short days and cold weather, which means attractions will be less crowded. However, winters in Iceland are harsh, and it can be difficult to get to some of them because of road conditions.
The weather is unpredictable. I have visited twice and both times the weather changed quickly. We learned from our mistake of not packing a jacket the first time we visited and were much more prepared the second time. I recommend packing a rain jacket and insulated jacket. You should also supportive shoes with good traction, like hiking boots. And last but certainly not least, make sure to pack a backpack with water and snacks for your hikes.
- Do not stay in the city during your road trip. It may be tempting to stay in the city during your entire trip, but I do not recommend it. It is a long drive to many places on this Iceland itinerary, and you do not want to waste time driving. I include some great places to stay near each destination!
- Some parking lots require a parking fee. Some trailheads have kiosks, while others use an app called Parka. I recommend downloading it in advance and inputting your car information so it is easy to pay once you arrive at the trailhead. We got a wifi device with our car rental, making it easy for us to pay using the app when necessary.
Iceland Travel Tips
Rent a 4x4 vehicle. F roads are unmaintained mountain roads that can have anything from rocks to river crossings. Although many of the attractions on your Iceland 4-day itinerary are along the Ring Road (aka the Golden Circle), F roads bring you to some of the most beautiful areas in Iceland. If you want to explore F roads, a 4x4 vehicle is required.
Get all of the car rental insurance. I cannot stress enough how important insurance is when you rent a car in Iceland, especially if you will be driving on F roads. We always get the highest insurance package just in case!
Cook food more than eating out. Although Iceland is expensive, it does not have to be! One of the best ways to save money is to cook your food because eating at restaurants can add up quickly. I still recommend enjoying delicious food at an Icelandic restaurant, but maybe not every night.
Get a discount gas card. Gas is expensive in Iceland, so I highly recommend getting a discount gas card. Some rental car companies will even provide one to you!
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
Where to STay in Iceland
Since this itinerary explores the south coast of Iceland, you have a few options for where you stay:
If you want one basecamp, I recommend staying in Selfoss since it is in the middle of each area you will visit. Selfoss is an adorable small town just south of Reykjavík and about 2 hours north of Vik with many restaurants and accommodations. We stayed in Selfoss the second time we visited Iceland and fell in love with the area!
If you want two base camps, I recommend staying in Selfoss the first half of your trip and Vik the second half. You honestly do not need two base camps, but it would elimitate a few hours of driving.
The Ultimate Iceland 4-Day Itinerary
It is time to begin your epic 4 days in Iceland! You can fly into Keflavík Airport, pick up your car rental, get your groceries, and start to explore Iceland!
Day 1 in Iceland: Reykjavik and Hot Springs
You will spend your first day in Iceland exploring the city, soaking in a hot spring, and maybe exploring! If you want to take a slow start to your trip, I recommend spending the day exploring the city and going to a hot spring. If you want to begin exploring right away, you can visit a nearby crater and waterfall!
Reykjavík has so much to offer, from delicious food and beautiful views. I recommend enjoying a meal at one of the many restaurants and visiting Hallgrimskirkja. Hallgrimskirkja is the tallest church in Iceland and is incredibly beautiful! We loved starting our day off slow while enjoying some fantastic food in the city!
If you want to enjoy a hot spring, I highly recommend visiting the Sky Lagoon! It is near downtown Reykjavik and is our favorite hot spring! The views overlooking the ocean are stunning. We love the Sky Lagoon so much that we visited twice in one trip!
If you want to explore instead of soaking in a hot spring, you can head to Kerid Crater! Kerid Crater Lake is a volcanic crater with a lake in the middle, and it is beautiful! I highly recommend hiking around the lake or the rim of Kerid Crater.
Urridafoss is the first waterfall in this itinerary! Urridafoss is in the Þjórsá River, Iceland's longest river, and although it is not the biggest waterfall you see, it is the most voluminous in the country! The beautiful waterfall will not disappoint and is a great spot to watch the sunset.
Day 2 in Iceland: Beautiful Waterfalls
The second day in Iceland has stunning waterfalls and beautiful hot springs, so get your cameras and bathing suits ready!
Brúarfoss is one of the bluest waterfalls in Iceland because it is glacier-fed, and yes, the water is THAT blue! The 4-mile hike to Brúarfoss is fun and leads to a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the waterfall. Bruarfoss is a favorite waterfall of ours to visit when we go to Iceland!
Gullfoss is the largest volume waterfall in Europe and is fed by the second-largest glacier in Iceland, Langjökull. There is a 36-foot tall section and 69-foot tall section of Gullfoss that flows into the Hvítá River in a 1.6-mile-long canyon. There is an easy 1.3-mile round trip trail to multiple viewpoints of Gullfoss that will take your breath away!
The Great Geysir, also known as Stokkur, is near Gullfoss and is easily accessible. It usually erupts every 6-10 minutes and hits over 50 feet high! Strokkur is one of the most popular attractions in Iceland, so it will likely be very crowded. If you do not have time or it is very crowded, you can skip it because there are more beautiful attractions that await you!
Are you ready to soak in a beautiful hot spring?! The Secret Lagoon, also known as Galma Laugin, is a hot spring, and although it is in a man-made pool, it is fed by a natural hot spring and is the perfect place to relax. Beautiful mossy lava fields surround it, and there is a small geyser nearby, erupting every few minutes. There is a fee to enter that is well worth it, in my opinion!
If you have time, I recommend saving your afternoon to explore one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland! Háifoss is the fourth-tallest waterfall in Iceland and is one of the most beautiful, in my opinion. The viewpoint is on a cliff across from the 400-foot waterfall, making it an incredible spot for sunset. We visited Haifoss every time we visit Iceland because it is stunning! You will not be disappointed visiting it.
Day 3 in Iceland: the South Coast
The third day in Iceland has stunning and iconic waterfalls! It is a long day of driving and exploring, so I recommend getting up early, so you do not have to rush to each attraction. Many of these attractions are very popular, so I recommend getting up early to beat the crowds and enjoy them with fewer people!
Seljalandsfoss is an iconic waterfall in Iceland that you have probably heard of because you can walk behind it. It is a short walk from the parking lot to the base of Seljalandsfoss. You can enjoy this 197-foot, picturesque waterfall from the front or walk behind it! It is one of our favorite things to do! You can also hike an easy 1.2-mile round trip trail to another waterfall hidden within a cave, Gljufrafoss if you have time.
Skógafoss is another iconic waterfall and is epic, standing at 82 feet wide and 200 feet tall! You can walk up to the base of the falls or hike to the top! The hike to the top is tough but worth it for the beautiful views of the waterfall and surrounding area. No matter which way you want to experience Skógafoss, you will not be disappointed.
Dyrholaey Arch is a beautiful arch along the black sand beach of Reynisfjara. The drive is steep up to the cliff but is worth it for the views! The viewpoint on a cliff offers stunning views of the arch, black sand beach, and multi-colored mountains.
Reynisfjara is the infamous black sand beach in Iceland. The black sand is from eroded volcanic rock and is beautiful! Reynisfjara is home to the Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks, Hálsanefshellir Sea Cave, and Gardar Cliff, and I recommend exploring all of them if you have time! NOTE: The waves on Reynisfjara are known for being dangerous because they can sneak up on you in seconds, so please be careful and stay aware.
Fjaðrárgljúfur is one of the most beautiful places on your Iceland 4-day itinerary, in my opinion. Fjaðrárgljúfur is a 330-foot-deep canyon that stretches over a mile and has a river, moss-covered canyon, and many waterfalls. The viewpoint of this gorgeous canyon only requires a short walk from the parking lot. Fjaðrárgljúfur is a beautiful spot to watch the sunset as well! Fun fact: Fjaðrárgljúfur was a location in a Justin Bieber music video!
Day 4 in Iceland: Glaciers
The final day in Iceland takes you onto a glacier! You cannot visit Iceland without visiting a glacier, and what better way than to end your itinerary on the second-largest glacier in Iceland?
Langjökull can be explored on a few different tours:
Into the Glacier Tour: One of the best tours is Into the Glacier, a 3-4 hour tour that provides activities including ice caving and glacier hiking on Langjökull! The departure location is a few minutes away from Hraunfossar and Barnafoss in the Húsafell Center.
Glacier Snowmobiling Tour: Did you know you can snowmobile on the glacier?! The tour is about 4 hours and explores Lanjokull in a unique way! Trust me, it is such a fun experience!
And if you want to do both: You are in luck! You can do a day tour that includes snowmobiling and an ice cave tour. It is the best of both worlds, and one of the best tours in Iceland!
If you are looking for an incredible Iceland 4-day itinerary, this guide is the perfect place to start! It has everything you need to plan a fun trip, including helpful tips, where to stay, and the best things to do in an Iceland 4-day itinerary!
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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