Day 1: Reykjavik, Glymur Waterfall hike, and dine like a viking

After arriving at Keflavik airport and picking up your rental car, you’ll drive 45 minutes to get to the country’s capital, Reykjavik. Though Reykjavik is a small city, it’s definitely worthwhile to spend an hour or two exploring. Here, you will find popular museums including the Reykjavik Maritime Museum, Perlan Museum, and the National Museum of Iceland.

Reykjavik is also home to many delicious bakeries, including Sandholt and Braud & Co. Sandholt is a sit down cafe with a delicious breakfast menu and delicious pastries. Braud & Co, most famous for their cinnamon rolls, is takeout only. I recommend breakfast at Sandholt after you land, and grabbing a cinnamon roll for the road from Braud & Co! 

After you spend time exploring the city, drive 1 hour north to arrive at Glymur Waterfall for one of the best hikes in Iceland. The drive here along the coast line is incredibly scenic, but watch out for sheep in the road! 

The parking at Glymur Waterfall is free, and there are no public facilities so pack water and come with an empty bladder. When I visited, the loop option of the hike was blocked off, so it was an in and out hike that took about 3 hours total. The first portion of the hike is fairly flat. You will arrive at a small river crossing where you’ll cross a series of rocks and a log in the water, but there is a guide rope. From here, the hike to Glymur Waterfall is mostly uphill with several vantage points along the way. The waterfall and gorge is really impressive and definitely worth the trek up! On the way back, after the river crossing there is a small cave to walk through which is also a very cool feature of this hike. 

Where to stay:

After the Glymur Waterfall hike, I drove about 1.5 hours to the town of Selfoss, which is a perfect location along Ring Road for the adventures ahead on day 2. I recommend Hotel South Coast, which is a really clean and centrally located hotel with an included breakfast. 

Where to eat:

Just under 10 minutes away from Hotel South Coast is Ingólfsskáli Viking Restaurant, the best restaurant to start off your Iceland trip! This viking themed restaurant is so unique. The outside is covered in grass like traditional Icelandic countryside buildings. Once you walk in, you’re greeted by viking music and candles lighting the rustic tables. You can drink cider from a horn, and after a delicious dinner, you can try ax throwing outside! Being that this is a themed restaurant, I was really surprised how great the food was here. The fried duck was the best meal I had in Iceland! 

The second day will be spent driving along Ring Road, or Route 1, exploring the famous waterfalls. From the town of Selfoss, it’s just under 1 hour to the impressive Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrabui waterfalls. These are arguably the most famous, must-see waterfalls in Iceland. Right off of Ring Road, you’ll first approach Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which is just about a 5-10 minute walk from the Gljufrabui waterfall. There is a parking lot for both, which costs approximately $6 (900 ISK), and there are bathroom facilities available. When visiting both waterfalls, you’ll need to wear rain pants, a rain jacket, and waterproof or water resistant shoes.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall can be seen from the road, however, you are able to walk behind the waterfall for better views. The Gljufrabui waterfall, however, is more discrete and requires you to walk through a stream into a small canyon. Gljufrabui waterfall is one of the best waterfalls in Iceland, as it is so hidden and feels like another world once you step inside!

Continue along Ring Road for another 25 minutes and you’ll come across the next stop, Skógafoss waterfall. Skógafoss is another one of the best waterfalls in Southern Iceland as well as one of the largest! Once you arrive, you have the option of walking directly to the waterfall, or you can climb 527 steps to the top for an even closer look. At the top, you can continue your journey along the Skógafoss-Skálabrekkufoss waterfall trail which is about 10 miles long. During my trip, I opted out of the trek and admired the waterfall from the base. There is a lot of mist here, so once again, wear waterproof gear! The parking at Skógafoss is free and there are bathroom facilities as well as a cafe on site. 

Drive another 20 minutes along Ring Road to reach your next stop, Dyrhólaey! Dyrhólaey is a Peninsula of Southern Iceland which is home to views of the beautiful arch of lava, Kirkjufjara Black Sand Beach, and puffins! One of the best reasons to visit Iceland in the summer is to see the puffins. Dyrhólaey is one of the best places to spot puffins in Iceland. They’re most commonly out in the early morning, though I was able to spot a bunch in the afternoon. 

Where to stay:

Just a 7 minute drive from Dyrhólaey is Farmhouse Lodge Hotel, one of the best hotels in Southern Iceland! This quaint hotel is located on a rural farm and even has views of the Sólheimajökull glacier in the distance. Farmhouse Lodge Hotel is incredibly clean, even having guests remove their shoes upon entering the lobby. You have the option to book a guest room or a tent outside if you’re feeling adventurous. 

Where to eat:

For dinner, stop by the famous Black Crust Pizzeria in the cute village of Vík, just 15 minutes away from Farmhouse Lodge. I was hesitant to get pizza from Iceland being that I am a New York pizza girl through and through, but Black Crust Pizza definitely impressed! The line does get long with a wait and the kitchen closes at 9, so show up early to get a spot. 

Before heading back to your hotel for the night, take advantage of the late night summer sunlight and stop by the Vík í Mýrdal church. The top of the hill offers some of the best views of the village and the black sand beach, and is one of the best places for photos in Iceland. There are gorgeous mountain views in the background with the beautiful purple lupine flowers blooming in the summer. 

On the third day of your Iceland road trip itinerary, you’ll make your way to Skaftafell for a glacier adventure! About 1.5 hours east of Vík is Skaftafell, which is home to Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in Europe. To visit and hike this glacier, you do need a guide. I booked a hiking and climbing excursion with Troll Expeditions. This was a 4 hour tour where we hiked the glacier and learned how to ice climb! This is a beginner friendly experience. I’ve never even been indoor rock climbing, but still managed to participate and learn how to ice climb. Glacier hiking and climbing is one of the best, must-do activities in Iceland! If you are not up for ice climbing, the hike is a must. Being able to walk on the largest European glacier, learn about the history, and marvel at the beautiful crevice formations is one of the top adventures in Iceland!

If you’re able to book a morning tour, stop by the famous Diamond Beach after the glacier hike, which is 30 minutes farther east. Once you’re done with the afternoon activities in East Iceland, make the 3.5 hour trek back to your next stop, Hveragerði.

Where to stay:

I stayed at the Greenhouse Hotel which is about 40 minutes outside of Reykjavik. This is a nice hotel in town with a restaurant, cafe, and gift shop in the lobby of the hotel.

Where to eat:

The drive to Hveragerði is quite rural with very few gas stations and even fewer places to eat. I stopped by Vík to have a quick bite at the Strondin Pub along Ring Road to the hotel. 

The last day of your Iceland trip is all about relaxation at the Sky Lagoon. Many travelers opt for the popular Blue Lagoon, but I chose the Sky Lagoon as it is closer to Reykjavik which means less of the day spent driving, there’s typically less crowds, and I wanted to take part in the 7-Step Ritual. I was so happy I chose the Sky Lagoon since it wasn’t crowded and it was so relaxing! The 7-Step Ritual is a process which involves relaxing in the lagoon, then going into a cold plunge, then sauna, a cold mist room, a body scrub, and then steam room. Once you’re done, you’re able to return to the Sky Lagoon for as long as you desire. You’re able to order up to 3 drinks during your stay in the lagoon. There are plenty of places to overlook the ocean, or you can have more privacy in one of the small coves. The Sky Lagoon is one of the top things to do in Iceland, especially after such an active trip. I have never felt so relaxed as I did at the Sky Lagoon! 

Finish your amazing 4 days in Iceland with a special dinner at Grillmarkaðurinn, one of the best restaurants in Reykjavik. The food and drinks here are amazing with a very upscale vibe.