Exploring Iceland in 4 days 🧊
An unforgettable MDW 2022
Last year, after spending hours brainstorming where to go for Memorial Day, my friend and I finally decided: Iceland. It had been on my bucket list for years, and after seeing that it was only a 5 hour flight from NYC, we were sold!
The trip was epic. Insane views, quality food, and overall relaxation.
However, planning was a bit tough - so many things to do in a unique country - so this guide is here to make it a little easier :)
Day 1 - Arriving & Driving to Vik
This day was an early start with our flight arriving in Reyjavik at 6 A.M. We quickly rented a car from the airport and hit the road to check into our hotel in Vik.
During planning, we considered if we should or shouldn’t rent a car.. you absolutely should rent a car. You really need the freedom to stop whenever, and there’s a lot of driving required to see the best spots in Iceland.
Our first stop was in Selfoss to see the Skogafoss waterfall.
Once in Vik, we checked into Hotel Kria. It was super cute but lowkey. We had dinner there, and the food was surprisingly AMAZING. Vik is an ideal place to stay your first night because it’s close to so many other places. Vik itself doesn’t have much to do.
We checked out Reynisjfara Beach after dinner, the most famous black sand beach in Iceland.
Day 2 - Fjallsárlón & Reykjavik
We had a quick breakfast at the hotel, then headed out east for a 2.5 hour drive. We checked out Diamond Beach, which was breathtaking. One of the best pictures I’ve taken :)
The day we arrived, we made an impulse decision to do the glacier lagoon tour in Jokulsaron, despite it being far away. It was a great decision.
We then left to drive to Reyjavik and check into Fosshotel Reyjavik - this hotel was pretty nice, location was walkable to everything we wanted to do.
We had dinner at Fjallkonan - a fun, popular spot in the middle of town. Then, drinks at Jungle Cocktail Bar - the vibes were great and the cocktails were AMAZING. Bit of a wait to get in, but worth it. Here’s the Cereal Killer drink I got pictured below :)
Day 3 - Reykjavik & Golden Circle
We had a quick brunch at an adorable cafe, Sandholt.
After brunch, we checked out the Hallgrímskirkja Church for some great views of the city.
Then, we were back on the road to hit the Golden Circle, one of the most popular ‘must-dos’ in Iceland - a bunch of nature sites located in a circle! Kerid Crater was a cool visit and Thingvellir National Park. Recommend both of those - bring your hiking shoes!
I love hot dogs..so naturally we had to make this stop pre-dinner.
We had dinner at Sjavargrillio - the food was awesome and high end with a seafood focus. The drinks were okay.
After dinner, stopped for some ice cream at Omnom Chocolate (their chocolate is sold all over Iceland; recommend buying some at the airport duty free).
Reykjavik was such a charming city, I would love to spend more time here on my next visit.
Day 4 - Blue Lagoon & Farewell
This is probably what most people think of when they think of Iceland.. and it didn’t disappoint! Super great end to the trip. It is close to the airport, so try to visit when you arrive or right before you leave.
Looking forward to visiting in the future and exploring the Northern part of Iceland and seeing the Northern Lights 🙏