Itinerary Ideas: 5 Days in Reykjavik, Iceland

I originally wrote this itinerary for co-worker Olivia, who was visiting Iceland in winter for six days, but it can certainly be applied to any trip of 4-6 days that will center on Reykjavik. If you’re traveling in summer, there are a few more options for places to visit, but these are still some of the highlights. Of course, these are just suggestions and you can change out the order of days depending on your trip needs and preferences.

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Arrival

 

Flights from the US arrive in the early morning at Keflavik, Iceland’s main international airport. Once you deplane, I recommend you make your first stop the airport Duty-Free shop. If you have any plans to enjoy a few drinks while in town, this pitstop will save quite a bit of cash, as tax on alcohol in Iceland can make drinking prohibitively expensive. Tax is based on alcohol percentages, so wine and beer are less affected, but a bottle of spirits (like my favorite, Reyka vodka) costs far less in the duty free than in the government run liquor store, the Vinbudin.

After stocking up on libations,  hit the airport ATM, and then head to the Flybus sales desk by the arrivals exit, or book online, for a ticket into Reykjavik. As of 2026, a one-way ticket to the BSÍ bus terminal costs 3,999 ISK (5,299 ISK with drop-off at your hotel), and there’s a discount if you book the return at the same time. Buses leave shortly after every flight arrival. The cheaper option is the public Strætó bus 55, which costs 2,400 ISK to Reykjavik, but it doesn’t run as often, so check the timetable first.

As an alternative, you can take a Reykjavik Excursions transfer from the airport to the Blue Lagoon and ride on to Reykjavik when you’re done. Book your lagoon entry ahead of time, and keep an eye on your email, since the schedule can change because of volcanic activity in the area. There are luggage lockers at the Blue Lagoon.

Accommodation

If you are traveling on your own and are doing more budget travel, I recommend a guesthouse that has a more social atmosphere and offers kitchen facilities. I loved Our House, a cozy house that had been turned into an upscale hostel, but its website is gone and I can’t confirm it still takes guests. For a similar social feel, try the Loft HI Hostel on Bankastræti, which has a guest kitchen, a bar with regular events, free wifi, and bed linen included in the price.

If you need a single private room, I’d recommend Guesthouse Sunna, across from Hallgrimskirkja, where I’ve stayed on a past visit. It has basic single rooms with shared bathrooms and free wifi, and the atmosphere is more private. Breakfast now costs extra (2,500 ISK as of 2026).

Day 1:

Once you’ve settled in, I recommend you start by getting your bearings, and there’s no better way to do that than to head up to the observation deck of Hallgrimskirkja, or “the big white church” as many people refer to it. You’ll see it from nearly anywhere in town and as long as you can find your way from there to  your hotel, you’ll never be lost in Reykjavik. You can go inside the church and take the elevator to the top for the best view in the city.

Afterwards, you can stroll down to the Solfar (Sun Voyager) sculpture on the waterfront and then continue down to the harbor, where you can warm up with a hot bowl of lobster soup at Sægreifinn (Seabaron) for lunch.  From there you can walk through the heart of downtown, past the Parliament building and around to the Radhus, the City Hall, to see a giant topographical map of Iceland. Swing around the Tjornin pond, past the Prime Minister’s office, and up Bankastraeti, which turns into Laugavegur, the main shopping street.  If you wants to pick up something to make for dinner, stop at the Bonus grocery store.

Day 2:

Today is a great day to get in some outdoor activity. Arrange to go snorkeling in some of the clearest water in the world at Silfra in Thingvellir (wrapped up in a surprisingly warm dry suit to survive the frigid water temps) or go riding on an Icelandic horse. Tour companies will take care of all the details, including pick up and drop off, and many tours can be combined to maximize time. For example, you could arrange to go horseback riding and combine that with a trip to the Blue Lagoon or to Geysir and Gullfoss, two of the country’s most popular attractions.

Day 3:

If you’ve made some friends at your guesthouse or are traveling with a few other people, split the cost of a car rental and drive to the Golden Circle attractions. With even one other person, splitting a rental car can work out cheaper than paying for two seats on a Golden Circle bus tour, so compare prices before you book. The roads along the route are fairly well-maintained and unless a storm comes up, the drive would be no worse than driving anywhere in the US in winter. Plus, a car allows the freedom to stop as often as you’d like and detour when you want.

After a day of exploring, you might be thirsty for a beer. Gray Line’s Taste the Saga tour of the Ölgerðin brewery was one of the best tours I have experienced in Iceland, but Gray Line’s tours are now sold by Reykjavik Excursions and that tour is no longer listed. Their Reykjavik Beer & Booze Tour covers some of the same history of alcohol in Iceland on a walk between three bars in town (you must be 20 or older).

Post-tour, treat yourself to a splurge dinner, before hitting some of the clubs for the Friday night runtur.  I highly recommend Fishmarket on Aðalstræti, an upscale restaurant that serves Icelandic seafood with an Asian twist; when I went, I loved the grilled king crab claws with chili mayo and the langoustine from Vestmannaeyjar. If that’s too rich for you, there are plenty of cheap eats, like Tapas Barinn, where you can sample smaller portions at smaller prices.

Day 4:

Assuming you stayed out a little late last night and want to take it easy on Saturday, you should stick around Reykjavik. Relax in one of the public swimming pools, ride a bike around the city if the weather is nice, or do some shopping at the weekend Kolaportið flea market near the harbor (open Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 5pm). If you are in the market for an Icelandic sweater, get one here for much cheaper than in the souvenir shops. If you have some cash to burn, stock up on stylish outdoor gear at 66° North or head to the Kringlan shopping center. The My Reykjavik walking tour I used to recommend no longer runs, but CityWalk runs a two-hour tip-based walking tour year-round, daily at 10:30am and 1:30pm from Austurvöllur square. You pay what you think it was worth, but you need to book a spot in advance.

In the afternoon,check out some of the city’s museums to learn more about the Icelandic history and culture.  The 871 +/- Settlement Museum is my favorite; it’s now part of the Reykjavik City Museum on Aðalstræti. The Culture House building on Hverfisgata is now the House of Collections, run by the National Gallery of Iceland and open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Day 5:

Today, head out of town again and take one of the many day tours from Reykjavik to choose from.  SWalk on a glacier, go ice-climbing, journey to see the Eyjafjallyokull volcano, go dogsledding, explore caves formed by lava rivers, go snowmobiling or learn to drive a tricked out Super Jeep over Iceland’s snowy roads and glacial rivers.

Day 6:

Many flights back to the US leave in the afternoon, which leaves time in the morning to explore more of Reykjavik or schedule one last excursion. Check your airline’s advice on how early to arrive at Keflavik. If you haven’t yet visited the Blue Lagoon, go today on your way to the airport.

Reykjavik Excursions runs buses from the BSI bus terminal, an easy 10-15 minute walk from the city center, to the Blue Lagoon, and on to Keflavik afterward. Book a lagoon time slot that gives you a couple of hours to soak and still gets you to the airport with time to spare. That leaves time to have a snack, claim any tax refund on your shopping, exchange any remaining kronur for dollars, and relax before the flight home.

Photos by: Alex J White, juhaperala, r.geilen, Matt Chapman, roboppy, Luc Van Braekel, Giam,  thornj