What to Do with Three Days in Iceland
· Updated · BootsnAll
Three days is the classic Icelandair stopover, and it's enough to leave you planning a return trip. Being more than a little partial to Iceland, I'd tell you to stay as long as you possibly can. But if three days is what you have, here's how I'd spend them.
First, the stopover itself. Icelandair lets you stop in Iceland on a transatlantic trip with no additional airfare. Most fares allow up to 7 nights, and Flex fares up to 21. It covers the flights only, and the total price can shift because your onward flight is on a different day, so try a few dates.
Day 1: Reykjavik
Start with the Day 1 plan from our two days in Iceland itinerary. Walk the city center, climb the tower at Hallgrímskirkja, see the old harbour, and pick one or two of Reykjavik's museums, like the Settlement Exhibition. Eat something Icelandic: a hot dog, a bowl of lamb soup, or plokkfiskur. End the day the way locals do, in a city pool hot pot.
If it's a Friday or Saturday, go out for the rúntur. Just don't overdo it, because tomorrow is a big day.
Where the Blue Lagoon fits
The Blue Lagoon is on the Reykjanes peninsula, between Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik, so it fits best on your arrival or departure day. Destination Blue Lagoon runs buses from both the airport and the city, and entry starts at 11,990 ISK (as of September 2026). Book ahead. The area around nearby Grindavík erupted nine times between December 2023 and August 2025, and the lagoon closed during several of those eruptions. The Icelandic Met Office says magma is still building up, so check Safetravel before you go. If it's closed, Sky Lagoon in the capital area is the obvious backup.
Day 2: The Golden Circle
Now that you've seen the city, it's time for Iceland's landscapes. The Golden Circle is the name for three of Iceland's best-known sights, and they're close enough together to see in a day from Reykjavik:
- Thingvellir, the national park where Iceland's parliament first met, in a rift valley between two tectonic plates. It's about 48 km from Reykjavik.
- Geysir, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes. It's about an hour's drive on from Thingvellir.
- Gullfoss, a two-tier waterfall 10 km past Geysir.
If you drive yourself, stop along the way to ride an Icelandic horse. If you'd rather not drive, day tours cover the same route, and many combine it with snowmobiling, ATV rides or other activities. Snorkeling in Silfra, the rift at Thingvellir, is the one to book early. The water is 2 to 4°C, the national park rules require a buddy and full cold-water gear, and most people go with a licensed operator.
>> More on getting from Reykjavik to the Golden Circle
Day 3: Choose your own adventure
With a third day, you can do one of the outdoor activities you skipped on day two, like glacier walking, caving, whale watching from Reykjavik's old harbour, or horse riding. Or you can go further. If your flight doesn't leave until the afternoon of day four, you can even stay a night outside the capital and drive back to Keflavik.
The south coast
Vik is about 187 km from Reykjavik, just under three hours without stops. On the way you pass the waterfalls at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss and the black sand beaches near Vik. Take the warning signs at Reynisfjara beach seriously and stay well back from the water. It's a long day as a round trip, and a better one with a night in Vik.
The Westman Islands
The Herjólfur ferry sails to the Westman Islands from Landeyjahöfn on the south coast, and no 4x4 is needed to reach the port. Without a car, take Strætó route 51 to Selfoss and route 53 on to Landeyjahöfn; route 53 is timed to meet the ferry on two of its trips. Sailings from Landeyjahöfn depend on sea conditions, so check the Herjólfur site that morning.
Snaefellsnes
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland is two and a half to three hours from Reykjavik by car, depending on how far out you go. It has seabirds, whales offshore, saga history, and glacier walks, lava caves and horse riding. You could spend several days here, but even one gives you a look at a very different part of the country. See getting to Snaefellsnes.
Fly north for the day
Air Iceland used to sell packaged day tours by plane. Those are gone, and Air Iceland has been folded into Icelandair, but the domestic flights remain. Icelandair flies from Reykjavik's city airport to Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Ísafjörður and Höfn, each in under an hour. An early flight to Akureyri, a rental car or local tour to Mývatn and Goðafoss, and an evening flight back makes a long but memorable day. Plan it on your own and check that the flight times leave you enough hours on the ground. If you're arriving at Keflavik, note that you have to transfer to the domestic airport yourself, with your bags.
Getting around without a car
- From the airport: Flybus meets every arrival (3,999 ISK to the BSÍ terminal, or 5,299 ISK with hotel drop-off, as of 2026), or take Strætó route 55 for less. See Keflavik to Reykjavik.
- In the city: Reykjavik's center is walkable, and the Reykjavik City Card includes unlimited city bus travel for 24, 48 or 72 hours. See getting around Reykjavik.
- Beyond the city: day tours are the easiest option. See guided sightseeing tours.
Before any drive, check umferdin.is for road conditions and vedur.is for the forecast, especially from October to April. Want more time? See our plans for four days, five days and ten days.
FAQ
Is three days in Iceland enough?
For Reykjavik, the Golden Circle and one more region, yes. It isn't enough for the Ring Road, and trying to drive it in three days means seeing Iceland mostly through a windshield.
Can I do three days in Iceland in winter?
Yes, and it's a good length for a winter stopover. Stick to Reykjavik and day tours, and you'll have long nights for the northern lights. Just remember that in December the sun is up for only about four hours.