5-Day Iceland Itinerary: Golden Circle, South Coast, and Westman Islands Adventure
Iceland 5 Day Itinerary
Let’s get rolling on my 5-day summer Iceland itinerary at a high level. Before I begin, I would like to share that Iceland is the most picturesque country I have visited. During my time there, I kept saying, “This place is not real” and “This is ridiculous.” I spent 5 full days in Iceland and during the trip, I was able to explore the Golden Circle, South Coast, and Westman Islands. Note: During my trip to Iceland, my friend and I rented a camper van - 10/10 recommend!
Day 1:
Pick up camper van
This is the camper van my friend Kayla & I spent the entire time in Iceland in together!
Activities:
Head to Blue Lagoon
Booked the Comfort package which includes a silica mud mask, a drink from the bar, a towel, and access to the lagoon, sauna, and steam rooms.
You can get here via bus/shuttle, rental car, and/or taxi.
Head to Reykjavik for an amazing food tour!
The tour was with Wake Up Reykjavik.
All the food spots were great, and Katrin was an awesome guide!
Bonus Grocery Store
Stock up on food essentials for 5 days on the road.
Trying the famous Icelandic hotdog one with everything on our food tour. The hot dog is made of 80%+ lamb!
Set up camp at campgrounds
Day 2:
Leave campgrounds
Activities:
Golden Circle:
Thingvellir National Park: Snorkeling the Silfra Fissure in 32°F clear waters between North American & Eurasian tectonic plates was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Explore the park as well!
Geysir: Watch the geysers erupt and don’t forget to bring a rain jacket.
Gullfoss: Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!
Upper level view from Gulfoss and it is absolutely beautiful!
Food:
Restaurant Mika: 10/10 recommend. I ordered the lamb fillet and the chocolate cake for dessert!
Dinner at Restaurant Mika! Make sure to get to chocolate cake!
Places I did not get to visit:
Fridheimar Tomato and Horse Farm: Did not get a chance to eat here and do the tour, but I had the chance to stop by and view the tomato greenhouses.
Set up camp at campgrounds
Day 3:
Leave campgrounds
Activities:
Golden Circle & South Coast:
Kerid Crater Lake: It's a short hike around the rim and definitely worth a visit for its unique color contrasts of the volcanic crater filled with blue water.
Seljalandsfoss: You can actually walk behind it for a unique perspective, but you will need a rain jacket.
Skógafoss: Another beautiful waterfall to visit!
Dyrholaey: Good view of Black Beach from above and at a distance.
Reynisfjara Beach (Black Beach): Be cautious of the strong and unpredictable waves, known as 'sneaker waves.'
Vik I Myrdal Church: Sits on a hill above Vik and offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and the ocean.
Vik I Myrdal Church!
Food:
Suður: Order the burger and fries with the brownie!
Places I did not get to visit:
Gljúfrabúi
Secret Lagoon
Randomly stopped at an Icelandic Turf house along the route!
Set up camp at campgrounds
Day 4:
Leave campgrounds
Activities in Westman Islands: Book your ferry in advance if you plan on bringing your car. If you plan on exploring the island, either drive, rent a bike, or ride a scooter. Do not walk the island if you don’t have enough time. The walk was amazing, but taxis are expensive.
Elephant Rock! Do you see the elephant?
Elephant Rock: Naturally shaped rock formation resembles an elephant's head.
Puffin Colony: The cliffs at Stórhöfði are home to one of the largest puffin colonies in the world.
Eldfell Volcano: Hike up this volcano, which last erupted in 1973, for panoramic views of the island and the surrounding sea.
Proof to share the puffins are SMALL birds. Length: 10.2-11.4 in | Weight: 10.9-19.4 oz | Wingspan: 20.9 in Note: If you are a photographer you will need a lens with a long focal length (>105mm) to capture the puffins.
Activities in Reykjavík:
The Icelandic Phallological Museum: Houses a vast collection of phallic specimens from various animals.
Sky Lagoon: End your trip here. It’s a luxurious geothermal spa with stunning ocean views.
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF STUMBLING UPON THE FLAG OF JAMAICA ON AN ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF ICELAND?!?!
Welp, I knocked on the door and the owner is not Jamaican, but his brother is manager of Jamaica Regge Boyz team, Heimir Hallgrímsson.
Food:
101 Bistro: Order the chips and fries.
Places I did not get to visit:
Eldheimar Museum
Set up camp at campgrounds
Day 5:
Leave campgrounds
Activities:
1 of 2 river crossing on the Glymur Waterfall Hike!
Hike Glymur Waterfall Trail: The views along the hike are breathtaking. AllTrails states the hike is “hard,” but I disagree. Be ready for river crossings and cave passages. The view of the waterfall cascading into the canyon is well worth the effort.
Grab last-minute items at Bonus, Costco, and Hagkaup
Hallgrimskirkja: Visit Reykjavik's iconic church, known for its striking architecture inspired by Iceland's basalt lava flows. If time permits, take the elevator to the top for panoramic views.
Food:
Messinn: 10/10 recommend! Get the Arctic char!
Hope you have has much fun as I did in Iceland!
As I mentioned, this is a high-level itinerary, and I hope you enjoy Iceland as much as I did. It is a beautiful country to visit, so take your time traveling. If you have any questions about my experience in Iceland, drop them below in the comments. Also, wondering what to pack for Iceland? Check this blog out.