How to Make The Most Out of A Long Weekend In Iceland

My husband and I love to travel! We’ve come up with a theory that, usually around the 6 week mark from our last vacation is when we feel that itch to hop on an airplane again.

Our most recent adventure brought us to Iceland. Iceland is popularly known as the land of fire and ice and I’ve never come across a more accurate description of a place. The local people are extremely warm and welcoming, despite the cold temperatures. We spent a long weekend there and tried to experience as much as possible during our short stay. Here’s how we made the most out of our long weekend trip in Iceland:

Planning our Trip

The word planning is a bit of a stretch. This trip was very spontaneous! We pretty much booked the flights and hotel on Expedia and added the activities. We flew into Keflavik International Airport (KEF) via Jet Blue and Iceland Air from Pittsburgh with a layover in Boston.

Best Times To Visit

We took our trip to Iceland at the end of January. Needless to say, it was COLD. I would not recommend going during the winter months unless you have a penchant for cold weather. The best times to visit, as told by the locals, is during the summer months. However, if you want to see the Northern lights early Spring or early Fall is best.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the Foss Hotel in Reykjavik. It is a really nice, boutique hotel located right in the heart of the city and in walking distance to the city/town center where all the shops and restaurants are. It’s also near the water so there was a nice view from our hotel room window. A delicious buffet breakfast was included with our stay. The other great thing about staying here is that it was right next to a bus stop (Bus stop #12 to be exact). It is important to note that tours and excursions will pick you up at the bus stop closest to where you’re staying so it is a god idea to stay somewhere very close to avoid walking too far. There are plenty of lodging options in Reykjavik- small boutique hotels, apartments and Airbnb’s are available.

Weekend Itinerary:

Friday - After arriving at the airport, we got a private transfer to our hotel in the city of Reykjavik. It took about 45 mins from the airport to our hotel and since we got in late and were tired, we took a 4 hour nap and began our day around 9am on Saturday morning.

Saturday - After breakfast we went on a walking tour of city center and of course did a little shopping. There are countless ways to spend time in the city, but we decided to walk through the harbour district of Grandi which in recent years has been developed from an industrial area to an artistic venue filled with workshops and galleries. We also explored the main shopping street, Laugavegur. Later that evening, around 8pm our shuttle picked us up for a Northern Lights tour.

The Northern Lights

What would a trip to Iceland be without seeing one of its famous attractions, the Northern Lights? One thing to note here is if you are planning your trip in advance, there is no way to know when you will have the best weather conditions for this beautiful natural event. Lucky for us, after braving 3 hours in the freezing cold(heated buses are available when you need a break from the cold), the lights showed up and lit up the night’s sky. If you want great pics it’s best to take a professional camera and a tripod. We used our iPhones and downloaded the app Nightcap.

Sunday - This was a full twelve hour day of adventure. We did the popular Golden Circle Tour topped off by a visit to the Blue Lagoon.

The Golden Circle Tour

The Golden Circle tour by GeoIceland was a great choice as it took us to the most popular destinations. Our guide was very knowledgeable and the group was relatively small, around 12 people.

Kerio - We drove through Nesjavellir, where pillars of steam rise from the all-encompassing mountains and followed the winding road until it took us to Kerið, an otherworldly volcanic crater which embraces a lake in the crater's bottom. This lake, however was frozen over at this time of year.

Geyser Hot Spring - One of the amazing things about Iceland is that despite the cold temperatures, the land is bursting with fire. Iceland is highly geologically active with many volcanoes, hot springs and geysers. The Haukadalur area is a popular tourist spot, where visitors can see Strokkur and Geysir, which are the two biggest geysers there. The first erupts every 5-10 minutes. Here you relax and take in the scenery over a cup of coffee and even pick up souvenirs at the on site shop.

Gulfoss Waterfall - A short distance away, the mighty Gullfoss waterfall, Iceland's single most popular attraction, awaits you. You follow a footpath all the way to the river's edge and as you look down into the gorge, you manage to get a sense of this waterfall's unspeakable power. The Gullfoss waterfall is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland and although it’s not the biggest waterfall, it certainly is magnificent.

The next stop was the Þingvellir National Park, where we walked the rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and explored the beautiful area which is fundamental to Iceland's history: the Icelandic parliament, Alþingi, was founded in Þingvellir in 930 and held its sessions here until 1799. This is the cradle of Icelandic culture, unchanged for millennia, and every rock and pebble has a story to tell.

The Blue Lagoon

Looking for the ultimate Icelandic spa experience? Then you need to visit the Blue Lagoon, it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. It is one of the 25 wonders of the world and is a geothermal spa that stays at around 102 degrees Fahrenheit all year round.

Monday - On our last day we woke up early and enjoyed a hearty breakfast, took a walk around city center one last time before being transported back to the airport.

Visiting Iceland was perfect for a weekend getaway. I’m not sure if I would have stayed longer even if the opportunity presented itself. It’s not the typical jet off to a tropical Island that I’ve become accustomed to but it was a nice change. I learned a little bit of history and experienced a different culture and way of living. Definitely recommend!