How many days do you need in Reykjavik & South Iceland?
Four days. That is the length of the itinerary we built for Reykjavik & South Iceland.
Here is what each day holds. Every stop below carries its time, and every gap says how to get to the next stop, with the walk or drive time wherever both stops are mapped.
Reykjavik & South Iceland · 4 days Iceland
Best time: June to August for midnight sun and open highland roads; September to March for northern lights and ice caves.
Reykjavik and the Blue LagoonDay 1
🏰10:00 AMHallgrimskirkja tower
The rocket-shaped church; the elevator view maps the whole colorful town.
🚶 ~20 min · 🚗 ~3 min · 0.8 mi
🍽️1:00 PMHarbor lunch
Lobster soup at the Saegreifinn shack, standing room and all.
🚗 ~85 min · 24 mi
📍5:00 PMBlue Lagoon soak
Book ahead; the silica mask and swim-up bar earn the price once.
Golden CircleDay 2
🌆8:30 AMThingvellir rift valley
Walk between the North American and Eurasian plates.
🚗 day trip · 25 mi
📍11:30 AMGeysir and Strokkur
Strokkur erupts every few minutes; keep the camera rolling.
🚗 ~19 min · 5.6 mi
📍1:30 PMGullfoss waterfall
Two tiers thundering into a canyon; the spray rainbows on sunny days.
South coast waterfallsDay 3
📍8:00 AMSeljalandsfoss
The one you can walk behind; a rain shell is not optional.
🚗 ~55 min · 16 mi
📍10:30 AMSkogafoss
Climb the stairs for the top-down view and the start of the Fimmvorduhals trail.
🚗 ~56 min · 16 mi
🌳1:30 PMReynisfjara black sand beach
Basalt columns and serious sneaker waves; respect the warning signs.
Snaefellsnes or slow dayDay 4
📍9:00 AMKirkjufell mountain
The arrowhead peak from the postcards, about two and a half hours north.
🚶 Short hops
📍1:00 PMFish stew in a harbor town
Plokkfiskur and dense rye bread; Iceland comfort food.
🚶 Short hops
📍9:00 PMNorthern lights hunt (Sep–Mar)
Drive out of town glow, check the aurora forecast, and be patient.
This is how Petrel lays out a trip. Upload your own confirmations and it builds this for your dates: flights and hotels included, with live flight status and the travel time between stops.
This is one of 126 free itineraries. Open it, change anything you want, and it becomes your trip.