How to cross Iceland off your Bucket List in 4 days

For years, swimming in the Blue Lagoon has been on my Bucket List. But, it’s one of those Bucket List items that you’re not sure it’ll ever really happen. However, while looking at flights to the Faroe Islands to join the Logos Hope, I noticed that we were going to fly through Iceland. So, of course we had to stop there for a few days since it overlapped my Birthday and what could be better than swimming in the Blue Lagoon on my 41st?

In case you get the chance to visit Iceland and want an itinerary, here's what we did below. 

Before you arrive:

-Rent a car

-Reserve a stay for 2 nights in or around Hella on the South Coast

-Reserve a date and time for Blue Lagoon

-Reserve a stay for 2 nights in or around the capital city, Reykjavik

-Reserve a stay for 1 night next to airport

You should know:

-Maps on the iPhone got us everyone we wanted to go

-You must pay for parking almost everywhere you go

-You can rent swimsuits and towels at Lagoons if you need to

-Most people speak English

-The roads are easy to drive and directions easy to follow

-If you don’t know what to do for meals, just focus on the bakeries, large grocery stores and hot dog locations.

Day 1 - Fly in, pick up your rental car and drive to your Airbnb in Hella (on the South Coast).

Day 2 - Explore the South Coast

          - Start by driving a little less than one hour and parking at Seljalandfoss waterfall, seeing that waterfall and then walking left over a small bridge towards three other waterfalls, including Gljufrubul, which is a hidden waterfall.

        -Jump back in your rental and drive to Skogar waterfall, where you can walk right up to the falls, hike up beside it to look over it and then climb back down and enjoy lunch while viewing the waterfall from the restaurant next door.

       -Head back out in the rental and drive towards the Dyrholaey lighthouse at road #218 to try to spot puffins and at least take amazing photos from high up. On the drive to the lighthouse, be on the lookout for an enormous glacier around road #221.

       -Keep driving a bit more to get to the town of Vik. You can stay to see the museum, black sand beaches, ice caves, etc, or just stop at the grocery store to use the restroom and grab snacks for the long drive back to Hella.

Day 3 - Explore and relocate to Reyjavik

          - Drive about 40 minutes to Kerid, a volcanic crater. You can walk down into the crater and around the water level inside, and also hike back up and around to walk along the ridge. The colors are beautiful and it’s a unique experience.

          - Get back in your rental and get ready to relax. Drive about 30 minutes to the Secret Lagoon, the oldest Lagoon in Iceland. There are plenty of places to sit in and around lagoon, drinks and snacks that can be bought, a kids pool and a cold plunge pool. They don’t provide towels, but you can rent one. They do provide showers, shampoo, body wash and hairdryers. After a few hours here, finish the 1.5 hour drive to your next Airbnb in Reykjavik.

Day 4 - Blue Lagoon (the real reason I came to Iceland)

        -Grab a leisurely breakfast in Reykjavik and walk around the shops until it’s time for the main event.

        -Drive about 45 minutes to Blue Lagoon. You’ll drive through lava fields and even walk through one as you head up to the entrance, which is a unique experience and actually made me feel nervous if we were safe. I bought the cheapest tickets to the Lagoon and they came with the basics. They provide towels, showers, shampoo, body wash and hairdryers. Also we each got one complimentary drink and we got to enjoy the white face masque. There are saunas, steam rooms, hot massaging waterfalls, a swim up drink hut, a swim up masque hut, many areas to explore around the lagoon, a snack bar and restaurant inside and several more upgrades for the more expensive tickets. This was even better than I had imagined and I would come back again to Iceland just for this experience. It would be an amazing couples get away or a fun girls trip with friends or sisters. Put this on your Bucket List!

Day 5 - Golden Circle

          - Drive about 2 hours to the Gullfoss waterfall. 

        -Hop back in the car and keep driving in the same direction. Shortly after the waterfall, you'll come to Stokkar Geyser.

        -Most of this day trip, you’ll drive through Thingvellir National Park. It’s so empty and beautiful in it's own way.

Day 6 - Fly home

Although the photos are gorgeous, they don't do Iceland justice. It was a beautiful country and I would definitely go back again, even if it was only a short weekend trip to revisit the Blue Lagoon. Crossing this off my Bucket List was everything I had hoped and more. I definitely recommend taking the time to do this trip. Take even longer if you are able! 

What should I cross off my Bucket List next?