A 10-day winter self-drive tour combining the Snæfellsnes Peninsula with Iceland's South Coast, from Kirkjufell and western fishing villages to Vatnajökull National Park and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
Price from 1769 EUR per person
Think of this as a starting point. Swap hotels, change the pace, or add activities, and your Travel Consultant will build it around you.
Welcome to your Iceland winter holidays! After you have cleared customs, you will be transferred to your hotel in Reykjavik. If you arrive around noon, it is possible to stop at the Blue Lagoon before continuing to the capital. After you have checked in to your hotel and received your travel documents, we would like to have an optional private information meeting during office hours at our headquarters. After the meeting, you’ll have free time in Reykjavik to explore and enjoy the northernmost capital of the world. Overnight in downtown Reykjavík.
Suggested hotels, or similar
HOTEL
Tier
Classic
Region
Reykjavik city centre
A short walk from the centre of Reykjavik. Our Classic option in the city: simpler rooms than Saga, same easy access on foot.
HOTEL
Tier
Superior
Region
Reykjavik city centre
Central Reykjavik, walking distance to Laugavegur and the harbour. Our usual Superior choice in the city when guests want to be able to leave the hotel and be somewhere on foot.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and biggest city of Iceland with a population of approximately 124,000. It is the northernmost capital in the world. Despite its small size, you can find many attractions and museums, making Reykjavik a popular destination.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Reykjanes
The Blue Lagoon is Iceland's most visited tourist attraction and one of the most recognizable geothermal spas in the world, set in a black lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula about 20 minutes from Keflavík International Airport and 45 minutes from Reykjavík. Its milky-blue color comes from silica dissolved in the geothermal water, which precipitates to the surface as the water cools and scatters light in the blue wavelengths. The water is maintained at 37 to 39 degrees Celsius year-round and is rich in silica, sulfur, and algae. The lagoon was not designed. It formed accidentally in 1976 when wastewater from the adjacent Svartsengi geothermal power plant began flooding a nearby lava field. A power plant employee with psoriasis bathed in it and found it relieved his condition; word spread, and by 1987 the site had been developed for public bathing. The formal spa facilities opened in 1999.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Around Iceland
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are one of the most sought-after natural experiences in Iceland. Iceland's high latitude, low light pollution, and long winter nights make it one of the best places in the world to see them, though a sighting always depends on a combination of clear skies, solar activity, and a little patience.
Today, a representative from our car rental company will be picking you up in the morning, taking you to their headquarters, where you will sign the rental agreement and receive your rental car. You should then be ready to leave town and head to the Snæfellsnes peninsula. In the town of Stykkishólmur, the largest town in the area, you will find the dark and magnificent Norwegian House (built in 1832 as the first double story timber house in Iceland), which is now the folk museum with rather interesting objects. On your way around the peninsula, you will find a number of stunning natural attractions such as Arnarstapi, the small church in Buðir, the shark museum in Bjarnarhöfn, Kirkjufell mountain and the Eldborg crater. It is also possible to go on a guided tour to a lava cave called Vatnshellir which is located in the Snæfellsjökull National Park and is 8000 years old. In the evening, if the skies are clear, and it’s chilly outside you should definitely go out and search for the northern lights, – and this goes for all the nights ahead of you. Most hotels in Iceland offer wake-up-calls during the night, should these mystical forces of nature choose to appear in the wee hours. Stay the night in the area.
Suggested hotels, or similar
HOTEL
Tier
Classic
Region
Stykkishólmur, Snæfellsnes
Above the harbour town of Stykkishólmur on the north side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, with views over Breiðafjörður bay.
HOTEL
Tier
Superior
Region
Stykkishólmur, Snæfellsnes
A small hotel in a historic house in the harbour town of Stykkishólmur on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
HOTEL
Tier
Classic
Region
Arnarstapi, Snæfellsnes
On the southern shore of the Snæfellsnes peninsula beneath Snæfellsjökull, a short walk from the coastal rock formations at Arnarstapi and Hellnar.
HOTEL
Tier
Superior
Region
Búðir, Snæfellsnes
A countryside hotel beside the black church at Búðir on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, surrounded by lava fields and coastline.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Snæfellsnes
Stykkishólmur is the largest town on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula with around 1,100 residents, sitting on a promontory above a natural harbor on the northern coast of the peninsula overlooking Breiðafjörður bay. Often called the capital of Snæfellsnes, it has been a trading and fishing center since at least the 16th century. The town is notable for its collection of well-preserved 19th-century timber buildings, the most famous of which is Norska Húsið, the Norwegian House, built in 1832 from materials imported from Norway and now a folk museum. Weather observations have been recorded here continuously since 1845, the longest unbroken meteorological record in Iceland. The Baldur ferry departs from the harbor to Flatey Island and Brjánslækur in the Westfjords, making Stykkishólmur the main connection point between Snæfellsnes and the Westfjords. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty used the town as a filming location for scenes set in Greenland.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Snæfellsnes
Bjarnarhöfn is a working family farm on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula that has been producing hákarl, Iceland's famous fermented Greenland shark, for over 400 years. The museum is small, genuinely quirky, and one of the most memorable stops on the peninsula for anyone curious about the stranger corners of Icelandic food culture.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Snæfellsnes
Kirkjufell is a 463-meter freestanding mountain on the northern coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, widely regarded as the most photographed mountain in Iceland. Its distinctive pointed silhouette, shaped by millions of years of glacial erosion, makes it immediately recognizable, and the small triple-tiered Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall sitting at its base creates one of the most iconic compositions in the country.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Snæfellsnes
Arnarstapi, also known locally as Stapi, is a small fishing village on the southern coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, once one of the most important trading and fishing ports on the peninsula and now a quiet base for exploring the surrounding coastal landscape. The village is best known for its dramatic basalt sea cliffs, sea stacks, blowholes, and the Gatklettur stone arch, all accessible on a short clifftop walk from the harbor. At the village entrance stands a large stone statue of Bárður Snæfellsás, a figure from the Saga of Bárðar Snæfellsáss described as the half-human, half-troll guardian of Snæfellsnes, who according to legend retreated into the Snæfellsjökull glacier and continues to watch over the peninsula. A 2.5-kilometer coastal path connects Arnarstapi to the neighboring village of Hellnar, passing sea arches, nesting seabirds, and lava formations.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Snæfellsnes
Búðakirkja, the Black Church of Búðir, is a small black timber church standing alone on the edge of the Búðahraun lava field on the southern coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, with the Snæfellsjökull glacier visible behind it on clear days. It is one of the most photographed churches in Iceland and a popular wedding venue. Originally built in 1703 by the merchant Bendt Lauridsen, it fell into disrepair when the trading settlement of Búðir declined, was deconsecrated in 1816, and lay abandoned until a local merchant's widow, Steinunn Sveinsdóttir, campaigned persistently for its reconstruction against opposition from the national church authorities. The rebuilt church was completed in 1848. The door ring bears the inscription: "The church was rebuilt in 1848, with no support from the spiritual leaders." Steinunn is buried in the churchyard beside it.
After breakfast and packing, start your day by visiting the attractions you missed out on yesterday if any. Then, start making your way back south again. If you’re up for a small detour, we recommend that you check out the volcanic crater Grábrók, Hraunfossar waterfalls, Deildartunguhver (the largest hot spring in Europe) and finally the settlement centre in Borgarnes. Today, it is also possible to visit Iceland´s second largest glacier Langjökull. and join an “Into The Glacier” tour. This truly is a unique experience where you witness the glacier´s beauty from the inside! Stay overnight in the area for a good night’s sleep.
Suggested hotels, or similar
HOTEL
Tier
Superior
Region
Borgarnes, West Iceland
A modern hotel in Borgarnes, a short drive from Reykjavík and a good base for Borgarfjörður and Snæfellsnes.
HOTEL
Tier
Classic
Region
Borgarnes, West Iceland
Just outside Borgarnes in West Iceland, the overnight stop after a day on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
West Iceland
Grábrok is a well-preserved volcanic crater in the Borgarfjördur region of West Iceland, sitting just off the Ring Road about two hours north of Reykjavik. A wooden staircase and short trail lead to the rim in around 30 minutes, where the views over the surrounding moss-covered lava fields and the Bifröst valley are genuinely impressive for very little effort.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
West Iceland
Hraunfossar, meaning Lava Falls, is one of Iceland's most unusual waterfalls: not a single drop but a 900-meter stretch of small springs that emerge directly from beneath the edge of the Hallmundarhraun lava field and trickle into the turquoise Hvítá River below. The water originates from the Langjökull glacier, filtering through the porous lava rock before appearing at the surface. A short walk upstream leads to Barnafoss, a dramatically different waterfall where the same river forces through a narrow rocky gorge.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
West Iceland
Deildartunguhver is Europe's most powerful hot spring, pumping 180 liters of water per second at a constant temperature of 97 degrees Celsius from deep underground in the Borgarfjördur valley of West Iceland. You cannot bathe in it, but the viewing walkways bring you remarkably close to one of the most viscerally powerful natural features in the country.
Drive south towards Mosfellssveit, and then off to the your Þingvellir National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, rich with its incredible natural beauty, history and where you can see how the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are diverging. Continue on to the famous Geyser geothermal fields and witness the great spouting spring, namesake of every other spouting spring in the world. Close by you’ll find Gullfoss (Golden Falls), recently voted one of 10 most beautiful waterfalls in the world. In the area, you will find lunch stops where you should definitely stop for a traditional Icelandic meal. We strongly recommend the Icelandic lamb soup. Then, make your way towards the south coast and drive through lush farmlands, but be sure to make a stop at Kerið, a volcanic crater displaying its crystal clear water. Stay the night in the Selfoss area.
Suggested hotels, or similar
HOTEL
Tier
Superior
Region
Grímsnes, Golden Circle
In the countryside along the Golden Circle, the overnight stop after Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss.
HOTEL
Tier
Classic
Region
Hvolsvöllur, South Iceland
In the Hvolsvöllur area within easy reach of the South Coast waterfalls, and the overnight stop after the Golden Circle and Friðheimar.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
Þingvellir National Park is Iceland's first national park and its only UNESCO World Heritage Site, sitting 47 kilometers east of Reykjavik at the first stop on the Golden Circle. It is the site of the Alþingi, Iceland's parliament, which first convened here in 930 AD, making it the oldest continuously operating parliament in the world. The park also straddles the rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, one of the few places on earth where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge can be seen and walked above sea level.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
Gullfoss, meaning Golden Falls, is one of Iceland's most powerful and visited waterfalls, dropping 32 meters in two dramatic tiers into the narrow Gullfossgjúfur canyon on the Golden Circle route. Fed by glacial meltwater from Langjökull glacier, it carries an average of 140 cubic meters of water per second in summer, producing a roar and a cloud of mist that can be heard and felt long before the falls come into view.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
The Geysir geothermal area in the Haukadalur valley of South Iceland is one of the three main stops on the Golden Circle and home to the hot spring that gave the English language the word geyser. The Great Geysir has been erupting intermittently for thousands of years and at its peak could blast water up to 70 meters into the air, but it is now largely dormant, erupting unpredictably and rarely. Its neighbor Strokkur, whose name means the Churn, erupts reliably every 5 to 10 minutes to heights of 15 to 40 meters and is the reason visitors gather here. The wider geothermal field contains dozens of hot springs, bubbling mud pools, fumaroles, and smaller geysers, making it worth exploring beyond just waiting for Strokkur. The site is free to visit year-round.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
Kerið is one of Iceland's most striking volcanic craters, a 6,500-year-old caldera filled with vivid aquamarine water and ringed by steep red and black volcanic rock. It sits right off Route 35 on the Golden Circle route, making it one of the easiest natural wonders in Iceland to add to a day trip.
Today you are continuing down to the beautiful South coast of Iceland. Drive east to the picturesque waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Close to Skógafoss, you will find the Skógar museum, where you can get a glimpse of how Icelanders used to live in the old days. Next stop is Mýrdalsjökull glacier where you can join a guided glacier hike or a snowmobiling tour. Drive further along the south shore to the village of Vík. Once there, visit the black volcanic beach of Reynisfjara with a view of the Reynisdrangar ocean cliffs. This is the perfect opportunity for a nice afternoon/evening walk. Take extra care though, as the waves are strong and have caused serious and fatal accidents. You stay the night in the Vík/ Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.
Suggested hotels, or similar
HOTEL
Tier
Classic
Region
Kirkjubæjarklaustur, South Iceland
A countryside hotel in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area, positioned between the black sand beaches at Vík and the Skaftafell part of Vatnajökull National Park.
HOTEL
Tier
Classic
Region
Kirkjubæjarklaustur, South Iceland
Near Kirkjubæjarklaustur in South Iceland, away from town lighting, which makes it a good base for northern lights evenings between the South Coast and the Glacier Lagoon.
HOTEL
Tier
Superior
Region
Vík, South Iceland
A modern hotel in Vík, close to Reynisfjara black sand beach and the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
Seljalandsfoss is a 60-meter waterfall on Iceland's South Coast, fed by meltwater from Eyjafjallajökull glacier flowing down the Seljalandsá river. It is one of the first major waterfalls visitors encounter heading east from Reykjavík along the Ring Road, about 120 kilometers from the capital. What makes it unusual among Iceland's waterfalls is a path that runs around the base of the cliff and directly behind the falls, allowing visitors to stand inside the curtain of water and look back out through it. The walk takes about 10 minutes and the cavern behind the falls is large enough to move around comfortably, though the path becomes extremely slippery and is closed in winter when ice makes it dangerous. The waterfall faces west and catches sunset light particularly well in the late afternoon. A second waterfall, Gljúfrabúi, is hidden inside a narrow gorge two minutes drive east and is worth the small detour.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
Skógafoss is one of Iceland's largest and most visited waterfalls, dropping 60 meters over a 25-meter wide curtain of water on the South Coast near the village of Skógar. The sheer volume of spray it produces means that on clear days, single and double rainbows are almost guaranteed, making it one of the most photogenic spots in the country.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
Skógar Museum (Skógasafn) is one of Iceland's most celebrated regional museums, sitting directly beside Skógafoss waterfall on the South Coast. It holds over 18,000 artifacts spread across three sections: a folk museum, an open-air village of reconstructed turf houses and historical buildings, and a technical museum covering transport and communication. The collection was built over decades by local historian Þórður Tómasson, who founded the museum in 1949 and curated it until his passing in 2022 at the age of 100.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull, sitting just off the Ring Road on Iceland's South Coast and one of the most accessible glaciers in the country for guided hiking. Its surface is streaked with black volcanic ash from past eruptions, the ice ranges from brilliant white to deep blue, and a small glacial lagoon has formed at its base as the glacier continues to retreat.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
Reynisfjara is Iceland's most famous black sand beach, sitting on the South Coast just west of the village of Vík í Mýrdal, about 180 kilometers from Reykjavik. The beach is framed by a wall of hexagonal basalt columns and the three offshore Reynisdrangar sea stacks, which folklore says are trolls turned to stone by the rising sun. It is regularly cited as one of the most dramatic non-tropical beaches in the world, and is equally well known for its powerful and unpredictable sneaker waves, which can surge far up the beach without warning.
When ready to leave the Vík/Kirkjubæjarklaustur area behind, continue to Skaftafell, a part of the Vatnajökull National Park. On your way, make sure not to miss the amazing Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, just outside the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. The canyon reaches down to 100m in depth, and has the striking length of 2km, with the Fjaðrá river flowing through it. Skaftafell is a site of immense beauty and variations. There you’ll find many different hiking routes. We recommend a light hike to Svartifoss waterfall, that features pitch black hexagonal basalt columns and a rugged canyon. Continue east to the amazing Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and enjoy the floating icebergs in this crown jewel of Icelandic nature. This is your turning point unless you would like to continue on to the village of Höfn for a nice dinner, as it is dubbed “the lobster capital of Iceland” – before turning back). This night you will be staying in the area of Kirkjubæjarklaustur/Jökulsárlón.
Suggested hotels, or similar
HOTEL
Tier
Classic
Region
Kirkjubæjarklaustur, South Iceland
A countryside hotel in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area, positioned between the black sand beaches at Vík and the Skaftafell part of Vatnajökull National Park.
HOTEL
Tier
Classic
Region
Kirkjubæjarklaustur, South Iceland
Near Kirkjubæjarklaustur in South Iceland, away from town lighting, which makes it a good base for northern lights evenings between the South Coast and the Glacier Lagoon.
HOTEL
Tier
Superior
Region
Vík, South Iceland
A modern hotel in Vík, close to Reynisfjara black sand beach and the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
Kirkjubæjarklaustur, universally shortened to Klaustur, is a small village of around 120 people in South Iceland, sitting on the Ring Road between Vík and Höfn. It is the only inhabited settlement on a 300-kilometer stretch of the Ring Road, making it the essential service stop for anyone driving this section of the south coast. The name translates as church farm cloister, a reference to the Benedictine convent of nuns that operated here from 1186 until the Reformation in 1550. Local place names including Systrafoss waterfall, Systravatn lake, and Systrastapi rock all take their names from the sisters of the convent and carry legends of religious transgression, execution, and vindication that remain among the more vivid pieces of south Iceland folklore. The village is surrounded by significant natural attractions including the Kirkjugólf basalt pavement, Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, and the gateway to the Laki craters.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
Svartifoss, meaning Black Falls, is a 20-meter waterfall in the Skaftafell area of Vatnajökull National Park on Iceland's South Coast, framed by a sweeping wall of dark hexagonal basalt columns that form a natural amphitheater around the cascade. The columns are the same geological formation found at Reynisfjara and elsewhere in Iceland, where lava cools slowly into polygonal shapes, but here their arrangement around a single waterfall is particularly theatrical. The design of Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík's most recognizable church, is widely attributed to this basalt column formation, making Svartifoss one of the more architecturally significant natural sites in the country. A 3-kilometer return hike from the Skaftafell visitor center leads to the falls through birch woodland, passing two smaller waterfalls along the way.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
Jökulsárlón is a glacier lagoon in southeast Iceland at the foot of Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull. It only came into existence in the 1930s when the glacier began retreating, and has grown rapidly since, making it Iceland's deepest lake at 248 meters and covering an area of around 25 square kilometers. Icebergs calved from the glacier drift slowly across the lagoon before flowing out through a short channel to the sea, passing Diamond Beach on the south side of the Ring Road as they go. The lagoon holds seals year-round, who hunt fish in the cold, clear water among the icebergs. Boat tours operate from May to October on both amphibian vehicles and zodiac inflatable boats. The lagoon has appeared in two James Bond films, Tomb Raider, and Batman Begins, among other productions.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
East Iceland
Höfn í Hornafirði is a fishing town of around 2,500 people on Iceland's southeast coast, sitting on a low peninsula where the Ring Road rounds the corner between the South Coast and the Eastfjords. Known throughout Iceland as the Lobster Capital, it is the primary landing point for langoustine caught in the cold, clean waters of the southeast, and several of the town's restaurants have built their entire menus around the local catch. The name Höfn simply means harbor in Icelandic, and the working harbor framed by the Vatnajökull ice cap on the skyline gives the town a character that is both practical and unexpectedly dramatic.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
Eldhraun, meaning Fire Lava, is the world's largest lava field produced by a single eruption, covering 565 square kilometers of South Iceland between Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur. It was created during the Laki eruption of 1783 to 1784, one of the most catastrophic volcanic events in recorded history. Today the entire field is covered in a continuous layer of woolly fringe moss that has taken centuries to grow, giving it one of the most otherworldly appearances of any landscape in Iceland.
In Kirkjubæjarklaustur, where Iceland’s first monastery was built in 1186, there are several sights to be seen, for example, the Systrafoss waterfall and Kirkjugólf (The church Floor) – although never a church floor, in reality, it is an 80m of columnar basalt, eroded and shaped by glaciers and waves. On your way back west, nature lovers will want to make another stop by the village of Vík in Mýrdalur, which is Iceland´s most southerly village. It is the only seaside settlement in Iceland left without a harbour, due to natural circumstances. When in Vík, you can expect a lot of rain, snow, wind and/or fog, as the average precipitation there is the highest in the whole of Iceland. Because of this, rainbows are also more frequent and vivid in this area than anywhere else. In the afternoon you can join a horseback riding tour where you will meet the Icelandic horse. This is the only breed of horse in Iceland and it displays two gaits in addition to the typically walk, trot, and canter/gallop commonly displayed by other breeds. Overnight in the night in the area of Hella/Selfoss.
Suggested hotels, or similar
HOTEL
Tier
Classic
Region
Hvolsvöllur, South Iceland
In the Hvolsvöllur area within easy reach of the South Coast waterfalls, and the overnight stop after the Golden Circle and Friðheimar.
HOTEL
Tier
Superior
Region
Hvolsvöllur / Hella area, South Iceland
A hotel in the Hvolsvöllur and Hella area, well placed for Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and the rest of the South Coast.
HOTEL
Tier
Classic
Region
Hella, South Iceland
A practical, comfortable hotel in Hella, central to the Golden Circle and the South Coast.
HOTEL
Tier
Classic
Region
Hella, South Iceland
A farm hotel near Hella in South Iceland, with open views across the countryside.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
Vík í Mýrdal is Iceland's southernmost village, sitting on the South Coast about 180 kilometers from Reykjavik. With a population of around 300, it is a small but well-serviced settlement, the main overnight stop on the South Coast route between Reykjavik and Jökulsárlón. Reynisfjara black sand beach and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks are 10 minutes west; the Mýrdalsjökull glacier covering Katla volcano dominates the landscape to the north. The hilltop Víkurkirkja church, with its distinctive red roof, is the most photographed building in the village and sits high enough to serve as a designated evacuation point if Katla erupts.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
South Iceland
Kirkjugólf, meaning the Church Floor, is a natural formation of hexagonal basalt column tops in the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur in South Iceland, worn perfectly flat by glacial erosion over thousands of years so that they resemble a precisely laid stone floor. The formation covers around 80 square meters and sits just off Route 203, a short walk from the Ring Road. When Norse settlers arrived they were so convinced the regular geometric pattern was man-made that they named it after a church floor, assuming a building must have stood there. Later investigation confirmed that no structure had ever been built on the site: the precise tiling effect is entirely natural. Kirkjugólf has been a protected natural monument since 1987 and is free to visit.
Today you will discover the geothermal wonders of Reykjanes peninsula with its endless lava fields and black beaches. You will find several geothermal areas around, and you should definitely visit the Krýsvík area. Here you have the chance to visit the geothermal area in Krýsuvik with boiling mud pools and colourful mountains. A well-maintained path winds through the bubbling and hissing field and information boards explain the geology of this geothermal area. This geothermal field is situated in the middle of the fissure zone in the mid-Atlantic ridge which traverses Iceland. In the afternoon, you may choose to make a stop at the Blue Lagoon (optional) and relax after a few exciting days on the road. Then, drive back to Reykjavík where you drop off your rental car and stay at a downtown hotel.
Suggested hotels, or similar
HOTEL
Tier
Classic
Region
Reykjavik city centre
A short walk from the centre of Reykjavik. Our Classic option in the city: simpler rooms than Saga, same easy access on foot.
HOTEL
Tier
Superior
Region
Reykjavik city centre
Central Reykjavik, walking distance to Laugavegur and the harbour. Our usual Superior choice in the city when guests want to be able to leave the hotel and be somewhere on foot.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Reykjanes
Seltún is a striking geothermal field within the Krýsuvík volcanic zone on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 40 minutes from Reykjavik. Boiling mud pots, hissing steam vents, and hillsides painted yellow, orange, and red by mineral deposits create a landscape that looks genuinely otherworldly, and a boardwalk trail makes it accessible and safe to explore up close.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Reykjanes
The Blue Lagoon is Iceland's most visited tourist attraction and one of the most recognizable geothermal spas in the world, set in a black lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula about 20 minutes from Keflavík International Airport and 45 minutes from Reykjavík. Its milky-blue color comes from silica dissolved in the geothermal water, which precipitates to the surface as the water cools and scatters light in the blue wavelengths. The water is maintained at 37 to 39 degrees Celsius year-round and is rich in silica, sulfur, and algae. The lagoon was not designed. It formed accidentally in 1976 when wastewater from the adjacent Svartsengi geothermal power plant began flooding a nearby lava field. A power plant employee with psoriasis bathed in it and found it relieved his condition; word spread, and by 1987 the site had been developed for public bathing. The formal spa facilities opened in 1999.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Reykjanes
The Reykjanes Peninsula is a UNESCO Global Geopark in southwest Iceland, about 40 minutes from Reykjavík and directly adjacent to Keflavík International Airport, making it the first landscape most visitors to Iceland drive through. It is where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rises above sea level, marking the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, and the entire peninsula is a young, geologically active landscape of lava fields, volcanic craters, geothermal springs, and sea cliffs. Since 2021 the peninsula has experienced 12 volcanic eruptions in a period geologists have called the Reykjanes Fires, the first eruptions in the region in 800 years, and visits to recent lava fields have become one of Iceland's most distinctive travel experiences. The Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland's most visited attractions, is located here.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Reykjanes
Gunnuhver is Iceland's largest boiling mud pool, a highly active geothermal field on the southwestern tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula within the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark. Steam vents, bubbling mud pots, and fumaroles cover the landscape, with mineral deposits turning the surrounding rock vivid shades of yellow, orange, and red. It is one of the most dramatic and accessible geothermal areas in the country, just 20 minutes from Keflavik International Airport.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and biggest city of Iceland with a population of approximately 124,000. It is the northernmost capital in the world. Despite its small size, you can find many attractions and museums, making Reykjavik a popular destination.
Enjoy a free day in the capital. You might want to visit some of Reykjavik’s many art and culture museums and exhibitions. To name a couple, there is the National Museum and Saga museum, which traces Iceland’s Viking history. If you are lucky with the weather you might enjoy a stroll around the city and some of Reykjavík sightseeing spots and landmarks, such as the Hallgrímskirkja church, Harpa concert hall, The Sun Voyager sculpture by the sea and some more. You could also join a guided walking tour in the old town and hear stories of Reykjavík in the olden days. Don´t forget to grab yourself a hot dog at the infamous hot dog stand “The Town’s Best”, and if it happens to be a weekend, make sure to check out Reykjavík’s flea market Kolaportið. If you are not the city type, or would simply like to experience a final adventure in Iceland, there are various day tours to choose from which we would be happy to book for you. In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner at one of Reykjavík many gourmet restaurants. Stay the night at the same hotel as the night before.
Suggested hotels, or similar
HOTEL
Tier
Classic
Region
Reykjavik city centre
A short walk from the centre of Reykjavik. Our Classic option in the city: simpler rooms than Saga, same easy access on foot.
HOTEL
Tier
Superior
Region
Reykjavik city centre
Central Reykjavik, walking distance to Laugavegur and the harbour. Our usual Superior choice in the city when guests want to be able to leave the hotel and be somewhere on foot.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Reykjavík
Hallgrímskirkja is Reykjavík's most recognizable building and Iceland's tallest church at 74 meters, dominating the city skyline from its hilltop position above Skólavörðustígur. It is a Lutheran parish church named after the 17th-century Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson, author of the Passion Hymns. Designed by state architect Guðjón Samúelsson in 1937, it took 41 years to complete, with construction running from 1945 to 1986. The distinctive stepped concrete facade was directly inspired by the hexagonal basalt column formations found at Svartifoss waterfall and across Iceland's volcanic landscape. A tower elevator open to visitors daily gives panoramic views over Reykjavík and, on clear days, across Faxaflói Bay toward Snæfellsjökull. In front of the church stands a statue of Leif Eiríksson, a gift from the United States in 1930 to mark the Alþingi's 1,000th anniversary.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Reykjavík
Harpa is Reykjavik's concert hall and conference center, sitting on the waterfront at the edge of the Old Harbor. Its glass facade, designed by artist Ólafur Elíasson and Henning Larsen Architects, has made it one of the most photographed buildings in Iceland since it opened in 2011. The public areas are free to enter, and the building is home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Reykjavík
Kolaportið is Iceland's largest flea market, open every weekend in a converted customs house on the Reykjavik waterfront. Part jumble sale, part food market, part local institution. It's one of the most authentic experiences you can have in the capital without booking anything in advance.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Reykjavík
The Sun Voyager, known in Icelandic as Sólfar, is a polished steel sculpture on the Reykjavik waterfront that has become one of the most recognizable images of Iceland. Often mistaken for a Viking ship, it was actually described by its creator as a dreamboat, representing the promise of undiscovered territory and the freedom to explore.
ATTRACTION
Country
Iceland
Region
Reykjavík
The National Museum of Iceland, Þjóðminjasafn Íslands, is the main repository of Icelandic cultural and historical heritage, located at Suðurgata 41 in Reykjavík, a short walk from the University of Iceland and Tjörnin lake. Founded in 1863, it has been at its current address since 1950. The permanent exhibition, Making of a Nation, presents around 2,000 objects in chronological order from the Viking Age settlement of Iceland through the medieval period, the Reformation, and into the 20th century. Among the highlights are a small bronze figurine believed to depict Thor, a replica Viking ship bow, and the Valþjófsstaður door, a pine church door from 1150 AD intricately carved with a Lion-Knight legend and runic inscriptions, the only carved Icelandic door with runic script in existence. A free audio guide is available in nine languages.
It is time to leave! We hope you have had a wonderful time experiencing the Icelandic winter. You will be transferred to the International Airport Keflavík. We wish you a nice journey back home, and hopefully, we will be seeing you again someday!
Let your personal travel consultant know what other activities catch your eye and we’ll add them to your custom-made trip itinerary.
We handpick accommodations to ensure memorable stays for every type of traveler.
Experience a higher level of comfort with our carefully selected Classic accommodations, each offering private facilities including a shower and toilet for your convenience and privacy. These lodges fall under the 3-star hotel category, providing a perfect blend of quality and value. Most properties boast an on-site restaurant where you can enjoy a variety of meals without needing to venture far. In Reykjavik, all Classic accommodations are ideally situated in central locations, giving you easy access to the city's main attractions, shopping districts, and vibrant cultural spots. This category represents a significant upgrade in both comfort and service compared to budget options, making it an excellent choice for travelers seeking a cozy yet affordable stay. To make your mornings hassle-free, a delicious breakfast is included with your stay.
Our Superior accommodations feature spacious private rooms with en-suite bathrooms, offering the choice of a relaxing bath or a refreshing shower, along with a private toilet to ensure maximum comfort and privacy. These rooms represent the best available lodging options, found within prestigious 4-star hotels or the finest, highest-quality lodges across each region. In Reykjavik, all Superior accommodations are centrally located, placing you within easy reach of the city's key attractions, shopping areas, and vibrant dining and cultural scenes. These accommodations provide an elevated experience with superior comfort, thoughtful amenities, and attentive service designed to make your stay truly memorable. To enhance your visit, a complimentary breakfast is included each morning, helping you start your day well-nourished and ready to explore.
Our luxury accommodations feature exquisite suites and premium rooms within top-tier lodges and resorts, offering an elegant and sophisticated ambiance. Designed with refined decor and upscale touches, these accommodations provide a seamless blend of style, comfort, and exclusivity. Personalized services cater to your every need, ensuring a truly indulgent and tailored experience. In Reykjavik, all luxury accommodations are centrally located, placing you at the heart of the city’s vibrant cultural scene, fine dining, shopping, and key attractions. Whether you’re seeking a tranquil retreat or an immersive urban experience, these upscale lodgings deliver the perfect base. Classy, elegant, and supremely comfortable, our luxury options strive to provide a first-class stay marked by exceptional amenities, impeccable service, and attention to detail. Every aspect is carefully crafted to make your visit not just memorable, but extraordinary.
Prepare for your adventure with these essential tips and information for a smooth journey.
