Iceland in the summer is one of my top 5 destinations in the world. The unique landscape where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plate meet, the sweet-tempered Icelandic horses and the warm glow of the midnight sun all offer a unique experience that you won't find anywhere else.
Iceland is known for the famous geothermal Blue Lagoon, breathtaking waterfalls, the northern lights and active volcanos. For my first visit, I wanted to see iconic attractions and understand what Iceland had to offer for my adventure.
For filmmakers and travelers alike, this destination falls on many bucket-lists. Traveling to Iceland in the summer is popular due to the long hours of daylight and moderate temperatures. What would you do with four full days in Iceland in the summer? I was lucky enough to travel to Iceland in 2019. Here’s what I would recommend for your first visit:
Gullfoss Waterfall July 2019
Day 1: Arrive and Get Comfy
For your first visit to Iceland, I'd recommend staying in a home rental in the downtown Reykjavik area. This was the best fit for my trip since we wanted a kitchen to cook a few meals in, street parking and laundry. We decided to stay in the marina area of downtown Reykjavik and were not disappointed. This location allowed us easy access to downtown and the marina by foot. We traveled a total of 4,200 miles to reach Reykjavik. During the summer months many airlines operate seasonal flights to Keflavik International Airport from major US east coast hubs. We flew from SFO to EWR to KEF, making for a very long travel day. Depending on your total travel day you may need time to acclimate to the time zone change. We immediately got our rental car, and after a short drive checked into our nicely furnished Icelandic home. Went out for a walk on the marina to beat the jet-lag and found ourselves immersed in cool breeze of the harbor water excited to explore this country for the first time.
Day 2: Visit Downtown Reykjavik and Go Whale Watching
Staying close to downtown makes several key landmarks easily accessible, like Hallgrímskirkja Church, Harpa Concert Hall and the famous Icelandic hot dogs! We decided to use the morning to explore on foot after breakfast. Hallgrímskirkja is a beautifully curved Lutheran parish church that took over two decades to complete. Its distinct architectural design makes it a must-see for first time visitor and can be visited for a small fee when the church is not use for religious ceremonies.
Our next stop was to try Icelandic hotdogs with the traditional accoutrements before heading to an afternoon of Whale Watching. We booked a tour through Trip Advisor with SpecialTours.Is and we saw many minke whales and dolphins while enjoying some hot tea on the boat. After walking all morning, having the captain take over navigation was welcome and even though we didn’t see any breaching humpbacks it was a great way to end our day in downtown Reykjavik.
Day 3: Hit the Road for Icelandic Horseback Riding and Waterfall Road Trip
My wish list excursion for this trip was Icelandic horseback riding and I wasn’t disappointed. We booked a beginner riding Lava Tour with isHESTAR.is, which was about 20 minutes by car from our rental downtown. The entire experience was wonderful. Our guides were friendly and knowledgeable which was important to me as a novice rider, and they introduced us to the history of the Icelandic horses and their unique gaits. You’ll ride in a small group amongst beautiful scenery including, blooming lupine and rolling terrain. This experience is a must and I highly recommend enjoying the unique opportunity to interact and ride Icelandic horses.
Next on the itinerary was to hit the road and visit several spectacular waterfalls and the Great Geysir. Top of my list was Gulfoss, Brúarfoss and Öxarárfoss falls in Þingvellir National Park. Each site has its own unique qualities, and all were breathtaking. My favorite was the muddy hike to Brúarfoss waterfall. Take care during the summer months that many of these popular spots may have increased traffic and pedestrians. For our road trip, we left the entire afternoon to explore all these locations and didn’t make it back to Reykjavik until late in the evening. Not a worry though! The sun was still hovering in the sky lighting our way home.
Day 4: Run Along the Waterfront and Soak in the Blue Lagoon
For me adding a run to my GPS watch is always on my bucket list when visiting a new country. After a long day of hiking along the waterfalls though, my legs demanded a short run. We followed the Sculpture & Shore Walk for an out and back, working up an appetite for lunch taking in views of downtown. We chose Kaffivagninn for our post run re-fueling and had the most delicious fish and chips. Next it was on to one of the most iconic places that Iceland is known for: the Blue Lagoon.
Other travel guides may recommend stopping at the Blue Lagoon after you check out of your accommodations on the way to the airport (its located approximately 22km from the Keflavik International Airport KEF). I would advise against this so that you can enjoy a more relaxing time in the healing waters. I enjoyed soaking in the geothermal pool and rubbing the silica on my skin. Afterward, I did feel an improvement in the texture of my skin. While this is a very popular destination in Iceland, I would say you only need to visit once. Food and drinks are fairly expensive and I’d recommend planning for lunch or dinner accommodations elsewhere when you have completed your soak.
Final Thoughts
Visiting Iceland was one of my most memorable travel experiences. My top recommendations for a summer trip to Iceland are to book your accommodations in downtown Reykjavik, rent a car and make use off all the hours of day light while exploring the country. This is just a start to learning about Iceland, its beautiful nature and landscape and its culture. I am hoping my next trip to Iceland will be in the winter to enjoy New Year’s celebrations or the Winter Lights Festival, to explore the northern parts of the country and to see the northern lights.
Have you ever traveled to Iceland? What was your most memorable travel experience? Comment below or subscribe!
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