The best way to explore Iceland is renting a car, staying in campgrounds and sharing costs with other travelers. The car will give you flexibility to go where very limited public transportation will not reach. I rented a basic car for around 50 euros per day. Most rental cars are a bit out of Keflavik international airport but will provide a shuttle service. Here is your 5 days Itinerary in Iceland:
My itinerary included the main stream golden circle attractions and few spots out of the standard touristic route, such as diamond beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier.
Day 1: Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik, Hallgrimskirkja Church, Sun Voyager statue
On your first day, arrive in Keflavik, get your car and visit the Blue Lagoon, a hot spring not far from the airport. It is indeed a very touristic spot and I decided not to enter due to the abusive prices. The turquoise blue waters can be seen from outside.
From there head to the capital of Iceland, Reykjavík, to visit some sights. Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran parish church, at 74.5 metres high, it is the largest church in the country.
Another famous site by the coast is the Sun Voyager, a sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason, located next to the Sæbraut road in Reykjavík. Sun Voyager is described as a dreamboat, or an ode to the Sun. The artist intended it to convey the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress and freedom.
You can stay at night in one of the hostels of the capital and soak the nightlife.
Day 2: Golden Circle. Thingvellir National Park, Bruarfoss, Geysir Hot Springs Area, Gullfoss waterfall
On the second day head to the golden circle starting with Þingvellir (Thingvellir), a historic site and national park that sits in a rift valley caused by the separation of 2 tectonic plates, with rocky cliffs and fissures. There are plenty of hikes well signed in the park, the highlight is the main waterfall.
Bruarfoss was a precious place that we found by researching. Is not so highlighted in the tourist path but was definitely worth a visit. There are 3 waterfalls but the most beautiful one is the last accessible by a hike.
Geysir Hot Spring Area is one of the most popular tourist attraction in Iceland. The geothermal field is believed to have a surface area of approximately 3 km². Most of the springs are aligned along a 100m wide strip of land running in the same direction as the tectonic lines in the area, from south to southwest. Eruptions at Geysir can hurl boiling water up to 70 metres (230 ft) in the air.
Day 3: South Coast to Vik. Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi, Skogafoss, Kvernufoss, Iceland plane wreck, Dyrhólaey, Reynisfjara Beach, Vik
On the third day you can make the waterfalls exploration. Skógafoss is a waterfall situated on the Skógá River in the south of Iceland at the cliffs of the former coastline. The waterfall is 60 meters high.
One very famous attraction is the Sólheimasandur plane wreck featured in many TV commercials, music videos and doccumentaries. The cause of the crash are somewhat unclear as accounts differ as to whether it was due to human error, a mechanical failure, the plane running out of fuel, a storm – or a combination of all these factors. The most popular theory of what caused the crash is that the plane crashed after running out of fuel during a storm, after the pilot accidentally switched to the wrong fuel tank.
Another nice spots on the way include this small hobbit village and some hot pools among the mountains.
Day 4: Vik to Jokulsarlon and back to Vik. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, Svartifoss, Svínafellsjökull Glacier, Jökulsárlón Lagoon, Diamond Beach
The fourth day was the highlight of my Iceland trip, due to the glacier and Diamond Beach. Jökulsárlón is a glacial lagoon, bordering Vatnajökull National Park in southeastern Iceland. Its still, blue waters are dotted with icebergs from the surrounding Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier, part of larger Vatnajökull Glacier. The Glacier Lagoon flows through a short waterway into the Atlantic Ocean, leaving chunks of ice on a black sand beach. In winter, the fish-filled lagoon hosts hundreds of seals.
Right across the lagoon is Diamond Beach. Here, the icebergs which fill Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon wash up on shore, standing dazzling and defiant in stark contrast to the black sand beach. It is, therefore, a favorite amongst photographers, nature-lovers, and wildlife-enthusiasts. Many seals call this beach home, and it is one of the best places in the country to see orcas from the shore.
Day 5: Vik to Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River, Reykjavik.
On your last day, soak up in the hot springs. The name of the valley, Reykjadalur, means Steam Valley and you will understand why when the valley opens up after the hike. The valley is filled with hot springs and mud pools, and there is even a hot river in which one can bathe!
Thank you for my travel mates Silly from Estonia and Bianca from Argentina.
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