As a tour operator that provides custom tours a lot of our time goes in to setting up a successful itinerary. A common request is how to do as much as possible in one weekend. All you require is a hotel in the Reykjavík area and a rental car. You can also use us to guide and drive you!
Finding out how to do as much as possible in this short amount of time is of course is a big challenge as there are simply so many things to do and how to organize it all can seem overwhelming for travelers. Fret not dear reader, for I have designed the most efficient way to spend those two days. The itinerary that follows is structured on arriving on Friday and departing on Monday giving us at least two whole days on Saturday and Sunday.
Summer edition:
Taking advantage of the arctic summers with daylight 24/7 is paramount to a good trip in the summer. the 24 hour daylight window is from 21 of May to 23 of July roughly.
Saturday:
South Coast all the way to the Diamond Beach.
There are quite a few stops on the way and at least 14 hours of exploring during that day.
Some must do stops, add in optional extra stops if you want.
Stops on the way to Diamond Beach:
Skógafoss.
Sólaheimajökull.
Dyrhólaey.
Reynisfjara.
Vík.
Svínajökull.
Stops on the way back.
Seljalandsfoss
Optional stops:
Gljúfrabúi.
Kvernufoss.
Hjörleifshöfði.
fjarðárgljúfur.
Svartifoss
Sunday:
Reykjanes Peninsula, Blue Lagoon with dinner in Reykjavík and Midnight Golden Circle.
The Reykjanes Peninsula is a hidden pearl of Iceland and you can explore quite a lot in just 4-5 hours.
Stops:
Kleifarvatn.
Seltún
Fúlipollur
Grænavatn
If 4x4 then Vigdísarvellir drive.
Brimketill .
Gunnuhver.
Reykjanesviti.
Bridge between continents.
Make sure to book the blue lagoon well in advance as it sells out a long time in advance. If the blue lagoon is booked up the try the sky lagoon, if that is also booked up then go to laugardalslaug swimming pool, its really nice with a heated seawater hot tub.
After relaxing in the hot water then you make use of it still being daylight outside! You do the famous Golden Circle with no one else around.
Stops:
Þingvellir.
Gullfoss.
Geysir.
Winter Edition:
Now we have the Northern Lights to look out for so we hold the two evenings in reserve in case the forecast looks good for the northern lights. I have written a guide on how to find the northern lights: https://www.arcticout.com/post/northern-lights-hunting-for-dummies-101
The Northern Lights are visible from late August until mid April.
Saturday:
South Coast all the way to the Diamond Beach and northern lights if the forecast looks good.
Sunday:
Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon with dinner in Reykjavík and northern lights if the forecast looks good.
Places to stop are the same as in the summer edition.
If you want my help in organizing your tour please fill out a contact form on the website and I will set you up for some amazing adventures.
I hope this was helpful and I wish you my dear reader a happy trip in Iceland with wonderful memories.