Five days in Reykjavík and South Iceland is the most popular short Iceland itinerary. It covers the capital, the Golden Circle, and the South Coast’s waterfalls and black sand beaches - the essential Iceland experience without attempting too much.
Day 1: Arrive Keflavík - Reykjavík
Arrive at Keflavík. Transfer to Reykjavík by Flybus (ISK 3,999, 50 minutes), pre-booked private transfer, or rental car.
Afternoon: Laugavegur walk, Hallgrímskirkja observation tower (ISK 1,200), Old Harbour.
Evening: Dinner at Sægreifinn (lobster soup ISK 1,600–2,000) or Matur og Drykkur (mains ISK 4,200–6,500).
Stay: Reykjavík. Budget: Kex Hostel from ISK 18,000; mid-range: Hotel Borg from ISK 32,000.
Day 2: Reykjavík City Day
Morning: National Museum of Iceland (ISK 2,700, 2 hours). Brauð & Co bakery for coffee and pastries.
Afternoon: Perlan museum (ISK 4,490) or whale watching tour (ISK 12,900–15,900, 3 hours, book ahead). Sky Lagoon (ISK 9,990) if not doing the lagoon.
Evening: Grillmarkaðurinn (book ahead, mains ISK 4,500–8,000) or explore the bars on Laugavegur.
Day 3: Golden Circle
Distance: approximately 230km loop from Reykjavík. Allow a full day - 8–9 hours minimum.
Guided vs self-drive: Guided day tours from Reykjavík run ISK 9,900–15,900 adult and include pick-up - good if you’re still jet-lagged or don’t want to drive on the wrong side. Self-drive gives you control over timing and fewer crowds at each stop.
Morning: Leave Reykjavík by 8am. Þingvellir National Park (40km via Route 36): walk the Almannagjá rift valley where the Eurasian and North American plates visibly separate. Free entry; parking ISK 750 per car. Allow 1.5–2 hours. The site also has UNESCO World Heritage status as Iceland’s first parliament (930 AD).
Midday: Geysir geothermal area (50km from Þingvellir): Strokkur erupts every 5–10 minutes to 20–30m. Free. Allow 45 minutes. The Geysir Hotel restaurant handles lunch well (mains ISK 2,800–4,500) or bring a packed lunch.
Afternoon: Gullfoss waterfall (9km east of Geysir): double-cascade dropping 32m into a canyon, with a lower walkway close enough for spray. Free. Allow 45 minutes.
Optional stops: Kerið volcanic crater (ISK 800, 35km south on Route 35) - a 3,000-year-old crater with a turquoise lake. Secret Lagoon in Flúðir (ISK 3,000 adult) - a natural hot pool without Blue Lagoon prices or crowds.
Return to Reykjavík, or drive south to your first South Coast overnight.
Day 4: South Coast to Vík
Morning: Drive east on Route 1. Seljalandsfoss (ISK 900 behind-falls path) and Gljúfrabúi (free).
Midday: Skógafoss (free, climb the staircase).
Afternoon: Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck (4km walk, free). Arrive Vík.
Late afternoon: Reynisfjara black sand beach (stay behind safety line). Dyrhólaey arch (5km west).
Evening: Dinner in Vík - Suður-Vík (mains ISK 3,000–5,500).
Stay: Vík area. Icelandair Hotel Vík ISK 35,000–48,000; Hótel Vík í Mýrdal ISK 22,000–35,000.
Day 5: Depart via Jökulsárlón (Long Day) or Return to Reykjavík
Option A (for Jökulsárlón): Drive to Jökulsárlón (190km east of Vík). Zodiac boat tour ISK 9,900. Diamond Beach. Drive back to Reykjavík (380km total from Jökulsárlón). This is a very long day (approximately 12 hours driving + stops). Only realistic if you start by 7am.
Option B (relaxed): Drive back to Reykjavík on Route 1. Stop at Skógafoss again, morning light is different. Optional: glacier walk at Sólheimajökull on the way back (book ahead, ISK 9,900–12,500, 3 hours).
Blue Lagoon option: If pre-booked (ISK 9,990+), the Blue Lagoon is 47km from Keflavík airport and can be added on departure day with a 3-hour window.
Budget (per person, 5 days)
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (4 nights) | ISK 30,000 | ISK 130,000 |
| Transport (rental car 4 days + fuel) | ISK 50,000 | ISK 70,000 |
| Activities | ISK 15,000 | ISK 40,000 |
| Food | ISK 25,000 | ISK 50,000 |
| Total | ~ISK 120,000 | ~ISK 290,000 |
Approximate as of 2026. Excludes international flights.
Before You Go: Key Tips for This Itinerary
Book before you arrive: Blue Lagoon (if you want it on departure day), glacier walks at Sólheimajökull, and whale watching all have fixed daily capacities and sell out 1–2 weeks ahead in summer. Vík accommodation also sells out - book the moment your travel dates are confirmed.
Season matters for Day 4: Dyrhólaey is open year-round but the puffin viewpoint is closed when puffins are nesting (late July–early August, to protect the birds). Reynisfjara is accessible year-round but sneaker waves are more common in winter - stay well behind the orange safety markers.
Day 5 decision: The Jökulsárlón option (Option A) adds 380km of driving on a single day. Doable but tiring. Most visitors on a 5-day trip are better served by Option B - driving back with a glacier walk at Sólheimajökull. It’s a more relaxed end to the trip and the glacier walk is one of Iceland’s best activity experiences.
2WD vs 4WD: All stops on this itinerary are accessible with a standard 2WD car (except F-road shortcuts). If you’re not planning to deviate onto F-roads, a basic rental is fine. See our Iceland car rental guide for what to book.
Golden Circle in Day 3: Arrive at Þingvellir before 9am or after 5pm - the midday car park fills. Allow 3–4 hours for the full circuit (Þingvellir + Geysir + Gullfoss + optional Kerið stop). Guided Golden Circle tours (ISK 9,900–15,900) are good value if you’d rather not drive - see Golden Circle tours Iceland.
Planning this trip at short notice? Our last-minute Iceland tours page shows what’s currently bookable across all five days of this itinerary.
Extend Your Trip or Plan More
- 7 days in Iceland - Adding North Iceland and Jökulsárlón to this South Coast trip
- 10 days in Iceland - The full Ring Road circuit if you have extra time
- 3 days in Reykjavík - A focused capital city itinerary if you’re short on time
- South Coast drive guide - Full stop-by-stop breakdown of the South Coast route
- South Coast tours from Reykjavík - Guided day tours covering Days 2–3 of this itinerary
- Vík travel guide - Your Days 3–4 base: accommodation, restaurants, and Katla volcano
- Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon - Day 5 guide: boat tours, Diamond Beach, and timing advice
- Iceland car rental guide - What to know about renting a car for the South Coast
- Golden Circle tours Iceland - Day 2 options: self-drive vs guided tours explained
Book Your Trip
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