Iceland : travel guide | Itineraries and Highlights

Whether you prefer the freedom of car travel, the adventurous spirit of van life, the convenience of bus tours, or the expertise of guided excursions, Iceland has something to offer every type of traveler.

From the vibrant capital Reykjavík to geothermal hot springs, from majestic waterfalls to dramatic mountain ranges, and from black sand beaches to the famous “Golden Circle”, Iceland promises a wealth of destinations to discover.

For those planning a week-long trip, we’ll present a typical itinerary including must-see sites such as Reykjavík and the geothermal hot springs.

Aeroplan points for our flights are a great way to optimize your travels. In economy class, you can book segments for as little as 20,000 to 30,000 points, which represents very good value compared to the dollar price for the same journey. Although it’s possible to find business class availability from 60,000 points, this option doesn’t always offer the best value for money, especially without reclining bed seats, unlike flights to continental Europe.

In Montreal, the Air Canada flight to Reykjavik departs at 11:30pm, making it one of the last departures of the day. Please note that all airport lounges close at 10pm.

However, we were lucky enough to gain access to the National Bank lounge at 9:45pm, just in time to enjoy a snack before closing time. If you’re traveling in economy class, carry a card like the National Bank World Elite Mastercard^® for free entry to the lounge.

For our seven-night stay in the capital, we opted to stay at a single hotel for the whole week. Although there were a few options under the Marriott banner, the number of points required was very high.

So we chose an independent hotel, the 201 Hotel, located on the outskirts of the capital, close to a shopping center and offering quick access to main roads, allowing us to radiate in all directions.

For seven nights, we paid around 1,800 CAD. The reservation was made and prepaid on Expedia for TD. In this way, we were able to take advantage of a $100 travel discount with the TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite^* Card.

As with most of my trips, we booked a rental car as soon as we bought our plane tickets, then watched the prices as the weeks went by.

When rates go down, I cancel my previous reservation and make a new one at the best rate. So we got a rental car from Thrifty for around 400 CAD for the week, booked and paid for via Expedia. This system allows us to guarantee a competitive price while having the flexibility to take advantage of any price reductions before our departure.

The idea is to be autonomous with our car to visit most of the attractions within 200 km of our hotel. This way of planning our activities and visits allows us to create one-day mini-tours, which we can choose to do on the day of our choice, depending on the weather and our mood.

In addition to the 200 km maximum distance constraint, we insist on experiencing or bathing in at least one hot spring a day, whenever possible. The circuits have been designed with this in mind.

By grouping the sites to be visited according to their geographical location and optimizing driving times, we finally organized the following six days:

Flights from Montreal land early in the morning at KEF airport after a long overnight flight. Being so close to the airport, some people recommend visiting the Blue Lagoon on the day of your arrival.

However, we believe that to fully benefit from this experience, and avoid the effects of jet lag, this visit should be made on another day. This is Iceland’s largest and most magnificent hot spring, and we want to be fresh and ready to enjoy it to the full.

With our rental car picked up at the airport, we headed straight for Reykjavík.

While waiting for our hotel room to be ready later in the day, we used the car for an exploration of Reykjavík to spot the main downtown sights near the city’s iconic cathedral.

We also made quick stops at the following locations:

Nauthólsvík geothermal beach Nauthólsvík

Geothermal Beach is a hidden gem in Reykjavík, where warm underground waters meet the cold North Atlantic Ocean. It’s a unique place where you can relax in natural geothermally heated baths, offering a relaxing and soothing experience by the sea.

Kvika Footbath

Driving along the coast, past the town of Reykjavík, you’ll find the Kvika Footbath. It’s another tranquil, comforting experience where visitors can relax by soaking their feet in natural hot water baths. With a view of the ocean, and despite the cold wind, its soothing effect is guaranteed. This attraction is free, and there’s room for only two or three pairs of feet at a time.

We took a good half-day to visit and enjoy the Blue Lagoon baths.

Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon experience is truly unique and memorable. Nestled in the heart of a black lava field, this geothermal spa offers milky-blue waters, loaded with minerals such as silica and sulfur, known for their benefits to the skin.

When we visited in June 2024, the Blue Lagoon was one of the tourist sites closest to the ongoing volcanic eruption. Combining relaxation with a breathtaking view of volcanic activity created an unforgettable experience, one we’ll probably never live again.

A trip to the Blue Lagoon is well worth the detour!

This is our busiest day, and we’ll be seeing most of the most popular sites on Iceland’s south coast. A very linear route on Route 1, with stops on both the outward and return legs.

Hveragerði / Hveragarðurinn geothermal park

This park allows visitors to explore unique geothermal landscapes and discover geothermally heated greenhouses where exotic plants grow.

A walk through this park offers an immersive experience of the power of natural forces. The cost of entry is minimal, and the visit takes just a few minutes.

Several small hot springs dot the park, but the highlight of the visit is a small geyser that gushes out every ten minutes or so.

Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss is a magnificent waterfall on Iceland’s south coast, famous for the trail that allows visitors to walk behind the curtain of water.

Skógafoss

Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s largest waterfalls, known for its impressive 60-meter-high curtain of powerful water. Visitors can approach the base of the waterfall or climb the stairs for a panoramic view from the top.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

A spectacular beach, famous for its volcanic black sand, impressive basalt column formations and the majestic Reynisdrangar rocks rising out of the ocean. It’s a must-see for its dramatic landscapes and breathtaking views of the Atlantic.

Dyrhólaey viewpoint

A high promontory accessible by car, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Iceland’s south coast, with its craggy cliffs, natural arches and black sand beaches. It’s also a popular spot for birdwatching, particularly puffins, which nest on the surrounding cliffs.

Sólheimajökull glacier

A 15-minute walk takes visitors to the glacier’s terminal moraine. This is where the ice eventually breaks off and forms icebergs in a small glacial lagoon. Available for guided glacier hikes, this experience offers an up-close look at the glacier’s glacial beauty and unique geological formations.

The Food Hall at the Old Dairy in the small town of Selfoss

The “Food Hall” at the former Selfoss dairy offers a not-to-be-missed culinary experience for supper on the way back to the capital. In a charming historic setting, the venue offers a variety of local Icelandic dishes and international flavors, served in a friendly atmosphere. A unique concept in Iceland, but one that has proved its worth in many other parts of the world.

Visit the “Golden Circle” route, famous for its breathtaking scenery and iconic natural attractions.

A trip to the Golden Circle is a must to discover all the beauty of the area. Among them, here’s where we left off.

Gullfoss waterfall

It stands out for its majestic power, where the icy waters of the Hvítá River cascade down a spectacular canyon.

Geysir hot springs

They fascinate visitors with their eruptions of bubbling water projected into the air, a striking manifestation of the island’s geothermal activity.

Lunch at Friðheimar

This is a unique greenhouse where you can discover the cultivation and production of Icelandic tomatoes in a naturally heated environment. Lunch is served directly inside the greenhouse.

Hvammsvik Hot Springs

Hvammsvik hot springs offer a soothing and revitalizing spa experience, nestled in breathtaking natural scenery. The hot tubs are installed directly on the beach, offering the most courageous the chance to plunge directly into the ocean for a unique sensation. The view of the ocean and mountains is spectacular, in a deserted territory where no soul seems to live as far as the eye can see.

Visit the Húsafell region, a spectacular destination offering a breathtaking diversity of natural landscapes.

Route 52

To get there, we decide to take Route 52, which links Thingvellir National Park to Húsafell through magnificent scenery, with its succession of geological formations and snow-capped mountain panoramas. This mostly unpaved road is a completely off-the-beaten-track experience, offering 360-degree views stretching as far as the eye can see, with not a soul in sight.

Deildartunguhver hot springs

These bubbling hot springs attract visitors as they are the most powerful in Europe.

Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls

On the same site, these waterfalls offer an impressive spectacle, where water flows through lava formations in an unspoilt natural setting. Easily accessible from the parking lot, with a small restaurant still open in the early evening.

Húsafell hot springs (also known as “Lindin pool”)

Húsafell’s hot springs invite you to relax and unwind. They are located on the Hotel Húsafell site. Admission to the pools is just $38 per person. We have access to 4 hot-water pools, each with a different temperature.

We spent the morning relaxing at the Sky Lagoon, then spent the afternoon exploring the Thingvellir and Kerid Crater sites.

Sky Lagoon

The Sky Lagoon is a haven of tranquility on the outskirts of the capital, offering a getaway in its own right with its captivating setting featuring an artificial lagoon forming an infinity pool on the ocean.

Thingvellir Visitor Center

In Thingvellir, the visitor center offers an immersion in the unique history and geology of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Nestled in a spectacular tectonic fissure, this iconic spot reveals the secrets of Iceland’s formation while offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. This is where you can walk along a fault between the tectonic plates of the American and European continents.

Kerid crater

It is a natural spectacle, with its reddish walls plunging into a lake of turquoise water, an impressive vestige of Iceland’s past volcanic activity.

Our last day is devoted to a tour of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, a region a little off the beaten track, but still very accessible from Reykjavík. At many of the stops, the fact that we’re almost the only ones there adds to our enjoyment of the area.

Don’t hesitate to book an excursion to Snaefellsnes to discover its breathtaking sites.

Selvallafoss

Unlike many of Iceland’s more famous cascades and waterfalls, Selvallafoss offers a quiet, secluded experience. The waterfall is completely invisible from the parking lot, which is located upstream of the waterfall. The short walk is well worth it.

Landbrotalaug Hot Springs

After driving through a lava field, walking for about 10 minutes and fording a small stream by jumping from stone to stone, you come to a tiny pool where you can sit and enjoy the warm waters. On our visit, we were the only ones, which made the experience even more magical and peaceful.

Kirkjufell Mountain

Surprise, a huge cruise ship is anchored in the bay. The small village is swarming with tourists in search of pictures of bucolic landscapes, including the Kirkjufell mountain. The shot on Kirkjufell Mountain, Iceland’s iconic symbol, was also used in some scenes from the Game of Thrones series.

Ytri Tunga

Known for its golden sandy beaches and rock formations, Ytri Tunga is particularly famous for its seal colony. Visitors can often observe these creatures lounging on the rocks or swimming close to shore.

Ölkelduvatn mineral spring

Ölkelduvatn is a source of carbonated mineral water. By turning on a tap, visitors can taste this mineral water directly from the source, a rare and authentic experience.

Iceland is known for its higher-than-average costs, but with careful planning, you can manage your expenses. Grocery stores like Costco and IKEA offer affordable options, and credit cards are widely accepted. We didn’t need any cash for our entire trip. Our Visa and Mastercard cards were accepted everywhere.

Getting around Iceland is child’s play, thanks to its well-maintained roads and minimal traffic. Service stations are readily available, allowing you to explore without worry. Accommodation options range from comfortable guesthouses to luxury hotels, catering to all budgets and preferences.

Most parking lots at major tourist attractions charge a fee. You have to use your cell phone to pay for your parking space, otherwise beware: cameras take photos of your license plate number as you enter and exit each parking lot.

During our entire week in Iceland in June, we never experienced darkness, which is quite surreal in itself. We had to be careful not to encroach on our nightly rest period.

These endless days of clarity gave us the freedom to visit and travel the roads at our own pace, taking all the time we needed without rushing, despite some busy days.

Iceland is a land of contrasts, where fire and ice fight a constant battle, shaping landscapes of unparalleled beauty. From majestic glaciers and dizzying waterfalls to geothermal springs and lava fields, Iceland promises an unforgettable travel experience.

Whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation or a connection with nature, Iceland will leave you in awe and wanting to return.