One of the most interesting things about traveling from North America to Europe is being able to add a free stopover in Iceland. I know that both Icelandair and Wow Air offer the free layover and they have become quite popular because they give you the opportunity to spend a few days in this beautiful destination.
On our recent trip to Europe, we flew Icelandair and spent 48 hours in Iceland on our return from Copenhagen to the US. We stayed at an Airbnb in Reykjavik with a view of the ocean. We also rented a car, so that we were in control of what we saw, where we stopped and how long we stayed at each stop. And we crammed a lot in! Driving around Iceland we found to be very easy! We printed off directions before we left home and had a map in hand. The roads are very well marked. Find out more about renting a car in Iceland here.
Our flight arrived after 4pm, we collected our luggage, took a shuttle to the rental car agency, got the rental car, and drove to our Airbnb. It was quite late by the time we arrived in downtown Reykjavik and we needed to eat dinner. Therefore the first night, we took a walk down to the waterfront and saw the Sólfarið – Sun Voyager sculpture which was designed by Jón GunnarÁrnason as a dreamboat, an ode to the sun symbolizing light and hope.
The next morning we set our sites on visiting Vik and as much of the golden circle as we could. Below is the itinerary that we followed.
- Seljalandsfoss – This waterfall may have been my favorite of all the waterfalls we visited on our trip. It is beautiful, you can walk behind the waterfall, there are several smaller waterfalls to observe and the food truck in the parking lot served the most delicious food!
- Black sand beaches in Vík – Seriously! So absolutely amazing! Not only is the black sand amazing, but the view of the towering basalt columns, the rock formations in the water, and the dramatic green cliffs will take your breath away!
- Sòlheimajökull Glacier – While this was not the most beautiful glacier I have ever seen, it was the only one that we had time to visit during our trip. It is a little bit of a hike from the parking lot to the glacier. You can also take a tour where you hike out onto the glacier.
- Skógafoss – A beautiful waterfall where many times you can see rainbows in the mist, however, it was rainy during our visit. There is also a trail to the right of the waterfall that is almost 600 steps and then you can hike for miles. We did not have time for this hike, but I would love to go back to.
- Gullfoss – You have probably seen photos of Gullfoss. You can see how extremely powerful Gullfoss is as it plummets down in two stages. On a sunny day, you will be able to see a rainbow over the falls.
- Geysir Hot Spring Area – While not as impressive as Yellowstone National Park, this geothermal field has boiling mud pots, hot springs, and exploding geysers. Strokkur, a geyser, goes off every few minutes and it’s quick! My daughter loves the hot springs and getting a steam bath. There is also a Visitor Center with exhibits, bathrooms, and food.
- Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park – Is known for the rift valley caused by the separation of 2 tectonic plates.
After our full day, we returned to our Airbnb for the night. The next morning we visited the Hallgrimskirkja cathedral and went up to the top for a gorgeous view! I loved all the different colored buildings. Then it was time to head to the airport for our flight back to the US.
Was 48 hours enough time in Iceland? No! I would love to go back and spend a week driving around the entire island and to see the Northern Lights.
Have you visited Iceland before?
No, I’ve never visited Iceland (would love to) but our oldest grandson goes over several times a year. He travels there to perform and record in their numerous music festivals. He loves the country. He often stays for an extra couple of weeks, in order to hike and camp. I think that if their immigration laws wer not so strick he would be tempted to move there.
That’s awesome Libby! I would love to visit Iceland again and spend even more time on the beautiful island.