A shorter flight from the US than most European destinations, the 'Capital of the North' is now more accessible than ever. Icelandair has greatly expanded its fleet for non-stop flights from most major US cities. Even better, Icelandair has made stopovers an inexpensive way to spend a few days visiting Reykjavik (and beyond) as part of any European holiday.
At 64° North latitude, Reykjavik can be cooler than other European destinations and daylight can be short during the winter. We went in late June, and the weather was delightful.
If you are only interested in a quick stopover or a visit to the capital city, 3-4 days could be plenty. If you want to explore the inner country and/or see the Northern Lights, a longer stay is recommended. Here is the itinerary from my 4-day trip:
Day 1
We arrived overnight on Icelandair. Note their business class product is not comprarable to other major carriers (e.g. the seats are not lie-flat but rather more like Economy Plus). After clearing customs, we went straight for the car rental desk, as there is no "Gold Service" where you can go straight to your car. A line starts to form after each flight, so keep this in mind as you arrive. We decided to rent a car in order to explore outside the city at our leisure. We went straight to our hotel, The Edition by Marriott, which is a popular, and high quality hotel in Reykjavik. Rooms are comfortable and clean, if a bit small compared to US standards. Valet parking is available on-site.
After a large coffee to help with jetlag, we walked across the street to the opera house, Harpa, where we joined a walking food tour. Getting our bearings around Reykjavik while enjoying samples of local cuisine was a great way to jump on the correct time. The surprising variety of foods, from traditional seafood to modern takes on lobster to Bill Clinton's favorite hot dog, the tour was engaging and filling! We ended with trying fermented shark and Brennivín liquor.
Since we were tired (and full!) we took a trip over to the Perlan Museum. It's a quick drive and parking is plentiful. The museum exhibits a great deal of history about Iceland, glaciers, and the local wildlife. There's even an ice cave inside, so bring you jacket.
Day 2
Today we traveled INSIDE a volcano. The tour offers convenient pick up and drop off service throughout Reykjavik, but we decided to drive so we could spend some time enjoying the countryside of Iceland. Upon arrival, we met some of the fellow tourists and guides, and then had a leisurely walk approximately 2 miles across a vast landscape to the only free-standing volcano in the world (that is extinct!). Normally, the peaks of volcanoes break down after an eruption but this one has remained for centuries. Along the way you cross over the North American tectonic plate and onto the Eurasian one. You can look down in the rift and hop from one continental plate to the other. If you do not wish to walk the 2 miles (in each direction), we can arrange for a helicoptor to transport you. Once at the volcano we received a safety briefing, given a hard hat and harness (to clip into the special elevator), and off we went to the peak. Descinding down into the volcano was something straight out of a James Bond film. After the 7 minute ride, you are free to walk around the innerds of the volcano, and can even see the lava tubes where magma came up from the earth's core. A once-in-a-lifetime experience!
If you're having a leisurely day, the tour includes a nice bowl of soup and minor snack before returning you to the city center. We raced off to get to Snaps for a late lunch at the French bistro. While parking was a challenge, it was worth it for the great food and to be in a different neighborhood to experience more local culture. Dinner was at La Primavera, one of the best Italian restaurants in Reykjavik, and a nice walk from The Edition hotel.
Day 3
A visit to Reykjavik can't be a success without visiting the Golden Circle. A 155 mile loop of endless beauty, waterfalls, geysers, Viking villages, farms, ice cream, and more. You can't see it all in a day - you could spend 3 days or so visiting everything. For us, we did a private full day tour (visiting in the winter? combine it with snowmobiling!). To squeeze in some more fun, I drove the car to Sky Lagoon (less crowded than the famous Blue Lagoon) and had the tour pick me up there.
At the end of our phenomenal tour, we were dropped off at Sky Lagoon for a cocktail in the water and the heavenly Skjól Ritual which involves the hot springs, a cold plunge, a salt scrub, and a hot sauna. Great, convenient restaurants are nearby for dinner.
Day 4
Time to experience a truly unique Icelandic adventure: horseback riding with an Icelandic pony. The breed was brought to Iceland in the 9th & 10th centuries by Norse settlers, and are famous for their 5-gate. Trotting along a path in the countryside it felt as if I were floating rather than riding a horse. We took a nice private ride out through meadows and a valley, up to a river. Not a soul was around amidst all the beauty of Iceland. What a way to unwind!
A late lunch at Islenski Barinn to try some local delicacies such as reindeer, puffin, fin whale, and shark. If you're not as adventurous, there is salmon, and traditional salads and hamburgers in a cozy pub setting. Skál!