A Whirlwind Weekend In Southeast Iceland – What To Do And Where To Go
The land of fire and ice has a lot to offer, during our own 5-night trip we managed to cover some of the best that Iceland has to offer. The southeast of Iceland has a large number of the tourist spots on the island including the famous Golden Circle, The Blue Lagoon and the capital Reykjavik but, there are so many beautiful places to immerse yourself in nature and wildlife. In this blog, we’ll take you through how you can see the best Iceland has to offer and only have to book a day or two off work!
Day 1
Most flights into Iceland land at Keflavik Airport which is about 45 mins drive outside of Reykjavik. For travelling around Iceland we would recommend you rent a car, we say this so that you can do things at your own pace and fully enjoy each place (there are a number of bus tours and similar you can take around many of these destinations if you wish though).
Blue Lagoon
20 minutes south of Keflavik and 45 mins from Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spring which offers the ultimate relaxation experience to all who go. Its proximity to the airport makes it best to do at the start or end of a trip, but we think it’s a great way to unwind from a flight. The most famous of the number of geothermal springs across Iceland (one of the many benefits of being a volcanic island), entry allows you to experience the lagoon itself, which also has a swim-up bar and facial masks. If you want to relax even further you can do a spa day and stay in the hotel that is onsite.
Reykjavik
The Icelandic capital has a great, relaxed feel to it and houses a number of museums on a variety of weird and wonderful topics from Perlan, which uses virtual technology amongst others to give you an insight into the country’s geology and flora, to a Phallological museum. The highlight for us, however, is the Hallgrimskirkja. A visually distinctive church in the centre of the city with a 73-metre tower that offers a 360-degree view of Reykjavik. Reykjavik can be done in a day or so, doing different bits at the end of a day is a great way to round out an evening. There's also a thriving nightlife in Reykjavik and if you're not looking to spend too much, there's many a happy hour to take advantage of.
Day 2
Thingvellir National Park
45 mins drive from Reykjavik is Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir has a mixture of history and nature. Historically it was home to Iceland's general assembly from 930 AD to 1798. However, it’s the nature side of the park which is truly breathtaking. Thingvellir sits on the boundary of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates and is the reason for Iceland having so many natural phenomena. Knowing that you will be standing underneath where new earth is being created is an interesting feeling, to say the least.
Haukadalur Geothermal Field
No video can replicate seeing Iceland in person. The first of these on this trip is Haukadalur. The geothermal field is home to Geysir, and other geysers and hot springs of varying sizes which erupt at varying intervals (Perfect for a slow-motion video). Some erupt minutes apart whilst some much larger ones haven’t erupted for years. You could be the lucky one to see them erupt!
Gullfoss
The third of the ‘golden circle’ Gullfoss is only 10 minutes from Haukadalur. Not only that but they also share the same water source, the Langjokull Glacier. We mentioned it above, but Gullfoss’ power is something you can’t truly comprehend until you’re stood some 40 feet above it (We couldn’t believe how close we were). Such is the force that sometimes it even generates its own rainbows from the spray and yet it used to be a popular spot for rafting enthusiasts!
Whilst in Iceland there is an excellent opportunity to see the Aurora Borealis more commonly known as the Northern Lights. This can only be seen from September to April though, so plan accordingly. To have the best chance of seeing them you’re best staying outside of Reykjavik, as the light of Reykjavik makes it much more difficult to see them.
Day 3
Reynisfjara Beach
For day 3 why not head out further to the southeast? Reynisfara Beach is just off the ring road and there is a car park very nearby. A black sand beach isn’t something you see every day, there is something cinematic about it almost. That is certainly what the producers of Game of Thrones thought, as the location stood in for Dragonstone during filming for season 7. Along with the black sand of the beaches, there are also basalt columns on the cliff face and magnificent sea stacks just offshore which create a truly unique spectacle.
Solheimajokull glacier
Whilst in the area, the opportunity to take a walk on a glacier is something you should take advantage of. Solheimajokull is a 30-minute drive back towards Reykjavik from Reynisfjara Beach and is easily found just off the ring road. Part of the Myrdalsjokull icecap, Solheimajokull is one of the most popular glaciers in Iceland and is dotted with crevasses and the occasional ice cave. Whilst most people walk, some tours also offer a number of walls which can be climbed using an ice axe. This is a must-see, not just because of its stunning scenery but because unfortunately due to global warming, the glacier is receding by 50m (The length of an Olympic swimming pool) each year so it’s something you should do while you can.
Skogafoss waterfall
Another 5 mins back towards Reykjavik stands Skogafoss, one of the largest and most iconic waterfalls in Iceland. This also is a popular site for Movie and TV producers alike and is equally beautiful when viewed from the top and bottom alike. There are also a number of waterfalls nearby most of which are along the Fimmvorduhals trail which takes you along the Skoga river and between two glaciers, one of which you may have just been on or about to go on, Solheimajokull. On the drive back to Reykjavik there are a great many more waterfalls our personal favourites being Gljufrabui and Seljalandsfoss.
Well, that about wraps the blog and our highlights for a long weekend in the southeast of Iceland, just writing this has made us consider going back and doing these and other spots across Iceland we haven’t discovered yet. If you’re thinking of booking your own Iceland holiday, don’t forget to check out our deals and offers to see if there are any Iceland ones or get in contact with us to see how our friendly team can make this a reality.