My Guide to Iceland

The Land of Ice and Fire

The land of fire and ice is known for its breath-taking landscapes; from erupting geysers and steaming hot springs to massive glaciers and black sand beaches.

Packed with volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, hot pools, and giant lava fields, Iceland is an ideal destination for outdoor adventures.

Summers are short and cool, with temperatures between 9°C and 13°C, while winters are long but surprisingly mild, with highs of 3°C and lows of -2°C.

In this guide:

What to Expect in Iceland

Getting to Iceland from the UK

Getting Around Iceland

3-Day Iceland Itinerary

Day 1: Golden Circle & Northern Lights

Day 2: Southern Iceland

Day 3: Reykjavik

Where to Stay in Iceland

Tours & Things to Do in Iceland

My Top Tips for Iceland

What to Expect in Iceland

Language:

Icelandic, but English is widely spoken.

Currency:

Icelandic Krona – everywhere accepts card payments.

Tipping:

Not customary but appreciated.

Emergency Number:

112

Alcohol:

Minimum age 20; expensive (£10/pint!). Look out for local Happy Hours.

Water:

Tap water is pure - bring a reusable bottle.

Roaming:

I always use an e-SIM to avoid roaming fees. Click here for the one I use.

Time Zone:

Iceland uses UTC+0 all year and does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

Getting to Iceland from the UK

Flight Time from the UK:

London → Reykjavík: approx. 3 hours
Glasgow → Reykjavík: approx. 2.5 hours

Airlines from the UK:

Icelandair: Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow
British Airways: Heathrow, London City
easyJet: Gatwick, Luton
Jet2: Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle

Airport Transfer:

Keflavík Airport → Reykjavík = 45 minutes.

Getting Around Iceland

Hire a Car (Recommended):

Best between May–October.

Safest roads + total freedom to explore remote areas.

Taxis:

Very expensive — not recommended.

Buses:

Flybus: Airport ↔ Reykjavík BSI Terminal (every 35 mins), Pre-book or purchase ticket upon arrival.
Strætó operates buses in Reykjavík and around Iceland. On www.straeto.is you can check timetables, plan routes, download the app and buy tickets.
Airport Direct: Airport ↔ Reykjavík with hotel drop-off option and Blue Lagoon transfers.

Top Tip:

Use the “Visit Iceland” map tool to plan your route.

3-Day Iceland Itinerary

This 3-day itinerary is perfect for first-time visitors and gives you a taste of Iceland’s most iconic sights. It balances adventure, scenery and relaxation, with plenty of opportunities to explore at your own pace. It’s based on our own trip (October 2025) and includes the highlights we loved most.

Day 1: Golden Circle & Northern Lights

Daytime:

You've arrived in Iceland! Grab your hire car and head out on the Golden Circle. Driving rather than going on an organised tour will give you a lot more flexibility.

Stop 1: Gulfoss Waterfall is one of the most beautiful and powerful waterfalls in Iceland, plummeting 105 feet (32 meters) in two tiers into the river gorge of the popular rafting river Hvita.
Stop 2: Haukadalur Valley Strokkur is Iceland's most famous hot spring, shooting vast jets of boiling water every 5-10 minutes.
Stop 3: Þingvellir National Park is significant because of its history and geology. It is also the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iceland. It’s here that we did the Silfra swim and snorkelled between the two tectonic plates – an INCREDIBLE experience and one I highly recommend.

If you have time, you can add on further stops. Kerid Crater.

Evening:

An early night or a trip out to Grotta Lighthouse for a chance to see the Northern Lights. We stayed in a hotel out of the city centre and were lucky to be able to see the lights from our hotel.

Top tip:

If you're visiting Iceland during winter and you're planning on seeing the Northern Lights, always try to see them on your first night, that way you can try again on another night if you weren’t successful!

Gullfoss Waterfall

Þingvellir National Park

Northern Lights

Day 2: Southern Iceland

Daytime:

After a hotel breakfast, jump in your Hire Car ready for a day of driving along the main Southern route of Iceland.

Iceland Horse Riding on the Black sands of Vik.

Another highlight is the plane wreck on Sólheimasandur, creating a surreal image against the backdrop of the black sand. Don’t forget the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and diamond beach, where icebergs of all sizes and shapes drift.

Skogafoss - One of Iceland’s biggest and loudest waterfalls. If you climb the 370 steps to the top, you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views and very tired legs.

Seljalandsfoss - A stunning waterfall you can walk behind (yes, really). Bring a rain jacket unless you enjoy being unexpectedly soaked. Just down the path is Gljúfrabúi, a smaller waterfall hidden inside a mossy canyon—equal parts magical and wet.

Dinner:

Langoustines at Fjöruborðið.

Iceland Horse Riding

Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck

Langoustines at Fjöruborðið

Day 3: Reykjavik

Morning:

After breakfast, head to the Sky Lagoon for an early session (other lagoons are available!) and enjoy total relaxation and their 7 step ritual.

Explore Reykjavík:

Grab a Cinnamon Bun at Braud & Co and wander - Make sure to see the Hallgrimskirkja Church! Walk down Rainbow street, don’t miss the Sun Voyager.

Get yourself a Hot Dog and then head over to Perlan to check out the views of the City and beyond from the Observation Deck. Explore the Ice Cave and the various exhibits before watching the Aurora Show.

An evening meal out at a local restaurant, a walk to the harbour to try and catch the lights again or an organised Northern Lights tour.

Relax before an early flight home the following day.