Reykjavik & Akureyri in 5 days
Reykjavík & Akureyri in 4 daysExplore and enjoy the two largest cities in Iceland: 4 day self driveIf you are planning a self drive in Iceland and need ideas for a route, then the northern coast is a lovely choice. You can either pick up your car at Keflavik airport or choose to fly from Reykjavik to Akureyri and pick up your rental car there. The northern coast has many gems so you could spend days there but here we suggest a 4 day self drive route of the area
|
THE 5 DAY ITINERARYDay 1 – Arrive in Keflavik Airport, Overnight Stay in Reykjavik
Source: pocius When you arrive at Keflavik international airport, either take a taxi or the Flybus to Reykjavik where you spend the night. The domestic airport is in the city center and easy to get to. Here we suggest you fly from Reykjavik to Akureyri where you pick up your rental car but of course you can opt to pick up your car in Keflavik and drive from there to Akureyri (takes around 6 hours when road conditions are optimal and with 1-2 stops on the way).
They day you spend in Reykjavik, make the most of it and get to know the city a bit. Here you can find a few ideas what to see and do. There are many lovely restaurants in the center that we advice you to check out. Here is a list of our favorite places.
Day 2 – Depart from Reykjavik. Local Flight to AkureyriIn the morning, take a taxi to the domestic airport and fly to Akureyri where you will pick up your rental car.
Source: mlcastle When you arrive in Akureyri have have gotten the keys to your rental car, your adventure of the northern coast will begin. Akureyri itself has a lot to offer so we recommend you spend the day in the city, exploring and enjoying everything it has to offer.
Source: JasonParis In summer the Botanical Garden is a wonderful place to visit. There you will find a unique collection of Icelandic flora and fauna along with imported flowers, trees and shrubs. In winter it is also worth visiting on a nice winter day.
In Akureyri you will find various museums, such as the Akureyri Museum and the Aviation Museum. The Akureyri Museum contains will give you a good overview of the life and history of the area. There you will also find a garden that is a popular picnic spot among the locals. The Aviation Museum is where you will find the history of aviation in Iceland.
Gasir, a medieval trading place, is an interesting site to visit. It is where you can find the remains of a trading post from the Middle Ages. It was the main trading post in Northern Iceland before so here you get a true taste of history!
Source: joaoleitao The church in Akureyri is a site worth visiting. It is symbolic for the town and is known for its many steps. It is a Lutheran church that has great architecture designed by Gudjon Samuelsoon. The stained glass in the center and the bas-reliefs on the nave balcony are just some of its great features that people look at.
Source: Jennie Faber You spend the night in Akureyri at the end of day 2. You can find many nice hotels and guesthouses in and around the city. Just boo in advance as Akureyri is a popular vacation site among locals, both in winter and summer.
Day 3 - Skiing and relaxingAkureyri is one of the most popular places for locals to go skiing. So if you visit in winter, the northern lights aren´t the only attraction. No need to mention but if you are in Akureyri during winter then you should for sure put aurora hunting on your list every night.
Source: axelkr Eyjafjordur Fjord is one of the best places in the country to do downhill skiing. You can go to the skiing area of Mt. Hlídarfjall or Mountain Kaldbakur, and you can also opt to drive out of Akureyri to Trollaskagi or Dalvik where you will find splendid skiing sites. If you aren´t into skiing then you should do a tour of the area with an experienced guide or in summer simply just drive around and enjoy the amazing views.
Source: Michael Voelker To go swimming is a must. All pools are heated by natural geothermal water and has various playing and recreation areas for everyone. You will find great pools in the area and it doesn´t matter whether you go during winter or summer, the water is warm so you don´t need to worry that you´ll get cold even though the pools are outdoors!
Source: spi516 Day 4 - Sightseeing and Whale WatchingIn the morning one option is to take the sightseeing tours, either by plane or helicopter, if you want to see Akureyri and surroundings from above. It is a nice option as you can see sites that aren´t always accessible on land, like Askja.
Source: Bernt Rostad In the afternoon you can join a whale watching tour either from Akureyri or from Dalvík. The northern coast is optimal for whale watching but please note that the whale watching tours don´t operate during the winter months. If you want to go whale watching in winter, then you must depart from the harbor in Reykjavik. In the evening, fly back to Reykjavik.
Source: Julien Carnot Day 5 - Blue lagoon and departure dayIf your flight leaves in the afternoon, it is ideal to enjoy the morning in Reykjavik and then head to the Blue lagoon where you can soak and relax before you go to the airport. The lagoon is close to Keflavik airport so it is an ideal last stop on your journey.
Source: Sarah_Ackerman This route is just an idea so you can enjoy in only a few days what those two cities have to offer. Of course you can expand the tour or make it shorter. Also add D-tours to the route, like Lake Mývatn, Ásbyrgi and Húsavík. What ever you decide to do, it is certain you will enjoy the wonderful two cities and their surroundings.
|
3 days self-drive idea to West and North
3 days self-drive tour to West and NorthEnjoy the west and north of Iceland with this 4 days self drive idea that has a combination of adventure, exloring and relaxation. |
|
|
This self-drive ideas is for those who want to experience adventure and relaxation in the west and part of north of Iceland. You will go to Akranes and Borgarnes in the west and Blonduos, Skagafjörður and Siglufjordur in the northern part where you can do many things and stay in great accommodations. This is one self-drive idea that will tell you the beauty of Iceland.
|
|
THE 3 DAYS ITINERARYDay 1 – Arrival in Keflavik Airport; Drive to AkranesYou arrive in Keflavik Airport at around late morning and do the necessary things needed for your 3-day vacation. The first thing to do is get your rental car in Thrifty and do the 1 hour and 30-minute drive your first destination, Akranes. Akranes is a beautiful town where you can just relax and enjoy the awesome sights since you just arrived in Iceland. No need to go on an adventure first, so this town is the perfect first stop. You can go to the Langisandurinn (The Long Sand), which is one of the best tourist attractions with its attractive bathing beaches where you can swim and just relax with family or friends. You can also visit the Museum Area in Gardar that tells the stories of the town. And from the town, you can get a great view of Mt. Akrafjall that is breathtaking. Afterwards, you can pick a great restaurant such as the Galito for a lunch full of great meals.
Source: Atli Harðarson After lunch, you can go to the small town of Borgarnes that is located on a peninsula at the shore of Borgarfjörður.
Source: Ulrich Latzenhofer One of the places of interest that you should go is the Church of Borgarnes. This famous tourist attraction is known for its great architecture and how it is visible throughout the town. Afterwards, you can go to various trourist attractions in the city such as Puppet Museum of Bruduheimar and a museum in The Settlement Centre. While the town is small, you can be assured you will see a lot of attractions here.
Source: yashima Afterwards, you can go straight to Hotel Bru for dinner and check in. And if you are lucky, you will be able to see the Northern Lights. And you don't have to worry because the hotel staff will give you a wake up call when the lights appear. Here is the map for Day 1:
Day 2 - Exploring the North: Blönduós and SkagafjörðurHave breakfast in Hotel Bru and check out. From there, you can do the almost 3-hour drive to Blönduós, a small seaside town in the north of Iceland. The first place of interest that you can go is the Blönduós Church, which is famous for its unusual architecture. The church was designed based on its surrounding mountains and landscape and has good acoustics, which make the sound carry well and beautifully for singing.
Source: JasonParis Another place that you can go to is the 9-hold golf course, especially if you are a golfer and want to get our more in your 3-day vacation in Iceland. The golf course is located just north of the town and you can inquire their golfing activities there. Afterwards, you can either fo bird watching, hiking (like in the Húnaflói area) and bird watching. Another famous activity that you can do is salmon fishing in Blanda River. You will never run out of things to do here in Blönduós. Before leaving Blönduós, have lunch in Potturinn Restaurant that offers a wide variety of delicious food at reasonable prices that includes Italian, Indian, Icelandic and vegetarian.
Source: eskimo_jo The next place you go is the municipality of Skagafjörður.
Source: Gúnna One of the things you can do is river rafting to continue the adventurous streak on this day. Skagafjörður is known as the capital of whitewater rafting in Iceland, where there are powerful and wild glacial rivers in remoteness of the municipality. The water is always on high levels, which adds more adrenaline when doing this extreme sport. You can ask tour companies such as Nordic Travel and Arctic Adventures regarding river rafting in this municipality.
Source: Stig Nygaard Afterwards, you can relax and rejuvenate in one of the seven pools of the municipality. You can try the hot springs and pools of Sauðárkrókur where you sit in a traditional hot tub and bond with your family and friends as the hot water relaxes your body. Then you can have dinner and check in Hótel Varmahlíð. Below is the map of Day 2:
Day 3 - Siglufjörður; Departure from IcelandCheck out of Hótel Varmahlíð and proceed to the small town of Siglufjörður, in which you can spend the whole morning exploring. it is surrounded by towering mountains and have the fishing industry as their source of income. If you just want to look around town and relax before your depart the North, this is the perfect place for a last stop.
Source: Julien Carnot The first place you can visit is The Herring Era Museum. It has a big collection of stories of the town, the fishing industry of Iceland and other stories concerning the development of the country. It also has interactive presentations and has various displays of boats and various artifacts. Afterwards, you can do bird watching, walk around town, join in the Herring Festivals if given the chance, and eat your lunch befoe departing to
Source: thisishopelandic 
Source: Julien Carnot 
Source: sela-v You depart from Siglufjörður at around after lunch, do the five-hour drive towards Blue Lagoon for rejuvenation and re-energizing. You can have have some 1-2 stopovers in between the drive to rest. After Blue Lagoon, you can drop off your rental car in Thrifty then proceed to Keflavik Airport for your departure.
Source: Sarah_Ackerman Hope you had a wonderful time in Iceland. Here is the map of Day 3:
|