Iceland is nordic island filled with volcanos, glaciers, hot springs and waterfalls. Known as the “Land of Fire and Ice”, it is a adventure travelers dream.

I recently spent 12 days in Iceland and it was an epic trip. We traveled around the famous Ring Road, taking in dramatic landscapes and visiting both sought after and obscure places. We even had a taste of Iceland’s infamously unpredictable weather! Not every place that is romanticized is worth the trip – but I feel Iceland lives up to the hype and left me wanting to return!

Thanks to Iceland Air, it’s possible to do a 2 day layover in Iceland on your way to Europe from the United States! If you’re looking for an action-packed two day guide, this itinerary is for you.

More time in Iceland? Check out this 5 day guide!

Day one

After arriving and grabbing the rental car, head straight to the Blue Lagoon. Perhaps the most famous geothermal spa in all of Iceland, the Blue Lagoon has won many awards. The rich blue seawater is full of silica, algae, and minerals. It’s claim to fame is that it can help heal chronic skin conditions (they even have a skin care line). Some say the Blue Lagoon is not worth the hype, however, we had a wonderful experience. The blue color of the water and having facial masks provided was unique to the Blue Lagoon. We visited many hot springs across the island and this was the largest. Although more crowded, I felt as if I had more room. There is even an area that people are not allowed to have cellphones, which was a pleasant surprise. While we enjoyed all of the hot springs, for your first visit to Iceland – I recommend checking out the Blue Lagoon.

Book accommodations near Vik and stop at Smiðjan Brugghús for delicious burgers and beer. If you’re in the mood for pizza, try Black Crust Pizzeria.

Skoolbeans coffee is also a fun stop – a coffee shop converted from a school bus. Fun fact: there are no yellow school buses in Iceland, this bus was brought over and used by an old American airbase.

Day two

There will be a lot of driving today, so you’ll want an early start. You’ll head to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, which is about two hours away. While the view of the lagoon is stunning, I highly recommend booking a zodiac boat tour. You’ll want to book in advanced as the tours can fill up. After the boat tour, grab some food at the food trucks and walk across the street to Diamond Beach. Here you’ll see ice chunks wash up on a black beach, giving the impression of diamonds. You may even see some seals!

Plan accordingly, you’ll have 5 hours back to the airport!

FAQs

Staying longer? Check out this 5 day Guide in Iceland!

What Language do they speak in Iceland?

Most Icelanders are fluent in English, however, their native language is Icelandic. From personal experience, I felt I could communicate without language barriers.

Is the water safe?

Yes! No need to buy the water bottles in Iceland. You can drink the water in Iceland AND you can use the water from the faucet to fill your water bottle. You may notice a “rotten egg” smell when turning the water on. This is from sulfur as the water is heated from a geothermal source. It is safe to bath in – but turn the faucet cold if you plan to drink it.

How do I pay for things?

The currency is the Icelandic Krona (ISK). It is best to pay with credit card as many places do not accept cash. Hold onto your receipts if you are buying souvenirs or other goods! You may be eligible to get a tax refund at the airport when you depart. Tipping is not common practice in Iceland. There is usually a service charge added to the bill. If you feel like you received exceptional service, 5-10% is the recommended tipping amount.

How can I get around?

While there is a bus system in place, a rental car will give you the most freedom. Stick shift vehicles are cheaper to rent than automatic cars. Driving is fairly similar to the United States. I found the roads to be well maintained and mostly free of potholes. If you venture into certain areas such as the highlands, you will come across dirt roads and river crossings.

The roads can be remote and conditions may change rapidly. It’s recommended you treat every day like you could experience all four seasons. To get the latest road conditions, have the Safetravel Iceland App handy.

Plan out your road trips to make sure you’ll be able to reach the next gas station. I recommend downloading maps such as Google Maps in case you don’t have service. Luckily, you can rent a Wifi hot spot for the car – this worked well for us and was worth the investment.

Be cautious when you drive. The speed limit is slower in Iceland than in the United States and police strictly enforce speed. You will get a ticket if you’re speeding even slightly over. Be careful – if there are not police around, there are several areas around the island with cameras and they will mail you tickets.

How’s the weather?

Weather changes frequently in Iceland and as stated above, treat every day like you could experience all four seasons. To get daily weather updates, checkout Vedur.is.

When’s the best time to visit?

It depends on your preference! You have a chance to see the Northern Lights between September and April. Seasons follow the same pattern as the United States, with spring and fall typically being “shoulder season”. The summer months will have longer days and if you go in June, you might catch the midnight sun! Summer is also when the puffins return to the island.

What do i bring?

What you need to pack for Iceland will depend on what time of year you arrive. Weather can change rapidly as discussed above. When we went in early September, I was comfortable in a merino wool base layer and rain pants.

All year long, consider bringing:

• Bathing suit
• Quick dry towel
• Warm base layers
• Hats, gloves
• Warm socks and undergarments
• Wool sweater or light jacket
• Rain pants
• Nicer outfits for dinners/nights out
• Walking shoes with good grips (sneakers)
• Sandals for the spa changing rooms
• Travel toiletries and makeup
• Credit cards, cash is generally not accepted
• Camera gear
• Phone charger
• Waterproof camera or phone case for the hot springs
• Reusable water bottle
• Sunglasses and sun screen for warmer weather

For warmer weather also consider:

• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Warmer clothes for layering

For colder weather also consider:

• Insulated jacket
• Snow boots
• Snow pants
• Headlight

Need extra outerwear? 66 North and IceWear are two popular companies that provide clothing items.

Where to stay in Iceland

There are many hotels near Reykjavik. Beyond Reykjavik, home stays are more common. We booked all of our home stays with Booking.com. Booking.com has many different options for stay all around the world. Before booking a location, read recent reviews of each place. I find this gives me the best idea on expectations and quality of the location.

Using travel vans was a very common in Iceland and still is – but be warned that sites must be booked in advanced now to stay overnight. For the most budget friendly option, consider camping in Iceland.

What’s your favorite thing about Iceland?

I loved the hot spring culture! There are so many choices to choose from. We went and spent time in the well-known spas, but also tried out a local bathhouse. There are so many natural hot springs to hike to as well!

I also appreciated all the natural beauty Iceland has to offer. This is a great destination because many of the sights are right off the road and require little to no walking – making this an accessible vacation for everyone!