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72 Hours in Reykjavik Iceland, Three Day Winter Itinerary

Sherianne Higgins·
Iceland Travel
·5 mins read
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How to Spend 72 Hours in Iceland in the Winter

It is difficult to determine how to best use 72 hours in Iceland, there are so many fun things to see, do, and eat. This 3-day itinerary is jam-packed with must-see sites and top attractions, including, Northern Lights, ice caves, Blue Lagoon, frozen waterfalls, geysers, fluffy horses, icebergs, glaciers, volcanic fields, quirky street art, and more. Looking for more options? Check these additional things to do in Reykjavik Iceland to supplement this 72 hours in Iceland itinerary. Have more time? Use this road trip itinerary for Iceland’s Westfjords. It is possible to travel the world with limited PTO, here’s a day-by-day guide to visiting Iceland in 3 days. Enjoy your time out of the office!

READ Complete Iceland Travel Guide, What You Need to Know

Blue Lagoon Iceland three day itinerary things to do winter 72 hours
Blue Lagoon

How to Spend Three Days in Iceland, Itinerary

Day One: Blue Lagoon and Reykjavik Austurstræti Street

Take an overnight flight and arrive in the morning. Book the Fly bus straight to the Blue Lagoon. The food at the Blue Lagoon is pricey; consider eating at the airport or purchasing food to bring along with you. The bus departs the airport and arrives as Blue Lagoon opens. There is a storage room for luggage. Keep the items you will need at the lagoon in your carry-on. Be sure to pack a scrunchy to get your hair up, you do not want to get it wet with geothermal water. It is cold in Iceland but you may not need a robe and slippers. You will likely run from the door to the water. Do you want to stop and take off a robe and slippers? No. No, you do not.

Hallgrimskirkja Church Reykjavik Iceland three day itinerary things to do winter 72 hours
Hallgrimskirkja Church

Spend some time floating around checking out all the corners of the lagoon, playing with the mud mask, and having a cocktail. Be aware of the time and catch the Fly bus into Reykjavik; it will drop you at your hotel. Check into your hotel and head downtown to Austurstræti Street. Spend the evening checking out the local cafes and bars. Grab dinner and an Icelandic beer. Iceland is expensive, download the Reykjavik Grapevine’s Appy Hour app to find deals.

Sun Voyager Reykjavik Iceland Iceland three day itinerary things to do winter 72 hours
Sun Voyager

Day Two: Reykjavik Laugavegur Street, Hallgrimskirkja Church, and Harpa Concert Hall

Spend the day exploring Reykjavik. The city is full of street art and cafes. Start out in the city center on Laugavegur Street for breakfast and window shopping. Consider checking out the Icelandic Phallological Museum for some truly unique photos to share with friends at home. Stop by Iceland’s largest record shop and browse the vinyl at Lucky Records. Head to Hallgrimskirkja Church and take the elevator up to the observation deck to take the obligatory photo of the city. Now head to the Sun Voyager for the next obligatory photo. Walk along the water to the Harpa Concert Hall, it is worth the time to go in and gaze out at the water and mountains. Across the street is the Kolaportið Flea Market. And, you must stop at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur for an amazing hot dog.

Icelandic Horses Reykjavik Iceland three day itinerary things to do winter 72 hours
Icelandic Horses

Day Three: Iceland Golden Circle

Get out of the city! Rent a car or book a day tour of the Golden Circle. The Golden Circle route includes Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall, Strokkur Geyser, and Faxi Waterfall. I chose a day tour that included time at the geothermal Secret Lagoon.

Skogafoss Waterfall Reykjavik Iceland three day itinerary things to do winter 72 hours
Skogafoss Waterfall

Iceland South Coast Itinerary

Stay longer! Do you have another two days? I suggest taking an escorted tour to the South Coast. This area includes Icelandic Horses, Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Skogafoss Waterfall, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, and Basalt Columns. I chose an overnight tour that included a traditional Icelandic dinner, a viewing of the Northern lights, and ice caving. There was a whiteout on the glacier which added to the experience. DIY’ers beware, it began to snow on the way back to Reykjavik and it was obvious the driver was struggling through some of the windy passes.

Check the Reykjavik Iceland Tourism Board website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach Reykjavik Iceland three day itinerary things to do winter 72 hours
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Instagrammable Iceland: Best Spots for the Best Shots

There is no question Iceland is a wanderlust dream. Instagrammable Iceland is full of rainbow adorn waterfalls and panoramic views photogenic in the summer and winter. Iconic spots like the Blue Lagoon offer Insta-worthy selfie opportunities and hidden gems like the Secret Lagoon will step up your Instagram feed. Then there are the lava fields, glaciers, icebergs, geysers, hot springs, black, golden, and red beaches, colorful homes, wooden churches, quirky street art, furry horses, and puffins. Visit my Instagram Feed for some of the best spots for the best shots in picture-perfect Iceland.

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Plan Your Trip to Reykjavik Iceland

Iceland Travel Guide

Pick up an Iceland Travel Guide from Amazon.com to browse on the plane.

Book Your Accommodation in Reykjavik Iceland Now

Spending the night? Search Booking.com and VRBO in one place to find the perfect property!

Reykjavik Iceland Attractions and Day Tours

The best attractions sell out! Don’t chance it, get your tickets now and relax when you arrive.

Travel Essentials

Need a universal travel adaptor, power bank charger, or packing cubes? Save time at my Amazon shop and have travel essentials delivered to your home.

Have a great vacation!

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30 Responses

  1. Iceland has always been on my bucket list, I can’t wait for the day when I actually get to visit there.Amazing and Beautiful Post. Thanks for sharing it.

  2. I’ve got to get to Iceland. Hadn’t heard that the Northern Lights were going to fade soon! Urgency now.

  3. Iceland has always been on my bucket list, I can’t wait for the day when I actually get to visit. You got so much done on your trip. What’s Ice Caving like ? It’s something I would love to experience.

    1. It was wonderful! They take you to a glacier and there is a small hole you walk down and then you are surrounded by frozen blue walls. The one I was in was not as large as most of the pictures you see, but didn’t matter. There was a white out on the glacier, that was unreal.

  4. Winter seems so magical in Iceland! I hope to cross it off my bucket list soon!

  5. Goodness, this is a very helpful post. I have written in my blog as well that going to Iceland is part of my travel bucket list this year. I want to go both to Blue Lagoon and Rekyjavik as well. Since we usually do not have enough time to travel, this is a helpful post on which to prioritize and how to manage time wisely. Thank you for sharing

  6. Wow what an action packed 3 days you had! It’s good to hear you liked Reykjavik; so many cities are the same but Reykjavik sounds as though it’s truly unique, especially some of its museums! The Blue Lagoon sounds lovely!

  7. I have this inner most desire of looking at the wonderful phenomenon of the Northern Lights. You certainly made the most of the 72 hours that you had. I loved the way you described your trip, it sets the adrenalin rushing!

  8. Every time I read post from Iceland I get jealous, in the good way 😉
    Thanks for the itinerary tips and also about the advice about buy food out of the Blue Lagoon!

  9. Nice blog name 😉

    Iceland is high up on my list. Thank you for the detailed itinerary. Need to decide if I want to visit in the winter or the summer.

  10. Thanks for sharing a complete itinerary with us. Makes it easier to plan your visit to Reykjavik. Cheers

  11. I am hearing and reading so much about Iceland these days, And this is increasing my curiosity day by day and especially the Northern lights. Your post is superb with detailed itinerary. Thanks for sharing.

  12. I’ve been hearing so much about Iceland! Thanks for the info, your itinerary will be a great help whenever I manage to plan a trip!!

  13. Iceland hasn’t been on our radar, but would love to photograph the northern lights. Would pass on the mud bath, but my other half wouldn’t bypass the shopping.

    1. You don’t HAVE to put the mud on your face! It really is a great way to unwind after a long flight

  14. I really want to visit Iceland but I don’t have a lot of annual leave from work. So good to know that one can still do some much there in 3 days!!

  15. I love this so much- I want to make time for a week in Reykjavik this year, and this gave me the ideas I needed to start planning! Thank you for sharing.

  16. Excellent list/itinerary for a trip to Iceland! The Blue Lagoon looks amazing. Great tips about bringing food to save money at the Blue Lagoon. I’m hoping to visit Iceland in the future.

  17. I always wanted to visit Iceland because of the Northern lights and everyone is telling me that the Blue Lagoon geothermal lake is awesome, my girlfriend went there before we met and she wants to go back with me again. If we go we will definitely use your suggestions to get around. Thanks for this post.

  18. iceland is somewhere I really want to go, I keep seeing photos of the blue lagoon, was it really busy when you went? Some really great ideas, will save this so I can read nearer the time again when I am planning my trip but you’ve defintely motivated me to research again!

    1. It seems busy because everyone is transferred from the airport at the same time so you have to wait to check your bags. Buy your tickets online to avoid that line. The lagoon is really big and does not feel crowded at all

  19. Oh wow when do the lights fade? 72 hours is insane – you packed so much into your time. You may have just inspired me to get there…as long as its before the lights fade.

    1. I don’t think they did fade, I’ve seen pictures posted this year and they look just as bright to me!

  21. Great post! I have just came back from Iceland. We did 6 day long road trip. Feel free to tell us what you wish you have also done !

  22. Nice list…I have 24 hours in Reykjavik this summer…no northern lights, so I’ll have to come back in the winter!

    1. BUT, you may be there to see the Puffins, and that would be very cool

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