Back in 2021, I visited Iceland for just two days in the heart of December. In June 2025, one of my best friends took an 8-day trip with her family, exploring the island much more thoroughly. She shared with me so many new places that I can’t wait to explore on my next visit. Until I do, it made sense to make Iceland Blog Volume II: Summer Edition. This post won’t go into depth of the tourist sites from the original post (Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, South Coast, etc.). If you’re interested in those, you can find that blog HERE. Instead, below you’ll find her itinerary as well as certain spots she wanted to specifically go a bit more into detail on. While I patiently wait to return to The Land of Fire and Ice, please consider her recommendations while planning your next epic adventure!
DAY ONE
- Landed in Iceland and drove from Keflavík International Airport to Reykjavík-based hotel (we stayed at Hotel Edition).
- Walked around Reykjavik and paid a small price to walk to the top of Hallgrimskirkja for a view of the city (as of June 2025, approximately $12 per person).
- Grabbed some food (see below).
- Hotel Edition has a rooftop bar that makes for a perfect night cap with sweeping views. They also have a spa and sauna to relax after a busy travel day.
There are so many yummy places to enjoy in Reykjavík. Eat fish at Messinn, hot dogs at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur or Vikinga Pylsur, and rye ice cream at Cafe Loki.
DAY TWO
- Started the day with a successful whale watching tour!
- Walked to Þúfa, a mound/outdoor art installation with a spiraling path.
- Lunch at Grandi Food Hall — six different restaurants, varying in options, under the same roof.
- Had a mid-day treat of ice cream at Valdis.
- Explored shops downtown near the hotel.
Dinner at Fish Market, where they blend Icelandic and Asian cuisine.
DAY THREE
- After breakfast, we checked out of Hotel Edition.
- In under two hours, we reached Seljalandsfoss and walked behind the iconic waterfall.
- Afterward, we drove 30 minutes further south. Reaching Skogafoss, we hiked 527 steps to the top of the waterfall.
- Continued driving onward to Vík.
- Lunch at Black Crust Pizzeria (see more below).
- Walked to Víkurfjara Black Sand Beach where you can enjoy a view of Reynisdrangar (basalt sea stacks off the coast).
- Took a guided glacier walk and ice climbed at Sólheimajökull Glacier.
- Checked into Hotel Ranga and had dinner there.
If you visit Vík, grab a pizza from Black Crust Pizza and enjoy it on the beach. They use activated charcoal to make the dough the color of volcanic ash, inspired by the Black Sand Beaches located on the south coast of Iceland.
DAY FOUR
Fun side note: for us, this trip day landed on June 17, aka, Iceland’s National Day!
- Drove with a guide into Thorsmork (Þórsmörk) Valley (see below).
- Walked Stakksháls Stakkholtsgjá, a beautiful canyon. This journey included crossing many waterways.
- Had lunch at LavaGrill (part of Thorsmork’s Volcano Huts).
- Hiked Valahnúkur Mountain. There are plenty of hiking trails with varying lengths and difficulties in this area.
- Drove back to Vík — fyi, these roads aren’t for the faint of heart.
- Walked Seljalandsfoss to Gljúfrabúi, a waterfall hidden within a cave near the bigger, more popular falls. If you visited Seljalandsfoss the previous day, you could do this then, as well!
- Enjoyed dinner back at the hotel, as well as a lovely hot tubbing session — perfect after a high step count day!
One of my favorite days was exploring Thorsmork Valley. We hired a guide with a vehicle that could travel safely within the area. I wasn’t focused on the signage, but if your rental is four-wheel drive, you may be able to go through certain parts. We walked Stakksháls Stakkholtsgjá which involved crossing lots of waterways. If you can walk the entire way to the waterfall, it’s worth it. But if you can only walk past the bend, it’s still so cool. This walk is over 2 miles but requires good hiking boots and an extra pair of socks in case your feet get wet crossing one of the many streams. We enjoyed an authentic and warm lunch at Volcano Huts Thormork. A popular local activity is hiking 54 miles (over a few days typically!) and ending at this lodge. Leaving from this place, we hiked to the top of Valahnúkur Mountain for an amazing view of the valley (cover image at the top of this post). Looking around, you don’t see many signs of humanity which is an amazing experience.
DAY FIVE
- Had breakfast and checked out of Hotel Ranga.
- Drove just under an hour to Kerið Crater to start our day along the Golden Circle.
- Continued on to Þingvellir National Park, where you can walk through the Almannagjá gorge. This rift valley was formed by the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates separating. Snorkeling in the Silfra fissure is also a popular activity in this National Park, and highly recommended by some of Anna’s family who have done this on other trips.
- Bread and lox at Laugarvatn Fontana, a geothermal bakery (see below).
- Soup and bread at Fridheimar (Tomato Farm) (see below).
- Walked around the Geysir Area where you can watch Strokkur erupt every few minutes.
- Continued on to Gullfoss Waterfall.
- Drove inland to Highland Base Hotel in Kerlingarfjöll where we checked in and had dinner.
I have two main food stops to suggest for your Golden Circle journey. Laugarvatn Fontana is a geothermal bakery where you can watch them bake a loaf of bread in the ground using thermal energy. My family did a demo, but you could also simply go outside, see the piles of dirt where the bread is made, and then enjoy the food inside. We didn’t do this, but you could also enjoy the hot baths there. Another yummy stop is the Fridheimar. This was recommended to us by a couple of friends. The idea of a greenhouse in Iceland is really cool and the soup and bread were yummy. But if you miss this stop or are too full from the bakery, don’t worry, you’re not missing too much.
DAY SIX
- For this day, we had breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Highland Base Hotel. Much of our time was spent resting, reading, or relaxing at the hotel spa.
- There is also local hiking. Some did a four hour hike, and some did a 20 minute hike to a hot spring (see below).
My family had the opportunity to go stay in the Iceland Highlands and visit Kerlingarfjöll. At Highland Base Hotel, there’s a hotel and campsites with multiple hiking trails off of the main building area. A twenty minute hike will lead you to a natural hot spring — an amazing spot you won’t want to leave. Important note about staying in the Highlands: you will have to drive for two hours on a dirt road, and the weather may limit your hiking options. There are rangers who will be able to share with you which trails are safe.
DAY SEVEN
- Had breakfast and checked out of Highland Base Hotel.
- Drove from here to Blue Lagoon, with numerous stops along the way:
- Stopped for lupins.
- Stopped at a Birkbúd (food stand on the side of the road).
- Stopped at Ullarverslunin Pingborg, a wool shop with authentic Icelandic products (yay for yarn!).
- Had lunch at MAR Seafood in Selfoss, a small riverside town.
- Lava Tunnel Tour of Raufarhólshellir (only accessible with guided tours).
- Drove through Grindavík, a small fishing town near Blue Lagoon.
- Checked into Silica Hotel.
- Enjoyed everything the hotel has to offer: private Blue Lagoon, public Blue Lagoon, and dinner at Lava Restaurant.
DAY EIGHT
- Checked out of Silica Hotel and headed back to Reykjabvík, driving through Alftanes along the way (area of small peninsulas nearby).
- Enjoyed cinnamon buns at Braud.
- Walked around Reykjavík, exploring more of the city and visiting The Icelandic Phallological Museum (yes, you read that right).
- Some final farewell hot dogs at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur.
- Drove back to Keflavík International Airport.
The following are a few additional images provided by Katia D’Arcy from areas mentioned in the itinerary above. Although her trip was a few years prior, she also visited during the summer months.
Wanna read our other Iceland blogs? Check them out HERE!
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