Iceland is amazing. People come during the winter when it is covered in snow in hopes of glimpsing the famous Northern Lights, but did you know how spectacular it is to visit in summer? Come with me as we explore Iceland — summer edition. Let’s get moving, exploring, soaking & eating. You’ll want your 10K steps every day here.
Getting
There & The Two-fer Stopover
First you need to get there. Icelandair has a great deal where you can add a stopover on your way to London. What a phenomenal way to get a 2-fer one bargain — see Reykjavik, then continue on. Use that stop wisely: stretch your legs in Keflavik, get a Nordic breakfast, then fly on. Worth it.
Day
1: Settling into Reykjavik
Hotel tip Sand Hotels & breakfast
My favorite hotel and spot for mornings is Sandholt
(Bakarí Sandholt).
Address: Laugavegur 36, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Not only does the hotel have charming rooms with views (especially from upper windows overlooking the bay if your room is in that direction), but their bakery is divine. Fresh sourdough, pastries, brown sugar buns, danishes — everything smells like magic. It’s a wonderful way to begin your journey. Grab a coffee, grab a pastry, watch the city wake up.
Main drag stuff
This hotel/bakery puts you right on
Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street. Within walking distance you’ll
find cute shops, boutique design stores, Icelandic wool items, art galleries.
Two sights to walk to:
- Hallgrímskirkja
(the iconic church with the tower you can climb for views over the city).
- The Sun Voyager (Sólfar) sculpture by the sea — especially lovely at sunrise or
sunset.
Enjoy the town on your own, or join a walking tour to get more of the history and culture.
And for a great dinner or elevated
meal, try Apotek Kitchen + Bar.
Address: Austurstræti 16, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Menu? A fun mix of Icelandic & European cuisine — seafood, meats, some
grilled items, small plates designed to share. The building itself used to be
“the pharmacy” (Reykjavík’s old Apotek), so there’s history, marble stairs,
restored wood, all dressed up but still friendly.
Day 2: Sky Lagoon
Iceland is all about hot springs, and one of the best new experiences is Sky Lagoon — a geothermal spa just minutes from downtown Reykjavik.
📍 Address: Vesturvör 44-48, 200 Kópavogur, Iceland
What makes Sky Lagoon special is its setting: an
infinity-edge lagoon that seems to melt right into the North Atlantic. As you
float in the steaming mineral-rich water, you can gaze across the bay at
mountains in the distance. In the evening, the sunset turns the sky and water
into a golden mirror. On clear nights, you might even catch a glimpse of the
Northern Lights dancing above.
What’s on
offer:
·
Towels &
Lockers: No need to pack a towel — Sky
Lagoon provides them. Secure lockers and modern changing rooms are included
with every ticket.
·
Swimsuit: Bring your own! If you forget, they do rent them onsite.
·
Seven-Step Ritual: Warm soak →
cold plunge → sauna with floor-to-ceiling ocean views → cold mist → steam room
→ body scrub → back into the lagoon. It’s a Nordic spa tradition designed to
refresh, restore, and leave you glowing.
·
Premium
Sky Pass: Upgrade if you can! The Sky Pass gives you access to private
changing rooms with rainfall showers, plus a more luxurious, serene
environment.
·
Food &
Drink: Sip an Icelandic beer, sparkling wine, or smoothie from the
lagoon bar while you float. After your soak, check out Smakk Bar for small
plates of local specialties — think smoked lamb, fresh fish, rye bread.
WanderLyn
Pro-Tip:
Bring a beanie (yes, even in
summer!). The lagoon is outdoors, and while the water is warm, the North
Atlantic wind can nip at your ears, especially if you’re sipping a cold drink
in the water. A simple knit hat keeps your head warm and makes the whole
experience cozier — trust me, you’ll thank me later!
Sky Lagoon is more than just a dip — it’s a
chance to truly slow down, breathe in that crisp Icelandic air, and let the
country’s natural energy soak into your bones.
Day
3: Golden Circle + Blue Lagoon
On Day 3 I recommend doing an
all-day Golden Circle Tour
- Thingvellir National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tectonic plates,
geological rifts, history (first Icelandic parliament).
- Geysir Hot Spring Area — where the Strokkur geyser erupts every few minutes,
steam vents, bubbling hot springs.
- Gullfoss Waterfall
— the “Golden Falls”, spectacular cascade with powerful water, rainbows if
you’re lucky.
- Kerið Volcanic Crater
— a beautiful crater lake, with that red volcanic rock rim, bright greens
and blues in summer.
Then finish the day (or begin/end
depending on your route) at the Blue Lagoon.
Address: Norðurljósavegur 9, 240 Grindavík, Iceland
Imagine steaming, milky-blue water surrounded by black lava rock, mist
curling into the cool air, and you floating happily with a face mask on and a
drink in hand. That’s the Blue Lagoon experience.
What you
need to know:
·
Bring your
swimsuit! While you can rent one onsite if you forget, it’s much nicer
to have your own.
·
Towels &
Lockers: Towels are included with all standard admission packages, and
you’ll have access to modern locker rooms to store your belongings.
Higher-level tickets (Comfort, Premium, Luxury) come with extras like slippers,
bathrobes, and additional skincare products.
·
Silica
Mask Ritual: Everyone gets one included. Just scoop up the silky white
mud from the spa counter, apply it to your face, and let it work its magic.
Your skin will feel baby-soft afterwards.
·
Beverage
Bar: Yes, there’s a swim-up bar right in the lagoon. From sparkling
wine to smoothies, you can sip while you soak. One drink is usually included in
your package.
·
Restaurants:
For those who want to linger, there’s the Lava Restaurant (set into the lava
rock itself) and the more upscale Moss Restaurant, both offering modern Icelandic
cuisine with a view.
WanderLyn
Pro-Tip:
Just like at Sky Lagoon — bring a beanie!
Even in summer, the Icelandic wind can be brisk, and while your body will be
cozy in the warm water, your ears will appreciate the extra protection. Plus,
if you’re doing multiple dips in and out of the lagoon, it keeps your head warm
and helps tame post-soak “lagoon hair.”
The Blue Lagoon is touristy, yes, but also
magical. Between the lava, the steam, and that soft mineral water, it’s a
one-of-a-kind Icelandic bucket-list moment you won’t regret.
Day
4: Ice Caves
One of the most unforgettable adventures in Iceland is heading south toward Vík for an Ice Cave Tour Viator. This is not your average sightseeing trip
— it feels like stepping into another world.
The day usually begins with a pickup in
Reykjavik followed by a drive along Iceland’s dramatic South Coast. You’ll pass
waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss and
Skógafoss, moss-covered lava
fields, and the famous black sand beaches near Vík. Already, your camera will
be working overtime.
Then comes the real fun: transferring into a
massive 4x4 “super jeep” or super bus. These vehicles are designed to cross the
rugged, bumpy terrain that leads up to the glaciers. The ride itself is an
adventure, bumping across volcanic plains and lava fields with the ice
shimmering ahead.
At the glacier, your guide outfits you with
all the gear you need — usually a helmet, crampons, and sometimes an ice axe.
After a short hike, you step inside the glacier itself.
What
it’s like inside an ice cave:
·
The walls are sculpted by meltwater and
centuries of compressed ice, glowing in every shade of blue imaginable, from
deep sapphire to crystal-clear turquoise.
·
Sunlight streams through cracks and thin spots,
making the ice sparkle like glass.
·
You’ll hear the soft trickle of water as the
glacier shifts and melts around you — it’s alive, moving, breathing.
·
The ground is slippery, but walking with
crampons makes it safe and steady.
The guides are usually locals who know the
glacier intimately. They’ll point out fascinating features, help you frame
photos, and keep everyone safe. Each cave is unique and temporary — melting and
reforming with the seasons — so what you see can’t be repeated. It’s a true
once-in-a-lifetime moment.
After exploring the ice cave, tours often
swing by Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.
Standing on the dark volcanic sand, with basalt columns rising like organ pipes
and waves crashing dramatically against the shore, feels almost otherworldly.
WanderLyn
Pro-Tip:
Layer up! Even if it’s mild in Reykjavik, the glacier is always cold. Wear
waterproof boots, bring gloves, and again — don’t forget that trusty beanie to keep your ears warm when the
wind whips across the ice.
This day trip is longer and more rugged than
strolling around Reykjavik, but if you love adventure and don’t mind a bit of
cold, the ice cave tour is pure Icelandic magic.
Day 5+: Northern Iceland — Dynjandi & Forest Lagoon
If you’ve spent a few days in the south,
consider heading north (or hopping on a Norwegian cruise that skirts Iceland’s
coast). The north is quieter, wilder, and feels like Iceland as it was
centuries ago — dramatic landscapes, fewer tourists, and those “pinch-me”
moments around every turn.
Dynjandi Waterfall
📍 Location: Westfjords, Arnarfjörður Fjord
Dynjandi, sometimes called the “Jewel of the
Westfjords,” is not just a waterfall — it’s a series of cascading falls that
spreads out like a bridal veil over 100 meters of rugged cliff face.
Approaching it, you first hear the roar before you see the full spectacle. As part of a cruise tour, they also stop by a local farm where you can try some of the products and get a feel for life here in Iceland.
What to
expect:
·
The main waterfall is the largest, with smaller
cascades tumbling around it like natural lace.
·
A short hiking trail leads up alongside the
waterfalls, offering multiple viewpoints and plenty of opportunities to feel
the mist on your face.
·
In summer, the cliffs are dotted with
wildflowers, making the scene even more magical.
·
It’s not just a sight — it’s an experience: the
sound, the spray, the smell of crisp mountain water, and the feeling of being
surrounded by raw Icelandic beauty.
WanderLyn
Pro-Tip:
Bring a waterproof layer and sturdy shoes. The trail can be slippery near the
spray, but the effort is worth every step. Don’t forget your beanie — the wind funnels down the
fjord, and your ears will thank you!
Forest Lagoon
📍 Location: North Iceland, near Akureyri
North Iceland’s Forest Lagoon is a true gem. Unlike the more famous Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon, this is a place where nature and relaxation merge in a serene, intimate setting. If you are coming on a cruise ship, a great tour includes the incredible Godafoss Waterfall as well as Forest Lagoon.
What to
expect:
·
Warm, mineral-rich water surrounded by small
groves, rolling hills, and maybe even grazing Icelandic sheep in the distance.
·
Fewer crowds — often you’ll feel like the lagoon
is entirely your own.
·
Steam rising from the water blends with the
morning mist or evening sunset for a surreal, magical atmosphere.
·
Some locations offer small huts or wooden
platforms nearby where you can change, enjoy a snack, or simply soak while
taking in the view.
WanderLyn
Pro-Tip:
Bring your beanie and layers
again! Even in the warm water, the northern wind can be brisk, especially at
sunset. A cozy hat makes sipping a hot beverage or simply lounging in the
lagoon much more comfortable.
Forest Lagoon is the kind of place where time
slows, and you remember why you traveled to Iceland in the first place: for the
magic, the quiet, and the incredible landscapes that feel untouched.
Final
Tips & Get That 10K
- Lace-up shoes: many of these sites involve walking on
uneven terrain, gravel, maybe snow/ice depending on season.
- Beanie & layers: weather changes fast. Even in
summer, the wind off the ocean, cold mist, or sudden rain can chill you,
especially ears and head.
- Booking ahead: hot springs, especially Blue Lagoon
& Sky Lagoon, can sell out.
- Respect nature: stay on marked paths, follow local
guidance.
Iceland in summer is alive: midnight
sun, lush valleys, waterfalls roaring, skies painted in colors you won’t
believe. Get your steps in, soak your soul, taste the bread & pastries, and
let the land move you.
Until next time,
Eat well. Move well. Wander Well.
Lyn, WanderLynTravel
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