Classy, creative and cool, Reykjavik is also a gateway to adventure. If you want the best of both worlds – a luxurious hotel, top restaurants and great shopping in the heart of the city, plus privately-guided day trips to experience the natural wonders of the Golden Circle and South Coast – this is the break for you.
Our suggested three-night bespoke itinerary offers a choice of Reykjavik’s most stylish hotels and includes private transfers to and from the airport, as well as two unforgettable day trips in the company of an expert guide. Our Travel Specialists can also tailor-make your trip to include a privately-guided city tour, table reservations at the most sought-after restaurants or an indulgent spa session at the Blue Lagoon.
Reykjavik’s luxury accommodation
One of Europe’s most original and free-spirited cities, Reykjavik boasts a wide range of upmarket hotels, whether you’re looking for Nordic chic, Art Deco or a room with an eye-popping view. To give you a flavour of the city’s best properties, we’ve featured three of our favourites below.
Exploring Reykjavik’s attractions
Virtually all of the city’s star attractions are within a short walk of your hotel: pretty Tjornin lake, the scene-setting National Museum and National Gallery, towering Hallgrimskirkja cathedral and the striking Harpa Concert Hall (which offers daily behind-the-scenes guided tours). Stroll along Laugavegur street to experience Reykjavik’s entrepreneurial spirit, browsing local enterprises ranging from artisanal sea salt producers and creative chocolatiers to fashion designers and knitters producing digitally-printed sweaters. If you’d prefer not to walk, or want to venture further afield, we can arrange for a private driver-guide to escort you in comfort. Excursions to the Golden Circle and South Coast are included, but our Travel Specialists can also arrange for you to visit the Retreat Spa at the Blue Lagoon for a spot of geothermal pampering.
The Golden Circle and South Coast
Some of Iceland’s most incredible natural wonders are only a short drive from Reykjavik. We’ve included two bespoke day trips for you. Accompanied by a dedicated guide, travel at your own pace, marvelling at the twin-tiered cascade of Gullfoss, the explosive Strokkur geyser and Thingvellir National Park, where natural drama, Icelandic history and tectonic plates collide. A day exploring the South Coast, meanwhile, takes you through a mesmerising landscape of waterfalls, volcanoes, glaciers and black-sand beaches.
Fine dining in Reykjavik
Forget tales of fermented shark… Reykjavik is having a culinary moment. Eating local is a fact of life: exquisite fish and seafood, tender free-range lamb, farm-to-table veggies, delicious dairy products. Add to this Reykjavik’s talented New Nordic chefs and your taste buds are in for a treat. Fiskmarkaðurinn – the Fish Market – serves some of the best dishes in the city, with an Asian twist: red lanterns hang over platters of Arctic char sashimi, langoustine maki rolls, mountain lamb with shiitake mushrooms and coconut-creamy lobster soup. Fiskfelagid (Fish Company) is another must for seafood-lovers must – chef Lárus Gunnar Jónasson prepares mouth-watering dishes using Icelandic cod, salmon and giant scallops. Grillmarkaðurinn – the Grill Market – is also committed to local eating, with lamb, beef, trout, quail, skyr and honey on the menu, and much of it ingeniously cooked using fire and smoke. Old Iceland Restaurant is equally focused on dishing up local fish, meat, herbs and spices, not to mention traditional kleinur (much-loved doughnuts) slathered with rhubarb curd, while Apotek is strong on small plates – nibble on everything from sea trout waffles to lamb tartar.
Suggested Itinerary
Fly from your preferred airport to Keflavik where you will be met on arrival for a private transfer to Reykjavik. After checking in to your hotel, set out to explore Iceland’s exciting capital. Highlights include the striking Hallgrimskirkja cathedral, the northern lights planetarium and indoor ice cave at the Perlan and Laugavegur with its cafés, bars and boutique shops. Spend the following three nights in Reykjavík at your chosen luxury hotel.
Two privately-guided excursions are included during your stay in Reykjavik. On the Golden Circle tour, you will visit Gullfoss, where the Hvita River plunges over tiers of basalt into a dramatic canyon; Geysir, where the obliging Strokkur erupts every six minutes, and Thingvellir National Park, where North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. We can also arrange for you to have a soak in the Secret Lagoon – an outdoor geothermal pool – before you drive back to the city. Your second day trip takes you east along the coastal ring road, stopping to admire an incredible succession of natural wonders, from the horsetail-plume waterfall of Seljalandsfoss and the jagged sea stacks of Vik to the brooding hulk of the infamous volcano, Eyjafjallajokull. On both tours, your expert local guide will provide vivid insights into the geography, history and culture of Iceland, tailoring each day to your specific interests.
Transfer to Keflavik for your flight home. An optional visit to the Retreat Spa at the Blue Lagoon can be arranged on your way to the international airport. Soak in peace, enjoy an in-water massage and Blue Lagoon Ritual, where silica, algae and minerals are used to rejuvenate and exfoliate the skin, stimulate circulation and energise mind and body. You will never feel more relaxed before a homeward flight.
Optional Experiences
Blue Lagoon
Prices & departures
What's Included
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3 nights accommodation in Reykjavik, with breakfast
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Private transfers
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Privately guided Golden Circle day trip
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Privately guided South Coast day trip
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No surcharge guarantee
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Full financial protection
From £2235 Excluding Flights
4 Nights
Year Round
We recommend
Privately guided | 3 nights / 4 days
From £2,235 per person
Make this trip yours
Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.
Bruno
1
World Cup lifted at Wembley
27
Years visiting Iceland
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.
Experts with real experience
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Eric
Travel Specialist
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Freya
Travel Specialist
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Lauren
Travel Specialist
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Kieran
Travel Specialist
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Jo
Travel Specialist
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Rosie
Travel Specialist
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Ben
Travel Specialist
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Gary
Travel Specialist
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Doug
Travel Specialist
