Extended layovers in Iceland are becoming increasingly popular due to airlines offering stopovers at no additional airfare. It gives you the opportunity to explore Iceland without adding to the cost of your plane ticket. If you already intend to travel across the Atlantic, you can get to Iceland for FREE by adding the layover!
After that, you’ll just need to factor in the cost of your excursions. But with how incredible Iceland is, this stop is worth adding to any plane ticket!
The moment you step outside the airport, it is as if you have been transported to another planet. Lava fields, glaciers, geothermic baths, volcanic rocks and active gushing geysers are just a fraction of the beauty that awaits you in Iceland.
What you want to do with your day depends on if you’re traveling in summer or winter. In the summer you will have 24 hours of daylight, whereas in the winter you only have daylight from 11am-3pm.
I was there in winter and still saw plenty!
The Blue Lagoon and Golden Circle are open all year long, so a short winter layover is still worth the trip in Iceland!
One Day Iceland Layover Guide
First stop:
The Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is an otherworldly wonder nestled in the heart of a lava field.
Surrounded by an incredible volcanic landscape, this geothermal spa is the perfect temperature to bathe in, typically 39°C/102°F.
The warm, milky water is rich with minerals such as silica, which does wonders for your skin!
How to get there:
Once your flight lands, go through baggage claim. Right before you get outside, there will be a large ticket counter labeled “Destination Blue Lagoon”. You can buy your bus ticket here.
You can also book your bus ticket ahead of time at their website here.
I chose to buy my ticket on site in case there was a delay in my flight but plenty of people booked theirs in advance. Either is fine!
These buses go back and forth between the airport all day bringing people directly to the Blue Lagoon. When you are done, they have buses that will bring you directly into the city.
Make sure you pay attention to the bus schedule for your departure. You’ll want to leave enough time to get to your next activity. Remember to factor in showering and getting dressed again after the lagoon when deciding which bus to catch into town.
Sunrise at the Blue Lagoon
I chose to arrive at the Blue Lagoon before sunrise and practically had the place to myself!
Seeing the mist roll off the water in the dark is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life. The only sound you hear is the gurgling water pouring into the lagoon. I drank champagne and watched the sunrise from the warm, calming waters on a cold January morning.
Blue Lagoon Tickets
You can buy a bus ticket upon your arrival in Iceland but the Blue Lagoon frequently sells out in advance. And this is an experience you don’t want to miss!
Make sure to book your Blue Lagoon ticket far in advance. You can book it here.
The lagoon offers comfort level, premium entry or the retreat spa.
I booked the comfort ticket which includes one drink, a towel and a mask. I found this to be plenty. Slippers and a robe would have been unnecessary since I spent most of my time in the water.
If you want additional drinks you can purchase them at the bar!
Tickets aren’t necessarily cheap (Iceland is notoriously expensive!) but it is comparable to a spa day anywhere. The prices vary slightly by date and time but be prepared to spend $88-$98 for entry.
Second Stop:
The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is a popular tourist route in southern Iceland. It begins in Reykjavík and passes through the southern uplands of Iceland and back.
Along the way there are waterfalls, geysers, and many scenic outlooks.
A variety of travel companies offer express tours so you can see a lot in a short amount of time. Perfect for a one day trip!
I booked The Golden Circle Express Tour with Get Your Guide.
You can book the express tour here.
If you have the time, I would recommend taking longer to explore the Golden Circle. The tour is fantastic but quick.
And if it’s summer, you can rent a car and drive the route yourself. But if you are on a time limit, this is a great way to see it all. And you avoid having to drive in winter conditions!
From start to finish, the tour lasts six hours.
This may sound like a long time to be on a bus, but don’t worry! You spend more than half the time off exploring.
Your guide will share information while driving to each location then give the group 30-50 minutes of free time to explore at each stop before meeting back at the bus.
Each one of the stops will have food, drinks, toilets and a souvenir shop available.
After such a luxurious, wonderful morning sipping champagne, watching the sunrise and relaxing in the Blue Lagoon, it was difficult (nearly impossible!!) for me to leave the warm, steamy waters of the geothermic bath. And I wound up racing to get to my tour on time. I hadn’t eaten yet that day and the tour I had booked was from 1pm-7pm.
So it was a relief to find that food (and hot coffee!) was available on the route!
Tip:
Sometimes the bus driver won’t remain on the bus so make sure you bring your money, camera or anything you might need before disembarking at each stop. Otherwise the bus will get locked up and you won’t have access to your things!
Northern Lights
Depending on when you travel, the weather and the time of your flight out of Iceland- you might also be able to book a tour to see the Northern Lights.
I had planned to do this but the tour was cancelled due to rain and cloudy skies. You are fully refunded or offered a tour the following night if this happens!
Overall, if you have the chance to stop in Iceland for a layover, I highly suggest you jump at the opportunity!
One day will never be enough time in Iceland but it’s a wonderful introduction to this unique and indescribable landscape. And like many others who have traveled to Iceland, you’ll find yourself wanting to come back again and again.
Have any other long layovers coming up? Read How to Make the Most of Any Long Layover.
More on Iceland:
- ICELAND ON A BUDGET- 18 TIPS
- SNORKELING BETWEEN TWO CONTINENTS IN ICELAND WITH TROLL EXPEDITIONS
- WHAT TO PACK FOR ICELAND IN THE WINTER
- ICELAND GROUP TRIP HIGHLIGHTS 2022 – WEEK ONE
- WINTER ICELAND ROAD TRIP 2023: GROUP TRIP HIGHLIGHTS WEEK 1
Wow!! What a great stop in Iceland!! I’ve been wanting to go and spend a few days in Iceland. What would be the optimum amount of time to spend in Iceland?
Thank you so much!! It really was a terrific day but obviously not enough time to see everything! It depends on how much you want to do 🙂 I met travelers that day who were staying several weeks and some who were only there for the weekend!
dang girl! you are on top of your blogging game! I’m so happy to have met you in Bali, and proud of all the progress you’ve made thus fr! can’t wait to see where you end up next!
Kaye thank you so much!!! I really appreciate that ❤️❤️ I miss you girl!! Xoxo