Nomadic Neen In early October 2022, I set off on a solo journey to Iceland—a land of dramatic landscapes, thundering waterfalls, and otherworldly beauty. With just four full days to explore, I planned a flexible yet efficient itinerary to make the most of my time. I kept things as budget-friendly as possible by prioritizing affordable stays, self-catering meals, and free natural sights. Whether you’re planning your own trip or just curious, here’s a breakdown of how I spent my days in this stunning country.
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Trip Length: 4 days + 2 travel days
Travel Style: Solo, budget-friendly
Season: October 2022
Main Highlights: Reykjavik, whale watching, waterfalls, Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon
Transportation: Airport Shuttle Bus & Tours
Day One
Overnight flight from New York’s JFK airport, departing at 11:25 PM
Day Two
- Arrive at Reykjavik airport, KEF 9:05 AM
- Airport Transfer to Reykjavik – From Keflavík Airport (Booked via Viator)
- Cost: $23USD
- Lunch and Tea at Iðnó
- Hot Chocolate at Sweet Aurora
- Check-in to Hostel: The Old Bicycle Shop Guesthouse
- Explore Reykjavik
- Northern Lights Midnight Adventure: CANCELLED (Booked via Viator)
- Travel Tip: book weather dependent activities early in your trip and be open to having to be flexible!
Day Three
- Breakfast at Te & Kaffi
- Visit Hallgrimskirkja
- Cost: 1400 Icelandic Krona (approximately $10 USD)
- The Icelandic Phallological Museum
- Cost: 3300 Icelandic Krona (approximately $25 USD)
- Whale Watching Tour (Booked via Viator)
- Approximately 3 hours
- Cost: $87 USD
- Late Lunch/Early Dinner at Duck and Rose
- Northern Lights Midnight Adventure [Rescheduled from Day 1]
- Cost: $65 USD
- Starts at 21:00, and runs for 3-4 hours
- Originally was for night #1 but got rescheduled due to bad weather.
Day Four
- Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, Kerid Volcanic Crater (Booked via Viator)
- Thingvellir National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Gullfoss Falls
- Geysir
- Kerid Crater
- Blue Lagoon
- Approx. 11-12 hours
- Cost: $207
- Dinner at Kol
Day Five
- South Coast Full Day Tour (Booked via Viator)
- Skogafoss
- Vik
- Reynisfjara, or the Black Sand Beach
- Solheimajokull Glacier
- Seljalandsfodd
- Approximately 10 hours
- Cost: $112 USD
Day Six
Travel Home – KEF – JFK 11:15 AM – 1:15 PM
How I made this trip budget friendly
- Booked my flights during a special sale with Delta
- Stayed in a hostel
- Did not rent a car
- Did not eat out every meal
- Bought experiences in packages (i.e. day trips that included admission to places I was planning on going to).
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