ICELANd - 2025

In mid-May, Haley and I took a quick trip to Iceland for an early anniversary getaway. We split our stay between Reykjavík and Vík, which gave us a great mix of city comfort and some of the most surreal landscapes I have ever seen.

Most of our days were spent exploring the southern coast. We visited huge waterfalls, walked along black-sand beaches, and drove through stretches of road where it felt like we had the entire country to ourselves. Reykjavík offered good food and easy walks, while Vík put us right next to the kind of scenery you usually only see in movies.

We also made time to slow down and relax in geothermal pools. Some of my favorite moments were the simple ones, like talking in the car, watching the landscape change constantly, and getting a break from the usual routine.

It was a short trip, but it was exactly what we needed. A good balance of adventure and downtime, and a set of memories we will hang onto for a long time.

OUR ITINERARY

  • Rocks in the foreground with milky blue water and a volcanic landscape under a cloudy sky in the background.

    DAY ONE: STRAIGHT TO THE LAGOON

    Lunch: Bæjarins Icelandic Hotdog

    Dinner: Reykjavik Fish Restaurant (Fish & Chips)

    Highlight of the Day: Blue Lagoon

  • Bright sun shining over a tall waterfall in a green valley with clear blue sky and some clouds.

    DAY TWO: HIT THE ROAD

    Breakfast: Brauð & Co

    Lunch: Sandwiches on the road

    Dinner: Black Crust Pizza in Vik

    Highlight of the Day: Our miles of hiking and walking around/behind waterfalls.

  • A crater lake with turquoise water surrounded by rocky and grassy terrain under an overcast sky.

    DAY THREE: GOLDEN CIRCLE

    Breakfast: Hotel Kria

    Lunch: Gullfoss - Panorama Restaurant

    Dinner: Sól restaurant - one of the coolest dining experiences of my life.

    Highlight of the Day: Doing a cold plunge in the Icelandic Ocean after the hot springs.

  • A whale breaches the ocean surface with part of its body and tail visible above the water, in a vast open sea under a partly cloudy sky.

    DAY 4: A DAY to remember

    Breakfast: DEIG Workshop

    Lunch: Sky Lagoon

    Dinner: TIDES

    Highlight of the Day: Doing the 7-step Skjólat the Sky Lagoon.

  • A city street with people walking and sitting, with a large church tower in the background, and a rainbow-colored crosswalk in the foreground.

    DAY 5: PACK IT UP

    Breakfast: Sandholt

    Lunch: Bæjarins Icelandic Hotdog

    Highlight of the Day: Walking the rainbow road before heading back to the airport.

A tall church with a cross on top and a large clock, beside a statue of a figure on a pedestal, and colorful flowers in the foreground, against a bright blue sky.
A smiling man and woman taking a selfie in front of a large waterfall surrounded by moss-covered cliffs on a bright day.
A large waterfall cascading down rocky cliffs with a rainbow near the base, over a rocky riverbed, under a clear blue sky.
Scenic view of a green grassy field with rocks, a distant mountain with rocky cliffs, and a clear blue sky.
Person standing on wet rock in front of cascading waterfalls in a lush, green forest.
A wooden bridge spans over a flowing river with small waterfalls, rocky banks, and sparse vegetation under a blue sky.
A tall waterfall cascading down a rocky cliff with green moss, under a clear blue sky with bright sunlight, grassy foreground with small plants and a rock on the side.
Cliffside view of the Durdle Door limestone arch on the coast, with blue sky and ocean in the background.
Two people in rain jackets and hoodies taking a selfie inside a cave or waterfall, with a large rock formation and misty water in the background.
A waterfall flowing over a moss-covered cliff in a green, rugged landscape.
Two people standing on large rocks in front of tall basalt columns at a volcanic beach with dark sand, under a clear blue sky.
View of the ocean from a ship's deck with a cloudy sky and distant land in the background.
Person swimming in clear water near a rocky waterfall.
Indoor hydroponic farm with rows of lettuce and other greens growing under artificial lights in a glass-enclosed greenhouse.
Waterfall crashing over rocks at the coast with a steep, rocky hillside and a clear blue sky in the background.