How to Soak Up Iceland in 24 Hours

Jenn Maples / Virtuoso

The Blue Lagoon and its swim-up bar.

Blue Lagoon Iceland

Turning a quick stopover into a restorative mini-vacation.

Stopovers are having a moment right now. The extended layovers – strategic maneuvers by airlines such as Icelandair and Qatar Airways – let travelers turn a connecting stop in a hub city into a bite-size adventure in a bonus destination, without extra fees. “I love an extended stopover to whet my appetite for a new place,” says Joey Levy, a Virtuoso travel advisor.

On a flight from Seattle to Geneva earlier this summer, my husband and I decided to give it a try, trading our quick layover in Reykjavík for an overnight stay in Iceland’s cool capital city. We weren’t in it for the extra passport stamps, but for the purposeful pause. We were excited for the chance to stretch our legs and dip our toes into local culture – even if it was just for 24 hours. It turns out you can turn a layover into a total getaway. Here’s how we did it.

Advisor Tip

“In Reykjavík, visit the Perlan nature museum, check out the view from the top of the Hallgrímskirkja church, and plan for dinner at an authentic Icelandic restaurant.”

– Joey Levy

The Blue Lagoon. 

Blue Lagoon Iceland

9:15 a.m.: Touching Down in Iceland

With a red-eye flight behind us and a seven-hour time difference between Seattle and Iceland, morning felt more like bedtime. But the serene dawn (and our reservation at the Blue Lagoon) hinted it was time to embrace the day. Sliding into our electric-vehicle rental at Keflavík International Airport (Iceland has the second-highest concentration of EVs in the world), we drove 20 minutes south, settled by the soothing hum of the motor and the vast lichen-covered volcanic landscape outside. Thanks to its location and proximity to an abundance of volcanoes, almost all of Iceland’s electricity is generated from renewable sources. Geothermal hot springs dot the island, and the Blue Lagoon is one of the most famous ones.

Noon: Banishing Jet Lag at the Blue Lagoon

A dip in the Blue Lagoon did more than just warm us up (and it wasn’t just the glasses of wine from the swim-up bar): Its milky-blue waters comprise a mix of natural silica, minerals, and algae. The silica acts as a gentle detoxifier, while the algae is said to boost collagen production for younger-looking skin, which is why it’s not uncommon to see visitors grabbing a handful of white mud from the bottom of the lagoon and slathering it on their faces. The lagoon has its own sustainable skincare line, along with a subterranean spa that specializes in hydrotherapy, facials, and the treatment of a lifetime: a floating massage.

We liked having our own EV to get around, which Virtuoso advisors can easily arrange, but for those who want something less DIY, several tour operators in Iceland have crafted stopover-friendly trips, many with pickups right from the airport. Travelers can visit the Blue Lagoon, chase waterfalls in the Golden Circle, or go whale-watching in the summertime. Between September and April, excursions can also include chances to spy the northern lights.

Creativity on Laugavegur Street.

Korena Bolding

3:30 p.m.: Souvenir Shopping on Laugavegur Street

With only 24 hours, we decided to stick close to the airport, and drove the 45 minutes north from the Blue Lagoon to Reykjavík. The city packs a lot into its compact footprint: pedestrian-friendly streets, eclectic concept stores, vibrant street art. The main retail stretch is Laugavegur Street, which runs for a mile through the heart of the city. We spent the afternoon shopping, browsing Icelandic wool sweaters and socks at Farmers & Friends, picking up some skincare products from the Blue Lagoon’s Reykjavík store, and admiring the puffy parkas made with recycled, upcycled, and biodegradable materials at 66˚ North. They were all great examples of the country’s focus on (and pride in) locally made products.

We popped in and out of bookstores, jewelry shops, and cafés with Icelandic pastries you could smell from the street. After a brief pause for coffee and a freshly baked snudur (cinnamon roll) at Braud & Co., we ventured farther down Laugavegur, ready for more sustenance.

Warm vibes in The Reykjavik Edition’s Lobby Bar.

Nikolas Koenig

8:00 p.m.: Settling In at The Reykjavik Edition

We found ourselves at The Reykjavik Edition, a 253-room retreat near the city’s Old Harbour Port with a rooftop bar and suites that show off views of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula’s 700,000-year-old glacier-capped volcano. While Tides, the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, was booked, we took solace in a cozy nook of the Lobby Bar, sipping Great Debates (Icelandic whiskey, cognac, banana liquor, and bitters), eating North Atlantic lobster rolls (with a side of triple-cooked fries), and sharing blueberry skyr mousse.

As the evening wound down and anticipation for the next leg of our trip set in, we decided we weren’t checking Iceland off our list, but making plans for a return visit – and figuring out how to incorporate more stopovers into future flights. We’re already plotting our next escape.

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