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Iceland sparkles for me. The reason? I can’t quite put my mitten on it. Maybe it’s this small north Atlantic island’s vast landscapes, canyons, and geysers. I do love to be near water (having grown up in a coastal town in Fife, Scotland) so is it the thundering waterfalls, lagoons, and beaches? Or the beautiful Reykjavik city folks with their cool exterior? I know for Craig Iceland means the solar spectacular, Northern Lights and glaciers. Whatever the reason, it’s easy to see the appeal of an Iceland honeymoon.
Now I know what you are thinking – didn’t you pair marry last March in Austin, Texas and then travel around the Americas and Europe? Correct, but hey, you only get married once (we hope!) We deserve a backpack/budget free honeymoon! Imagine not being confined to $45 a day… We did it! Here’s our perfect honeymoon itinerary for Iceland.
» Don’t miss our guide to four days in Iceland
Driving the Ring Road
Driving in Iceland is kind of like taking the Subway in Glasgow; there are two routes – you can go around it, then come back around the other way, with a few reindeer, twigs, and floods thrown in.
Many visitors to Iceland opt to see Iceland’s 800 miles of Route 1 with a group tour; others take the 4×4 by the wheel and attempt a self – guided tour of Iceland.
Driving around Iceland’s Ring Road takes a good seven days (perfect for those using Iceland as a stopover destination as you are awarded one week free of charge).
Don’t be deceived by Google Maps, some of the journeys can take a long time, especially if it is raining. Our ride from Reykjavik to
What to See in Iceland?
Our Ring Road itinerary includes:
South Iceland
- The Golden Circle Tour of the south (see below)
- American wreck DC-3 plane on Sólheimasandur Beach (4km trek)
- Sunrise at Seljalandsfoss waterfall
- Get drenched at Skogafoss
- Reynisfjara, Iceland’s Black Beach (striking but busy)
- Rafting in the Hvítá River (missed out this time)
Top tip: if you stay in the area you can fight the weather! We were rained off at Seljalandsfoss so decided to set our alarms for sunrise and had the waterfall to ourselves!
East Iceland
- Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon (a short stretch of the legs) – potentially closed to the public
- A Jökulsárlón tour to see the ice melt (OMG, incredible at sunset)
- Vatnajökull Glacier’s crystal ice caves <— seasonal unfortunately
- A visit to the crafty and mountainous Seyðisfjörður (missed)
North Iceland
- Iceland’s second city, Akureyri – whale watching in Iceland!
- Dettifoss – the most powerful waterfall in Europe, apparently
- The gateway to Hell – Dimmuborgir
- The north’s equivalent to the Blue Lagoon, Mývatn Nature Baths
West Iceland
Research indicates that the west side of the Ring Road is more drive than stop but it is worth taking a detour to….
- Westfjords
- Snæfellsnes aka “Little Iceland”
… and then on to
- Hike Mount Esjan
- Then a celebratory end of tour drink at Blur’s Damon Albarn’s bar in Reykjavik (turns out this is a great marketing ploy, he own a tiny a share of it!), HI bar is better for views
Iceland’s Golden Circle Tour
If your chauffeur decides that being the designated driver for the entirety of your honeymoon is no fun, then the alternative reduced Iceland itinerary would be the Golden Circle Tour which takes a mere 3.5 hours to tackle by car (6 – 10 hours with stops).
I don’t want to put you off here but the Golden Circle is very touristy. Think Disney World or the Eifle Tower in July! We visited in September and there were a lot of crowds.
I would aim to reach the likes of Geysir and Gullfoss very early before the bus tours if you plan to road trip yourself.
Highlights of the Golden Circle include
- Thingvellir National Park
- Geysir hot springs – The Great Geysir
- Gullfoss aka the Golden Waterfall
- Iceland’s second biggest glacier, Langjokull
(similar to Columbia Icefields in Canada which we visited last year)
All of the above can be seen as an Iceland day tour from Reykjavik. What do you prefer – self-drive, private taxi tour or guided bus tour?
Gullfoss
» You may also like: our guide to Iceland prices
Northern Lights
Now, this is a sad one as our timings were out. September just flirts with the official window (October to March) of seeing the light show also known as the Aurora Borealis.
Iceland is not always dark, and although lots of factors come into play when chasing the Northern Lights in Iceland, the darkest months of November to February are your best bet. Northern Lights tours can last up to 5 hours and run from September until May.
We did toy with other months.
One of the downsides of visiting Iceland in April (when our wedding party was) is that you are kind of in a limbo period where the weather dictates Iceland’s tourist attractions.
If you visit Iceland in summer (July), you can hike, whale watch, and avoid freezing your asses off, however, this means giving up the chance to witness the dancing light show.
Sólheimasandur Beach
Lagoons in Iceland
Now that I am over not seeing the lights (I don’t like being cold anyway) let’s dive deep into something I do love – geothermal activity.
Oh hello, hot water! I’m a 40 degrees at the Hungarian baths type of chick, Craig not so much! Iceland’s most famous hot spring is the Blue Lagoon. Close to the country’s capital, a trip to this lagoon is an easy day trip from Reykjavik (40 mins by car, you will be inundated by adverts for Reykjavik tours to the Blue Lagoon).
Basic entry cost is €40 / £33. 95 / $42.37 (top tier luxury price €195) however, I am told repeatedly by bloggers and tourists alike that regardless of fee and popularity, the Blue Lagoon is worth every penny. Do not wear your contact lenses like my good friend Helen!
We opted for the Secret Lagoon (£19/€22) as it was on our route back to the capital. I love that you can buy a glass of wine or a beer and soak your troubles away! Be warned, you are expected to shower naked before you enter.
Budget lovers, there are free hot springs in Iceland (my favourite phrase) making it one of the hottest free things to do in Iceland (get it?)
Check out Hveragerdi which is only 30 mins from Reykjavik and also has free hiking trails; a stride and a soak seems like a winning combo to me!
There are a variety of geothermal pools of all sizes in Iceland so this is only the tip of the iceberg. Which do you prefer and why?
Hiking in Iceland
Hiking might not be everyone’s ideal honeymoon activity but we are a big fan of the outdoors and Iceland certainly is a hotbed for nature.
The most popular trek in Iceland is the 3-4day south-west Laugavegur trek. If that’s not enough, you can continue on with the Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail (or attempt as a stand-alone one day hike) which takes you between the two volcanoes, Eyjafjallajökull and Katla.
Part of Fimmvörðuháls has literally risen from the ashes after the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull. There are easier Iceland hikes such as Mount Esjan which is close to Reykjavik.
Iceland Weather – the best time to go to Iceland
October to April is low season. Winter activities such as the ice caves are open (what about snorkelling at Silfra?) and the Northern Lights are at their optimum. It is not advised to drive in Iceland during the low season unless you are used to Canadian winter conditions (and I don’t mean B.C), although it is never as cold as Alberta.
Daylight is very limited to six hours so take that into consideration if driving. October to February sees the most rainfall. Time to get cosy on that Iceland honeymoon! Winter does not put visitors off! Here’s my friend Janet’s experience of things to do in winter.
Spring starts in April and ends in May, although the first day of summer is April 18th… Summer means a lot of daylight, the longest day is June 21st where the sun sets around midnight in Reykjavik and rises before 3am! This may take a bit of getting used to but obviously offers a good chance to enjoy the midnight sun (while partying?!)
Skiing is out and unfortunately, mass tourism, pre-booking, and selfie sticks are in.
In summer, budding photographers can capture the crazy lights of the golden hours (without the pressure of time), driving is safe, and hiking doesn’t involve an axe. There are so many photographers in Iceland, they really don’t like you ‘ruining their shots’.
Getting to Iceland
Cheap flights to Iceland (Keflavík International Airport) from the UK can be found for under £200/$300 via Icelandair and Easyjet.
The taxi from Keflavík International Airport is $120 at the time of writing, yes you can get a one-way flight for this price.
Car rental companies charge a supplementary fee for airport collection and drop off. Save an hour for the check-in/transfer process.
Don’t panic, there is are direct bus transfers to Reykjavik for under $30. Iceland is known for being expensive but cheap hotels in Reykjavik do exist, check out Follow Me Away’s guide.
You may also like:
- Road trip hacks
- Road trip packing list
- 4-Day Iceland Itinerary
- Iceland budget
- Hikes in Iceland (short and multi-day)
Iceland honeymoon
Well, folks, that’s it from me and my dream Iceland honeymoon. Our honeymoon trip to the land of fire and ice did not disappoint. My initial thoughts were, I could explode with excitement just like Katla volcano, which has actually set off its biggest tremors since the ’70s, and I hope you feel the same way too.
Ireland was always my hypothetical honeymoon destination. Yet the moment I stepped foot on Iceland, I decided that it was perhaps the most romantic destination on earth. Mostly for the solitude! Great post, enjoy the trip.
That is lovely to hear. It really does look magical. All that shiny bling ice! Very excited!
Yes!!!! Can’t wait for you guys to go!
I know, I’ll be taking notes on your up and coming posts!
Totally agree! Iceland is super romantic.
Cannot wait!
Iceland seriously seems so romantic and is typically overlooked for most honeymoon destinations as others would opt for Paris, London, etc. Would love to take another honeymoon just to visit here!
Very good point actually, Paris and London to get a lot of coverage. I’m sure you could wangle another honeymoon!
I am not planning to go to Iceland any time soon but this article really made me wanna go badly! I loved your word puns too 😉
To sleep in that plane is on my wishlist now. I already met a bear this summer so I hope there aren´t any beach loving ones around that spot!
Btw., our honeymoon is a hitchhiking journey from Europe to India 😉
That is a very cool honeymoon! I bet you have a ridiculous amount of stories to share from that trip, beats sitting on a beach for two weeks eh?!
Well we only got as far as Turkey just yet 😉 But so far, so good!
I want to see those hot air balloons in Turkey!
Haha, I´d like that too. But I heard it´s crazy expensive so maybe we´ll just have a look from the ground haha 😉
This is a very different honeymoon than 99% others, but I’d say go for it! We’ve been to Iceland twice – June and November – and loved it both times. It was kind of winter weather both times too, so be prepared for it. 🙂 If you are still looking for some tips, I have plenty on my blog, btw. P.S. I wouldn’t plan the winter trip for Northern Lights only – Iceland is incredible in winter, and auroras are just the cherry on the cake.
That sounds like a seller! Did you find it ridiculously expensive? Friends that have been suggest two weeks would kill our budget…
We didn’t do both trips in the same year – the ‘summer’ trip was 10 years ago and November was last year. We found it ridiculously expensive 10 years ago, last year it was not too bad, or maybe it was ok because we expected worse. There were definitely more hotel/accommodation options and also more affordable places to eat than 10 years ago. But if you are in the remote area and your only option is hotel restaurant, you’ll probably spend 50-80EUR for dinner/pp, or you can buy some food from a local store during the day and take it with you for dinner – it will be much cheaper of course. So it all really depends on your trip, your accommodation choices, etc.
Excellent tips, will be worth looking for Accommodation with kitchens. I’ll prep Craig in advance so he doesn’t have a heart attack!
This is a fabulous post! We just got back from a week trip to Iceland, and it was spectacular for every reason you mentioned in your post. We especially loved hiking. Didn’t get to the Ring Road this time, but hopefully next time when we go during the summer.
Have a great honeymoon! We got married a year ago and went to the Dominican Republic for our honeymoon, but it was very short and kind of a disaster, so hey. Why can’t every trip be a honeymoon? 😀
Safe travels!
I like this! Where did you hike out of interest?
Sounds like the perfect trip (and honeymoon!) Cant wait to see all the photos! Iceland seems so romantic!
I know, I’ve never met anyone that said they didn’t enjoy it, regardless of the expense!
The pictures do look amazing. I have been reading so much about it lately that it seems to be an upcoming tourist destination, I hope it will not get spoiled. Although out honeymoon has passed it does seem like a nice trip to take, thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks Julian. I am very much looking forward to it!
My partner and I are going to Iceland for his 30th Birthday in March. So excited as have only heard fantastic things about it!
Will let you know how it goes!
Please do Jodi, I would love to hear that. Have fun! I am jealous.
We, same sex couple eloped to Iceland last year, got married at 10pm next to a relatively unknown waterfall, just the two of us, drove ourselves in a motorhome with a photographer in the back, spent two and half weeks exploring Iceland. Westfjords were amazing.
That sounds like an absolute dream. Congrats on your wedding. We eloped too (Austin) and haven’t regretted it. How did the family respond?
Emailed this to hubby now!!
Sadly (haha) already married so we can honeymoon in Iceland however it has given up a number of good ideas for a trip we want to take to Europe in the next year or so,. Maybe we can make it a second honeymoon!
We’re the same Sam but surely every trip should be a honeymoon right? 😉
So darn true hahah!
Would love to know your full route for this trip, we too are planning our honeymoon to Iceland in April 2018
This would be our full route – it’s the whole of Iceland but you would need a good amount of time. We’re going in September but only for 4 days so we plan to go as far as Diamond Beach, two nights in Vik and two nights in Reykjavik. Not going to lie, it’s been the hardest trip to plan for for fear of missing out! And congratulations!