Iceland is a land of otherworldly beauty, where geothermal wonders and breathtaking landscapes create the perfect backdrop for a rejuvenating wellness journey. From 155 different soothing hot springs to enjoy to the most jaw dropping nature scenes, my trip to Iceland was filled with both relaxation and adventure.
This was my very first time to Iceland, and the wellness aspect to the country definitely intrigued me. My partner and I spent a total of 10 days roadtripping around the entire country from Reykjavik the west to Akureryki in the north to Egilstaddir in the east and down south to the Vik area. If you’re into wellness travel like mineral baths, healthy and local food, lots of nature, etc. then this is the perfect destination for your next international trip.
In this blog, I’ll break down our trip by region including all of my recommendations for wellness activities, places I recommend to eat at, and other top sights for the ultimate wellness trip. I’ll also include the top highlights if you’re short on time or don’t want to roadtrip the entire country. If I we’re to go again or just want relaxation, I’d stay solely in the Southern region.
For my exact day by day itinerary, see here.
*Affiliate disclosure: I may make a small commission if you purchase from my links in this article at no extra cost to you.
West Iceland (Grindavik and Reykjavik)
This is where you will likely begin your Iceland trip no matter what as the main airport is in Keflavik, which is around 40 minute drive from the main city Reykjavik. We rented our car right outside the airport and headed straight to the Blue Lagoon at 7am.
I recommend heading straight to the Blue Lagoon from your flight as you are the closest to the area of Grindavik after landing in the airport. After a red eye this was a great way to feel rejuvenated, and you can actually spend the entire day there if you want. Just make sure to book your reservation in advance. We needed to kill time until we were able to check in anyways.
We spent a few days in West Iceland before officially starting our roadtrip. From here, you can totally do the opposite direction of what we drove (in fact, most people do) but we wanted to drive the Ring Road clockwise, heading up North first.
We stayed a couple days in Reykjavik at the Center Hotel Klopp, exploring the city. I think 2-3 days is all you’ll need here. It’s a vibrant city brimming with culture and charm. The city’s small size made it easy to navigate, and we had some of the best food here.
Top wellness activities in West Iceland
- Blue Lagoon: If this is your first time in Iceland than this is an obvious one! We enjoyed getting there right when they opened as it wasn’t super crowded.
- Sky Lagoon: This was my favorite hot spring experience! The infinity pool overlooking the ocean was breathtaking, and each ticket comes with the 7 step ritual (out of this world experience). This is located right in the city of Reykavjik.
Places I recommend to eat at in Reykjavik
- Braud & Co: A famous place known for their cinnamon buns, they also make delicious sourdoughs. Just make sure you go their original location!
- Icelandic Street Food: This was our top favorite meal in Iceland. Not only are they affordable, but their delicious soups come with unlimited refills. I highly recommend their traditional Icelandic lamp soup. You can get it served in a bread bowl or normal bowl if you’re gluten free. There are also free waffles.
- Posthus Food Hall: I love exploring food halls while traveling in Europe. There’s plenty of options and it’s usually local cuisines and ingredients. Here, we got the fish and chips and ate in the beautiful greenhouse bar area.
- Hlemmur Mathöll: This was another food hall where I enjoyed delicious pho at the Vietnamese stand.
Other top sights and activities to not miss in West Iceland
- Hallgrímskirkja Church: This iconic church is a must-visit for its stunning architecture and panoramic views of the city from the tower.
- Rainbow Street: A picturesque street filled with colorful houses and shops. Hard to miss when exploring the city.
- Grotta Lighthouse: If the Northern Lights are going to be out, head out here to see them! We did our first night and got amazing photos.
North Iceland (Akureyri)
After spending a few days in Reykavjik, it was time to begin our road trip. As mentioned, we did the opposite of most tourists driving the Ring Road and headed up North first. We drove to Akureyri, the second biggest city in Iceland in one day, in about 4-5 hours with only one true stop.
On the drive up North expect to see LOTS of ponies on the side of the road. We stayed two nights in Akureyri to use as our base.
Top wellness activities in North Iceland
- Fosslaug & Reykafoss: On your way up to Akureyri, this is a must stop on the drive! Located in Varmahlío, Fosslaug is a natural hot pot alongside a river and a beautiful waterfall (Reykafoss) located on some farmland. There is parking available for a donation, then you walk over to the waterfall, pass over to it, and you’ll find a natural pool in the ground that’s warm and likely already has some people soaking in it.
- Stay at a cabin with a hot tub, view, & heated floors: We booked our stay at these cute mini cabins that had a view of the mountains and its own private hot tub. The cabin was super modern with heated floors, the most luxurious shower, and little treats for us. We got to grill our own meal that night and sip on some local blueberry juice while we soaked in the hot tub. I can’t recommend Mountain View Suites enough. This would have been even better if the Northern Lights were out that night!
- Husky Hike: This was a very unique experience but a great way to get some steps in, connect with locals, and be surrounded by husky dogs (plus puppies!) to reduce stress. This was activity we chose to do on my birthday and we really enjoyed it. We spent a few hours walking huskies through a forest then got some cuddle time with the pups.
- Forest Lagoon: This is a gem in Akureyri. Smaller than the Blue or Sky Lagoon, but less crowded and felt even more secluded as you bathe in the forest. We arrived close to opening and almost had the entire place to ourselves. What I loved about this hot spring is the different pools with various temperatures, including a natural cold plunge and a beautiful sauna. Although you’re in the woods here, you still get a good view of the mountains.
- Foss Hot Pot: As you’re leaving Akureyri, this is a great stop for a quick soak in a free hot spring at the top of a waterfall. Its across the fjord from Akureyri, close to the junction of Route 1 and Road 83.
- Mývatn Nature Baths: If you’re determined to hit all of the most amazing hot springs in Iceland on your road trip, another great option in the north is Mývatn Nature Baths. It’s actually a less crowded alternative to Blue Lagoon with geothermal waters rich in the same minerals.
- GeoSea GeoThermal Baths: I did not have time to check out this hot spring, but I know it’s highly recommended. If you have time, I would definitely check it out.
Places I recommend to eat at in Akureyri
- Kaffi Ilmur: This is a great cafe that has a lot of gluten-free options.
- Moes Food Truck: Delicious fish and chips that cater to gluten-free diets right in downtown Akureyri.
- Eyja: We had an amazing dinner here — try their baked cheese appetizer and beef main course!
- Kettikaffi: This was a homey spot for breakfast in their art museum. Homemade sourdough eggs benedict…so good.
- Brynja ice cream: Yes, they have dairy free ice cream options but their original soft serve is super unique. They use local Icelandic milk instead of cream and all natural ingredients. Highly recommend.
Other top sights and activities in North Iceland
- Godafoss Waterfall: On your way out of Akureyri, if you’re heading east then you must stop here! You can park and hike around to get different views of this beautiful waterfall.
East Iceland (Egilsstaðir)
East Iceland is known for its dramatic fjords and quaint fishing villages. The region offers a more remote experience compared to other parts of the country. We didn’t spend as much time here (just one night) but there are a lot of great hiking spots on the way there, and outside of Egilsstaðir.
Top wellness activities in East Iceland
- Hike to Studlagil Canyon: To me, wellness includes being out in nature and getting movement in even when traveling. Studlagil was definitely our longest “hike” while here and seeing the basalt columns, the fields of green, and fresh air was more than worth it.
- Vök Baths: Surprise! Another hot spring, but I can’t not mention it. Located in Egilsstaðir, these baths feature floating pools filled with geothermal water from nearby hot springs — perfect for relaxation after a long drive and lots of hiking.
- Hengifoss Waterfall: A breathtaking waterfall worth hiking to as well. This is the waterfall with the black and red basalt column layers behind it.
Places I recommend to eat at in East Iceland
- Kjot & Fiskur: Their fish and chips are out of this world. Also a great place to get local seafood or meats if you’ll be cooking yourself.
South Iceland (Vik & Reykjadalur & Hveragerðis)
South Iceland is famous for its stunning waterfalls, black sand beaches, and geothermal activity. This region was packed with some of my favorite experiences during the trip. If I had to do it all over again, I’d spend most of my time here.
We spent around 3 days in the southern region and stayed one night outside of Vik near one of the main waterfalls at Hotel Skogafoss and one night in Hveragerðis (a Geothermal town I HIGHLY recommend, more on that below) at Varmi Guesthouse (lovely hot tub and stay with full kitchen).
We drove down from Egilstaddir and hit a lot of the main spots down south in one day, spent the night, and kept going along the 1. We traveled inland for one of the days to the Reykjadalur area before continuing on to the Geothermal town which is only 40 minutes outside Reykjavik.
Top wellness activities in South Iceland
- Skaftafell Hike to Svartifoss: You can get your blood pumping and be out in nature on this fairly quick hike to a waterfall.
- Skógafoss: We spent a couple hours here in the morning, before a lot of people arrived. This was our favorite, most breathtaking waterfall. You can even camp out near the base of it. It’s a great location to just relax and take in the view.
- Kvernufoss: This is not as well known as Skogafoss, yet it’s within walking distance. A short little walk will bring you to a beautiful waterfall that you can walk behind. Hardly anyone was there.
- Seljalandsfoss: While this may not be “wellness” based but it’s a top sight to see and you’re out in nature! You can walk behind this one and then find the “secret one” to the left of it where you can quite literally be underneath the waterfall, called Gljúfrabúi.
- Seljandes Pool: This is one of the oldest swimming pools in Iceland. We didn’t have time to check this out but the photos look amazing. It’s free, and warm.
- Hrunalaug Hot Pot: This was our favorite hot pot! It’s super small, locals still use it, and it costs a small fee to use it. There are 3 pools, with one being a plunge tub coming out of a small moss covered hut. There is a time limit so it doesn’t become overcrowded, but we used up our entire time here just relaxing in the warm waters and nature sounds. After work hours, it gets busy and loud with locals. I recommend early morning.
- Secret Lagoon: This hot springs is actually the oldest pool in Iceland. It’s an all natural hot spring that is fairly affordable to visit. This is off the Golden Circle near the village of Fludir.
- Hike to a Thermal River: Another top favorite activity. This is an hour hike uphill, I might add, to a thermal river you can soak in. There are changing areas and ladders to get into the river. The father up the river near the end of the walkways is where it’s hottest. Make sure you have dry clothes to change into after for the hike down. We hiked up first thing in the morning after staying the night in Hveragerðis. This is also a free activity aside from parking fees!
Places I recommend to eat at in South Iceland
- Black Crust Pizzeria: Located in Vik, this is a super popular spot. They make sourdough pizzas and add activated charcoal to some of them to mimic their black sand beaches in this area. I got the one with local Icelandic cheeses and jam!
- Friðheimar: We had an amazing lunch here inside a tomato greenhouse — definitely try their tomato soup! While this gets booked up completely and finding a reservation may be impossible, you can eat in their bistro and bar greenhouse that has a similar menu and is absolutely beautiful. It’s covered in real grape vines! I also recommend their salad with roasted duck.
- Greenhouse Hotel Food Hall: Located in Hveragerðis, this was a super cute spot to eat at that seemed to be popular with the locals. Tons of options to choose from like local Icelandic cuisine, Japanese ramen bowls, and Yuzu burgers.
Other top sights and activities in South Iceland
- Geothermal Park – Located in in Hveragerðis, this was cool experience where we got to boil an egg in a hot spring, try rye bread cooked in the earth on site, and try natural clay foot masks as well as see a geyser go off. This was a super cheap activity.
- Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach: The dramatic landscape here was both beautiful and awe-inspiring. A must stop while in the Vik area.
- Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach: Witnessing icebergs floating in Jökulsárlón lagoon was one of the highlights of my trip. You can walk across the way, under the bridge to explore Diamond beach where there are chunks of the glacier ice all over the black sand. It’s soo pretty. We spent a couple of hours here.
- Stop at Fjadrargljufur Canyon: This is an incredible view and an easy stop off the Ring Road. It’s a short walk up a hill to the viewpoints of the canyon.
- Town of Vik: I thought this town was super cute and wish I had spent more time here. Their church on top of the hill is a great photo opportunity.
My top recommendations if you’re limited on time or don’t want to roadtrip the entire country
Okay, if that seemed like a lot, I get it. If you’re short on time or prefer not to road trip the entire country, here are my top recommendations for experiencing the best of Iceland, particularly around Reykjavik and the nearby areas:
- Spend a couple days exploring Reykjavik
- Sky Lagoon
- Blue Lagoon
- Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
- Skógafoss Waterfall
- Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
- Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach
- Check out the town of Hveragerði & hike to the thermal river
- Hrunalaug Hot Pot + Frioheimar for lunch
If you want to see how we did this trip day by day so you can do the same or similar for a wellness travel trip to Iceland, check out my exact itinerary here. I hope this inspires your next wellness trip.
