Planning the Ultimate Iceland Honeymoon

It might not always be the first place that pops to mind when thinking about romantic holiday destinations, but Iceland has some of the most beautiful and romantic places and experiences in the entire world. But some have discovered this well-kept secret, and Iceland is becoming more and more popular as a honeymoon destination.

In this article, we tell you everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip, and we even give you the lowdown on some of our best attractions, including a few itinerary options. After reading our guide you’ll not only be inspired but have half the planning for your trip already done!

How to Plan an Iceland Honeymoon

The first thing you should know is that the Land of Fire and Ice offers as vast and varied sights and activities as it has contrasting landscapes. So, planning the ideal honeymoon in Iceland will have a lot to do with what your idea of the perfect honeymoon is. When planning a honeymoon in Iceland the following should be taken into consideration:

What Type of People are You?

Iceland offers a variety of experiences for all sorts of personality types. If you’re afflicted by the insatiable cravings of non-stop Wanderlust, then maybe a road trip around some of our more remote regions such as the Wesfjords is the way to go. Perhaps you are thrill seekers?

Then maybe a trip filled with all sorts of outdoor adventures such as ice climbing, kayaking, and diving should be a priority? Or are you the type of people who would just like to do nothing for a while and enjoy some pampering? Then things such as luxury all-inclusive hotel stays with soaks in our geothermal pools and treatments at the spa could work for you.

What Weather Would You Like?

We’re going to assume that this is not such a dealbreaker, otherwise you would’ve gone to the Caribbean, but there are still a few things to consider when it comes to the weather in Iceland. Summer in Iceland will of course be the go-to if you want both hot and mild weather.

While it is the winter weather that actually allows for certain once-in-a-lifetime experiences, there can be times when the weather can be quite extreme. October and March are also known as our rainiest months. While this wouldn’t bother someone who wants to lounge around in our geothermal pools too much, it can completely derail the plans of outdoor adventure seekers.

Are You Coming for One of Our Natural Phenomena?

Iceland is famous for two natural phenomena: the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun. But these phenomena cannot be experienced at the same time. The Northern Lights require dry air, cold, and darkness (making the winter in Iceland the ideal time to go Northern Lights hunting). The Midnight Sun, on the other hand, requires 22+ hours of daylight each day (which can only be experienced mid-summer).

Will the Time of Year You Visit Impact the Things You Want to Do in Iceland?

Certain times of the year have an impact on certain activities or attractions. For example, if you want a jam-packed trip itinerary filled with outdoor adventures, it’s probably not the best idea to plan your trip for the winter season which comes with some pretty extreme weather and a maximum of 4 hours of daylight each day.

Similarly, trying to go ice cave exploring in the warmer months can be very disappointing since most of our ice caves are closed during this time. If you’ve always wanted to see the Puffins, but don’t visit during their breeding season of April to August, you’ll miss them. So, you need to ensure that you plan your trip according to what’s on your Iceland bucket list.

How do You Feel About Crowds?

Summer in Iceland is peak season, and the island will be much busier than usual. The same goes for our festive season till after New Year’s. So, if you’re not one for crowds, it’s best to avoid these times of the year.

What Does Your Budget Look Like?

Whenever peak season crowds flock to the island, local businesses try to cash in and prices increase. So, if you’re traveling on a tight budget, it’s best to avoid any of the peak season periods.

Are You Planning on Driving?

There is no better way to explore the island than by hitting the road, but driving in Iceland can be influenced by a variety of factors. During our colder months, you’ll need to deal with ice and snow on the roads. During the winter season, weather conditions can turn even more extreme with blizzards and our legendary winds exceeding speeds of 35+ kilometres an hour.

These tricky road conditions can rattle nervous drivers or those not used to dealing with this type of weather. The weather can also lead to sudden road closures, which can completely derail a trip itinerary if some flexibility has not been built into it. If you’ve got exploring the Westfjords or the Highlands on your Icelandic wishlist, it’s also best to visit the island during the summertime, since much of the exploring in these regions needs to be done via F-roads.

The F-roads in Iceland are unpaved roads that can be pretty rough in places and require a 4x4 vehicle (by law!). Due to the conditions of these roads, they are also kept closed through most of the colder months here on the island.

Some of Our Most Romantic Sights in Iceland

Talking about each and every romantic venue or setting here on the island will fill a book, but these are a few attractions that are simply not to be missed on a honeymoon in Iceland:

Our Hot Springs & Geothermal Pools

What can be more romantic than lounging around in warm water while staring out at some of the most breathtaking views you’ll ever see? Just take note that there are a couple of differences between our natural hot springs and our geothermal pools. Our natural hot springs can offer some intimacy and privacy that many of our geothermal pools do not.

But our geothermal pools offer more amenities and opportunities for couple activities such as couple’s spa packages. Which you choose will be up to personal preferences (or you can also do both). Some of the must-visit natural hot springs include Kvika Footbath and Hrunulaug, and some of the best geothermal pools for honeymoon purposes are the Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon, and the Myvatn Nature Baths.

Our Black Sand Beaches

Our black sand beaches are like time capsules as you walk upon black sand that was once the hardened lava of volcanic eruptions. It takes thousands of years for erosion to turn the hardened lava rock into these tiny grains of sand, creating these beaches stretching along the Icelandic coastline, making for the perfect romantic stroll. Some of the must-visit beaches include Reynisfjara and Diamond Beach. 

Our Waterfalls

Iceland is home to some of the most spectacular waterfalls you’ll ever see. And they make for very romantic moments. We’ve even had a few proposals at some of our falls. A few must-visit waterfalls on your honeymoon are Seljalandsfoss, Gullfoss, Skogafoss, Dynjandi, and Svartifoss.

A Couple of Honeymoon Trip Itineraries

Below you will find a few honeymoon trip itinerary options to either use as is or provide some inspiration:

7-Day Trip Itinerary for a Romantic Honeymoon in Iceland

This trip will take you all around the island, using our main road, the Ring Road.

Day 1: The Capital City of Reykjavik

• Arrive at Keflavik Airport.

• Travel to Reykjavik and book into your accommodation.

• Start exploring the capital!

Highlights:

• Hallgrimskirkja

• Laugavegur Street

• Harpa Concert Hall

• The Sun Voyager 

Sleep in: Reykjavik 

Day 2: The Golden Circle in the Direction of Vik

• Head out and start driving our infamous Golden Circle route packed with attractions. 

Highlights:

• Thingvellir National Park

• Haukadalur Geothermal Area

• Gullfoss Waterfall

• Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

• Fridheimar Farm 

Sleep in: Vik 

Day 3: Black Sand Beaches, Glaciers, and More in the Direction of Höfn

• Get an early start since today will total about 5 hours of driving time. 

Highlights:

• Skaftafell National Park (explore, take a hike, or arrange a glacier tour)

• Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon (definitely try either the Zodiac or Amphibian boat tour) 

Sleep in: Höfn 

Day 4: East Fjords & Fishing Villages in the Direction of Lake Myvatn

• Head out on our breathtaking mountain roads. 

Highlights:

• Djupivogar

• Egilsstadir

• Dimmuborgir

• Namaskard Pass

• Lake Myvatn 

Sleep in: Myvatn

Day 5: Akureyri

• Head to what is referred to as the capital city of the north, and spend the day exploring the city and surrounds. 

Highlights:

• Akureyri Botanical Gardens

• Akureyrarkirkja

• Akureyri Art Museum

• Ski at Hlidarfjall

• Kjarnaskogur Forest

• Whale-watching boat tour 

Sleep in: Akureyri 

Day 6: Wildlife and the Westfjords in the Direction of Stykkisholmur

• Hit the road in the direction of Stykkisholmur. 

Highlights:

• Skagafjördur Farms (gets you up close and personal with the various farm animals and you can even attend things such as wool-making workshops)

• Kolugljufur Canyon

• The Beaches of Hvammstangi 

Sleep in: Stykkisholmur 

Day 7: The Blue Lagoon on Your Way Back to Reykjavik

• Start driving west on your way back to the capital city. 

Highlights:

• Kirkjufell Mountain

• Blue Lagoon 

Sleep in: Reykjavik 

10-Day Trip Itinerary for a Romantic Honeymoon in Iceland

This is an extended version of a Ring Road trip around the island.

Day 1: The Blue Lagoon and Reykjavik

• Arrive at Keflavik Airport.

• Stop to have a relaxing soak at the Blue Lagoon.

• Head to Reykjavik and explore a bit before retiring for the night.

Highlights:

• Reykjavik’s Old Harbor

• Hallgrimskirkja

• Harpa Concert Hall

• Laugavegur Street

• The Sun Voyager 

Sleep in: Reykjavik 

Day 2: The Golden Circle

• Hit the main road to complete the Golden Circle route today! 

Highlights:

• Thingvellir National Park

• Haukadalur Geothermal Area

• Gullfoss Waterfall

• Kerid Crater 

Sleep in: Hvölsvollur Area 

Day 3: Waterfalls & Beaches

• Head back out on the Ring Road for a day filled with waterfalls and beaches on this stretch of the trip. 

Highlights:

• Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

• Skogafoss Waterfall

• The Village of Vik

• Dyrholaey

• Reynisdrangar Black Sand Beach

• Fjadrargljufur Canyon 

Sleep in: Kirkjubæjarklaustur/Skaftafell Area 

Day 4: Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon & Vatnajökull National Park

• Head out to the park for some good old-fashioned exploring and immersing yourself in Icelandic nature. 

Highlights:

• Svartifoss Waterfall (you can also do this as part of a hiking trail).

• A glacier hike or ice cave tour (you will have your pick of tour operators and guides offering these excursions here).

• Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. 

Sleep in: Höfn or Djupivogur 

Day 5: The East Fjords & the Myvatn Nature Baths

• Today you’ll follow the main road through east Iceland and take in the beautiful fjords and sights along the way. 

Highlights:

• Lake Myvatn

• Krafla Volcano

• Namaskard Pass

• Hverfell Crater

• Pseudo-craters of Skutustadir

• Myvatn Nature Baths 

Sleep in: Myvatn 

Day 6: Lake Myvatn, Dettifoss & Asbyrgi

• This day will be spent exploring the current region and its surroundings more. 

Highlights:

• Whale-watching boat tour in Husavik

• Jökulsargljufur Canyon

• Asbyrgi Canyon

• Dettifoss Waterfall 

Sleep in: Myvatn 

Day 7: North Iceland

• Today, you’ll hit the main road again, heading north to explore the upper region of the island. 

Highlights:

• Godafoss Waterfall

• Akureyri (the capital city of the north)

• Skagafjördur

• Tröllaskagi Peninsula

• Siglufjördur Canyon

• The Geothermal Pool at Hofsos

• A Horseriding Tour in Skagafjördur on one of the island’s own breed of horse. 

Sleep in: Northwest Iceland 

Day 8: Journey to Snæfellsnes Peninsula

• Head towards the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, one of the regions in Iceland known for its most breathtaking landscapes. 

Highlights:

• Pingeyrarkirkja

• The Living Museum at Eiriksstadir

• Gudrunarlaug Geothermal Pool

• Stykkisholmur Fishing Village 

Sleep in: Snæfellsnes Peninsula 

Day 9: Snæfellsjökull National Park & Glacier

• Today you will be exploring another of our incredible national parks before heading back to the capital city. 

Highlights:

• Dritvik Cove

• Londrangar Cliffs

• Arnarstapi Cliffs

• Djupalonssandur Beach (have some fun and try your hand at the four stones that were used to test whether you had the strength to cut it as a fisherman).

*You will also have the opportunity to choose from a variety of activities in the park if you have the desire or the time. These include horse-riding tours, glacier tours, boat cruises, and more. 

Sleep in: Reykjavik 

Day 10: Going Home

• Use today to explore the capital city one last time before heading to Keflavik Airport and catching a flight home. 

An Iceland Honeymoon: the Perfect Destination for All Personalities

As you can see, a honeymoon in Iceland can suit a wide variety of personalities and wishlists. Thrill seekers will have the opportunity to get the blood pumping, nature lovers will find themselves in some of the most breathtaking settings imaginable, and those who just want to relax and be pampered as they do as little as possible will have ample opportunity to do so.

If you’re planning on taking on one of our suggested road trip itineraries, we recommend that you rent a campervan in Reykjavik upon arrival. This will not only add to your unique and intimate experience around the island but also sort out both transport and accommodation. So, what are you waiting for? Hit the road and set out on the ultimate romantic adventure to create unforgettable memories with your spouse comfortably cuddled up in your camper.