Iceland in 24 Hours

Iceland may be cold and remote, but in recent years, this island nation, long considered too out-of-the-way for most travelers, has become a can't-miss destination — especially after Icelandair started luring Americans with cheap flights to Europe that included a stopover in Iceland. The caveat: Your stopover was a full day.

This offer is still popular today, with multiple airlines allowing a 24-hour (or longer) stopover for no additional airfare: All you need is a passport, an extra day or two, and maybe a rental car. But with its array of natural wonders, Iceland can easily fill up an entire vacation. The challenge for the stopover visitor is figuring out what to cram into a short stay. You can have a spectacular time on this spectacular island by making a good plan in advance.

If you thrill to the idea of an Iceland stopover, consider this whirlwind itinerary.

When to go: Try to do this in the summer, when roads are clear and daylight is virtually endless. From early June to mid-July, it never really gets dark, letting you extend your daylight sightseeing day as far as your energy level will take you.

Getting around: Having your own wheels will help you get the most out of your Iceland time. Consider, however, that you may arrive very groggy with jet lag, in which case a minivan excursion from Reykjavík may be the safer option (especially if you're visiting on your own). The itinerary here assumes you have a rental car, but with a little planning you can connect the airport, Blue Lagoon, and central Reykjavík by bus, and the Golden Circle and South Coast by minivan or bus tour.

Packing: Cool temperatures and bone-chilling wind can happen at any time of year, so bring enough layers to bundle up. Also bring a swimsuit for visiting a thermal bath, and sunglasses for driving with the sun low in the sky.

Morning: Most US flights to Iceland land at Keflavík International Airport in the early morning. Conveniently, the famous Blue Lagoon thermal-bath spa is just 15 minutes away — and in the summer it opens nice and early. By the time you deplane, clear customs, and pick up a rental car, you can head straight there for a relaxing outdoor soak in milky blue geothermal waters. But you can't just show up and hope to slip in — reservations are required. To have your choice of time slots, book ahead.

Midday: Refreshed from your soak, drive 45 minutes into Reykjavík and browse the town. I'd walk down to the harborfront for a photo op at the popular Sun Voyager sculpture (shaped like an old Viking boat), then follow the shoreline past the cutting-edge Harpa concert hall and moored boats to the Old Harbor, where you can peruse your lunch options among the seafood restaurants on the piers.

Afternoon: Set out from Reykjavík to the Golden Circle route for some serious sightseeing. This excursion offers a rewarding ratio of natural wonders per miles driven. Without stops, the entire circuit requires about four hours of driving — but a long Icelandic day will let you wring the maximum out of your visit.

The essential trio of stops along the way includes Þingvellir National Park, situated in an extraordinary gorge caused by the slow separation of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates; Geysir, a bubbling, steaming geothermal field with Iceland's most active geyser (called "Strokkur"); and Gullfoss, one of the country's most impressive waterfalls. Since these major Golden Circle sights technically never "close," you can go at your own pace without eyeing the clock.

Evening: Grab a bit to eat in Golden Circle country (limited options), hold out for your return to downtown Reykjavík (where restaurants keep long hours — you'll find plenty of spots still serving as late as 10 p.m.), plan ahead and picnic at one of the Golden Circle sights. Food and drink are expensive in Iceland, but you can make the most of your money — and your sightseeing time — by grabbing grub at a grocery store and dining geyser-side. Or stop anywhere selling Icelandic hot dogs (pylsur), a local fast-food favorite.

Late: Collapse at your hotel and sleep for a few hours. — or pull an Icelandic all-nighter (which is relatively easy at the height of summer, when it never really gets dark). Then drop your car at the airport and fly out the next morning.

For a longer layover: With 48 hours, do the one-day plan at a more relaxed pace and spend more time exploring Reykjavík — or keep up the tempo and add a visit to the dramatic South Coast. This region, lying in the shadow of two glacier-topped volcanoes, offers remarkable waterfalls (Seljalandsfoss), black-sand beaches (Reynisfjara), and hikable glaciers (Sólheimajökull) — it's a close runner-up to the Golden Circle as a top day trip. Plan on a 2.5-hour drive each way (without stops).

With its stunning natural wonders, kind and gregarious people, and unique attractions, this little island stubbornly exceeds the lofty expectations of its many visitors — even those just stopping over.