That’s how we roll… Combining Iceland and Italy in one trip, because why not?

Welcome to the Journey Unburdened blog! This is a space where we will share stories and tips to give you inspiration for your travels.

As a starter, I thought I would tell you about the time we took a family trip to Iceland and Italy. If you look on a map, you will see that these countries are not exactly close to each other. But when WE looked at the map, we said, “We’ll already be most of the way across the Atlantic, why not throw in another country a plane flight away.” We loved the idea of seeing all of Iceland’s beauty, but didn’t want to commit our entire two-week vacation there. You could EASILY spend two weeks in Iceland, we’re just restless travelers. Our youngest is particularly fond of mythology and ancient history, so we decided to spend the other half of our vacation in Italy. 

I know this type of disjointed trip may not make a ton of sense to a lot of people, but it worked well for us. So, know that if you decide to work with Journey Unburdened to plan your trip, we are open to all kinds of travel. You do you!

Our basic itinerary was as follows. There are pictures and some quick descriptions below. If the Iceland portion sounds interesting to you, I have a one-week pre-planned itinerary based on the sites we visited available for purchase HERE.

Day 1 - Fly Raleigh -> Montreal -> Reykjavik

Day 2 - Arrive Reykjavik in the morning, pick up rental car, visit The Settlement Center, Krauma Spa, check out Vatnsdalsholar View Point

Day 3 - Visit a natural hot pot, stop in Akureyri, see Godafoss waterfall, visit sites in the Myvatn Lake area

Day 4 - Drive to Husavik for whale watching, head to Dettifoss waterfall, hike in Studlagil Canyon

Day 5 - Visit a Viking film set, see Diamond Beach and a glacial bay with icebergs, take a hike

Day 6 - Take a hike, visit a black sand beach, see LOTS of waterfalls

Day 7 - Drive to the airport and fly Reykjavik -> Copenhagen -> Rome, drive south to Pompei

Day 8 - Visit Pompei, drive south to visit Paestum - the best-preserved Greek temples in the world

Day 9 - Visit the coastal areas of San Severino, Palinuro, and Pisciotta

Day 10 - Relax in Ascea and visit the ancient ruins of Velia

Day 11 - Drive to Rome and visit the Vatican Museums

Day 12 - Visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain

Day 13 - Fly back to Iceland, Rome -> Copenhagen -> Reykjavik, visit the Hallgrimskirkja in Reykjavik

Day 14 - Visit the Westman Islands, relax in the Hrunalaug Hot Spring

Day 15 - Hike to Reykjadalur Thermal River and enjoy a relaxing swim, check out Thingvellir National Park

Day 16 - Fly home, Reykjavik -> Montreal -> Raleigh with a long layover in Montreal to check out some sites

Map of Iceland

We drove the Ring Road of Iceland, which takes you in a circle around the entire country. We drove it clockwise.

Map of Italy

We visited Rome, Pompei, and some beach towns south of the Amalfi Coast. That southern coastal area has very few American tourists.

The Settlement Center

This is a fun little walk-through, interactive museum with some of the Saga stories of Iceland. It’s a great way to learn a bit about the history at the beginning of the trip. English audio guides come with your admission.

Krauma Spa

This spa is on the fancier side but still allows children. It is right beside a natural geothermal area that provides the heated water for pools of different temperatures. There is also a cold plunge pool that was way too cold for me. The selling point for this spa on the first day is that they have a relaxation room with lounge chairs and a fireplace in the middle. A perfect place to rest after your overnight flight.

Vatnsdalsholar View Point

This viewpoint is just a quick side trip from the Ring Road. There is a staircase that takes you to the top of a hill to see the many mounds formed by an ancient landslide. When we visited it was particularly windy and chilly, so don’t forget your jacket and hat!

First night accommodation

We loved this little house next to a farm and mountains. Two dogs greeted us and wanted to play.

Waterfall near Fosslaug hot pot

I didn’t get a picture of the hot pot without people in it, so I can only show you this nice waterfall that is just beyond the hot spring. A quick 15-minute walk from the parking lot will bring you to a circular pool of natural hot spring water. There are no changing facilities, so come prepared with your bathing suit on or ready to change behind a towel. You will probably be joined by some fellow travelers from all over the world.

Akureyri

The largest town in the north of Iceland, Akureyri is still very small. There is a main street with cute shops and restaurants.

Godafoss waterfall

The name of this waterfall means “Falls of the Gods” and has a great legend behind it about a Norse chieftain throwing Pagan idols into the falls. The falls can be viewed from several different areas and you can take a short hike down to the water.

Skutustadagrig pseudo craters

This was our first stop in the Myvatn Lake area. These craters were formed by an ancient volcanic eruption in the area. There is a great little visitor center that describes the geology, flora, and fauna of the area. Across the street you can grab some ice cream.

Viti Crater

Up a little ways into the mountains you will find this extinct volcanic crater with blue water.

Hverir geothermal area

This Mars-like landscape has small pots of bubbling water all around. Stay on the marked path for safety and be prepared for the sulfur smell. I loved this otherworldly landscape that is so different from anything I’d seen before.

Hike up Hverfjall Volcano Trail

Another extinct volcano and this one takes a hike to the top. The ground is gravel and moves under your feet, so this hike can feel a bit challenging.

Dinner at a dairy

Vogafjos Farm Resort offers a restaurant with windows into their milking stalls. The food was delicious and, in my opinion, you can’t beat a view with some cows. We also stayed the night here and had a good breakfast the next morning.

Whale watching in Husavik

This is one of the highlights of the trip. Husavik is the whale watching hot spot of Iceland and it did not disappoint. We went with North Sailing and say several humpback whales. They give you thermal gear to stay warm and dry and serve cinnamon buns and hot chocolate on the way back.

Yes, the whales came that close!

We got very lucky and had a pair of whales surface very close to the boat for a minute or two.

Dettifoss

We checked out Dettifoss waterfall from the west side. There is a bit of a climb over an area of rocks that is well-marked to get to several viewing areas.

Walk to Studlagil Canyon

To get to the Instagram-famous Studlagil Canyon you will need to hike a bit. As long as you have a 4×4 vehicle, you can make it to the second parking area that will reduce your hike to 30-45 minutes. Along the way you will see this lovely waterfall.

Sheep along the way

We also saw these sheep along our hike to Sudlagil Canyon, a ubiquitous site in Iceland in the summer.

Studlagil Canyon

The hike - and the hype - is worth it. This canyon provides a great example of the hexagonal columns that form during lava cooling. The water, which is blue in the summer, gives a very beautiful contrast to the columns.

A beautiful drive

This drive on a back road in the eastern part of Iceland was truly beautiful, one of those views that a camera can’t accurately capture.

Viking village set

This small replica village was built for film productions. Now you can pay to visit and walk around the area. There are some yummy waffles in the cafe of the visitor center.

Vestrahorn Mountain

You can get a great view of Vestrahorn Mountain from the Viking film set area. Also walk a little farther in the other direction to see the rocky coast and you may spot some seals basking on the rock island nearby.

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon

This glacier lagoon sends chunks of ice out to the ocean, some of which end up on Diamond Beach on the opposite side of the highway. You can take boat tours in the lagoon, but you get a great view standing on the shore. Watch carefully, and you may see some playful seals in the water or sunning themselves on the ice.

Diamond Beach

You can find chunks of ice, big and small, on Diamond Beach. We had fun watching the small ice bergs pass under the bridge and guessing where they would go from there.

Mulagljufur Canyon

An uphill hike will reward you with stunning views of this canyon. In summer it is green with small waterfalls cascading down the sides. The hike up can be strenuous for those who are not avid hikers. Plan for 45-90 minutes of hiking.

Fjadrargljufur

This canyon is equally stunning and requires a shorter hike than the previous one. Justin Bieber made this canyon popular by filming a music video here. There is a grated observation deck that allows for some great photos.

Reynisfjara Beach

This black sand beach is one of the more popular attractions for tourists due to the presence of giant hexagonal columns. Heavy erosion in Winter 2025-26 has made the columns inaccessible for a while. The beach should eventually replenish itself. If you visit, be incredibly careful and pay close attention to the warning lights as sneaker waves are common and deadly.

Dyrholaey Viewpoint

This viewpoint is easy to get to with a parking lot nearby and a short, paved walk.

Kvernufoss

This waterfall is very close to the more popular Skogafoss. It requires a short hike from the parking lot. Just viewing from the front or side is nice, but you can also walk behind it.

Gljufrabui waterfall

Just a short walk away from Seljalandsfoss is this waterfall inside a hidden part of the mountain. You can see people walking that direction from Seljalandsfoss. You’ll need to traverse a small section of slippery rocks to get inside.

Sun and heat

From the cool and overcast climate of Iceland to the heat and sun of Italy. Bring your sunglasses and sunscreen because shade in Pompei can be hard to come by.

Pompei and Mount Vesuvius

From one of the main squares in Pompei you can see the volcano in the distance that was responsible for destroying the city. Rick Steves has a great audio tour of Pompei that you can download on your phone. If you would rather take a guided tour, consider splurging on a private tour or small group to avoid the giant group tours.

Temples of Paestum

Who knew Italy has the best-preserved Greek temple in the world? This archeological area was a huge hit with both our boys. There is a museum with artifacts as well.

Up close to the temples

You can get right up onto some of the temples at Paestum.

View from our agriturismo

I can’t recommend this place more highly. We were served a delicious breakfast and dinner with beautiful views and quiet calm. Check out Agriturismo Tempa del Niglio in Ascea, Italy

San Severino abandoned village

The small abandoned village of San Severino sits up on the hill overlooking the newer version of the town below. You can take a short hike uphill and check out the crumbling structures.

Baia degli Infreschi

You can take a long hike to this bay or drive slowly down a bumpy dirt road and park at Azienda Agricola Oasi Infreschi for a meal and then walk a short way to this lookout point.

Palinuro from the water

We had a lovely afternoon boat trip to view the rock formations and swim. While we stopped for a while, they served some Prosecco. The water is blue and oh-so-clear!

Pisciotta

We only had time for a short walk through this pretty little hillside town, but if you have a longer time, take the opportunity to eat at one of the local restaurants and enjoy the ambiance.

Ancient Velia

This ancient site in Ascea was founded by the Greeks and then taken over by the Romans.

View from hotel in Rome

We loved our hotel in Rome with a patio and view of St. Peter’s Basilica. Check out Bloom Hotel, which is walking distance to the Vatican.

Vatican Museums

Our boys were in awe of all the art in the Vatican Museums. Rick Steves has a great audio tour of the museum that you can download on your phone. It’s a lot of walking, though, and by the end of it we opted not to try to get into St. Peter’s Basilica. My husband and I had seen it before and hopefully the boys can come back on their own in the future.

The Colosseum

Another big hit with the kids. Make sure to purchase your tickets well in advance as they sell out quickly and will likely not be available on site. Rick Steves has a great audio tour of the Colosseum that you can download on your phone.

The Pantheon

Another great ancient site in Rome and another one with a Rick Steves audio tour you can download on your phone.

Trevi Fountain

The crowds at the Trevi Fountain can be quite large. Mix that with the heat and pounding sun, and you may be ok with a quick view. If you are an early riser, try to come by in the morning. Also keep in mind that the closest area to the fountain is now limited to those with a ticket. You can still see the fountain from the higher platforms.

Back in Iceland, Hallgrimskirkja

This church is probably the most recognizable manmade structure in Iceland. It is a Lutheran church and rather sparse on the inside. You can purchase a ticket to take the elevator to the top to get a view over Reykjavik.

View from Hallgrimskirkja

From here you can basically see the homes of 40% of Iceland’s population!

Westman Islands puffin colony

To get to the Westman Islands you need to take a short ferry. To make things easiest, bring your car along. The puffin colony on Heimaey is the largest in the world. The best months to see them are April to August. Make sure to keep your distance and don’t disturb their nesting areas. If you visit in August (or sometimes early September) you can see locals helping the pufflings who have wandered off course.

More puffins!

Eldfell

Hike up this new mountain formed by a volcanic eruption that reshaped the island in 1973.

Reminders of the 1973 volcano

Miraculously, nobody was killed during the volcanic eruption in 1973, but many homes were buried. Check out the Eldheimer Museum to hear about the event and see an excavated home.

Playground fun

These cool bouncy pillows are in playgrounds across Iceland. The kids finally got a chance to play on one while we waited for our ferry time.

Hrunalaug Hot Spring River

On our last day in Iceland we hiked up to this hot spring river. The hike was a bit harder than I had expected, but the reward was great. There are minimal facilities here, including a boardwalk and some privacy pavilions for changing clothes, but note that there aren’t any curtains, so a friend or family member will need to hold up a towel if you want a bit more privacy. The farther upstream you go, the warmer the water is, until it’s too hot for anyone. It’s a perfect place to spend an afternoon. Bring a picnic and your favorite drink!

Thingvellir National Park

This is the original site of the Icelandic parliament, where clan chiefs would meet once a year. There is a visitor center and lots of walking trails.

Tectonic plates... or maybe not

There is a walking path between two stone cliffs and you may hear that this is where the North American and European tectonic plates meet. That’s not quite right, but fun to imagine.

More sheep

You really can’t miss the sheep everywhere in Iceland in the summer. They seem free to roam all around the countryside, and sometimes they just roam onto the road.