Day 4 (Gulfoss & Keflavik)

Our last morning in Selfoss (Slide 4) began with a pair of feline guests—two very friendly cats (Slides 1–3), one of whom had already visited us earlier in the trip. We had assumed there was only one cat, but this morning we realized there were two! They lounged near the cabin as if to say goodbye, adding a cozy touch to our farewell. Our little Airbnb had truly been the perfect base (Slides 5–6), offering beautiful views to the north (Slide 7) and a peaceful place to return to each night. We paused for one last photo to capture just how lovely it was.

Before hitting the road, we stopped at Krónan, one of Iceland’s budget grocery chains, to pick up supplies for lunch (Slides 9–10). Just outside the WC, which was located down in the parking garage, we spotted a hilariously mistranslated safety sign—bilingual, yes, but not quite correct: “Tigger the fire alarm” (Slide 8) 😁.

Our main destination for the day was Gullfoss, the legendary Golden Falls nestled in the heart of Iceland’s Golden Circle (Slides 11–22). We hadn’t had time to make it there on Day 2, so we decided to go back that way instead. We followed the now familiar road past Kerið Crater, through Geysir, and finally reached Gullfoss. There was plenty of free parking, along with gift shops and bathroom facilities.

The weather was brisk but clear as we made our way to the first viewpoint, where the falls gradually reveal themselves through the mist (Slide 14). Standing at the gorge’s edge, we could feel both the raw power and grace of the waterfall, its layered terraces crashing into the narrow canyon (Slides 15–16). Rebecca, energized by the moment, paused to soak in the atmosphere (Slides 17–18)—she said she could feel the power of the falls in her body.

We wandered to the upper viewpoints, peering upriver from the top (Slide 17) and pausing to admire the panoramic views from the ledge (Slide 19). Nearby, we noticed a mix of familiar and new wildflowers blooming in the sheltered pockets near the gorge (Slide 21). After one last look at Gullfoss (Slide 22), we headed back to the visitor center. We browsed the famous Icelandic wool sweaters, but at $300 apiece, they remained just out of reach 🤪.

On the drive back, we passed once more through the Geysir area, and could spot the lookout hill we had climbed on Day 2. From this vantage point, it seemed dwarfed by the surrounding mountains (Slide 23). A little farther along, we caught a final look at the Þingvellir (Thingvellir) valley and lake, this time from the west (Slide 24), officially closing the loop on our journey through the Golden Circle.

As we approached Reykjavík, the traffic was a quick reminder that we were back in the bustle of the capital (Slide 25). After navigating 30 minutes of hectic roads and countless roundabouts, we reached the highway to Keflavík. Our final gas stop set us back 7,507 ISK—about $62 USD, with fuel priced at 299.7 ISK per liter (roughly $9.33 per gallon) (Slide 26).

We had booked our final Airbnb in Keflavík, just 10 minutes from the airport (Slide 27). The unit featured a cozy balcony (Slide 29), a shared breakfast room (Slide 30), and gave us a peaceful space to wind down. For our last dinner, we shared a takeout Icelandic lamb dish from Biryani Mediterranean Restaurant (Slide 29).

Later that evening, we drew the blackout curtains (remember, it never gets dark in the summer!) and packed our bags in preparation for our early morning flight. Our time in Iceland had come to a close—but the memories, from volcanic vistas to thundering waterfalls, will stay with us.
Iceland is definitely worth seeing.