I'm planning a trip from the U.S. to Iceland, Italy and Ireland for October 2020. Has anyone done a similar itinerary? I'm hoping to have the Iceland stop as part of a multi-day layover from the U.S. to Siena, Italy or Ireland. Our plan is to travel for approx 2 weeks.
I'd appreciate any suggestions on which order to visit these countries, or scheduling the flights to layover in Iceland.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
13934 posts
With just 2 weeks - that sounds like a lot to cover so you'll have to sharply edit your wish list.
You'll have shorter days in your more northern areas. I just happened to have www.sunrisesunset.com up in another tab so for Reykjavik in mid-Oct you've got sunrise about 8:16A and sunset about 6:11P. For Dublin you've got sunrise at 7:51A and sunset at 6:31 P for a few more minutes of daylight in which to tour. Florence Italy (doesn't have Siena on the list but that's close enough) is sunrise at 7:28 and sunset at 6:33 which is better for sightseeing.
What cities and sights do you want to visit in Italy? Just Siena or did you want to see more of Tuscany? How about Ireland? Both are big countries and can use 2 weeks each.
If you haven't traveled internationally before know that most flights from the US to Europe leave in the afternoon or evening arriving the next morning. Coming home you are traveling with the sun so it's the same day for departure and arrival. That's 3 days out of 14 for travel. You'll also lose at least 1/2 a day when you travel between Iceland and Italy and between Italy and Ireland or however you structure it.
You've got lots of thinking to do!
Posted by
New York, NY
1582 posts
Hi Suzie,
Do Iceland to Ireland on the first leg since the flight time is around 2 hours then on second leg, do Ireland to Italy. Be sure to choose the Pisa International airport as the landing place in Italy because it will be the closest to Siena. From Italy you can fly home. If you could do a multi day layover in Iceland, that would be better. You can spend most of your time exploring Ireland and Italy. Have you drafted an itinerary of places you plan on visiting on those countries?
Posted by
681 posts
That is a lot to cover in so short of time. I am tired just thinking about it. Each would constitute a trip in itself. Good luck in planning.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA
1075 posts
I would base it on which cities have the best non-stop options. For example if there is a nonstop from San Diego to Rome on the way over there, that might be the best place to start. Or, if you don’t have any nonstops available, you can always start in Iceland because it has the least time change and then work your way to Italy, which has the biggest time change.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7357 posts
With all those “I” countries, you could go for a maximum quintuplet and add Iraq and Iran, too, but maybe not.
I agree with those above that Iceland, then Ireland, then Italy would seem to be the ideal order. Are you coming back home through Keflavik Airport in Iceland, though, via Icelandair? Their schedule might affect the order. Flights from Denver get to Iceland really early in the morning, so depending on your flight’s arrival time, and whether you’re sleep deprived and jet lagged (try to change your sleep schedule a week or 2 before you leave home, so your body might be more ready for arriving in Iceland, ready to stay up much of that day), you could get a pretty full day in upon landing. We signed up for a whale watching trip our first day, in the afternoon after arriving in Reykjavik, and it worked surprisingly well, keeping us up for a good first dinner.
Unless there was an overly long layover at Keflavik for your flight home from Italy (or Ireland) which might make it less desirable to have to sit around because of having already seen Iceland on your way over, do Iceland first. Oh, there’s always Indonesia and India - more “I” countries, huh?