iceland summer road trip itinerary

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CHARLIES WANDERINGS

THE BLOG FOR THE ADVENTUROUS TRAVELER WHO LOVES A TOUCH OF LUXURY NOW AND THEN

BLOG , CAMPING , Destinations , Europe , Iceland , Road Trips · October 24, 2021

• The Ultimate Iceland Summer Road Trip Itinerary

This post is also available in: Nederlands

Are you trying to plan an epic Summer road trip to Iceland ? But no idea where to start or how many places you can visit in one day? Well, I am very happy to say that I’ve got you completely covered!

So far I’ve visited Iceland three times and every single time I went on a road trip with a camper. It’s an adventurous way to discover the island but I also know that it’s not for everyone. That’s why besides the best camp sites in Iceland I also included some of the most unique stays in Iceland .

This itinerary will lead you through the most insane landscapes, past dozens of waterfalls and it will also take you deep into the Icelandic Highlands . This Iceland road trip guide will cover nearly every part of the ring road and if you want you can even add a couple more days so you can cover even more of this stunning island.

This road trip guide will cover every day step by step and location by location. But that’s not all. I will also tell you everything that you need to know about driving in Iceland and how to stay safe on the road!

☀️ Why you should visit Iceland in the Summer

My favorite time to visit Iceland is definitely the Summer months of June, July or August . The days are longer, the temperatures are a little less icy and Icelandic nature is at its absolute best! Visiting Iceland during the Summer months is for if you want to:

• Go on a whale watching tour
• Explore the Icelandic Highlands
• Go on adventurous hikes
• See the world famous purple lupin fields
• See puffins in their natural habitat
• See the midnight sun

🇮🇸 Some strange and interesting facts about Iceland

• Many Icelanders believe in elves and trolls and that they reside within the Highlands of Iceland .
• You can swim outdoors in hot springs all year round.
• There’s no McDonald’s in entire Iceland.
• There are more than 30 volcanic regions scattered throughout the country.
• Over 10% of the country is covered in glaciers.
• The country has no train or railway system.
• The longest word found in Icelandic is: vaðlaheiðarvegavinnuverkfærageymsluskúraútidyralyklakippuhringur.
• Iceland has been chosen multiple times as the best place to live as a woman.

✈️ Getting into Iceland

The easiest way to reach Iceland is to  fly to Keflavik Airport  which lies on the Reykjanes peninsula. A ton of international airlines have a stop over in Iceland and their own national air carrier  IcelandAir  offers a ton of daily flights from the USA and Europe.

Once you’ve arrived at the airport you can simply pick up your rental car or camper van and you’re good to go! If you’re planning on driving yourself you may want to watch out for the taxi’s outside of the airport. They tend to overcharge so you’re far better of taking one of the local busses to Reykjavik.

📲 Which apps to download before visiting Iceland in the Summer

• Vedur  – An accurate Icelandic  weather app . Official warnings get updated automatically.
• 112 Iceland  – An application for the  Icelandic Emergency Service
• Hotpot  – The perfect website to scan for those hidden hot springs around the island!

💡  TIP  – Create your own travel map in Google Maps . I always save all of the locations that I want to visit on Google Maps and this way I can easily create a daily itinerary and see which places are located close to each other. To make your trip even more easy you. can also save the locations of the campsites in a different color. This way you have all of your travel information in one place and you can easily navigate from one place to the other.

How to get around Iceland

Where to rent your car or camper.

When doing a road trip around Iceland you’ll either need to rent a car or a camper. So far I’ve only traveled here with a camper and while it’s a little more adventurous than simply renting a car you’ll also have the most flexibility.

For my camper I always turn to Happy Campers . They rent fully-equipped campers with a bed, kitchen, space heater, and everything you’d need for your road trip. So far I’ve tested out their Happy 1, Happy 2 and Happy 4×4.

With this itinerary you’ll need the Happy 4×4 since you’ll be exploring the Icelandic Highlands.

If camping isn’t for you and you want to add a little more luxury to your trip by staying at local hotels then I suggest you rent a car with SunnyCars . They offer an excellent service and all of the insurances are included in the total price. So that means no hidden costs when you pick up your car!

The same goes here: if you want to be able to follow this entire itinerary make sure to book a 4×4.

What is driving like in Iceland

In general driving in Iceland is very easy and straight forward. There are just a couple of things that you need to know before embarking on your road trip but then you’re good to go.

• Speed limit – The speed limit in Iceland varies from 30km/h up to 90km/h but never higher.
• Ring Road – This is the main road that leads all around the island and is also referred to as Road 1.
• F-roads – These are the unpaved mountain roads that will take you in and through the Icelandic HIghlands. You’re only allowed to drive on them during the Summer months and with a 4×4 vehicle.
• Sheep – There definitely more sheep in Iceland than there are humans and they love to roam free and especially next to the road. If you spot them from the distance make sure to lower your speed cause they love nothing more than crossing the road when you get nearer.
• Driver’s License – You don’t need an international driver’s license if you want to rent a car or camper in Iceland. Just bring your passport, credit card, and your driver’s license from your home country.
• Off Road – It’s strictly forbidden to drive off road in Iceland. Don’t mistake driving on an F-road with driving off road. The F-roads are unpaved gravel roads and you can freely roam these with a 4×4. But driving off road in Iceland is illegal and will lead to high fines.
• Headlights – Iceland has a unique law that requires you to keep your headlights on at all times.
• Extreme weather – Iceland is known for its strong winds and yes you may encounter these during the Summer months as well. When parking your car make sure it faces the wind so that when you open your car door it can’t fly off.
• Gas stations – Gas stations in Iceland are sparse so always make sure to fuel up before you start another long drive. Especially when you’re visiting the Highlands, make sure to fill up your gas tank cause there are no gas stations to be found in the Icelandic Highlands.
• GPS – If you have international cell service you don’t need to add a GPS to your car rental service. Google Maps works really well in Iceland. Another option is to buy a local SIM card.
• Wild Camping – Wild camping in Iceland with a camper is illegal and you should always use designated campsites.

🗺 The Ultimate 9 Day Iceland Summer Road Trip Itinerary

This Summer road trip in Iceland had been months, maybe even years, in the making. But every single time that nasty virus and all of the restrictions that came with it cancelled our plans. So when I heard that fully vaccinated travelers where welcome again in Iceland without having to quarantine I literally jumped for joy.

I told Christof we could start planning but oh well one day later I had already booked our flights… OOPS😬.

We would have 9 days to explore the most beautiful parts of the country! I really wanted to show Christof the highlights and my favorite places but I also wanted to explore new spots and discover some hidden gems.

A lot of research went into this itinerary but I am really happy with how it turned out and I know you will have an incredible time in Iceland if you follow it!

DAY 1 – Pick up your vehicle & hike to the Fagradalsfjall volcano

TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 1 HOUR

Our flight landed in Keflavik around 3pm but a lot of international flights actually arrive already in the morning! This means you’ll have plenty of time to pick up your car or camper, get settled and start your adventure in Iceland by going on an incredible hike .

We started our trip by picking up our 4×4 camper from Happy Campers . They offer a free shuttle service from and to the airport which is only 5 minutes driving from their base.

If you’re going for a rental car instead you can choose a 4×4 with SunnyCars and you can also choose if you prefer to pick it up at the airport or if you want a shuttle service to bring you to the car depot. Rental prices greatly depend on when you book your car and how in advance. You can currently already rent a 4×4 for less than €120/day for August next year!

If you’re traveling with a camper your next point of action will be to go and get groceries. Grocery shopping in Iceland can become expensive if you don’t know where to go.

BONUS and Kronan are the cheapest grocery stores and there’s a giant BONUS only 3 minutes driving from Happy Campers.

After stocking up on enough food and drinks it’s time to start the very first adventure of the week! Hiking up towards a viewpoint over an active volcano!

STOP 1 – FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO

The Fagradalsfjall volcano has remained active ever since its eruption in March 2021 and until this day it is still spewing lava. The start of the Fagradalsfjall hike is close to Grindavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

There are actually 3 different trails that lead to the volcano but only one of them has a good view over the active crater. While at the start of the eruption in March 2021 you had to follow hiking trail B, now  you have to follow hiking trail C which will lead you to two different viewpoints .

One of them is  viewpoint N  which offers a view over the massive lava field in the valley, the other one is  viewpoint L  which is higher up the mountain and will grant you a spectacular view over the crater.

The total hike distance to the viewpoint of the crater and back to the parking lot is 9km and you’ll probably spend 2 to 3 hours, depending on how many times you’ll stop to take photos.

📖 Fagradalsfjall Hiking Trail – How To Visit The Active Volcano in Grindavik Iceland

STOP 2 – BLUE LAGOON

If you still have some time left after your hike I highly recommend soaking and relaxing in the Blue Lagoon for a few hours.

It’s said that its water will nourish, heal and rejuvenate your mind and body. I really liked trying out one of their face masks and to indulge a little at the pool bar.

You can book your tickets for a visit to the Blue Lagoon here!

WHERE TO STAY

If you’re traveling by camper van the closest campsite is the one in  Grindavik . The facilities are clean and it’s only 15 minutes driving from the eruption site.

Price – 2000 ISK pp

• Northern Light Inn  – This cute cottage style hotel is located in Grindavik and only 15 minutes away from both the eruption site as the Blue Lagoon.
• Eyja Guldsmeden Hote l  – This stunning and originally decorated hotel is located right in the heart of Reykjavik and right next to its main shopping street.
• Hotel Borg by Keahotels  – This hotel screams lavish luxury but is also understated with it’s black, white and grey design. It’s the perfect place to stay if you want a more luxurious start or end of your trip.

DAY 2 – Whale Watching & Driving to the Icelandic Highlands

TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 4U35

Day 2 of this Iceland Summer road trip is another one filled with epic adventures! First mission of the day is to drive towards Reykjavik and get some breakfast at Braud .

STOP 1 – WHALE WATCHING IN REYKJAVIK

Afterwards it’s time to head down to the harbor to Elding Whale Watching from where our tour will start! The tour takes 3 hours in total and within that time you can spot dolphins, different whale species and puffins! It took around 2 hours before we spotted our first whale but in the end we even saw one jumping up right next to our boat! Unfortunately I was 1 second too slow to capture this moment but the experience in itself was unforgettable.

There are several ways to spot whales from Reykjavik and I’ve listed my favorite ones below:

• From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour
• Whale Watching from a luxury yacht
• Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat

STOP 2 – HAIFOSS

Haifoss is with its 122 meters  one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland  and it’s located close to the Hekla volcano, at the very edge of the Highlands.

To get there  you don’t have to drive on an official F-road  but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to be extremely careful if you’re not driving a 4×4. The gravel road leading up to the parking lot is very bumpy and your rental car is never insured against damage underneath the car. From the parking lot it’s only 5 minutes walking to reach one of the best viewpoints.

Haifoss is one of the most impressive and beautiful waterfalls in Iceland . And right next to it you’ll find another waterfall that only adds to the beauty of this canyon.

It’s often overlooked by tourists cause it’s a little more out of the way. When we were there, there were only a handful of other people.

💡 TIP  – You can also hike down into the canyon which I highly recommend. It will only add 1 hour to your total visiting time but you can actually get very close to Haifoss.

STOP 3 – SIGÖLDUGLJUFUR

Sigöldugljufur is one of those incredible hidden gems in Iceland that actually looks even better in real life! Located in the heart of the Highlands this canyon is filled with  some of the bluest water I have ever seen and has waterfalls as far as the eye can see .

You’ll first take the  F26  and then the  F208 . Both are unpaved gravel roads but the part right before you arrive at Sigöldugljufur is extremely bumpy. So be cautious when driving here.

STOP 4 – LJÓTIPOLLUR

Ljótipollur is  an explosion crater and crater lake  in the south Highlands. Its name means ‘Ugly Puddle’, despite the fact that it’s an incredible beautiful site. It is part of the Veiðavötn volcanic area.

STOP 5 – LANDMANNALAUGAR

We won’t be exploring Landmannalaugar yet this evening but we will spend the night here and prepare for an amazing hike tomorrow morning! To reach the Landmannalaugar camp site you’ll have to ford two small rivers but they’re not that deep and it goes pretty smooth. But this is one of the reasons why you need a 4×4 when driving in the Icelandic Highlands.

If you’re doing a self-drive tour of Iceland it’s best to stay at the  official Landmannalaugar campsite . It’s by far one of the most scenic campsites in entire Iceland and it’s also the starting point for all of the nearby hiking trails, including the Mount Blahnukur Hiking Trail .

The  Iceland Touring Association  (FÍ in Icelandic) offers visitors a hut for those planning to stay comfortably in Landmannalaugar. This  hut has a total capacity to fit up to 78 people  on a two-story cozy building. Don’t forget to bring your sleeping bag (and extra bedding if needed) as only a standard mattress will be provided at the hut.

Due to the increasingly high number of tourists each year, booking a spot in the mountain hut in advance has become mandatory.   You can find more information on all of the available mountain huts and their capacity here .

DAY 3 – Rainbow Mountains & Waterfalls

TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 3U50

Time to rise and shine early because today is a very busy day! From going on an incredible hike to road tripping passed several of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland! This day is filled with fun adventures!

STOP 1 – HIKE MOUNT BLAHNUKUR

Landmannalaugar is without a doubt  one of the most beautiful regions in entire Iceland . It’s known for its rhyolite and rainbow colored mountains and as the starting point for the world famous Laugavegur Trail. The latter is a 4 day hike that will take you through the Highlands of Iceland and that ends at Thorsmork.

The colorful region can be found  nestled beside the raven-black Laugahraun lava field , a sweeping expanse of dried magma which originally formed in an eruption in 1477. Landmannalaugar is especially known for its natural geothermal hot springs, hence its name the  People’s Pools , and surrounding landscape.

The start of the hike is pretty straight forward and begins from the campground. All you have to do is follow the yellow arrows. You’ll soon end up in front of a black mountain, this is mount Blahnukur. The trail leading up to the top is rather steep but I promise you that the climb is so damn worth it!

The total hiking distance is 6.1km and will grant you a 360° view over this amazing area!

STOP 2 – VIK

Time to drive out of the Highlands again and continue this Iceland Summer road trip along the Icelandic ring road. The best road to take to get out of the Highlands from Landmannalaugar is F208. Vik is a small town on the South Coast of Iceland and the best view can be found high above it’s pretty red church.

STOP 3 – REYNISFJARA

Reynisfjara is  a beautiful coastline  made up completely of black sand, black pebbles, sea carvings and basalt columns. It’s the perfect place to take some cool photos but when you do please be mindful of the waves. These are sneaker waves and every year people die because they get caught and get pulled to the sea to drown.

So whatever you do, don’t go swimming or get even too close to these crazy waves.

💡 TIP – Watch your car doors when getting out of the car cause this. isone of the windiest places in entire Iceland!

STOP 4 – KVERNUFOSS

This is  one of those beautiful  hidden gems in Iceland  and one that you can easily get to with the right directions. Drive to the Skogar Museum where you can leave your car on the parking lot. On the right side of the museum you’ll see a fence and a little further there’s an iron ladder which you may use to go over it. All you have to do now is follow the trail that leads you into the canyon.

When we went we were the only ones there and it was such a refreshing experience compared to the crowds at both Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. Kvernufoss is also a waterfall where you can walk behind so better keep that rain coat on if you’re planning on doing so.

STOP 5 – SKOGAFOSS

Skógafoss is one of the widest waterfalls in Iceland and on a sunny day you can almost always see a single or double rainbow between 10am and 12pm. By the time you’ll get here it will already be early evening which means the big crowds have already left!

Make sure to also climb up the stairs next to Skogafoss to get an aerial view and close up view over this stunning waterfall.

STOP 6 – SELJALANDSFOSS

Seljalandsfoss is one of the most touristic and most visited places in Iceland but it’s a must visit if this is your first time visiting Iceland!

It’s right of the ring road and the parking lot is right in front of it so you pretty much can’t miss it. There’s also a camping site located just a little further down the road.

The good thing about this itinerary is that this is our last stop of the day and when we arrived around 8pm there was almost nobody else there.

There are several options to spend the night with your camper. You can stay at the campsite right next to Seljalandsfoss. Or you can already start driving back a little and spend the night at the campsite in front of Skogafoss. You can even drive all the way back to Vik if you’re up for it. The closer you get the Vik, the less long you’ll have to drive tomorrow morning to reach our next stop on this Iceland Summer road trip itinerary.

Price – 1600 ISK pp

💡 TIP – If you have an extra day and you enjoy hiking I highly recommend you to do the Skógá Trail . I had it marked for our own itinerary but in the end we didn’t have the time for it. This hike starts at the top of the Skogafoss waterfall and will lead you passed 28 more waterfalls!

• The Garage – Wake up surrounded by. themost beautiful scenery of mountains and waterfalls. The Garage Apartments are located right between Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss and the perfect place to spend the night.
• Hotel Kria – This modern hotel in Vik opened in 2018 and is a real treat thanks to its stunning location and its finger licking breakfast which is included in the price.
• Vik Cottages – If you’re looking for a cute and more quaint stay then you’ll love this place. The cottages provide a very secluded and private feel with remarkable mountain views. You also have access to the main property for breakfast and dining at the on-site restaurant. 

DAY 4 – Explore Thakgil & National Parks

TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 4 hours

Today we’ll be exploring a true hidden gem in Iceland ! And to do so it’s time to lace up those hiking boots again and if you have them bring your trekking poles as well. You may thank me later!

STOP 1 – THAKGIL

Thakgil, also known in Icelandic as  Þakgil , is a one of a kind place in the south of Iceland. Arriving here felt like a breath of fresh air after facing all of the crowded and more touristic places on the Ring Road close by.

Typical for Thakgil are the  steep, mossy walls  and the many canyons. And compared to the immensely popular Fjadragljufur canyon you can actually roam around freely here.

There are several beautiful hiking trails to be discovered in Thakgil . We completed one of them and it was amazing!

The Remundargil Loop is a 12.5km hiking trail that will take you through a canyon, alongside a ravine, in front of a waterfall and next to a glacier! It’s a pretty strenuous hike but totally worth the effort!

📖 The Best Thakgil Hiking Trail – Discover The Remundargil Canyon And Thakgil Campsite

STOP 2 – SVINAFELLSJOKUL GLACIER

This beautiful glacier is an absolute must visit! A short hiking trail will lead you straight towards it and in some parts you are standing right in front of it. Its icy blue color provides a beautiful contrast but when we were there a lot of the ice was also covered in black dust.

Apparently this happens when it hasn’t rained in a long time which definitely was the case this past Summer in Iceland. Nevertheless it’s a fun and easy place to explore!

STOP 3 – SVARTIFOSS

Svartifoss is one of those iconic waterfalls in Iceland that you simply have to see to believe.  It’s surrounded by rows and rows of basalt columns  and a true sight to behold!

When we visited Svartifoss we actually stayed at the nearby campsite  Skaftafell . From here the hiking trail starts towards Svartifoss and on your way there you’ll encounter two other waterfalls as well. The hike is 1.5km and goes up at a steady incline. At times it can. get a little steep but for most parts the ground is covered with hardened plastic to prevent you from slipping too much.

The last stop today is located right next to the Skaftaffel campground. It’s the ideal place to park your camper and spend the night!

Price – 1500 ISK pp

• Klettasel – This is the perfect place if you’re in need of some privacy. This modern villa is beautifully located and has 3 bedrooms so perfect if you’re traveling with a bigger family or a group of friends!
• Fosshótel Glacier Lagoon – This modern hotel is the perfect luxury escape and all of the suites are equipped with large panoramic windows.

DAY 5 – A Hidden Canyon, Ice & The Misty Mountain

TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 5U30

Today will be a lot of driving but every single location that you’ll visit today is epic as hell so it’s totally worth it. Then again, I believe everything in Iceland is totally worth it! Let’s start by going on a very secret hike to a very secret canyon!

STOP 1 – MULAGLJUFUR CANYON

There are some places in Iceland that seem too good to be true and the Múlagljúfur Canyon definitely is one of these. Imagine green mossy cliffs, birds flying through the mist, a canyon so deep that it could perfectly serve as a dragons lair and a waterfall coming straight out of a mountain. It’s not hard to see why this is  one of the best day hikes in Iceland !

In contrary to many other places in the south of Iceland  you won’t find a single sign leading you towards the Múlagljúfur Trail . All that’s there is a small gravel road to the left that will lead you to a small parking space. The turn off is only 5 minutes away from Fjallsarlon Glarcier Lagoon and if you have  Google Maps   mark this location . This is where you’ll find the gravel road that will lead ytou from the Ring Road to the start of the Múlagljúfur Hiking Trail.

The total hiking distance is 7.6km and it will take an average of 2 hours to complete the entire trail. But if you’re like me make it 3 hours cause I literally stopped every 5 minutes to take photos and ended up admiring the scenery for more than an hour.

📖 Hiking to Múlagljúfur Canyon – A Hidden Gem in Southern Iceland

STOP 2 – FJALLSARLON

This magnificent glacier is now one of my all time favorite places in entire Iceland!

Imagine this: you drive up to the parking lot to see it empty. You start a small hike up the hill and then you see it. A glacier so beautiful it actually brought tears to my eyes! I can’t emphasize enough on how magical this place actually is. It’s what I call: Iceland at it’s very best.

STOP 3 – GLACIER LAGOON

Jökulsárlón, also known as Glacier Lagoon is located close to Fjallsárlón but definitely worth a visit. It’s one of the top attractions in Southern Iceland and one of the most beautiful stops on this 12 day road trip around Iceland. At Jökulsárlón  you can walk around the lagoon as far as you like , take a boat tour, grab a bite to eat, or use the restrooms.

STOP 4 – DIAMOND BEACH

You can find Diamond Beach right next to Jökulsárlón and this is where the ice washes up to the coastline. The icebergs against the black sand make for the perfect contrast and photograph opportunity. The amount of ice you find on this beach depends on how much ice has fallen off the glacier recently, the current  t ide cycle, etc. Because of this, some people will find a beach completely covered in ice, while others might find almost no ice at all.

STOP 5 – VESTRAHORN

Our final stop of the day before we head to our next camp site is Vestrahorn, also known as  Stokksnes . It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset but you do have to be a bit lucky with the weather. Vestrahorn loves to cover itself in the clouds but it’s always worth it top wait some time cause in Iceland the weather can clear up very fast. The entrance fee is 800 ISK but it’s well worth it! You’ll get to see one of the most iconic mountains in entire Iceland and you get to visit a viking village, which was formerly used as a film set.

💡 TIP – This area of Iceland is often completely covered in clouds and so far I still haven’t seen the mountain in real life… and I’ve been three times. If you can’t see any mountain peaks at the entrance don’t bother paying 800 ISK cause you’ll end up seeing nothing.

STOP 6 – SEYDISFJORDUR

Seydisfjordur is often called one of the most beautiful towns in entire Iceland. It’s teeny tiny but it is indeed very beautiful and especially known for its rainbow street and light blue church.

💡 TIP – Have dinner at Kaffi Lára El Grillo Bar! Their spare ribs are to die for!

The Seydisfjordur Camping Site is your best option here. When we arrived we actually couldn’t really find the entrance of the camp site and being super tired we slept on the parking of the local grocery store :p. Not perfect but it also worked.

• Hotel Aldan – If you’re looking for a unique stay look no further! At Hotel Aldan you’ll stay in a former bank building and an old post office!
• Lónsleira Apartments – These cute apartments are located in the centre of Seydisfjordur and even come with an outside barbecue!

DAY 6 – Exploring the East Fjords & The Biggest Waterfall in Europe

TOTAL DRIVING TIME – 6U30

STOP 1 – KLIFBREKKUFOSS

Klifbrekkufoss was by far the biggest surprise to us! Tucked away in one of the Eastern fjords this beautiful waterfall completely blew us away.

The best part is that it’s actually super easy to reach! Simply drive down the road and park your car in the designated parking space. One thing you do have to keep in mind is that the top of the fjord can be extremely clouded and you’ll be driving through thick fog. So take it slow and be careful on your way down.

Klifbrekkufoss is absolutely stunning! It’s not necessarily the biggest waterfall in Iceland but all of the different layers make it look like something out of a fairytale.

STOP 2 – HENGIFOSS

When I first saw a photograph of Hengifoss I couldn’t believe my eyes. It looked like something from another planet. The waterfall cuts right through the mountain which is why you can clearly see the vibrant colors of all the different earth layers.

There’s a big parking lot at the bottom and a big part of the hiking trail is covered with hardened plastic. From the parking lot it’s a 2.5km hike and for your visit you have to calculate in 2 hours. On your way to Hengifoss you’ll first encounter another beautiful waterfall called Litlanesfoss.

STOP 3 – STUDLAGIL

The Studlagil canyon is one of Iceland’s latest discoveries cause a few years ago you couldn’t even see this canyon.

Unfortunately it’s also becoming more and more popular every single year! There are two parking lots but it’s only from the one on the East Side that you can access the canyon itself.

The other parking lot on the West Side will grant you access to a viewing platform.

From the East side parking lot, which is right next to a waterfall, it only takes the 40 minutes to reach the actual canyon!

STOP 4 – DETTIFOSS

Dettifoss certainly is impressive with it’s 100 meters width and it has the greatest volume of any waterfall in Europe (500 cubic meters of water pour down every second).  Therefore you can call it the most powerful waterfall in Europe ! It’s located about half an hour driving from the ring road and a little before lake Myvatn.  

You can actually visit Dettifoss from both sides! The Western parking lot is the most famous one and will grant you the view over this powerful waterfall that you can see below. From the East side the hike towards the waterfall is a little more adventurous but you can get a lot closer to it.

STOP 5 – SELFOSS

Selfoss is located in the North of Iceland and is actually  within walking distance from Dettifoss .

ust like with Dettifoss you can visit Selfoss from both sides. So far I’ve only visited the West side but I think the East side might be even a little more spectacular. After visiting Dettifoss simply follow the hiking trail back and instead. ofgoing to the parking lot keep on following. theriver until you reach Selfoss.

STOP 6 – LAKE MYVATN

The stunning lake Myvatn is a beautiful sight to behold and definitely worth a closer lake. However if you want to go swimming/soaking in hot water then this lake isn’t the option for you. Then you have to go to the  Myvatn Nature Baths . The spa is open all year round and it costs 5700 ISK to enter.

💡 TIP – Have dinner at Gamli Bærinn and order their signature burger! You won’t regret it!

You can stay at Camping Myvatn right next to the lake but I advise you to go a little higher up the hill and stay at Camping Hlid. The Northern part of Iceland goes hand in hand with an enormous amount of small flies in the Summer months.

It’s something I hadn’t experienced before cause the last time that I was here was in the Winter. Right next to. the lake chances are very high that you’ll be eaten alive by these small flies.

• Icelandair Hotel Myvatn – This hotel is located right next to lake Myvatn and is the perfect place to add a touch of luxury to your trip! Make sure to have a drink in their cocktail bar.
• Hotel Laxa – This modern hotel offers both standard rooms and lake view rooms. With comfortable minimalistic rooms and delicious breakfast included, Hotel Laxa is sure to meet your needs for a satisfying stay in the Myvatn area.

DAY 7 – The Best Waterfalls & Kerlingarfjöll

TOTAL DRIVE TIME – 8U15

I know what you’re thinking… Are you freaking kidding me with that driving time???!! I know, it’s a little extreme for one day and if you’re really not up for it you can skip the stop at the Kolugljufur Canyon and save yourself 2 hours of driving.

STOP 1 – GODAFOSS

Welcome to Godafoss, otherwise known as  the waterfall of the Gods . And honestly, it’s not hard to see why! Godafoss is the waterfall that keeps on giving due to its grandeur.

Godafoss can also be visited from both sides which I highly recommend doing. And unlike with Dettifoss and Selfoss you don’t have to drive 1 hour to reach the other side. You can just cross a pedestrian bridge and you’re there! On the left side you can also hike down which you should definitely do as well!

STOP 2 – ALDEYJARFOSS

Aldeyjarfoss is located along F26, one of the most dangerous F-roads in entire Iceland. But not. to worry, the part leading towards this particular waterfall is still okay and doesn’t contain any river crossings. It is however very rocky and bumpy and may only be reached with a 4×4. There’s a small parking lot and from there you simply hike down to the waterfall.

The waterfall is surrounded by the black columns look absolutely insane and if you’re very lucky you’ll even see a small pool at the bottom. When I was there it had been too dry the last couple of weeks but otherwise it’s definitely worth checking out.

STOP 3 – KOLUGLJUFUR

This gorgeous canyon is hidden away from the ring road and doesn’t even require a 4×4 to get to. On the other side you’ll see a 2 drop waterfall that especially during sunrise creates the most magical view.  

Kolugljúfur is only 20 minutes driving from the ring road and there’s a parking lot on both sides which are connected by a small bridge that you can drive over.

STOP 4 – KERLINGARFJOLL

Kerlingarfjöll is  one of the most precious natural attractions  in Iceland and is located in the central Highlands. It’s part of an active volcanic system and is home to one of Iceland’s most  impressive geothermal areas .

The hills are a brown, nearly orange color and also made out of  rhyolite , the same substance as the mountains in Landmannalaugar. It’s this rhyolite that gives them this rusty look and in between, the hills are sprinkled with vivid colors of blue, green, red and yellow. Then add the massive amount of steam coming straight from the ground and the bubbling hot springs spread throughout the area and you know you’ll be in for a treat.

Kerlingarfjöll is accessible via road F35, also called the  Kjölur Route  or Kjalvegur, from both North and South Iceland. The F35 is  one of the best maintained F-roads on the entire island  and from where you should drive inland totally depends on your itinerary.

There’s not a single river crossing along the entire F35 and only the last part that leads to the Kerinlingarfjöll Mountain Resort and the Hveradalir Parking is very bumpy and rocky.

📖 How To Visit Kerlingarfjöll And The Hveradalir Geothermal Area In One Day

The most convenient place to stay for your visit to the Hveradalir Geothermal Area is the  Kerlingarfjöll Mountain   Resort .

At Kerlingarfjoll they have a new building with 20 double rooms with made up beds and each room has a private WC and shower. Then there are 10 smaller chalets, each with one to four rooms, which they rent out for made up beds accommodation only. 

The campsite is large, nesting on natural grounds at the banks of the Ásgarðsá river. Guests staying in the sleeping bag facilities or the camp site have access to a kitchen facilities. The camping ground is for tents and Caravans.

You’ll have access to WC and cold water.  You don’t have to reserve or book at the campsite in advance . Simply show up, have a good time and enjoy the scenery in Kerlingarfjoll .

If you don’t wish to stay here but you want to be in close proximity to the site you can choose one of these hotels in the south of Iceland below.

DAY 8 – Golden Circle

TOTAL DRIVE TIME – 4u20

This last day we’ll slowly make our way back to the Reykjanes peninsula but first it’s time to visit the most beautiful places on the Golden Circle.

STOP 1 – GULLFOSS

Gullfoss is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland but also one of the most touristic ones.  It’s the main stop on the Golden Circle  and over the years it’s only grown in popularity.

The trail towards the waterfall is short and fenced off. If you park at the visitors centre you’ll also have to walk down a couple flights of stairs. You can walk all the way up to the waterfall and at the end of the trail you can get a little closer. It’s not allowed to go on the grass.

STOP 2 – STROKKUR

Strokkur is  the biggest geyser in Iceland and it shoots up hot water every couple of minutes . It’s one of the top attractions on the Golden Circle so don’t expect to be here alone. It’s one of the most touristic places in entire Iceland and there’s even a big shop located right next to it. However it remains a spectacular site to see.

If you have time to spare, walk the surrounding landscape draped in steam with holes of boiling water rumbling at every turn. Be careful as you explore, as the water is clearly a dangerous temperature and should be left to admire from an appropriate distance. 

Close by you’ll find another geyser named Geysir. However, unlike its close neighbor Strokkur, Geysir has remained inactive.

STOP 3 – BRUARFOSS

This cute little waterfall might not be the biggest one out there in size but it sure makes up for it in beauty. The more unknown Brúarfoss is actually also located on the infamous Golden Circle but because it takes 1 hour of hiking to reach it not a lot of people visit it. So if you want to go  a little bit off the beaten path in Iceland  I highly recommend adding a visit to Brúarofss to your list!

All you have to do is drive to the  official parking lot  and start following the trail along the river. There’s room for a little over 25 cars so try to arrive a little earlier in the day. The hike from the parking lot to Brúarfoss is 3.5km one way and is mostly on flat terrain. It’s an easy hike that you can also enjoy if you’re traveling with younger children.

On the way to Brúarfoss you’ll come across two other waterfalls and  the water is as blue in real life  as in the photograph below. There’s a bridge that serves as a viewing platform and across the river you can even hike down and get a little closer to the waterfall.

STOP 4 – KERID CRATER

Kerid crater lake is a 3,000 year old volcanic crater lake in South Iceland on the Golden Circle route. The lake itself is relatively shallow, between 7 and 14 meters depending on rainfall and other factors. The water is a unique and strikingly vivid aquamarine shade of blue.

Take an easy hike around Kerid crater and enjoy the spectacular view!

STOP 5 – THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK

Thingvellir National Park is our last stop on the Golden Circle and it’s an incredible place to visit if it’s your first time in Iceland. You can park your car at the  Öxarárfoss parking lot  and start walking from there. It was named  a UNESCO World Heritage Site  and marks the location of Iceland’s first parliament. But what makes this place truly unique is it’s s geography.

Thingvellir National Park is the site of  a great rift valley where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet . The plates are pulled ever so slightly apart more and more each year creating the  Silfra fissure , an area perfect for snorkeling enthusiasts. 

💡  FUN FACT  – Thingvellir National Park served as the backdrop for one of the more famous scenes in Game of Thrones where Littlefinger escorts Sansa to the Vale.

Depending on what time your flight is the next day you’ll either drop off the camper this evening or the next day.

If you’re only flying back in the evening you can even go and explore a little more the next morning!

DAY 9 – Fly Home

Depending on the time of your flight you can add a visit to the Sky Lagoon on your last day in the morning since they also have storage space for suitcases. However if you’re flying back to Belgium your flight will be at 7am in the morning.

🛣Iceland Road Trip Tips

Here you can find some useful tips that will ensure you have the best time on your road trip in Iceland.

• Always have snacks on hand  – Often there isn’t a place to eat in plane sight, especially when you’re driving through the more rural parts of Iceland. Make sure you don’t go hungry during one of your hikes. I would even go as far that you buy your snacks at home and put them in your suitcase to save some money at the grocery store.
• Mind your car doors when you open them  – The wind in Iceland can be brutal at times and it wouldn’t be the first time a car door flies off due to strong wind gusts. The image below show which way is best to park in case of strong winds.

• Bring your camera  – I am not exaggerating when I say that there’s a beautiful photo opportunity every 100 meter in Iceland. Make sure to bring your camera to capture this one of a lifetime trip! If you need some inspiration you can read exactly  what’s in my camera bag .
• Bring dryer sheets  – After sleeping and spending a lot of time in a camper van it can start to smell after a while which is completely normal. If you put a dryer sheet between the sofa it will always smell like fresh laundry.

💳 Currency & ATM’s in Iceland

The official currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona (ISK) and €1 equals ISK147. It’s not necessary to take out much cash upon your arrival cause you can pay nearly everywhere with your credit card of debit card.

📚 More Iceland Blog Posts

I have visited the land of ice and fire 3 times in 3 years and I loved adventuring and driving around the country.  On my blog you can find a ton of free resources to help you plan the perfect trip to this beautiful c ountry.

• The 12 Most Unique And Cool Places To Stay In Iceland
• 12 Best Tours In Iceland
• 13 Crazy Beautiful Hidden Gems in Iceland
• 15 Very Best Day Hikes In Iceland (Map Included)
• 7 Best Places To Visit In The Highlands In Iceland – A Complete Travel Guide
• Hiking to Múlagljúfur Canyon – A Hidden Gem in Southern Iceland
• The 21 Most Beautiful Waterfalls In Iceland By Region
• 2022 Fagradalsfjall Hiking Trail – How To Visit The Active Volcano in Grindavik Iceland
• The Ultimate 2 Week Iceland Winter Ring Road Itinerary – Plan The Perfect Iceland Road Trip
• 10 Reasons Why You Have To Visit Iceland in Summer
• The Best Thakgil Hiking Trail – Discover The Remundargil Canyon And Thakgil Campsite
• The Best Hike In Landmannalaugar – The Mount Blahnukur Hiking Trail
• How To Visit Kerlingarfjöll And The Hveradalir Geothermal Area In One Day
• Travelling with Happy Campers: an honest review.

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Charlotte Lint is the founder, main photographer and writer of Charlies Wanderings . She has traveled all over the world and is based in Belgium where she also owns her very own dental practice. She is an expert on writing insightful hiking guides and creating unique and efficient travel itineraries . Every month she helps over 134.000 people discover the most beautiful places in the world through her detailed travel guides.

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Complete Iceland Summer Road Trip Itinerary

Drive Around Iceland in 10 Days: Itinerary & Map

• When is summer in Iceland
• What to pack
• 10-Day Itinerary & Things to Do

Recommended tours

• Related blogs

Iceland during the summer is an ideal destination, offering pleasant weather, longer evenings, and numerous tours to explore its stunning locations. Many tourists flock to the country during this season to enjoy its natural beauty. Additionally, the summer months provide better road accessibility, clear skies, and a higher frequency of tours.

One of the highlights of summer in Iceland is the abundance of natural beauty, including stunning landscapes, towering waterfalls, glaciers, and geysers. Many of these sites are easily accessible through tours and excursions, making it an excellent time for exploring.

Plus, because of the Midnight Sun, you can find things to do in Iceland in summer almost around the clock!

Off-road driving in Iceland

Summer is also the season when outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, and horseback riding are also popular. That’s why a summer road trip in Iceland is a brilliant idea. Whale watching, hiking in the Highlands, puffins spotting—you name it, Iceland has it!

Overall, summer in Iceland is a magical time, offering visitors the opportunity to experience the country's incredible natural wonders, unique culture, and endless outdoor activities.

When is summer in Iceland?

Summer in Iceland typically lasts from June to August, and during this time, the country experiences almost continuous daylight, with the sun setting only for a few hours before rising again (known as the Midnight Sun phenomenon).

How warm is the summer in Iceland?

The weather is usually mild, with average temperatures ranging from 10 to 15 °C (68-77 °F), making it the warmest season in Iceland.

However, even if you get especially lucky during the summer days with temperatures ranging from 20-25 °C (68-77 °F), it's still advisable to pack a coat (even if you're wearing shorts). This is because temperatures can drop significantly, with lows reaching around 6.7 °C (44.1 °F). It's also important to note that Iceland can experience rain showers, even during the summer, and the temperature tends to be colder in the highlands and on mountain peaks.

Yes, the weather in Iceland may be unpredictable, but it's a small price to pay for the chance to witness some of the world's most spectacular natural wonders and to experience the freshest air and water on the planet, right?

What to pack for Iceland in summer?

As the locals in Iceland like to repeat: “There’s no bad weather, just wrong clothes.”

Woman hiking in Icelandic Highlands

We suggest these must-pack items for summer road trips in Iceland:

• Hiking boots
• A good quality raincoat
• Water bottle
• Water-resistant jacket and pants/trousers 
• Thermal underwear
• Scarf, gloves, hat
• Camera with extra batteries and memory cards (you won’t regret this one!)
• Portable charger
• Waterproof cases for phone and camera

As you will find out, even if you are planning your Iceland road trip for summer, you should still pack for all four seasons!

Iceland 10-Day Itinerary & Things to Do

Iceland is a fantastic destination for a road trip, thanks to its gorgeous natural landscapes, unique culture, and easy-to-navigate roads. Driving in Iceland can be an exciting and rewarding way to explore the country, but it's essential to be prepared, drive cautiously, and follow the rules of the road.

Car parked near the Icelandic glacier with mesmerizing scenery

The most popular route is the Ring Road , also known as Þjóðvegur 1 (Route 1), which spans over 1322 km (820 miles) and circles the entire island. Along the way, you'll pass by stunning sights such as waterfalls, glaciers, geysers, and volcanic landscapes, often catching the first sight of them right through the car window.

You really don’t need a complex plan to go around the island and visit the main highlights. What you do need is time. You could drive the whole Rind Road in 5 or 7 days, but if your goal is to really get to know Iceland, a few extra days will be worth it!

For this itinerary, you will drive counterclockwise around Iceland, guided by the Ring Road with must-see highlights and a few small detours. However, you could also reverse this trip’s direction if you prefer. Can’t decide whether you want to go south or north first? Here’s a tip : Check the weather forecast on either side and head for the warmer or sunnier one!

Day 1 - Arrival in Iceland: Reykjanes Peninsula

Geothermal activity field in Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland

Velkominn! You landed in Iceland, full of excitement and anticipation for your upcoming road trip. Once you get your rental car ready to go and stock up on some groceries, it’s time to hit the road!

Your Iceland trip starts at the Reykjanes Peninsula (also called the Smokey Peninsula). This area is full of volcanic and geothermal activity, which you can experience first-hand.

From Keflavik airport, head to the Blue Lagoon , which only takes 15 minutes. We suggest prioritizing a visit to the most famous spa in Iceland before heading to Reykjavík as it saves time spent driving back and forth. Furthermore, taking a dip in the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon is a great way to unwind, particularly if you've just arrived in Iceland on a red-eye flight.

Another bucket list-worthy experience is hiking in the newest volcano eruption site in Meradalir Valley , about 30 minutes from Keflavík airport. In 2021 and again in 2022, the Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland erupted after being dormant for thousands of years. Although it is currently not active, you can visit the site of the recent eruption to witness the newly created lava field.

You can spend the rest of your day strolling around Reykjavik to visit the city's highlights such as the famous Hallgrimskirkja Church, Sólfarið (Sun Voyager), and Harpa Concert Hall. You can even get a ‘preview’ of the natural wonders of Icelandic nature in Reykjavik's Perlan Museum.

Another way to start off your Iceland experience is to treat your tastebuds! Spend three to four hours trying the most delicious tastes of Icelandic cuisine on a local food walk .

Your first and last days will be on the Reykjanes Peninsula, so take your time enjoying every stop, and feel free to switch the activities around.

Day 2 - Introduction to Iceland: The Golden Circle Highlights

Clear blue waters between tectonic plates in Silfra Fissure, Iceland

Today, you will drive around the most famous natural wonders of Iceland right from the start. The Golden Circle is a 300 km (190 mi) route that connects some of the most loved attractions in Iceland: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall.

Start by exploring Thingvellir National Park (or Þingvellir), a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the place of the world's oldest operational parliament , the Alþing, established in the year 930. Thingvellir is also a well-known geological location where the tectonic plates are separating for about 0.79 in (2 cm) each year. You can walk between the sturdy cliffs that form the edges of the North American and Eurasian plates, which is often described as walking between continents .

A must-do here is snorkeling or diving in the purest water on Earth in Silfra Fissure. Experience in Silfra Fissure was named one of the Top 5 activities in the world by TripAdvisor.

Geyser eruption in geothermal area, Iceland

The next stop is the impressive Geysir geothermal area , where you will witness the spectacular eruption of Strokkur , an active geyser hot spring, which bursts vast amounts of hot water and steam up to 25 meters. Don’t skip this photo opportunity! Even if you miss the first eruption, you won't have to wait long to see another superheated blast as they occur every 5 to 10 minutes. The surrounding area is filled with steaming fumaroles and simmering hot springs—evidence of the powerful geothermal activity underground.

Now head to the iconic Gullfoss waterfall ('the Golden Falls’). The thundering Hvítá River rushes with a deafening roar and cascades into the canyon with immense force, leaving you in awe of the tremendous energy of Gullfoss . On a sunny day, if you're lucky, you'll see a beautiful rainbow arching over the canyon.

Since you will probably sightsee until late evening, there are a few accommodation options near the Golden Circle.

Tip : Some less popular but equally impressive sights in the area are Kerid Crater, Secret Lagoon Hot Spring, and Bruarfoss Waterfall.

Giant Gullfoss Waterfall, famous Golden Circle attraction

Day 3 - Iceland’s South Coast: Waterfalls & Beaches

Today you will continue going South which is considered to be the flattest part of the country. This area is famous for its stunning waterfalls and icy landscapes, with outlet glaciers that reach out from Iceland's ice caps, providing an opportunity to see them up close in Skaftafell.

Tip : As you are returning to Road 1 to continue your journey, you can stop by the azure blue lake of the volcanic Kerid Crater.

Have a fresh start to your day by walking behind the renowned Seljalandsfoss Waterfall .  

Out of 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland, Seljalandsfoss certainly made a name for itself as it is one of few places in the world where it’s possible to get a 360° view of the cascade.

Continue driving Route 1, and you will reach the famous Skogafoss waterfall . It is one of the widest and most elegant cascades in Iceland. On a sunny day, there are big chances to see a double rainbow in the rich mist of the cascade. Make sure to also climb the stairs on the side to get a different view!

Tip : Want to hunt down the hidden gems instead of the big names? Visit the secret ‘neighbors’ of these famous waterfalls: Kvernufoss and Gljufrabui waterfalls.

Glacier hiking tour on Solheimajokull glacier in south Iceland

After you finish catching your breath from all the stunning waterfalls you just saw, re-emerge into a world of ice. Right off the road, Solheimajokull Glacier is easily accessible, and a popular destination for epic hikes and ice climbing. The walk will take you just about 2 hours, but you will get an unforgettable experience of glacier hiking . The views of labyrinths of ice ridges, deep crevasses, and enormous sinkholes will remain with you long after the trip.

Tip : On the way to Reynisfjara, stop by the crashed DC-3 Plane Wreck on the black sand beach. It’s a one-of-a-kind place and well worth the 1-hour walk from the parking lot.

Black Sand Beach near Vik village in South Coast Iceland

Next, you will drive to Vik, the southernmost village in Iceland , passing by Dyrholaey , a cape that rises 393 ft (120 m) above the sea. This region is a haven for various seabirds, including the adorable puffins , and features a white lighthouse at its peak.

Continue your journey to Reynisfjara , the world-famous black sand beach with rising sea stacks and basalt columns. The scenery of this beach is very photogenic, with powerful waves (that you should be very wary of!) and volcanic black sand as far as your eye can see.

You can find a place to stay for the night in either Vik or the Kirkjubaejarklaustur vicinity.

Stay for the night at Hotel Geirland , which is comfortably located by Route 1, in the Kirkjubaejarklaustur vicinity. Surrounded by the region's natural landscapes, it's an ideal spot for relaxation and exploration.

Dyrholaey Arch Rock in Iceland

Day 4 - Deep into the South: Glacier Paradise & Jökulsárlón Lagoon

If you stayed for the night in Vik, you can start the day off in the most Icelandic manner and take a horse riding trip on the black sand beach. Feeling like a Viking yet?

If you want to visit a natural ice cave , this is your only chance to do that in summer as natural ice caves are usually inaccessible during this time of year. Book an ice-caving tour from Vik to Myrdalsjokull glacier and visit Katla, ‘the ice cave under a volcano’. This is a legendary location, due to its black ice and movie-like landscapes that make you feel like you’re on another planet.

Keep in mind, the one thing you should absolutely avoid is trying to go on a glacier or into an ice cave on your own — it is extremely dangerous. Booking an adventure with an expert local guide is a safe and responsible option.

The next stop is Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe . There are a few access points to its glacier outlets, but most activities start at Skaftafell , which is a true adventure hub. If there is one experience you have to live through once in your life, it is hiking on the glacier . You don’t need to be an experienced hiker, and all gear will be provided for you. Immerse yourself in this expedition to truly get close to the ancient ice giant.

Tip : When in Skaftafell Nature Reserve, hike to the hidden Svartifoss Waterfall , also referred to as "The Black Waterfall," for its hexagonal basalt columns created by volcanic eruptions from many years ago. The waterfall is only a 40-minute walk away, and the scenery around it is absolutely stunning.

Svartifoss Waterfall in Skaftafell Nature Reserve

You can already start getting your camera ready as you drive towards your next location, which is called " The Crown Jewel of Iceland ". From Skaftafell, you will head towards Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon , where you will see huge floating blocks of ice that broke away from the glacier. As they float southward, the icebergs gradually melt and ultimately reach Diamond Beach , where they meet the Atlantic Ocean. On Diamond Beach (just across the bridge from the lagoon), you can see many icebergs sparkling in the sunlight — one of the most loved sights by visitors.

If you want to get up close to the icebergs and seals at Jokulsarlon, you can take a boat tour that will get you close to majestic views and local wildlife. You can also take charge yourself and navigate the lagoon on a kayak as you come across secluded spots that are only accessible in this way. Any visitor to Iceland should not miss out on this unique opportunity

The closest accommodation option to the Vatnajökull is Hotel Hof . Just a minute away from Hofskirkja church, a 3-minute drive to Vatnajökull National Park, and a 45-minute drive to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, it offers convenience and great scenery. Here, you're perfectly positioned to explore the area's natural wonders while enjoying a comfortable stay.

Day 5 - The Eastfjords: Cozy Towns & Bird Watching

Today, there will be more driving but not less sightseeing as every inch of Iceland’s coastline tempts you to stop and admire it. If you enjoy the “ in the middle of nowhere ” feeling, you’re in luck. East Iceland is dotted with quaint coastline towns, untamed fjords, and mountain peaks rising above black sand beaches.

Puffins spotted on a cliff in a South of Iceland

Tip : If you’re a photography buff, don’t miss this spot! As you leave your accommodation, especially if you stayed the night in Hofn, make sure to visit the Vestrahorn mountain on the Stokksnes peninsula. Even with basic photography knowledge, you can capture a stunning shot of its twin peaks and black sands. This is private land owned by the Viking Café, so you will pay a small fee of 900 ISK ($6.50) to visit.

Start by visiting the charming fishing village Seydisfjordur . You will probably recognize its vibrant blue church with a rainbow-colored brick road as it’s a much-loved photo spot among travelers. You can stroll around the museums here or enjoy delicious local cuisines such as reindeer meat or seafood.

The next location will be a detour, but it’s worth it as you will reach the most beautiful fjord in the Eastfjords, Borgarfjörður . The roads are usually empty, even in tourist season, so you'll have a peaceful drive. Borgarfjörður Eystri is the final stop of the day, and it's a small fjord-side village with only about 100 people living there. The mountains surrounding the village are so dramatic and sharp, making it one of the most stunning spots in Iceland.

When in Borgarfjörður, make sure to visit Hafnarhólmi Cape . It's one of the best spots for bird-watching , especially for adorable puffins . About 10,000 pairs of puffins nest here every summer! You can see these busy bird colonies up close on the small cliff by the harbor. During the daytime, you can see fewer of them as they are busy with ‘fishing’, but they're very active in the evenings, so that's the best time to spot them.

Most people stop to spend the night in the riverbank town of Egilsstaðir , which is also called “ the capital of East Iceland ” . Fun fact, Egilsstaðir is considered by locals to be exceptionally hot in summer (by Icelandic measurements, of course).

Near Egilsstaðir, check out the Vök Baths if you want to experience one of the best geothermal spots in Iceland. You can relax in the only floating pools in the country while enjoying breathtaking views of Lake Urriðavatn. Don't forget to bring your swimsuit! The baths are designed to look like the unfrozen parts of the lake, where Icelanders have been soaking for ages. Plus, in the summer, you can also take a dip in the lake itself.

Day 6 - Heading North: The Myvatn Lake Area

White sheep on Icelandic field

You could easily make a whole separate multi-day tour just to see North Iceland. However, we attempted to pick the best highlights, so you could get as much of the North on this day as possible. As you leave Egilsstaðir, your first stop will be Stuðlagil Canyon , which is an enchanting rock formation made out of basalt , separated by a turquoise glacial river.

Next up, prepare to be amazed by Dettifoss , which is the most powerful waterfall in Europe . The water flow here is extremely intense, and it'll probably make you realize just how powerful nature can be. Plus, you get to see the filming location of the opening scene of the movie “Prometheus”. Dettifoss is a true wonder of nature and a highlight of any trip to Iceland. You'll be awestruck by the sheer power of the water as it drops an impressive 44 meters (144 ft) into the canyon below, creating a thundering sound that echoes far throughout the area.

Finally, your journey takes you to the mesmerizing volcanic wonderland surrounding Lake Mývatn . This stunning lake, covering a vast area of 14 square miles (36.5 km2), is the fourth largest in Iceland. Mývatn was formed as a result of a massive basaltic lava fissure eruption that occurred more than 2300 years ago. With rare bird species and unique vegetation, it’s no surprise that this area is considered one of Iceland's most valuable protected nature reserves.

Myvatn Nature Baths - geothermal oasis in North Iceland

Soak in Myvatn Nature Baths , a tranquil oasis in North Iceland, that offers a more secluded alternative to the busier Blue Lagoon. Immerse yourself in the warm, geothermal waters of the natural baths or continue your exploration of the wondrous Myvatn area.

If you’re a fan of The Game of Thrones, Grjótagjá Cave is a must-see spot. Enter this iconic film location to check out Jon Snow and Ygritte’s hidden romantic getaway!

Close to Lake Mývatn lies one of Iceland’s most breathtaking geothermal areas , Námaskarð. This otherworldly, highly dynamic volcanic landscape is filled with vigorously boiling hot springs and noisy fumaroles that are encircled by vibrant, mineral-stained earth. The pungent odor of sulfur may be unpleasant to some, but the captivating vistas that surround you will make you quickly forget about the smell!

Tip : After completing your visit to Myvatn, you can drop by the Dimmuborgir rocks (“the Dark Fortress,”) . This is an area full of strangely shaped lava rock formations, caves, caverns, tunnels, and subarctic vegetation. Watch out for the trolls here!

At this point, you can proudly say you have seen the highlights of the Myvatn area and can drive to Husavik , known as the whale watching capital of the world. If witnessing a whale is on your bucket list, Husavik should be on your itinerary!

Day 7 - Deep into the North: Whales & Fishing Villages

Huge whale jumping out of water in Iceland

Begin your day in the charming coastal town of Húsavík , which has earned a well-deserved reputation as a great location for whale watching and a “Eurovision” movie landmark. Discover this town with our list of things to do in Husavik .

Whale-watching boat tour in Husavik

Our next destination is Godafoss , an awe-inspiring waterfall that matches its grandiose name. From Icelandic, it translates as " the Waterfall of the Gods " , and it certainly lives up to it. The falls have a symmetrical and balanced layout, with water cascading over a 39-foot (12-meter) cliff in a 98-foot (30-meter) wide display. This is a hotspot for landscape photographers, and you're sure to capture some special shots of this powerful scenery!

Afterward, your journey will lead you to the charming city of Akureyri , considered the cultural capital of North Iceland. The city has a lively atmosphere with its exciting nightlife and plenty of fascinating landmarks. You will have the opportunity to spend the night either in Akureyri or in the stunning Eyjafjordur region. Is there an end to the wonders of North Iceland?

For the rest of the day, get immersed in Iceland's astounding wildlife. Dalvik is a quaint fishing village located just a 30-minute drive from Akureyri. Embark on a thrilling whale-watching adventure , where you have almost 100% chance to witness the majestic creatures of the sea such as humpback whales, minke whales, and dolphins in the beautiful bay of Eyjafjörður. Not only can you admire the incredible marine life, but you can also try your hand at sea angling.

Day 8 and 9 - “Iceland in miniature”: Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Beautiful scenery in Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Iceland

The Snaefellsnes Peninsula offers a breathtaking view of the iconic Kirkjufell mountain and serene coastal scenery that makes it an absolute must-see destination. The experience can either be an intense day trip or a more relaxed two-day adventure to explore the particular sights that captivate your interest.

Once you navigate through many twists and turns of the rustic Northern countryside, you will eventually reach Hvitserkur , a colossal rhino-shaped basalt stack towering 49 feet (15 meters) high on the eastern coast of the Vatnsnes peninsula. It is important to keep in mind that the route leading to Hvítserkur is not operational during the winter season, so you’ve come at the perfect time!

Explore the magnificent Kirkjufell , also known as the "Church Mountain," which is among the most recognizable attractions in Iceland. It was also listed as one of the top 10 most beautiful mountains in the world ! When driving from Grundarfjörður toward Kirkjufell, you will also spot the majestic waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss.

As you continue farther down the coast, make a stop at the most dramatic black pebble beach on the peninsula. Djúpalónssandur stretches into a mystical lava wonderland. Take a short hike down to the beach to see peculiar lava formations and crashing waves. Long ago, there were 60 fishing boats in this bay, which remains deserted today. If you want to test your strength like the fishermen in the old times, visit four lifting stones in Djúpalónssandur and give it a try!

Lóndrangar Basalt Cliffs in Snæfellnes Peninsula, Iceland

Next up, you will see “The Rocky Caste of Iceland”, or Lóndrangar Basalt Cliffs . It is one of the most unique geological wonders on the Snæfellnes Peninsula. The gigantic Lóndrangar Cliff was once an ancient volcanic crater that was eroded by natural forces. This structure is so unique, you must see it in real life to truly understand it.

As you continue exploring the peninsula, unwind in the small fishing village of Arnarstapi . There is a beautiful natural harbor with extraordinary basalt rocks, columns, and basalt caves. Strolling along the Arnarstapi Cliff will be the highlight of your day here. This laid-back short 1.5-mile (2.4 km) round-trip hike will take you along the coastal cliffs and Gatklettur (a natural stone arch). This is the perfect place to have a picnic!

During your journey, you should not miss the opportunity to visit the small settlement of Búðir. It is a remarkable place to explore due to its architectural marvel, the Búðakirkja church . Constructed in the 19th century, this ancient black church is an impressive sight surrounded by the stunning natural beauty of Iceland.

Tip : Starting to miss Icelandic waterfalls already? Stop by Bjarnarfoss , an impressive waterfall on the green slopes of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The multi-layered roaring cascade is 80m (262 ft) high and looks gigantic from the bottom.

After admiring the mountains, you’ll visit the best seal-spotting location in Iceland! Ytri-Tunga is a golden sand beach populated by seal colonies. You will very likely see at least a few seals that are friendly and curious , often relaxing the rocks where they can be easily spotted.

Next up is Europe’s most powerful hot spring —Deildartunguhver. Finding the hot spring is very easy, simply go on Route 1 and then Route 50, and you’ll quickly reach it. Once you arrive, you’ll see clouds of steam rising from the ground. The scalding Deildartunguhver produces 50 gallons (180 liters) of water per second at 97°C (200°F)!

Into the Glacier - man-made ice tunnel on Langjökull glacier

By now, you will have explored so much of Icelandic summer that you might want to add some winter activities. After all, no Iceland trip is complete without an ice cave! Although during summer you cannot visit natural ice caves, the ideal place to explore one is a man-made tunnel in Langjökull . Drive to Husafell and embark on an exciting expedition into Iceland's second-largest glacier ! This adventure involves a guided tour in a colossal monster truck that will transport you to the ice cave.

Tip : As an optional detour, on your drive back to Reykjavik, you will pass by the Glymur waterfall. This is one of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls, and you can easily add a 7km (4.4 miles) round trip hike to your trip.

While exploring the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, stop at Hotel Hellissandur . This hotel provides a perfect base to experience the area's coastal beauty and the nearby Snæfellsjökull National Park.

Day 10 - Last Day in Iceland: Reykjavik

Reykjavik's church - Hallgrimskirkja

Today’s the departure day, so you’ll be eventually heading to Keflavik International Airport. But before you wave goodbye to the Land of Ice and Fire, you can still squeeze in a few ‘treats’.

Before you drop off your rental car, you can stop by to check off the Bridge Between Continents on your list and walk between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.

If your flight is in the afternoon or evening, you can spend your remaining time relaxing in one of the geothermal spas. If you’ve already been to Blue Lagoon, visit the newly opened Sky Lagoon just a 15-minute drive from Reykjavik. 

Make the most of your last hours on the island. You can also go for a short whale-watching excursion right from Reykjavik. This rib boat trip is done only during the summer. So hop on to sail in the Atlantic Ocean and meet cute little puffins and whales in their natural habitat!

Hopefully, by the end of this road trip, you will bring home not only a collection of amazing photos but also memories to cherish forever!

Iceland Summer Road Trip Itinerary - FAQ

Is it worth going to iceland in summer.

Yes! Iceland is an amazing place for tourists all year round as each season has its own specialties to enjoy. The most popular things to do in Iceland in the summer are whale and puffin watching, road-tripping, camping, hiking in the highlands, and kayaking. This remote island is both rough and diverse, and your unique experience will certainly be the one to remember!

Off road driving in Icelandic mossy fields

How long do you need to road trip Iceland?

Generally, 8-12 days in the summer is optimum for exploring the island and the surrounding areas. If you’ve been to Iceland before and want to add more off-the-beaten-path locations like the remote Westfjords (or camping in the Highlands) to your itinerary, you will certainly need a few extra days.

There are few regions of Iceland not included in most "Ring Road" drives that can make for an unforgettable remote wilderness experience.

Is it easy to drive in Iceland in summer?

Getting around Iceland in summer is generally simple, provided that you know what you’re in for. The ever-changing weather in Iceland adds to the country's charm, creating a continuously evolving and dynamic environment. 

While it can be frustrating for travelers who are not prepared, it's also an opportunity to witness the power of nature in action. We’ve created a complete guide to driving in Iceland to answer all your questions and help you to get ready for your road trip.

Fascinating scenery of Icelandic mountains

How long does it take to see Iceland in the summer?

If you have the time you can spare, a 10 to 14-day vacation would be ideal. One thing is for sure: You will not get bored. Your trip will be generously spiced with the world's most unique and spectacular natural wonders, from towering glaciers and stunning waterfalls to vast geothermal areas and active volcanoes.

Note : If you are new to independent road-tripping and want to do more sightseeing and less planning, consider booking a self-drive tour package . In addition to the accommodation and car rental, each tour includes suggested points of interest along the way, GPS coordinates for every stop, and a comprehensive self-drive handbook with practical information about Iceland.

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The Ultimate 10-Day Iceland Itinerary

Day 1 - Reykjavik

• Day 2 - Caving & Hveragerdi

Day 3 - Waterfalls, Reynisfjara, & Klaustur

Day 4 - skaftafell & jokulsarlon.

• Day 5 - The East Fjords & Egilsstadir
• Day 6 - Asbyrgi

Day 7 - Myvatn

Day 8 - husavik & akureyri, day 9 - husafell.

• Day 10 - Reykjanes & Homecoming

Discover 10 adventure-filled summer days of authentic travel—our ultimate 10-day Iceland itinerary is sure to cater to your highest expectations. In addition to guiding you to incredible landscapes and secret natural gems, this well-thought-out selection of Iceland's must-see attractions covers the Ring Road and more. Read on to explore the best 10-day Iceland itinerary.

Many travelers wonder how much time they need in Iceland. We believe 10 days is optimal to take in a range of incredible attractions and activities. 

• Book this  10-Day Summer Self-Drive Tour of the Complete Ring Road with a Taste of the Central Highlands
• Join this fantastic 10-day guided circle trip around Iceland in winter

Popular package tours

Scenic 4-day northern lights tour of vatnajokull ice cave, jokulsarlon & the south coast, amazing 5-day northern lights winter vacation package in iceland with ice caving & the blue lagoon, breathtaking 6-day northern lights hunting package of iceland with ice caving.

Other Considerations for This 10 day Iceland Trip Itinerary

• The following is a 10 day Iceland summer itinerary. Take this trip between May and September to allow sufficient daylight hours to see all our recommended attractions.
• You will spend one night in each location, allowing you to complete the entire Ring Road and uncover hidden gems.
• Because the summer months in Iceland are busier, we advise you to pre-book your accommodation . 
• Although this is a summer itinerary, you will still need to bring warm clothing to Iceland.
• See also The Right Clothes and Gear for Tours in Iceland

Mode of Transport for Your 10 day Iceland Travel Itinerary

Iceland has no railway system, and although the Icelandic bus system is relatively accessible and straightforward, trips are both expensive and infrequent.

When traversing the country, therefore, we recommend that you rent a car , as it allows you to control your own pace and explore hidden paths and less-used roads where you are sure to discover many secrets.

With the speed limit set at a modest 56 miles per hour (90 kilometers per hour), Iceland's quiet highways provide ideal road trip conditions where you have ample opportunities to marvel at the breathtaking scenery.

And remember that if you do not have the necessary means of driving by yourself, you always have the option of going on a  Guided Ring Road of Iceland Tour .

With your sights set on central  Reykjavik , where you have booked your accommodation, pick up your car at the Keflavik International Airport . First, drive through the lunar vistas that make up the Reykjanes Peninsula . Here you can immerse yourself in Iceland's spectacular landscapes, spontaneously discovered by simply looking out your car window.

Over 70 percent of the people who visit Iceland make their way to the Blue Lagoon  geothermal spa, making it Iceland's single most popular attraction, and with good reason. Named in 2012 as one of National Geographic's "25 Wonders of the World," this outdoor spa is in the middle of a rugged black lava field in  Grindavik . The Blue Lagoon, located 13.4 miles (21.6 kilometers) from Keflavík Airport, has warm milky-blue water and supposed extraordinary healing powers.

Should you arrive in Iceland early in the morning, a visit to the Blue Lagoon would be an ideal choice for the day. The journey ahead will provide you with ample opportunities to bathe in many of Iceland's magnificent natural and artificial pools. You could also visit the Blue Lagoon on your last day or skip it altogether.

When you have checked into your accommodation, take advantage of the closeness to Reykjavik's thriving city center. You can discover a multitude of shops, museums, restaurants, and cafes and explore the old harbor district of  Grandi . It recently transformed into a vibrant arts venue filled with workshops, restaurants, and galleries. 

In the evening, dine at one of  the best restaurants in Reykjavik  before joining the radically liberal  nightlife in Reykjavik , which is famed for its avant-garde atmosphere and flamboyant crowds.

Just make sure that you save some energy for the journey ahead.

Top Blue Lagoon Tours

• See also Top 10 things to do in Reykjavik

Day 2 - Caving & Hveragerdi  

Start the second day of your 10-day Iceland itinerary by driving 12.4 miles (20 kilometers) east of Reykjavik into the  Blafjoll Country Park . Spend the late morning and early afternoon exploring what is widely considered the most magnificent natural phenomenon of its kind, the empty magma chamber of the Thrihnukagigur  volcano.

Photo from  6-Hour Volcano Tour Inside the Magma Chamber of Thrihnukagigur with Transfer from Reykjavik

After a 1.8-mile (3-kilometer) hike through Blafjoll's volcanic wonderland, an open cable car will take you through a narrow, funnel-shaped opening and slowly lower you 393 feet (120 meters) into the enormous Thrihnukagigur magma chamber.

A  Thrihnukagigur volcano tour  is an excursion into the cold heart of a dormant volcano, where orange and scarlet walls tell stories of ancient cataclysms and terrible destruction.

Hot water perpetually pours from the Reykjadalur's surrounding hills, forming a warm stream at the bottom of the valley, where you can bathe and unwind while enjoying the mesmerizing scenery.

If you are thirsty for a more daring approach, a guided horseback tour  takes you further into the mountains above Hveragerdi. Here you will discover mighty lava fields and geothermal hot spots of bubbling mud pools, solfataras, and fumaroles. At the same time, you will enjoy riding the pony-sized Icelandic horse .

The third day of your 10-day Iceland road trip takes you further east, across the southern lowlands where Seljalandsfoss , one of Iceland's highest waterfalls, awaits you by the highway.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall drops over 197 feet (60 meters) over a misty cavern where you can walk behind the cascade. Experience its mystical force from the point of view rarely granted by mother nature.

Your next stop of the day is Seljavellir, where an old path takes you to  Seljavallalaug outdoor pool , one of Iceland's oldest swimming pools and the south's most iconic construction.

Since 1923, the pool has collected the lukewarm water that steadily seeps from the hills. You are free to bathe in this stunning example of organic architecture to this day.

Six miles (10 kilometers) east of Seljavellir, the mighty  Skogafoss  waterfall, one of Iceland's most significant, plummets 197 feet (60 meters) from the towering cliffs that make up the border between the coastal lowlands and the Icelandic Highlands .

After accosting this mighty aqueous guardian of the south, you would do well to visit the Skogar Folk Museum , whose six buildings display more than 15,000 regional folk craft artifacts.

Spend the late afternoon exploring  Reynisfjara  beach, one of the world's most beautiful black sand beaches.

Perpetually hammered by the ruthless North Atlantic surf, Reynisfjara has titanic rock formations and hexagonal basalt columns that make up an enormous cliff face on which strange dark caves gape towards the open sea. 

Please be advised that strong undercurrents, heavy surf, and cold water temperatures make  entering the sea extremely dangerous , and one should not do so under any circumstances. 

• Book a  Reynisfjara South Coast Tour  now

Photo by Regina Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir

After exploring Reynisfjara, you head east towards  Kirkjubaejarklaustur  town, where you will lay your head for the night. 

The bright summer evening provides the perfect conditions for exploring the Systrafoss waterfall and the magnificent Systrastapi (Sister's Rock). This strange rock hill towers from the southern lowlands, 0.8 miles (1.3 kilometers) from the village. 

Top South Coast Tours

On the fourth day of this epic 10-day Iceland Ring Road itinerary, enjoy the journey into  Skaftafell  nature reserve. This incredible landscape covers over 2,982 square miles (4,800 square kilometers) of utterly surreal wildlands. Black desert sands meet a birchwood oasis under a spur of the Vatnajokull ice cap.

Skaftafell is famed for its warm summer climate, and locals offer excellent services, including guided glacier hiking tours and ice cave tours , transportation, food, and accommodation. From Skaftafell's visitor center and campsite, many hiking trails will take you into dreamlike realms of mesmerizing beauty.

On Fossaleid (Trail of Falls ), Hundafoss waterfall will be the first and highest of a set of cascades on the path to the majestic  Svartifoss  (Black Falls) waterfall. It tumbles from a tall row of black basalt columns in a forest clearing, like a reality gap. 

Thirty-four miles (54.7 kilometers) east of the campsite, you will find one of Iceland's most treasured masterpieces of nature, Jokulsarlon  Glacier Lagoon.

Jokulsarlon is a glacier lagoon in which you can join countless seals traveling amongst the towering mountains of ice that have broken off from the Breidamerkurjokull  glacier in the north.

For decades,  Jokulsarlon tours  have attracted large crowds worldwide, and to this day, they remain one of Iceland's most popular tourist activities.

But when the titanic icebergs of Jokulsarlon have melted to the size of a mere cubic meter, the Jokulsa a Breidamerkursandi glacial river ferries them south into the sea. Here, the waves polish them into table-sized blocks of ice that eventually wash onto the obsidian sands called  Diamond Beach . 

Diamond Beach is where 1,000-year-old glacier fragments slowly fade into unity with the significant drop of water called the Atlantic Ocean.

Spend the rest of your day here before heading back to Skaftafell for a well-deserved good night's sleep under a glacier bathed in the scarlet rays of the midnight sun . 

Top Jokulsarlon Tours

Day 5 - the east fjords & egilsstadir  .

On day five of your 10-day trip to Iceland, you set your sights on the small township of Egilsstadir , the largest settlement in the Eastern Region , where folklore and science have waged a fierce battle for centuries.

Lagarfljot , Iceland's third-largest river, splits the unofficial Eastern capital. It is allegedly home to the Icelandic equivalent of the Loch Ness Monster , the serpentine creature known as Lagarfljotsormurinn .

Documented sightings of the great worm of Lagarfljot first occurred in 1345 and continued well into the 21st century. Still, it wasn't until 2012 that a video recording finally provided the irrefutable evidence that ultimately proved the creature's existence.

And within the blink of an eye, legend had become fact.

Before you have the possibility of chancing upon a close encounter with the Lagarfljot Worm, enjoy the three-hour morning drive towards Egilsstadir. Your reward is crowd-free vistas of windswept mountains, picturesque villages, and an array of waterfalls so stunning that they are even said to rival their southern counterparts.

The dramatic east coast has long fjords with steep sides and jagged glacier-forged peaks. The fjords contrast with fertile farmlands, blooming meadows, and green groves.

Fifteen miles (25 kilometers) south of Egilsstadir, the  Hallormsstadaskogur  National Forest covers over 740 hectares (7.4 square kilometers) of varied landscapes, making it the largest forest in Iceland.

Forests are a rare phenomenon in Iceland, and before you reach Egilsstadir, a visit to the forest would be well worth your while. Hallormsstadarskogur boasts over 24.8 miles (40 kilometers) of footpaths and marked trails, two fully-equipped campsites, and boat and horse rentals.

Top Eastfjords Tours

Day 6 - asbyrgi  .

Day six of your 10-day Iceland road trip takes you 118 miles (190 kilometers) northwest of Egilsstadir and into the mystical horseshoe-shaped  Asbyrgi  canyon (The Shelter of Gods). According to numerous local sources, their steep sides are towering cliffs that are the principal dwellings of the hidden Icelandic people (Huldufolk).

Photo by Regína Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir

One of those paths is a stone-stepped trail that leads to the crystal clear and still Botnstjorn pond. This small body of water is all that remains of a nameless waterfall, which in primordial times fell roaring from the cliffs above.

Today, Botnstjorn has a viewing platform that allows for a peaceful moment where you can pay a silent tribute to the aquatic spirit that once was the master of this realm.

Legend claims that Asbyrgi formed when Odin's eight-footed horse, Sleipnir, graced the earth with a touch of one of its hooves. Most geologists, however, maintain that catastrophic ice-age flooding of the Jokulsa a Fjollum glacial river brought Asbyrgi into existence.

Spend the day in Asbyrgi's soft but rocky embrace and secure a night of sweet dreams by remembering to pay your respects to the hidden people in the cliffs above you. 

• Book a  Ring Road Self-Drive Tour With Asbyrgi  here 

From Asbyrgi, head northeast inland and onward to Lake Myvatn , 55.7 miles (89.7 kilometers) away. Here you will traverse ethereal landscapes formed in a cataclysmic volcanic explosion more than 2,000 years ago.

Myvatn is one of Iceland's largest lakes, famed for its multiple bird communities, vibrant plant life, and the many natural wonders surrounding the lake itself. These include the bubbling sulfuric mud pools of the  Namaskard  pass, the enormous tuff ring volcano crater of  Hverfjall , and the massive  Krafla  volcanic caldera. Krafla is fiercely active and last erupted in 1984.

You will find one of Iceland's most precious natural marvels, the  Dimmuborgir  (Dark Cities) lava fields east of the lake.

Legend has it that Dimmuborgir came into existence when Lucifer was banished and cast from the heavens. Upon landing east of Myvatn, the fallen angel quickly amassed an infernal hoard of lost souls and established the Catacombs of Hell, much to the dislike of the local light elves.

There was chaos and confusion. Demons fought light beings under a burning sky. Still, eventually, the elves drove Satan's army far into the nether regions before turning the unusually shaped lava fields into a cross-dimensional elven capital of their own.

Stories like this may come across as nonsensical at first. Still, when you consider the area's incredible geothermal potency, Myvatn's mythological association with fire, brimstone, and burning underworlds becomes quite understandable.

Around the lake, you are more than likely to happen upon numerous caves filled with hot water, many of which rank amongst the world's most magnificent natural baths.

But since small earthquakes regularly alter the area's geothermal conditions—sometimes raising water temperatures to extreme and even life-threatening levels—you should always  connect with locals  before bathing in the caves. 

From Myvatn, a picturesque morning drive takes you into the northern Skjalfandi Bay  and the quiet little town of  Husavik , which has made a name for itself as the whale watching capital of the world.

Because of the multiple species of whale that flock to their feeding grounds in the waters of Skjalfandi bay, Husavik is the very best whale watching harbor in Iceland, with local operators boasting an unmatched 99 percent success rate.

On a  Husavik traditional whale watching tour , you are more than likely to encounter the white-beaked dolphin, the harbor porpoise, and even the titanic blue whale. However, the gentle minke whale is by far the most commonly sighted animal, its curious nature often allowing visitors to watch it from a very short distance. 

In the early afternoon, visit the local  Whale Museum  and the Exploration Museum , whose ancient artifacts and fishing vessels witness Iceland's incredible maritime history.

Top Whale Watching & Puffin Tours

From Husavik, a 56-mile (90-kilometer) drive takes you west to Akureyri , the largest town in Iceland outside of the capital area, with a population of 20,000. 

Although Akureyri lies only 62 miles (100 kilometers) below the arctic circle , the town greets you with mild, pleasant weather and an easy-going atmosphere. 

Akureyri has started to rival Reykjavik as Iceland's go-to cultural hot spot. Before you rest for the night, spend the late afternoon and evening exploring the town's many attractions, including an abundance of cafes, restaurants, and museums. 

• See also:  13 Best Things to Do in Akureyri

On the second to last day of your 10-day Iceland road trip, start your day early and drive to the old pastoral hamlet of Husafell , 196 miles (316 kilometers) from Akureyri.

Set in dense birchwood forests between two glaciers, this ever-popular outdoor activity center makes for an ideal place to spend a day of easy hiking and sightseeing.

Excellent footpaths and hiking trails lead into the beautiful Husafellsskogur forest, towards the Ok and  Eiriksjokull glaciers, and onto the vast Hallmundarhraun lava field. The lava field is home to numerous caves, including Surtshellir  and the enormous Vidgelmir .

Vidgelmir cave is 0.9 miles (1.5 kilometers) long, with gigantic domes reaching astonishing heights of over 49 feet (15 meters). These measurements make it the most extensive cave of its kind in Iceland and one of the largest lava caves in the world. 

Although Vidgelmir's sheer size is spectacular to behold, the cave's true uniqueness lies not in its enormity but its beautiful vibrant colors. They come to life in numerous locations, where a lights system ensures that visitors thoroughly enjoy their underground adventure. 

• Book a  Vidgelmir Cave Explorer Tour  here

Just over 9 miles (15 kilometers) southwest of Vidgelmir, you will find another natural marvel, the  Hraunfossar  waterfalls flowing into the Hvita River.

Do not miss Hraunfossar waterfalls, ranked among Iceland's most magnificent waterfalls. They are only a short drive from Husafell's service center. Husafell has a small grocery store, a filling station, a swimming pool, and an information booth where you can book cottages, reserve space on the campground, or book a room for the night in the local  Hotel.

Day 10 - Reykjanes & Homecoming  

On the very last day of your 10-day Iceland road trip itinerary, you will travel 119 miles (192 kilometers) southwest of Husafell onto the ultra-volcanic  Reykjanes Peninsula . Marvel at the massive ridge of black and red lava fields where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates drift apart.

Around every turn, you will stumble upon superb examples of Iceland's volcanic nature, such as the steaming  Kleifarvatn lake and the vibrant  Gunnuhver  and Seltun geothermal fields with bubbling mud pools and steaming fumaroles.

In Sandvik , a footbridge overarches a small canyon on the peninsula's southern point. Here, you can walk between the two separating continents.

It is easy to lose track of time and space in Reykjanes' volcanic landscape, so make sure to save a moment for the Blue Lagoon, should you not have gone there on your first day.

The steamy world of black rock and milky-blue water makes for the perfect finish to your visit to Iceland. In the misty lake, you are bound to soak away all of your tension and prepare your body for the journey back home.

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7 Days in Iceland Itinerary – The Ultimate Summer Road Trip Guide

Last updated on June 26th, 2023 at 06:54 pm

Iceland is becoming popular with travelers at an exponential rate. Even that would be an understatement. And why not? The pristine beauty of this little country is out of this world. While some prefer private tours to see it in chunks and others spend several weeks exploring Iceland. We did a self-drive Iceland road trip in 7 days in the summer.  

After helping many friends plan their Iceland holidays, we have finally put together this useful 7 days Iceland itinerary based on our experiences.  Fair warning – this is a very lengthy but helpful post due to the depth of information we are covering. 

Note: While penning this guide we realized that there was way too much information to be shared. So, we have broken this up into 3 blog posts –

• 10 Useful Tips For Visiting Iceland
• 7-days Iceland itinerary (which is what you are reading now)
• Packing List for Iceland  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Driving in Iceland

Are 7 days enough to see iceland, best time to visit iceland, what to pack for the iceland road trip, day 1: west iceland, day 2: golden circle, day 3: south iceland, day 4: southeast iceland, day 5: east iceland, day 6: north iceland, day 7: west iceland.

• End of Iceland Road Trip

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Ring Road, also known as Route 1, runs around the entire island covering a total distance of approximately 1300 Kms. We drove around Iceland on the entire Ring Road in 7 days and returned our rental car with over 2000 Kms including several off-roading adventures. 🙂

TIP: We highly recommend that you rent a 4×4 vehicle . To get the best deal make sure you compare the prices for  car rentals in Iceland . 

Iceland is almost circular in shape and we chose to drive counter clockwise but you can easily do this in a clockwise direction heading up the west side of the island first. We recommend driving at your own pace here rather than taking organized tours, just saying. Here are some more  tips on driving in Iceland .

Before we dive into our Iceland itinerary, let’s answer a few basic questions to help you plan your trip.

In the summer, a week is just perfect to see the below-mentioned highlights in Iceland . However, you won’t have enough time for any long hikes along the way.

In winter, you’ll definitely need more days to do a full Iceland road trip.  However, there are some really cool adventures that you can only do by taking one of these Iceland winter tours (think ice-caving!).

If you have less than 7 days then consider driving only up to South Iceland and return back to Keflavík airport or Reykjavík at the end of your trip.

  TIP:   We have mentioned below where it makes the most sense to add extra days. But at the very least you will need 7 full days to complete this circle without rushing yourself.

The time of the year that you want to take your Iceland holidays will decide how many days you need. We visited Iceland at the end of May i.e. at the beginning of summer and experienced the “Midnight Sun,” which gave us more daylight to explore. We saw twilight for about two hours past midnight after which the sun rose again at around 3 am.  

FUN FACT: Midnight Sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs in places closest to the poles where in the summer months sun barely or never sets.   However, if you decide to go during winter months, you are in for incredible shows of Aurora Borealis or the Northern lights. 

The opposite happens in the winter months i.e. shorter days, longer nights, and less daylight. Also, in winter weather conditions, parts of Ring Road in the North and East could be closed.  

Our recommendation for driving around Iceland in 7 days would be from May-August. In other months you will need more days to cover it all.

Here are our suggestions for must-pack items for summer in Iceland:

• warm jacket
• waterproof jacket and pants
• scarf, gloves, warm hat
• hiking boots
• bathing suit
• packing cubes
• reusable water bottle
• sleep eye mask
• universal adapter

ELECTRONICS

• waterproof cases for phones and cameras
• portable charger
• extra camera batteries and memory cards

For more suggestions and details, see our full summer packing list for Iceland .

7-Day Iceland Itinerary

Here we go, detailed day by day itinerary –

We landed in the early hours of the morning with Play Air (lands 5am local time) from the US and headed straight to Blue Lagoon . Blue Lagoon, only 10 mins away from the airport, is a totally different experience than any other spa you can imagine. Going early in the morning helped us beat the crowds, it is a touristy place but totally worth it! 

Use the rest of your first day to settle in and explore the funky capital city, Reykjavík. There is a lot to do in Reykjavík city center such as,

• Hallgrimskirkja Church,
• Sólfarið (Sun Voyager) and
• Harpa Concert Hall  
• Restaurants & Bars on Laugavegur St. (we loved Lebowski Bar & Old Iceland Restaurant ) 
• Cafes in Reykjavík

If you have more time, there are a bunch of activities to do in Reykjavík such as whale watching, lava tube caving, helicopter rides, etc . You could also try the food tour in Reykjavík . 

ACCOMMODATION

We recommend staying closer to the city center within walking distance of Hallgrimskirkja Church and Laugavegur street where all the action happens. 

A few good options in this area are  Sandhotel ,  Fosshotel Reykjavik , Reykjavik Residence Apartment Hotel , and Old Charm Reykjavik Apartments ; the last two are more of an apartment style accommodation rather than a hotel.

Check out our captions in photos below to see what to do in Reykjavík.

Before jumping on the Ring Road, take a mini detour on day 2 and head to the famous Golden Circle in Iceland. Points of interest in Golden Circle are listed below, the ones we stopped at are highlighted in bold.

We wrote a separate blog post on  driving the Golden Circle if you want more details.

• Thingvellir National Park
• Silfra Snorkeling Tour  
• Geysir Geothermal Area
• Gullfoss Waterfall
• Bruarfoss Waterfall (if skipping snorkeling then this is a great addition)

If you are snorkeling between the tectonic plates in Silfra then you end up spending at least half a day there. Hence it is a good idea to stay back this night in the Golden Circle. Our recommendation would be  Hotel Litli Geysir or Hotel Gullfoss . We stayed at Hotel Gullfoss and passed by Hotel Geysir, both of them are at a fantastic location. 

If you plan to skip snorkeling  then most likely you should be able to get ahead of the schedule past Kerid crater from day 3 below. In that case, any hotels in Selfoss should be a good spot to spend the night. We stayed in this amazing cabin in Selfoss (on another Iceland trip) which had a hot tub and cannot recommend this place enough – Cabin in Selfoss with hot tub.

Check out our captions in the photos below to read about the location.

This is the most exciting part of Iceland! Heading to beautiful South Iceland from Gullfoss. Don’t you worry if you happen to stop every 5 mins on this Iceland road trip, you won’t be the only one!  The best part about Iceland is not the final destinations but the drive itself. 

TIP: Do keep in mind though if you stop way too often then you might never make it around in 7 days  😉  

Points of interest highlighted in bold are the ones we stopped at. And I am really stretching it by listing them all in one day since we backtracked our way to cover the last 3 spots the next day. 

• Kerid Crater
• Gljúfrabúi/ Gljúfrafoss Waterfall (Hidden waterfall)
• Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
• Eyjafjallajökull Erupt (the volcano that erupted in 2010, we passed by it)
• Seljavallalaug pool (Seljavelli – the hidden free geothermal pool which might take some time to find) 
• Skogafoss Waterfall
• DC-3 Plane wreck site (SRK’s Gerua song filming location for Bollywood fans)
• Reynisfjara (Black Sand Beach)

2023 UPDATE: There is now a parking fee that you’ll have to pay to park at Sellfoss and Seljalandsfoss and pretty much at most touristy spots in Southern Iceland.

TIP: Definitely add those extra days in this part of Iceland! There are tons of great vistas, hikes, and adventure activities.

ACTIVITIES 

• Hiking on top of Skogafoss waterfall 
• Hiking to the US Navy plane crash site – 45 mins one-way hike with no elevation

TIP: There are no signs for the DC Plane Crash site but there is a small unpaved free parking lot on the side of the main road.  It was incredible to see an old rusting DC-3 US Navy plane which crashed 40 years ago still lying at the same spot in the middle of nowhere.

We recommend staying the night in or around the town of Vik. We stayed at  Hotel Edda Vik (now called Hotel Vik ). However, on our recent 2023 trip to Iceland we stayed in this gorgeous cottage very close to Vik – Cottage Vestri Petursey . We saw Northern lights straight outside this cabin. highly recommend this place, it’s very kid friendly too.

Other really nice recommendations for stay in this region are – Vik Cottages , Black Beach Suites , Hotel Katla (They have a nice outdoor hot tub which can be used for a small fee even if you don’t stay here),  Hotel Dyrholaey , Volcano Hotel , and  Hotel Skogafoss . We enjoyed a nice dinner with a great view of the waterfall at Hotel Skogafoss before heading to our hotel in Vik.

Another exciting day driving Southeast towards Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon where you get to see floating glaciers from the parking lot itself. Points of interest on this stretch are listed below, in bold are the stops we took. Many tours start from the Lagoon’s parking lot. They now have food trucks and a small coffee & souvenir shop at the parking lot.

TIP:   If you want to experience the glaciers intimately then we recommend taking the  Glacier Lagoon boat tour .  

• Laufskálavarða 
• Fjaðrárgljúfur
• Skaftafell National Park  (Also called Vatnajökull National Park – Svartifoss Waterfall hike is very popular) – We skipped it!
• Jökulsárlón – Glacier Lagoon
• Diamond Beach (across the bridge from Glacier Lagoon)

FACT: Glacier Lagoon, however pretty, is an ugly reminder of Mother Earth’s trouble in paradise- as this lagoon keeps growing in size we keep losing our precious glaciers in the Arctic.

Locations in South and Southeast Iceland are most popular with tourists.  Lots of hiking and activities to do here, however, we could only accommodate the boat tour in our itinerary.

• Hiking in Skaftafell National Park  (Also called Vatnajökull National Park )
• Glacier Hiking Tour (open all year round) OR you could do a combined Glacier hiking + Ice Cave Tour
• Crystal Ice Cave Tours (Crystal Ice Caves tours only run until mid to end of April as it’s not safe in the summer time)
• Boat tours at Glacier Lagoon ( Amphibian boat tour open all year round, Zodiac boats only in summer)  
• ATV rides (around Skogafoss)
• Horse riding (near Black Sand Beach)

TIP: Spend extra days on this stretch of your Iceland road trip if you can.  

At this point, you really are in the middle of nowhere and there are very limited BnB’s and hotels in this area. We wanted to stay closest to the lagoon, but we didn’t get availability in the hotels we wanted including  Hali Country Hotel  and  Skyrhusid Guesthouse . Another place to stay is Hotel Skaftafell which is 45 mins north of the lagoon and just a few mins away from Skaftafell Visitors center.

We ended up staying at  Guesthouse Nypugardar , a lovely farmhouse, which is about 30 mins drive south of the lagoon. Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon  also looks like a nice modern alternative about 20 mins from the lagoon.

Continue driving due East – this is when you skip the tourist junction and come in contact with what I like to call ‘raw Iceland’. Town of Höfn and Stokksnes peninsula are a detour from Ring Road but if you have the time it’s worth taking that detour. Check out the famous Vestrahorn mountain in Stokksnes near Höfn.

TIP: Consider adding an extra day here if you want to spend more time in the peninsula.  

Ring Road cuts through this peninsula giving you a splendid view of Stokksnes for a few minutes. Town of Djupivogur can be a great alternate stopover for lunch if you want to skip Höfn, which is what we did. Points of interest on this stretch are listed below. 

• Stokksnes/ Vestrahorn
• Egilsstaðir (It’s a long unpaved scenic drive till here)

We did not list any activities here because this drive is insanely wild and in itself an attraction. In this stretch, Ring Road turns into a dirt road going up and down the mountains. It is an adventure to be the only car driving on several parts of Ring Road, which happens more often than not.

Spend the night in the biggest city in Eastern Iceland, Egilsstadir. Hotel Edda Egilsstadir or Hotel 1001 Nott are good options here.    

Not many people driving in Iceland make it this far North so this stretch was exceptionally exquisite to us. Heading North towards Akureyri which is the second-largest city in Iceland after Reykjavík was full of pleasant surprises  just like the South – more gigantic waterfalls, more hot springs and geysirs, more volcanic craters, geothermal spas.. you name it and North Iceland has its share.

Akureyri is a tiny city located on Eyjafjörður or Eyja Fjord, take out some time to explore it. Points of interest on this stretch are listed below. 

• Krafla Viti Crater
• Mývatn (lake and a geothermal area around Lake Mývatn )
• Godafoss Waterfall
• Dettifoss Waterfall 
• Explore Akureyri

We didn’t have time to explore Lake Myvatn area in its entirety which is something we want to do on our next trip.  There is a lot to explore and do in North Iceland, so this would be another great spot to add a day or 2 .

TIP: If you are spending extra days here consider going to the fishing town of Húsavík.  

Both Akureyri and Húsavík, being closest to the Arctic, are very popular for their whale watching tours. We took a zodiac boat whale watching tour from Akureyri and half the fun was zodiac boat ride in the fjord . 

TIP: Highly recommend zodiac boat over regular whale watching boats/ships.

Spend the night in Akureyri. We stayed in Hotel Kjarnalundur which was about 5 mins driving distance from the city center in Akureyri. View of the mountains and the fjord from our room was the best thing we could have asked for after a long day of driving.

You can choose to stay right in the city center – there is an Berjaya Iceland Hotels   and Hotel Edda in Akureyri as well.

Final day! While driving back from Akureyri to West Iceland we stopped at Snæfellsnes Peninsula. If you wish to skip this peninsula then drive straight to Reykjavík and enjoy an extra day there. We drove around Snaefellsnes and stayed the night in the town of Borgarnes. Our main motivation was to see the most photographed mountain in Iceland, Mt. Kirkjufell . After spending a really short time in Snaesfellsness, we are now certain that this is where we need to return back to explore more.

Depending on where you want to end up – spend the night in one of the villages in Snæfellsnes Peninsula or Reykjavík.

We stayed at  Ensku Husin Guesthouse in Borgarnes in between Snæfellsnes and Reykjavik, and couldn’t have asked for a better place for our last night in Iceland.

On the peninsula, Kirkjufell Guesthouse and Apartments and Arnarstapi Hotel are good options.

END OF ICELAND ROAD TRIP

Driving in Iceland showed us that one country can be a one-stop-shop for travel lovers. The varied landscapes we experienced in one week ranged from black sand beaches to volcanic craters to waterfalls and more waterfalls to Geothermal hot springs to arctic glaciers.

Don’t even get me started on the handsome looking Icelandic horses. With nature in its back pocket, the capital city Reykjavík turned out to be one of the trendiest cities in Europe full of funky nightlife and relish restaurants. Needless to say, we have fallen in love with this country.

After receiving so many questions on our Iceland budget, we’ve added this section. Below is the breakdown of our road trip in USD. 

• Flights – $600 (you can find cheap deals on Iceland Air & Wow Air from the US)
• 4×4 SUV Car Rental (incl GPS & insurance) – $900   (Here’s a quick Car Rental Price Check ) 
• Gas – $350 (we filled a couple of times during our road trip)
• Accommodation (double room with private bathroom) – $150-$200 /night (We prefer private rooms but if you are on a budget consider staying in hostels or renting a camper van)
• Food – $50-$60 (you can save on food by buying groceries and making your own meals through the road trip)
• Blue Lagoon – $60 /person for the lowest Blue Lagoon Package
• Silfra Snorkeling – $130 /person to snorkel  and you can read about our experience before booking.
• Glacier Lagoon Amphibian Boat Tour – $50 /person if you book directly from the Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour website
• Akureyri Whale Watching Zodiac Boat – $190 /person 

We spent roughly over USD 4000   on our entire 7 days Iceland road trip . Depending on the extra activities you do on your Iceland holidays, your budget will either go up or down.

There is definitely LOTS to see & do in Iceland and one visit will never be enough. But we hope that this Iceland itinerary not only helped but inspired you too. This island definitely opens up a can of treasures and we can’t wait to catch more amazing hidden gems in the future.

Any questions? Just shoot us a comment below or on our Facebook page and we would love to help out. 

Happy Traveling!

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68 comments on “ 7 days in iceland itinerary – the ultimate summer road trip guide ”.

After reading your post I feel like this is all I need for my Iceland trip! Most blogs show a “happy camper” itinerary, I am so glad I found yours. I have something I would like to ask, how far in advance did you book your hotels? Do you think it would be hard to find rooms within that price range if we book the same day? I would love to have the flexibility, we are planning to go in September.

Hi Lianet, First of all Sorry for a super delayed response but we were taking a break amidst all this pandemic. And secondly, thank-you ‘coz we love our time staying in BnB’s and hotels in Iceland. Since it’s almost September end, I am guessing you must already be on your awesome Iceland trip. For the benefit of our readers I’ll answer your question – we booked our stay a good 2-3 months in advance. Whether you will find rooms on the same day depends on which season you go and which part of, for e.g. the answer is no during summer but in the shoulder season yes you may expect to find rooms on the same day. Similarly if you are looking at room in the remotest part of Iceland I’d book in advance just to be sure you are not stranded in the middle of no where.

An amazing and detailed itinerary guide on Iceland! Iceland is beautiful and I’m stunned by its beauty even though it is a cold place I will visit this place to experience the beauty. Thank you for sharing this blog.

You should definitely visit some day Kanika! Thanks for dropping a note 🙂

HI, I loved your blog about Iceland. Thank you. We are going to Iceland in August with our 2 teen daughters. I don’t think I want to drive around the island all 7 days we are there, so which area/which activities would you say are must-do? Do we need hiking shoes or our sneakers would do the job too? Thanks

Hi Ferie, if this is your first time in Iceland I would recommend you to cover all the highlights I mentioned in the Southern region for sure. Perhaps add in a hike for hot springs too since you have the time. You might also be able to go and explore the town of Hofn. Let’s say you cover this part of Iceland in 2-3 days then you could also drive the Golden Circle as well as the Western Peninsula (which was the last day in our itinerary). Definitely spend a day in Reykjavik if not more. You even might have chances of seeing Northern Lights there in August! Yay 😀

About Hiking shoes, I will recommend water-resistant hiking boots from our experience with the Icelandic weather.

Hi Lovely blog- thank you for all the great insights! Just one question though – we plan visiting during Summer and mainly plan to visit South, South east & western Iceland. Do you recommend we rent a 4WD or will a 2WD will do? Thank you very much!

Glad you found this useful Sharmila. If you get a good deal on 4WD drive then we recommend that but if not, you will be fine with 2WD in summer as long as you stay on paved roads. The other issue in Iceland is heavy winds so even if you do get 2WD, make sure to rent a sturdy and heavy vehicle. Have a great trip! 🙂

This guide has been a huge help! Would you mind sharing what whale watching company you used?

Super happy to hear your feedback Hannah! We went with a family owned company called “Elding Whale Watching” and their office is conveniently located in the heart of Akureyri city. Here is their link if you want to check them out – https://elding.is/tours?type=whalewatching

Great Guide & thank you for sharing. I am keen to add Iceland to my list & judging by your photos it is a must! Originally planning to go for northern lights but May sounds fab too! Decisions, decisions …. I mainly travel solo & have heard that camper van is the best way to go. Do you think it’s sfae for a woman alone?

Iceland, in general, is one of the safest countries for solo traveling Sue. I’d say that if you are parking your camper van in a designated spot for the night you should have no problem at all.

Great post, great inspo! Would love to go to Iceland

I’ve never been but I have clients traveling there in June (Im an agent). I planned a road trip for them from Rekiyavik, to hof, vik and back. I pinned this for reference when I get ready to get their tours together!

Sounds great!

Incredibly thorough guide! Iceland is one of those places that I think we’d have to visit twice because I’d love to see it in both winter and summer as they are such different experiences!

I couldn’t agree more! We definitely plan to visit Iceland again in winter some day. I’m dying to see northern lights and do a ice cave tour 🙂

Literally, this morning I was updating my list of countries I can go to with direct flights from home and added Iceland to the list, thinking hmmm, this summer or next, I just have to go! And now I came across your post, this must be fate :)) I have heard that summers tend to “sell out” in terms of cars, hotels etc. How much in advance would you advise starting to book stuff?

My tip here would be to go just before the onset of summer. For e.g. we went in May which is not technically considered summer so the hotel prices were not too bad. We booked about 2 months in advance and yet found that some remote area BnBs we wanted were sold out. So that is a real issue you bring up. Over-tourism has hit Iceland very hard I hear, they closed down one of my favorite canyons for tourist as of last week.

Great itinerary. We had 17 days in Iceland so for a short stay this is a great.

Ah, I would love to go back and cover more though! 🙂

Love all the details you provided on this post. It is extremely helpful for planning a trip to Iceland.

Fantastic website and pics. We are planning to travel to Iceland in June and planning almost the same route and destination as yours. Did you visit any ice caves ? If so any suggestions ? What about snowmobiles.?

No, the ice caves are usually closed in the summer for safety reasons. Most companies offer that as a winter activity only. However, there are some glacier walking/hiking tours available (in vatnajökull glacier) that you could do all season. If you are going in June why not consider an ATV off-roading ride? We were so close to booking one in South Iceland but didn’t make it in time for the tour. Snowmobile might be another better winter activity I’d say.

Hey, You guys are amazing. I am planning for Iceland in June with my husband and we are travelling from Houston, TX. Your guide to 7 days trip look perfect we don’t need to make one. Am sorry to ask you this question but how much it costed around? And is it safe for couple to drive in less populated area?

Hi Shruti! So happy to hear that you found our itinerary useful 🙂 And yes, it is very safe for couples to drive in remote areas. In fact, Iceland is one of the safest countries in Europe. Get a GPS device along with your car or have offline google maps downloaded for directions so you don’t get lost. As for the budget, we spent a little over $3000 including car, gas, hotel, food, and all our tours. I will include the breakdown of our expenses in this blog post to help you further.

I just booked my entire 7-day trip in June using this itinerary so thank you so much! You had mentioned getting a 4×4, but I don’t see a lot about traveling through the highlands on your trip. Is the 4×4 necessary and if so, do you have any recommendations for highlands stops?

Also, I’m wondering if I should stay an extra day in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula before flying back. Could I fill an extra day here?

Thanks again!

So glad we could help you out with this itinerary Nick. We used our rental 4×4 on the patch from Hofn to Egilsstadir, that patch was a dirt road cutting through the mountains. If you aren’t going that far east then you shouldn’t need 4 wheel drive but consider getting a sturdier vehicle since the wind speed in Iceland can be crazy. We skipped highlands on purpose since 7 days were not enough to do it all, to be honest. If we weren’t circling around the entire island I think we would have driven through the highlands. That’s definitely a perfect alternative.

For Snaefellsnes Peninsula – Absolutely you can totally spend an entire day and more here. We have a list going on things we want to see here when we return. To name a few we’d love to see the Budir church, the lava caves, the shark museum (where they show you how the local shark delicacy is made) and of course go back to the Kirkjufellsfoss. PS: Snaefellsnes has some tough dirt roads as well.

Thank you so much for all this info! This is the best site I’ve come across so far on the Iceland trip with lots of useful information, pictures, direct links to activities, maps, accommodations, packing list, etc.. We went in the last week of July for 7 days and used your suggested itinerary and accommodations as a baseline and it was perfect for our family of 4! Keep up the good work!!!

Thanks a lot for stopping by and giving your valuable feedback after your trip Kate, we really appreciate it! <3 I hope you and your family enjoyed every bit in Iceland 🙂

I’ve been researching itineraries for our upcoming family Iceland trip in May 2019 and your site is THE BEST so far. I love how you organized your information (visual and descriptive with direct links). I will be using this post to guide me. In fact, I booked a hotel thanks to your useful information and links!

Thank-you so much Jennifer! That means a lot to us and I hope you have a wonderful trip to Iceland, it’s like being on another planet. And yes… I love visual descriptions so much that I can’t help use it on our posts 🙂

What an amazing and fascinating place to visit. I really didn’t know much about this but after reading this post I will surely visit one day. Thanks for sharing such an amazing post.

It is and I’m sure you can relate to it’s beauty coming from Iceland 🙂

Your blog is really good, after reading it I really want to visit Iceland, especially south coast and glacier lagoon.

Great blog! I fell in love with Iceland too after our trip there in winter, you can see what we did there for 4 days. My dream is now to visit Iceland in the summer.

And we have to turn tables and say we really wish to visit Iceland in the winter time 😀 High Five to that!

Hi. My wife and I are planning a 8 day trip around the Ring Road. Which part of Iceland would you have added an extra day? Also, you mention that the diving in Silfra will require 1/2 day. Why does it take that amount of time?

Hi Greg, Definitely add that extra day in the South as there are many worthy stopovers here. Silfra is about 45 minutes drive from Reykjavik and it takes a good hour for everyone in the group to wear waterproof gear and listen to the intro talk. After that, it’s a short hike to the starting point and you will spend about 30-45 mins in water. To get back to the parking lot is another hike. Considering all of this you should definitely keep a good 3-4 hours aside for silfra snorkeling/diving. After this activity, if you have the time then walk through the boardwalk (right behind silfra starting point) which leads to Iceland’s first parliament. Hope this helps and have an amazing time in Iceland 🙂

This is such a thorough guide to seeing Iceland! Saving this for later when I eventually get to tick it off my bucket list 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

Thank-you Alyse! I am so glad to hear that you found it useful, now hope you get to go there soon 🙂

OH MY! What a great and in-depth post! I have bookmarked this wealth of information for my next trip to Iceland!

Thanks a lot Crystal!! 🙂

These pics have me drooling. Really great tips here . I’m dying to do this exact trip. I spent a week in winter and went as far as Jokulsarlon because just wanted to do a slower paced trip. Pinning this for when I can go in spring or summer!

I hear ya, winter is very bad out there. Yes please try to do this ring during summer anytime between May-August would be perfect for this itinerary.

Wow such a detailed post with gorgeous photos and amazing tips! Iceland has been on my bucketlist forever and i can’t wait to tick it off. Your inclusion of maps is great and will certainly help. Thank you for putting this together.

Aww thanks a lot Ketki!! I hope you get to go here soon and if you have any questions just give me a holler 🙂

I spent a week hiking Iceland last summer and it was just brilliant! What a stunningly beautiful place! 🙂 Thank you for this comprehensive guide 🙂

Now Ionna, I need to go hike there next time and would take tips from you then 😉 This trip of ours was mostly road tripping without any major hikes.

Very useful tips! Thank you. And those photos of yours are stunning

Thank you Mina!! So happy to hear you liked our photos 😀

Oh man! I can’t believe you did all this in 7 days! I would need at least two weeks, maybe more – I would stop way too many times to take pictures. We only did parts of the western side of Iceland in a week. We drove down to Vik with hopes of going further to the famous Glacier Lagoon but it was super rainy and we were super tired, so we skipped it. Definitely want to go back one day. It’s such an amazing beautiful country with landscapes I’ve never seen before.

Haha I know exactly what you mean by taking too many pictures! But wait is that even a thing? lol But on a serious note, we only stopped at the places in bold here since we wanted to complete the roadtrip circle. I have listed additional places too for people who might want to go for a longer time. And I tell you what I probably wanna spend a good 3-4 days in western fjords next time.

This is on the top of my bucketlist for a while now! Will definitely save this as a guide for my future visit (whenever that may be). Thank you for sharing and I am soooo loving this post!

Thanks Kate!! Make that bucket list happen soon 😉

Loved the details and getting a little more information about the different sights. May not be able to see everything but not everyone travels the same and that is ok! Glad to just get more information in general 🙂

Yes and please take it at your own pace! It’s not too difficult to finish this loop in 7 days in the summertime. But any other time of the year I wouldn’t recommend doing it in 7 days anyway. I do have WAY too much information in here for people who might want to add additional days. PS: we only stopped at places highlighted in bold and we weren’t even rushing ourselves.

I feel like I’m the last person in the world who hasn’t been to Iceland! Love the photos. Thanks for sharing!

Haha.. I do feel like Iceland is getting a major tourist bump these days so don’t feel bad. Go when you can, you will love it!

Oh wow. Really nice post. We did so erging similar and your post brought back all those memories. I have that Iceland post also on my blog at BeeTravelista website. Hope that brings you memories too 🙂

Vry detailed itinerary, thank you very much! 🙂

Great Article and beautiful pictures! I am going to Iceland in December for 9-day tour. Hopefully, I will get to see northern lights. Can you describe what photo gear you used for taking these pictures? I am selecting on lenses I need to carry. I am also going through a lot of videos posted on youtube and other blogs. Any tips from you would be appreciated! Also, do have any recommendations for food stops/must go places while on wheels..? ( I am a vegan, so I know this is going to be tough!)

Hi Omkar, Yes we hope you get lucky with the Northern lights as well, download some Northern light apps to get notifications on them during your stay. To answer your questions – About camera gear: We will highly recommend a tripod (esp for northern lights), a polarizer (for daytime), remote shutter and a water protective gear for your camera. For the lenses, we always have a wide angle in our bag and our go to lens is 18-135mm since we love shooting landscapes. Now to be honest we also carried our zoom 70-300mm with us to Iceland but probably only used it a handful of times shooting birds/horses and a few far away sunsets in the entire trip. I guess it boils down to what your ultimate goal of photography is going to be in Iceland. Man.. We should perhaps just do a quick post on camera gear to carry 😛 About food: Ah, you will have plenty of veggie options in Reykjavik. It’s a multicultural city. But as you drive further away from the city (for e.g. South Iceland) you will have very limited food stops. Restaurants are going to be a part of guesthouses/ hotels in these areas. If you are a strict Vegan (i.e. no diary etc) then perhaps keep some backup options in your backpack in case you can’t find true vegan food out in the dirt. But we are sure you can find vegetarian food here. Hope this helps. 🙂

Thanks ! that is helpful!

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ZigZagonEarth

Plan unforgettable road trips!

Iceland Road Trip – planning tips + itinerary + best roads

Last updated on November 1, 2023 by Claire Robinson - this article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I get a small commission ( more )

Let’s plan your Iceland Road Trip! Below is your step-by-step guide to start planning you Iceland Travels:

• when to visit,
• where to go (best roads and areas), 
• How to rent your car, 
• Tips to create your Iceland itinerary, 
• Tips to book accommodations;
• Tips to get ready to drive and travel. 

Note: This is for Spring, Summer and Autumn. if you are planning a road trip in Winter, better to read my specific Winter article .

Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Iceland:

My favorite platform to rent a car in Iceland: DiscoverCars

The unmissable boat tour: Whale Watching

Fun activity: Swimming in Silfra Fissure

My favorite places to stay:

• Reykjavik: see best rated hotels – e.g. Vintage Boutique Hotel
• Lake Myvatn: see best rated hotels – e.g. Hotel Laxa
• Vik area: see best rated hotels – e.g. Hotel Vik i Myrdal

STEP 0 – ESSENTIALS – How to Plan an Iceland Road Trip

As you go through the following steps to plan your road trip around Iceland, I recommend you keep the following in mind :

• Many amazing landscapes are very easy to reach, so don’t worry ! No stress, keep planning
• Don’t plan too much every day – you will get frustrated not to be able to stop as much since it is stunning everywhere
• Don’t overestimate your 4WD capacity – if you plan on going on the Central Highlands track, know that there will be river crossings and they can be quite difficult and changing during the day
• As you are approaching your Iceland road trip, stop watching the weather forecast . It will change every day and during the day, so just go with the flow of your planned Itinerary.
• Note – if you don’t want to plan your whole Iceland road trip on your own, you can head to my article about choosing a self-drive package .

STEP 1 – Decide when to visit Iceland

Iceland is beautiful and magical all year around. And the weather is always unpredictable. So, I don’t think weather should be too much of a factor when deciding when to visit Iceland (except for Winter vs Summer because of the snow). To my opinion the best time to pan your Iceland Road Trip is based on what you want to see.

Here is a summary ( For more info, read the full article  on the  Best time to visit Iceland including conditions and things to see):

June-August

• PROS – Long daylight hours, green scenery,
• You can see – lupine fields (June-July), midnight sun in June, whales, Puffins (May to mid-July)
• BUT Peak season: higher prices, more tourists; no chances of seeing aurora borealis (not enough dark hours)

May & September-beginning October

• My favorite time
• PROS – Still enough daylight hours, spring and autumn colors, roads still in good condition
• You can see – aurora borealis, Whales between May and September (Killer whales in May), Puffins in May
• BUT fewer accommodations are open, colder weather
• PROS – Not too many tourists, stunning landscapes with snow, interesting low light for photography, good prices
• You can see – aurora borealis, winter wonders such as the blue caves, frozen waterfalls, 
• BUT Difficult driving conditions, many roads closed, not many hours of light
• If you are planning a road trip in Winter – head to this article instead

STEP 2 – Where to go – Maps – Ring road or regions

Classic – iceland ring road road trip.

The most classic road trip to do in Iceland is to tour the Ring Road, also known as Route 1. It is great to get an overview of the country.

• The Ring Road is 1332km long (828mi) – Without stopping at all and staying only on Route 1,
• It would take you 16 to 17h to drive all around Iceland.
• It is fenced on a large portion, reducing the risks of having a sheep on the road (but not everywhere, so be careful
• A lot of the most famous sights are along the Road: Waterfalls, glaciers, lagoon, geothermal areas, volcanoes.
• You can check out my selection of the Best stops on the Ring Road

OR – Exploring the regions

OR you can stick to a few regions either

• if you have limited time
• or if you want to explore them more

Below are the main regions of Iceland with the things you can expect to see in each of them.

South-West Iceland

• Area – Reykjavik and the Reykjanes peninsula
• Roads – easy, options for moderate
• Main towns – Reykjavik, Keflavik (airport), Selfoss (gateway to South Coast)
• Things to see – waterfalls, geothermal areas, movement of tectonic places
• Famous attractions – Blue Lagoon , and the Golden Circle with Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss, Geysir
• Check out the top things to do in the region here

Snaefellsnes Peninsula

• Area – North West of Reykjavik – ‘Iceland in miniature’ 
• Roads – easy around, some moderate and 4WD options
• Main towns – Borgarnes to access the peninsula, Grundarfjordur on the North Coast
• Things to see – Waterfalls, fjords, glacier, craters, giant lava formations, black sand beaches
• Famous attractions – Kirkjufell mountain and its waterfalls, lava cliffs of Arnarstapi
• Check out the top things to do in the region in this article

South Coast

• Area – the south coast 
• Roads – Easy, mostly Road 1
• Main towns – Vik ad Höfn
• Things to see – waterfalls, black sand beaches, mountains, glaciers, icebergs…
• Famous attractions – Seljalandsfoss , Skogafoss , Jokulsarlon lagoon , Diamond Beach  and so much more

North Iceland

• Area – My favorite region – as if on another planet
• Roads – mostly easy, some moderate and 4WD options
• Main towns – between   Egilsstadir and the Northern capital Akureyri
• Things to see – Geothermal fields, volcanic craters, Arctic ocean, waterfalls, giant lava formations
• Famous attractions – Dettifoss, Dimmuborgir, Hverir geothermal area, Godafoss, Lake Myvatn

East fjords

• Area – Some of the oldest rocks in Iceland, on the East coast
• Roads – easy to moderate
• Main towns – No large towns in the fjords
• Things to see – Forest, lush farmlands, small fjords and fishing villages…
• Famous attractions – just driving

West Fjords

• Area – North West peninsula – Isolated region with relatively unspoiled wilderness
• Roads – Not easy, but open to 4WD
• Main towns – Isafjordur
• Things to see – Waterfalls, fjords, beaches, bird life
• Famous attractions – Dynjandi waterfall

Central Highlands

• Area – Wild mountains and glacier which can be explored during Summer only with a 4WD
• Roads – F-roads, 4WD only
• Main towns – none
• Things to see – magnificent unspoilt nature with colorful mountains
• Famous attractions – Landmannalaugar , Sigodulgljufur canyon

Best roads in Iceland for road trips

Some of the most famous roads in Iceland to include on your road trip are:

• The Ring Road that allows you to tour the island
• The Golden Circle, the most famous small loop not far from Reykjavik – in one or two days – learn more
• The Silver Circle, a lesser known road with lava tube and waterfalls – in one or two days – learn more
• The Road around the Snaefellsnes Peninsula to see the “Iceland in miniature” – learn more
• F-208 through the Central Highlands – 4WD mandatory (with river crossings)

All my favorite locations in Iceland can be found in my travel guide eBooks that help you plan your road trip:

Plan your dream trip to Iceland with my guides!

• 8 easy-to-plan maps
• 100+ pre-selected locations
• GPS coordinates 
• Useful planning tips
• 130+ large photos 

• 2 easy-to-plan maps
• 30 stops, 10 detours
• 70+ large photos 

STEP 3 – How long to plan for your road trip in Iceland

The first criteria is, of course: How much travel time can you have… 

If you have no flexibility, you can jump to the next step. If you have flexibility, here are a few facts to keep in mind:

• Speed limit on the best paved roads is 90 km/hour but unpaved sections are at 80km/h 
• You will want to stop every 5 minutes to look at the changing scenery or take a photo – this is inevitable

How long does it take the drive completely around Iceland

• As written earlier, without stopping at all and staying only on Route 1, it would take you 16 to 17h to drive all around Iceland.
• However, if you wan to cover all of Iceland you have to add the Golden Circle, the Snaefellsnes peninsula, detours to northern areas of North Iceland and the West fjords – so maybe 50h of driving

Can you drive around Iceland in 7 days?

With the long days of Summer, it is possible to do the Ring Road within 7 days. However, you have to be really careful where to stop. You have to limit yourself on the attractions you can see. Therefore, I would not recommend attempting the all-around Ring Road in 7 days, you would have to rush all the time and it will be frustrating.

From my experience and discussion with local tour guides, I think to really enjoy it you need at least:

• Reykjavik – Golden circle: 2 to 3 days
• Snaefellsnes – 2 to 3 days
• South Iceland – 3 to 4 days
• West Fjords – 2 to 4 days
• East Iceland – 2 days
• North Iceland – 4/5 days (including 2 to 3 around Myvatn)
• Central Highlands – at least one day for Landmannalaugar with 4 WD but there is so much more to see!

Of course, you can do just a snapshot of each region with 1 day or max 2 days in each. But it will be rushed.

Driving times

And here is a map with some driving times to help you more:

The question of an Iceland road trip cost

Your time in Iceland might also be limited by your budget. However it is very difficult to give you an idea of what it would look like because it depends on a lot of factors (use of campervan, type of accommodation, type of cars, number of travelers…).

The best is to plan your ideal road trip itinerary, check out the cost and see how to adapt to fit your budget.

Another option is to check self-drive packages, that give you an overall idea of prices:

• SUMMER – 7 days  – South of Iceland + Golden Circle –  Check out program and latest prices
• SUMMER   – 10 days  – Best of Ring Road + Snaefellsnes Peninsula –  Check out program and latest prices
• SUMMER – 14 days  – Complete Iceland overview including the Westfjords –  Check out program and latest prices

I don’t drink coffee

But I also like other drinks and sweets! Do you like the free content you find on my blog? All my tips and practical information, without intrusive advertising…

STEP 4 – Book your flight

So now that you have chosen when to go, where to go and for how long, you are ready to book your flight.

Choose flight

Compare flight prices

First, check the Visa requirement for your type of passport. Iceland is part of the Schengen Visa Agreement. Here is the list of countries where a visa is needed to visit Iceland 

Note that all international flights arriving in Iceland land at the Keflavik airport. It is a 40min drive to reach Reykjavik from there. They have shuttles and private transfers if you are not renting a car right away – book here Whereas the regional airport for the few internal flight options (such as going to Akureyri in the North) is located near Reykjavik.

STEP 5 – Rent the right car for your Icelandic Road Trip

Now that you have a rough idea of where you are going and what type of roads you are going to take, you can decide on the car to rent. Here are a few tips to consider when renting a car in Iceland:

• TIMING – Iceland is a popular destination – for choice and good price, book as early as possible
• 2WD / 4WD – If you plan on driving on F-roads, a 4WD is mandatory – Otherwise 2WD is sufficient but a simple 4WD allows you to enter any road that looks inspiring without worry
• RENTAL COMPANIES –  When choosing the company, don’t just look at price, consider the age of the fleet, included mileage, 24/7 customer service, servicing availability…
• INSURANCES – Check all types of insurance and decide on the level of risk you are ready to take. For peace of mind, I strongly recommend the Gravel Protection one
• BOOK early to have better price and good choice of cars

For more information, head to my  complete guide to selecting your rental car of Iceland (car types, companies, insurance, tips…)

My recommendations:

• My favorite comparison site  (one of the best rated internationally) – See here to compare prices on International rental brands:  Discovercars.c o m
• Or consider a local brand  – there are many local car rental agencies in Iceland. It is not easy to compare. But  on this website  GuidetoIceland.com , they have gathered almost all of them and you can compare the vehicles and prices for the dates you are interested in.
• Both websites collect many customer reviews / ratings

STEP 6 – Create a detailed Iceland Road Trip itinerary

Ok now it is time to dig deeper and create a more detailed itinerary. This will help you decide where to sleep and for how many nights.

As before, to help you plan your itinerary you can:

• My suggested itineraries for 5 days in Iceland
• My suggested for 7 days in Iceland itineraries
• My 4 itineraries to spend 10 days in Iceland
• And my favorite itinerary for 14 days around Iceland
• Go through my 60+ articles on Iceland
• Get one of my eBooks with practical maps and structured information made to facilitate planning:

Essential tips for you Iceland itinerary:

When planning your itinerary don’t forget to consider the following essentials:

• Driving times – Always plan more time to go from point A to point B than what Google says. You will want to stop all the time to admire the scenery, so if you plan too much you will feel frustrated not to be able to.
• Daylight hours – Check out the daylight time you have available when you are traveling. Because of the latitude, the length of days varies greatly. Check out how long you have to see all the sites during the days 
• Road closures  – Know that F-roads (difficult non paved tracks with river crossings most of the time) are only opened from mid-June to sometime in September. Dates change every year depending on the conditions. Most of those roads lead to the central highlands.
• Road conditions – Know that in Winter, road conditions can change abruptly, with sometimes snowstorms. Really don’t plan too much
• Accommodation options – You can’t just stop your itinerary on one day in the middle of no-where, you might not find accommodation. So, try to plan around the big hubs as listed in the next step.

Example: 10 day Iceland Ring Road Itinerary

• Day 1 –  Reykjavik to Vik with at least Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Reynisfjara beach – Sleep around Vik –  check out best rated accommodations
• Day 2 –  Vik to Jokulsarlon with at least Fjadrargljufur canyon and Skaftafell National Park (and Jokulsarlon for sunset) Sleep around Jokulsarlon –  check out best rated accommodations
• Day 3 –  Jokulsarlon to Höfn with at least Jokulsarlon for sunrise, Diamond beach, (ice cave in in Winter), Fjallsarlon, Höfn peninsula Sleep in Höfn –  check out best rated accommodations
• Day 4 –  Höfn to Egilsstadir – driving around the East Fjords Sleep in Egilsstadir –  check out best rated accommodations
• Day 5 –  Egilsstadir to Lake Myvatn (Reykjahlid) – enjoy some of the Myvatn attractions Sleep in Reykjahlid –  check out best rated accommodations
• Day 6 – Myvatn – enjoy more of the Myvatn attractions Sleep in Reykjahlid –  check out best rated accommodations  (or in Godafoss to enjoy the sunset –  see hotel )
• Day 7 –  Myvatn to Akureyri with at least Godafoss, Town of Akureyri and Whale watching Sleep in Akureyri –  check out best rated accommodations
• Day 8 –  Akureyri to Borgarnes with longer drive, Grabrokargigar and small detours possible Sleep in Borgarnes –  check out best rated accommodations
• Day 9 –  Borgarnes to Reykjavik and visit the capital city (alternative: Tour of Snaefellsnes peninsula or Golden Circle) Sleep in Reykjavik –  check out best rated accommodations
• Day 10 –  Visit of Reykjavik Sleep in Reykjavik –  check out best rated accommodations

Use my travel guides eBooks to choose the stops you are most interested in each day.

STEP 7 – Book accommodations

As one of my taxi drivers mentioned, with the boom of tourism in Iceland, accommodations are appearing everywhere, especially guesthouses. The options are as usual: camping, minivan/motorhome, hostels, guesthouses, hotels, farm stay.

A few points to keep in mind:

• During peak season, accommodations fill up quickly especially those well located
• Off peak season, many are closed so it can also be hard to find accommodation if you look at the last minute (I looked at it 6 weeks beforehand and options were limited for the Myvatn area)
• A lot of rooms in Guesthouses have to share bathrooms – I have seen many reviews by people who were surprised. So, when you book, check the details!
• Renting a campervan or camping is also a great option to save money, stay closer to nature. But know that it is cold at night, so be mindful of how you are willing to travel. In September I still saw a lot of campers. Layers Layers Layers! –  Check out some Mini-camper and van options
• Or read my complete guide about the best places to stay in Iceland

Practical accommodation hubs to stay at around Iceland:

Accommodations in South-West Iceland

• Reykjavik of course –  Check out the best rated accommodations in Reykjavik
• another option is to stay near the airport at Keflavik. It is also nice –  Check out the best rated accommodations in Keflavik
• Selfoss is ideally located between the Golden Circle and the South Coast –   see best rated accommodations

Accommodations on the Snaefellsnes peninsula

• Grundarfjordur is the most sought after specially for photographers since it is 5 min away from the magnificent Kirkjufell –  Check out the best rated accommodations in Grundarfjordur
• Or for a stop on the Ring Road that makes a great departure points of a day around the peninsula, choose Borgarnes – check out the best rated accommodations in Borgarnes

Accommodations in South Iceland + East Fjords

• Vik is the main touristic hub on the South Coast. Located between the waterfalls and the Lagoons, it has its own interest with basalt columns and black sand beach –  Check out the best rated accommodations in Vik
• At the East end of the South Coast is Höfn. A good place to stop along the Ring Road before or after the East Fjords – Check out the best rated accommodations in Höfn

Accommodations in North Iceland + East Fjords

• Egilsstadir is a practical location to transition between East fjords and North Iceland – see best rated accommodations
• Lake Myvatn has so much to offer. It is a fascinating place to explore. I recommend staying several night in the vicinity to be able to see all it has to offer – Check out the best rated accommodations around Lake Myvatn
• Akureyri is the capital of the North – see best rated accommodations

Accommodations in the West Fjords

• The main touristic town in the west fjords is Isafjordur at the end of a magnificent fjord –  Check out the best rated accommodations in Isafjordur

STEP 8 – Get all the equipment you need

Wondering what to take with you to Iceland?

What type of clothes and shoes would be the most practical? What you should not forget? The main things to know is to bring Layers, Layers, Layers. This way, whenever the weather changes during the day you can easily adapt what you are wearing – layers to get warm, to protect against the wind or to protect against the rain/snow

Check out my  complete article with detailed suggestions and tips on what to wear and pack for Iceland – detailed lists for both Summer and Winter.

And keep track of your own trip!

STEP 9 – Get ready to drive

The main driving rules to know are:

• Alcohol limit = 0
• Lights shall be turned at all times
• Do not use cell phone while driving
• Speed limits is 50 km/h in urban areas. Outside towns, it is 90 on paved roads and 80 on gravel roads (although I rarely was driving at 80 on those…)
• Seatbelts are mandatory for all

You can learn more and get ready with my article about driving in Iceland .

Below is a video to give you an idea of what driving in Iceland looks like:

Fill your GPS with the coordinates

What I hate most when traveling is wasting time. Turning around to find a place, missing an exit. Sometimes it leads to adventure, but most of the time it just leads to frustrationThis is why I don’t rent a GPS with the car. I have my own Tom Tom. This way I can use the MyDrive system on my computer to add all the hotel GPS coordinates as well as the carpark coordinates for all the attractions I would like to see.

This way I just pick the favorite and follow the directions!!!

Get it on Amazon

NOTE – All the locations in my eBooks include the GPS coordinates of the nearest carpark, exactly for that reason:

STEP 10 – Get ready to travel in Iceland

Communicate with locals.

Of course, like in any country, it is always appreciated when you try a few words in their language (which is called Icelandic by the way).

• Hello – Halló
• Thanks – Takk or Takk fyrir
• Cheers! – Skál!

For more, check out the  wikitravel phrasebook page

Understand the name of places

Also, there are a few words that are useful to be recognized so that when you see a sign you can realize what type of scenery it will be, and you can decide if you want to explore:

• Jökull – Glacier
• Kirkja – Church
• Sarlon – Lagoon
• Fell – Mountain
• Foss/Fossar – Waterfall
• Hraun – Lava

Money 

• Currency: Icelandic Kronur
• Tipping: not mandatory
• Payment : Cash dispensers only in the cities (so plan ahead) but credit cards are taken everywhere and for all amounts
• Exchange your cash before leaving because you will not be able to do it outside Iceland

Food and drinks

• If you like fish, you will be spoiled.
• For the meat you can find everything, but it serves a lot of mutton.
• A classic snack in Iceland is the hot dog. They mix sauces, but nothing very original.
• For snacking they like dried fish but the smell alone will discourage many of you…
• Enjoy the delicious fresh water that comes out of the tap from the ice cream parlors
• alcohol is rather expensive

Good to know

• Showers: hot water can smell like sulfur. Don’t worry, it’s just from the heating system. No danger.
• Visa: no visa required for French people with a valid passport and staying less than 90 days
• Wifi – often available for free in gas stations. All the accommodations where I stayed had wifi at least in the common areas
• Telephone – no problem along Route 1
• Physical level – I was a little worried before I left because I was not very fit but for most places, access is very easy.
• Don’t forget to have insurance!

SPECIA L TIPS – Iceland Road Trip in Winter

An Iceland Road Trip in Winter is quite different from one in Summer. So here are a few things to keep in mind:

• December, January and February are the coldest months – but they are not as cold as we imagine!
• Don’t plan too much. The days are short! for example in January you have only 4h30 to 7h of daylight
• Beginning of March is often a popular month because the days are longer and you can see a bit more, the nights are still long enough to see Northern lights, and the ice caves are accessible
• Early winter can be wet, but you can have beautiful clear road with the top of the mountains covered in snow. I love those types of moments!
• If one of your main goals is to admire the aurora Borealis and you have the possibility to pick your dates, look at the moon calendar, and avoid the days where the moon is big and bright because it will reduce how well you can see the northern lights.

Learn more on my article about planning a Winter road trip around Iceland or the options to visit Iceland in Winter

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Reader Interactions

December 7, 2018 at 10:38 AM

Very nice writeup. Useful. I am in India, aged 70. I love to visit iceland. Not self driving. Can you suggest a good tour company- reliable & affordable. Mine will be a customized itinerary.Want to do Golden Crcle & South coast Iceland- with snowmobiling in Longjokull glacier & see glacier tongue of Svinafelsjokull glacier.Can you please help.

December 7, 2018 at 12:45 PM

Sir It is me ; Mrs.Banumathi Janarthanan again. Can you suggest the best month for the tour I have mentioned. Consider my age too.

December 7, 2018 at 5:08 PM

Hello I recommend May or September to have long enough days, good driving conditions but less tourists around. Regarding companies, I don’t have have a recommendation. You can contact Guidetoiceland , They work with a lot of local companies and they may have suggestion for what you need. However note that a private driver in Iceland is a significant budget for someone looking for affordable. Happy travels!

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The Absolute Best Iceland Itinerary: 7 days

Iceland is one of those countries that seems to be popping up on everyone’s Instagram lately. The stunning country is filled with so many jaw-dropping views. It has become wildly famous for good reason. The country is full of waterfalls, black sand beaches, white peaked mountains, cute churches, blue glaciers, hot springs galore, and so much more. It is honestly a nature lover’s dream paradise. And, the best part is that it is super easy to plan a trip. With the acceptance of credit cards everywhere and most attractions being just a car drive away, its no wonder people flock to Iceland every year. After spending my Thanksgiving in this magnificent place, I have decided to make it easy for everyone and listed out the perfect 7 days Iceland itinerary which also includes tours if you are not in the mood to rent a car. So keep reading on for the best Iceland Itinerary 7 days edition!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you.

Download my free Outdoor Photography Guide

Iceland winter itinerary vs iceland summer itinerary.

Choosing when to visit Iceland can be difficult, especially if you are spending 7 days in Iceland. On one hand, the summer months bring easy weather; but on the other hand, winter has fewer crowds. Either way, you will not be disappointed no matter what time of the year you go. I went in the winter to save money and it was still epic. My winter trip just made me want to come back in the summer to experience a different landscape.

• In the Winter:  Weather can be unpredictable, it is cheaper, less sunlight, snowy landscape, less crowded, the best sunrise and sunset pictures.
• In the Summer: Weather is the best, super crowded, green landscape, more sunlight, more costly.

How To Travel Around Iceland

There are three options on getting around Iceland in 7 days:

• Rental Car: We chose this option. I am from Texas where we drive everywhere, so I don’t like to be limited on where I go. Plus, I love getting away from the crowds so it was an easy choice to rent a car. Since we went in the winter, we stayed in hotels instead of campsites. I do not advice camping in the winter as it can be dangerous. The Iceland roads were pretty easy to travel in as the road conditions were good. I will warn you that driving in Iceland in winter can be dangerous due to random snow storms, so be wary.
• Tour Guides: There are soooo many tours in Iceland that you no longer need a car to explore. Throughout the article, I have listed the most popular tours for you. Tours are a great option if you don’t feel like planning much 🙂
• Rent a Campervan: This is a great way to save some money! You don’t need camping gear or a hotel, just your campervan. >Rent Your Campervan Here

Read More: 11+ Tips on Renting a Campervan in Iceland

Iceland Road Map

Below is the Iceland 7 day Itinerary map. You can download the map and turn on and off all the layers as needed:

Iceland Tips

• Even though Iceland is part of the EU, the country uses the Icelandic Króna instead of the EUR. Many people exchange their money, but I feel it is unnecessary. Most places accepts credit cards, and if you have a credit card that has no international/foreign exchange fees, you can skip the hassle of getting the Krona.
• If you want to avoid the crowds, the best approach is to travel further away from Reykjavik. It is easiest by renting a car or an RV. In my opinion, the best way to see Iceland is to rent a car.
• Spending one week in Iceland can be expensive. The best way to save money is to not eat at restaurants. I suggest going to grocery stores and buying food in Reykjavik or Vik. Another way to save money is to purchase sandwiches from gas stations. Most days, my husband and I ate sandwiches from the gas station and they were quite tasty. I would get different types every time so I wouldn’t get tired of them.
• Don’t go driving off-road because it is illegal.
• Only hike on established trails.
• Book all your tours in advance. Iceland is a popular travel destination so they might get sold out.
• Bring the correct type of clothing. Summer months do not mean warm months. Come prepared.

Iceland Itinerary 7 days

Day 1: fly into keflavik, blue lagoon and hang out at reykjavik.

Blue Lagoon

There are so many articles on why you should or shouldn’t visit the famous Blue Lagoon. The articles over-analyze the super touristy spot. I am one of those individuals who needs to experience it on my own to form my personal opinion. So of course, I booked my ticket right away.

My conclusion is that if you are on a fence, add it to your Iceland travel itinerary. Experience it at least once in your life. If you hate it, then never go back again. But at least you tried it out.

It is a bit crowded, but the smokey, baby blue colors and the relaxation is worth it. I recommend booking a ticket early in the day (8:00 am or 9:00am) just so there are fewer people. Based on the setup, I can imagine the place can become a madhouse at peak hours.

When you arrive,  you are given a bracelet, which will allow you to lock your belongings in a locker. Right after you put your personal items in the locker, you are required to take a shower prior to jumping into the lagoon. I recommend women to put their hair in a bun and then slather conditioner all over your hair. Don’t worry, conditioner is provided in the showers. The blue lagoon waters do dry out your hair so avoid getting your hair wet.

After the shower, you walk outside and enter the lagoon. Once the toes hit the water, all of your problems and stress magically melt away. I recommend exploring all the areas of Blue Lagoon. The lagoon has three “stands” which offer different things such as drinks, massages, and mud mask products. The drink stand will give you your first drink free, and the silica mask is free as well. Your bracelet will be assigned to you which allow you to “purchase” drinks or face masks.  At the end of the experience, you will be able to check out and pay your tab.

• Blue Lagoon Admission Ticket – Buy this ticket as soon as you buy your airplane ticket to Iceland since the Blue Lagoon admissions tickets tend to sell out. Schedule it the day you arrive in Iceland or the day you leave Iceland  >Buy The Admission Ticket Here
• From Reykjavik Airport Transport – If you are not renting a car, getting transport to and from is a great option. >Buy Your Transport Here

First Day in Reykjavik

After spending some time at the Blue Lagoon, it is time to head to the capital city of Iceland – Reykjavik. Reykjavik is located on the south western part of Iceland, making it quite nice and easy to explore the rest of the country from here.

Blue Lagoon/Keflavik to Reykjavik is about 45 minutes to 1 hour drive away. Upon arriving at Reykjavik, head to your hotel to check-in. We stayed at Ion City Hotel , which is such a chic, beautiful hotel. After checking in, it is time for some quick exploration. It is recommended that you explore Reykjavik by walking – as some of the lanes don’t allow for vehicle entry.

First stop is the Laugavegur Street. This is one of the prettiest streets in Reykjavik and also their main street. You will find beautiful murals on the walls, street art, great restaurants, bars and souvenir stores at Laugavegur Street. Our favorite restaurant here was the Scandinavia and Joe and Juice, which became a morning ritual.

The city offers numerous wonderful tours which are conducted in the afternoons. These walking tours are an amazing way to learn about Iceland’s history – from Vikings to the establishment of the Alpingi (parliament) and the modern day economic recession and revival of Icelandic economy with the tourism and nationalized banks. The tours typically last 2-3 hours.

If you like to explore on your own, then head to the Hallgrímskirkja Church next. Hallgrímskirkja Church is an iconic landmark of Iceland. You can see this tallest church from anywhere in the city of Reykjavik. This is a Lutheran church and it is open to public everyday. Entry to the church is free, but to access the towers, there is an additional charge of $10 USD per adult. We highly recommend that you take the church tower access, you will be rewarded with amazing city views of Reykjavik, with its red, blue and multi-colored houses. You can easily spend 1-2 hours here.

By now, the sun is likely setting. This is the best time to stroll around the city, eat, and grab a drink or two. Reykjavik comes alive in the evening, so definitely check it out.

It is true that Reykjavik is expensive when it comes to food. For meals everyday, it is a good idea to get some Icelandic delicacies from one of their grocery stores (Bonus, Kronas, 10-11 – grocery stores located in downtown Reykjavik). There is a budget eating place in downtown Reykjavik (all you can eat style) – called Reykjavik Street Food. You have to try their Icelandic lamb soup. Not only is it delicious, but it is noticeably cheaper when compared to other restaurants.

Where to Stay In Reykjavik

• Ion City Hotel  is the hotel we stayed at in Reykjavik. It is chic, fancy and in an entertaining area. I love how close everything is and being able to walk around with all the Christmas decorations. Sigh… So magical!  >Check Pricing and Availability
• 101 Hotel  is located only a few minutes walk from the Icelandic Phallological Museum and usually has incredible rates. I stayed here in the summer and I am in love with the black and white modern look of the rooms!  >Check Pricing and Availability 
• The Hotel Lotus  is an affordable accommodation with Kringlan Shopping Center only 0.6 miles away! There is also an in-house restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner.  >Check Pricing and Availability  

Looking for more places to stay in Reykjavik? Read About The Best Places To Stay In Iceland

Day 2: Explore Reykjavik

Next morning, explore more of the Reykjavik city. Reykjavik is located by the Faxa Bay, so you can expect amazing river-front views. Take a stroll along the harbour front and visit some of the other popular tourist spots in the capital city. The Sun Voyager is a sculpture located by the harbor front. It is accessible 24/7. Close to the Sun Voyager is the stunning Harpa Concert Hall. Built in the 2000s, the “Harpa” is home of Icelandic festivals and Orchestra and is characterized by the shiny glass architecture.

There are quite a few interesting museums in the Reykjavik city, that are definitely worth a visit. Iceland Maritime Museum, Icelandic Phallological Museum, Icelandic Art Museum, the National Gallery of Iceland – to name a few.

There is also the new amazing Sky Lagoon that everyone is talking about. This lagoon is located in Reykjavik and is less crowded than the blue lagoon. The views are absolutely gorgeous too. I even did the seven-step ritual and had an amazing experience. >You can book a ticket here

I also recommend doing some shopping around Reykjavik. Iceland is known for its wool, so I bought some sweaters, jackets, blankets, and hats. Icewear Iceland is the best place to shop at for Icelandic wool.

Looking for more things to do in Reykjavik? Read the free and cheap things to do in Reykjavik here .

Reykjavik area written by Mayuri at To Some Place New

Day 3: Golden Circle

Thingvellir National Park (Þingvellir National Park)

One of the most famous national parks and a world heritage Unesco site in Iceland is Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir is a must for your 1 week in Iceland trip. The park is filled with waterfalls, old churches, ruins, and mid-Atlantic rifts which means you will be walking on two continents/ tectonic plates: The North American Plates and the Eurasian Plates. Iceland is the only place in the world where you can walk on two different tectonic plates.

When we entered the park, we slowly walked around and took in all the beauty and took pictures of the waterfalls and the unique landscape. Many people also scuba dive or snorkel in the Silfra. You can book your Silfra snorkel tour here.  If you do book a snorkel or dive tour please note that it will probably take half a day so you might not have time to explore the other areas listed on this day.

The Geysir is an easy attraction to add to your Iceland road trip itinerary. The area has restaurants, tourists shops, and it even has a Geysir! This was our first time seeing a Geysir, so I was super impressed. Parking is free, and it was easy to find a spot even with the crowds. The Geysir sprays water every few minutes (up to 20-40 meters high) so make sure to take videos and pictures of this phenomenon. Just don’t get too close as the water is sweltering:-)

Note: This is a great area to stop and have lunch at.

Gullfoss Waterfall

When we arrived at this waterfall, we were in absolute shock! Gullfoss was the largest waterfall I have ever seen, and there was a 360° rainbow! The only downside was that it was pretty crowded and the floor was slippery, so be careful. I almost fell on my face a couple of times, not going to lie 🙂

Gullfoss translates to “Golden Falls” which was exactly how I felt described this place. I mean look at that picture above, if that doesn’t describe golden falls, I don’t know what will. The waterfall should be thought of as two separate features with one cascade measuring at 11 meters and the taller one measuring at 21 meters.

Kerid Crater

When planning a trip to Iceland, make sure to add this volcanic crater to your list. I loved how the green water looked with the dark red color of the crater. It is a perfect detour from the Gullfoss, Thingvellir, and the Geysir since it isn’t as crowded as the other three sites. You do have to pay for parking which we did with our credit card (about 400 ISK).

You can either hike around the crater or hike down to the water. We decided to get closer to the crater and take more pictures as shown below.

Take Pictures With Icelandic Horses

This honestly can be done on any of the days when seeing Iceland by car, but I decided to add this here since we took pictures with the horses while exploring the Golden Circle. You will have so many opportunities to hang out with the horses because they are everywhere!

Just make sure not to feed the horses and not to touch them. Feeding them or petting them does more harm than good.

Golden Circle Tours

• Reykjavik: Golden Circle Full Day Tour with Kerid Crater –  One of the most popular tours in Iceland, takes you to see Gullfoss Waterfall, the geyser of Strokkur, the volcanic crater at Kerið, and Þingvellir National Park. This tour lasts about 8 hours, and they pick you up at Reykjavik.    >Buy Tour Now

Where To Stay Near The Golden Circle

I recommend staying in Reykjavik on this day. But, if you are driving in Iceland on your own then you can probably stay at a hotel much closer:

• Ion Luxury Adventure Hotel – We stayed at the Ion hotel while we toured the Golden Circle. Super Chic and away from the hustle and bustle. The hotel has a delicious restaurant and a pretty rad looking pool. Perfect for Instagram pictures. >Book Your Stay Here

Day 4: South Iceland

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

Day four consists of exploring South Iceland. The first stop is one of the most famous waterfalls called Seljalandsfoss located on route 1 Iceland. The waterfall is about 60 meters tall and is part of the Seljalands River.

When traveling around Iceland, you can usually spot the beautiful waterfall a long ways away before you get to it. It truly is magnificent. You do have to pay for parking, and it is 700ISK per car. There is a Kiosk machine that takes credit cards.

The best part about this waterfall is you can actually walk behind the waterfall. If you want to go behind the waterfall, I highly recommend a raincoat because you will get soaked! In the wintertime going behind the waterfall can be closed due to the path being too slippery.

Gljúfrabúi Waterfall

Located right next to the famous Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi Waterfall is a must stop. The waterfall is located walking distance away from Seljalandsfoss, and it is less crowded. The waterfall is 40 meters high and is blocked from view behind a massive cliff. Bring good rainboots and raincoat as you will get soaked.

Skógafoss Waterfall

One of the most well-known waterfalls in Iceland, Skógafoss should be on everyone’s South Iceland itinerary. The waterfall stands at 60 meters, is 25 meters wide, and is located right off the Iceland highway 1. There is even an option of walking up the steps to view the beautiful waterfall from above (525 steps worth).

Hidden Waterfall

One of my favorite parts of my Iceland road trip itinerary was discovering a hidden waterfall called Kvernufoss. The waterfall is located near the Skogar Museum, and if you walk east, you will find a fence that you will need to hop over. Eventually, the path will lead you to a wonderful waterfall. Make sure to take care of Kvernufoss, and to keep it hidden away from the hordes of tourists.

Dyrhólaey Lighthouse Viewpoint

When we were visiting Iceland, we loved seeing the Dyrhólaey Lighthouse. It was our first time seeing a black sand beach so getting the views from the top were surreal. The area is unfortunately not open all year long for cars due to bird nesting season.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

One of the most famous black sand beaches is located on the south coast near the small city of Vik. This place is usually crowded with tourists, but I still feel it is necessary to stop. The beach is one of a kind and includes crazily shaped basalt rocks, basalt cliffs, and of course black sand. You can usually walk away from the crowds to take some pictures on your own.

The two Basalt Cliffs are called Reynisdrangar and legend has it that the two cliffs are trolls that turned into stone when they stayed too long in the daylight.

South Island Tours

South Island is one of the most popular spots in Iceland. Getting a tour in this area is not difficult at all. Here is the most popular South Island Tour from Reykjavik:

South of Iceland Full-Day Tour from Reykjavik –  The duration is about 10 hours, and you get to visit Seljalandsfoss, Vik, Sólheimajökull glacier, Skógafoss waterfall, and see the black sand beaches of the southern coast.  >Book Your Tour Here

Vik is such a cute town to explore. It is also a great place to grab food, or go grocery shopping. I liked exploring the Vík i Myrdal Church. If you go around the right time (June/July) the area will be filled with wildflowers. It is pretty epic.

Where To Stay In Vik

If you are not doing a south island tour and you are driving around Iceland on your own, I recommend staying at Vik for the night. Driving all the way back to Reykjavik will make you lose precious Iceland exploring time.

• Vik Apartments  are pretty much a home away from home. The hotel comes with a full kitchen, living room, an awesome balcony with stunning views of the black beach. I recommend this place for families or friends traveling together as there are multiple bedrooms.  >Check Pricing and Availability
• Black Beach Suites  was my FAVORITE accommodation in Iceland. I loved that it had a full kitchen and dining table. Hubby even cooked me breakfast in the morning. You can walk to the famous black sand beach from the patio. I wish we had stayed more than one night.  >Check Pricing and Availability
• The Barn  is one of the fanciest hostels I have ever seen. This place is exceptionally chic and clean. I had to go inside to check into our Black Beach Suites, and I was surprised to find out it was a hostel! If you are on a budget, I HIGHLY recommend this place.  >Check Pricing and Availability

Day 5: South East Iceland

Tour around Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

The glacial lagoon was probably my favorite part of my Iceland one-week itinerary. The area is absolutely epic and has so much to offer! You can take a boat tour, visit ice caves, go glacier hiking, or take amazing Instagram pictures at the shores. Regardless of what you do, it will be amazing.

Since we visited Iceland in the Winter, we decided to do the one thing that can not be done all year round: Ice Cave exploring . You must hire a guide for this, and it can only be done in the winter time. I enjoyed it, but one thing that bugged me was how rushed it felt. But, it is understandable since so many people trying to see the Ice Caves as well.

The Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is a popular destination for tours leading to many other adventure options besides the Ice Caves; like boat tours, and glacier hiking. Most tours start early in the morning near the lagoon.

Our ice cave tour ended in the early afternoon. Afterward, we ate at one of the two food trucks located on site. The food was delicious!

Diamond Beach

Make sure to add this to your Iceland trip itinerary because this beach is spectacular. The ice comes in all shapes and sizes, and they are always changing. This is a great spot to take drone photos and to practice your photography skills (especially during sunset). Winter time is the best time to visit this beach as the diamonds are huge compared to the summer. See the pictures above and below.

Southeast Island Tours

Due to different seasons, I recommend two tours near Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. One tour is for the summer, and the other is for the winter:

• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Full-Day Tour –  This tour departs from Reykjavik and also includes Seljalandsfoss Waterfall and Vik. This is a 14-hour tour. This is an excellent option for the summer.   >Book Your Tour Here
• Crystal Ice Cave Tour from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon –   The tour meets in the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon so you will have to find transportation to the lagoon yourselves. This is the tour we took, and we enjoyed it.  >Book Your Tour Here

Where To Stay In Höfn

Staying at Höfn is an excellent idea after exploring around Jökulsárlón all day. The city has several accommodations and isn’t as crowded as many of the other towns near Reykjavik. If you have extra time and want to soak in a hot tub, check out the Hoffell hot tubs  near Höfn.

• Seljavellir Guesthouse  is a great hotel with big patio window doors with wonderful views of the outdoors. There is even a bar and a terrace to relax.  >Check Pricing and Availability
• Milk Factory  is a cute bed and breakfast that used to be an actual Milk Factory! Recently renovated the B&B has some great views of the surrounding mountains.  >Check Pricing and Availability
• Höfn Hostel  If you are looking for cheap accommodation the Hofn Hostel is for you. This hostel is an environmentally friendly place with a guest kitchen and laundry services.   >Check Pricing and Availability

Day 6: Explore Höfn and Stokksness and Drive Back To Reykjavik

If you are touring Iceland by car, you need to stop by Stokksnes. The peninsula holds the stunning and tall mountains called Vestrahorn. You do have to pay for a small entrance fee but doing so is entirely worth it. The black sand beach next to tall spiring mountains is a perfect spot for photographers.

We also got some killer sunset and sunrise shots in this area (as seen below). I just loved how there were fewer crowds near Höfn. After being surrounded by people every step of the way, it was nice to get some pictures without people around.

Svartifoss should be in your Iceland self drive itinerary. The waterfall is about 20 meters tall and has black columnar basalt walls. The waterfall is located in Skaftafell which is part of Vatnajökull National Park.

Get to the Skaftafell visitor center and ask for a hiking map to get to Svartifoss. The hike is about 1.5Km from the visitors center and can take 1.5-3 hours to complete (depending on how long you like to take pictures).

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

If you are driving around Iceland, make sure to stop at the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. The canyon is believed to be formed at the end of the last Ice Age, about nine thousand years ago. You can hike around the edge of the canyon to view from above. There are many stopping points throughout the canyon to take pictures. At the end of the hike, there is a stunning tall flowing waterfall.

More than likely you will be coming back to Reykjavik either in the late afternoon or evening. On our last night, we went to the Staff Kitchen and Bar . The tapas plate we ordered to share was pretty good.

Day 7: Head to The Airport

After a road trip around Iceland, it is time to get back home. If you didn’t rent a car, then book a bus transfer from Reykjavik and Keflavik here.

Additional Readings

Welp this is how we spent a week in Iceland. Make sure to check out some of my other blog posts and let me know if you have any questions in the comments below:

• Things to Do In Iceland In The Winter
• Ultimate Guide to What To Wear In Iceland

Also, follow me on Instagram, where I discuss all things hiking, camping, and backpacking. You can get ready for your next outdoor adventure!   Follow Me Here .

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33 comments.

Your maps are fantastic! It is so helpful having an idea of where everything is, especially when all the names look similar!

Thank you 🙂

Your Iceland itinerary looks amazing! The crater and waterfall look out of this world, and I so want to see the super cute Icelandic horses. I’ll pin this for my trip!

I can’t believe how many stunning photos you’ve fit into one post! I’d love to do a campervan trip around Iceland someday, and this is the first guide I’ve read that’s seriously made me consider going in the winter– those ice caves! Diamond Beach!

I know Diamond Beach is such a dream!

This looks like an amazing itinerary and it’s very well written! I’m trying to plan a trip to Iceland and this has given me so much inspiration on where to start!

Awww I am so glad you liked it!

Wow! Phenomenal post, map, and itinerary! I spent 21 days in Iceland in 2011 and am planning a week-long trip for my family to go next summer. This is very helpful and has me fired up! Your images are spectacular and the writing is top-notch as well. I have one question. The map seems to be missing day two; is it me or am did I do something on my end to remove the second day? Thanks for sharing this fantastic work and I wish you many more journeys! Todd

Hey Todd! Wow, thank you for your kind words I can not appreciate it enough! Yes, you were so right! My map was missing the 2nd day so I have updated it! I really appreciate you telling me and I really hope you have a great time with your family 🙂 Cheers!

I really enjoyed reading your blog. I’m planning a 7 day self guided road trip to Iceland next summer and this helped so much with getting some ideas. I loved how you incorporated map and pictures as well as suggestions of where to stay.

I am so glad you liked it! I love when blogs include maps and places to stay. It makes it so much easier for us!

I love your outfits and hats so much. What are the brands of the boots and jackets you have in the pictures you have posted? You are so cute in them!!

Hey Sherry here is my packing list 🙂

Hello! I just wanted to say thanks so much for this post. We recently took a road trip through Iceland, and I followed this post for inspiration and a route. I agree, we really liked Black Beach Suites and Seljavellir Guesthouse. You saved me a lot of time! Thanks again!

Thank you so much! That makes me so happy to hear 😀

Hi, Looking to go to Iceland in January. Where would I go the see the Northern lights? Thanks, Al

The best time to see them is in the winter. You can usually see them in most places in Iceland. But it is better if you get out of Reykjavik. Just keep on looking online to see updates on when it is out. You can also get the hotel to wake you if there is any activity.

I have been searching near and far for some tips on a Feb. Iceland trip and I cannot thank you enough for this post! Seriously the most perfect fit for our trip – THANK YOU!

Thank you Karin! So happy you liked it 🙂

Your pictures are phenomenal! What camera are you using? Your itinerary has been so helpful and have saved me so much time!

Thank you! I used the Sony A6000!

What would you recommend if you had one extra day? We are planning on following your itinerary but have one extra full day!

I recommend Snaefellsjokull National Park!

This is incredible! My boyfriend and I are planning to go to Iceland next June. I told him I would be happy doing everything on your blog. This is very informative and makes me so excited to go!! Thank you for such great info!

Yay I am so happy you like it 🙂

This looks like an amazing trip! I’m trying to plan for next year (hoping travel is okay from a COVID standpoint by then). Did you see the Northern Lights? If so, where did you see them? Thanks!

I saw them but they were not as pretty as I have seen in pictures. It looked like a cloud. I think I was just not lucky.

I just used your itinerary as the basis for my own trip (June 2022) and I have to say it was balanced, well-paced, and super fun. I even cross-referenced your stops with other sites like Lonely Planet and Reddit and this definitely has the highlights you want to see. We ended up making some changes to accommodations and tacked on some extra days in Reykjavik at the end, but if you are thinking of visiting Iceland (and not doing the Ring Road), I really recommend doing a version similar to this. If you are going in summer, instead of the Ice Cave, I highly recommend going kayaking in the Glacier Lagoon instead. Thanks for posting this!

Thank you so much for this comment! As a blogger, I rarely get feedback after people’s trips, so good to know you enjoyed it. I will be going back next month so hopefully, I can write a 14-day itinerary:-D.

Hi Michelle, Thank you for your itinerary. My husband and I just got back from Iceland, and we used it as our planning tool. It was awesome 🙂 Allison

Yay so glad you liked it!

Hi! I wanted to let you know I used your itinerary information extensively this past week when I took my 18-year old son to Iceland for his birthday/high school graduation trip, and it was amazing!! We did 7 days + 2 days for air travel, and we added a day on Westman Islands to your suggestions. It was amazing! The weather was phenomenal and we saw so much beauty! Thanks for putting this out there into the universe for other people to benefit from. ❤️

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Iceland ring road itinerary – 10 days Iceland summer road trip (map included)

Yes, it’s true guys, there might be affiliate links in this awesome, free post. This means that if you decide to buy something that you find here, and you use one of my links to do so, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I plan to use this money on ice cream, chocolate, and to travel more so I can write these useful guides for you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Iceland is riding the wave right now, as everyone and their mother seems to be heading that way. After I’ve seen it, I can tell you I now understand why. I rarely use the term “unique” for something, as I feel it’s used too much and its meaning is vanishing, but Iceland deserves it for sure. See why in the following Iceland ring road itinerary for 10 days!

Table of Contents

Introductory note.

As usual, a few things to begin with. Iceland is unlike any other place you have been to. You cannot cover as many miles a day as you think. You cannot visit as much a day as you think. It looks nothing like anything you have ever seen before.

So, don’t schedule more in a day than you can fit in. I know days are bigger since there’s more sunshine, but your body still needs rest, and you’ll be really tired if you don’t schedule accordingly. Also, try to use the driving time to relax, if possible. For this, it’s recommended you have at least two drivers, to share the load.

Of course, the road trip can be made clockwise or counter-clockwise, it doesn’t matter. We chose this approach as we wanted to be sure we had enough time for the activities planned in the beginning and to only be in a hurry towards the end of the trip if we would have noticed there was some time pressure involved.

As always, be flexible. Schedule the things you want to see towards the beginning of the day and hope for the best for the rest of them. You’re only human and can only fit that much in a day. Don’t beat yourself up and let everything else get on your list of things to do as a second-timer in Iceland.

You can see the map if you follow this link . You won’t be able to modify it, but you can make a copy and modify that for your needs. Then, just use it as it is when you get there. Convenient, right?

Iceland ring road itinerary – Where to stay for 10 days

Iceland offers plenty of accommodation types, but not that many places. Let me explain. You can stay in farmhouses, family-owned guesthouses, luxury hotels, and camping sites, but you can, at the same time, drive for a full day and not find a place to crash. Parts of the country are almost deserted, no one lives there, so accommodation options in the area will be hard to find.

You might find campsites if that’s your preferred way of traveling, but if you want a cozy bed and to not be cold if you get out of your sleeping bag, you’ll have to research and choose your places to stay the night. This is, in the end, how you’ll define your main points for your Iceland road trip.

Here are a few options you can choose from when you decide where to stay during your Iceland ring road trip. We used mostly Agoda to reserve ours, but as always, I advise you to check out both Agoda and Booking and to check the hotel’s website for potential better offers there.

In Reykjavik, we stayed in two places, as we had a night here both when arriving and when departing. We loved Hotel Island – Spa & Wellness , as it had a pool and saunas, friendly staff, and a good breakfast. The other hotel ( First Hotel Reykjavik Kopavogur ), was not bad, it was just less pretty than the first one. Check the prices for both of them below.

In the Golden Circle area, we have chosen Gullfoss Hotel (check prices on Booking and Agoda ), and everything was very nice. It was a bit secluded though so you might feel a bit lost, the quiet area was what just we needed. The breakfast is good as well and the staff is nice. I would have loved to stay next to Laugarvatn Fontana, but they weren’t providing the rye bread experience so we thought it’s not worth paying the price only to stay here. You can check out some options below.

In South-Eastern Iceland, we stayed at Hellisholar cottages and it was pretty cool. Not exactly luxurious, but the place felt nice and warm after our Silfra dive. Check out the prices on Booking and Agoda .

We had also booked this other place ( Booking and Agoda ) in Eastern Iceland, but we ended up not staying there, as we could crash on a Romanian’s couch for a few days (yes, there are Romanians – and plenty of them – even in Iceland).

In Northern Iceland, we stayed at our preferred accommodation on our road trip, and I can only recommend the place. Everything was great and I couldn’t complain even if I tried. It’s part of a small chain so check it out, you might find places to stay in other areas as well, with what I assume it’s the same quality standard.

And finally, in Western Iceland was the greatest disappointment of the trip. Tangahus guesthouse ( Booking and Agoda links, if you want to check it out) was our choice because there was a long drive to reach Reykjavik again and we had to split it in half, but otherwise, there’s nothing to see here. We had some difficulties finding the place, but it was just enough to keep us warm for the night, so nothing fancy. Check out these other options that look better than what we had:

• Dalahyttur ( Booking / Agoda )
• Hraunsnef Country hotel ( Booking / Agoda )
• Borgir – The house by the sea ( Booking / Agoda )

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Renting a car in Iceland – a short guide

I promise I’ll keep this chapter short, as I already have a more detailed guide about driving in Iceland . But since you won’t have a road trip without renting a car (duh!), I need to give you the scoop about this as well.

If you plan to rent a car in Iceland, you are not alone! Most travelers do that, and we did as well. At that point, I didn’t know about Discover Cars . We were young, naive, and likes to spend hours searching for cars. Now I know better and use a great all-in-one solution for this. Plus, it includes local companies so you will absolutely choose the best option for you.

We rented our car from SadCars and I can tell you the name is wrong, there was nothing sad about it. They were very professional, they have great reviews (which helped us in making our minds) and the price for our 4X4 SUV (Subaru Forester) was what I would call decent (about 1100 euro for 12 days).

As for some very quick tips, I can advise you to not go on F roads (gravel roads) if you don’t have an SUV and some pretty darn good driving skills. The next piece of advice is to buy the insurance, especially the one for gravel, as driving in Iceland is like nothing you have ever done before.

Also, pay attention to sheep. They’re not the brightest of the animal kingdom and they will come towards you when you’re driving 90 km/h on an empty road. And open the doors carefully, as the wind can pull them out – No joke!

Want to have a helpful resource to make your planning efforts not only easier but also more enjoyable? Check out my Iceland Travel Guide !

Related posts

• 65+ things to do in Iceland in July: what to do in Iceland in summer
• Silfra snorkeling review: everything you need to know
• The best hot springs in Iceland – Map included

Days 1-2 – Iceland Golden Circle

Depending on how you want to plan your Iceland ring road itinerary and what do your flight times allow, you could start or end with Reykjavik. We decided to start strong, with the coolest activities, and end with relaxing Reykjavik. Of course, you can adjust the plan as you wish.

Some visitors come to Iceland only to see the Golden Circle. I would have done the same if I would have had only 3-4 days, but my personal opinion is that you’re missing a lot if you do it like this. Iceland needs to be seen and it’s much more than two waterfalls and a geyser.

To fill out your two days here, of course, you’ll see the Gullfoss waterfall. I know you’re going to get waterfalled out (it’s not even a word, I just made that up) by the end of this road trip in Iceland, but if you didn’t see any waterfalls, have you even been there?

Then, head out to see the one geyser that named all the other ones after it: Geysir. Yes, it’s really how it’s called. This is why we call all of them like this. And since Geysir is more capricious and you won’t see it blow out that often, you can enjoy any of his (her?) brothers, the most known one being Strokkur. It erupts every 6-10 minutes, so you have a good chance of catching it on camera. But be VERY careful, it’s VERY hot!

The last two activities I suggest you do on the same day, the last one. You’ll see, they go nicely together. First off, snorkel at Silfra, in the Thingvellir National Park. Or dive, if that’s your choice. It’s an experience you cannot get anywhere else in the world, as you snorkel between two continents. Check out my detailed review here and the availability in the widget below.

I’m pretty afraid of deep waters, and we were with a friend that has a phobia of not being able to touch the ground. Both of us did it (and the poor husbands that had to keep our hands plus a 12-year-old that had about 0 issues with the whole thing) and we’re both very happy we did. It’s like nothing I’ve seen before, and I’ve snorkeled in the Maldives , Indonesia , Cape Verde , Sicily , and Greece.

After you gain your sense back from the icy water from Silfra, engage in a three km long hike to Reykjadalur, and you’ll do something new again. I mean, have you ever bathe in a hot river surrounded by cold air and beautiful mountain scenery? Yeah, me neither. It’s a great way to shake off that cold feeling you might have after Silfra, and something to brag about to everyone you know.

Another activity you can do here, but we didn’t do it due to being too poor (it felt too expensive for us, but now we kind of think we should have done it), is to go inside a dormant volcano. You can do this at Thrihnukagigur and your fitness level should be at least medium, but I’m sure it’s worth the effort. Again, an experience you can only enjoy in Iceland.

And if at any time during these two days you have some time to spare, head out to any of these hot springs:

• Secret Lagoon Hot Spring
• Hrunalaug (Hruni hot springs)
• Laugarvatn Fontana

We went to the Secret Lagoon and I can tell you it’s very intimate, but not very large. It’s a pool surrounded by green hills. If you want different types of pools, a massage, or saunas, head to Laugarvatn Fontana, as it seems it has more options.

Day 3 – South-Eastern Iceland

Hey, it’s waterfall day again! Are you ready? Oh come on, it’s not THAT bad! You’ll see you’ll love these places. These waterfalls are the ones you can usually see in pictures when you google “Iceland”.

Seljalandsfoss is the waterfall everyone wants to see, as you can go behind it and take some really beautiful pictures (it doesn’t mean that you will, as you can see from my desperate tries to make it look nice).

Skógafoss is a very large one, and in the summertime, it’s usually very pretty as it gets green and fresh. You cannot go very close to it, as you’ll become soaking wet in no time, but you can admire this majestic force of nature from a safe distance. If you’re in good physical shape, you can even do a full hike to Skógafoss , if you’d like to see it a bit more privately.

Now, Kvernufoss is the one I loved the most. It’s very close to Skógafoss, and some people might not be tempted to make the effort, but it’s not a big deal and it’s beautiful. There are few people here and you feel in a more intimate relationship with nature, and you can go behind this waterfall as well. The scenery is gorgeous and you’ll feel like you’re in a fairytale.

Tired of waterfalls? Already? OMG, you’ll have so many others to see. But, not just yet. In this area of Iceland, you can also see some pretty cool other stuff. For example, the Solheimasandur Plane Wreck is a place where people go these days. It’s not my cup of tea (you know, working in aviation and all that), but some people find it interesting, and you might be one of them.

If you want to take beautiful pictures (I’ve lately seen wedding photoshoots being done here), you can go to the Reynisfjara beach. The violent sea waves, the black sand, and the basalt blocks make it a dream for any photographer, but be very careful as the rocks can be slippery and the sea is not forgiving at all.

For another type of beautiful views, head to the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon and try to enjoy this piece of nature alone. Also, respect it, as tourists have lately started to damage this breathtaking place and it’s a shame this is happening.

Days 4-5 – Eastern Iceland

This area of Iceland is where most people stop if they’re not in for the full Iceland ring road itinerary. I advise you to not stop here, of course, as the best is yet to come, but spend a few days in this area as well, as there’s plenty to see and do.

You can start with a snowmobile tour of the Vatnajökull glacier. We used this company as our Romanian friend works there, and I can recommend it for sure. Andrei and Laufey are great guides, and Laufey has the advantage of great humor on her side. They also provide ice cave tours in the winter, so keep them in mind for your next Iceland trip (you’re going to want to come back, I can assure you).

Everything in the area is related to this glacier, and this Diamond beach is no exception. If you’re into black sand beaches and ice pieces floating in a quiet lagoon, this is the place for you. All the talented photographers recommend you do this at dusk or dawn, but this might mean some pretty hard to handle times in the summer.

Another beach you can go to for a short picnic at the Vik black beach. We were lucky enough to arrive here after a pretty hot day (for Iceland at least) and the sand was very warm. Everything was so calm and serene it felt like we weren’t hiking for 5 days already. Give it a shot for a few relaxing hours.

Have you ever been on an amphibian? Yeah, me neither, until I took a Glacier Lagoon boat trip. This lagoon was not here 10 years ago, it used to be the glacier’s tongue getting into the water, which kind of reminds us all that climate change is real. The experience is interesting, to say the least, so don’t miss it if you can!

You thought you were not going to see any waterfalls here? Oh, that was so naive of you! On your way to Northern Iceland, you can check out the Hengifoss waterfall. It looks like it’s from another planet, and the effort to reach it might be a bit intensive, but you’ll at least see how a Martian waterfall would look like.

And at last, would you like to see the famous puffins? Not sure if you would, as not everyone is in love with them, but if you are, head to Höfn Borgarfirði Eystri to see plenty of them. Just, don’t feed and don’t bother them, please. Just enjoy them from a safe distance, they’re very fragile.

Days 6-8 – Northern Iceland

Now we’re talking! The area where not all tourists get to go! It is pretty hard to get here, it takes a lot of time and determination, but you’ll see it’s pretty unbelievable.

Start your time here with a visit to the Geothermal area of Námafjall. It looks like it’s from another planet but it smells like it’s from this one. Still, the landscape is so out of this world that you’ll want to give it one hour of your time.

Next, climb up an extinct volcano crater at Hverfjall. It’s not as intensive as going into a magma cave, and the climb is a hike, but the view is pretty impressive, even if the volcano is extinct for a few thousand years.

Right next to it you’ll find the famous Grjótagjá cave, the place where Jon Snow and Ygritte you know…met each other. But the fact that they took a bath here does not allow you to do so. It’s a reserved area and the water is SO hot it will give you third-degree burns. So, just look at it, don’t swim in it.

• Driving the Ring Road in Iceland – 30+ useful tips and facts
• Iceland Packing List – Summer Essentials You Need (PDF included)

Another volcano-related activity is to see the beautiful, blue Krafla volcano caldera. The water has a color similar to the Maldives if you can believe this, and the view is spectacular. It takes you less than half an hour to see it so go there, take a few pictures, and be amazed by the colors nature can provide.

If you want to see the whales, you must go to Húsavík. This small town is known as the whale capital, as most whale tours start from here and you can even see some whales from the shore if you’re lucky enough. We couldn’t do a tour as the water did not look friendly that day, but it sounds like an activity I would do the next time I’m there. But a fellow blogger managed to do this (lucky her!) and she’s telling you all about it in her detailed blog post about whale watching in Husavik .

And because I’m sure you missed seeing some waterfalls, of course, I will provide you with a few options in here as well. Enter Selfoss, Dettifoss, and Goðafoss waterfalls. The last one is probably better to be visited on the way to Western Iceland, but the first two can be seen together on the same day.

As for the relaxation you’re probably longing for by now, check out these thermal baths:

• Mývatn Nature Baths – get your admission ticket here
• Geosea – Geothermal Sea Baths
• Bjórböðin – Beer spa

The Mývatn Nature Baths are known as The Blue Lagoon of the North, and I advise you to make a reservation here to be sure you get to see it, and it has the blue waters you want for your Instagram pictures.

The Geosea sea baths were visited by our friends and they said it’s beautiful, you have infinity pools and your view is over the ocean. Pretty cool, huh?

The beer spa was something I wanted, but I couldn’t get any more volunteers for this (and you might have thought I was the boring one). Still, it seems like a pretty interesting thing to do, so could you guys do it and tell me how it is? Thanks!

Check out more hot springs in my detailed guide. I added there all information you would possibly need about visiting hot springs in Iceland, and it has a map included. What else could you possibly need?

Day 9 – Western Iceland

The most boring part of your trip, in my humble opinion. There’s so much nothingness when leaving Northern Iceland that your eyes will hurt. The only cool thing to see here is Hvitserkur, a big rock shaped like a rhino. That is if you’re not heading to the Snæfellsnes peninsula, which is like another Iceland of its own. Here are some very useful , written by a fellow blogger.

In case you get VERY bored and want to at least soak in a hot spring while you’re here, choose one of the following suggestions:

• Guðrúnarlaug hot spring
• Reykjafjarðarlaug Hot Pool
• Landbrotalaug Secret Hot Springs

Day 10 – Reykjavik

Finally, back where it all started! The most northern Capital city in the world, Reykjavik, has a few things to offer, at least for a day or two. If you only have 24 hours for it, check out this one-day itinerary for Reykjavik !

The most representative building here is the Hallgrimskirkja church, an image you probably recognize even if not by its name. This is probably one of the best places to enjoy a full view of the entire city, and it’s still an operating church, so you can come here for mass, services, or concerts.

Of course, you can enjoy this city on foot (it’s very walkable, so just leave your car at the hotel and wander around) and you can enjoy the gastronomical and nightlife scene as you wish.

A beautiful sculpture that some people like is the Sun Voyager, and the city hides some pretty cool street art decorations that you can only find by walking around aimlessly.

And, finally, I’m going to say it: you can also go to the Blue lagoon. We didn’t see it as it seemed too expensive for our taste (read: bank account), and we thought the one in Mývatn was quite enough, but who am I to tell you where to spend your money?

Some other hot springs to visit in the area are:

• Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach
• Sundhöllin public baths

Key takeaway for this Iceland ring road itinerary – 10 days summer road trip

I know, this itinerary is pretty intense and it might just be the vacation you come back from more tired than you left. Iceland is not the type of place to go to when you want to relax. It’s intense, it’s even brutal sometimes, but it’s unlike anything else you have ever seen.

Again, I advise you to make this Iceland ring road itinerary for 10 days your own. Take out some waterfalls if you feel like it! Visit just one black sand beach if you think they all look the same. Choose just a few of the activities if you think they’re not worth your effort.

I hope you’ll find this Iceland ring road itinerary for 10 days useful. It was a big effort for us to research it but we’re very proud of how it turned out. I hope it’ll help you as well when planning your trip. And I truly hope you love Iceland as much as I love it now. It gets under your skin, you’ll see.

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7 days in Iceland: Amazing Itinerary, Map & Tips for a Self-Drive Trip

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: May 6, 2024

Thinking of spending a week in Iceland and wondering how to plan your time and what’s the best 7 days Iceland itinerary ? We have been to Iceland six times, in different seasons, and I can tell you that there is no one ‘best’ itinerary that covers all the nicest places in Iceland in 7 days. For that, a week is simply not enough.

That being said, with seven days in Iceland, you can see some of the most stunning scenery and have some of the most unforgettable experiences that will make you fall in love with this unique country. In this article, we’ll show you one of the best ways to do that.

In this guide, you can find a detailed 7-day Iceland itinerary that brings you to some of the best places in Iceland in one week. At the bottom of this article, you can find the map of this itinerary – it indicates all the places mentioned in this guide.

Good to know: This self-drive Iceland tour starts and ends in Keflavik airport (near Reykjavik) and can best be done between May and September. It includes all the musts as well as some lesser-visited places that will make your trip more special. We also share lots of practical tips and some alternative suggestions, plus, we made a detailed map to help you plan your trip. Find out!

!!! Visiting Iceland in summer or in winter is like traveling to two different countries. So you can’t just rely on a summer itinerary if traveling during the winter months… If you are visiting Iceland between October and April, please see our detailed Iceland winter itinerary for one week – it covers all the best places in one week, taking into account shorter days, (even more) unpredictable weather, and winter-specific activities.

Below, is an overview of our suggested 7-day Iceland itinerary and you can find all the details per day if you scroll further down. As you can see, this itinerary covers all the best places in the southwest of the country but doesn’t go all around the island. In my opinion, you need at least 9-10 days to actually enjoy the entire Ring Road, so with just 7 days, I recommend driving less and exploring more without trying to see ‘everything’.

Still, this itinerary covers a lot of ground and so your days will be quite packed. At the same time, this is a trip that gives you enough time to actually explore the main attractions and not just take a picture and move on to the next place. We also included some additional suggestions such as a glacier hike or a whale-watching tour. If you do one or two of these activities, it will make your Iceland trip even more special.

TIP: If you absolutely want to drive the entire Ring Road of Iceland in a week , we have also included a suggested alternative itinerary at the end of this article. Driving the whole Ring Road in such a short time will be very rushed and you risk getting overwhelmed with the planning and too tired from all the driving to still be able to enjoy it. We recommend at least 10 days for a self-drive trip around the entire country – see Iceland Ring Road itinerary for more details.

Good to know: You’ll need a car for this trip! We recommend renting a car at Keflavik airport for the entire duration of your trip. We personally use and recommend this website for your car hire. It allows you to easily compare several suppliers and find the best deal for your trip. In addition, they offer excellent insurance coverage that is much cheaper than what you pay when booking with local companies directly. Check it out!

And no, you don’t need a 4×4 for this itinerary (and if visiting in summer), but it’s always nice to have an SUV or a 4WD in Iceland.

Iceland 7 Days Itinerary:

• DAY 1: Arrival & Blue Lagoon

DAY 2: Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Day 3: golden circle, day 4: heimaey island or icelandic highlands, day 5: south coast to jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.

• DAY 6: Icebergs & Glaciers
• DAY 7: Reykjavik + whales/puffins or Reykjanes Peninsula
• Alternative itinerary – Ring Road in 7 days

Good to know: There are many ways to plan a 7-day trip in Iceland and driving times and distances will highly depend on what you choose to do and where you stay each day.

In this itinerary, we include some of the best places that we think are worth your time the most, without having to cover huge distances each day. For every day, we include several suggestions on where to stay, explaining the benefits and disadvantages of each choice.

Without further ado, this is our suggested 7-day Iceland itinerary:

DAY 1: Arrival, Blue Lagoon & drive to Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Driving distance/time depends a bit on where exactly you choose to stay. It’s about 220 km/ 3 hours drive from Keflavik airport to Snaefellsnes Peninsula or 115 km/ 1h15 to Borgarnes (more info below).

Blue Lagoon is a famous geothermal pool near Reykjavik and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland. Since it’s located close to Keflavik airport (20 min drive), many people choose to visit the Blue Lagoon right upon arrival in Iceland and before continuing their trip or heading to Reykjavik city which is about 45 minutes drive from the airport.

Indeed, it might be a nice way to relax after a flight, especially if you arrive in Iceland early in the morning on a red-eye flight from the US. Going to your hotel in Reykjavik isn’t a good option anyway as most hotels don’t allow early check-in, so Blue Lagoon can be a nice place to visit on your first day in Iceland.

Good to know: Blue Lagoon is extremely popular and you really have to book your tickets in advance . Count 2-3 hours for a visit, but you can easily spend more time, especially if you decide to have lunch at their restaurant as well.

2024 update: Due to recent volcanic activity on Reykjanes Peninsula, Blue Lagoon is sometimes forced to close without much prior notice. Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik is a wonderful alternative and many people actually prefer the latter. Just be sure to book it well in advance because it usually sells out for weeks, especially in the high season!

After visiting the Blue Lagoon or the Sky Lagoon, you could head to Reykjavik and explore the city a bit. However, I only recommend this If your flight arrives late. If your flight arrives early in the morning or during the day and you want to make the most of this trip, just skip Reykjavik altogether and drive straight to Snaefellsnes Peninsula on the first day already .

It’s about 1h 45 – 2 hours drive from Reykjavik city and so easily doable on the first day. We once did this even though our flight only arrived at 7 PM (but I’d only risk this in summer and wouldn’t stop for a swim first, of course)…

Driving straight to Snaefellsnes Peninsula from Keflavik Airport will give you a head start for the next day allowing more time to explore this beautiful part of Iceland. And you can visit Reykjavik at the end of the trip. It’s better to end your trip in Reykjavik than to start it there anyway.

Where to stay: If you don’t mind switching hotels every night, you could stay anywhere on Snaefellsnes Peninsula on this day. If you like to be in nature and immediately see some stunning scenery upon arrival, we recommend staying in either Hotel Budir or Hotel Arnarstapi .

Snaefellsnes Peninsula is a beautiful place to start your Icelandic trip! Both these hotels have very good restaurants, so no need to worry about food on your first day (although you may want to ask them to reserve a table for dinner in advance). Alternatively, see this guide for more suggestions on where to stay in Snaefellsnes Peninsula .

Alternative option: If you rather have the same accommodation for this and the next night or if you want to be in a bigger town, consider staying in Borgarnes for two nights. It’s located along the Ring Road, just before Snaefellsnes Peninsula.

Staying here would mean that you have less driving on day 1 and you can still easily explore Snaefellsnes from here on day 2. Accommodations in this town are also cheaper than in Snaefellsnes, there are supermarkets and restaurants, and also a nice public pool with hot tubs where you could relax after a day of sightseeing. This pool could be a nice alternative to the Blue Lagoon, not to mention that it’s much cheaper.

Good to know: In Iceland, almost every bigger town has a swimming pool with geothermal water. Most pools are really nice, usually very quiet, and they also have hot tubs and saunas. Furthermore, they cost a fraction of what the famous tourist-oriented geothermal baths cost. It’s usually not more than 10 USD per person, kids are often free of charge or pay just a minimal fee. Also, most of these pools are open late in the evening, but it’s always good to check opening times online in advance.

TIP: Be sure to pack a quick-drying towel and swimwear for your trip to Iceland! More info and tips on what to pack for Iceland in summer and what to pack for Iceland in winter .

Driving time/distance depends on where you stay. If you start and end in Borgarnes, the whole tour of Snaefellsnes Peninsula and back will be about 300 km. If you start in Budir and end in Akranes (Hotel Laxarbakki), you’ll cover about 225 km. As for how long it takes, be sure to start early and plan the whole day to explore all the amazing places in Snaefellsnes.

Snaefellsnes Peninsula is a wonderful place that has so much to offer – amazing scenery, beautiful coastlines with several lighthouses, stunning waterfalls, picturesque churches, and endless lava fields. You couldn’t choose a better place to start your road trip in Iceland!

Most of the main sights are located at the far end of the Peninsula, are quite close to each other, and can be visited by driving the circular loop. It doesn’t matter that much in which direction you drive, but most day tourists arriving from Reykjavik start in Budir and continue clockwise. So if you go in the other direction, you could avoid the biggest crowds in some areas. Either way, if you want to see all the main sights in a day, be sure to start early. You’ll want to stay longer everywhere!

Must-see places are: Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss, Saxholar Crater, Djúpalónssandur, Londrangar View Point, Arnarstapi Cliffs, Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge, Búðakirkja, and Bjarnarfoss. But there’s so much more than that!

TIP: For more information on what to see and where to go, please see our guide to the best places to see in Snaefellsnes Peninsula . For practical tips and a suggested one-day itinerary, please see our guide below.

LEARN MORE: Complete Guide to Visiting Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Where to stay: If you stayed in Borgarnes on day 1 of this itinerary, you could stay at the same hotel on day 2 as well.

If, however, you stayed in Arnarstapi or any other place on Snaefellsnes Peninsula, you may want to continue your trip a bit more in the direction of the Golden Circle. That way, you don’t have to drive too far the next day. In that case, you could either stay in Borgarnes (see suggestions above) or choose a hotel a bit closer to the Golden Circle already.

One of the best-rated hotels in this area is Hotel Laxarbakki . They have apartments for all group sizes and they also have a restaurant where you can have dinner and breakfast. The location of this hotel would fit this itinerary quite well.

In fact, it could be good accommodation for day 1 as well – everything really depends on how much you want to drive on which day and how many different hotels you want to stay in. This hotel is about a 1-hour drive from Snaefellsnes Peninsula and about 45 minutes drive from your first stop on day 3 of this itinerary.

Driving time/distance is about 250 km, 3h of driving time not including any stops. Count an entire day for this area.

Golden Circle is the most popular destination in Iceland, after the Blue Lagoon. This is one of those places that every tourist visiting Iceland will include in their itinerary. The reason is quite simple – there are lots of really nice natural landmarks here and it’s close to Reykjavik. Some people find it too touristy and too crowded, but if this is your first time in Iceland, you’ll definitely want to see this area as well.

The three main places that you have to see along the Golden Circle are Thingvellir National Park , Gullfoss Waterfall , and Geysir geothermal area with the active Strokkur Geyser that erupts at regular intervals every 5-7 minutes.

Other nice places include Öxarárfoss waterfall and Kerid Crater . If you are looking for a special place to eat, Fridheimar Tomato Farm and Restaurant is a very popular choice. If you are looking for a unique activity, you may want to consider Silfra Snorkeling in Thingvellir National Park.

There are also a few geothermal baths in this area – Secret Lagoon and Laugarvatn Fontana. It could be a nice way to end your day, but you can also just opt for a hotel with a hot tub or go to the public swimming pool in Hella town where I recommend staying on this day.

Your itinerary for this day could look like this: visit Thingvellir National Park (+ Silfra snorkeling if that’s your thing), don’t miss Öxarárfoss at Thingvellir, Geysir area , Gullfoss waterfall , late lunch at Fridheimar Tomato Farm , (maybe Secret Lagoon), Kerid Crater . Drive to Hella and visit a local pool in the evening instead of going to Secret Lagoon – see below.

If you are looking for even more details about visiting this area, please check out day 1 in our 4-day Iceland itinerary .

Where to stay: There are many accommodations in the Golden Circle area, but probably the best location for this itinerary would be staying in Hella town along the south coast. It’s close to the Golden Circle and in the direction of the places that you’ll be visiting next.

There are quite some accommodations and good facilities in and near Hella and also a nice public swimming pool . This is also a great place to stay if you want to take a day trip to the Icelandic highlands the next day – see below. So you could stay in Hella for two nights and not have to change hotels every night.

TIP: The nicest luxury hotel in this area is Hotel Ranga . On a mid-range budget, check out Stracta Hotel Hella (some rooms here have private hot tubs!) or Hotel Kanslarinn Hella (one of the top picks in the area). Here you can find the best deals for all Hella accommodation .

Driving time/distance depends on where you choose to visit. If you go to the highlands, go with a tour and they’ll do all the driving. In that case, your day trip will probably take about 10 hours in total. If you go to Heimaey Island, it’s about 45 km/ 30 minutes drive to the ferry from Hella, so 90km/ 1 hour of total driving time on this day.

On day 4 of your Iceland trip, I recommend that you get a bit off the beaten path and do something special by either taking a day trip to the Icelandic highlands or visiting Heimaey Island just off the south coast. I have to be honest with you – most first-time visitors do not include any of these two places in their Iceland itinerary. But I think that visiting one of these places will make your entire trip so much more special. If you have 8 days in Iceland, consider visiting both of these!

Good to know: As already mentioned, this 7-day road trip is recommended in summer (+- from May to September), and that’s also a great season to visit both – the highlands and Heimaye Island.

However, the highlands are usually not accessible before mid-June, so if you are planning a trip in May or early June, visit Heimaey Island instead. It’s also an excellent time to see puffins there (they are usually around between May and August). If you are visiting later in the summer, you’ll have to choose just one of these places as they both require an entire day. Or, plan 8 days in Iceland and do both.

The Highlands or…

If you decide to go to the Icelandic highlands , we recommend that you visit Landmannalaugar . It’s one of the most beautiful relatively easily accessible places in the highlands and it fits this itinerary very well. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking and it’s like no other place you’ll see during this week in Iceland. It’s well worth it!

The best way to do this is by joining this popular tour to Landmannalaugar that can pick you up from Hella. Upon booking, choose the Reykjavik pickup option and afterwards send them a message to say that you’ll actually be in Hella. By starting here, you save about 2 hours drive each way (so 4 hours in total), so your day isn’t nearly as tiring as doing this tour from Reykjavik.

Good to know: You could also visit this part of the highlands on your own, but driving here requires a good 4×4 and insurance coverage that allows you to drive on the F roads. So because you don’t really need an expensive 4×4 for the rest of this itinerary, we recommend renting a cheaper car and visiting the highlands with a tour. Plus, these days, you have to make a reservation in order to book a parking spot at Landmannalaugar (more info here ).

TIP: If you have a higher budget, you could also opt for a private day tour instead . In that case, also contact the tour company to arrange to pick you up at your accommodation in Hella and not in Reykjavik.

Alternative option is to visit the Thorsmork area – it’s also in the highlands, but very different than Landmannalaugar. It’s located close to the Ring Road and can be visited in the colder season as well (so not only in the summer ). But since you have to cross a very unpredictable river, you definitely need to go by a super jeep. You can find lots of tour options . For example, this highly-rated tour starts very close to Seljalandsfoss Waterfall so it’s very easy to add it to this itinerary.

… or Heimaey Island

Heimaey Island is the only inhabited island of the Westman Islands archipelago, just off the south coast of Iceland. To get here, you’ll need to take a ferry from Landeyjahöfn, about a 30-40 minutes drive from Hella. The ferry ride also takes about 40 minutes and you need to get there about half an hour in advance as well.

Here you can find ferry schedules and prices . If you want to be sure that you can visit the island on the day and on the ferry that you want, it’s best to reserve in advance!

Once on the island, there are quite some interesting places to see – Eldheimar Museum and Sea Life Trust Beluga Whale Sanctuary are a must. You can also go hiking on Mount Eldfell , take a boat tour around the island, explore the village , or go looking for puffins .

Please note that you don’t need to bring your car to the island if you are just planning to stay close to town. So you can leave your car at the ferry terminal in Landeyjahöfn.

However, if you want to see puffins, the best location is about 5-6 km away from town. You can either walk (count more than an hour one way), rent a bike, bring your own car on the ferry (which is more expensive and spaces are limited), or go on a local tour. I recommend that you join this great 2-hour tour from Heimaey Harbor that not only brings you to the puffins but also gives you a great overview of what life is like on Heimaey Island.

TIP: In the article linked below, you can find all the details and practical information on how to visit Heimaey Island and what to see and do there.

LEARN MORE: Complete Guide to Visiting Heimaey Island

Where to stay: In the late afternoon or in the evening, take the ferry back to the mainland and drive back to your accommodation in Hella where you stayed last night. Alternatively, you could also choose to stay on the island (not really a must and you’d lose some time the next day) or choose a place close to Seljalandsfoss waterfall .

But the driving distances aren’t big and I think you’ll have a more relaxing trip if you just stay at the same hotel as the previous night.

TIP: If you visited Heimaey Island on this day, be sure to stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall on your way back to the hotel (see more info about it on day 5 below). It’s just on your way and it’s likely to be much less busy here in the evening than the next morning.

Driving time/distance between Hella and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is about 300 km/ 3.5 hours driving time, not including sightseeing.

Iceland’s South Coast is another extremely popular region that is included in most Iceland itineraries and is also one of the most popular tours from Reykjavik .

The way this 7-day Iceland itinerary is designed, you will be driving the south coast twice – first to get to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and then back in the direction of Reykjavik. So there are many possibilities on how you spend days 5 and 6 of this itinerary, depending on your interests, where you decide to stay, and the activities you choose. The itinerary suggested below is just an example, so use it just as an indication of what’s possible and adjust it if needed.

The main places you have to see along the South Coast are Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, the black sand beach in Vik – Reynisfjara, Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, Skaftafell National Park, and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and the famous Diamond Beach next to it.

Also nice to see is the scenery at Stokksnes, Hofskirkja church, Skogar Museum, Dyrhólaey lighthouse, Eldhraun Lava Fields, and Fjallsarlon glacier lagoon. In addition, there are some nice activities like glacier hiking or ice caves that you can visit here as well. In this itinerary, we split all these areas and activities over two days.

READ ALSO: Best Things to Do on the South Coast of Iceland

So on day 5 of this itinerary, I suggest that you visit the south coast and drive all the way to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon . You could also visit Stokksnes on this day (the furthest point of this itinerary).

It might look like a lot to do in just a day, but most of these places are located right next to Ring Road and don’t require that much time to visit. And if you find that it’s too much for one day, you can also visit a few of these places on the way back in the direction of Reykjavik the next day.

Seljalandsfoss is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland, best known as a waterfall where you can walk behind the falling water. It’s a very popular place along the South Coast, so if you haven’t visited it on the previous day, get here as early as you can.

Just a 5-minutes walk to the left from this waterfall, you can find a real hidden gem – Gljúfrabúi waterfall . It’s indeed hidden inside the gorge, so many people miss it. Be sure to check it out!

After that, stop at Skogafoss Waterfall (also try to beat the crowds by getting there early). While it’s not a must, I highly recommend that you also pay a visit to Skogar Museum , just a 5-minute drive from the waterfall parking. It’s an open-air museum where you can see Icelandic turf houses – well worth a visit (opening times and more info here ).

Continue along the south coast to Vik and visit the famous black-sand beach Reynisfjara . Also the nearby Dyrhólaey Lighthouse and Kirkjufjara Beach are worth a short visit.

Another nice stop along the Ring Road in the direction of Jokulsarlon is Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon . Also, if you are interested in visiting Stokksnes , you probably want to go there first before coming back to the Jokulsarlon area where I recommend staying for the night.

If you can time to be at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon around sunset, that would be amazing. The Diamond Beach across the road from the glacier lagoon is usually wonderful when icebergs are lit by the evening sun.

During the day, you can also take boat tours on the glacier lagoon (the last ones run around 6-6.30 PM). So if you want to do that, be sure to book the last tour in advance and plan your day in such a way that you can get there on time. Alternatively, you can take the very first tour the next morning. Or simply walk around and enjoy the ever-changing scenery of the glacial lagoon from the shore.

Where to stay: I recommend spending a night close to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. By staying nearby, you can visit this incredible place late in the evening or early in the morning when there are no day tourists around. It’s also amazing being able to see the glacier lagoon and the icebergs at sunset!

The nicest and best-located hotels in this area are Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon and Hali Country Hotel . Here you can find more suggestions on where to stay near Jokulsarlon .

Alternative – if you prefer fewer hotels on this road trip – you could stay in the area around Kirkjubæjarklaustur for two nights and visit the places mentioned for this and the next day in a somewhat different order. Just take a look at the map, places you want to visit, and activities you want to do, and see what makes the most sense for you. Kirkjubæjarklaustur is located about halfway between Vik and Jokulsarlon and is a good base for this area.

Good to know: There are very few accommodations in this area and they tend to sell out fast. If you are traveling in the high season, booking long in advance is essential! To give you an idea, in some years, all the hotels in this area for the summer months are fully booked by February – March. So if you find something that suits your travel dates, reserve asap!

DAY 6: Skaftafell, Glaciers, Vik

Driving time/distance between Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Vik is about 190 km/ 2.5 hours driving time, not including sightseeing.

Today, you can visit Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon (if not done yet) and then continue back along the South Coast in the direction of Vik. If there were any places that you skipped the previous day, you could stop there on your way back. In addition, you can go hiking, book a glacier hike, or go on an ice cave tour.

This is what your day could look like: visit Jokulsarlon , stop at Hofskirkja , do a short hike at Skaftafell – Vatnajökull National Park , book a glacier hike near Skaftafell OR an ice cave tour from Vik . If none of this interests you, check out Icelandic Lava Show in Vik instead.

In the morning, head to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and explore Diamond Beach if you didn’t see it the night before. Even if you did, it’s a really special place that you’ll likely be glad to return to again, also because the scenery here changes all the time.

You can also take a boat tour on the lagoon (if not done the day before), just be sure to go on the very first tour in the morning so that you have plenty of time for other activities afterwards. The earliest tours usually start at around 9-9.30 AM and some of them only take half an hour, so you can easily do that if you want to.

TIP: You can also visit a smaller glacier lagoon nearby, Fjallsarlon . It’s just a few minutes drive from Jokulsarlon, but it’s less known and there are usually hardly any people there. Also, Hofskirkja turf church is a nice short stop along the Ring Road.

Next, I recommend that you choose to either visit Skaftafell, aka Vatnajökull National Park (there are many hikes in Skaftafell), go on a glacier hike, or visit an ice cave .

If you plan well – and depending on tour times and availability – you could visit Skaftafell first and then book an ice cave tour in the afternoon, or you could first go hiking on a glacier and afterwards decide if you also want to hike at Skaftafell NP before driving to Vik.

Skaftafell – Vatnajökull National Park is about 60 km/ 45 minutes drive from Jokulsarlon, back in the direction of Reykjavik. There are many hiking trails here, of various lengths and difficulties (pop in at the visitor center and ask for suggestions).

If you are short on time, I recommend either an easy hike to Skaftafellsjökull for a nice view on the glacier (count 1-1.5 hours) or a moderate hike to Svartifoss (the Black Waterfall). This is the most popular hike, it’s about 3 km (2 miles) in total, goes uphill (and downhill on the way back), and takes about 1.5-2 hrs in total.

There is also a popular glacier hiking tour that starts at Skaftafell. This tour takes about 3 hours and it runs (almost) daily. Usually, there’s at least one departure in the morning and one in the afternoon. If you decide to go in the afternoon, you can easily do a short hike in Skaftafell before that.

If you rather go in the morning, then be sure to plan your Jokulsarlon visit very early (and skip the boat) so that you can get here in time. For more information and practical tips, please check our detailed guide via the link below.

LEARN MORE: Glacier Hiking in Iceland

Alternatively, you can also opt for an ice cave tour . Yes, even in summer (although it’s always better in winter)! While the majority of natural ice caves in Iceland can only be visited in winter, the Katla ice cave near Vik can normally be visited the whole year (still, remember that it’s a natural phenomenon and so the situation can change at any time).

You can only get there with a tour and this is the best-rated tour that I was able to find . It’s a relatively easy tour, it runs from Vik, and it also takes just 3 hours. You also get to walk on a glacier on this tour, but it’s a different experience than a glacier hike. This one is just meant to get to the cave and is not the most beautiful glacier.

Depending on the season, they have several departure times every day (around 10 AM, 1 PM, and 4 PM). Since Vik is about 1.5 hours drive from Skaftafell NP, you should be able to catch the late afternoon tour even if you go hiking in Skaftafell first. If you aren’t interested in hiking, you could even drive to Vik for an earlier tour or simply do the drive in a more relaxed way, stopping at some other attractions that we mentioned on day 6 of this itinerary.

On the way to Vik, stop at Eldhraun lava field . It’s a nice photo stop and a good place to stretch your legs a bit. Just be respectful of nature and stay on walking paths.

TIP: If none of the glacier tours interest you and you have some time to spare on this day, you can visit Icelandic Lava Show in Vik . It’s open until 8 PM and is great for the whole family. The Katla ice cave tour starts and ends here as well, so you could definitely combine the two!

Where to stay: In theory, you could just drive straight to Reykjavik in the evening (about 2.5 hours drive from Vik). However, if you do one of the glacier tours mentioned above, you’ll likely be quite tired. So we suggest that you stay in Vik for a night. You can easily drive to Reykjavik the next morning and still have plenty of time to explore the city.

There are quite some accommodations in Vik . Some of the nicest hotels are Hotel Kria and Hotel Katla , and there are many more places to stay for all budgets.

TIP: If you are in Vik at around sunset, I suggest that you go (back) to Reynisfjara beach which we also mentioned on day 5 of this itinerary. It’s spectacular at sunset – a great way to end your day!

DAY 7: Reykjavik or Reykjanes Peninsula

Driving distance/time from Vik to Reykjavik is about 190 km/ 2.5 hours. If you decide to drive to Reykjanes Peninsula instead, it’s pretty much the same distance. In that case, don’t drive to Reykjavik, but leave the Ring Road in Selfoss and take the road next to the coast.

On the last day of your week in Iceland, you can drive to Reykjavik and visit the city. Alternatively, if you are more interested in Iceland’s natural attractions, you can also head to Reykjanes Peninsula (where also Keflavik airport is located for your flight back home).

Reykjavik or…

If you choose to visit Reykjavik , you can easily see the main highlights of the city in one afternoon. Take a walk along the harbor and check out the Sun Voyager statue and Harpa concert hall building. Then walk in the direction of Lake Tjörnin and check out the tiny building of the Icelandic Parliament. There are also several museums in this area.

Be sure to walk through the city center (Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur streets and the area around them). Don’t miss Hallgrimskirkja Church and take an elevator to the top of the church tower for amazing views over Reykjavik and its surroundings.

The FlyOver Iceland Experience is located quite centrally, close to the Harpa Concert Hall, and is one of the most special experiences in Reykjavik.

Another nice place to visit is Perlan – Wonders of Iceland Museum , a bit outside the city center. If you want to see it, you could drive there upon arrival in the city before going to the center.

Another possibility is booking a puffin and whale-watching tour from Reykjavik harbor. Most tours take 2-3 hours and there are multiple departures during the day. In summer, you can even go on a midnight sun whale-watching tour .

Where to stay: If you decide to stay in the city, please check our guide to where to stay in Reykjavik . It has all the information you need, including the best hotels with parking.

PRO TIP: No matter what you choose to do during the day, reserve tickets for Sky Lagoon in the evening. It’s one of the nicest (if not the best) geothermal pools in Iceland and the ocean views are stunning. Their 7-step ritual is a must. This is a great place to end your trip in Iceland!

READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Reykjavik & Itinerary for 1 Day in Reykjavik

or… Reykjanes Peninsula

Important ! If you want to visit Reykjanes Peninsula or the Blue Lagoon, be sure to check the most up-to-date information on recent volcanic activity! Most places are not impacted at all, but the Blue Lagoon has been closed on several occasions recently.

Reykjanes Peninsula is another really nice area to see before you leave Iceland. It’s like the whole country in a nutshell. If your 7-day Iceland trip indeed ends on this day, then you could visit a few places here on your way to the airport. Alternatively, you could also come here before your flight the next day.

There’s a lot to see and do on Reykjanes Peninsula, so you can always find something interesting depending on how much time you have. Some of the main highlights include Valahnúkamöl Cliffs, Reykjanes Lighthouse, Gunnuhver, Bridge Between Continents, Seltún Geothermal Area, Krýsuvíkurberg Cliffs, Strandarkirkja, and Garður Lighthouse.

The Fagradalsfjall volcano which erupted in March 2021 and July 2023 is also located here, just like the Meradalir volcano which erupted in August 2022. There have been many more eruptions in this area in late 2023 – early 2024 so the landscape is changing all the time…

The famous Blue Lagoon is located on Reykjanes Peninsula as well. If you haven’t visited the Blue Lagoon on your first day in Iceland, you’ll probably want to do it on the last day. Count 2-3 hours for a visit. And be sure to book your timed tickets in advance !

For more information about all these places and also hotel suggestions if you decide to stay close to the airport, please check our detailed guide to this area via the link below.

LEARN MORE: Complete Guide to Reykjanes Peninsula

TIP: If you only have time for one – Reykjavik or Reykjanes Peninsula, please see our article ‘ Is Reykjavik worth it ‘. It might help you decide. In all honesty, it’s a tough choice and if this is your first trip to Iceland, you’ll likely feel like you absolutely have to see its capital city. But if you prefer nature destinations as we do, then you really can’t go wrong with Reykjanes Peninsula.

On our last 10-day trip to Iceland , we didn’t even stop in Reykjavik at all. It was a very different trip, more off the beaten path, but we also started our trip in Snaefellsnes and ended in Reykjanes (just as I suggest in this itinerary) and we all loved it. So it’s really your call.

If you have a full 7 days in Iceland and your flight departs on the 8th day, maybe you can visit both, the city and the Peninsula.

So, this is our suggested self-drive itinerary for one week in Iceland. You can quite easily adjust it depending on your flight times and your interests, and you can also flip it around if you prefer.

As you can see, there’s so much to see and do in the south and the west of Iceland that you’ll already have difficulties choosing where to go and what to skip.

7 Days in Iceland Itinerary on the Map

TIP: To make your trip planning easier, I also created this map , indicating all the places mentioned in our detailed 7-day Iceland itinerary above.

As you can see, we gave each day a different color so that you have a better idea of where everything is and how it all fits in this itinerary. Only for the last day of the trip, we split Reykjavik attractions and Reykjanes Peninsula attractions by indicating them in another color. As already mentioned, you could opt to visit both these places on different days if it better fits your flight schedule.

How to use this map:  Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

Alternative Itinerary: Ring Road of Iceland in 7 Days

Because so many of our readers ask for an itinerary for Iceland’s Ring Road in a week, below is an overview of a suggested itinerary.

Once again, you can drive the entire Ring Road in 7 days, but I really recommend that you opt for fewer places and explore more rather than spend the majority of your time in a car.

If you absolutely want to see ‘everything’ in Iceland in one week, then you could use this alternative 7-day Iceland Ring Road itinerary :

• Day 1: Arrival, Blue Lagoon/Sky Lagoon, Reykjavik.
• Day 2: South Coast to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.
• Day 3: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and the Eastfjords.
• Day 4: Lake Myvatn area .
• Day 5: The North Coast of Iceland (don’t miss Hvitserkur ).
• Day 6: Snaefellsnes Peninsula .
• Day 7: Back in Reykjavik and departure.

If you decide to do this, keep in mind that it will be rushed and you’ll have to plan very well in order to be able to see just the main places everywhere. We recommend this 10-day Iceland Ring Road itinerary instead.

So, this is my suggested one week Iceland itinerary. These suggestions are based on our various trips to Iceland, including recommendations for all the best places in this part of Iceland. It’s not a standard copy-paste itinerary that you’ll find described anywhere else, but I have no doubt that you’ll absolutely love it!

And when you do this trip, please come back to our blog and leave a comment under this article telling us how it went – we love to hear feedback from our readers !

TIP: If you are looking for more information for your trip to Iceland, practical tips, clothing advice, etc. please check our complete travel guide to Iceland .

If you have any questions about this 7-day Iceland itinerary, feel free to leave a reply below and I’ll try to help. Alternatively, please join our Facebook group for Iceland & Scandinavia Travel – it’s a great place to meet other travelers, ask questions, and share experiences.

READ ALSO: Iceland Travel Tips

More tips for your trip to Iceland:

• What to see: Best Places to See in Iceland
• Airport transfers: How to Get to Reykjavik from Keflavik Airport
• Budget: How Expensive is Iceland (& How to Save Money)
• Accommodation: Where to Stay in Iceland & Where to Stay in Reykjavik
• Packing: What to Wear in Iceland in Winter and What to Pack for Iceland in Summer
• Tours: Best Tours and Day Trips in Iceland and Best Half Day Tours from Reykjavik
• More itinerary suggestions: Iceland Itinerary for 1 to 14 Days
• Winter trip: Iceland in Winter (travel tips and useful Info) & Best Winter Day Trips from Reykjavik
• More: Check out our Iceland travel guide for even more inspiration and tips for your trip.

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Images: personal collection and Depositphotos.com

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Tuesday 19th of March 2024

Thank you for such a thorough review of touring Iceland in 7 days! It is overwhelming for sure. Can you comment on how much the current volcano activity would impact your suggested itinerary? It is hard to tell if this itinerary allows much time for hiking. What hikes are must do's for the best scenery? We are planning a trip in July and hoping we can find hotels/cottages at this point.

Wednesday 20th of March 2024

Hi Natalie, the recent volcano activity shouldn't influence most travelers visiting Iceland. It's concentrated in Reykjanes Peninsula around Grindavik, so if you follow this itinerary, you may want to skip Reykjanes Peninsula and visit Reykjavik instead (see day 7). The only major tourist attraction that you may not be able to visit is the Blue Lagoon which has been closed on quite a few occasions due to the volcanic activity recently. So to be safe, I would book Sky Lagoon instead (or book both and see how the situation is when you visit). As for hiking, so much depends on your interests and when you visit. But yes, there are some possibilities for short hikes in various places in this itinerary, especially if you are visiting in summer and don't mind staying up late (it stays light all the time in the early summer). However, if you want to do longer hikes (half a day or longer) then I recommend planning some extra time in Iceland. In this itinerary, you could do a hike between Arnarstapi and Hellnar on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula (day 2), a short hike to Öxarárfoss Waterfall on the Golden Circle (day 3), there are quite some hiking possibilities on both - Heimaey Island and Landmannalaugar (day 4 - or add another day and visit both places), you can also hike a bit along the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon (day 5) and there are a few nice 2-4 hour hikes to choose from at Skaftafell National Park, plus, you can do a glacier hike in this area (day 6). Hope this helps. Good luck with the planning and yes, book accommodations asap. Have a great trip!

Tuesday 12th of March 2024

This post has been my North Star in my planning. Thank you for the wonderful information! Would you recommend langjokull ice cave over Katla? or maybe Katla over Langjokull? doing both is a bit outside our price range, but we do have time.

Monday 18th of March 2024

@Jurga, Thank you! We are following your advice on staying Borgarnes the first night, thinking of stopping at the Perlan after Blue Lagoon on our way to the airbnb. What would you say is the minimum amount of time to enjoy the Perlan?

Wednesday 13th of March 2024

Hi Marina, the ice cave that most tours visit at Langjokull is a man-made ice tunnel inside a glacier (see the pictures of this tour) except for this tour which goes to a recently-discovered natural ice cave. Katla Ice Cave is also a natural cave - see the pictures here. At Langjokull, you know more or less what to expect whereas natural ice caves might look quite different depending on when you visit them. Having said that, my personal preference always goes to natural ones, but that's also because we have visited dozens of man-made ice tunnels in our travels and they all look similar. I'd say take a look at the pictures, see what appeals to you the most, and also check which tour you could best fit into your itinerary (check availability!) and decide based on that. You can't really go wrong with any of them - it will always be worth it. PS If you want to see a more affordable man-made ice tunnel in Iceland, you can also visit the Perlan Museum in Reykjavik. The tunnel they have there is made of real ice. Plus, they have an amazing Arora show as well. Hope this helps!

Tuesday 27th of February 2024

Hello! Thank you so much for this! I've seen lots of information for one week in Iceland and yours seems to really hit all the marks! We have 7 nights, so I'm trying to decide how to space everything out...we were thinking we might do the food tour and Blue Lagoon when we land on Saturday in July. Then drive to Snaefellsnes. Would 2 nights there be too much? Then, 2 nights in Hella, and two nights in Vik? Then, drive back for our 5pm flight the following Saturday (maybe hitting the Sky Lagoon before our flight). Thanks!

Wednesday 28th of February 2024

Hi Katy, your plan sounds good if you want to minimize the number of hotels during the trip. Just a few things. First, because of the location of the Sky Lagoon (in the city) and the Blue Lagoon (close to the airport), I would switch those two around. So visit Sky Lagoon on the first day and the Blue Lagoon at the end of your trip. Also, be sure to book both of these well in advance because they always sell out. Second, book your accommodations and car rental asap. Especially hotels outside Reykjavik!

Ornella Zaatar

Monday 19th of February 2024

Thank you for this helpful itinerary. I am trying to plan one of the date in the south coast (Vatjankul National Park). I am still debating if it is worth it to do the Katla ice cave tour and the Jokulsarlon Glacier lagon zodiac tour (which i believe this one is nice) or any other must seen tours/places? So far thats my itinerary. Any advice will be highly appreciate it.

- katla ice cave tour? (3h) -Fjaorargljufur canyon -Skaftafell-Svartifoss -jokulsarlon glacier lagon ( book a zodiac tour) any compagnie in particular? -diamond beach

Thank you in advance.

Wednesday 21st of February 2024

@Jurga, Thank you so much for your help really appreciate it.

I have one more questions regarding the Snaefellsness Peninsula we are going for one day and I made a rough draft: -arrival at 1pm to Stykkisholmur -3pm Kirkjufell and kirkjufellsfoss waterfall -5pm Bjarnarfoss buoir -6:30pm Arnarstapi -8:30pm Saxholl crater

1)Is it a good one? 2)is there places that we must see that I did not put?I just want to make sure we are seeing the must sees in our time there

Thank you so much for all your help. I really appreciate it. Planning Iceland is so exciting but also overwhelming. It is the first trip that I planned that took me a long time to finish the planning haha. Your blog helped me significantly Thanks again!

@Jurga, yes so we are going in summer. My only concern is that we wont make it to the boat tour the last one i checked available was at 4:45pm.

how I calculate it with some buffer time in case of delays or anything -9:30 am to 1:30pm Katla ice cave around 2 hours buffer to arrive and have a stop for snack -3:30-4:40pm: Fjaorargljufur Canyon -6pm Skatafel and Svartifos -7:30 or 8pm:Jokulsarlon glacier lagon -8:30-9pm diamond beach

1) Do you know any zodiac boat tour that starts at later time like 8pm? 2)It might be a stupid question but if we do not do the zodiac boat tour can we still go see the jikylsarlon glacier lagon by ourselfs? 3)Knowing the following itinerary which one would you give up the Katla ice cave or the Jokulsarlon glacier lagon zodiac tour?

Hi Ornella, you forgot to mention when you are traveling, where you are planning to stay, and where you are going the next day, so it's a bit difficult to give tailored advice. But if you are traveling in the summer when the days are long and can get to Vik in time for the morning tour to Katla (this tour starts at 9.30 AM, at least for the days I checked), you should be able to do all this in a day. If you stay close to Jokulsarlon at the end of that day, you can also do the boat trip on the lagoon the next morning. It doesn't matter which company you choose - the main difference is the type of boat you choose - an amphibian boat or a speedboat. In some seasons, there are also kayak tours, but those take longer and cost even more. Hope this helps. Just book any tours you want to do and especially accommodations asap.

Christiana Debono

Thursday 4th of January 2024

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and tips !

trying to opt for the 7 day itinerary in september, do you still recommend the same places if a toddler aged 2 yrs is going to tag along or shall we omit from visiting a few places?

Monday 8th of January 2024

Hi Christiana, it's hard for me to say what you can/can't do - so much depends on your family, and how you guys like to travel, but also how you visit certain places. For example, you can visit the highlands with a young kid on your own (in a 4x4), but it's probably not the best idea to book a hiking tour with a group. Yet another thing to consider is accessibility and whether you will be taking a stroller. Many places in nature will be hard to impossible to access with a stroller. Also, you won't be able to do some excursions like e.g. glacier hiking. Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik doesn't allow little kids either. So you'll have to do a bit more research based on your interests, but as far as nature sights go and general itinerary, yes, you can do it with a young child as well. Hope this helps.

Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

A Detailed 1 Week Iceland Ring Road Itinerary

Last updated: April 16, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 98 Comments

Heading to Iceland and planning on driving the Ring Road? You’ve come to the right place! Our detailed Iceland Ring Road itinerary will get you to all the sights you want to see, giving you all the information you need to tackle this epic Iceland road trip, including a day by day breakdown of the adventure.

We’ve spent a great deal of time exploring Iceland’s Ring Road in its entirety and we have also visited Iceland in both summer and winter. We’ve already written a number of comprehensive guides to visiting Iceland to help you plan your trip, but this is our first detailed Ring Road itinerary.

During our time exploring Iceland’s ring road we’ve seen the majority of the highlights along the route. Based on these experiences, and our other travels in Iceland, we’ve distilled the adventure down into the perfect Iceland Ring Road itinerary for a one-week ring road trip, starting and ending in Reykjavik.

This post contains everything you need to know to plan your trip, including a detailed day-by-day breakdown of the route, where to stay, what to see along the way, driving distances, and a full route map as well as all the planning information you need!

Let’s get started, first by answering some questions you might have about the route.

What is the Iceland Ring Road?

The Iceland Ring Road, also known as Þjóðvegur 1, or Route 1, is a national road that runs all around the country, connecting all the major towns and cities. The Ring Road is 828 miles long (1,332 kilometres), making it the longest road in Iceland.

The Ring Road is primarily two lanes wide and paved, although some sections are wider than this, and in some cases, particularly for bridges, it may only be a single lane road

Why Road Trip on the Iceland Ring Road?

Iceland’s Ring Road makes for the perfect Iceland road trip because it covers a great deal of the country, and passes right by, or very close to, a great many of Iceland’s most famous and noteworthy attractions, including natural attractions such as waterfalls, epic viewpoints and gorgeous towns and villages.

In addition, as the Ring Road passes through the major towns and cities of Iceland, it’s easier to find accommodation along the route if you follow the Ring Road. Finally, being the main route around Iceland, navigation is easy.

How Long Does it Take to Drive Iceland’s Ring Road?

As mentioned above, Iceland’s Ring Road is 1,332 kilometres long. For the majority of the route, the speed limit is 90km/h, so in theory you could drive the entire Ring Road in 15 – 20 hours.

Of course, we’d advise against that. We’d suggest that one week would be the minimum amount of time to do a Ring Road tour and take in all the sights in this itinerary. This will give you time to do plenty of sight-seeing along the route and not be too rushed. Of course, more time is better – on one trip we spent four weeks doing the full route, with lots of detours and diversions!

If you have less time in Iceland or don’t want to be too rushed, we’d suggest focusing on a specific region so you get the most out of your trip. Take a look at our itinerary for 5 days in Iceland for inspiration.

Which Way Should I Drive the Iceland Ring Road?

Being a circular route, you can drive the Iceland Ring Road in either direction. Our preference would be to drive it in an anti-clockwise direction, tackling the south of the country first.

In our experience, the south of Iceland is the busiest part of the country in terms of visitors, so as you travel, you will go from more busy places (the south) to less busy places (basically everywhere else). We think this will be an easier transition to manage than driving from relatively quiet to more crowded spots.

Of course, you are welcome to drive this route in any direction. Our road trip itinerary is set up in a counter-clockwise direction, but you can reverse it.

Can I Drive the Iceland Ring Road in Winter?

Whilst you can drive Iceland’s Ring Road in winter, we would generally advise against it. Road conditions can change very quickly, and sections of the Ring Road often close in winter, meaning you might have to retrace your route to get back to where you started. A storm can really negatively impact your trip.

In addition, the limited hours of daylight in the winter months mean you won’t have so much time for sight-seeing as you might want. In summer, you will have so many hours of daylight thanks to the midnight sun that you can really pack the sight-seeing in!

Ideally you’d want to do this trip between late April and October.

If you travel in late September or October you will also have the chance to see the northern lights . You won’t have to do anything special to see them – just find somewhere with no artificial light sources, hope for good weather and look up!

Of course, we don’t discourage coming to Iceland in winter in general! It’s the time of year when you have a great chance to see the northern lights, and the landscapes are quite wonderful when covered in ice and snow.

Instead of driving Iceland’s entire Ring Road in winter, we’d suggest you look at our 7 day Iceland winter itinerary , which we think is the best option for visiting Iceland in winter and driving yourself.

We also suggest taking a look at our guide to driving in Iceland in winter , and our guide to what to pack for Iceland in winter .

Another option is to take a guided tour like this . Let someone else handle all the logistics of planning and driving, and you can just enjoy your journey without worrying about driving in poor conditions.

Do you have to self-drive the Iceland Ring Road?

The road trip in this post is based on a self-drive itinerary which means you drive yourself. Driving in Iceland gives you the most flexibility in terms of your itinerary hiring a car; however, it’s not the only option!

One popular option would be to take a group tour of Iceland instead. This means someone else will handle everything for you, including the driving, itinerary and accommodation, and you get to just enjoy the sight-seeing.

If that sounds good to you (we know not everyone wants to drive in Iceland), there are a number of options, which we outline in the following section.

Tours of the Iceland Ring Road

The Iceland ring road is a popular road trip, and as such there are a number of tour companies offering trips, ranging from a few days to a number of weeks. We’d suggest 6 days as being the absolute minimum for a ring road tour, and ideally more like 7 days to 2 weeks.

We recommend this either 8 day tour , this 8 day tour or this 8 day tour with G Adventures.

If you are really pressed for time, this is a 6 day tour that will let you see the highlights. This is a similar 6 day tour .

Do be aware when comparing tours that you need to look carefully at what is included and what isn’t. Even if a tour has a higher price, if it includes all the meals then it might be better value than a cheaper tour without meals as food can be very expensive in Iceland.

Other things to consider include what attractions or experiences are included in the price.

For example, tours might cost more but the price might include higher quality accommodation, wildlife watching tours, Blue Lagoon entry and glacier lagoon boat ride, as well as many other activities.

For more inspiration on tours in Iceland, check out our guide to the best guided tours of Iceland , which will give you loads of ideas for what else you can do in the country for trips between 2 days and 2 weeks!

You can also see a selection of guided tours of Iceland on TourRadar here and on Guide to Iceland here , both of which offer a variety of tours from different companies in Iceland.

Now, having hopefully answered many of your questions about driving the Ring Road, let’s share our week-long Iceland ring road itinerary!

Iceland Ring Road Itinerary

Now, let’s take a look at a suggested itinerary for one week driving the Iceland Ring Road. This covers 8 days and 7 nights of travel, and we have tried to lay it out so each day has a similar amount of driving, although of course this isn’t always possible.

We’d also advise that you adjust the itinerary to suit your own interests and needs, as well as your arrival and departure times of course!

Day 1: Arrive, Blue Lagoon, part of Golden Circle.

On your first day you’ll arrive in Iceland at Keflavik International Airport. This is around a 40 minute drive to the south west of Reykjavik.

For this itinerary, we’re going to assume you arrive into Iceland in the morning. If you arrive in the late afternoon or evening, you’ll want to tweak this day a little bit.

On arrival, pick up your hire car ( compare prices here ) at the airport and consider heading straight for the famous Blue Lagoon if it is on your must-visit list. This is Iceland’s most well-known geothermal lagoon, and is a huge outdoor bathing area where the water is a funky shade of blue.

As well as the main lagoon (which has a swim up bar), you can also get treatments here and have a meal, as there’s an on-site restaurant. If you plan to visit the Blue Lagoon , you’ll need to pre-book a timeslot, which you can do here .

The Blue Lagoon is a very popular place, so don’t expect to be able to turn up and buy a ticket. See our full guide visiting the Blue Lagoon for more.

It’s only a short drive from the airport, but you’ll want to factor in the time it will take you to get through immigration and baggage claim as well as collect your hire car, which can take a while if the airport is busy. If you arrive in the afternoon or evening, you can either just do the Blue Lagoon and then stay nearby, or skip it and head further along the route towards the Golden Circle – our next adventure.

Another option to consider which is closer to Reyjavik city centre is the Sky Lagoon. This is a newer attraction which offers a similar hot springs experience, and is worth checking out too. You can book tickets for the Sky Lagoon here .

If you choose not to do the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon on your first day, don’t worry, you can also do it at the end of your trip instead. There are also a number of other thermal baths all around the country, and we actually personally prefer the Lake Mývatn Nature Baths in the north of Iceland.

After the Lagoon, our suggestion is to get going on the road trip straight away. A week is not a massive amount of time to drive the Ring Road, so a head start is a good idea. With this in mind, we recommend you head out onto the Golden Circle.

The Golden Circle is one of the more popular short road trips in Iceland. Its proximity to Reykjavik makes it easy to do in a day, and it is a quick way to see some of the best of the country, from cultural attractions to waterfalls and geothermal activity. We have written a full guide to the Golden Circle to help you fully plan your time here.

If you’ve arrived in Iceland in the morning, you’ll have time to see Thingvellir National Park on your first day. Thingvellir, or Þingvellir, is one of the most important cultural sites in Iceland, and is on the UNESCO world heritage list. It’s where Iceland’s parliament met from the 10th to the 18th centuries.

As well as the cultural significance, the national park is interesting for it’s geological features. The Eurasian and North American tectonic plates have their boundary here, and you can see the rifts between these plates in the form of obvious canyons. It’s really interesting to see geography up close like this.

You can even go snorkelling to experience these plates. This is done in dry suits with specialist operators, as the water temperature hovers just above freezing year round. You don’t need to bring any special equipment, but booking in advance is definitely recommended. Here’s a tour booking link if you want to do that.

There’s also a beautiful waterfall here, Öxarárfoss, which is around a 10 minute walk from the car park. Game of Thrones fans will also enjoy visiting Thingvellir National Park as it was used for the filming of a number of Game of Thrones scenes , including the Gates of the Moon. This is found in Almannagjá gorge  which is just near Öxaráfoss waterfall.

Once you’re done with Thingvellir, we’d suggest calling it a day, and heading on to your accommodation for the night. We recommend staying somewhere between Laugarvatn and Flúðir. If you have arrived early however and skipped the Blue Lagoon, you will likely have time to also do the Geysir Park and visit Gulfoss waterfall. For this itinerary though, we will describe these on our second day.

Day 1 Highlights : Blue Lagoon, Thingvellir

Start Point : Keflavík Airport End Point:  Laugarvatn / Flúðir Distance driven : ~140 kilometres / 90 miles

Where to Stay

For your first night we recommend booking accommodation somewhere near Fludir Here are some options to consider.

• Farmhotel Efstidalur – as the name suggests this is found on a farm. Private rooms are en-suite and there’s an on-site geothermal hot tub
• Fludir Icelandair Hotel  – We stayed here on one trip to Iceland and it was very comfortable, with an on-site restaurant.
• Garður Stay Inn by the Secret Lagoon – well reviewed and handy for Fludir’s “ Secret Lagoon “, a lovely geothermal bath
• Farmer’s Guesthouse – just near the town of Hella, this is a good option if you want to complete the Golden Circle and start along the south coast. Another option found on a farm with cabins.
• Stracta Hotel – centrally located in Hella, a well reviewed option with hot tubs and on-site restaurant.
• Midgard basecamp – found in Hvolsvöllur, this highly rated hostel is a great budget option with a hot tub

See more lodging options in this area on  booking.com here .

If you arrive later and want to overnight near the airport, we stayed at the Northern Light Inn , which is right next to the Blue Lagoon and about twenty minutes from the airport. See more Reykjavik options at the end of the itinerary.

Day 2: Golden Circle and South Coast

For the second day in our Ring Road trip we’re going to finish off the highlights of the Golden Circle, and start along the south Iceland coast, taking in some of the most famous attractions in Iceland.

First, we’re going to finish the Golden Circle. There are two more main attractions to see: Geysir and Gullfoss.

Geysir is a geothermal park which is home to the original “Geyser” – a geological feature whereby steam and boiling hot water are regularly ejected into the air. Today, we know this phenomenon as a “geyser”, which was the name given by the Icelanders to the geyser in the Geysir park.

The original geyser is now mostly dormant, but there are a number of other geysers in the park, one of which is regularly active, shooting into the air every few minutes. This is quite a spectacular thing to see, and well worth stopping for. Expect to spend around 20 to 30 minutes visiting this park.

From Geyser you’re going to drive on to Gullfoss. Foss, incidentally, is Icelandic for waterfall, and you’re going to see that word a lot in Iceland, as there are a lot of waterfalls!

Gullfoss is one of Iceland’s most spectacular waterfalls, with two tiers conveying a massive volume of water down a total of 32 metres. There are a number of good viewing areas, and a great deal of parking here, as well as an on-site cafe.

From Gullfoss, it’s time to start heading south where you’ll join the Ring Road, and which you will stay on for the majority of the rest of your road trip.

The first stop on your trip is going to be the Lava Center . This is a relatively new attraction in Iceland, which is well worth visiting if you want to learn about the volcanic activity in Iceland, and get an idea of what it’s like to experience massive geological activities like volcanoes and earthquakes.

The Lava Center is really interesting, and the exhibits here have already won a number of awards. There is a free part as well as a paid part, plus an on-site cafeteria-style restaurant so a good place to get some food. It’s definitely worth popping in to, even if you don’t tour the museum, just to get an understanding of some of the features you’ll be seeing on the rest of your trip.

If you do decide to visit, you can book your tickets online in advance here . Using our link gives you a small discount on the normal Lava Centre ticket price.

The next stop on your trip is Seljalandsfoss.  Seljalandsfoss is the first of the major waterfalls on the south coast you’re going to want to stop at and try to pronounce.

Seljalandsfoss is pretty cool because you can actually walk behind it (although it is sometimes closed due to safety issues). Note that you are very likely to get wet doing this, so make sure you are prepared with with right clothing, sturdy shoes (it can be slippery), and that  your camera or phone is suitably protected! It’s also a pretty waterfall in its own right.

Note that parking charges apply at Seljalandsfoss, when we visited it was 700 krona per car. These can be paid using a credit or debit card, and apply 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We did see parking officials enforcing these, and as these funds help maintain the facilities and parking here, we definitely recommend you don’t try to avoid paying them.

Whilst you’re at Seljalandsfoss, you might want to walk along the path here to Gljúfrabúi. This is about a ten minute walk north from Seljalandsfoss (it’s signposted and the path is paved).

Gljúfrabúi is a waterfall hidden inside a canyon, and you do have to walk a few metres up a river to access it. It’s worth doing if you have the right footwear and waterproofs, as it’s pretty cool. It’s really wet and slippery inside the canyon, as you might imagine given there’s a waterfall in here!

From Seljalandsfoss, it’s less than half an hours drive to the next location on our itinerary: Skogafoss. As you drive, if you have a clear day, you’ll also be able to admire some of Iceland’s volcanoes, including Eyjafjallajökull, the volcano which erupted in 2010 and caused worldwide air transport chaos!

Skogafoss is another beautiful waterfall, with a massive volume of water cascading over a sixty metre drop. It’s also 15 metres wide, with a sheer drop, so is quite mesmerising to behold. We also like that you can get very close to the crashing base, to really experience the power of nature. Although, be warned, if you get close, you’ll soon be soaked by the spray!

Before you worry that this itinerary is focusing just on waterfalls, fear not. Right next to Skogafoss is the Skogar Museum . This museum, which focuses on the cultural history of Iceland, has over 15,000 artifacts on display across 3 museum buildings. There’s also a large open-air  area with six historic buildings, including some beautiful traditional turf houses. The museum complex is large so you can easily spend 2 to 3 hours here.

From Skogafoss, you’re going to continue your journey eastwards along the Ring Road. Depending on your stamina and the time of day, you might want to stop at the Sólheimasandur plane wreck.

This is about a ten minute drive from Skogafoss, and there’s a large marked parking area here. Be aware though that it’s a 40 minute walk each way to see the crashed plane and nothing much to see along the way.

If the plane wreck is of interest, read our full guide to visiting the Iceland plane crash at Sólheimasandur . Otherwise, continue east!

Our last stop on the second day of this itinerary is Reynisfjara black sand beach. This is one of Iceland’s beautiful black sand beaches, which is particularly notable for having stacks of basalt columns running along the edge of the beach. There are also sea stacks off shore which are pretty.

This is a popular (and often crowded) location, but do be careful here, as the area is known for “rogue waves” – large waves which can appear without warning, and sweep visitors off the feet and, in worst case scenario, out to sea. So just watch out for that.

Finally, we suggest you overnight at either the town of Vik, or head on a little further to Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

Day 2 Highlights:  Geyser, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Plane Crash, Reynisfjara Beach

Start Point : Efstidalur II / Flúðir End Point : Vik Distance driven : 207 km / 128 miles

Our suggestion for your second night is to stay either in Vik or Kirkjubæjarklaustur (also called Klaustur). Some options to consider include:

• The Barn – this is a well reviewed and popular hostel in Vik, offering both dormitory accommodation and private rooms
• Hotel Vík í Mýrdal – found just 450 yards from the black sand beach in Vik, this is a well rated hotel offering private en-suite rooms
• Hunkubakkar Guesthouse  – a family run guesthouse found five miles from Kirkjubæjarklaustur. WiFi, on-site restaurant and cute colourful cottages.
• Hotel Klaustur – a modern hotel in Klaustur, with simple but comfortable rooms. We’ve stayed here and had a pleasant experience

See more options in Vik here and Klaustur here .

Day 3: South Coast

On your third day driving the Ring Road in Iceland we’re going to finish the highlights of the south coast, and start to head up the east coast.

First stop on your third day is Fjaðrárgljúfur, a 2 million year old river canyon which has carved an incredible path out of the landscape here, making for a seriously photogenic location. It’s about a five minute drive off the Ring Road just before the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

Whilst you can see the canyon from the bridge at the parking lot, we would urge you to take the 15 minute hike up to the main viewpoint, which is a metal viewpoint overlooking the canyon. Here you can see down the length of the canyon for a wonderful view.

From Kirkjubæjarklaustur, continue along the 1. At this point in your journey, you are on the Eldhraun Lava Field. This is the largest lava field in the world, caused by a massive eruption in the 18th century that lasted for a year, and nearly resulted in the whole country being evacuated.

Today, this vast 565-kilometre square site is known for the green moss that has grown over the lava field, which makes for a popular photograph. Just please be aware that it’s taken the moss a couple of hundred years to grow, and it is super sensitive to being stood on. There are dedicated parking areas with marked trails to follow, and sticking to these will help preserve this remarkable environment for future travellers. There are also some picnic tables along here if you are in the mood for a snack.

Continuing on through Eldrahaun, you will notice the massive Vatnajökull glacier in the distance before you. This is the largest glacier in Iceland, covering a staggering 9% of the whole country. This is protected as part of the Vatnajökull National Park.

Naturally, visiting parts of this national park is the the next thing on your itinerary for today!

The first stop in the national park is the Skaftafell region , which has its own visitor center and facilities. There’s a large parking area here, which does charge for parking. Fees when we visited were 700 krona per car, paid at the visitor center using automated machines.

Most people stop here to do a hike or two. One of the most popular is the hike up to Svartifoss, or the Black Falls. This is a 30 – 45 minute hike each way (it’s quite steep) to a beautiful waterfall that tumbles over black basalt columns. It’s fairly unique in this respect, so we think is worth the h

If you don’t want to hike up though, there are other walks in the area, including a flat walk that’s around 90 minutes total, which brings you close to the base of one of the glaciers as well. The visitor center has plenty of maps and staff who can give you assistance with choosing the best walk for you.

This would also be a good location to do a glacier hike or ice cave hike . Availability for these varies depending on the time of year, and you would have to plan accordingly as these guided activities usually last for around 3 – 4 hours. Most departures are from Skaftafell, and you definitely need to book these in advance, which you can do here .

The next stop is a five minute drive further along, to the Svínafellsjökull Glacier. Here there’s an excellent viewpoint from where you can see the tongue of the Svínafellsjökull Glacier – one of the outlet glaciers of the main Vatnajökull glacier.

Continuing further along, and you will come to the well known Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. This lagoon is formed off the run off from the Breiðamerkurjökull outlet from Vatnajökull, and is a popular spot for taking a boat tour  (seasonal), which will get you out between the icebergs and up close to the glacier itself, an experience you won’t quickly forget.

Directly across the road from Jökulsárlón Lagoon is the Diamond beach. This is where the icebergs which float out of the lagoon wash up on the shore, creating the impression of a beach littered with giant diamonds. Depending on the time of year you visit, you will find more or less of these (more in winter, less in summer!), but it’s worth five minutes to check it out whenever you visit.

Finally, the last section of the day has you driving on to Hofn, where we recommend you spend the night. If you prefer, you can also drive further, and overnight in Djúpivogur.

Day 3 Highlights:  Fjaðrárgljúfur, Lava Fields, Vatnajökull National Park, Glacial Lagoon, Langoustines

Start Point : Vik End Point : Hofn or Djúpivogur Distance driven : 272km / 170 miles

Where to stay

For your third night on Iceland’s ring road we suggest staying in either Höfn or Djúpivogur. Options to consider include:

• Hotel Framtid in Djúpivogur – we stayed at this lovely hotel overlooking the harbour and enjoyed taking some short walks in the area
• Framtid Hostel – a well reviewed hostel in Djúpivogur offering a shared kitchen and shared bathrooms. A good budget option.
• Hotel Edda Höfn – found by the harbour in Höfn this hotel offers lovely views and rooms with private facilities
• Milk Factory – as the name suggests, this hotel is located in a former milk factory. Rooms all feature free WiFi and private bathrooms
• Höfn Guesthouse – this is a well reviewed centrally located budget guesthouse in Höfn, with shared bathrooms

See more options in Djúpivogur here and Hofn here .

Day 4: East Coast

It’s time to tackle Iceland’s east coast! Jökulsárlón Lagoon, which you visited yesterday, is the last stopping point for the majority of one and two day trips from Reykjavík, so from there onwards you should find that the roads and attractions will be a little less busy.

Your first stop today is the Vestrahorn, a fantastically photogenic mountain. In contrast to the flatter, glacier coated mountains of the south coast, the Vestrahorn is a spikey affair, in fact it is named for it’s “horns”. This is just one of a series of these mountains along the east coast, which makes for a seriously spectacular drive along the coast.

Note that you can see Vestrahorn from Route 1, but if you decide to drive off the 1  do come off the 1 and drive to Stokksnes for more views of the Vestrahorn, this is across private land. The landowner here charges a small fee to vehicles to manage the road and access.

You then are going to continue your drive along the coastal road, which is a really fabulous drive, and you are going to find yourself stopping regularly to take photos of the scenery here. Just be sure to stop at the actual pullouts and marked parking areas.

The first major stop is going to be the small fishing town of Djúpivogur. Here there are a few highlights, including an art installation of stone eggs (Eggin í Gleðivík), with each egg representing a bird you would find in Iceland. Djúpivogur is a popular spot for bird watching too and you can find a couple of hides in the area.

There are also local artists who have opened their quirky studios to visitors, and these are definitely worth a visit.

If you want to see something a little unusual (for Iceland at least), you can take a 15 minute hike from the east end of town to Búlandsnes, where you can see a lovely white sand beach. For more on what to do in Djúpivogur, see the official website here .

From Djúpivogur, continue northwards on Route 1. There are two waterfalls next on your route, Sveinsstekksfoss & Folaldafoss. The first is just off the road, with the best views found if you drive up the steep track a little way to the parking at the top, from where it’s a 1 minute walk to a viewpoint.

Folaldafoss is a five minute detour off the 1 on Route 939, and is viewable both from the car park, or you can walk down to be closer to the falls, which takes about five minutes. Both waterfalls are worth stopping at.

Note that GPS units will often recommend you continue on the 939 if you set your destination as Egilsstaðir. We’d suggest against doing this – the road is a windy mountainous pass, and you are unlikely to save any time. It also often closes in bad weather conditions. Instead, return to the 1 and continue onwards.

Another benefit of continuing on the Ring Road is that you will be able to stop at Petra’s stone collection.

Petra was a lady who lived in the village of Stöðvarfjörður, and who had a real passion for collecting stones. Her stone collection attracted visitors from all over the world, and it grew to take over her house and garden.

Petra died a few years back, but her family have maintained her collection – and it is truly impressive. A great stop if you want to learn all about the minerals of Iceland, plus get an insight into a locals’ life and hobby.

From Petra’s stone house, continue your journey to the town of Egilsstaðir. The stretch of Route 1 from near Reyðarfjörður into Egilsstaðir takes you through a truly stunning valley, which when we drove it seemed to have waterfalls crashing down the valley walls every few hundred meters. A wonderful sight to behold as you head into Egilsstaðir.

Egilsstaðir is the largest town in East Iceland, and a good place for shopping if you need to get any supplies. It’s also home to the largest forested area in Iceland, which you might find surprising after seeing so much barren and treeless landscapes!

For a culture fix, Egilsstaðir is where you’ll find the East Iceland Heritage Museum , which tells the story of the history and culture of this region of Iceland specifically.

You can overnight in Egilsstaðir, but, depending on time, you may also consider taking the half hour drive out to the town of  Seyðisfjörður on Route 93.

The road out to this coastal town is truly spectacular, and fans of the movie “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” will recognise this road as the one the character Walter rides his long board down.

On the way there are a number of spectacular waterfalls – we’d definitely recommend stopping at Fardagafoss and taking the time to hike up to it (around 45 minutes round trip).

The town itself is also very pretty, with the rainbow painted high street that leads to the local church being particularly photogenic.

Day 4 Highlights:  Vestrahorn, Djúpivogur, Sveinsstekksfoss, Folaldafoss, Petra’s Stone Collection, Egilsstaðir, Seydisfjördur

Start Point:  Hofn End Point : Egilsstaðir or Seydisfjördur Distance driven : 281 km / 173 miles.

For your fourth night on Iceland’s ring road we recommend staying either in Egilsstaðir or Seydisfjördur.

• Hotel Aldan The Bank – this lovely property is found in two historic buildings in the centre of Seydisfjördur, and was where we stayed. Rooms are en-suite and wonderfully decorated.
• Hafaldan HI Hostel – found in Seydisfjördur, this hostel offers rooms with either private or shared facilities, as well as a shared kitchen. A good budget option.
• Tehúsið Hostel – found in Egilsstadir, this hostel has a restaurant, shared kitchen and lounge. Rooms have shared bathrooms.
• Hótel Eyvindará – this family run hotel is just 2km from Egilsstadir. Rooms ave private bathrooms and some have private terraces
• Icelandair Hotel Herad – this Egilsstadir hotels offers a terrace bar, 24-hour room service and on-site restaurant. Rooms are comfortable and are all en-suite.

See more options in Seydisfjördur here and Egilsstaðir here .

Day 5: North Iceland

The fifth day of our Iceland road trip itinerary takes us out of east Iceland and into northern Iceland. Before you leave this area though, you might consider a Reindeer Safari, as this is the best part of Iceland (well the only actually as all the reindeer live in East Iceland) to see the wild reindeer. We did one of these trips, and were lucky enough to spot two large reindeer herds!

After leaving Egilsstaðir, your first stop on day five will be the Rjukandi waterfall. This is right by the road, around a 40 minute drive outside Egilsstaðir. There’s a parking lot here and it’s a five or ten minute walk up a relatively gentle incline to the best viewpoint.

Not long after the Rjukandi waterfall, you’ll come to a turning signposted for Sænautasel and Möðrudalur. This follows the F970 unpaved mountain road. If you have time and a proper 4×4 vehicle with high clearance, and if the road is open, then we can suggest a detour on this route, which will give you the opportunity to visit these two locations.

Sænautasel is an old restored turf farm house where you can now get coffee and pancakes in an authentic turf house. Möðrudalur also has a number of turf houses, and is a larger village. This detour will add more time to your trip today, but if you do have the time and a suitable vehicle, then we think it is a fun experience.

Our next stop is the waterfall of Dettifoss, which is one of the highlights of Iceland’s Diamond Circle  – a popular circuit of attractions in the north of Iceland. Our Ring Road itinerary will cover some of these, but not all, just for reasons of time.

Dettifoss though should definitely be on your list. This is Europe’s most powerful waterfall by volume of water, with around 500 cubic meters of water passing over the falls every second. The falls are 100 meters wide and 45 metres high, and as you can imagine, are quite the sight.

You can access Dettifoss by taking either Road 864 or 862 off the Ring Road. These two options bring you to different sides of the falls, which offer slightly different views. Route 862, on the west side, is a tarmac road, whilst Route 864 is a gravel road. The views differ, so you should do a little research so you can decide for yourself which will be better for you. Also these roads may close in bad weather.

You can of course continue to explore the Diamond Circle if you wish. North from Dettifoss on the west side is Hljóðaklettar, home to some seriously funky columnar rock formations, which take around an hour to explore.

You could go further north and complete the Diamond Circle, even visiting Húsavík – one of the most popular places for whale watching in Iceland , and then rejoin the Ring Road at Lake Myvatn. If whale watching is high on your list, you might want to do that instead.

For the purposes of this itinerary, we’re going to assume you return to the Ring Road after Dettifoss, and continue to follow it.

You will now approach the Lake Myvatn area of northern Iceland, which is full of attractions, and where you could easily spend a few days exploring. The lake, which was created by a massive volcanic eruption a couple of thousand years ago (practically yesterday in geological terms), is a particularly popular spot for bird watching and is home to a large number of rare duck species.

There are also numerous attractions, from volcano craters to lava fields to areas of geothermal activity.

We would suggest that you split the attractions in the Myvatn area between your fifth and sixth day in Iceland. On this day, we’d advise stopping at Hverir, a geothermal spot which is known for its bubbling pools of mud and steam fumaroles, which is quite an impressive site.

We’d also highly recommend the Lake Myvatn Nature Baths . These baths are some of our favourite geothermal baths in Iceland. They have a similar outdoor feel to the Blue Lagoon, with that beautiful blue colour, but we thought that the view from the bathing area was just perfect. It’s a little way up a hillside here, and you can see right across the whole Lake Myvatn area.

You’ll want to book your ticket in advance , and we can recommend bringing a towel as towel rental is not included, and is a little bit expensive.

Day 5 Highlights : Rjukandi waterfall, Dettifoss, Hverir, Lake Myvatn Nature Baths

Start Point : Seydisfjordur End Point : Lake Myvatn Distance driven : 262km / 162 miles

We recommend spending your fifth night in the Lake Myvatn area. Some options to consider include:

• Laxá Hótel – this is a nice design hotel with great views, just 2km from the lake. We had a lovely stay here.
• Skútustadir Guesthouse – set on a farm, this well reviewed guesthouse offers a shared kitchen as well as rooms with either shared or private bathrooms
• Vogafjós Farm Resort – this well reviewed family-run guesthouse offers rooms with private bathrooms and on-site dining
• Fosshótel Mývatn – this is a very well reviewed hotel offering comfortable rooms and an on-site restaurant
• Dimmuborgir Guesthouse – this farm stay offers self-catering cottages as well as rooms with access to a shared kitchen.

See more options in the Lake Myvatn area here .

If you decide to do the Diamond Circle drive instead, we’d recommend staying in Húsavík . We stayed at the  Kaldbakskot Cottages , but there are lots of options, you can see listings here .

Day 6: North Iceland

Wow, day 6 of the road trip already! Today we’re going to continue to explore northern Iceland, starting with some more of the attractions around Lake Myvatn.

Lake Myvatn has a great many attractions to choose from, ranging from geological attractions through to bird watching and fishing. We’ve put a few of our favourite geological attractions here, but there is a great deal to do in this area, depending on your interests.

Depending on where you choose to stay in this area, the order you visit these attractions will vary. However, these are the attractions we’d suggest you visit.

The first attraction along the route is Grjótagjá Cave. This is a hot water filled natural cave which was once a popular bathing area, until a change in the water temperature made it too hot to bathe in.

It was also used as a Game of Thrones filming location, which led to its current popularity.

Unfortunately, due to vandalism by visitors in 2018, the landowner closed all access to the cave;. However, as of 2021 it was open. As it’s on private land and access is down the landowner, just check before your visit to see if it is open. If not, or if you want a cave you can actually swim in, check out nearby Stóragjá Cave.

If you want to climb a volcano crater whilst you’re in Iceland, you’re going to love the next stop on the itinerary: Hverfjall Crater. This is a kilometre wide volcano crater which is a steep 15 minute walk up, and the views from the top are magnificent.

From Hverfjall, you’ll want to head to Dimmuborgir. This is home to an incredible lava field full of interesting rock formations. There are a variety of walks you can take around the area, of varying length, and the paths are easy to follow and well marked. Or you can just get a good look from the viewpoint next to the parking lot. This was also a Game of Thrones filming location.

There’s a cafe and gift shop here, as well as toilets for customers of the cafe.

After Dimmuborgir, we can recommend a stop at Hofdi, a small nature reserve where you can walk near the lake and see rock formations jutting out of the water. Finally, head to Skútustaðagígar, where you’ll find a series of “pseudo-craters”.

These aren’t craters from eruptions, but rather that formed when gas in flowing lava exploded. There are a series of them here, and they are of different sizes. This is also one of the most popular spots for bird watching in the area.

You’ve now seen the major highlights of this area, so it’s time to head on. It’s worth mentioning Aldeyjarfoss, a waterfall around an hour detour to the south of Lake Myvatn, but as this is a fairly lengthy detour (2 hours!) we’d only recommend it if you’re a really keen waterfall hunter. Otherwise, head west on to the one to our next stop: Goðafoss.

Goðafoss is a spectacular horseshoe shaped rainbow which has good viewing options from both sides, and it’s only a couple of minutes drive between the two sides, so it’s not hard to get from one viewpoint to the other. It’s also right off the Ring Road, so you can’t miss it. Short walk from parking areas.

After Goðafoss, your journey will bring you to Akureyri, the largest town in northern Iceland, and where we suggest you spend your sixth night in Iceland. There’s plenty to see and do here, which we’ll cover on the next day.

Day 6 Highlights : Lake Myvatn, Hverfjall Crater, Dimmuborgir, Skútustaðagígar, Goðafoss

Start Point : Lake Myvatn End Point : Akureyri Distance driven : 110km / 70 miles

For your sixth night on Iceland’s ring road we recommend staying in Akureyri. Some options include:

• Hotel Kea – this very central 4* hotel was where we stayed in Akureyri. Rooms were comfortable and we enjoyed the on-site restaurant
• Hotel Akureyri – this central hotel offers en-suite rooms and an on-site restaurant, as well as free parking and WiFi
• Centrum Hotel – this is a well reviewed and centrally located guesthouse with private bathrooms, free parking and a restaurant
• Hafnarstræti Hostel – this very well reviewed hostel offers single and double capsule beds as well as a shared kitchen
• Akureyri Backpackers – a popular and central backpackers offering shared and private accommodation as well as free parking, a bar, cafe and communal kitchen.

See more options for Akureyri here .

Day 7: North and West Iceland

We’re now going to explore the town of Akureyri, and then head across to west Iceland and almost back to Reyjkavik. Time limitations on this trip mean we can’t do things like visit the Trollskagi peninsula or Snæfellsnes peninsula, but if you have a bit more time to spare, these would be worthy additions to your trip for sure!

Akureyri has a lot to offer, particularly if you’re interested in visiting some cultural attractions. The town is home to a large number of museums, including the Motorcycle Museum of Iceland , the Industry Museum , the Akureyri Art Museum , Nonnahús  and Safnasafnið , the Icelandic Folk and Outsider museum.

We took the time to visit a few of these for some indoor time, which is a great option when the weather is not so good outside.

Akureyri is also a good place for  horse riding tours  or a food tour , if these activities are of interest.

From Akureyri, it’s a bit of a drive back to Borganes, although along the way there are a number of worthy stops.

One suggestion, depending on time, is to take a detour to drive the Vatnsnes peninsula (or a section of it). This will take an extra 2 – 3 hours depending on stops, but will give you the opportunity to see the impressive Hvitserkur rock formations. There are also a number of other interesting rock formations and some beaches.

This area is also a great place for a chance to see seals in the wild. If you are interested in seals, stop off in Hvammstangi, where you can visit the Icelandic Seal Center, and learn all about these lovely creatures. Depending on the weather conditions and time of year, you can also take a boat tour to see seals and other wildlife.

If you choose not to do the Vatnsnes Peninsula, then Kolugljúfur Canyon is a beautiful canyon and series of waterfalls just a short drive off the Ring Road. You can also do this if you drive the peninsula, it will just require you to double back on yourself a little.

Finally, finish your day be heading on down to Borgarnes. In Borgarnes you might consider a visit to the excellent saga museum. Or, if you prefer, you can drive all the way to Reykjavik for your final night in Iceland!

Day 7 Highlights : Akureyri, Hvitserkur, Vatnsnes peninsula, Icelandic Seal Center, Kolugljúfur Canyon, Borgarnes

Start Point : Akureyri End Point : Borgarnes Distance driven : 370 km / 230 miles.

For your final night we’d suggest staying in either Borgarnes or Reykjavik.

We’ve stayed at a number of hotels near the Reykjavik city centre which we are happy to recommend, and we’ve included some other popular options as well.

• Grand Hotel,  around 1.2 miles from the city center, offering four star accommodation, free wifi, spa & fitness center and free parking. We’ve stayed here.
• Reyjkavik Natura Icelandair Hotel , near the city airport, this hotel offers free parking, a free city bus pass to all guests, on-site restaurant and spa facilities. We’ve stayed here.
• Guesthouse Galtafell  – A good value option around ten minutes walk from the city center and quick walk from the BSI bus station. Offers both guest rooms in the main house as well as apartments that come with a small kitchenette. We’ve stayed here.
• Galaxy Pod Hostel – this well located hostel offers dormitory accommodation with a twist – each bed is in a self-contained pod, offering more privacy than a normal hostel. Pods vary in standard, but most come with TV’s, power and WiFi.

If you’d prefer to stay near the airport, we’ve also stayed at the  Northern Light Inn . This is conveniently located right next to the Blue Lagoon and is about a 17 minute drive from airport. Travellers on more of a budget will like The Base by Keflavik airport , which offers both hotel and hostel style accommodation, as well as an airport shuttle.

We’ve also stayed in the Icelandair Hotel Hamar near Borgarnes. See more lodging options for  Borgarnes here , and  Reykjavik here .

• Day 8: Reykjavik

For your final day, we’d suggest heading back to Reykjavik and doing a little bit of sight-seeing in the town. This would also be a good day to visit the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon if you didn’t come here on your first day.

There’s a lot to see and do in Reykjavik – from visiting attractions like the Hallgrímskirkja church and the city’s many museums, through to taking whale watching or puffin watching tours .

Finally, it’ll be time to head back to the airport, return your hire car, and head home! You have successfully driven the whole Iceland Ring Road!

Iceland Ring Road Itinerary Map

To help you visualise the road trip route we’ve put it together as a map. This includes the suggested route, attractions and recommended lodging options. You can see this on Google Maps here .

Iceland Ring Road Itinerary Overview

Here’s a summary overview of each day of this Iceland ring road itinerary.

• Day 1 : Blue Lagoon, Thingvellir National Park
• Day 2: Geysir, Gullfoss, Lava Center, Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi, Skogafoss, Sólheimasandur plane wreck, Reynisfjara black sand beach
• Day 3: Fjaðrárgljúfur, Lava Fields, Vatnajökull National Park, Svartifoss, Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, Langoustines
• Day 4: Vestrahorn, Djúpivogur, Sveinsstekksfoss, Folaldafoss, Petra’s Stone Collection, Egilsstaðir, Seydisfjördur
• Day 5: Rjukandi waterfall, Dettifoss, Diamond Circle, Hverir, Lake Myvatn Nature Baths
• Day 6: Lake Myvatn, Hverfjall Crater, Dimmuborgir, Skútustaðagígar, Goðafoss
• Day 7: Akureyri, Hvitserkur, Vatnsnes peninsula, Icelandic Seal Center, Kolugljúfur Canyon, Borgarnes

Planning A Self-Drive Ring Road Trip

We have written a whole guide to planning a trip to Iceland , so we would definitely recommend you take a look at that.

For this trip, if you want to drive yourself as we suggest, you have two major options.

First, you could take a self-drive tour. This is what we have done on all our Iceland adventures. The tour company handle everything for you, from booking the hire car and accommodation, to putting together a suggested itinerary.

This is definitely the easiest way to do a self-drive trip, and saves you the hassle of planning all your hotel stops, finding the hire car and so on.

You can see self-drive trips on Tour Radar here and on Guide to Iceland here , both of which offer a variety of tours from different companies in Iceland.

The other option is of course to book everything yourself. First, you’ll want a hire car, and you can check prices here on Discover Cars or here on Northbound .

Discover Cars compare a number of providers in the country so you can find the best price for you.

Northbound is based in Iceland, and they also search a range of providers with the added advantage that you can add the various insurances that are unique to the country should you so choose. This can help avoid the hard sell that you will otherwise likely get for these insurances at the checkout counter when you pick up your car.

It’s also worth mentioning that Northbound can also help you customise a tour to meet your exact needs, a process you can start here . Feel free to send them this blog post and ask them to help you plan a similar trip!

Once you have your car arranged, you’ll want to book your hotels. We’ve got some tips for booking tools further on the in post, and we have also included suggested hotel stops for each night as part of the route plan.

Finally, if self-driving seems too much, you can also of course do the ring road as part of a guided tour like this .

Where Can You See the Northern Lights in Iceland

You can see the northern lights from pretty much anywhere in Iceland. If you’re driving yourself, you just need to find a spot away from city lights with a good view of the sky, and hope for clear conditions and high solar activity. The  Icelandic Met Office website has an excellent tool to help you find the northern lights in Iceland.

The northern lights are viewable from September through to March – basically, you need dark clear skies to see them. In summer, the days are too long for it to be dark enough to see them.

If you’re in Reykjavik, there are lots of tour operators who offer  northern lights tours . This is a good way to see the northern lights, as the drivers will know the best places to go, and the tours will usually only go if there is a high chance of seeing the lights.

If you are planning on seeing the lights, see our guide to  how to photograph the northern lights  so you are fully prepared to get some great images.

Where to Stay in Iceland?

Iceland has a wide range of accommodation options, to suit a variety of budgets, from backpacker hostels through to more luxury properties.

It’s worth noting that Iceland is far from a budget destination (read our Iceland budget tips for money saving advice), but we found that especially for the mid-range properties, value for money was good.

For our self-drive road trips, our hotels were arranged for us. You can see a selection of self-drive tours like this here.

For the majority of the rest of our accommodation in Iceland, we use Booking.com . We find that they are usually the best option when we travel, as they have everything from hotels to apartments and hostels, with a massive choice, and the user review system makes it easier to find good properties.

We have also used apartment rentals platforms like Vrbo in Iceland. We prefer to use these for longer stays though, we think that for short one-night stops, especially on a road trip where arrival times can vary, the requirement to sometimes arrange arrival times with a host can be a problematic. Still, it can be an option.

Power in Iceland

Iceland uses a 220v system with the same two pin plugs as most of Europe. If you are travelling from the UK or US, you will need some form of travel adapter like this – see our Iceland packing list for suggestions.

See more on travel adapters and how to choose one for your trip in our guide to the best travel adapters . We highly recommend you pick anything up before you come as Iceland is not cheap.

Internet Access in Iceland

WiFi is generally easy to find in Iceland, and all the hotels and guesthouses we stayed in had good, free WiFi access. In addition, on our road trip with Iceland Travel, we were provided with a pre-paid SIM card which came with data, meaning we could get online easily.

If you want to get online with your phone, a SIM card from a local provider will likely be the cheapest option, and these can be picked up at Keflavik airport when you arrive.

If you don’t have an unlocked phone, take a look at my guide to getting online when you travel for more options.

For more practicalities for your trip to Iceland, including currency and safety, see our guide to planning a trip to Iceland .

Further Reading for Visiting Iceland

And that finished our detailed 7 day Iceland Ring Road itinerary! Hopefully it has everything you need to start planning your own epic road trip in Iceland.

As mentioned at the start of the post, we’ve travelled a fair bit in Iceland, and have written a number of guides to help you put together your trip and plan effectively. We think you’ll find them useful.

• We have a detailed guide to help you  planning a trip to Iceland,  which has everything you could need to help you plan an awesome adventure in Iceland, from budget tips to practical information and more. A must read and a good place to start your trip planning!
• We have a guide to driving in Iceland to help you prepare for the road trip. If you choose to do this self-drive trip in Iceland in winter, we also have a detailed guide to driving in Iceland in winter to help prepare yourself
• We’ve created a list of some of our  favourite photography locations in Iceland  from our travels there to give you some ideas of where to aim to get the best photos
• If you are interested in seeing Puffins in Iceland, check out our detailed guide to Puffins in Iceland , which has everything you need to know!
• Our guide to finding the Iceland Plane crash , which is a fun photography location (if a bit of a walk to get to!)
• If the Ring Road seems like too much to tackle in seven day, or you’d prefer not to drive it in winter, Jess has put together a detailed post outlining a  7 day winter Iceland itinerary  to give you some route ideas.
• We have a detailed guide to visiting the Blue Lagoon to help you plan that experience
• We also have a detailed guide to the Golden Circle for planning that day trip
• If you’re visiting Iceland in Winter, check out our guide to the  best winter activities in Iceland  and my  tips for cold weather photography
• On a budget? Here’s a guide to visiting Iceland on a budget to help you make the most of your trip
• We have a detailed packing guide to help you decide  what to pack for Iceland
• We’ve also got a guide to the  best day trips from Reykjavik  should you wish to base yourself in the capital rather than self-drive around
• For car rental in Iceland,  this website  lets you choose between a range of car rental providers in Iceland
• The weather in Iceland can be fickle – the best website for real-time cloud cover is  this one from the Icelandic Met Office .
• Whilst Iceland is a safe country to travel in when it comes to things like crime, the country itself is home to extreme conditions and all sorts of seismic activity. So to stay safe as you go, check out the  safetravel Iceland page
• Finally, if you’re not sure what camera gear to take with, take a look at both our guide to  picking a travel camera , picking a travel lens , and our personal  travel photography gear

And that’s it! If you’ve got any questions or feedback on the above, just let us know in the comments below, and have an awesome trip in Iceland!

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Anna R says

13th February 2023 at 10:40 pm

Hi. Just a note to say thanks for your amazing blog about driving the Iceland ring road. It was super helpful for informing the planning for our upcoming trip there in September.

Laurence Norah says

15th February 2023 at 8:13 am

It’s my pleasure Anna, have a great trip and let me know if you have any questions!

10th June 2022 at 6:16 am

Hi Laurence,

Thank you for your detailed guide. I will be travelling to Iceland in July and will be following your itinerary as the days line up perfectly. I just had a question with regards to your itinerary and car rentals – are there any stops in your itinerary that would require an SUV with 4 wheel drive capabilities (F-roads) or would a regular city car be sufficient? Thanks again for all the detailed information you’ve provided.

10th June 2022 at 11:38 am

On the map that I’ve shared there shouldn’t be any F-roads and you shouldn’t need a 4WD car for this trip, especially not in summer. For Dettifoss, I’d recommend taking road 862 rather than 864.

F roads are very clearly marked, normally with very large signs, so you shouldn’t find yourself on one by accident 🙂

Have a great time in Iceland! Feel free to stop back and let us know how you found the trip!

Keehyuk says

1st June 2022 at 11:52 pm

Thank you so much for your really detailed guide as well as the other Iceland related content! We just got back from a week in Iceland and worked off a compacted version of your guide here. The result was easily one of the most incredible trips we have ever had! We’ve already talked about going back so we can drive up to the West Fjords and hit some of the spots we missed due to time crunch/weather.

Just something to update your guide, the langostine restaurant you recommended in Höfn (Humarhöfnin Veitingahús) is permanently closed. There is another restaurant in its place now. We were looking forward to trying it but ended up at the Z Bistro down the street instead (fantastic food with generous portions and as fairly decently priced as well).

2nd June 2022 at 2:50 pm

Hey Keehyuk,

Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and leave your thoughts on the article and your experience in Iceland! I am so pleased to hear that you had a great time! I also hope you guys are able to get back, the West Fjords are absolutely stunning, and very different to the rest of the country.

I must also thank you for your update on the langoustine restaurant in Hofn. To be honest we very rarely recommend restaurants because they seem to come and go more quickly than most other attractions. This was so good that we had to recommend it, and we are sorry to hear it has gone 🙁 I have removed it from this guide, and thanks for the alternative option 🙂

Safe travels!

11th May 2022 at 9:41 pm

Hi there! Some friends of mine and I are planning a trip but we were wondering what you would estimate your budget to be to do the full itinerary for a guided tour versus self drive?? We’re planning on going end of may-June.

12th May 2022 at 8:55 am

Great question. So a tour of around this length, such as this one , is going to cost in the region of $1600 – $2000 per person. Then you will have to figure out what the tour does or doesn’t include, such as meals and attraction entry. Most tours include breakfast but often lunch and dinner at your own expense, so that’s another $20 – $50 per person per day depending on your eating style. Food can be quite expensive in Iceland, especially in restaurants.

When travelling on your own, your main costs will be the car rental, accommodation, fuel and meals. With a group of you, you can obviously split the car rental and fuel, although this would depend on how many you are travelling with. For car rental, this site should give you an idea of the cost at your time of year.

For hotels, I will assume you are sharing, so a room for two will generally run you in the region of $100 – $200 a night for two people. Meal costs will be similar as to being on a guided tour as most hotels include breakfast.

There are quite a few variables to take into account, so I can’t give you an exact answer as it will depend on your group size and the level of comfort you are looking for. I would say that doing it yourself will normally work out a little bit cheaper, especially with a group of around four as you can split costs quite easily. It also gives you more flexibiity. However you obviously won’t have the benefit of a guide, and you will have to do all the planning yourself. So cost is not the only thing to consider.

I hope this helps a bit, let me know if I can offer any further input, and have a great trip!

8th May 2022 at 9:05 am

Dear Laurence, First of all, thanks for all the amazing range of info and all the practical tips you have on your site. It’s really my favorite travel site! We’re going to Iceland this summer and wondering about spending a day in the Westjords. Have you visited the area? Would you recommend going there if we have an extra day or two? What should we see there? Any recommendations where to stay overnight?

9th May 2022 at 6:24 pm

Thanks very much! So yes, we have visited the Westfjords and it is a beautiful part of Iceland. It’s the oldest part of the country geologically speaking, and is definitely very different to the other parts of the country. I don’t include it on this itinerary as you definitely need at least two days to visit. The distances might not look long on the map, but the roads here are very winding as they follow the coastline, so it can take a long time to get anywhere! There’s a lot to see and do here – the cliffs at Látrabjarg are popular, and Djnjandi waterfall is spectacular. We stayed in Isafjordur which was nice, we also did some sea kayaking here and took a boat trip to Vigur island to see puffins which was lovely.

Let me know if I can offer any more information! I can definitely recommend taking the time to visit this area 🙂

Christos & Inge says

6th April 2022 at 8:10 pm

Hello Laurence, thank you for taking the time to answer my question. We indeed plan to spend our last night at Reykjavik. We fly out on Monday, the 18th, at 18.30, so we will have several hours to spend in this nice city. However, back to our arrival day on Sunday the 10th,..We should be done with immigration and rental car, by 16.30, I hope. So, I did look into going to Thingvellir straight from the Airport. I estimate that we would get there at around 18.00…Perhaps, late to actually see things at our leisure after a long day of travelling. Then, I check for possible accommodation close by there, and there are few options only, and most of them pricy even…So, perhaps it will be wiser to book something in Reykjavik anyway, get a taste of the city in the evening, and get a fresh start the next Morning. Come to think of it…My wife actually would not mind seeing the Blue Lagoon again after almost 20 years!! Plus, my 12 year old daughter and myself had not been there at all. Its Iceland…We will try to go to all the hot pools and springs we can find! So, we could indeed follow your advice from your itinerary, and drive straight to the Blue Lagoon from the airport, enjoy it and then head towards Reykjavik…Its all good! Its a holiday after all, Best regards and thanks again, Christos

6th April 2022 at 8:15 pm

Hi Christos

It’s my pleasure! I think your plan sounds good. I think you might feel stressed about having to go to the Golden Circle on your first day. This way you can all relax in the lagoon and then go to the city afterwards for the evening, then be ready for your adventures the next morning 😀 And yes, there is a lot more choice of places to stay (and eat!) in the city.

Have an amazing time!

8th April 2022 at 1:16 pm

Hello again! My plan is coming along, but I would appreciate your recommendation for something. We plan to do the Golden Cirle but, instead of heading back to Reykavik, to join the Ring road after the Kerid Crater. I expect to be there after 16.00 for sure… So, what is your recommendation for our next overnight? What area or town? And if you have any options for accommodation, it’s more than welcome!

Thank you, Christos

8th April 2022 at 2:01 pm

Hey Christos,

This is a great question, and it’s given me the incentive to add all the lodging we recommend to the route map to make it easier to see where it is. You can see the map here with all the hotels added in.

I would say that if you are ok to drive a bit further then heading towards Hella or Hvolsvollur would make the most sense. You have the Famer’s Guesthouse the Stracta Hotel or the Hotel Kanslarinn in Hella, and then Midgard Base Camp in Hvolsvollur. There are other options too of course!

6th April 2022 at 4:09 pm

Hi Laurence! We will fly for Iceland on Sunday the 10th and since we will land at 15.30, i want your opinion on how to begin our trip. I have already booked our car for the Ring road drive we plan to do. We have just 8 nights, and i hope to make the best of it. We want to skip the Blue Lagoon on the 1st day, because my wife has already seen it , plus we plan to visit the less busy option at Lake Myvatn, that you guys also reccomend. Based on the fact that we could be ready to begin at around 16.30, what is your best option for this 1st day? Go towards the Golden Circle, and see a bit of it and spend the night somewhere there or head towards Reykjavik instead and have a fresh start the next morning??

6th April 2022 at 4:25 pm

Great to hear from you! So the answer depends a little on when you leave as well. If you are planning on visiting Reykjavik at the end of your trip, then I would go straight onto the Golden Circle. However, if you think you’ll be missing it at the end, then I would say you should definitely include it. It’s worth at least wandering around for a couple of hours, and there are a wide range of accommodation options to choose from. However, if you plan to do that already at the end of the trip, I’d probably get going towards the Golden Circle.

The first main attraction would be Thingvellir. As you land relatively late (by the time you have gone through security and picked up your car), the visitor centre will likely be closed. However as far as I am aware you can still visit and see the main sights on the trails if you wanted too. Or you could just overnight nearby and visit in the morning when everything is open.

Honestly though, the distance from the city to Thingvellir is not too great, so I think either option would work. It might come down to where you can find to stay 🙂

Have a great trip and let me know if I can help any more!

Barbara says

24th January 2022 at 3:37 am

Hi Laurence, We are planning on spending 3 weeks in Iceland. We will be spending 3 days at the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and 3 days at the Golden Circle before beginning our tour of the Ring Road. We also hope to be returning to Rekjavik for 2-3 days before flying out. That leaves us with 9-10 days to spend on the Ring Road. We have your suggested 7 day itinerary, but could use some suggestions to spend extra days. We are active and enjoy hiking, but nothing terribly extreme. We will be staying in hotel, etc. on the road. Our kids will be doing the Ring Road as well, but plan to camp most of the time. We will not necessarily be traveling together. Do you have additional suggestions to extend this trip beyond your 7 day itinerary?

Thanks, Barb Fast

25th January 2022 at 11:41 am

Hi Barbara!

So the good news is that it is very easy to extend this itinerary for as long as you like 🙂 We actually spent four weeks driving the Ring Road when researching this piece, and still could have done more. I would personally recommend adding a bit of extra time in either the east or north, where there is plenty to see and do. Alternatively, a good option would be to spend a couple of days visiting the Westfjords. This is the oldest part of Iceland geologically speaking, and is very different to the rest of the country. There are lots of hiking and other outdoors activities here like sea kayaking. So that would probably be my suggestion.

I hope this helps – have a great time in Iceland!

29th April 2021 at 6:24 pm

You are a star. xxx

24th April 2021 at 10:24 am

Hello to you both from an unusually sunny Noth Wales.

My wife and I have just subscribed to your monthly newsletter, the first time i have subscribed to anything like this, and is testment to the quality of your website, its’s absolutely brilliant.

I have booked 2 weeks in Iceland off the back of your website starting 13th August. We are both fit and are there to celebrate my Wife’s 50th Birthday.

Due to Covid we will pobably have to isolate in a hotel for the fist night (waiting for test results) but then we can get started. I have booked the following 3 nights in Laugarvatn (we lose the day of arrival as a exploring day due to having to Covid isolate) to do everything on the Golden Circle 2 Night near Vik 3 nights 25km beyond Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon 3 nights near Mývatn lake 2 night on Snæfellsnes peninsula 1 night near the Airport (due to a stupid O’ Clock flight the following morning)

We love hiking (absolute max of 20km) and want to see as much unusual geology / unusual landscapes / rare nature etc. as possible. We want a minimum 2 nights in a hotel as we don’t want to have to pack, unpack every night. So we have two questions… How would you guys do things differently to our itinerary? What paid tours would you do (ice cave, lava tunnels, snow-mobile, boat trips etc.) as we can probably only afford 2 or 3 max

Thank you for all of the Iceland Information, i have read EVERYTHING and you have made plannig the trip very easy.

24th April 2021 at 3:45 pm

Lovely to hear from you! I was actually born in North Wales and am quite familiar with the area (and the vagaries of the weather!).

So I don’t know how flexible your bookings are. I also assume you are driving. Your itinerary looks good to me, but if I was going to make any changes I might suggest:

– Adding in a night or two on the east coast, between Jökulsárlón and Myvatn. East Iceland is very beautiful and it would be a shame to miss out on that. To stick to your minimum of 2 nights in a hotel, I’d suggest dropping 1 night in Laugarvatn and 1 night in Jökulsárlón perhaps. Seydisfjordur or somewhere in that area might be a good option to stop.

In terms of tours, I would recommend those that you can’t do safely by yourself. An ice cave for example is a great idea, but you can only visit those in winter. You might want to do a whale watching trip for example, or you might prefer snowmobiling, both of which are viable in August. A boat trip on the glacier lagoon is also a good option, although if you prefer something quieter there are also kayaking trips in this area which you might prefer. I’d also personally recommend a thermal spa experience – my favourite is the one in Myvatn which has gorgeous views. I preferred that to the blue lagoon for sure. Of course, there are also more natural pools if you prefer, many of which can be visited for free.

I think otherwise your itinerary looks very good and I am sure you will have a great time! Let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to help 🙂

25th April 2021 at 7:14 pm

Hello Laurence, Thank you for getting back to us with your advice. We have tweaked our plans accordingly and we are now having a night near Seydisfjordur as you suggested. We will certainly be booking the kayaking in Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon so again thanks for the advice. If we could trouble you for one further bit of advice – in the month you spent traveling Iceland which were your favourite walks / hikes (of less than 20km?)

26th April 2021 at 10:56 am

It’s my pleasure! So my favourite hike (so good I did it twice, once in winter and once in summer), was the hike up to the Glymur waterfall. It’s the second highest waterfall in Iceland and makes for a nice few hours of hiking 🙂 Of course, there are many more hikes in Iceland, but most of the ones we did were more like an hour or so rather than anything longer, so you might need to consult a hiking guide for longer walks.

I hope this helps a bit at least 🙂

Jim F. says

29th March 2021 at 5:48 pm

I enjoyed reading about your travels on the Icelandic ring road. I was stationed at the NATO base in Keflavik which is now and was then an airport available to civilian flights as well. During our tour in Iceland we enjoyed driving the ring road three times, although it was not an entirely paved road then. There are so many wonderful things to see in Iceland and places to go that are off the beaten track if you have the time and of course the money. Our children got to see a volcano fissure erupt at 3 AM, up close and personal while there. They walked close enough to feel the heat of the lava while standing in snow up to their knees, I have pictures of them with the look of amazement on their faces. We as a family united like never before and still talk about our trips when we look back over the pictures and movies. One item not mentioned in your description is the Icelandic horses. They will come right up to the fences if you offer a treat. If I remember correctly the Icelandic horses are the only horses in the world that have a 5 step gait. They were also a favorite of our children. One thing I would caution on is driving on the wooden bridges on the ring road ( I assume they are still wooden). They have poor traction and are often wet, you need to drive slowly and be prepared. In addition, I would never ever recommend driving the road in winter. I had to go to Hofn quite often in my duties for what was supposed to be a “two or three day trip” and ended up spending a week or more there because the road was closed due to snow and ice. Would I do it again, in a heart beat.

29th March 2021 at 7:22 pm

Hi Jim – thanks for stopping by and sharing your memories of your time in Iceland. It sounds like you had some really fantastic experiences!

I loved the Icelandic horses too! Somehow I didn’t mention them in this guide but I did include them in some of our other posts on Iceland 🙂

That’s a good tip on the bridges, although I don’t recall that many of them were wooden when we drove it. I also definitely agree about not driving the ring road in winter. Not only is the weather likely to be bad and the road subject to closure, but the long hours of darkness mean you can miss a lot too!

Thanks again for taking the time to leave a comment, it’s appreciated!

Karen Buchsbaum says

25th February 2020 at 4:13 am

Love your blog and have found it very helpful for our planning! We only have 7 nights and I had wanted to do the Ring Drive – but worry it might not give us enough time to enjoy the sights. We are older than your average readers, not too concerned about budget, and definitely not into rigorous active adventures (walks, boat rides, and scenery are of most interest). I was actually considering driving from Reykjavik by the Snafellsnes Penninsula to Akureyri so we can whale watch in Husavik. Then, if possible to drop the car, and fly back to Reykjavik. But, this would mean we would miss the Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach as well as the dramatic coast on the east, which I also wanted to see. If we dropped the car, I’ve considered taking a (long) day tour from Reykjavik to the Glacier Lagoon to give my husband a break from driving. Or, alternatively, skipping the Snafellsnes Penninsula and just going for the whole Ring Drive. Do you have any thoughts or input that could help us make the final decision?!

25th February 2020 at 12:44 pm

Thanks very much. So yes, I would agree that with 7 nights it’s either the full ring road OR the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.

In terms of input, it will depend a little bit on the time of year you go. If you are visiting between March and September, the days will be much longer and you’ll be able to fit a lot more in. Outside of these months, the days will be much shorter, and the risk of poor weather closing the roads is also higher.

The reason the south coast is so popular is because it’s so accessible. Certainly, the waterfalls / glacier lagoon is impressive, but it’s not “better” than the scenery elsewhere in Iceland in my opinion. It’s just much more visited because it’s closer to Reykjavik, and there are lots of sights relatively close to each other. I’d also add that if you visit in the warmer months, the diamond beach will have very few diamonds on it.

The north, east and west of Iceland gets fewer visitors (basically anywhere that isn’t the south cost to the glacier lagoon), and I think makes for a great adventure. I think your plan of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and north part of Iceland won’t disappoint. The Diamond Circle and attractions around Lake Myvatn are spectacular!

Have a great trip, whatever you choose to do!

25th February 2020 at 8:37 pm

Thanks Laurence! Your thoughts are very appreciated. I neglected to say we are going in early June! I have my plane tickets and now need to get going with booking the rest. It’s a compromise with my husband to just go for a week, since we have some other plans prior. I also blog (non-monetized, independent, just for fun), so I have total appreciation for your excellent detail and photos! Regards, Karen

Chitra says

14th February 2020 at 6:24 pm

Hi We are planning to visit in the last week of June with a 21 month old. Is the 8 day self drive trip feasible with a toddler?

15th February 2020 at 11:32 am

Hey Chitra,

So I have to be honest, we don’t have children so it is hard for us to answer this question definitively. My understanding from talking to other travellers with children is that it very much depends on the individual child as to what they like, and their tolerance for longer journeys. This is certainly a full itinerary with a lot to see and do, and I believe that travelling with a young child can definitely add overhead to a trip, so it may be that you have to skip a few things. You might also prefer to try and focus on a smaller area of Iceland. But really it’s up to you 🙂

Sorry I can’t be of more specific help! Have a great trip though 😀

charissa says

10th February 2020 at 6:44 pm

Your blog is amazing! My girlfriend and I are planning an Iceland trip in June 2020 and want to drive the ring road in 8 days, so we are going to use your ring road itinerary mostly. We are planning to camp during our trip. Do we need to make reservations at camp sites in advance or is there always an extra spot were we can pop our tent up?

11th February 2020 at 1:09 pm

Hi Charissa!

Thanks very much! So June is a popular time, but in our experience you should generally be able to get a spot. However, if you know your dates and where you are going, then reserving will give you peace of mind 🙂

There’s also a camping card in Iceland which might save you money and works at many campsites – we have a guide to that in our post on travelling in Iceland on a budget .

Let me know if you have any more questions, and have a great trip to Iceland!

Sridutt says

11th November 2019 at 4:14 pm

Hi Laurence.. Fantastic guide and great detailing.. We are planning on doing the ring road trip in March.. how many days do u think we should reserve for this trip considering the weather in March? And what are our chances of catching the northern lights? Thank you..

12th November 2019 at 1:23 pm

Hi Sridutt!

So 7 days is the absolute minimum in my opinion for driving the ring road. However, 10 – 14 days would be more comfortable. In March you should still have a good chance of seeing the northern lights, you just have to be lucky with the weather!

Have an amazing trip, and do feel free to pop back with any more questions and to let us know how it went!

23rd September 2019 at 5:17 am

Thank you so much for this detailed post (and the others I have clicked on linked in your post!) I am planning a 7 day trip to Iceland next July and this was incredibly helpful to let me know where to go and where to stay!

23rd September 2019 at 9:55 am

Our pleasure Lisa! Thank you so much for your kind comment 🙂 Have an amazing time in Iceland and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions 😀

Seetul Ghattaora says

18th September 2019 at 12:42 pm

Hi! This is a really useful itinerary, thank you! We plan on going to Iceland in October and following the 5 or 7 day itinerary. Could you give an indication of price? How much did you spend on travel/accomodation/food/petrol in the week?

18th September 2019 at 12:44 pm

Thanks very much! It really depends on your travel style. Iceland is definitely not a budget destination though. We have a break down of various costs in our detailed Iceland budget guide, which you can see here: https://independenttravelcats.com/iceland-budget-tips-how-to-save-money-in-iceland/

Have a great trip!

6th August 2019 at 12:24 am

Such a wonderful site. I am totally planning my road trip in late September using this. I am in Iceland for 9 days/8 nights. I am thinking where should i spend my extra day. Any suggestion?

7th August 2019 at 2:50 pm

Thanks very much 🙂 My suggestion would definitely be to add the Snaefellsnes peninsula to your trip, that would be a great way to use that extra day 🙂

Have a great time and let me know if you have any more questions!

Hazel Marzan says

12th July 2019 at 1:27 pm

Hello Thank you for this wonderful itinerary. We’re thinking of traveling early September with our 6 yr old daughter. Will the 7 day itinerary be too much for a 6 yr old. Should we follow your 5 day itinerary and stretch it to 7 .Any suggestions so we can make this better for her. Thanks.

13th July 2019 at 4:23 pm

This would be quite a full trip for seven days so you might find that your 6 year old finds the pace of the five day itinerary easier if stretched over 5 days. Of course, everyone’s family is different, so I can’t say for certain, but it would definitely be an easier trip with less long hours of driving if you did the 5 day route 🙂

Have a great time in Iceland!

29th June 2019 at 8:37 pm

I am planning to visit Iceland in 1st week of August. Could you please suggest the best and scenic road trip route. I would be very grateful. I would also want to include the peninsula.

29th June 2019 at 8:39 pm

So the best itinerary for seven days, if you want to drive the whole ring road, would be this route. However, we also have a 7 day and a 5 day itinerary that you might find useful, which cover different parts of Iceland. It’s really up to you to customise these routes to your needs and interests, but they should form a great basis to start from. The 7 day and 5 day itineraries can be seen at the following links:

https://independenttravelcats.com/visiting-iceland-in-winter-7-day-iceland-itinerary-by-car/ https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/5-day-iceland-itinerary/

24th June 2019 at 2:50 pm

Good Morning, I am travelling to Iceland the last week of October. Would the Ring Road trip be feasible at this time? I am doing a guided tour of the south the first week of Nov, so I will be strictly driving through this part. If Ring road is not doable at this time of year, what would you suggest as a plan that do not include the south? Thank you

25th June 2019 at 1:43 am

So it is hard to say exactly as predicting the weather is definitely tricky in Iceland. I would say that it might be possible, it might not. The risk is that there are not any alternatives, so if a section of the ring road is closed, your only choice is to backtrack. An alternative to doing the whole ring road would be to fly to Akureyri and base yourself from there, exploring that area and the Lake Myvatn area. There’s a great deal to see in the area, and you wouldn’t be locked in to having to follow the singular route and get back to your start point. So that would be my suggested alternative option 🙂

Have a great trip whatever you choose to do!

Pankhri says

3rd June 2019 at 3:55 pm

Hi, I am a fan of this page, Such detailed itenary and details. I have a quick question. We will be in Iceland for exactly 8 days and we want to do the Ring road trip. We are planning to use this itenary except that we want to relax it a little bit in some places, so we are planning to start driving from Reyjavik to Lake Myvatn area and then drop the rental car at AEY airport. We will take a flight from AEY to RKV. We will miss Snæfellsnes peninsula and Borgarnes if we follow above. Do you think its is worth the trade-off.

3rd June 2019 at 6:33 pm

Hi Pankhir,

Thanks very much 🙂 My response would be that I am always a fan of going slower and trying to see more rather than rushing around, so I think you are making a good choice. I would say that yes, it’s worth the trade off. East and North Iceland area really fantastic, I don’t think you will regret this decision 🙂

Have an amazing trip!

Nirman says

2nd June 2019 at 11:16 am

Perfect blog. Planning to be there in December 2019. This blog made things very easy and doable. Thanks -Nirman

2nd June 2019 at 12:17 pm

Thanks Nirman – have a great trip 🙂

PARASAR KASHYAP says

23rd May 2019 at 7:50 am

Hi Lawrence,

Thanks for the detailed road trip plan. Its the most comprehensive itinerary available on the net.

I am visiting with my cousin towards September end and plan to self-drive this trip. Would this trip be possible then? What kind of precaution would you suggest – choice of cars, places to avoid? We were also hoping to catch the nothern lights but dont want to opt for any tours. Please advise.

Regards, Parashar

23rd May 2019 at 10:56 am

Hi Parasar,

My pleasure. This trip would be possible in September. Snow is possible then, but not common, and it will be around 5C – 10C (it might feel colder due to the wind though, so pack warm clothes!).

So you shouldn’t need to skip anything or worry about having an extreme car, a normal car should work fine.

For the northern lights, it’s just a question of finding somewhere dark enough and hoping for clear skies and northern lights activity. Most of Iceland is going to be dark enough, just drive away from any sources of light like towns or villages and you will be fine. You shouldn’t need to take a tour 🙂

Let me know if you have any more questions!

23rd May 2019 at 1:41 pm

Thanks for the quick reply Lawrence. Much appreciated

22nd May 2019 at 11:30 am

Wow…reading this felt I was already there…will do this 7 day round trip while tent camping…will go in two weeks, so I hope I can write a wonderful report when I’m back on the 15th…thanks for all the tips!

22nd May 2019 at 12:46 pm

Hey Jac, our pleasure! Have a wonderful time in Iceland and do let us know how your experience met to expectation!

Mary Anne Sander says

19th May 2019 at 10:53 pm

Thanks for your great guidance. We plan on following your 7/day itinerary. Do you offer a condensed version for easy printing?

20th May 2019 at 10:36 am

Hi Mary Anne,

Our pleasure! That isn’t something we offer right now, but hopefully it shouldn’t be too hard to take the relevant parts and turn them into a document 🙂

17th October 2019 at 6:43 pm

I hope you had a great trip to Iceland! I appreciate this might be a bit late for your trip, but for others reading and in case you use our site in the future for other trips, we’ve now added a print button on all our posts ?

Happy travels!

Gina Davis says

3rd April 2019 at 2:31 pm

Thank you for the great suggestions! We have almost this exact trip planned in July. I noticed that you did not have any cave (lava tube) tours suggested. I wondered if you did any and what you thought about them? I am specifically considering Lofthellir Ice Cave and wondering if it’s worth the time and expense to visit. Thanks!

3rd April 2019 at 6:54 pm

Hi Gina! We did do a Lava cave tour on our trip 🙂 We visited Raufarhólshellir, also known as the Lava Tunnel. You can see there website here: https://thelavatunnel.is/

We enjoyed it, it’s definitely different to a normal cave experience as it is quite close to the surface and formed differently. I haven’t visited Lofthellir though so we can’t comment on that one specifically!

Enjoy your trip!

Husain Pulav says

29th March 2019 at 1:31 am

Thank you for the detailed itinerary. In your itinerary you haven’t mentioned anything about watching the Northern Lights. We’re planning to do the ring road in Sept-Oct which is one of the best times to watch the Northern Lights. So is there a special place where we can see it or just drive away from city lights while on the ring road?

29th March 2019 at 10:25 am

Good point! You are right, September / October are great times to see the northern lights. You just need to find a dark place, which to be honest, is not very hard in Iceland! I actually just wrote a guide to photographing the northern lights, you can see that here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/photograph-northern-lights/

Have a lovely trip, and let me know if you have any more questions!

29th March 2019 at 4:35 pm

Thank you very much Laurence

Johnar Håland says

24th March 2019 at 1:09 pm

Just wanted to ask why you do not include Snaefellsnes Peninsula on this route as you list it as an option for the 5 day route. You think there are other spots that are “better” and worth prioritizing instead?

24th March 2019 at 1:57 pm

The Snaefellsnes Peninsula needs a whole day in my opinion to see, and I don’t think a week would be enough to drive the Ring Road and also to see the Peninsula, so that’s why I left it off. It’s also quite a detour off the ring road, and for the most part (except the Golden Circle), I tried to stick to the path of the actual ring road for the itinerary.

For the 5 day route I listed it as an option instead of visiting Reykjavik, rather than as an addition. The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is certainly beautiful and worth seeing, but so are many other parts of Iceland 🙂

24th March 2019 at 12:12 pm

Thanks for a great post! We are going to Iceland in July. We have 6,5 days (excluding flights). Would you recommend us to follow this route or your 5 day trip? We understand it might be a bit rushed, but we do not mind some long drives. Could it perhaps be a good idea to start on this route and see how far we get and just turn around and head back to Reykjavik if we do not have enough time for the whole plan?

Other question is about accommodation. We understand that July is a busy season. Will it be risky to book accomodation on the day as we drive or should we arrange everything in advance? The latter will give less flexibility obviously..

24th March 2019 at 12:33 pm

Our pleasure 🙂 So personally with 6.5 days I would not do the ring road. It is a lot of driving, and whilst you say you don’t mind that, I feel that you should spend a bit more time seeing some areas in depth and having time to get out and explore, rather than sitting in a car. Of course, you get a lot of daylight in July, so it is do-able, but personally I wouldn’t.

I would also say that as it’s a ring, and there isn’t really a shortcut across the middle, you will get to a point where turning around wouldn’t make much sense as it would be further to go back than go forward 😉

If it was me, I would follow my five day itinerary with the extra Snaefellsness Peninsula section added on. So I would start with the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, then the Golden Circle, then the South Coast. If you feel you have more time, you could head further along the south coast past the glacier lagoon to the stunning Vestrahorn mountain.

July is definitely busy. We travelling in June and it was a challenge getting all the hotels we wanted, even booking in advance. I would definitely advise against booking on the day. Whilst there are more hotels being built all the time, and capacity is increasing, I think this would lead to a stressful trip trying to find places to stay rather than enjoying yourself. Again, you might be ok, but it’s not something I would recommend 🙂

I hope this all helps! Have a wonderful trip, and do let us know how it goes – whatever you decide to do!

Victor H says

19th March 2019 at 9:39 pm

Very Interesting post… question, Starting which month after the summer it is possible to see the Northen lights and where?

20th March 2019 at 12:51 pm

So in theory you can see the northern lights in Iceland from late August to late April. However, we’d say September would be a better month, as you get more hours of darkness, and September / October are good months with a higher chance of northern lights activity.

Alberto says

6th March 2019 at 6:49 am

Hi! Thanks for this post. It is helping me a lot to plan my Iceland trip 🙂

I will be travelling in September and have only 6D 6N for the trip – do you recommend doing the ring road or are there better alternatives (I am guessing covering only the Southern part..)?

Thank you 🙂

6th March 2019 at 10:28 am

Hi Alberto,

I’d advise against driving the ring road in 6 days, it would be a bit rushed. My suggestion would be to do a trip from Snaefellsnes, round the Golden Circle, and along the south coast as far as Jokulsarlon Glacier lagoon. That will give you more time to see things and less time driving.

If you wanted to have a quieter time, you could also do a road trip starting in Akureyri and focusing on the northern highlights. However, as this is your first time in Iceland, I think the south coast makes more sense as that’s where many of the most iconic sights are.

I’d suggest looking at our 5 day Iceland itinerary: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/5-day-iceland-itinerary/

Which has the option to add on Snaefellsnes. We also have a 7 day itinerary focusing on this region here: https://independenttravelcats.com/visiting-iceland-in-winter-7-day-iceland-itinerary-by-car/

Have a great trip, and let me know if you have any more questions!

7th March 2019 at 6:07 am

Thanks 🙂 Would you recommend renting a camper or rather a compact and staying in hotels/inns? I have read very different opinions on this. We are a young couple so camper should not be much of an issue

8th March 2019 at 2:10 pm

Hi Alberto – so when it comes to cost, you might not find too much difference unless you get a very small camper, as campervans are generally more expensive than vehicles. It’s also illegal to camp in Iceland in a van unless you get specific permission for the landower (see more on this in our guide to travelling in iceland on a budget here: https://independenttravelcats.com/iceland-budget-tips-how-to-save-money-in-iceland/#Can-I-camp-for-free-in-Iceland )

So you will still have to pay for a campsite. So whilst this is obviously cheaper than a hotel, the overall price of your trip once you factor in camper rental might not be that different. So if cost is the reason, I would suggest there might not be much difference – I would choose to camp if that is the style of travel you prefer, rather than as a cost saving measure if that makes sense. Of course, camping gives your the opportunity to cook for yourself too, which can also save money, but you can achieve the same in hostels, airbnb’s and so on 🙂

I hope this clarifies!

Kirk Rydberg says

5th March 2019 at 7:59 pm

Thank you for such a comprehensive itinerary. It really helped me plan for my trip with my daughters coming up in June. I have three questions. First, We will rent a car but we are used to American car sizes. Most rental cars say they are good for one large and one travel bag. Is this accurate? We would have three and three. Should I look at bigger auto for rental? Second, are fuel stations available in most towns and villages on the Ring? Finally, in the eastern and northern regions should we get hotel reservations now or will there be some available during late June? I’m just afraid of being forced to stick to the itinerary if we find places we want to spend more time in. Thank you again for the great info.

5th March 2019 at 8:11 pm

My pleasure. Let me see if I can help with your questions.

First, I would say that yes, the rental car sites are likely to be quite accurate. Compact cars in Iceland (and Europe in general) tend to be quite small, certainly a lot smaller than your standard US car. If there are three adults and three bags, you will want at least a mid-size car I think.

Second, fuel stations are available all around the ring road, yes, we never had a problem finding fuel. I mean, sometimes you’ll want to top off when you see a gas station in more remote areas, just to be sure, but it shouldn’t be a problem. Note that some of them are unmanned and operate with a credit card, but the instructions are available in English on the terminals and easy to follow.

Third – June is a relatively busy time of the year, but the eastern and northern parts of Iceland get far fewer visitors than the busy south coast. So I would recommend booking on the south coast in advance, and you should have more flexibility along the east and north.

Of course, I should add a note that there are fewer hotels in those regions. So one option might be to use a platform like booking.com where you can take advantage of the free cancellation should your plans change.

Hope this helps – have a fantastic trip and don’t hesitate to follow up with any more questions!

5th March 2019 at 8:28 pm

Thank you for the quick reply. This helps me quite a bit. I figured it was pretty accurate on the car so I will get a bigger car.

Thanks again and I’m sure i’ll be asking more questions as we get closer.

Graham Hurst says

17th February 2019 at 8:58 pm

Hi guys. Just wanted to get in touch to say thank you for providing all this useful information regarding the ring road. We are heading to Iceland in April and hope to follow what you have described above.

We plan to rent a small 2WD vehicle to reduce costs. Would you envisage this being a problem in April? Not sure what to expect weather wise ????

18th February 2019 at 11:00 am

Our pleasure, we’re pleased you found it useful 🙂 So a 2WD should be fine for this itinerary, as it’s largely on good sealed roads. The weather in Iceland is very variable – it can be cold even in the summer months. Snow is unlikely in April, but certainly not impossible, although the main roads should be fine to drive on unless you are particularly unlucky! Otherwise, make sure you take plenty of warm layers and waterproof clothing, as rain and wind are a possibility all year round (those waterfalls need to get their water from somewhere!)

18th February 2019 at 12:38 pm

Thanks for the quick reply Laurence. Useful to know. The other thing I was hoping you could help with is which glacier you would recommend visiting (for a 3 hour walk) that is close to the ring road and would fit the itinerary you have listed. Thanks again.

19th February 2019 at 5:03 pm

My pleasure 🙂 I’d recommend a tour on Vatnajokull, where you can do both a glacier hike or an ice cave tour.

These are found just off the ring road on the south coast, and are easy to get to with parking 🙂

21st February 2019 at 8:28 pm

Thank you. Hopefully we can still do the ice caves in April.

sandra says

10th June 2019 at 2:28 pm

Oh, no, I just saw that the ice caves aren’t open when we plan to visit in October??? Are any of them open? I want to go and see. Thanks so much… Sandra

10th June 2019 at 3:24 pm

This ice cave tour runs year round with departure from Vik 🙂

Sandra says

14th June 2019 at 9:06 pm

Can the ice cave tours be done independently or do we have to pay for a tour? Thanks!

15th June 2019 at 10:56 am

I would definitely not advise trying to visit an ice cave by yourself, they can be quite dangerous and you would want an experienced guide who knows the area and conditions well 🙂

Brian Balanoff says

11th February 2019 at 3:53 pm

Hello! We are wondering if you could suggest how you would shorten this just a bit if you only had 7 days including the dates of arrival and departure (arriving in the AM and departing in the early evening). Would your 5 day itinerary be a better idea? Thank you! Brian

12th February 2019 at 5:39 pm

With the shorter time, I’d definitely suggest following our five day itinerary, and not trying to tackle the whole ring road as you’ll be quite rushed and not be able to enjoy yourself fully. You will be able to go at a more leisurely pace for the five day itinerary I suggest, including having time to see the beautiful Snaefellsnes Peninsula 🙂

Enjoy, and do let us know how it goes!

4th February 2019 at 5:17 pm

I echoed with other readers. Your itinerary is very reasonable and covers all major points that we want to visit. Due to our daughters’ different school and work schedule, we plan to visit the Ring Road from May 19 to May 31. Is the weather safe enough for us to drive through the whole ring road? We are from Michigan and are used to driving in snow but were wondering if this is a good time to visit the Ring Road. Thanks in advance for your time in answering our questions. It is very kind and nice of you. God Bless!

4th February 2019 at 5:21 pm

That is an excellent amount of time for the ring road, it will give you plenty of time to see everything on our itinerary plus a few more things if you wish.

May would be a good time for sure. It’s worth being aware that snow is still possible in May, but it’s not that likely. One thing to be aware of is that the highlands roads will still be closed at this time. They’re not featured in this itinerary, but essentially any F road generally won’t be accessible until June.

If you’re used to driving in snow, then I don’t think you’ll experience any difficulties in May. The days are also nice and long by May, so you’ll have lots of time for sight-seeing!

14th January 2019 at 1:46 am

I first started planning my trip to Iceland to include the ring route using the Insight Guide travel book. After awhile I did an internet search of the ring road and came across your wonderful sight. I soon noticed that the attractions I highlighted matched up with a lot of the sights you mention so I then figured I might as well use your route as a guide. I did come across the Iceland Travel self-drive tours, however since I will be travelling alone I found them to be quite expensive for a single traveler. I plan on travelling mid-late August, maybe early September. Do you think it makes sense to book everything myself to save money? I’ve planned self-drive trips to Scotland and Austria so I am used to it. Any suggestions you have will be appreciated. I plan to take 7-8 days for the ring road then another couple of days in Reykjavík.

Thank you in advance.

14th January 2019 at 11:07 am

Great to hear that we’ve been able to help you out with your trip planning 🙂 Certainly, travelling on your own can be a bit more expensive as you can’t split costs of things like rental cars etc with someone else. I would say that booking everything yourself is certainly a feasible option, and likely cheaper as you are not paying for the convenience.

We have provided hotel options for each day to help out with doing that if you follow our itinerary, and we recommend this website for car rental!

Let us know if you have any more questions 🙂

Eksteen Jacobsz says

17th October 2018 at 1:36 pm

Hi, Thank you for the comprehensive info on Iceland. Before finding your site I didn’t have a clue how to tackle this trip but you’ve helped me tremendously. Keep up the good work! Eksteen

17th October 2018 at 7:40 pm

Thanks very much Eksteen! Do let us know if you have any questions we can help with 🙂

17th October 2018 at 4:56 am

Thank you so much for sharing this itinerary & map! Just wondering what type of car you did this trip in? Does it require a 4WD?

Cheers, Emma

17th October 2018 at 7:42 pm

Hi Emma! Our pleasure 🙂

So I would say that generally no, you won’t need a four wheel drive for this trip, particularly if you drive in summer. If you are driving in winter, we’d usually advise against a trip of this duration as the weather can really slow you down. There are a couple of minor detours on the route where a 4WD is a legal requirement, but they are only brief and not essential, so you could definitely skip them.

We did do the trip in a four wheel drive, but we were travelling for almost four weeks in Iceland when researching this itinerary, and we did a lot of more four wheel drive only routes as part of that 🙂

Let us know if you have any more questions!

Brian Weekes says

22nd January 2019 at 12:58 am

I had the same question. As we are going in early July, it is really the F-roads that I’m concerned with. Two stops that I flagged as maybe needing a 4×4 (legally) were Nauthusagil Waterfall and Fladrargljufur Canyon. It’s hard to tell though from Google maps and other maps found online. Do you remember if the roads leading to these two places are F-roads? Any other stops in your itinerary above that take you on F-roads?

Thanks! Brian

22nd January 2019 at 12:09 pm

For Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, I believe that the road to the parking lot is not an F road, it’s just a gravel road that runs to the parking lot. There is an F road that runs from this, which goes to Laki, but as far as I recall and can see from the internet, you shouldn’t have a problem with that one.

Nauthusagil Waterfall on the other hand is definitely on an F road, so legally you would want a 4×4 for that waterfall.

I think that’s the only F road on the itinerary, so you should be fine otherwise with a 2WD 🙂

22nd January 2019 at 2:41 pm

Ok great. Thanks Laurence!

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Going Awesome Places

Detailed itineraries + travel guides

Ultimate 8 Day Iceland Itinerary – An Iceland Road Trip Guide

Last Updated April 18, 2024 William Tang

You are here: Home » Travel Itineraries » Ultimate 8 Day Iceland Itinerary – An Iceland Road Trip Guide

I’m just going to put this out there.  Iceland is ridiculously beautiful.  There’s been a rise in tourism there and a ton of hype.  Over these past 5 years, you couldn’t go on Facebook without seeing one of your friends sharing photos of Iceland.   I needed to see for myself and now that I’m back, I can confidently say that everything they say is true.  This Iceland road trip is one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had.  Overrated?  Hell no!

The inspiration for this 8 day Iceland itinerary guide came from the trip planning process.  There was a lot of information out there on individual attractions and  of the country.  So if you also just so happen have 8 days to work with in Iceland, this is for you.  Even if not, I think there’s a ton of insight here as I was pretty careful about writing down every small detail about the trip along the way where I went “this would be TOTALLY helpful for my readers”.

Deep dive into planning your Iceland trip

• Top 5 Hotels in Rekyjavik on a Budget
• 12 Best Things to do in Iceland
• The 6 Day Iceland Itinerary
• Reasons to go to Iceland
• 12 Icelandic Souvenirs You Need To Buy

How to get the best deals in travel

• Hottest deals  – Bookmark the  travel deals page .
• Car rentals  – stop getting ripped off and  learn about car rental coupon codes .
• Hotels  – Use  corporate codes  or get  Genius 2 tier  with Booking.
• Flights  – Have you ever heard of the  “Everywhere” feature ?
• Insurance  – Make sure you’re covered and learn more about  where to buy the best travel insurance .

Table of Contents

This Iceland guide is broken into three main parts – trip planning decision points, the comprehensive itinerary and my personal planning tips.

Getting Started is a small section devoted to some of the trip planning struggles that I encountered and my thought processes around it.   Itinerary covers the 8 day journey on the island in September.   Valuable Trip Planning Advice  started as a laundry list of notes I typed into my phone as the trip unfolded.  It contains the need to knows, things you probably didn’t think about, and everything else in between that’ll make your trip kickass.

• Getting Started

Day 1 – Black and Blue

Day 2 – exploring reykjavik + buubble, day 3 – golden circle, day 4 – snaefellsnes surprise, day 5 – foss and truly secret pool, day 6 – beauty of the south, day 7 – glacier climbing, day 8 – rewind.

• How The Itinerary Changed During The Trip
• How The Itinerary Kicked Ass

Driving in Iceland

Recommended gear, photography, getting your iceland itinerary started.

I’ve been putting a lot of thought into this and if I were to sum up into words what makes Iceland so incredible, it’s this –   Every corner of the land is so vastly varied and completely stunning because it’s a a visual wonderland of landscapes that covers all the elements.  Iceland is somewhere you thought only possible in fairy tales or science fiction movies but it’s totally real.

I was skeptical before the start of the trip.  I mean how could I not be.  Everyone and their Mom has been to Iceland.  Could it be really THAT good?  The worry I had was whether it was going to be over-hyped or  just a haven for tourists.

Having gone there and back, I can safely tell you that my trip there was everything I was hoping it would be and more.

Trust me, Iceland is a place you have to go.  It’s the best road trip you’ll ever go on.

The section below details out some of the basics that you’ve already been thinking about as you start planning your epic Iceland road trip. It covers the high level stuff but if you want to get into more details, I have a  Valuable Trip Planning Advice  section which has even more information.

If you’re a fan of this itinerary, make sure to check out other incredibly detailed ones like this.  Here are a few to get you started:

• Greek Islands 14 day itinerary
• 12 day Japan itinerary
• 14 day Tahiti itinerary
• 12 day Taiwan itinerary
• 10 day Patagonia itinerary

To Ring Road or Not?

Iceland is almost perfectly designed to allow drivers to fully explore the island.  At 1,332 kilometers, you can easily just start driving on Route 1 and if you don’t stop, you’ll arrive back at the same spot that you started 17 hours later.   The entire island is insanely beautiful all the way around so it’s a no brainer to do the full loop right?

Thing is, it was a much more complicated question than that and at the beginning of putting together this 8 day Iceland itinerary , this was probably the most hotly debated topic.  With 8 days to work with, it seemed completely do-able to drive the Ring Road but the more and more I dug into it, the more and more it didn’t make sense.  The bottom line is that it was possible but we’d be rushing from one place to the next.  We’d be crunched for time which would mean less time for random stops (oh we made many) and we’d have to make careful choices about what to see and what to skip.

Here’s why we didn’t do Ring Road:

• Excursions – Once you introduce any sort of excursion, this was almost out of the question.  The problem is that almost all activities originate from Reykjavik so if you plan on doing any of them (most are full day), you’ll have to plan to base yourself in the capital for a few days before hitting the road.  The only exception for us was our ice climbing experience in Skaftafell which we were able to meet with them on-site.
• Pick and choose – As I was building out a test itinerary for doing the Ring Road, it felt that I was continuously making compromises on where we could stop.  For instance, if a secret hot spring was too far from the main road and add too much time, you just had to cut it even if it was spectacular.  FOMO completely taking over in this case.
• Race to the next destination – What I didn’t like about doing the Ring Road in roughly a week was the fact that every day seemed to be a rush to get to the next hostel.  The prospect of seeing only a few things along the way and the rest focusing on getting to the next town would be too stressful.
• Weather – This wasn’t much an issue for September but it definitely crossed my mind.  There was some risk that if there was heavy snowfall that roads would be closed and that we’d be snowed in or have to bypass an area.

Ultimately for us, it made more sense to do a smaller portion of the island really well than to rush through it all just to check off the list.

That being said, it totally sucks we didn’t get to do the north or Westfjords.  I really wanted to go there but couldn’t swing it.  If we had 12+ days, I think we could’ve done it but it is what we had to work with.  More of a reason to go back right?

Do I regret not doing Ring Road?   Nope, not at all .

When To Go?

When planning your Iceland itinerary, it’s pretty critical to think about what time of the year you’re going to be going because it will make a big difference.  The three main factors to think about are: weather, northern lights and seasonality.  These will dramatically change the type of experience you’ll have in Iceland.

For all intents and purposes, you can think of Iceland as having two primary seasons – cold and not as cold/borderline warm with frequent weather changes sprinkled in.  For simplicity, let’s just call it summer and winter.

Seriously though, Iceland is not as chilly as its namesake sounds.

During the summer months, the weather is actually quite pleasant.  Hovering around 20C (70F), you’re totally in the t-shirt zone but of course, the fickle nature of the climate means that things can change on a dime and before you know it, you’re in the middle of torrential downpour.

Another thing that is unique to the summer months is that you’re looking at almost continuous daylight.  Midnight sun can totally trip your sleep schedule but what’s great about this is that you have all 24 hours to do and see stuff if you really wanted to.  Imagine that!  That being said, you will not be able to see the aurora borealis because it relies on darkness and clear skies.

Summer is of course high season .  This means that there will be a larger amount of tourists on the island which drives prices up and the bring large crowds to the popular sights.

All roads are open in the summer and ferry schedules are better so you can get to pretty much every part of the island.  In particular, Westfjords becomes very much accessible and places like Hornstrandir (Iceland’s northernmost peninsula, situated in the Westfjords) open up.

If you’re hoping to see puffins , you’ll find them from May to August each year.

It gets cold in the winter especially when that polar wind sweeps its way down.  That means you’ll want to make sure you bring ALL of your warm clothing and then some when you come in this season between October and April.

Winter is pretty much the polar opposite to summer.  Instead of midnight sun, you get extremely shortened days (4-6 hours).  This means less daylight to explore but you have extremely high probability to see the northern lights.

What you’ll need to deal with in the winter is the fact that there will be road closures due to snowfall.  Areas like Westfjords will be difficult to get to because the ferries basically don’t run there and access to any areas that are way off the Ring Road may be blocked off.

There will also be fewer tours offered in the off-season so self-drive becomes the most viable option.  With that though, you’ll have to be very careful behind the wheel because the roads can be hazardous and there’s always the possibility of small towns being snowed in.

However, what you gain in the winter is the majestic ice caves which aren’t accessible in the summer due to structural stability.   The snow covered landscape is also stunning and gives the island and completely different look.

As the low season, you’ll deal with much smaller crowds and prices to drop (particularly flights).  Don’t expect any price breaks on car rentals except if you use the Blue Car Rental coupon code which you’ll find in the Driving in Iceland tips.

In between you have the shoulder season in May and September.  These are the transitional months between summer and winter.  What’s great about this season is that you get the best of both seasons.

With light becoming normalized with sunrise at 7PM and sunset at 8PM, you get decently long days but with enough twilight to get the chance to see the northern lights.  Depending on the year, you might also

What you’ll have to contend with is more tumultuous weather though.  During our time in Iceland in September, we experienced many overcast days where we were always on the precipice of rain (made for a lot of rainbows though).  The rain was very on and off though where some pockets of the island would be rainy but if we kept driving along Ring Road, it would clear up.

What’s great about shoulder season is that tourists drop off in these months pre and post summer so you don’t have to deal with as many crowds.  Temperatures are also quite reasonable in the high teens (C)/50s (F).  This is a great time for an Iceland road trip.

How Many Days Do You Need?

As many as you can take would be my answer to everyone that asks.  There’s a temptation to treat Iceland as a stopover destination based on how flight packages are bundled these days but seriously Iceland is the main event – there’s no question.

I may be a bit biased here but I feel that you need at least 7 days to see a substantial part of Iceland.  This gives you time to do at least one excursion and at a minimum see the southern part of the island which is where a majority of the popular destinations are located.

If you have less than 7 days, you will have to decide whether you want to base yourself in Reykjavik the entire time and do day trips through tours or you have to hit the road right away and see what you can along Ring Road and the Golden Circle.

For the full Ring Road, I’d recommend at least 12 days for a road trip itinerary.

Things To Pack and Prep

Lots of layers  – Weather is constantly changing in Iceland and you never know when it’ll change.  The best way to handle this and pack efficiently is to bring layers.  Bring t-shirts for when it’s warm and layer up with base layers, sweaters, hoodies, long johns, and jacket as necessary.  More must-pack gear can be found in the  Valuable Trip Planning Advice  section.

Waterproof everything – There’s no rainy season per say but chances of rain peak in October – February.   I would include September in the mix as well from personal experience.  Since everything you’re doing in Iceland is outdoors, I was so glad I was fully decked out in waterproof exterior clothing.  I was so glad to have my Columbia waterproof jacket and waterproof pants , and Keen waterproof shoes .

Mapping  – You’ll quickly realize that as simple as it is to drive around Ring Road, finding places is not as easy as you think.  The reason is that Icelandic names are crazy difficult to pronounce and type in.  As a result, GPS is a must.  You’ll rely on GPS to either do an address, point of interest or coordinate search (your first time I am sure).  When that fails (oh and it will), you’ll want a backup and that’s when your phone comes in.  Assuming you don’t have any cellular data like us, we heavily relied on the Google Maps app to pre-pin our daily itinerary and use the “OK maps” trick   to save maps offline.  Since GPS signal is free, you can track your blue dot and use that as a navigation signal to get to where you need to go.  If I knew about the app beforehand, I would’ve used the maps.me app on this trip.

Track the weather  – Particularly important in the winter, you’re going to want to know the weather and road conditions.  There is a super helpful aurora borealis tracker  that will tell you what the chances are of seeing the northern lights.  What you’re looking for is white space.  This page also gives very accurate weather forecasts for the entire island. For road conditions, you’re going to want to head here to figure out whether the roads you’ll be driving are passable or not.

Money – I didn’t believe at first when my friends told me but Iceland is dominated by the credit card.  I withdrew 10,000 ISK at an ATM in Reykjavik and that was it.  I honestly can’t remember any instances where I was forced to use cash.  The only time that it came in handy was the toll for the Hvalfjörður Tunnel when we made our way up to Snaefellsnes. However, this tunnel is now free as of September 2018!

Where to Stay?

Accommodations in Iceland get scooped up quick .  Once you lock in your dates and your itinerary, you’ll want to making your bookings ASAP.

In some ways there are a lot of choices for accommodations and in other ways, it can be quite limited.  There a couple of routes that you could take.  There’s the traditional hotel, youth hostels, Airbnb, guest houses, and campervans.  The underlying thing about all of these options is that you’re not really going to find a “bargain” in Iceland.  Account for every night to be at least $100 USD a night.

Hotels are typically going to be the nicest in terms of providing full-service accommodations.  They’ll be clean, provide all the basic facilities, and usually have an attached restaurant.  The flip side of them is that they’re typically the most expensive option in Iceland.

Luckily, I still have a stash of hotel points and I found a pretty good cash & points rate with the Hilton .

Hotel we used:

• Hilton Iceland Nordica

Hostels, Guest Houses, Airbnb

The truth is that you won’t find too many big hotel chains outside of Reykjavik and that means you’ll have to look at other options.  In the absence of big properties, Icelanders have gotten pretty savvy in terms of converting property into guest houses or hostel type accommodations.  With the vast amount of land and space, old farms are looking to tourism and so you’ll find a lot of farm holidays as options.  Airbnb has also grown significantly on Iceland.

For us, most of all of our searches started with Booking.com which  seemed to have the most complete inventory.  We then augmented this with searches on Hey Iceland , and Airbnb.  Ultimately it came down to what was available in the location we wanted to end off in each day and picking one that had low cost without going into sketchy territory.

With the exception of the youth hostel, I was pleasantly surprised about every guest house we stayed in.  The guest houses in Iceland are very well done in terms of the renovation work, cleanliness, and service.  A few even had free breakfast included which was always a nice bonus.

In regards to Airbnb, you’ll of course find a ton of options between the airport and Reykjavik.  Beyond that circle, you’ll see diminishing results.  In certain parts of the island such as Snaefellsnes, you’ll barely find anything and in the south you’ll find a bit more.

Ultimately farm houses were way out of budget for us so we never got to stay in one.  Our most expensive accommodation ended up being the one by Skaftafell (Hof 1 Hotel) simply because there aren’t many options in that area.

Alternative accommodations we used:

• Öxl in Budir
• Hostel Sjónarhóll
• Hekla Room No. 2. (Airbnb)
• Hof 1 Hotel
• Hofn Guesthouse
• Private Room with Private Entry Airbnb in Reykjavik (Airbnb)

Camping and Campervan

If you’re looking to rough it out a bit more, a potentially cheaper option for you that also gives you more control in terms check-in/check-out time and where you can stay.  By camping or renting a campervan, you can literally sleep right where you want to be the next morning to catch that beautiful sunset and hit the ground running.

Campervans may not be for everyone but these vans that have their own beds built into the rear compartment are going to be your best bet in terms of saving money because you’ll be able to combine the cost of a car rental and accommodations all together.  It may not be glamorous but it is very practical and if I were to do Iceland again, I’d definitely go this route.  Give companies such as Happy Campers and Campervan Iceland  a browse!

You’ll find out in our itinerary below that we picked up a few hitchhikers along the way and what we learned from these ambitious kids is that camping is totally viable.  What’s beautiful about Iceland is that there’s this culture of camping and so the country has built a ton of facilities around the island which gives you free access buildings where you can clean up and land to set up camp.  On the hitchhiking front, they told us that they had a lot of trouble getting rides especially when in more remote areas.

8 DAY ICELAND ITINERARY

Now with the basics out of the way, you’re part of the way through your planning.  The next step is to start figuring out how you’re going to be laying out your Icelandic adventure .

The following is a high level outline of everything we did, sights we saw, and all the things I learned that I wish I knew.  By no means is this meant to be a copy and paste job but if you’re tight on planning time, you’re certainly welcome to it and grab the spreadsheet by signing up .

For a more personal recounting of our Icelandic experience head over to my other article.

If you’re coming in from North America, you’ll most likely land super early in the morning as we did.  Pick up your rental car at the airport and head into the city.  You’ll be tempted to take a nap but try your best to stay up.  The best way to do this is to book an adrenaline-filled excursion like  Black and Blue  which combines lava tube caves with snorkelling Silfra.  Crash early your first day and get ready for tomorrow.

If Black and Blue isn’t available, this is a recommended snorkeling experience that just focuses on the Silfra fissure.

What You’ll See

• Thingvellir National Park
• Lava Tube caves
• Silfra fissure
• Hradlestin  – Surprisingly awesome Indian restaurant in the city
• Hilton Iceland Nordica  – To my surprise, we were able to check in at 9AM (unheard of!)

TIPS AND TRICKS

• Booze – Before you leave the airport, make sure you pick up your alcohol supply.  This is the duty free that you have to cross through before you get your bags and not the duty free that is in the gate area.  You can’t miss it.
• Check before you drive off  – Make sure everything works in the car and you do a thorough walk around.
• Renting cars in Iceland – Make sure you read the Car Rental section below to learn about companies I researched and the importance of built-in insurance coverage.
• Excursions in Iceland – Most excursions start and end in Reykjavik so when you plan your itinerary, make sure you plan things out accordingly.
• Snack on – Always have a healthy stash of snacks with you.  Particularly for Black and Blue, it was nice to have a bunch of bars on hand since no food was included
• Black and Blue – It’s not very clear in any of the trip instructions but you’re going to want to make sure you wear long johns and dry-fit-type top.  One thing to note is that there’s no private area to change so expect to be stripping down out in the open or in the Arctic Adventures van.  In terms of valuables and your shoes, you’ll be able to leave everything behind in the van which will be guarded by your driver/guide.  They recommend brining waterproof clothing but you don’t necessarily need it.  I ended up taking off my waterproof pants in fact and just went into the drysuit with my long johns.  Oh and if you’re planning on recording the experience, don’t make the same mistake as I did and use a head mount.  You’re better off using putting your GoPro or better yet, Insta360 X4 on an invisible stick.
• Alternative Black and Blue – Similar tour offering can be found on Guide to Iceland .

Reykjavik is a vibrant and artsy city that has much to offer.  Spend the day to get to know the capital.  I recommend orienting yourself by taking a free city walking tour with CityWalk .  Make sure to try the hotdogs here.

While you’re in the capital, also make a point to do any of the shopping you want to do and to buy the Icelandic souvenirs for yourself of friends and family back at home. This could also be your only opportunity to buy any outdoor gear you forgot.

Before you hit the road, stock up on supplies at the Bonus grocery store in town and start making your way towards Selfoss.  Grab dinner here like we did and then make your way to one of the most unique stays here – the Bubble Hotel.  Time permitting, you can also squeeze in 1) a shower and 2) relaxation at the Secret Lagoon.

While there were no guarantees when I made the booking at Buubble, we were lucky enough to watch the Northern Lights this evening.  It was a light show to remember.

• Downtown Reykjavik
• Hallgrímskirkja Church
• Baejarins Beztu Pylsur
• The Sun Voyager
• Secret Lagoon /Gamla Laugin
• Northern Lights (cross your fingers!)
• Tryggvaskali Restaurant  – Highly reviewed restaurant that’s converted from an old hotel.  Excellent seafood!
• Buubble Hotel
• Parking in Reykjavik – There a few quasi-lots in the city but these are really just street parking spots by North American standards.  We did our drive around to see if there was any free parking which we were told were closer to the residential areas but we couldn’t find them so we just settled for a spot right off of Laugavegur.
• Free Walking Tour –  Make sure you reserve your spot ahead of time online.  There are a number of time slots available  and I’d recommend doing this at the beginning of your trip as a way to orient yourself in Reykjavik.
• Secret Lagoon – I thoroughly enjoyed this hot spring experience.  Sure it was $30 (2,800 ISK) but I would take this any day over Blue Lagoon to deal with less crowds, a much more natural experience, and the ability to bring your own booze.  We learned afterwards that the Secret Lagoon was also a brilliant idea when paired with our Bubble night because we didn’t have shower facilities there.  Coming out of the hot springs, we showered at the lagoon and head back just in time for the northern lights show which worked out beautifully.  Note, no need for a combination lock here since it’s one of those lockers that give you a key.

• Bonus – The go-to grocery store to pick up supplies in Iceland.  We literally planned our resupply trips around when we could drop by a Bonus.  More on this in the Eating section below.
• Bubble Hotel – More details about Buubble to be more precise can be found in my review post .
• Northern lights – There’s no real formula here other than to get yourself outside of the city which we did.  September is tough because it’s overcast all the time so the best you can do is just give you the most chances to see them and check the aurora borealis tracker religiously.

What Should You Pack?

Not sure what to pack for your trip? Make sure to check out our handy packing list for Iceland!

Every Iceland itinerary is going to have the famed Golden Circle.  Despite this route being heavy on tourists, you can’t miss the trio of Geysir, Gullfoss, and Thingvellir National Park.

The awesome thing about our bubble is that it’s right along the Golden Circle so all you have to do is hop in your car and start driving counterclockwise.

From here you’ll be making the drive all the way up to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula to get away from the crowds and part of the country that has some of the most epic dynamic landscapes.  Arrive in the Budir area and crash for the evening.

• Faxi Waterfall
• Icelandic Horses
• Thingvellir National Park
• Hotel Budir (their bread and butter is to die for)
• Golden Circle  – The big bus tours are pretty much unavoidable but I’m sure if you start right at the morning, you should be able to dodge most of them.  Another thing to note is that you’ll definitely want to account more time than you think you’ll need here (kind of applies to everything in Iceland).  Blame the photography.
• Driving to Snaefellsnes – The drive itself is pretty straightforward but if you set yourself to get there in the shortest amount of time, the GPS will take you through the Hvalfjörður Tunnel. This used to be a tolled tunnel but it is now free (as of September 2018).
• Gullfoss – For the most part, we didn’t have any bathroom problems but I do distinctly remember that the washrooms were paid here so make sure you relieve yourself at Geysir or at Thingvellir’s information center.

Weather permitting, I personally feel that the 4th day around Snaefellsnes offers the most stunning of landscapes.  You’ll be driving along the coast and making many stops along the way.  Start the day off with the Arnarstapi hike and make your way around to eventually the iconic view of Kirkjufell.  End off in Stykkishólmur to close out the day.

On a personal note, this is the day that I proposed to my now wife. The weather didn’t quite co-operate but it sure made a memorable proposal.

• Hotel Budir
• Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge
• Arnastapi Coastal Walk
• Snaefellsjokull National Park
• Djupalonssandur Beach
• Stykkishólmur Lighthouse
• Sjavarpakkhusio
• Rain  – I’m speaking from September experience here but rain definitely puts a damper on things.  Good thing I had waterproof gear on me or otherwise, we would have skipped a ton more spots along the way.  With Iceland, you have to be prepared and just work with what the weather gives you.

On this day, you’ll be leaving Snaefellsnes and dropping down to the south.  Watch the landscape dramatically change as you make your way along this popular route.  Here, waterfalls are going to dominate your view including the impressive Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss.

If you can swing it, look for Seljavallalaug Pool which is set in the middle of a canyon and quite the tranquil experience.  Best part is that it’s free.

• Stykkishólmur town
• Seljalandsfoss
• Seljavallalaug Pool (Seljavellir)
• Bar Bistro (by Skogafoss) – We ended pretty late this day and there weren’t many options so we ended up at this casual restaurant.  Prices are reasonable and the Skyr cake was phenomenal.
• Seljavallalaug Pool   Directions – This one was one heck of a place to find.  As you’re driving along the ring road and going eastbound, you’re going look for Road 242 marked Raufarfell.  Start looking for it right after you pass by the Iceland Erupts exhibition that will be on your right.  Take the road all the way to the end and there should be a sign that says Seljavellir (GPS: 63.558878 N, -19.622353 W).  Park your car in this large dirt lot and you’ll want to walk 20 minutes.  The trail is not marked at all and for us we were thankful to bump into various people along the way to confirm we were going the right way but looking back on it, we were essentially hugging the left side of the valley, crossing a few small streams and hiking over a rocky ground.  You won’t see the pool until the very end so keep going and you’ll eventually see it.  Just before, you’ll also pass by a small water pumping machine.  If you’re heading there near sunset or sunrise, make sure you bring headlamps.

•   Seljavallalaug Pool Facilities  – In terms of facilities, it’s pretty bare bones here and the concrete building there is in a bit of decay.  There are “rooms” with doors but don’t expect to find any benches.  What they do have are some hooks so you can hang your clothes inside.  Other people simply changed at the back of the building away from the pool.

Continue the drive along the south and feast your eyes on unique basalt columns, gorgeous canyons, and rugged plains.  Luckily there isn’t too much driving until you make that final stretch to Skaftafell National Park.  There aren’t too many accommodations in this region unfortunately and in fact Hof 1 Hotel turned out to be the most expensive of the entire trip.

There will still be quite a bit of tourists along this section with day trip tourist busses from Reykjavik so be prepared for some crowds.

• Reynisdrangar
• Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
• Service station cafeteria just outside of Skaftafell National Park
• Dyrholaey – I thought there wasn’t much to see here other than the arch but turns out there are a lot of interesting view points here no matter what direction you’re looking at.  Make sure you account for more time here.
• Reynisdrangar – Similar with Dryholaey, I found ourselves spending more time here than I thought we would.  We were here a good 1.5 hours and some of that was accounted by us posing around the basalt columns.  Also note that there are bathroom facilities here and they are free.
• Fjadrargljufur Canyon – This one may seem hard to find as there isn’t too much information on it but right off of Ring Road, past the small village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur is Road 206 that goes to Lakagígar.  Once you’re on this road, you’re only 2KM out.  Eventually you’ll make it to an intersection where left will lead to the canyon and right leads to   Lakagígar.  I remember the signs to be pretty clear here so you won’t get lost.  Technically after, this turns into an F-road but to be honest it’s doable with any car.  Just drive slow and carefully.  While we only hiked the top part of the canyon, the bottom of the canyon is accessible and in the summer a great spot for wading in the river.  There’s also an eco-friendly bathroom here which is free.

The whole reason why you want to stay near Skaftafell National Park is so that you don’t have to do a long drive in the morning to make the glacier climbing excursion.  Expect most of the day to be dedicated for this.  

At the time of our visit, we were on Falljökull Glacier which is in Vatnajökull . The names can be a bit confusing but to set things straight, Skaftafell National Park was integrated with the newly established Vatnajokull National Park in 2008 so they’re really one and the same. Most tours don’t mention the glacier you’ll be on but a popular one is Falljokull.

I highly recommend this 4 hour glacier experience which also includes ice caves if they’re in-season.

If you want to make sure ice climbing is included, there’s ice climbing on Vatnajokull from Skaftafell which is very close to what we did. The other one I’d recommend is ice climbing Solheimajokull which is a slightly different location. 

The tour we did was called Glacier Xtreme which has been rebranded as Blue Ice since they operate out of Solheimajokull now.

Finish the day with a sunset at Jokulsarlon iceberg lagoon before driving the furthest east as you’ll go in Iceland.

What You’ll See and Do

• Skaftafell National Park
• Falljökull Glacier ( Glacier hiking and ice climbing )
• Jokulsarlon Lagoon
• Pakkhus Restaurant  – Known for their langoustine
• Glacier Xtreme – The costs were adding up for Iceland but this was one of those experiences we didn’t want to miss out on.  On top of glacier hiking, this was the only one where you could also ice climb as well.  When talking to the locals, they said the Falljökull Glacier was much better than the others due to less traffic and being able to get way closer to the icefall.  How about things to pack and all of that?  I found that the booking sites weren’t very good about explaining this so let me clear the air.   Do you need waterproof pants?  I would say no unless it’s raining that day.  We had a beautiful sunny day and so any hiking appropriate pants are fine.   What else should I bring?  Bring gloves.  They don’t necessarily have to be waterproof but the ice can be sharp when you’re trying to keep balance or even during the ice climbing.  Also bring sunglasses.  The sun will reflect intensely off of the white ice but more importantly you want your sunglasses to protect you from the flying chips of ice that will be coming at you when you dig your ice axe into the wall.   Any other tips?   That main parking lot at Skaftafell fills up FAST.  I would show up early to get a good spot in the main lot.  Otherwise you’ll have to go to an adjacent one that is a bit farther away.
• Glacier Guides – The operator that runs Glacier Xtreme is Glacier Guides which in turn is owned by the larger company, Arctic Adventures .  That is why you can’t find a separate website for Glacier Guides if you’re as confused as we were.
• Jokulsarlon Lagoon – This place gets pretty busy around sunset so you might have to jockey a little for tripod space.  From a photography perspective, don’t be afraid to move around as there are a ton of different angles to shoot at.  If you’re not doing a whole lot of photography here, you could be done in 15 minutes or if you’re like me, 2 hours.  Lastly, be on the lookout for seals in the water.  They pop their head up once in awhile or sometimes you can catch them swim.  Let me know how many you find!  If you’d rather get out on one of those boats that take you right up to the icebergs, I recommend tours like this amphibian boat tour .

The last day has a lot of driving but the nice part about it is that you’ll be able to hit up all the spots that you missed.  For instance, you’ll be able to do Svartifoss and the Sólheimasandur plane wreck.  Treat yourself at the very end with a little bit of rest and relaxation at Blue Lagoon .

• Mossy Lava Rocks
• Vik Red Church
• Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck (aka Crashed DC 3 Plane)
• Blue Lagoon
• Svartifoss – From the research, I always thought these falls were like the others where you could drive up to alas it’s a 20 minute hike there and back.  Instead of the up and back down path that we took, there are alternative paths you can take on the way down to make it more of a loop.  We read that these had some pretty good views and interesting sights along the way but unfortunately they would’ve taken too much time so we had to do the most optimal route.  When you get to the falls, there’ll be a metal barrier to prevent you from going closer to the falls.
• Plane Wreck – The specific GPS coordinates are 63.4912391,-19.3632810, but nowadays this is such a well-known sight in Iceland that you’ll be able to find the pin on Google Maps and you’ll also see the pile of cars on the side of the road (past Skogafoss if you’re coming from the west).  Yes it’s true that the landowners have fenced off the area from cars to drive through (can’t blame them).  This means that you have to do the 50 minute hike each way so make sure you have plenty of time to work with.  Also, remember to relieve yourself before going because there isn’t going to be a bush out there to use since it’s completely flat there.  Lastly, while we were taking photos of the plane, I remember seeing a big truck pull up at the end of the road, presumably to patrol the area and make sure nobody somehow gets passed the fence by vehicle or does anything stupid at the plane.  Photography wise, I recommend bringing a tripod as the lighting may not be the greatest if it is as overcast as it was for us. Read the latest reviews to see what the situation is like.

• Blue Lagoon – Everything in my research about Blue Lagoon was true.  Sure it’s a bit of a zoo but it’s still a unique experience that can be a great way to relax.  With that in mind, I had decided that it made the most sense to put this at the very end of the trip which allowed us to do all the (in my opinion) better ones earlier.  The one thing that everyone suggested was to reserve in advance and I’d say the same thing.  You’ll notice that bookings 2 hours prior to closing are cheaper so if you want to save a bit of money, I’d go with that. We only needed 1.5 hours and I felt like we got to see and try all the different spaces.  Bonus on top of that is that if you go at 6PM, you’ll be able to watch the sunset as well.  Package wise, I’d recommend getting the Comfort package which primarily is good for that free drink and extra algae mask.  There’s the towel too but I was very frustrated with the fact that our towels were flat out stolen when we finished up at the lagoon.  I can’t blame the person that did it but that area in front with all the towel racks is not a good solution with the amount of people that are there.  It’s hard to remember where you put it and of course all the towels look the same.  If I were you, put your towel in a separate area away from everyone else’s.  Lastly, show up 30 minutes earlier than your time slot because there’s going to be a line to check-in.  This way you can maximize your time.

How The Iceland Itinerary Changed During The Trip

The fun part about travel is just how unpredictable it is sometimes and how you’ll need to improvise and adjust based on things that happen along the way.  You might meet some interest people along the way, bad weather might roll in, or maybe you love one place so much that you decide to stay longer.

For us, the Iceland itinerary largely stayed the same with a few exceptions.  As with what happens with my trips every time, I always took too long at every single destination.  Thank goodness I loosened up the itinerary to account for this, all the random side-of-the-road-stops, and surprise view points/monuments that we encountered.  In most cases, you need to account for at least 2 hours in each main spot and Google Map drive times need to be bumped up by 30 minutes.   The lesson : Being less ambitious is a good thing.

Where I had to make adjustments to the schedule:

• I had naively assumed that the hike to  Svartifoss inside Skaftafell National Park was few minutes walk from the parking lot.  It is in fact 20-30 minutes away.  Since we got to the park pretty late on Day 6 there was no way we could complete it.  Instead, we used our make-up day to see this waterfall.
• We spent too much time at  Dyrholaey and Reynisdrangar on Day 6 that we had no time to stop in Vik .  Again, we remedied this by visiting on our way back.
• On Day 3, I thought we were going to have enough  Kerið Crater but as it turns out, we passed it along our way up to the Bubble Hotel.  In the interest of time, we started Day 3 by going counterclockwise up to Geysir first instead of dropping down to Kerið and then back up.
• There were a number of lunch restaurants selected initially but as the days went on, we realized that 1) proper lunches were too expenses and 2) we couldn’t afford the time to stop and it’d be more efficient to eat while driving so we more or less cut all of them from our itinerary.
• Originally there was the idea that we could do sunrise at Jokulsarlon for sunrise on Day 7 before the Glacier Climb but as the trip went on, sleep was more precious and we ended up doing this as a sunset.  The same can be said for Sólheimasandur plane wreck where I thought it’d be cool to do this for sunrise.  I’m glad we didn’t because it would’ve been quite miserable to walk the entire 50 minute stretch in the dark.
• Mossy lava rocks was on our itinerary and we would’ve stopped by on Day 6 but we had no idea how long the stretch was in the south and whether there’d be a better place to stop ahead.  That’s why it make sense to do it on our way back on Day 8.
• Lastly, rain did a number on several days where we really had to quickly run out of the car to take a peek or brave the pouring.  I wish we got to see more of the cliffs in Snaefellsnes and had better views  Dyrholaey but it is what it is.

Why This 8 Day Iceland Itinerary Kicked Ass

This was honestly the perfect  8 day Iceland itinerary road trip in September.  We hit up everything we wanted to see and we did it at a pace that wasn’t crazy.  Sure, the weather could’ve been more cooperative but that’s kind of what you’d expect during the shoulder season.

Initially I thought that we’d be doing a lot of wasted driving because we had to double back twice – once to go up to Snaefellsnes and then another in the south, driving all the way out to Hofn and back.  What ended up being a disadvantage of not doing the full loop around the island turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  We never felt rushed throughout and in the south, we had the advantage of skipping a few things (some due to weather) on the way out east to Hofn and making them up when we drove back to Reykjavik.

The Iceland itinerary itself was very well balanced between seeing the natural beauty of the country and also trying out local activities.  It was also a balance between the popular sights that were tour bus central to a few spots that we really struggled to find and when we were there, the path wasn’t clear or marked – going truly off the beaten path.

Budget wise, we controlled it as best as we could without roughing it too much.  Ultimately cost cutting came down to food where we snacked on grocery food for breakfast and lunch, and “splurged” on dinner.

VALUABLE TRIP PLANNING ADVICE

Oh so much information I want to share with you guys here.  As I was travelling I literally had an Evernote note set up just for tips and tricks.  I’ve cleaned it up considerably and so here’s everything you need to know before you go to Iceland.

Driving is a must in Iceland.  The only other way to get around to see the island is through tour buses and you really don’t want to go there.  With your own car, you will have the freedom to follow your own schedule and more importantly, stop whenever you wish.  Trust me, you’ll want to stop A LOT .

When picking a rental car, you’ll have to decide on a few things including the car rental company, transmission, whether you want a 4×4 or not, and size.

Read this first: We have a full guide on how to rent a car in Iceland including secret car rental coupon codes.

Car Rental Companies

I researched a number of companies when I was looking for my car rental including the large international brands and the smaller local ones.

While price is one thing you’ll have your eye on, what’s more important to pay attention to is the insurance coverage that they offer and build in.  There are a lot of unknown factors when driving in Iceland and you want to make sure you’re covered because I’ve heard stories of other travellers wishing they had the insurance or glad that they had it.

We cast a wide net when looking for car rentals in Iceland. We started with what we knew and checked out companies like National and Avis but we found that they didn’t include any extended car insurance so then we turned to local car rental agencies. That’s when we discovered Blue Car Rental . They had the most positive reviews, actually had good availability, and reasonable rates.

Most Popular Car Rental Company in Iceland

Blue Car Iceland is the most reputable brand in Iceland and we would definitely rent from them again. Book through our special link below to save 5% on your rental.

Check out Blue Car Rental

Blue Car Rental as a base includes:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) Insurance – This covers the bodywork of the car.
• Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW) Insurance – Deductible on bodywork damage in collisions is 90,000 ISK on 2WD and 120,000 on 4WD.
• Gravel Protection (GP) Insurance – This protection includes damage to windscreen, headlights and the car when gravel or rocks get thrown on the vehicle by another car. The deductible is 20,000 ISK.
• Theft Protection (TP) Insurance – The likelihood of this happening on Iceland is low but this covers theft of rental. No deductible.

There’s an option Sand and Ash Protection (SAAP) Insurance which covers against ash and sandstorm damage but we elected to not add it. In retrospect, we learned quite quickly how erratic the weather can be in Iceland. While we didn’t encounter any sand or ash damage, I could totally see it happening out of the blue.

Some rental car companies also have a Liability Waiver (LW) which brings down the deductibles down to zero.

Something they also made clear is that the the underside of the car nor damage caused by wind pulling hard against the door is covered. This means that you want to be careful when there are heavy winds and also be careful driving on gravel roads and potholes.

The bottom line is to make sure you do your research and run the math on total cost of renting a car.  Some companies bundle insurance together while others make it an option.

Transmission

Most cars available will be in the manual transmission format.  I wasn’t surprised about this since most of Europe is like this.  What this means is that there’ll be more affordable options and increased availability if you’re able to drive a manual car.  If not, you’ll definitely want to make sure you reserve early.

Do I Need a 4×4?

The reason why you’d want a 4WD is because you can only drive on Iceland’s infamous F-roads which are mountain roads in the highlands.  These are off-road terrain roads that have restrictions on the type of vehicles that can drive them, are only open certain times of the year, and also have restrictions on time of day.  Only an SUV can power through these roads and you certainly don’t want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere.

That’s great and all if you take one of these roads but I’ll be honest with you, the itinerary that I followed didn’t take us through any of these types of roads.  Our path stuck primarily to the main roads and there were only a few times where it felt like we actually went off-path.

I remember the road to Saxoll Crater and Fjadrargljufur Canyon were perhaps the most bumpy and pothole ridden but everywhere else was well paved and easy to get around.  While it was certainly nice to have the spaciousness of an SUV for our road trip, we would’v been just fine with a compact sedan.  In fact even on the most challenging roads, I saw the tiny cars get by just as fine with a little careful driving.

Driving The Roads

Driving   in Iceland isn’t hard per say but as with anywhere, you need to be smart and careful.  A few things you’ll want to be mindful of are lane passing, singe lane bridge crossings, side of road stops, gravel driving, and night time driving.  Each of these of course get augmented in the winter time when you have to deal with snow, limited visibility and black ice.

• Lane Passing – Icelandic roads are thin and mostly one lane.  Pass when safe and definitely not at bends or uphills.  Common courtesy is to signal to show intent, speed up, and once you’ve passed the vehicle, turn your emergency blinkers for two flashes to thank the driver behind.
• Single Lane Bridge Crossing – There quite a number of single lane bridges especially in the south.  Make sure you stop where at the drawn line in order to wait for oncoming traffic to come through.  When crossing, double check to make sure there are no cars on the other side or they have stopped.  At night time, be extra careful here and flick your high beams or use your horn to let other cars know you’re crossing.
• Side of Road Stops – The week I was in Iceland, there was a fatality from someone stopped at the side of the road to take a photo at night.  Look out for side roads to stop safely and turn on your emergency blinkers.  When getting in and out of the car, make sure there are no cars on the highway.
• Gravel Driving – Some areas are going to have pretty deep potholes so make sure you drive slowly over them, take them at an angle, or avoid them altogether if possible.
• Night Time Driving – There aren’t any street lights outside of the main towns so expect to rely on your low-beams and high-beams.  Make sure you obey high-beam etiquette as to not blind any oncoming drivers.

For safety, make sure you also know where you spare is and you know where your tools are.  Worst case, you get a flat while on the road and you’ll need to replace the flat on your own.  Also make sure you know what the emergency and roadside assistance numbers are.

Another common question I get is about speeding and cops.  Officially the speed limit is 90 km/h on the highway.  Unofficially 100 km/h is acceptable as long as the roads are clear.  On empty roads though, I was cruising upwards to 120 km/h.  During our time in Iceland, we did not encounter any speed traps but I have heard from people that they have gotten ticketed.  The only police we saw were typically around the larger towns.

There are actual speed cameras along ring road in the south in and around towns.   There are signs that warn you about upcoming cameras along the road.  Some are real and others are duds.  To be cautious, I’d recommend slowing down when you’re in a speed camera zone.

Filling Up Gas

This was supposed to be an easy task but for some reason we had a ton of trouble filling up at the N1 gas stations.  Whereas we had no problems entering the PIN number for our credit card on the machines at the pump, N1 was just not going to take any of our cards.  We tried ALL of them.

Ultimately, at N1 specifically, we needed to buy their prepaid cards inside the station first.  They sold the cards in 3,000 and 100,000 ISK denominations.  Since we didn’t know if we’d spend 100,000 (we did), we just bought 3,000 every time we filled up at N1.  With the prepaid card, we were then able to pay at the pump.

We later learned that debit cards worked without any issue so give that a shot if you’re okay with that.

I’ll start off by saying that the food in Iceland is amazing.  I don’t know what blog or review I read that said the food is terrible but having spent 8 days there, I can definitively tell you that you don’t need to worry about having good food.

Now where you’re going to have a bit of a shock dealing with is the exuberant price you’ll be paying for a meal in Iceland.  Throw away everything you know about your own standards of eating back home because it’s easily double and often times triple here.

The good news is though that despite dishing out Michelin-restaurant level money for meals, the quality of the food makes it all a bit more swallowable.   Something about the freshness of seafood and world-class chefs has something to do with it.  I don’t remember any meal where we came out of it disappointed.  The way we thought about it was that every dinner was equivalent to a nice meal out in the city.  On average, dinners were on average $50 a person.

The way we offset this was to have less full meals.  This meant we ate our own breakfast and lunch using the supplies we brought from home or purchased at the grocery store.  We picked up things like sandwiches, fruit, cookies, snack bars, juices, and yogurt to keep our energy up during the day and we’d reward ourselves with a good meal at the end of the day.

Grocery Stores

The friend we met up with in Reykjavik strong encouraged us to only pick up food at this grocery store. We were warned not to be tempted by the convenience of the 10-11 convenient store which can be block to block. As a result, we more or less stuck with Bonus throughout the trip.  Look for the piggy logo.  You can’t miss it!

Food You Have To Try

Being a seafaring nation, anything related to seafood is a must.  We found that time and time again, fish whether grilled or fried was a winner.

Other recommendations would be:

• Water – Don’t buy water EVER on the island.  I can’t believe I’m raving about water but seriously the H2O in Iceland is the freshest I’ve had.  Pro tip:  Before filling up your water bottle at the tap, run the cold water for 10 seconds to lush out the hot water since some parts of the island bring them in from a local spring which may have some traces of sulphur smell.
• Skyr – This has to be my biggest find of the trip.  Think Greek yogurt but even richer and thicker.
• Icelandic hotdog – The most popular hotdog stand in Reykjavik is of course Baejarins Beztu Pylsur but there are other places in the city where you can try these traditional hotdogs topped with ketchup, a sweet brown mustard, raw onions, fried onions, and remoulade.
• Fish jerky – This may not be for everyone but we very much enjoyed trying different types of dried fish.  They made for great snacks on the road and sometimes to keep me awake during those long night time drives.
• Fish and chips – The restaurant Icelandic Fish and Chips in Reykjavik we had on our last day was delicious.  The Halibut in particular was very tender and flaky.
• Langoustine – These are large prawns with claws or miniature lobsters that Hofn is well known for.  They’re expensive but I hear is quite succulent.
• Liquorice – Not sure what the story is here but liquorice is everywhere here.  Almost all the chocolate here involves some sort of liquorice as well (so be careful if you’re not a fan).

If you’re feeling adventurous and don’t have any issues with eating shark, whale, puffin, or horse, those options are available although we stayed away from these.

While packing for a trip like Iceland was business as usual as I cover in a number of my packing guides , it was also challenging in a number of ways because of the time of year we went and the constraints we had to work with since we were flying WOW Air.

NOTE: WOW Air has since gone under so your best way to fly to Iceland is with Icelandair or your own local carrier. In Canada for instance, Air Canada does have direct routes to Reykjavik.

Suitcase or Backpack?

A common question.  Do you you lug around a big suitcase or do you go nimble with a backpack?  The easy answer is that it honestly doesn’t matter on a road trip like this because you’re going to be travelling with a car the entire time.  You’re going to have the luxury of space and you won’t be running around with everything on your back.

I say if you prefer to travel with a backpack, go for it.  Otherwise, a suitcase will suit you just as well.

The only thing to consider is a case like ours where we were flying WOW Air and it was the most economical to check in one bag.  With us sharing the space, a suitcase was just a lot easier organizationally.

I’m not going to list out everything we packed.  Instead, I want to focus on the things that you absolutely have to have on any trip to Iceland.  For some items, we learned the hard way that we wished we had packed them.

• Waterproof everything – I debated for a long time whether I should bring my waterproof pants along with waterproof jacket and shoes.  I’m so glad I did because we needed almost every day of the trip.  My fiance didn’t have waterproof pants and it really sucked .  Things got so desperate that one point, we had to make our own make-shift pant cover out of clear plastic bags.  Waterproof all the things.  I highly recommend Columbia’s OutDry collection including their pants and jacket that I wore all trip.
• Gloves – These are necessary to keep your hands warm.  Experiencing as much rain as we did, I wish I had more than just my thin fabric gloves.  If I were to do it again, I’d definitely bring waterproof gloves.
• Layer layer layer – Weather is dynamic out here so have layers to stay warm when you need to and strip down when it gets too hot.  Layers also allow you to pack more efficiently.  I recommend a thermal base layer + t-shirt + zip-up + fleece + jacket to complete all your layers.
• Good hiking shoes – This goes without saying.  My Keen Aphlex  hikers were amazing at keeping my feet warm, provided grip even in slippery conditions and were also completely waterproof which is a mandatory feature in my opinion for a trip like this.
• Headlamp – This was super handy when we were staying at the Bubble Hotel where we were out in the dark.
• Swimsuit – This one’s easy to forget but remember there’ll be all those hot springs in Iceland.
• Towel – Glad we packed this one as it was a must-have when we went to Seljavallalaug Pool.
• Flip flops/sandals – In the same vain as the towel, you’ll want flip flops if you’re going to Blue Lagoon or Secret Lagoon to avoid having to walk around bare feet.  Also, if you’re staying at anywhere other than a hotel, you’ll want flip flops to act as your slippers and also something to wear to the communal bathrooms.
• Snacks – You’ll see below in the cost breakdown that food is a heck of an expense.  The more you can bring from home, the better.  I recommend bringing granola bars, trail mix, and chocolate.

What about long johns?  September wasn’t quite cold enough to need these thankfully so we did not pack them but I can see these being necessary as you go deeper into winter.

Hand Washing

I’d say this is pretty much inevitable so you might as well be prepared to do this during your trip.  Thing is that you just won’t have time to waste finding a laundromat.  In fact, I don’t think I saw any at all.

The good thing is that you won’t be sweating a whole lot out here so you won’t need to wash as often.  What worked for us is a daily routine before we slept where we washed our underwear and socks.  To dry our clothes, we made good use of the radiator heaters that are used all over the country (thanks to all the hot springs) by draping the clothes over them.  By morning they were usually fully dry and good to go.

If you haven’t yet, check out my video on how to wash your clothes while on the road .

Throughout our trip, I did our best to keep a tally of our expenses.  I may have missed a few things here and there but this should give you a high level view of how much it would cost to spend 8 days in Iceland.

For simplicity, I’ve converted everything to USD .  Also keep in mind that these are for 2 travellers.

• Air – $1,316.82 (includes stopover in Alicante)
• Accommodation – $781.52
• Car Rental – $792.08
• Auto Expenses – $202.34
• Souvenirs – $139.45
• Food and Drink – $697.59
• Excursions – $895.37

TOTAL = $4,826.17 ($2,413.09 per person)

I’m not going to sugarcoat it, unless you’re planning on doing some serious roughing out and you don’t care for any excursions, be prepared to pay a lot of money on this trip.

Iceland is not a cheap trip .  Flights are getting cheaper and cheaper to get to the island but what most people don’t realize until they get to Iceland is just how expensive everything else is.  Food is expensive.  Gas is expensive.  Excursions are expensive.  Hotels are expensive.  Car rentals are expensive.  You get the picture.

There are definitely ways to cut costs through food and car rental/accommodations hacks to a certain extent but once you introduce any sort of guided excursion and the inevitable good meal here and there, it adds up quite quickly.

To Tip or Not To Tip

The simple answer here is that no.  There are no customs or expectations of tipping and you are completely in the clear if you leave no tips.  Of course, it’s not illegal to tip so if you’ve had exceptional service, feel free to round up or leave a bit extra behind.

Remember Tax-Free

If you buy 6,000 ISK or more at a single store, you’re eligible for tax refund (only at certain stores).  You’ll want to take advantage of this since you can get a whopping 24% back in tax.

It goes without saying that the photography here is  out of this world .  There are so many opportunities and special moments that you’ll want to capture.  Landscape wise you have the waterfalls, black sand beaches, mountains, glaciers, cliffs, volcanoes, canyons, icebergs and northern lights.  In Reykjavik, you get you fix of urban photography with its abundance of interesting architecture, sculptures, and graffiti.  Then you have the wildlife where you’ll have a ton of fun shooting sheep, Icelandic horses, and of course the puffins.

Planning vs. Spontaneity

While travelling, I always struggle with wanting to plan for specific shoots because light and time of day matters but the truth is that if you’re not on a photography-centric trip, you’ll drive your travel partner(s) mad and you’ll limit the flexibility of what you’ll see.

That being said, if you’ve got a specific shot in mind, you could totally plan it in your schedule.  Just remember to make sure you watch the time because it’s so easy to spend a lot of time in one place or likewise very easy to get away with side of the road stops.

Sunsets and Sunrises

As much as I wanted to do a sunrise, it never ended up working out for me because we were simply too tired or good weather wasn’t a guarantee.  If you’re up for it, I’d definitely try to work one or two in.

Sunsets are a lot easier to see but from my experience hard to schedule just because you’ll always be on the go and it is hard to be disciplined with time.  For us the only time we got to watch the sunset was at Jokulsarlon Lagoon which as far as sunsets go was average because of the amount of overcast we had.

Camera Gear

The most important part is that you want to have all the gear you need to be set up for success in Iceland.  Here are a few things you’ll want to think about and the specific gear that I brought.

As much as you can, make sure your gear can stand the wild weather that Iceland can and will throw at you.   Rain is going to be your biggest enemy both in damaging your gear and getting rain spots all over your lens.  Luckily my Olympus set up is fully weather sealed but it was incredibly frustrating when it was almost impossible to keep the front of the lens clean.  I got to the point where my Lenspen  and microfibre cloths were completely useless because they would either create water streak marks or were completely soaked with water.  I didn’t come prepared with enough it and it got to the point where I was forced to use the inside of my thermal layers or my Buff.

Cold is another aspect you’ll want to think about.  Freezing temperatures do a number on batteries whether it be for your camera or your phone.  One second you’ll be at 80% and the next it’ll be completely dead.  Now this only applies if you’re travelling to Iceland in the winter but make sure you account for this and either bring lots of batteries or have a way to keep your batteries warm.  I suggest travelling with a lot of these heatpacks .

What You’ll Want to Bring

• Camera – I am the least likely to discriminate the type of camera you bring.  I’m going to be focusing on mirrorless and DSLR because those are what I know best.  For those wanting a super lightweight set up, I’d recommend micro four thirds .
• Lenses – Unless you’re shooting puffins, I feel that bringing a long zoom lens will be a waste.  I’d recommend a good all-around lens in the 24-70mm range (12-40mm in the M43 world) and pair that with a super wide angle like the 16-35mm (7-144mm for M43).  A fun addition for your trip would be a fisheye lens.  I brought the Olympus 8mm f1.8 Fisheye  which worked out very well for my northern lights shoot.
• Filters – If you want to have any hope of shooting silky smooth water shots, you’re going to need to bring the right ND filters.  I’d recommend an ND8 at a minimum.  Another filter that you’ll want to have is a circular polarizer to cuts glare and reflections, allowing deep, natural colours to show through with great saturation.  Lastly, if you have the money, you can also invest in a more sophisticated glass plate kit such as the one by Formatt Hitech .
• Tripod – Key for any sunset, sunrise, star trail, geyser, long exposure water, or northern lights shots.  I recommend bringing a lightweight carbon fibre one to make it easy to carry in your pack while hiking.  I travel with the  Sirui T-024X  which isn’t exactly a well known brand but it is affordable, sturdy, and gets the job done when travelling.
• Microfibre cloths – Bring lots and lots of these.  As I mentioned above, all of mine were soaked when I was out shooting in the rain.
• Lots of batteries and memory cards – Depending on your camera, bring what you think you’ll need and then some.
• Car charging accessories – Remember you’ll be driving around the island in a car and to keep up with my battery demands, I always made sure I was queueing up the next dead battery.
• Protection from water – If your camera isn’t weather sealed, you’ll want to protect it somehow.  If it’s your camera, you should consider picking up  rain sleeves .  If it’s your phone, one of these waterproof cases should do.
• Carrying bag – Last but not least is a good backpack.  Yes it’s true that you’ll have the luxury of keeping your gear in the car most of the time but once you’re out and about, you’ll need to bring your selected gear with you.  I travelled with the discontinued  Kata 3N1-30 which I quite liked.  I’ve since retired it and right now the best travel bag out there on the market has to be the Peak Design Everyday Backpack which I review here .

Want to learn how to shoot the northern lights?

Step By Step How-To

What you should read next

• Iceland 6 Day Itinerary Road Trip
• Top 5 Hotels in Reykjavik On A Budget In Iceland
• Reasons To Go To Iceland
• Top 12 Things You Absolutely Must Do In Iceland
• Iceland Bubble Hotel Review – Unique Stays

About William Tang

William Tang is the Chief of Awesome behind the award-winning Going Awesome Places which is focused on outdoor adventure, and experiential travel. His true passion lies in telling stories, inspiring photography and videos, and writing detailed itineraries and travel guides. He is a member of Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC), Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), and Travel Massive. He has also been featured in publications such as Reader's Digest, Entrepreneur, Men's Journal, and Haute Living. Make sure to learn more about William Tang to find out his story and how Going Awesome Places started.

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Travel Tips for Iceland

The Best Iceland 7-Day Road Trip Itinerary: Summer + Winter

We rarely see travellers coming over to Iceland (whether they’re travelling from North America or Europe) who stay for only a day or two. Most trips to Iceland include a stay of at least a week (seven days) or more, as seven days typically gives travellers enough time to see a good majority of the island. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can see all of Iceland during a one-week Iceland holiday. 

Iceland is a big country, despite its small size in relation to some of the other most popular travel destinations around the globe, and you’ll have to pick and choose what you see during your 7 days in Iceland. Make the right choices, and you’ll enjoy an amazing 7 days in Iceland filled with the best of the best the country has to offer and our top sights and sounds. But! Choose poorly, and you may find yourself leaving without seeing much of anything.

To help you make the most of your one-week holiday in Iceland, the local experts at Lava Car Rental are here with their best tips, tricks and recommendations for an Iceland road trip for seven days. We’ll answer your questions about what is the best road trip itinerary for seven days in Iceland, what are the must-see attractions during a one-week holiday in Iceland, as well as how much to budget for seven days in Iceland. And, of course, we’ll give you some professional tips on renting your car in Iceland. 

So, without further ado, here are the best Iceland 7-day self-driving itineraries for both summer and winter, as well as our best advice for spending a week in Iceland. 

Go to chapter

3 things you need to know before you plan a one-week road trip itinerary in iceland.

• How Much Should I Budget for 7 Days in Iceland?
• The Best 7-Day Summer Iceland Road Trip Itinerary

The Best 7-day Winter Iceland Road Trip Itinerary

• Tips From the Locals: Renting Your Car in Iceland

We can’t wait to welcome you to Iceland!

But first, before you start planning your 7-day itinerary for Iceland, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. You don’t want to travel the Ring Road

While Iceland’s Ring Road is an extremely popular route for Iceland road trips, it’s simply too much to see over seven days. You’d be spending more time in the car than you would actually enjoy all that Iceland has to offer. 

So, with that in mind, we recommend that, if you only have 7 days total to spend in Iceland, including your arrival and departure days, you should focus on travelling around the South Coast , Iceland’s Golden Circle Route and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula . Doing so will give you plenty of time to enjoy your trip at a more leisurely pace (and if you do have your heart absolutely set on travelling Iceland’s Ring Road, we recommend extending your stay to 10 days , at least).

2. Pick the right vehicle for your time of visit

To ensure the utmost safety and comfort, you want to pick the right vehicle for your Iceland road trip . What vehicle is right for your trip will all depend upon the season in which you’re visiting. 

If you’re travelling from late May to early September, which is Iceland’s summer months, you’ll be safe with a smaller, 2WD vehicle . However, suppose you're travelling to Iceland at any other time of the year. In that case, you’ll want to choose a 4x4 vehicle that can handle the snow, ice and other inclement weather that occurs in Iceland throughout the fall, winter and spring. 

3. Book your car rental ASAP

Whenever you start planning a trip to Iceland, and you know you’ll be doing a 7-day Iceland road trip, you want to go ahead and book your rental car as soon as possible. This is especially the case in the summer months when travelling to Iceland is particularly popular. We usually advise travellers to book their vehicle at least one month in advance of their trip; if not, they may find fewer vehicles from which to choose, as well as higher car rental rates. Additionally, if travellers wait any longer than this to book their vehicle in the summer, they may find no campervans available at all.

How Much Should I Budget for 7 Days in Iceland? 

There’s no one answer to how much you should budget for being in Iceland for 7 days. That’s because your costs will differ heavily depending upon the months in which you travel. As noted, summertime is Iceland’s busiest travel season, so, as you might expect, travel costs are higher in the summer as well. Winter is always the cheapest season for travelling to Iceland, so if you want to visit Iceland on a budget , your best bet is to travel here between October and April.

In general, though, no matter what season you visit Iceland, the country is a more expensive destination as compared to some other regions of the world you might visit, such as the Caribbean or Southeast Asia. While it's true that you can find many affordable flights to Iceland from Europe and North America, once you arrive in Iceland, the costs of things like ground transportation, lodging, food and activities are all relatively high.

In order to save money during your trip to Iceland , it’s wise to think about your costs as you plan out your 7-day itinerary for Iceland. Think about which activities you really want to do most and then maybe cut out some other costly activities that you're not really interested in. You can also save money by opting to  rent a campervan  if you're visiting in the summer, as that will save you money on lodging and transportation, as it combines both into one cost. It will also allow you to see more of the island at your own pace, as we detail in our  full guide to renting a campervan in Iceland . 

Otherwise, try to look for more local-oriented activities (versus tourist-geared activities), shop for groceries and attempt to make some of your meals yourself, purchase any alcoholic beverages at the airport before you enter the country and look to more affordable accommodation options such as hostels and home rentals rather than hotels.

For more information on the cost of living in Iceland and what you can expect, you can see a full breakdown of prices  here . On average, the cost of living in Iceland is about 43% higher than it is in the United States. 

Read our guide to travelling in Iceland on a budget  for more advice on getting around the country as affordably as possible. 

The Best 7-Day Summer Iceland Road Trip Itinerary 

While travelling to Iceland during the summer is more expensive, it also comes with a wealth of benefits. From May to early September, Iceland’s weather is much more agreeable. The road conditions are more easily navigable, and plenteous daylight hours allow for more time to explore and enjoy the great outdoors. Road conditions are safer, outdoor activities like hiking are more easily accessible and getting around is just easier in general. Driving around Iceland in the summer is usually simple for even the most novice drivers. 

The best route for self-driving in Iceland for seven days in Summertime (May ~ Early September)

See the itinerary on Google Maps

For an Iceland trip with an itinerary of 7 days, we’d advise the following schedule:

• Day 1: The Blue Lagoon & Reykjavik
• Day 2: The Golden Circle/Snaefellsnes Peninsula
• Day 3: Snaefellsnes Peninsula/The Golden Circle
• Day 4: The South Coast
• Day 5: Vik to Jokulsarlon
• Day 6: Hofn to Reykjavik
• Day 7: Heading Back Home

Let's go into detail.

You’ll arrive in Iceland at the Keflavik Airport , the only airport in Iceland that receives incoming international travellers. From there, you’re only a short drive from the Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland’s most popular attractions and a can’t-miss experience. Grab your rental car in Keflavik  and then drive on out to the Blue Lagoon for a few hours spent enjoying the huge thermal hot springs surrounded by lava rock. Once done, you can head on into Reykjavik and check in to your hotel there. 

• Day 2: The Golden Circle

Keep your accommodations in Reykjavik for the next few days, as you’ll spend Days 2 and 3 of your self-driving trip in Iceland exploring the Golden Circle and Snaefellsnes Peninsula . These routes are close enough to Reykjavik that you can easily stay in the city for the first part of your 7-day Iceland itinerary. 

Dedicate your second day to the Golden Circle, which only takes a little over 3 hours to drive; dedicating an entire day to the Circle will allow you plenty of time to stop, get out of the car and explore. Popular spots on the route to not miss include Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss and Geysir. 

• Day 3: Snaefellsnes Peninsula 

On your third day, you can travel a little further north to drive around the Snaefellsnes Peninsula while still keeping your hotel accommodations in nearby Reykjavik. The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is known for its gorgeous landscapes, black sand beaches and mountain views. 

Stops to include in your day-long trip around the Snaefellsnes Peninsula include Hellnar Beach, the Longdrangar basalt cliffs, the Malariff Lighthouse, Djupalonssandur Beach and Mount Kirkjufell.

• Day 4: The South Coast 

On Day 4 of your Iceland 7-day itinerary, it’s time to check out of your hotel in Reykjavik and head to the South Coast . The drive between Reykjavik and Vik (where you'll be staying on your fourth night) is only about 3 hours, but you’ll want to stop plenty and enjoy the sights. 

Some of the top spots to stop along the route include Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Seljavallalaug Hot Pool, Skogafoss Waterfall, the Solheimasandur Plane Wreck and the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. 

• Day 5: Vik to Jokulsarlon 

On Day 5, you’ll be driving from Vik to Jokulsarlon, so go ahead and check out of your Vik hotel. During the drive, be sure to stop by Fjadrargljufur Canyon, Skaftafell National Park, the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Hofn and Diamond Beach. At night, you’ll want to have booked a hotel in either Hofn or Jokulsarlon. 

• Day 6: Hofn to Reykjavik 

On the last full day of your trip, you’ll want to make your way back to Reykjavik from Hofn. The drive is about six hours, but you can still make time to stop along the journey to visit some extra sites, particularly if you missed any along your drive to the South Coast or between Vik and Jokulsarlon. 

• Day 7: Heading Back Home

If you didn’t have time to visit the Blue Lagoon upon your arrival in Iceland, now’s a good time to do so. Otherwise, drop your vehicle off with your rental car provider and catch your flight back home from Keflavik Airport. 

What car you should hire for your 7-day summer Iceland itinerary?

For a 7-day summer Iceland itinerary, we recommend renting a 2WD economy vehicle for travelling couples; for groups of three or four travellers, we recommend renting an SUV , so you have enough room for everyone to be comfortable well as all of your luggage. 

Travelling through Iceland during the winter is an entirely different experience than travelling in Iceland during the summer. You still can enjoy many of the same sites and activities, but do note that the drives may take you longer, and you may find that you need a little more flexibility in your 7-day itinerary. This is all because Iceland’s winter months, October through April, are filled with unpredictable and sometimes hazardous weather, and road conditions that make for slow going and fewer daylight hours overall. 

The best route for self-driving in Iceland for seven days in Winter time (late September ~ April)

You’ll want to keep this in mind when planning your wintertime 7 days in Iceland, but, in general, here's what we recommend for a 7-day Iceland winter road trip itinerary. 

• Day 2: The Golden Circle
• Day 3: The South Coast
• Day 4: Vik to Jokulsarlon
• Day 5: Ice Caving and Sightseeing in Jokulsarlon

As always, you’ll arrive in Iceland at the Keflavik Airport, the only airport in Iceland that receives incoming international travellers. Grab your rental car and then head (carefully and slowly!) to the Blue Lagoon. Popular all year round, the Blue Lagoon is especially nice during the winter months, when you can enjoy the hot springs in your bathing suit while taking in the wintertime panorama all around you. After your Blue Lagoon experience, you can head to Reykjavik and check in to your hotel.

Keep your accommodations in Reykjavik for one more day, as you set out to see the Golden Circle over your first full day in Iceland. The Golden Circle takes 3 hours to drive in good weather, but you’ll want to leave plenty of extra time for slow driving conditions. Popular spots on the route to not miss include Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss and Geysir.

• Day 3: The South Coast 

On Day 3, check out of your Reykjavik hotel and travel along the South Coast to Vik, where you’ll stay the night. Again, this route is short, also taking only 3 hours, but you’ll want to leave plenty of time for stopping, as well as for inclement weather that might impact your drive times. 

Some of the top spots to stop along the route include Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Seljavallalaug Hot Pool, Skogafoss Waterfall, the Solheimasandur Plane Wreck and the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.

• Day 4: Vik to Jokulsarlon 

On Day 4, check out of your Vik hotel and drive to Jokulsarlon. During the drive, be sure to stop by Fjadrargljufur Canyon, Skaftafell National Park, the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Hofn and Diamond Beach. For the night, you’ll want to have booked a hotel in Jokulsarlon.

• Day 5: Ice Caving and Sightseeing in Jokulsarlon 

Ice caving is one of the top can’t-miss activities for a winter trip to Iceland. Do keep in mind, though, if you're travelling on a budget, that ice-caving tours can be a bit expensive, so if this is something you want to do while in Jokulsarlon, budget accordingly. 

Again, you can spend the night in your Jokulsarlon hotel. 

On the last full day of your trip, you’ll want to drive the pristine Icelandic coastline from Hofn to Reykjavik. The drive is about 6 hours, so plan your drive according to the winter daylight hours as an extra safety precaution. 

If you didn’t have time to visit the Blue Lagoon upon your arrival in Iceland, now’s a good time to do so. Otherwise, drop your vehicle off with your rental car provider and catch your flight back home from Keflavik Airport.

What car you should hire for your 7-day Winter Iceland itinerary?

During the winter months, we always recommend our clients rent 4x4 vehicles . The road conditions during the winter are often hazardous, and the weather is unpredictable, necessitating a well-equipped vehicle to get you safely around Iceland.

Tips From the Locals: Renting Your Car in Iceland 

Whenever you visit Iceland, wherever you plan to go, however long you plan to be here, there are a few things you should do when renting your car in Iceland. 

• Be sure to choose the right rental car based on your itinerary.
• Be sure to choose the right rental car based on the season.
• And be sure to choose the right rental car based on the type of traveller you are.

You’ll also want to look for rental cars with the amenities you need, as well as a rental car that’s equipped with the transmission you’re most accustomed to driving with. 

You can read more about all of our top tips for renting a car in Iceland . 

Explore some of the most beautiful and popular stops around Iceland over seven days, with no need to rush or hurry. Following along with one of our 7-day Iceland itineraries makes it possible. And remember — the right rental car can make all the difference in how enjoyable (and safe!) your trip is. Check out all of your rental car options for your Iceland trip .

Hire your Iceland car today

Related Travel Tips

The Best Iceland 2-Week Itinerary (Summer & Winter)

If you’re planning to spend two weeks in Iceland, there’s a lot that you can see and do. With 14 days, you can create a trip that allows you to see the best of the entire country. To help you pick the best itinerary in Iceland, we’ve laid out our top suggestions for a 14-day Iceland road trip, whether you're visiting during summer or winter.

A Guide to Driving in Iceland in December

Thinking of visiting Iceland in December? This is a wonderful month to experience the end-of-the-year festivities and to see the northern lights. Keep reading to learn more about what driving in Iceland in December is like, and what to do and see in Iceland in December.

Guide to the Highland F-Roads and Gravel Roads of Iceland

Planning a trip to drive the F-roads of Iceland or the Iceland Highland roads to explore one of the most remote areas of the country? Here’s everything you need to know about Iceland Highlands and F-roads driving in Iceland, including the most popular routes and useful tips.

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Iceland Road Trip | The Perfect Itinerary for 7, 14 & 21 Days

An Iceland road trip is probably one of the most amazing trips you can do in Europe. Iceland is just perfect as a country for a road trip and the landscape is just spectacular on the small volcanic island in the Atlantic. There are waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches and the highlands in which you feel like on the moon.

On an road trip through Iceland you will see and experience things that you can’t see anywhere else, at least not in this density. There are different ways to discover Iceland on a road trip. Whether you have only 7-10 days, 2 weeks or even 3 weeks time. Iceland is always worth a trip.

In the following we have 3 route suggestions for you, so that you can experience the perfect Iceland vacation.

We are Sabrina and Andreas, two adventurous travelers who never miss an opportunity to discover the world. Whether by plane to distant countries or with our campervan Bruno, we just love to travel. We hope to give you helpful tips for your next trip on our blog.

Sabrina & Andreas Globetrotters, Travelers, Adventurers

Iceland Road Trip Tips

If you want to travel to Iceland, then it is advisable to take some travel tips to heart. Some things are -besides the landscape- very special in Iceland. These include the required rental cars, the weather and regions such as the highlands. Some important Iceland tips we want to give you now to the hand.

Where to book a Rental Car for Iceland

Generally we like to book our rental cars for everywhere in the world with German providers. Unfortunately, there are no campervans or rental cars with roof tent available. Also cars, which are suitable for the highlands, are not available here.

For that you have to search with Icelandic providers. A specialized price comparison site for rental cars in Iceland is northbound.is* . There you can find everything from normal small cars to SUVs with roof tent to large SUVs and campers.

With Northbound, you can cancel all cars up to 48 hours before the start of the rental period free of charge . This is always helpful if travel plans change unexpectedly. We were completely satisfied with the booking, the car, the whole process and the support of Northbound and can only recommend you to book here.

Car Rental at the Iceland Specialist with Years of Know-How:

Northbound.is.

• compares all Icelandic car rental providers
• specialized in Iceland roundtrips and the highlands
• specialized insurances for the rough Iceland available
• free cancellation up to 48h before start of rental period
• normal rental cars, campervans , motorhomes, SUV (also with roof tent) & off-road vehicles available

Find The Best Prices for Iceland Rental Cars at northbound.is*

Important Travel Tips for your Iceland Road Trip

Iceland is a very special destination. Not only because of the indescribably beautiful landscape. Also because the climatic conditions and the road conditions are very special. It is always windy and often stormy. Of course it also rains very often.

And although the ring road around the island is almost completely paved, the roads in the adventurous highlands are of a completely different caliber.

As you can see, there is a lot to consider before you go on your first Iceland road trip. To make your trip planning a little easier, we have written a separate article on the most important travel tips for Iceland:

• Iceland Travel Tips 2023 | What you should know before your first road trip!

Iceland Road Trip | Our Route Suggestions

Iceland is super versatile, it offers countless waterfalls, glaciers, black lava beaches, volcanoes, hot springs and much more. The nature in Iceland is the highlight of the island. Nowhere in the world are comparable landscapes in such abundance. Iceland must be seen and many people are attracted to the volcanic island in the Atlantic not only once.

You can spend many weeks or even months on Iceland and still not have seen everything. But even with a round trip of 1-3 weeks you can see many great sights and be enchanted by the breathtaking nature.

7 Day Iceland Road Trip Itinerary

If you only have a week for an Iceland road trip, then it is unrealistic and too stressful to go around the whole island, instead you should stay in the south. But that’s not bad at all, because in the south of Iceland there are many great highlights like the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlon or the black lava beach Stokksnes.

Also many great waterfalls are located in the south of Iceland and can be visited with our Iceland itinerary for one week.

So you can get a great overview of the wonderful landscape here and whet your appetite for your next Iceland trip.

Facts about the Iceland Road Trip

Duration: 7-10 days Kilometers: 1180 km Best time to travel: In summer (June-August), in winter for aurora & ice caves (January/February) More info about the route: Our trip report

Highlights on the route

Golden Circle Skogafoss Waterfall Jökulsárlon Glacier Lagoon Stokksnes

Overview of the 7 Days Itinerary

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With our 7-day itinerary, you’ll see the very biggest Iceland highlights and experience many of the most beautiful sights in Iceland. The hotel density in the south of Iceland is relatively high and there are also quite a few campsites. So you won’t have any problems with accommodation.

If you want more information about our 7 days Iceland road trip then read our detailed travel report:

7 Days Iceland Road Trip | All You Need To Know

Iceland Road Trip Itinerary for 14 Days

It is easily possible during a 2 week Iceland road trip itinerary to circle the island once and take in most of the highlights. Because the ring road leads once around the island and there are also most of the highlights. But if you also want to drive through Iceland’s spectacular highlands, it is not so easy to find a suitable route for a 14-day Iceland road trip.

Therefore, we have looked at the research for our own 14 days Iceland round trip, which highland roads can also be driven with a simple off-road vehicle and made an Iceland itinerary including the highlands . You can of course skip the highland parts of this route and spend more time on the coast.

Duration: 14-16 days Kilometers: 2270 km Best time to travel: In summer (June-August) More info about the route: Our travelogue

Landmannalaugar Skogafoss waterfall Jökulsárlon Glacier Lagoon Kerlingafjöll & the highlands

Overview of the 2 Weeks Iceland Road Trip Itinerary

In our 2 weeks itinerary you will see the most beautiful Icelandic highlights and even experience the adventurous highlands in the center of the island. What you can discover in Iceland’s highlands is really out of this world. For the highlands you absolutely need an off-road vehicle. Do you want to know what you have to pay attention to when renting a car and what you can expect here?

For more information about our 14 days Iceland road trip itinerary read our detailed travel report:

14 Days Iceland Road Trip (incl. Highlands) | All You Need To Know

Iceland Road Trip in 3 Weeks

On a 3 weeks Iceland road trip you can discover almost all sights of this wonderful island. You will not only drive along Iceland’s ring road, but you can also visit special places like the remote Westfjords or the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

But also the most beautiful sights on the ring road of Iceland, such as Skogafoss, Stokksnes , the glacier lagoon Jökulsarlon or Dettifoss you will be able to marvel at this Iceland road trip.

Our 3 weeks Iceland itinerary is based on a classic Iceland round trip along the ring road and makes additional detours to great highlights like the Westfjords or the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

Duration: 21-23 days Kilometers: 3795 km  Best time to travel: In summer (June-August) More info about the route: Our travelogue

Landmannalaugar Westfjords Jökulsárlon Glacier Lagoon The Highlands

Overview of the 3 Weeks Iceland Itinerary

In 3 weeks you can actually already discover everything in Iceland. I get to the highlands, visit the remote Westfjords and otherwise take every wonderful Iceland highlight that there is to experience here.

For more information on our 3 week Iceland road trip read our detailed trip report:

3 Weeks Iceland Road Trip (with Highlands) | All You Need To Know

We hope you enjoyed our blog post about the best Iceland Road Trip Itineraries. If you have any question feel free to leave us a comment below.

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Learn how to easily plan your dream trip to Iceland with helpful guides and tips!

The Ultimate 4 Days In Iceland Itinerary

May 30, 2021 //  by  Iceland Trippers //   14 Comments

Planning to spend 4 days in Iceland and looking for the perfect itinerary? We’ve got you covered. Despite being a small country, Iceland has an incredible amount of beauty and adventure to offer.

The island is one stunning natural wonder after the next. Even your drive from one place to the next will have you staring out the window in awe.

Exploring Iceland in a long weekend will allow you the time to cover some of the country’s most extraordinary sites, while still leaving you with plenty to keep you coming back for more.

Planning your trip to Iceland last minute?

Make sure to book your hotels and tours in Iceland in advance to ensure availability! The longer you wait, the more difficult it gets. Here are my top picks for your trip :

Top Experiences And Tours In Iceland:

• Golden Circle Full Day Tour From Reykjavik (Likely to sell out!)
• Silfra Snorkeling Tour (Includes photos + only small group)
• South Of Iceland Full Day Trip (Our pick!)
• Whale Watching In Reykjavik (On a luxury yacht)
• Northern Lights Bus Tour (Great to go with a local)
• Ice Cave Tour And Glacier Hike (Likely to sell out)

Tickets You MUST book in advance:

• Keflavik > Reykjavik Bus Airport Transfer (Skip the line!)
• Sky Lagoon Entrance Ticket (Includes 7-step spa ritual)
• Blue Lagoon Entry Ticket With Drink (Likely to sell out!)

Top picks for places to stay in Iceland:

• Hotel South Coast (Great central location)
• Grandi Reykjavik (Includes free breakfast)
• Hotel Kria (Close to black sand beach)
• Hotel Skaftafell (Mid-range price)

Our Iceland itinerary will have you visiting thundering waterfalls, brilliant white icebergs, black sand beaches, and canyons that look like something out of a fairytale. Iceland’s landscape is incredibly diverse making each stop unique and fascinating.

No matter what time of year you are visiting you’ll have more than enough activities to keep you busy.  Feel free to alter this Iceland itinerary as you see fit given your own time constraints and energy levels. Get a FREE printable “Hidden Gems In Iceland” E-book by joining our private  Iceland Facebook Group  and share your photos and ask for tips and tricks.

We definitely recommend renting a car for your 4 days in Iceland. It is possible to book tours that will take you to a number of stops on this itinerary, however in order to complete this itinerary in full or adjust your schedule as you see fit, most people find a car is the ideal option for getting around the country. This will allow you the chance to explore Iceland’s natural beauty on your own terms.

Driving in Iceland is not cheap, but we guarantee it will enhance your overall trip experience. Do take note, that unlike in the United States, many of the rental cars have a manual transmission, so if you don’t know how to drive a manual car, double check to make sure your rental car has an automatic transmission!

We’ve been to Iceland many times and are very fond of the country. The information you’ll find in this Iceland itinerary is the information we wish we had on our first visit to the land of fire and ice. We hope our past experiences will help make planning your trip a little easier!

4 Days In Iceland Map:

If you’re more of a visual person, we’ve provided this road trip map for your 4 days in Iceland below so it’s easier for you to see where each stop is located. For the driving route, check out the link to the map. This map will show you an idea of where all of the stops are along this route!

Click Here For Iceland in 4 Days Map

Day 1: Begin Your 4 Days In Iceland In And Around The Capital City

Stop 1: soak in a natural river at reykjadalur hot springs.

After a long flight and drive from Keflavik to Reykjavik, there’s no better way to start your trip than stretching your legs and getting your blood pumping on a beautiful hike. If you’ve ever wanted to bathe in a hot river in the middle of nature, you’ll be excited that the Reykjadalur Hot Springs is the first stop on your Iceland itinerary.

No matter what time of year you are visiting Iceland, bring a swimsuit! Understandably, it does seem counterintuitive to bring a swimsuit to a country called Iceland, but we guarantee you won’t regret having one handy.

Located in South Iceland, just 45 minutes from Reykjavik, Reykjadalur Hot Springs is the perfect quick nature escape from the capital. The hike to the hot springs is roughly 45 minutes-1 hour, and is easy to moderately difficult. The hike starts with a relatively steep uphill climb before leveling out.

The path is well maintained and clearly marked. Your hike will take you through a valley filled with steam, past a cascading waterfall and many grazing sheep.

As you approach the hot springs you’ll be greeted with the distinct smell of rotten eggs, which is attributed to the sulfur in the boiling water surrounding the hot springs. The boiling water is mesmerizing, but don’t touch it. The real prize is waiting for you, just mere steps away.

When you reach the part of the river that is safe for bathing, you can change on a wood platform with partitions. Privacy is lacking, but no one cares. Everyone is there to relax and have a good time.

Find your perfect spot in the river and enjoy bathing while the sheep suntan 10 yards away. The best spots in the river are right up against the rock piles dividing the river into sections. There you’ll find the deepest pockets of water.

In summer, the water in this section of the river resembles that of a Jacuzzi and is perfect for bathing. As the weather gets colder, you may need to hike a little further upriver to find a spot warm enough to enjoy for extended periods of time.

Arrive in the early morning or late evening (when you can enjoy the midnight sun in the summer) to avoid the biggest crowds. There is nothing quite like bathing in a river surrounded by stunning nature, and you’ll no doubt be glad you made this stop to kick off your 4 days in Iceland.

This is one of the best stops around Iceland’s Ring Road . If you happen to be driving in Iceland , you will want to ensure that you make time to see it! 

Stop 2: Downtown Reykjavik

Now that you’ve had a taste of Iceland’s natural outdoor beauty, we suggest taking a walk around downtown Reykjavik to explore the colorful capital. Laugavegur is the main shopping street downtown filled with shops, café’s, restaurants, galleries, etc. You can do anything from buying Icelandic wool sweaters to enjoying a delicious cup of coffee on this street.

Laugavegur along with Bankastræti and Austurstræti streets will take care of your shopping needs. There are also a number of wonderful museums in and around Reykjavik including Perlan, the former water towers turned observation deck and “Wonders of Iceland” museum, the Reykjavik Maritime Museum along the harbor, the underground Settlement Exhibition with an excavated longhouse, and the Arbær Open Air Museum where you’ll find preserved old Icelandic buildings with sod roofs.

A day in downtown Reykjavik would be incomplete without a visit to the iconic Hallgrimskirkja Church, designed by architect Gudjón Samúelsson with an outside meant to resemble the basalt columns found in Iceland’s nature. It’s the tallest building in downtown Reykjavik and as a result is very difficult to miss. The area in front of the church is dominated by a statue of the famous Leifur Eiriksson, the first European to set foot in North America even before Christopher Columbus.

The inside of the church is minimalistic in design and not particularly grand, though the large pipe organ inside is eye-catching. The real draw of the church however is the spectacular 360 views you’ll find at the tower up top.

Entrance to the church alone is free, but admission to the tower is 1000 ISK per person. Once you pay at the church shop you’ll take an elevator up to the tower where you can take your time enjoying the views over all of Reykjavik and beyond.

Another stop you’ll want to make while in Reykjavik is to the Harpa Concert Hall, the beautiful concert venue downtown with 714 honeycomb-like glass panels that light up at night. Like Hallgrimskirkja, the design was meant to resemble basalt columns. The site is somewhat controversial as it was an expensive project completed shortly after the 2008 financial crisis with money that many people felt should have been invested elsewhere.

Whether or not its completion was warranted, it stands today as an architectural beauty, recipient of the Mies Van der Rohe award for architecture and home to festivals, concerts of all music genres, conferences and more. Even if there are no concerts happening during your visit, it’s worth wandering the impressive building to admire the architectural work.

For those with a sweet tooth we’ve got a couple of locations you won’t regret visiting. The first is the Brauð & Co. bakery where you’ll delight in the most delicious pastries. The cinnamon and vanilla rolls and chocolate croissants are particularly fantastic and addicting.

The name of the bakery is not well marked on the building, but the outside is very distinguishable with its colorful street art, and the smells waft down the street so it can’t be missed! Our other suggestion is Valdis ice cream. The idea of eating ice cream in a cold climate can sound strange and yet Icelanders absolutely love their ice cream all year round.

This is a tried and true favorite of both locals and visitors alike. There are a large variety of flavors that are constantly changing. It’s hard to go wrong with this delicious ice cream.

Stop 3: Relax In The Hot Tubs At The Local Swimming Pool

Every town in Iceland has at least one swimming pool complex (Reykjavik has many), and there’s no better way to finish off an adventurous day than with a soak in one or all of the multiple hot tubs of differing temperatures. This is the perfect way to spend one of your four days in Iceland!

There are a couple things you should know about the public swimming pools. After you pay to use the pools (1030 ISK for adults), you’ll leave your shoes outside the locker room on a shoe rack.

You’ll be given a wristband or key to lock your individual locker. When you enter the locker room, don’t be alarmed if everyone is naked. In fact it’s a requirement that you shower naked before putting on your bathing suit and getting in the pool.

In Iceland, it’s entirely normal, and no one is paying attention to you anyway, so there’s no need to feel self-conscious. Most of the showers are communal, but if you’d feel more comfortable with some privacy there are sometimes a handful of shower stalls with doors. When returning from the pool you also have to dry yourself completely after showering before you can enter the locker room area.

We suggest heading to Laugardalslaug, the largest of Reykjavik’s pool complexes located right next to Iceland’s National Soccer Team Stadium. This complex is made up of an indoor pool, an Olympic sized heated outdoor pool, a kiddie pool with a slide, hot tubs of varying temperatures (38°C, 42°C, and 44°C) as well as a salt water hot tub. For those daring souls perhaps trying to recover from aches and pains, there is a cold tub as well, though as you might expect, it gets far fewer visitors.

This pool complex is a favorite of locals and tourists at all times of the year. And in the winter, there’s nothing quite like sitting in a steaming hot tub, surrounded by snow while reflecting on the adventures of your day.

Stop 4: Try To Catch A Glimpse Of The Elusive Northern Lights

If you’re visiting Iceland in the winter, we highly suggest driving out of town to try to see the lights or paying for a tour. The Northern Lights have the potential to be seen from September-April. A strong Northern Lights show makes your heart want to leap out of your chest with excitement, but the Northern Lights are inconsistent and elusive.

One minute the sky is dancing in brilliant hues of green and purple, and the next, clouds are obscuring anything and everything in the sky. In Iceland, there’s precipitation approximately 300 days a year on average, meaning the sky is more often than not cloudy or at least slightly overcast.

This makes the northern lights search particularly frustrating when you know there’s solar activity, but the lights are hidden behind clouds. Sometimes patience wins out, and the clouds will part long enough for you to see the lights; sometimes it never clears, and you’re just out of luck.

If you’re hoping to maximize your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, you have two options. Your first is paying to take a guided Northern Lights Tour . These tour guides are extremely knowledgeable and seek out the Northern Lights for a living, so they know the best places to wait and watch.

Remember though, nature is the only one in control of the Northern Lights, so even with a guide there is no guarantee you’ll see the lights. If you don’t see the lights on your first trip, most tour companies allow you to rebook a second trip at no extra charge.

The other option is to take your car, drive away from the city lights and search for the lights yourself. Dark, clear skies give you the best chance of seeing the lights so the longest nights of the year will give you the highest percentage of both.

You can track the aurora strength and visibility yourself, and you can continue to check it throughout the night as it continuously updates. The Northern Lights are a remarkable sight and worth taking a chance on!

Where to stay in Reykjavik:

Affordable: Hotel Klettur  Check rates: Booking.com

Mid-range: Fosshotel Reykjavik  Check rates: Booking.com

Luxury: Hotel Borg  Check rates: Booking.com

Day 2: Explore The Waterfalls Along Iceland’s South Coast

Stop 1: hrunalaug hot springs.

Hrunalaug is one of the many fantastic natural hot springs in Iceland, perfect for bathing and relaxing. Everything about this spot and its surrounding nature is picturesque and ideal, however recent surges in tourism and visits to the sites by large tour buses have worn down the site to the point where the owner considered bulldozing the whole thing down. The natural hot spring was built up to accommodate humans, but it remains very small and is not designed for large groups of people.

A small little turf hut acts as a changing room. Behind the hut is a small two-person rectangular hot pot that is designed almost more like a bathtub. To the left of the changing room as you face it is a slightly larger pot, but even that only holds perhaps 8-10 people.

As a result of the limited space, early morning and late evening is the best time to visit the natural hot spring to avoid the biggest crowds. The hot pot is also particularly popular because it is known to maintain a comfortable water temperature all year long. It is the perfect stop when spending 4 nights in Iceland!

If you’re fortunate enough to get one of the coveted spots in the hot spring, you’re in for an incredibly enjoyable experience soaking up the welcome heat of the water while gazing out at the undeniable natural beauty around you. 

We cannot express the importance of keeping this location clean, being respectful and picking up after yourself. For the most part, the changing hut and pools are clean and well maintained mostly thanks to the owner who comes by now and then to see to its upkeep. But as we mentioned, this wonderful natural hot spring is at risk of being shut down for good, so please play your part in preserving it so it can remain for future visitors to enjoy.

Stop 2: Visit The Þjóðveldisbærinn Saga-Age Farm

Have you ever wanted to learn more about how the Vikings lived? Well now is your chance at the Þjóðveldisbærinn Saga-Age farm, an impressive replica of Stöng, the excavated manor farm in Þjórsárdalur. You might find their buildings to be more charming and majestic than you had expected.

The reconstructed Settlement farm was built in honor of the 1100th anniversary of the Settlement of Iceland and opened in 1977. The idea was to provide an example of a medieval Icelandic farm, and it was thought a replica of Stöng would be the best representation of a farm from that time period.

Stöng was located dangerously close to the volcano Hekla. It is thought that the farm and the rest of the surrounding settlement was destroyed and abandoned after the 1104 Hekla eruption, however, Hekla also erupted many other times in later years, so the exact time of its final destruction and abandonment is unclear. Despite being covered in white volcanic ash, the remains of Stöng underneath were remarkably well preserved.

The farm was reconstructed with much love and care in an attempt to get every detail both on the interior and exterior exact and preserve an important piece of Icelandic history. Of course, without a full original to copy, there are aspects of the reconstructed work that had to be imagined, estimated, or pulled from story and folklore, but by all accounts, the finished result is remarkably accurate. You won’t regret immersing yourself in this fascinating piece of history when seeing Iceland in 4 days!

Stop 3: Admire One Of The Highest Waterfalls In Iceland At Haifoss

Right on the edge of the highlands in South Iceland sits Haifoss, an impressive 400-foot waterfall. It is one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland. Haifoss thunders down right next to its partner waterfall, Granni (which translates to neighbor).

Though Granni’s flow is slightly less powerful, the two waterfalls side by side are a sight to behold. Haifoss by itself eclipses most other waterfalls you’ll see in your lifetime. The two waterfalls are located in a gorge created by the Fossa River.

It is possible to hike down to the falls if you’re spending a significant amount of your day at the waterfall and its surrounding valley, but the view from the top is incredible, and easily accessible from the parking lot. From the parking lot, you can walk along the edge of the gorge taking in the waterfalls from multiple viewing points which is the perfect thing to do with 4 days in Iceland!

In the winter, Haifoss is usually inaccessible unless you are driving there in buses or jeeps designed for winter weather and icy gravel roads. Don’t attempt the drive unless you are in an appropriate vehicle. Even in summer, the gravel roads are rocky and full of potholes and require slow driving and patience.

Because of its distance from the more popular Golden Circle stops along the South Coast, and the rockiness of the road, the gorge is never crowded, and there’s always plenty of time and room to take pictures and take in the waterfalls in all their glory. If you can brave the drive to get there, the view at the end of the road is unforgettable, and you won’t regret making the drive, however bumpy.

Stop 4: Relax In The Hidden Oasis of Gjain

Gjain is a stunning valley that you won’t want to miss during your 4 days in Iceland, particularly in the summertime when the vegetation is at its peak. The valley truly comes alive with beauty. It’s full of a whole collection of small waterfalls, brilliant blue pools of water, carved out shallow caves, green growth of all kinds, flowers and birdlife.

When the weather is nice it’s the perfect place to bring a blanket and have a picnic. Because it’s a valley it feels very private and secluded giving you a welcome peace and quiet to your experience. It becomes your own little slice of paradise.

You’ll hardly ever find crowds here as it’s off the main road and not a stop that general tour buses make. The valley is beautiful at other times of year as well but it can just become harder or impossible to reach in the winter as the roads and paths turn icy.

Getting to Gjain is fairly straightforward from Haifoss. You’ll continue back down the road the way you came then turn right when you reach the fork in the road instead of heading all the way back to road No. 32.

To reach both Gjain and Haifoss it’s recommended you have a 4×4 with ground clearance because of the bumpy roads. The drive itself isn’t anything particularly spectacular as you pass through expanses of lava fields and rock, but it makes arriving at this hidden oasis even more spectacular and magical. It is a must see when visiting Iceland in 4 days!

Stop 5: Walk Behind A Thundering Waterfall At Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss, a 200-foot waterfall, is right off the Route 1 (Ring Road) on the South Coast of Iceland. There is no hiking required to see this waterfall. This is one of the most famous Waterfalls In Iceland! It is the perfect stop when spending 4 days in Iceland because there are multiple waterfalls nearby!

It is just a short walk from the parking lot, and it can even be seen from farther away as you drive up to it along the Ring Road. Though Iceland is graced with an endless display of stunning waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss’s unique quality is that it is possible to walk behind the waterfall.

A path leads from the parking lot up to the front of the waterfall and then loops around the sides and back so you get a view of the waterfall from every angle. We suggest wearing raingear, as you’ll likely get wet, particularly on a windy day.

With a waterfall as powerful as Seljalandsfoss, the spray is far-reaching. It is entirely worth walking the loop though, and being that up close and personal makes you appreciate the sheer size and power of the waterfall.

Seljalandsfoss is fed by the famed glacier-capped volcano Eyjafjallajokull that erupted in 2010 disrupting air traffic across Europe. The waterfall is relatively narrow, but its power is mighty as is evident when standing behind it inside the cave in the cliff. In the summer, the cliff and ground surrounding Seljalandsfoss are a brilliant green, and everything is dotted with yellow wildflowers creating a colorfully picturesque landscape.

Though the path gets wet, particularly on the backside of the waterfall, it is a well-marked path, and easy to navigate. In the winter, when the snow turns to ice and the path gets slippery, the path is often partially closed off. This is for your own safety.

Don’t try and circumvent the restricted area. Though closures may alter your experience, it isn’t lessened.

Seljalandsfoss is beautiful even in winter. For much of the winter, everything is coated in white, and the impressive waterfall becomes part of a winter wonderland. No matter when you visit, this waterfall should top your 4 day trip to Iceland!

Stop 6: Find Seljalandsfoss’ Hidden Neighbor Gljufrabui

Gljufrabui is often overlooked as it is slightly hidden and is smaller than its towering neighbor, Seljalandsfoss. However, we suggest that anyone completing this 4 day Iceland itinerary should take some time to explore this hidden gem as well. Why not when it’s right next door!

Gljufrabui is within walking distance of Seljalandsfoss. When you finish your loop around Seljalandsfoss, head to the right (if you’re facing the parking lot), and walk until you hit the campground.

On your right will be a sign for the waterfall, and you’ll see a cavern with a river running through it. To get to the waterfall you’ll have to walk through the river, so be prepared with waterproof boots or a change of shoes.

Oftentimes the river rocks will rise out of the water just enough for you to step from rock to rock and avoid getting anything more than the soles of your boots wet. After heavy rain though, the water level rises and it becomes a bit trickier to maneuver your way into the cavern. Once inside the cavern, you’ll be greeted with a beautiful waterfall that looks as if it’s pouring through a skylight in nature’s ceiling.

The sun lights up the cavern, illuminating the green, mossy walls and highlighting the streaming, crystal clear water. There’s a giant boulder in the middle of the cavern, which is easy to climb and perfect for taking pictures.

When you’re done you’ll exit the cavern that same way you came in. Just be careful to wait your turn and make sure no one is on the rocks trying to enter the cavern at the same time.

It’s also possible to view the waterfall from above, looking down on the waterfall from the skylight opening. The pathway up the hill though is steep.

Particularly after it rains the path becomes muddy and slippery, so if you go this way, use caution. Though the waterfall is of course still beautiful when viewed from above, the best view is from inside the cavern where you’re surrounded and almost consumed by your natural surroundings.

Stop 7: Climb To The Top Of The Impressive Skogafoss Waterfall

Skogafoss is just a 25-minute drive from Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrabui. It is also visible from the road and is easily accessible from the parking lot. At 197 feet, Skogafoss is roughly the same height as Seljalandsfoss but its width is an impressive 82 feet.

This is our favorite waterfall in Iceland, and a trip hasn’t begun until we see this site! It is truly the best!

The Skoga River flows along a wide pebbled path leading right up to the waterfall. The path is flat and easy to walk. The waterfall is forceful, and you will get unrelentingly sprayed as you approach it from its base, so you’ll want to consider wearing water resistant clothing.

But the feeling of standing that close to such a powerful force of nature is incredible. You might even see a rainbow on a sunny day, adding its finishing touch on an already stunning waterfall.

After you’ve spent some time appreciating the enormity of the waterfall from its base, you can climb the steps to view the waterfall from above. There are a little over 500 stairs to the top of the waterfall. It is definitely a quadricep workout, but the view is worth it.

From the viewing platform, you can see the Skoga River which flows to the top of the waterfall before plummeting over the edge. This is a much less photographed view of Skogafoss, but it’s still remarkable.

After spending some time viewing the waterfall from above, most people head back down the staircase to the parking lot. However, there is a hiking trail that follows the Skoga River back into the valley, and it’s filled with additional waterfalls if you’re up for a long, extended day hike. Assuming you’re returning to the parking lot, you’ll turn back to face the staircase and be greeted with a beautiful, sprawling view of South Iceland below.

Stop 8: Walk To The Secluded, Picturesque Kvernufoss Waterfall

Right next door to Skogafoss is the waterfall Kvernufoss. Kvernufoss is one of South Iceland’s less frequented gems. Fewer tourists know of its existence, but it’s certainly not lacking in beauty.

To get to Kvernufoss, you’ll take the same exit off the Ring Road as you would to get to Skogafoss, but instead of following the signs to the left for Skogafoss, continue straight down Skogar to the end of the road and turn right. You’ll park near Hotel Edda and walk the rest of the way into the valley. In the summer, it takes about 10-15 minutes to reach the waterfall.

The walk is comfortable, requiring very little in the way of elevation hiking or rocky terrain. From the hotel you’ll climb a short ladder over a fence and make your way back into the valley where the path is clearly marked. You might even run into a few Icelandic horses grazing by the river.

The waterfall itself is similar in looks to its neighbor, Seljalandsfoss. You can even walk behind it too! This is one of our favorite hidden gems to visit with 4 days in Iceland as it is so close to other waterfalls!

The whole valley is beautiful. It’s green and lush in summer, and sparkling white in winter. Best of all, it’s not overcrowded with tourists at any time of year. 

Though the path is easily navigated in the summer months, in the winter, it is often covered in ice and can be dangerous. Bring crampons to stabilize your feet on the slippery ground and exercise caution. It might be best to view the waterfall from farther away.

Where to stay in/near Vík:

Affordable/Mid-range: Þ akgil Campground . Check rates: thakgil.is

Mid-range: The Garage Apartments . Check rates: Booking.com

Luxury: Hotel Kria . Check rates: Booking.com

We have an entire article about Where To Stay In Vik Iceland so if you are searching, this is the place to check out even more detailed suggestions! 

Day 3: Black Sand Beaches And Plane Wrecks

Stop 1: explore the eerie remains from the solheimasandur plane wreck.

This popular tourist destination is the result of a DC-3 US navy plane running out of fuel and crashing on Solheimasandur Beach in 1973. Fortunately everyone survived, but the body of the plane was abandoned. The white wreckage of the plane lies in sharp contrast with the black sand of the beach, and together they make for hauntingly beautiful photographs.

There is a designated parking lot for visitors to the plane wreck located right along the Ring Road just 10 minutes down the coast from Skogafoss. Though at one time you could drive right up to the plane wreck you now have to walk 2 miles from the parking lot.

The path is flat and relatively easy, but will take you roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour each way. There is very little to see besides vast expanses of rocks and black sand, and on a windy day the walk can be particularly frustrating, as you have to fight the wind resistance as well.

If there is one thing to skip on your 4 days in Iceland, this would be it, as it takes quite a bit of time to go see! It is still epic, but if you are looking to save time, this is what we suggest cutting out!

The plane doesn’t come into sight until the end of your walk. Get your camera ready, and be prepared to photograph the wreckage. There are a lot of tourists and slim windows for getting pictures without other people in them.

So bring a friend and catch up on life as you hike to this unique, beautiful wreckage stranded in the middle of the beach. If you’re willing to power through the walk, it’s worth the trip.

Recently a shuttle bus has been provided to the plane for 2500 ISK round trip or 1500 ISK one way giving you roughly an hour to explore the wreck before you head back if you choose the round trip ticket. This is a fairly new development however that is still being tested out, so don’t depend on it being a reliable mode of transportation on your trip. As we said, if you’re willing and able (and the weather isn’t too bad), walking to the wreck can actually be quite enjoyable. 

Stop 2: Climb The Basalt Columns At Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

One of the most famous stops on your 4 days in Iceland itinerary is Reynisfjara Beach, known for its signature black sand and towering basalt columns. This beach is among Iceland’s most impressive black sand beaches, and was even featured in the TV show Game of Thrones .

There are so many incredible spots along the beach to enjoy. However you should be aware that the beach is developing a reputation for its large sleeper waves. So take your pictures, but be aware and don’t let your desire for the “perfect” photo affect your judgment.

The beach and its surrounding waters boast an impressive collection of rock formations including the cliff of basalt columns that seems to rise out of the sand. This is a prime photograph location and you’ll see many tourists climbing the uneven columns to pose for a picture.

When facing the roaring Atlantic Ocean, to the left are the Reynisdrangar rock formations. These pointy basalt pillars rise straight out of the ocean, like man-made sculptures in the water. To the right is the Dyrholaey rock formation, an arched bridge-like formation with a large hole in the bottom.

Stop 3: Mulagljufur Canyon

Mulagljufur Canyon is one of Iceland’s lesser-known canyons along the South Coast, but it is certainly a gem to see during your 4 days in Iceland! Once you reach the gravel parking area you’ll hike along a moderately difficult trail for roughly 1.5 miles to reach the canyon.

Wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots. You will get wet crossing rivers and squelching through mud, but the views are more than worth it. Trekking to Mulagljufur is the perfect way to leave the South Coast crowds behind and marvel at the beauty that nature has created.

Though steep canyon walls and flowing rivers would be enough to draw anyone in, this canyon also offers a look at two beautiful waterfalls, Hangandifoss and Mulafoss. At 50m, Mulafoss is perhaps not the most impressive of the waterfalls you’ll experience along the South Coast, but it carries its own beauty streaming from the canyon walls.

Hangandifoss on the other hand is quite tall at 123m and paired with the imposing canyon walls, it would surely be a well-trafficked South Coast staple if it were more easily accessible and clearly marked. For now, be thankful it is neither as you’ll feel particularly special getting to appreciate the magnificence of the waterfall all on your own.

Stop 4: Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Though Fjallsarlon is smaller and less frequented than its neighbor Jokulsarlon, these are exactly the reasons that this glacier lagoon is magical. This lagoon is a must-see during your 4 days in Iceland, and if you could only pick one glacier lagoon, it should be this one!

You’ll find this gem on the south end of the Vatnajökull glacier (Europe’s biggest glacier outside of the Arctic) just 15 minutes down the road from Jokulsarlon, and yet many tourists don’t even know of its existence. You’re also unlikely to find the big tour buses here, meaning you’re free to absorb your natural surroundings in relative peace and quiet.

In the silence you can sit along the edge of the water and listen to the ice breaking and colliding as the scene slowly but constantly continues to shift. Though there’s still a lagoon separating you from the glacier, at Fjallsarlon your experience with the majestic, calving glacier is far more intimate.

Fjallsarlon is conveniently located right off the Ring Road just before you reach Jokulsarlon. Once you park you’ll have to walk a short distance to reach the edge of the water, but you’ll be face to face with sparkling icebergs in no time.

Because Fjallsarlon is smaller in size, you might find that standing on the shore and taking in the views is enough to give you a complete experience at the lagoon. If however you wish to get even closer, you can take a boat tour which will allow you to navigate through the icebergs on a small boat with a knowledgeable guide.  The actual time spent on the boat is roughly 45 minutes.

Stop 4: Watch The Floating Icebergs At Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Next up on your 4 days in Iceland itinerary is the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon . This stop is so vastly different from anything else you’ll have seen along the rest of the coast. Located on the east part of the South Coast, Jokulsarlon is a stunning lagoon filled with floating icebergs.

The lagoon is ever-changing as the surrounding glacier continues to melt and new ice blocks fall. During the summer, you can take a boat tour through the lagoon and get an up close view of the icebergs.

All year long you can view the lagoon from the shore, walking along its edge to see the icebergs from varying angles. The enormous glacier looms large in the background.

Across the street is a black sand beach called Diamond Beach. It sets itself apart from other black sand beaches like Reynisfjara Beach, because the entire beach is covered in clear sparkling ice. Pieces of the icebergs floating in the glacier lagoon break off and wash ashore, scattering themselves around the beach. This is such a cool stop on your 4 day trip to Iceland!

The contrast of the black sand against the clear ice is striking and makes for some powerful photographs. The beach becomes even more fairytale-esque at sunset when the sky is painted yellow. As the day comes to a close you’ll be thrilled you continued your drive up the coast to this natural beauty. Don’t forget to check out our Ultimate Guide To Iceland’s Glacier Lagoon!

Where to stay in/near Hofn:

Affordable/Mid-range: Old Airline Guesthouse . Check rates: Booking.com

Mid-range: Glacier World-Hoffell Guesthouse . Check rates: Booking.com

Mid-range/Luxury: Dima Studio Apartments . Check rates: Booking.com

Day 4: Visit A Striking Mountain Before Driving Back To Reykjavik To End Your 4 Days In Iceland

Stop 1: marvel at the imposing vestrahorn mountain.

You’ll begin the last of your 4 days in Iceland with a trip to one of the country’s most striking mountains. Think jagged snow-capped mountains seemingly rising from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by dunes of pitch-black sand spotted with tufts of brilliant green sea grass.

When the lupines are in bloom the scene is even more fantastic, adding various shades of purple to the mixture. It’s impressive and picturesque to say the least.

When a thin layer of water covers the beach you can see the reflection of the mountain and yourself as you appear to be walking on water. It makes for a truly stunning photograph. Be careful though as you photograph from the beach as the waves can sneak up on you if you’re not careful and they have the potential to be high and strong.

The mountain itself is called Vestrahorn or perhaps you might have heard it referred to by its nickname, Batman Mountain. You’ll find this mountain on the Stokksnes Peninsula roughly 10.5 miles east of Hofn where you’ll have spent the night the previous day. About half of that distance will be driven on the Ring Road before branching off on a gravel road.

Typing in Vestrahorn Mountain into your GPS will take you to the exact location. When you reach the Viking Café you’ll have to pay the 800 ISK entrance fee. The fee is well worth the sites you’ll see.

This is also the perfect spot to catch a dramatic sunrise or sunset as the brilliant colors light up the mountain. It’s also a great spot for Northern Lights viewing given the right weather conditions, because the sky is so dark out at the beach.

Stop 2: Walk The Edge Of the Magical Fjadrargljufur Canyon

As if you haven’t seen enough picturesque landscapes during the course of your 4 days in Iceland, the next stop on your Iceland itinerary is at the magical Fjadrargljufur Canyon. This impressive canyon was thought to be formed at the end of the last Ice Age by a glacial river that carried sediment with it ultimately creating a 100-meter deep slice through the earth. The whole canyon is lined with moss that is a vibrant green in the summer with flowers blooming in the spring and summer.

In the winter the landscape is sometimes covered in lacy snow making it a whole different kind of magical. You’ll have to be careful though and potentially bring crampons to make your way over icy patches in the winter. Even when there’s no snow and the moss is more of a brownish color, you can’t help but find beauty in the canyon anyway.

A river runs down the center and you might even spot a waterfall or two as you wander along. Walking the edge of the canyon is a breathtaking experience, but we implore you to please stay on the designated path. At various points along the designated path, you’ll find viewpoints, each with a view seemingly more beautiful than the last.

As long as the water level remains low, you also have the option of walking down to the base of the canyon along the water. If you choose this option you’ll definitely need waterproof shoes.

In 2015, Justin Bieber released the music video for his song “I’ll Show You” in which he was seen frolicking around various Iceland locations including Fjadrargljufur. This video brought a surge of attention to the small island, but not all of it was positive. The number of tourists visiting the canyon surged and many of the visitors, following in Justin Bieber’s footsteps, were not respectful of the fragile landscape of the canyon.

As a result, the vegetation and stability of the edge of the canyon were severely damaged. Eventually, the Icelandic Environment Agency closed the canyon to visitors in an attempt to reverse some of the damage, some of which will take decades to restore. It has also been closed down in the springtime when the ice and snowmelt make the path too muddy and dangerous.

For now, the canyon is again open to the public but will only continue to remain open if people respect the environment and let nature thrive. If the canyon happens to be closed during your visit, you’ll just continue the drive west back towards Keflavik to end your 4 day Iceland itinerary.

Stop 3: Visit The Blue Lagoon

To finish off your 4 days in Iceland with a bang, we’re recommending you go to the Blue Lagoon , one of Iceland’s most famous attractions/activities and a hot spot for tourists and even celebrities. Another reason why it’s crucial you pack your swimsuit for your 4 days in Iceland!

This stop is in a great area and actually on our list of Best Places To Stay In Iceland . In this post, we offer suggestions for where to stay around the Ring Road!

The Blue Lagoon is conveniently located in Grindavik, only 13.5 miles from the Keflavik International Airport, making it the perfect final stop on your Iceland itinerary before heading to catch your flight home. You’ll need to book well in advance on the Blue Lagoon website to guarantee a time slot due to a heavy increase in tourism. Despite the crowds and hefty prices, this is an experience that is definitely worthy of a visit at least once.

Contrary to popular belief, this geothermal slice of heaven is not actually a natural hot spring. Though Iceland is filled with natural hot pots, this particular lagoon is actually a man-made lagoon resulting from activity at the nearby geothermal power plant, Svartsengi.

Though that sounds less than glamorous, the water is truly wonderful, safe to enjoy and is renewed every 48 hours. In fact it might just be the most relaxing, healing experience you’ll have during your 4 days in Iceland.

Like the public swimming pool complexes you’ll be required to shower naked prior to entering the lagoon, however there are private shower stalls available. When you’re showered and ready to go, it’s time to enter the Blue Lagoon and bask in its glorious waters. It is possible to enter the lagoon from the inside and swim to the outside so you don’t have to brave the cold air walking to the water.

You should take note, that while the water is wonderful for your skin due to its mineral richness, it is terrible for your hair. It will very quickly dry out your hair so we suggest keeping it dry (and tied up if it’s long) or if you’re set on getting it wet, prepare to condition it like crazy afterwards.

We are not kidding, getting your hair wet here sucks!!! And it will take 3-4 washes to get your hair back to normal! How do we know? Because we have made that mistake before.

The temperature of the Blue Lagoon varies, but you can always find an area of the huge lagoon that’s a suitable temperature for you. It’s easy to spend hours relaxing in the water.

As tourism has expanded, so has the Blue Lagoon and all that it offers. There is a bar in the lagoon itself where you can buy drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) without having to get out of the water. They charge the amount to your wristband and you’ll pay on your way out.

There are also a number of restaurants on the property as well as additional spa experiences you can pay extra for. Though the Blue Lagoon welcomes an enormous number of tourists these days, you don’t feel cramped when in the lagoon. There’s plenty of space and the number of guests allowed in is limited.

This is definitely a pricey experience as the lowest entrance package is $55-$95 depending on the time of day you visit, and the price seems to be constantly rising as tourism increases. However there is no doubt you’re in for a wonderful time in these blue waters surrounded by natural lava and moss.

As we said before, it’s an experience we think you’ll want to have at least once in your life. And boy will you feel good on your plane ride home!

From the Blue Lagoon you’ll drive the relatively short distance to the Keflavik International Airport to catch your evening flight home. If you are not flying out until the next day, you have the option of driving back to Reykjavik to spend the night, or staying in Keflavik for a quick and easy drive to the airport in the morning.

Where to stay in Keflavik:

Affordable: A. Bernhard Guest House . Check rates: Booking.com

Mid-range: Hotel Jazz by Keflavik Airport . Check rates: Booking.com

Luxury: Hotel Berg by Keflavik Airport . Check rates: Booking.com

The Golden Circle And Why It Was Left Off Our Iceland Itinerary

If you’ve begun planning a trip to Iceland, you’ve likely heard of The Golden Circle , one of the most famous and heavily trafficked tourist routes in the country. This route includes the Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss (the golden) Waterfall, and the Strokkur geyser with additional optional stops at places such as Kerið crater and the Secret Lagoon.

We’ve chosen to leave the Golden Circle off of our itinerary because of its heavy tourist crowds, and because there are equally if not more spectacular spots to explore throughout the rest of Iceland that are more peaceful and isolated.

That being said, the stops along the Golden Circle are still wonderful and probably exceed many other natural wonders you’ll see in your lifetime. Because of that we wanted to provide you with information on the Golden Circle and leave it up to you whether you want to include it and swap it out for other stops currently included in our Iceland itinerary. If you decide to include it, at the very least it can make for a great introduction to all that Iceland’s nature has to offer.

Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Iceland’s first parliament was formed back in 930 AD. It was conveniently accessible from all corners of the country by horse or foot. This is where the chieftains met to create and change the country’s laws.

Meetings continued to be held there until 1798. The parliament would later be moved to Reykjavik in 1844.

Thingvellir National Park is also the site of a giant rift valley, which marks the meeting of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Between the impressive rift valley, unbelievably clear waters, and Oxararfoss waterfall, Thingvellir National Park is certainly a beautiful stop.

Your next stop will be Geyser, the geothermal hot spot. While the actual Geyser is no longer active, its neighbor, Strokkur still erupts at 5-7 minute intervals. Crowds of tourists gather around Strokkur in anticipation of its burst of water and steam shooting up into the air.

While the main attraction is the geyser, the surrounding landscape is full of pots of boiling water. As you might expect, the water would be dangerously hot to the touch, so steer clear and enjoy the natural phenomenon at a safe distance.

You’ll wrap up the three stops with Gullfoss Waterfall. In the summer months, it is common to see a rainbow arching over the waterfall, earning it the name Golden Waterfall.

Though Iceland spoils you with an abnormally large number of impressive waterfalls, Gullfoss is rightfully among the top. It’s an impressive sight at any time of year. The waterfall has both upper and lower viewing platforms, and we suggest spending some time at both.

Where to stay along the Golden Circle:

Affordable: Selfoss Hostel . Check rates: Booking.com

Mid-range: Icelandair Hotel Fludir . Check rates: Booking.com

Luxury: Ion Adventure Hotel . Check rates: Booking.com

We’re thrilled you’ve chosen to spend 4 days in Iceland, the enchanting land of fire and ice. We have no doubt you’ll leave Iceland with an abundance of unforgettable experiences and more fantastic pictures than you can count. We hope you find this Iceland itinerary to be helpful as you plan your trip, and encourage you to comment below with any questions or stories you might have of your own Iceland adventures.

Reader Interactions

June 6, 2021 at 10:06 pm

This 4 day drive trip looks amazing!!!!! I did your GOT in Ireland and that was amazing a couple of years ago. so driving this 4 day adventure works for me. Thank you you guys are awesome with . Going the end of June 2021.

June 7, 2021 at 4:05 am

OMG!!!!!! REALLY!!! That is so amazing to hear! The GOT trip is sooooo fun I am glad you loved it! Enjoy! You won’t regret this itinerary!

June 27, 2021 at 4:51 am

Hi, I stumbled onto your site and finds it very informative and very useful. Thank you! I assumed this 4 days itinerary is more suited for the summer months. If it’s winter months (late Nov/early Dec), which places of interests would you drop due to shorter day light hours?

Given a choice, which waterfall (Seljalandsfoss vs Skogass) is preferred?

June 28, 2021 at 3:23 am

Hello! So this itinerary can be done pretty much all year round!! The only trouble may be hiking to the hot spring river which is difficult in winter. The two waterfalls are within 15 min drive of each other so you don’t have to choose just one! you can EASILY do both!!!!

August 24, 2021 at 11:08 pm

Hello, thank you for providing such useful guides on Iceland. We’re headed there for 10 days next month and was thinking of doubling the time in this itinerary. Do you think it’s overkill or should we spend time elsewhere?

I’m worried that 10 days on the full ring road would be too rushed

August 27, 2021 at 8:24 pm

Hello! you could EASILY double the time of this itinerary! We stay near Skogafoss area for 4 days on our trips! And then an additional 2+ in glacier lagoon area! You can easily double it! If you wanted, you can add a trip to Westman Islands which is nearby and easily doable in 10 days OR you can ‎Visit Snaefellsnes Peninsula for a day or two which is still nearby! I totally approve doing this over 10 days!

February 14, 2022 at 11:12 pm

Hi planning for end of June early July for a 4 day trip as our day 1 we arrived late evening so definitely not counted. We would still like to do the golden circle though, do we do this at the start after Reykjavik? Thank you your itinerary is amazing .

February 15, 2022 at 7:14 pm

Hello!!!! so YES! You do this at the start after Reykjavik! That is my suggestion!!! Do that part on your first day when you get started and then continue with this itinerary! Cut out parts you don’t have time for!

May 16, 2022 at 2:16 pm

HI – great site and most informative. For the four day itinerary, did/would you overnight in one or two spots and do day trips. Or spend three/four nights in different places. I have three clear days after arriving and a half day before leaving. Thoughts?

May 30, 2022 at 7:50 pm

I would overnight in the Vik/south coast region!! Thank you!

June 3, 2022 at 2:50 am

We’ve never been to Iceland, so we are totally lost! Find this itinerary and it is so complete, we feel like just doing it! Only question, is how does this vary from the Golden Circle. Would you recommend this itinerary or the Golden Circle? What important stops would we miss if we do this versus the Golden Circle?

June 4, 2022 at 8:47 pm

Personally i do not like or suggest the golden circle, i highly suggest this much more! golden circle is alright, but very touristy, a lot of driving, and this just generally has more epic sites! you won’t regret skipping it, i promise!

June 2, 2023 at 8:59 pm

Hello! I would love to do this itinerary for January to celebrate my 50th birthday. I have been looking through the flights. If I leave late from Houston, I arrive early morning, but I do not know to what city I should come. Which would you suggest, and since it is winter which stops should I do? I most definitely want to see the Northern lights! But also like all the scenery you have suggested. I did notice your post was in 2021. Is it still this amazing?

June 3, 2023 at 1:55 pm

Hello! Yes this is still amazing! I have done this route twice in 2022, once including in winter! I think you should fly into Keflavik Airport which is the closest one to Reykjavik. And then you can do this itinerary or some version of it in winter! Most of these stops are doable in winter!

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Experience the Land of Fire and Ice on This 7 Day Iceland Itinerary

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Get ready for an exciting adventure through the land of fire and ice with a carefully crafted 7-day Iceland itinerary along the famous Ring Road. From the dramatic landscapes of the Golden Circle to the enchanting waterfalls of the South Coast, this itinerary offers a blend of natural wonders and cultural experiences. Prepare to immerse yourself in the surreal beauty of Iceland as you explore volcanic lava fields, soak in the Blue Lagoon and witness the mesmerizing dance of the Northern Lights in the night sky.

Day 1: You’ve Arrived in Iceland!

After landing at Keflavik Airport, grabbing your bags and picking up your rental car, you’re ready to start your Iceland adventure. But, of course, you’ve likely just spent the night on the airplane and a bit of refreshing is required. Fortunately, Iceland’s famed hot springs, The Blue Lagoon, is just a 22 minute drive away. Make your reservations before you arrive and head straight to The Blue Lagoon for a dip in this geothermal hot spring because no trip to Iceland is complete without this experience.

Once refreshed, a driving time of 40 minutes brings you to Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital city. If a self drive road trip isn’t part of your itinerary, bus service is available from Keflavik Airport to the Blue Lagoon and on to Reykjavik.

A guided tour by locals is an excellent way to spend your first day in Reykjavik as an introduction to the capital city and Iceland in general. We chose the free tours by locals , a company with knowledgeable and entertaining local guides that lead walking tours of  downtown Reykjavik. The “tip what you think the tour was worth” concept is unique and the tour focuses on highlights like the stunning Hallgrímskirkja church, historic buildings and the city’s colorful neighborhoods. The guided tours introduce visitors to the stories of one of Europe’s most unique countries.

Whale watching tours provide another interesting experience in Reykjavik. Departing from Reykjavik Harbor, the tours not only search for whales but also keep an eye out for puffins and other migratory birds that visit Iceland seasonally.

Day 2: Drive the Golden Circle

Depart Reykjavik on Day Two of your self drive road trip to experience the natural wonders of the Golden Circle. The first stop, Thingvellir National Park harbors history and the marvels of nature within its boundaries. The park sits in a rift valley where the tectonic plates of North America and Europe meet.

Another must-see along the Golden Circle, the geyser geothermal area houses several geysers including Strokkur – Iceland’s most visited active geyser. Walk alongside the geysers and feel the steam as it erupts. Or stretch your legs on the hiking trail for a view overlooking the geothermal area.

Another must-see, Gullfoss Waterfall  – which translates as Golden Falls – is one of Iceland’s most beloved waterfalls. Gullfoss is fed by the waters of Hvítá River that travel from the glacier Langjökull, before cascading 105 feet down the Gullfoss Waterfall’s two dramatic stages.

Continue Along the Ring Road

Next up on the Golden Circle, a stop at South Iceland’s Kerid Crater  seems almost otherworldly. This volcanic lake with deep blue-green water surrounded by red rock and lush mossy vegetation formed over 6500 years ago after an eruption. Allow yourself enough time to explore the hiking trails the circle the rim of Kerid Crater. Or venture down the hiking trails to the waters of the Kerid Crater for another perspective.

Continue east along the Ring Road on a two-hour drive to Vik. Of course those two hours may become three with all the sightseeing possibilities along the south coast of Iceland. Highlights include the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, Reynisfjara black sand beach and the Fjadrargljufur Canyon.

Overnight near Skaftafell nature reserve and get ready for the next day’s big adventures.

Day 3: Experience Black Sand Beaches and an Ice Cave Tour

Day Three unveils a full day of adventure. Start with a walk along one of Iceland’s most striking black sand beaches. Framed by dramatic basalt columns, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach is a must-see. As you make your way along your Ring Road itinerary to Vik, take the turn off to Dyrhólaey to view the spectacular arch in the sea. During nesting season it’s possible to spot puffins and other bird life here. A 19 minute drive east from here leads to the lovely village of Vik.

For an experience off the typical tourist track, book an Ice Cave Tour with Southcoast Adventure . The experience begins with a pick up location in central Vik and a drive through ancient lava fields. You’ll then strap on some crampons for a short glacier hike on the mighty Myrdalsjokull glacier and into the ice cave. Plentiful shops, restaurants and lodging options make Vik an ideal place to overnight before continuing on your Ring Road itinerary.

Day 4: Waterfalls, a Glacier Lagoon and Europe’s Largest Glacier

As you continue east on the Ring Road, a drive time of under two hours brings you to Svartifoss waterfall – another gorgeous must-see waterfall framed by black basalt columns. Continue east to reach the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon where massive icebergs can be seen floating in the lagoon. For an up close view of the floating icebergs, consider taking a glacier lagoon boat tour. Be sure to allow enough time to see nearby Diamond Beach as you follow the road to the breathtaking east fjords. Overnight in a hotel or guesthouse in Höfn and rest up for the next day. From Höfn you’ll have a clear view of the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull.

Day 5: Driving and Sightseeing on the Ring Road

Today you’ll continue your Ring Road itinerary driving north to Lake Myvatn. Detour onto Iceland Road 864 for an additional drive time of about an hour to capture spectacular photos of the Dettifoss waterfall.

When you reach Lake Myvatn, more geothermal areas await exploration at Hverir and Kfafla. A must-see, Godafoss waterfall, located in the river Skjálfandafljót in north Iceland, falls from a height of 39 feet and has a width spanning 98 feet. Hiking trails provide an ideal way to see more of this region considered part of the Diamond Circle for sightseeing.

Continue traveling on Ring Road another 45 miles to overnight in Akureyri, the largest city outside of the greater Reykjavik area. Akureyri is a renowned cultural center with many galleries and museums. It’s also home to the world’s northernmost botanical gardens.

Day 6: Travel the Iceland Ring Road to Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Driving in Iceland is an adventure in itself and today’s 230-mile drive from Akureyri to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula proves my point. Drive time typically runs about 4 hours and 30 minutes without stops. But the jaw-dropping vistas along the way beckon you to stop and take photos. A couple of not to be missed sights along the way are Hvítserkur and Kolugljúfur Canyon.

Visible from the impressive black sand beach at Húnaflói Bay, Hvítserkur is a distinctive rock formation often referred to as the Troll of Northwest Iceland. The 49 ft tall basalt sea stack features two unusual holes at its base and creates a silhouette often likened to a dragon drinking from the sea.

A short detour off of Ring Road, the breathtaking Kolugljúfur Canyon and Kolufossar waterfalls make an ideal stop to stretch your legs and take in these beautiful wonders of nature. It’s a short walk from the parking lot to the canyon which is accessed by a footbridge.

As you continue to Snaefellsnes Peninsula, you’ll leave the Ring Road behind to take route 54 at Borgarnes. Overnight nearby to rest up for a full day of adventure on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.

Day 7: Exploring the Snaefellsnes Peninsula

While day tours are available from Reykjavik, Snaefellsnes Peninsula deserves a nearby overnight stay to allow a full day to explore this gorgeous peninsula. Home to Kirkjufell – the country’s most photographed mountain – the landscapes leave you breathless. Just steps from Kirkjufell the Kirkjufellsfoss waterfalls add to the serenity of this place.

A counter-clockwise drive along the Snaefellsnes Peninsula leads you through picturesque fishing villages, miles of lava fields, a volcanic crater and new discoveries at every turn. The peninsula is home to Snaefellsjokull National Park – a park filled with all the geological wonders Iceland offers along with intriguing human history. You’ll find black sand beaches, picturesque churches, soaring cliffs, volcanic craters and miles of lava fields.

When your explorations conclude, an hour’s drive time along Iceland’s west coast leads you back to Reykjavik.

Best Time to Visit Iceland

Deciding when to visit Iceland presents a few choices. If your focus is chasing the Northern Lights, visiting in the aurora season that runs from October until April gives you the best chance. Of course, mid-winter guarantees dark skies for hours, increasing opportunities to view the elusive Northern Lights. But, the downside to a winter visit is limited daylight. So if you want to cover as much of Iceland’s awe-inspiring landscapes in seven days, you may need a season with more light.

Also, for those hoping to self drive on a road trip along the entire Ring Road, winter often means unsafe road conditions due to heavy snow and ice in some areas. For a winter visit, consider guided day trips from areas along the south coast of Iceland.

In summer months, the Northern Lights aren’t visible. But, the midnight sun extends your day giving you more time to explore each destination you visit. If there’s a downside to spending the mild summer months (mosquito free by the way) in Iceland, it’s the crowds. You know that Golden Circle you want to see? Everyone else wants to see it too. That means bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Personally, I prefer the shoulder season. And on our recent visit to Iceland, we arrived in mid-April for a week exploring this magnificent country minus the crowds. It’s early for bird and whale watching, but not impossible to catch a glimpse of some of the early arriving puffins and whales on a boat tour. Lingering Northern Lights are also possible on a clear night in April. Autumn presents another viable option for a crowd-free Iceland road trip.

What to Know Before You Go

Most travelers who visit Iceland arrive at Keflavik Airport. Located 50 kilometers outside the capital city of Reykjavik, Keflavik Airport is a relatively small airport compared to some of our mega-sized airports in the US. It’s also easy to navigate and rental car counters are located inside the airport.

Unless you plan to use a tour company for guided day trips, a rental car is the best way to really explore this magnificent place. Always up for a self drive road trip, we reserved a rental car in advance of our arrival. Small vehicles make the most sense on the narrow-ish roads throughout Iceland, but if you’re venturing outside Reykjavik in search of secret lagoons, lava fields and black sand beaches, it’s best to rent a small SUV with 4-wheel drive. Some roads are unpaved and road conditions are unpredictable so that extra power comes in handy.

Although I don’t typically use the extra insurance offered for rental cars, Iceland’s extreme wind and unpredictable weather warranted the need for rental car insurance just for peace of mind.

Camper vans provide another option for intrepid travelers up for a rugged adventure. Campgrounds throughout Iceland  offer various types of hook-ups and facilities.

Packing for Iceland

Your packing needs for Iceland vary greatly depending on whether you visit in the winter or summer months or the shoulder season I chose. One thing remains the same – you need layers! You also need a waterproof rain jacket. And, of course, pack a swimsuit for soaking in the country’s hot springs. You’ll find more information to aid in planning your packing list here .