The road trip we filmed over 18 days in June, trimmed to the days you actually have. With a week or ten days, stay in the south: the Golden Circle, Vík, the waterfalls and the glacier lagoon are the trip. Two weeks is when the full Ring Road is worth it. Switch the length below and the plan rebuilds itself.
Reykjavík → Golden Circle → South Coast → Glacier LagoonReykjavík → Golden Circle → Westman Islands → South Coast → Glacier LagoonThe Ring Road: Golden Circle → South Coast → East Fjords → Mývatn → Grímsey → Snæfellsnes
day by day
The Iceland itinerary
Reykjavík2 nights2 nights2 nights · fly in here
DayLand, then Sky Lagoon to beat the jet lag
Book an evening slot ahead and do the seven-step spa ritual. We spent three to four hours there on our first night, and it was the best possible start to the trip.
DayBlue Lagoon, Hallgrímskirkja and dinner at Reykjavik Fish
Give the Blue Lagoon the afternoon: we stayed four and a half hours, and no other hot spring we tried compares. Recent eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula have closed it at times, so check it is open before you book. Back in town, walk up to Hallgrímskirkja, then warm up over fish and a hot drink at Reykjavik Fish.
Golden Circle1 night2 nights2 nights · sleep in a bubble
DaySnorkel the Silfra fissure, then Geysir and Gullfoss
Silfra, in Thingvellir National Park, is the only place in the world you can swim between two continental plates. We dove it with Dive.is, but snorkelers see 90% of what we did, no certificate needed. Watch Geysir erupt, then get to Gullfoss late in the evening: at 9pm we had the whole park to ourselves.
DayIcelandic horses, a greenhouse lunch and the Secret Lagoon
Ride Icelandic horses through the countryside (we booked a private tour with Icelandic Riding), have the tomato soup among the plants at Friðheimar, and warm up in the Secret Lagoon, the oldest natural pool in Iceland.
Westman Islands1 night1 night · ferry from Landeyjahöfn
DayFerry to the Westman Islands for puffins
Iceland's best kept secret, by their tourism board's count and ours. The car ferry leaves from Landeyjahöfn, about 20 miles from Seljalandsfoss. Find puffins at the south end of Heimaey, take the one-hour boat tour around the islands and try sprang, the locals' rope swing.
South Coast3 nights3 nights3 nights · Vík, then near Höfn
DaySeljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and Vík's black-sand beach
Walk behind Seljalandsfoss in rain gear (you will get soaked), then Skógafoss, 60 meters tall and a set from the Eurovision movie. Finish on the black sand at Vík, where we filmed our own Eurovision parody.
DayHike to the Sólheimasandur plane wreck
A free, flat walk of about two and a half hours there and back to a DC-3 wreck on the black sand. Wear your warmest layers: wind and rain make it miserable without them.
DayGlacier hike and iceberg kayaking at Jökulsárlón
We booked two half-day tours, a glacier hike and kayaking among the icebergs in the lagoon. Honestly, posing with an ice pick would have been cool enough; the rest was a big bonus. Kayaking alone is the shorter option.
DayDrive back to Reykjavík and fly home
About five hours back along Route 1. The Blue Lagoon is around 20 minutes from the airport, so it also works as a last stop before your flight.
East Fjords1 night · stay on the rainbow road
DayOver the East Fjords to Seyðisfjörður
The little town from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Walk the rainbow road (our Airbnb was right on it), and yes, the ferry to the Faroe Islands really does leave from here, just like in the movie.
North Iceland3 nights · Mývatn and Húsavík
DayMývatn Nature Baths (skip the Game of Thrones cave)
Grjótagjá, the "Jon Snow cave", scored a 3/10 from Tim, so keep it quick. Spend the time at the Mývatn Nature Baths instead, a budget version of the Blue Lagoon. If you only do one hot spring in Iceland, make it the Blue Lagoon.
DayWhale watching in Húsavík
Up there with the best whale and dolphin trips we have ever done. Húsavík sits just south of the Arctic Circle; we booked with North Sailing.
DayFerry to Grímsey and touch the Arctic Circle
The ferry gives you about four hours on Grímsey, the only part of Iceland inside the Arctic Circle. The best puffin sightings of our trip, plus the orb that marks 66° North. Day trip it like we did, or stay the night.
Snæfellsnes1 night · Kirkjufell
DayBreak up the drive back at Kirkjufell
We ran out of days and drove straight back from the north, about eight hours. With two weeks, stop for a night on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and see Kirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland. It is the one stop we would add next time.
Reykjavík1 nightlast day · fly home from here
DayDrive back to Reykjavík
About five hours west along Route 1 from the glacier lagoon, past the south coast waterfalls one more time. Spend your last night in Reykjavík.
DayFly home
Keflavík is about 45 minutes from Reykjavík. The Blue Lagoon is on the way, if you want one more soak before the flight.
- The second Golden Circle day: horses, Friðheimar and the Secret Lagoon.
- The Westman Islands.
- You could drive it, but you would see most of Iceland through the car window. The south has the big sights, so spend the days there instead.
- The full Ring Road: the East Fjords, Mývatn and whales in Húsavík.
- Grímsey and the Arctic Circle.
- A night on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula for Kirkjufell.
before you go
Watch the whole trip
Itinerary sorted? We filmed the whole trip as a six-part series. Start with episode one and every stop on this plan follows.
the route
Route and road-trip tips
The full Ring Road in one Google Maps route, clockwise like we drove it. On a 7 or 10-day trip, follow it as far as Jökulsárlón and turn back. Download the map for offline use before you lose signal.
book this trip
Where we stayed
pack for iceland
What we packed
Layers and rain gear. You spend most of the trip outside, and the waterfalls will soak you. Our gear is from Tripped, our own travel brand.
watch the road trip
Every stop on video
good to know
Iceland trip questions
How many days do you need in Iceland?
Seven to ten days for Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and the south coast out to the glacier lagoon. Two weeks for the full Ring Road. With five days or fewer, base yourself in Reykjavík and do the Blue Lagoon and the Golden Circle.
Is it worth driving the whole Ring Road?
With about two weeks, yes. With 7 to 10 days, skip it: you would see most of Iceland through the car window. Stay in the south instead.
When is the best time to visit Iceland?
Summer for the midnight sun and the mildest weather (we went in June). Winter for snow and your best chance at the Northern Lights.
Camper van or rental car?
Both work. Price them side by side: our van cost about the same as a normal rental car, but campsite fees and van extras add up quickly.
Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon?
Both, if you can. Sky Lagoon is in Reykjavík and perfect on your first night; the Blue Lagoon is near the airport and still the best hot spring we tried in Iceland.
keep planning
More for your Iceland trip
Budget, when to go, getting around and every video we filmed there is in our Iceland travel guide.
Iceland travel guideHow we plan every trip
