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Learn how to easily plan your dream trip to Iceland with helpful guides and tips!

The Ultimate 5 Days In Iceland Itinerary (Road Trip Guide + Hidden Gems!)

March 1, 2022 //  by  Iceland Trippers //   16 Comments

While 5 days in Iceland might not seem like enough time to fully enjoy this amazing country, we are here to walk you through the perfect itinerary to make the most of this limited time.

You could explore Iceland for months and never see it all, but if you can only visit Iceland for 5 days, that is still plenty of time to see the main sites, plus some hidden gems.

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)

Iceland is a truly wonderful country and every travel fan dreams of visiting it at least once in their lives. Of course, Iceland can be a more expensive country to visit. Because of this, an Iceland 5 day itinerary could save you money.

This itinerary can be adapted to any season. Feel free to skip some stops or spend longer in others to make this 5-day trip to Iceland better for your needs.

Get a FREE printable “Hidden Gems In Iceland” E-book by joining our private  Iceland Facebook Group  and sharing your photos and asking for tips and tricks.

Is 5 Days Enough In Iceland?

Yes, Iceland in 5 days can be enough time, but only if you dedicate yourself to it. This may not be the itinerary for you if you like to travel at a very leisurely pace and rest between activities. The itinerary we layout here is very go, go, go! If you suffer from the Fear Of Missing Out and have no problem squeezing a lot into each day, then this trip will be great for you.

The Golden Circle And Why It Is Left Off

As you do research for your Iceland trip, you will come across the term “ The Golden Circle .” This is a popular route many tourists embark on when they visit Iceland. This loop hits places such as Thingvellir National Park , Gullfoss Waterfall, and Strokkur Geyser. There are many tours that will take you along the Golden Circle.

Even though the Golden Circle is popular, we have decided to leave it off this 5 days in Iceland itinerary for a couple of reasons. Mostly, the Golden Circle is overrun with tourists. Our route will allow you to see some more quiet and isolated places. Also, the Golden Circle leaves off the Southern Coast, which would be a shame to miss!

Do I Have To Drive in Iceland?

Iceland is a country where you can get away with not driving, but only if you book tours . However, the 5 days in Iceland itinerary we provide in this article is written as a self-driving road trip . To follow our plan exactly, you will need to rent a vehicle, drive yourself from place to place, and stay in a different hotel each night.

If you are nervous about driving in Iceland , don’t be! As long as you take usual driving precautions, account for the weather, and drive safely, you will be fine. The roads are well-maintained and easy to navigate so you should have no problem completing your 5-day self-drive itinerary for Iceland.

The Ultimate 5 Days In Iceland Itinerary (Road Trip Guide + Hidden Gems!)

Day 1: south coast hidden gems.

After landing at the Keflavík International Airport and renting your vehicle, it is time to start your Iceland road trip in 5 days! The first day of your trip will consist of seeing some of the hidden gems along the South Coast of the island.

Total Driving Time for Day 1: Approximately 6 hours

Stop 1: Check Out Reykjanesviti & Valahnukamol

From the airport, drive about 30 minutes to the southern tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula where you will find a couple of Iceland’s hidden gems. The first is Reykjanesviti Lighthouse.

This red and white building stands out starkly against the open landscape. This is the oldest lighthouse in Iceland and an interesting stop on your 5 days in Iceland itinerary.

Past the lighthouse, you will find a beautiful and dramatic shoreline. Here the giant rocks of Valahnukamol create an amazing backdrop for moody photographs. There will not be a ton of tourists here since it is off the beaten path, and it will give you a great introduction to the mighty nature of Iceland.

The peninsula has many other attractions including churches and museums such as the Reykjanes Art Museum, Viking World, and the Icelandic Museum of Rock ‘n’ Roll. For some more nature, check out the Reykjanesfólkvangur nature preserve. Here you can find crater lakes, lava formations, and plenty of wildlife.

Stop 2: Hike to Reykjadalur Hot Springs

Keep driving east on Route 427 for about 1.5 hours until you reach the incredible Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River . This is not a traditional hot spring pool. Instead, it is a whole geothermal river. This gives you more room to spread out and find a private spot to soak and relax.

To reach these hot springs, you will have to hike for about 45 minutes to an hour. The path is well-maintained and clearly marked. While it is a relatively easy hike, there are some steep sections.

Stop 3: Take a Soak in Hrunalaug Hot Spring

From one hot spring to another, drive about an hour on Route 30 to reach the Hrunalaug Hot Spring outside of the town of Flúðir. While it is near the Secret Lagoon Hot Spring, the Hrunalaug Hot Spring is more of a secret and offers a secluded area to relax.

This spring is not very big, so it provides a perfect private getaway. Only about ten people max can enjoy this water at a time. Make sure you leave the place as you found it and clean up after yourselves so the next visitors can enjoy it.

This is one of the easier and more affordable hot springs on this 5 days in Iceland itinerary so make sure to put it on your list and be respectful to the landowners!

Stop 4:  Discover the Þjóðveldisbærinn Saga-Age Farm

Keep driving east for about 35 minutes to find the fascinating Þjóðveldisbærinn, or Reconstructed Farm, which is a replica of the real Saga-age farm called Stöng. You can imagine what it was like to live as an ancient Viking while enjoying the view of the quaint buildings, including a moss-covered farmhouse and church.

It costs about $7 to visit Þjóðveldisbærinn and the museum, but it is worth it! There is a senior discount and children under 16 are free! You will definitely want to snap a picture of this beautiful location during your 5 day Iceland road trip.

Stop 5: Relax at Gjain Valley

About 25 minutes more on Route 327 will take you to the Gjain Valley. Make sure to rent a 4×4 vehicle, especially if you visit in the winter , so you can arrive in one piece on the rough roads. This is also a good place to get away from the tourist crowds.

This area is a great place to hike and relax. The landscape is full of waterfalls and amazing volcano views. If you come in the summer, expect to find layers of beautiful greenery and flowers. This will be one of your favorite stops during your 5 days in Iceland.

Stop 6: Become Awed by Haifoss Waterfall

Keep driving on the same road for about 30 minutes to get to the first of many magnificent waterfalls on this Iceland itinerary in 5 days. Haifoss is one of the top five tallest waterfalls in Iceland at 400 feet, and it will not disappoint.

Walk from the parking lot along the gorge to get amazing views of Haifoss and another nearby waterfall called Granni. If you want a different perspective of these waterfalls, you can also hike down into the gorge.

Almost all waterfalls are free to see in Iceland, so they are perfect stops if you are doing 5 days in Iceland on a budget.

Overnight in Hella or in Selfoss

For your first night in Iceland, you have a couple of choices of where you can book your accommodation. Each of these towns is about an hour and a half south of Haifoss.

Places to Stay in/near Hella:

Affordable: Loa’s Nest . Check Rates: Booking.com

Mid-Range: Hekla Cabin 2 Volcano and Glacier View . Check Rates: Vrbo.com

Mid-range: Hótel Lækur . Check Rates: Booking.com

Luxury: Stracta Hotel Hella . Check Rates: Booking.com

Places to Stay in/near Selfoss:

Affordable: Guesthouse Bitra B&B . Check Rates: Booking.com

Mid-range: Hotel South Coast . Check Rates: Booking.com

Luxury: House on the Golden Circle, close to Flúðir . Check Rates: Vrbo.com

Luxury: Vörðufell . Check Rates: Booking.com

Day 2: South Coast Highlights

Day two of your 5-day trip to Iceland will bring you to some of the more popular must-see locations along the South Coast. Make sure your camera batteries are charged because you will be taking a ton of photos!

Total Driving Time for Day 2: Approximately 3 hours

Stop 1: Fall In Love With Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

From your hotel, it should be about 30 minutes to an hour to get to Seljalandsfoss depending on which town you overnight in. When you arrive, you will be greeted by one of the most iconic waterfalls in Iceland.

Cascading 200 feet over a cliff, Seljalandsfoss Waterfall is a sight to behold. One unique thing about this waterfall is the cave that is hidden behind it where you can hike for really cool views and photo ops. Bring a poncho or something similar to protect you from the spray!

Stop 2: Discover the Hidden Gljufrabui Waterfall

Just about a ten-minute walk north of Seljalandsfoss, you will find a canyon worth exploring. Wear water-proof shoes because the path does involve wading through a river. When you get to the prize at the end of the canyon, though, you will not mind getting wet.

The Gljufrabui Waterfall is about 130-feet tall and almost seems to fall from the sky into the dark canyon. To get the most Instagram-worthy photo of yourself in front of this waterfall, climb onto the boulder that lays before it.

Stop 3: Hike Through Nauthusagil Canyon

For the next stop on your Iceland itinerary, drive about 15 minutes north to find another canyon-trapped waterfall in the mossy Nauthusagil Canyon . You will need a 4×4 vehicle to reach this spot since it involves traversing an f-road.

Again, make sure you wear waterproof shoes when you embark into this hidden gem of Iceland. The Nauthusagil Waterfall can be a bit hard to reach, so come prepared. You will have to scramble over rocks, walk through water, and even use ropes to climb. Once you reach the end of the hike, though, you will be amazed by the view.

Stop 4: Take a Dip in the Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool

After exploring the canyon, hop back in the car for 30 minutes until you get to the picturesque Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool. This scenic pool is tucked into the mountains and was built in 1928. Though it is man-made, it is fed by a natural hot spring. However, the temperature is much cooler than a true spring.

To reach the pool, hike for about twenty minutes from the parking lot. The path is unmarked but easy to follow and mostly flat. Plus, the views along it are amazing! This Iceland trip itinerary in 5 days includes many hot springs and this is one of the most scenic.

Stop 5: Chase Rainbows at Skogafoss Waterfall

Skogafoss Waterfall is truly magical and is only about 15 minutes from the last stop. This powerful waterfall is just under 200 feet tall and is 82 feet wide. Depending on the lighting conditions, you may find a rainbow stretching across the torrent of water.

This is another location where you should don your poncho or risk getting soaked if you walk close to the waterfall. You can also climb to the top of the waterfall for a different perspective of this South Coast Iceland star.

Stop 6: Check Out Kvernufoss Waterfall

Even though Kvernufoss Waterfall is only a couple of minutes from Skogafoss, not as many tourists visit it. This is a shame because it is really not to be missed! The walk to the waterfall from the parking lot is about 10 to fifteen minutes.

This 98-foot natural wonder is set into a canyon that is very green in the summer. A rocky path leads behind the falls so you can see it from either side.

Stop 7: Visit Solheimajokull Glacier

You will be in the car for another 20 minutes before you park in the lot for Solheimajokull Glacier. From there, hike about 15 to 20 minutes to make it to the ice. Then, just stare in awe! Don’t forget to check out our tips for Solheimajokull Glacier!

This crazy type of landscape is one reason to visit Iceland, and you should definitely check it out on your 5 days here. To see the glacier properly and learn something as well, make sure to book a tour. Do not go on the glacier without a guide to keep you safe.

Book Here: Sólheimajökull: Guided Glacier Hike

Stop 8 OPTIONAL: See the Solheimasandur Plane Wreck

This next stop is really only optional in our opinion. Over the last few years, it has become so overcrowded by tourists it has almost lost its wonder. However, if you do choose to visit, the well-known Solheimasandur Plane Wreck is about a 15-minute drive from the Solheimajokull Glacier. While the drive is short, you will then have to walk an hour each way to reach the plane.

The Solheimasandur Plane Wreck gained popularity through social media and is great for moody, haunted photos, but only if you are lucky enough to be there without any other people. The plane is of U.S. origin and has sat abandoned on the black sand beach since 1973.

If you do your 5 days in Iceland in winter, you might even see the Northern Lights here, which adds magic to the scene.

Stop 9: Find Awesome Views at Dyrholaey

Keep driving on the Ring Road for 30 minutes to get to Dyrholaey. This arched peninsula is amazing on its own and also offers drop-dead-gorgeous views of the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach below.

It can get really windy up here, so be prepared to push through it to get to the best viewpoints. If you are lucky, you may even spot some puffins in this area. This is truly one of the best things to do in Vik!

Stop 10: Visit Loftsalahellir Cave

Loftsalahellir Cave is only a few minutes from Dyrholaey and is located on the same road. After you park, you will have a short walk up a steep hill. This will be a quick stop on your Iceland itinerary but worth it since it is on the way. Take some time to enjoy the view from the cave, looking back down at Dyrholaey and the coast.

Stop 11: Enjoy Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Return to the Ring Road and drive for about 20 minutes to reach the final stop of day two. You already saw Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach from Dyrholaey, but now it is time to explore it on ground level.

Along with the black sand, this beach is known for its towering black basalt columns and craggy rocks sticking out of the sea. If it is foggy when you are there, you will love the overall mood. The ocean waves can get big as well, so watch out. Under no circumstances should you swim here!

Overnight In Vik

Vik is an adorable small town right next to Reynisfjara, so you will not have to travel far from your last stop. This idyllic town is topped with a quaint church and there are lupine flowers if you do 5 days in Iceland in summer. There are plenty of places to stay in Vik .

Places to Stay in/near Vík:

Affordable/Mid-range: Þakgil Campground . Check Rates: thakgil.is

Mid-range: The Garage Apartments . Check Rates: Booking.com

Luxury: Hotel Kria . Check Rates: Booking.com

Day 3: Southeast National Parks And Glaciers

Iceland has its share of amazing National Parks , and you will be exploring some today. You will also witness some of the icier sides of the Land of Fire and Ice. Strap on your hiking boots and hop back into your car!

Total Driving Time for Day 3: Approximately 4 hours

Stop 1: Geek Out at Hjorleifshofdi Promontory And Yoda Cave

You will not have to drive far for your first stop of the day. Hjorleifshofdi is only about 17 minutes down the Ring Road, and you can see it looming up from the surrounding flat land long before you arrive. This rock formation is about 220 feet high, and it is possible to hike to the top.

If you are a Star Wars fan or just like cool caves, there is one here known as the “Yoda Cave” because a hole above the entrance is shaped like the Jedi Master’s head. Interestingly, the area around the rock was also used for some of the opening scenes for the movie Star Wars: Rogue One . This is truly one of the best photography locations in Iceland!

Stop 4: Explore Skaftafell National Park

Keep driving on the Ring Road for just under 2 hours until you arrive at Skaftafell National Park, one of the best National Parks in Iceland. This scenic area will give you the opportunity to become one with nature. There is plenty to do here, so you will probably spend at least a couple of hours at this park.

First of all, you MUST see Svartifoss Waterfall! This 65-foot wonder is surrounded by black basalt pillars and is just too pretty to miss. To get here, you will need to hike about 3.5 miles round-trip from the visitor’s center.

While in the park, you can also hike to some of the many glaciers here, including Iceland’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull. Or you can book an ice cave tour. Crystal Ice Cave is especially stunning if you do your 5 days in Iceland in winter.

Book Here: Skaftafell: Ice Cave Tour & Glacier Hike

Stop 3: Photograph the Pretty Turf-Roof Hofskirkja Church

Back on the Ring Road, drive 20 minutes to the small town of Hof. Iceland has its share of super cute churches , and Hofskirkja is high on the list of best ones! With a natural turf-covered roof, this church looks like it was pulled from a fairy tale.

Though you cannot go inside this church, you will want to snap some photos of it. If you complete 5 days in Iceland in summer, the church and surrounding area is very lush and green, adding to the overall storybook feel.

Stop 4: Feel the Calm Atmosphere at Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon

After 25 minutes on the Ring Road, you will find the Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon. If we had to choose one glacier lagoon in Iceland as our favorite, this would be it! Though it is smaller than the nearby and more visited Jokulsarlon, you should NOT pass up Fjallsarlon. With fewer tourists, you will have this icy landscape more to yourself.

Here is your chance to really take in the majesty of Iceland. From the lagoon’s shore, you can listen to the icebergs crack and break. If you want to get closer to them, though, you can take a boat tour out into the water.

Stop 5: Check Out Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Just 15 minutes from Fjallsarlon is the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon . This lagoon is larger than the last and is a popular stop for tour buses, so do not expect to have this place to yourself.

Walk along the beach and take in the sight of giant icebergs floating serenely across the water. In the summer months, it is possible to join the ‘bergs by boarding a tour boat. No matter the season, though, make sure to bundle up because it gets cold down by the water.

Stop 6: Walk Along Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach is just across the road from Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, so it only takes a couple of minutes to get there. This law-dropping black sand beach is named after the chunks of ice that sparkle along the shoreline. If you can time it right, come at sunset for the best photo opportunities.

While there is ice dotting the sand here all year long, there will be more in the winter. Make sure to snap a photo of yourself standing next to some of the bigger pieces of ice to show just how big they are.

Overnight In Hofn

Hofn is just over an hour from Diamond Beach and makes the perfect place to spend the night before you continue your 5 days in Iceland. There are great places to stay in Hofn .

Places 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: Lambhus Glacier View Cabins . Check Rates: Vrbo.com

Mid-range/Luxury: Dima Studio Apartments . Check Rates: Booking.com

Day 4: South East Coast Hidden Gems

The first stop of the day will be the farthest east you go on your 5 days in Iceland trip. From there, you will turn around and hit more hidden gems as you backtrack in the direction of Reykjavik. This will give you a chance to stop by any of the sites you may have missed the day before or were not able to photograph properly because of bad weather or light.

Total Driving Time for Day 4: Approximately 5.5 hours

Stop 1: Stand in Awe at Stokksnes

Where the mountains meet the sea, you will find Stokksnes, just a 20-minute drive from Hofn. To get to the private beach, you will have to pay a fee of about $6 per person. This might seem high, but it is worth it if you plan to spend at least an hour here taking in the gorgeous view.

Try to wake up early and come for sunrise for the best light and colorful sky. From the black sand beach, you can photograph Vestrahorn Mountain and the other rugged peaks surrounding it. Keep an eye on the waves, so you don’t get drenched.

Stop 2: Soak in the Hoffell Hot Tubs

Drive west on the Ring Road for about 30 minutes to get to the Hoffell Hot Tubs. Set into the rocky ground with amazing views of the mountains, these four man-made hot tubs provide the perfect place to lounge.

There is a small fee to use the hot tubs, and you must take a quick shower before you dip into the water. There usually are not a ton of people here, so this is your last chance to soak in relative solitude.

Stop 3: Hike Mulagljufur Canyon

After relaxing, it is time for some adventure! Drive for an hour to reach the Mulagljufur Canyon. This Iceland hidden gem is a great place for an incredibly scenic hike. You will be able to enjoy rugged cliff views and discover amazing waterfalls.

The Hangandifoss and Mulafoss Waterfalls here are worth the 1.5-mile hike to see them. Flowing over the ridges of the lush, green canyon, the sight of the waterfalls will make you will feel as if you are walking in a painting.

Stop 4: Take Photos at Lomagnupur Mountain

From one imposing landscape to another, keep driving for an hour to find Lomagnupur Mountain. Though you will see this looming behemoth long before you reach it as it stands at 700 meters. It is interesting to note that this mountain is said to be home to a giant according to Icelandic myth.

Do not be one of the many people who simply drive on by this great landscape. Instead, you will want to stop and take some photos. If you have a drone, make sure to fly it here to get some scale.

Stop 5: Find Magic at Fjadrargljufur Canyon

The next stop is about 40 minutes away and features another epic canyon. In the summer, Fjadrargljufur Canyon is full of lush greenery and flowers. In winter, it is a snowy wonderland pulled from some high fantasy novel.

With a river rushing through the bottom and many viewpoints along the top ridges, you are bound to take a ton of photographs here as you hike. Please make sure to stay on the marked paths. This will protect both yourself and the delicate ecosystem.

Stop 6: Discover Þakgil Canyon

Drive the Ring Road for just under 1.5 hours until you get to Þakgil, or Thakgil, Canyon. This is another hidden gem in Iceland waiting to be discovered. There are a ton of nature-filled hiking trails here to explore. While hiking, try to find the perfect view of the Kotlujokull Glacier.

There is also a great campground at Þakgil if you want to spend the night roughing it. You could not choose a more beautiful place to set up your tent . There is even a natural cave with picnic tables.

You will spend another night in the picture-perfect town of Vik. If you have anything you weren’t able to see the first time through or want to spend more time somewhere special, now’s your chance. Remember, Vik is right next to Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.

Where to stay in/near Vík:

Affordable/Mid-range: Þakgil Campground . Check rates: thakgil.is

Mid-range: The Garage Apartments . Check rates: Booking.com

Luxury: Hotel Kria . Check rates: Booking.com

Day 5: Anything You Missed and Optional Locations

Day five will lead you back to Reykjavik before you fly home. As you drive the 2.5 hours to Reykjavik from Vik, you will have the opportunity to see any of the stops you might have missed on day two. Or you can check out some optional areas.

Stop 1: Hit Any Remaining South Coast Stops You Missed

Since day two of your itinerary was so busy and full to the brim with things to do and see, there is a chance you ran out of time to do it all. Luckily for you, we took this into account and left time today for you to amend that. For instance, if you choose to skip the Solheimasandur Plane Wreck, you can see it now.

Stop 2: Explore Reykjavik If Desired

Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in Iceland so there are plenty of things to do here to fill your time. Reykjavik is a cute, modern city with colorful houses and a ton of cafes, restaurants , shops, and museums.

You will want to stop by the iconic Hallgrimskirkja Church to witness its unique architecture. It is also the tallest building in the city and about $7 will get you to the top for awesome views.

If you want to learn more about Icelandic life and history, make sure to check out some of the museums, including the National Museum of Iceland, the Perlan Wonders of Iceland museum, the Reykjavik Maritime Museum, the Settlement Exhibition, and the Arbær Open Air Museum.

If you want to get out of the city and see some nature, take time to schedule a whale watching tour . The ocean around Reykjavik is known for having a diverse amount of whale species and other sea creatures.

Book Here: Reykjavik: Whale Watching Excursion

Stop 3: Relax in the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the most well-known hot spring in Iceland. With gorgeous milky blue and mineral-rich water, soaking here is good for the body and soul. Plus, there is a world-class spa retreat if you really feel like treating yourself!

There are different spa packages to choose from, and it can get a bit pricey, so budget for this if you plan on visiting. It is great to come here right before you fly home because it will give you a chance to fully unwind after your busy and sometimes tedious 5 days in Iceland itinerary.

Book Here: From Reykjavik: Blue Lagoon Admission with Transfers

Overnight near Keflavik Airport or in Reykjavik

For your last night in Iceland, you will want to stay near the airport so you don’t have far to travel the next day. Alternatively, you can stay in Reykjavik, which is only a 45-minute drive from the airport. There are tons of places to stay in Reykjavik for any budget.

Places to Stay in/near Reykjavik:

Affordable: Hotel Klettur  Check Rates: Booking.com

Mid-Range: Downtown Penthouse Apartment . Check Rates: Vrbo.com

Mid-range: Fosshotel Reykjavik  Check Rates: Booking.com

Luxury: Keflavik Luxury Apartments . Check Rates: Vrbo.com

Luxury: Hotel Borg  Check Rates: Booking.com

Optional Day 5 Ideas

If you are looking for even more options for your last day in Iceland, we have you covered. These two choices are farther away from the Reykjavik area but are worth the travel time to enjoy during your five days in Iceland.

Explore Snaefellsness Peninsula

Snaefellsness Peninsula is two hours north of Reykjavik and features some of the best-known landscapes in Iceland. Here you will find the postcard-worthy Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall with Kirkjufell Mountain as a backdrop. Kirkjufell translates to “Church Mountain” and is a common image result if you google Iceland. You will want to see it in real life!

There are also a couple more cute churches on this peninsula, including Ingjaldshólskirkja and Búðakirkja. After photographing these buildings, drive to the Snæfellsjökull volcano near the tip of the peninsula for a scenic hike.

Book Here: From Reykjavik: Snæfellsnes Peninsula Full-Day Tour

Explore Westman Islands

You can visit the Westman Islands on your way to Reykjavik from Vik as they are off the south coast, not far from Seljalandsfoss Waterfall and the Ring Road. You will need to take a 45-minute ferry ride to reach the largest island, Heimaey .

While on the island, make sure to find the only 100% black church in Iceland, the Heimaey Stave Church, which is super photogenic. You can also search for puffins along the sea cliffs or hike to the top of the Eldfell Crater.

Multi-Day Group Tours in Iceland

If you do not want to deal with the logistics of planning your own trip or would rather someone else does the driving, you can always book a multi-day group tour for your five days in Iceland (or more or fewer days if you want!).

Your experienced guide will make sure you get where you need to be and will answer any questions you have along the way. Booking a 5-day tour of Iceland is a great way to have a seamless and relaxing time.

From Reykjavík: 4, 5, 6 or 7-Day Small-Group Ring Road Tour

Iceland: 3-day golden circle, south coast, & glacier tour, reykjavik: 4-day south coast, golden circle, and snæfellsnes, iceland 6-day ring road adventure.

Now you have reached the end of your amazing itinerary for Iceland for 5 days. Hopefully, you had a trip full of amazing experiences and made memories to last a lifetime!

Iceland is a country full of unique, wild landscapes and a ton of history. You will be bragging to your friends and family about how much fun you had for a long time. Maybe you can even convince them to come with you on your next Iceland adventure!

Reader Interactions

July 25, 2021 at 9:38 pm

Thank you for all of the wonderful information. I love the itinerary but being in our 50s and 60s we may have to skip a few things. We were hoping to check out the volcano. Do you think we could do that on day 5 plus do Sky lagoon or Blue lagoon?

July 26, 2021 at 3:46 am

I would say yes! The Volcano will be a few hours hiking and the Blue Lagoon is nearby so yes! I would do volcano earlier in the morning day and then BL in the evening to relax! My thoughts! Enjoy!

October 7, 2021 at 11:09 pm

great read! thanks. Can I ask, how feasible would this trip be in late December? All the photos appear to be in summer, thanks, Ceril

October 9, 2021 at 8:09 pm

Yes! This can be done in the winter months 100% Just keep an eye on weather to ensure all roads are open, they should be!!! I have done this exact trip in winter!

October 12, 2021 at 12:00 am

Do you have a map for this itinerary? Thank you so much for the details and awesome recommendations!

October 14, 2021 at 1:52 am

Hello! I don’t at this time but this is a good reminder that I should add one 🙂

July 30, 2023 at 5:37 pm

Hi, This is great! Any update on the map?

October 25, 2021 at 8:23 pm

What is the average cost for this trip?

October 26, 2021 at 3:33 am

Hello Mike! It can be done as cheap [stay in hostels and eat food or camp] or as expensive [luxury 5 star hotels] so it TOTALLY depends! Here is a good blog post on it! https://icelandtrippers.com/prices-in-iceland/

October 12, 2022 at 6:05 pm

Hello ! This has been so helpful. What outfits would you suggest. We are thinking March for our Honeymoon. Which what would you suggest for a honeymoon getaway ?

January 7, 2023 at 6:14 pm

Hi, we are thinking to travel early April and was wondering if we need 4×4 for this trip or is 2×2 car is enough ? We are also considering a camper van – have you done this route in a camper van ? Will the campsite be open this time of year ?

Thank you Katarina

January 7, 2023 at 9:44 pm

You can do this with a 2×2 car perfectly fine. And this is a great route to do with a camper van!! Enjoy!

September 5, 2023 at 2:19 am

Hey, this looks amazing! We are flying out on October 8th from the East Coast arriving on the 9th, and leaving Iceland on the 14th. Any updates to this 5 day trip? we are trying to map it out.

October 2, 2023 at 5:48 pm

Nope!! This is perfect and what I currently do myself!!!

November 5, 2023 at 8:32 pm

When are the best times of year to do this 5 day trip?

November 16, 2023 at 8:11 pm

Depends on what you want! Cheaper price? Lower crowds? Northern lights? Midnight sun?? which is your preference 🙂

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

5 Days in Iceland: The Perfect Iceland Itinerary for Any Time of Year

Last updated: March 24, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 74 Comments

Iceland has quickly become one of our favorite countries to explore. It has beautiful landscapes, stunning waterfalls (I love waterfalls!), warm thermal pools to bask in, and a fascinating history and culture.

In this post, I’m going to share with you a suggested Iceland itinerary for five days in Iceland, which has you driving yourself on an epic Iceland road trip.

Iceland is generally an easy country to get around, either on a self-drive road trip like the one in this post, or as part of a group tour . And whilst this Iceland itinerary is for a self-drive trip; if you would prefer not to drive, you have other options.

I’ve provided further details after the itinerary for all your options on how to do this itinerary without driving yourself, which you should definitely check out.

If you have a little longer in Iceland, check out our seven day Iceland itinerary , which covers a few more highlights, and is aimed at those visiting in winter.

We also have a shorter three day Iceland itinerary if you have a bit less time, as well as a complete Iceland ring road itinerary .

We’d also recommend reading this post in conjunction with our guide to planning a trip to Iceland , which has lots of practical information on travelling in Iceland including detailed planning steps and practicalities.

For now though, let’s get started with our suggested Iceland itinerary for 5 days.

5 Days in Iceland: An Iceland Itinerary

This detailed itinerary goes into each day in detail with all the key highlights you’ll want to see, and each day is then followed by some recommended accommodation options for that night.

Day 1: Reykjavik

It is likely that you’re going be arriving in Iceland at Keflavik International Airport, which is where most international visitors to Iceland arrive.

Here, you can either pick up a hire car directly, or take an airport shuttle transfer into the city centre, and pick your car up on Day 2. Waiting an extra day may save you a bit of money, and you are unlikely to need a hire car to explore Reykjavik.

A quick note if you are looking for car rental providers in Iceland. We recommend you either check out Discover Cars here , or Northbound here .

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 Iceland 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.

See more on insurance in Iceland, plus general advice for driving in the country, in our tips for driving in Iceland post . Back to the itinerary!

If you want to visit the Blue Lagoon , Iceland’s most famous thermal baths, then doing this on the way from the airport is an excellent idea as it’s closer to the airport than the city centre.

In fact, many companies offer a transfer service to and from the airport that includes a stop at the Blue Lagoon. Also consider the Sky Lagoon , which is closer to the city centre.

Both of these lagoons are popular and need to be booked in advance. You can book the Blue Lagoon here and the Sky Lagoon here .

Otherwise, we’d suggest you spend a bit of time sightseeing in Reykjavik. There’s a lot to see in the city, including the beautiful Hallgrimskirkja Church , which has a wonderful view from the top, and the Sun Voyager statue , which makes for some fun photo opportunities.

There are also a number of museums, lots of restaurants and bars, and probably the best nightlife in Iceland if you want to start your Iceland trip off with a bang!

If you do plan on visiting some of the museums and sights in the city, consider a Reykjavik city card . A 24 hour card is good value and gets you free access to many of the cities top attractions, as well as free public transport on the city bus services.

If you’d prefer to head straight out of town on your first day, and are desperate to fit as much as possible into your itinerary as possible, check out my optional addition of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula at the end of this section as an alternative.

Where to Stay

We recommend overnighting in Reykjavik on your first night in Iceland. Some options to consider include:

• 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.

See more lodging options in Reykjavik on booking.com here .

Day 2: Golden Circle

From Reykjavik you’re going to head to one of Iceland’s most iconic road trips – the Golden Circle .

There are three must-visit stops on the golden circle. These are Thingvellir (Þingvellir) National Park , the Geysir Hot Springs Area , and the mighty Gullfoss waterfall.

Thingvellir is interesting to visit for a number of reasons, both culturally and geologically. It was the site of the first Icelandic parliament, and as such, there is a lot of to see here that involves the history and culture of Iceland.

Thingvellir is also the location of the continental divide, and you can actually see the split between the continents here, and, if you’re feeling adventurous, even snorkel between them !

From Thingvellir, the next stop on the Golden Circle is the Geysir Hot Springs area. This is home to “Geysir”, the original geyser from where the word in English comes from. There are lots of bubbling mud pools as well as regularly erupting geyser’s here.

Finally, the last major stop on the Golden Circle trip is Gulfoss waterfall. This is a wide, multi-tiered waterfall that has a tremendous volume of water flowing over it, and will not fail to impress.

There are a number of viewing locations to enjoy the falls from, as well as an on site café and information centre. A spectacular sight at any time of year.

For your second night we recommend accommodation on or near the Golden Circle. We’d suggest somewhere near Fludir specifically. Options to consider include:

• 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
• River Hotel – located by the Ranga River next to the town of Hella, this hotel offers dining, an open-air hot tub, bar and free wifi.
• Midgard basecamp – found in Hvolsvöllur, this highly rated hostel is a great budget option with a hot tub

See more lodging options on booking.com here .

Day 3: South Coast to Vik

For your third day in Iceland, you’re going to start to head along the beautiful south coast. This is a magnificent stretch of road, with a great many attractions to enjoy, and you are going to have an incredible time exploring it.

A quick note here about staying safe on the road in Iceland. You’re going to see a lot of amazing sights as you drive along here, but it’s important you stay safe, and only pull over in proper parking spaces.

Stopping on the side of the road can be really dangerous, and there’s quite a bit of traffic on the ring road , so please don’t do it. It’s not worth endangering your life for a photo, however cute that horse may be!

Ok, lecture over. The first highlight on the road you drive along here is going to be Seljalandsfoss waterfall. This is a beautiful sixty metre high waterfall that you can actually walk behind, and is a stunning photography opportunity. Easily one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland, and almost unique in that you can walk behind it.

Note that there is a parking fee for parking at Seljalandsfoss (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), which is enforced by on site wardens. At time of writing this was 700 krona, payable by credit card.

Next up is less well known waterfall hidden right next to Seljalandsfoss. Whilst Seljalandsfoss and the below Skogafoss tend to get all the waterfall glory on this stretch of road, there are a couple more waterfalls the more discerning Iceland visitor might want to check out.

The first of these is Gljúfrabúi, a waterfall hidden in a canyon just a short distance from Seljalandsfoss.

To access it, you just have to walk across the river, and follow the path along the cliff. After a fairly short walk, you’ll come to the canyon that holds Gljúfrabúi.

To actually access the waterfall, you’ll have to wade up the stream, but the view is worth it if you’re brave enough – although be prepared to be coated in water from the spray!

The next major stop on the south coast is Skogafoss. This is a thunderous sixty meter high waterfall that is much wider than Seljalandsfoss, and is truly dramatic.

You can get very close to the base of the falls for dramatic photos (just be aware you’re going to get very wet), or you can climb the many steps up to the top of the falls for another viewpoint.

The other less well known waterfall in this area is Kvernufoss. This is also quite easy to find – just park at the Skogar Museum (same turn off Route 1 as Skogafoss), and follow the path across the field to the falls. Like Seljalandsfoss, you can also walk behind Kvernufoss – although be prepared to get wet!

A little further east from Skogafoss is the famous Iceland plane wreck . This will eat up a couple of hours of your day because it takes a while to get to, so unless you are a keen photographer (or don’t mind a long day!), you might want to skip this. Still, I’ve put it in here so you know where to find it.

The next stop on the south coast route is Dyrhólaey. This is a peninsula that juts out into the sea, and from the top you have fantastic views of a beautiful stretch of black sand beach with, on a clear day at least, the towering mountains of Eyjafjallajökull glacier volcano in the background.

Dyrhólaey is also home to a massive rock arch, which is worth the drive up the quite terrifyingly steep dirt road. Note that you can park at the bottom and hike up if you would prefer not to tackle it, and 4WD vehicles are advised for this section of track. From May – July, you may also be lucky enough to spot puffins on the cliffs here.

Just a short drive along from Dyrhólaey you’ll find the popular stop of Reynisfjara Beach. Here, black basalt columns meet the black sand beach, and you can also see a series of rock stacks out to sea. This is a beautifully wild part of Iceland and quite a unique photography opportunity.

Finally, our third day on our five day Iceland itinerary will come to an end at the town of Vik.

This is a nice little town with a beautiful church and lovely sea views. We suggest you overnight here, or depending hotel availability, at the town of Klaustur a little further east along the road.

We recommend staying in either Klaustur or Vik . Our suggestion is to book two nights and return to the same hotel on day 4 to save the hassle of unpacking and repacking. 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.
• Icelandair Hotel in 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 4: Vik to Jokulsarlon

The fourth day of our five day Iceland itinerary is going to cover some more beautiful waterfalls and canyons, as well as an iceberg filled lagoon and a glacier! Let’s get going.

The first stop on the day will be the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, which is just outside Klaustur. This is a two kilometer long canyon which is 100 metres deep, and offers spectacular views of the river winding through it. You may want to do some hiking here.

To get here, just follow road 206 off Route 1 towards Lakagígar. Follow this for a while then at the intersection, turn left away from Lakagígar, The road is gravel but easy to drive.

Our next stop of the day is Svartifoss , or the black falls, about an hours drive east along Route 1. These falls tumble magnificently over black basalt columns, and are found in the  Skaftafell / Vatnajökull National Park .

It’s about a 1 hour round-trip to the falls, but we think you’ll agree that it’s worth the effort for the view.

The national park also has a parking fee for vehicles, which you can pay by card at the visitor centre, or by cash with the reception staff.

A little way on from the turning to Svartifoss on Route 1 is the turning for the viewpoint of the Svínafellsjökull Glacier.

Here, you can get very close to the tongue of this glacier, and see the incredible blue shades of ice. Just don’t be tempted to go for a walk on the glacier itself – if you want to do that sort of thing, you definitely want to take a tour with a qualified glacier guide.

Our final stop for the day is going to be two fold – the Jökulsárlón Lagoon, and the Diamond Beach.

Jökulsárlón Lagoon is a lagoon formed from the meltwater of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, and is the deepest lake in Iceland.

Here, icebergs from the glacier bob around the lagoon, usually for around five years, before they either disappear or float out to sea. If you visit Iceland in the summer months, you can take a boat tour on this lagoon and get up close to the glacier itself.

Across the highway from Jökulsárlón is the final stop on our day – the Diamond Beach. This is where those icebergs often end up – strewn along the beach just like diamonds.

This is a truly incredible sight, and a wonderful photography location . A perfect place to end the day, perhaps with the sunset (depending on the time of year you visit of course!).

Finally, we suggest you turn back and cover some of the distance back to Reykjavik, with a suggested overnight at Klaustur or Vik.

Day 4 Accommodation:  Same as Day 3.

Day 5: Vik to Reykjavik

Our final day has you retracing your steps on the way back to Reykjavik. This is a good chance to get any photos you missed at any of the highlights when travelling in the opposite direction – perhaps due to the weather, or maybe you just ran out of time.

We’d also suggest on your way back to Iceland that you stop off at some of the fishing villages along the way, which are quite picturesque. For example, the towns of Eyarbakki and Stokkseyri are only a short detour.

If you have the time, you can also drive road 427 around the Keflavik peninsula – this is a pretty drive that is less popular, and takes you past the beautiful Strandakirkja church, which is well worth the visit. If you didn’t visit the Blue Lagoon on your first day, you could also do it on your fifth day.

Finally, this five day Iceland itinerary has you back in Reykjavik for your final night.

We recommend overnighting in Reykjavik on your final night. Our recommended options include:

Optional Alternative: Snaefellsnes Peninsula

If you want to skip Reykjavik on your first or last days in Iceland, and really want to pack as much sight-seeing in as possible, then you could consider heading up to the beautiful Snaefellsnes Peninsula for a day.

This would be better suited to a longer itinerary – such as our seven day Iceland itinerary – but would be possible if you wanted to squeeze it in.

This part of Iceland is home to a number of sights and attractions, and there’s a lot to see here.

We’d suggest you include the Gerðuberg basalt columns, the Vatnshellir lava cave, the fantastic Kirkjufell mountain and, for the brave amongst you, a trip to the Shark Museum at Bjarnarhofn.

At the Shark Museum you can sample an Icelandic delicacy – fermented shark meat. It’s an acquired taste that, I must admit, we didn’t quite acquire.

There’s easily enough to do on the peninsula to fill a whole day.

Accommodation:  If you choose to stay overnight on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, we stayed at Guesthouse Hof . For additional options, you can see lodging options on booking.com here .

Iceland Road Trip Map

To help you visualise this trip, we’ve put together this map which highlights the route we suggest you take, as well all the attractions we’ve mentioned. You can also see this map directly on Google Maps here .

5 Day Iceland Itinerary Road Trip Overview

Here’s an overview of each day and the main attractions you’ll be experiencing.

• Day 1 : Reykjavik. Blue Lagoon, Hallgrimskirkja Church, Sun Voyager statue
• Day 2 : Golden Circle. Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Hot Springs Area, Gullfoss waterfall
• Day 3 : South Coast to Vik. Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi, Skogafoss, Kvernufoss, Iceland plane wreck, Dyrhólaey, Reynisfjara Beach, Vik
• Day 4 : Vik to Jokulsarlon and back to Vik. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, Svartifoss, Svínafellsjökull Glacier, Jökulsárlón Lagoon, Diamond Beach
• Day 5 : Vik to Reykjavik. Eyrarbakki, Stokkseyri

How To Book Your Iceland Trip

For a self-drive Iceland road trip like the one we mentioned, you have a couple of options. You can book everything yourself, including the hire car ( compare prices here ) and hotels (see hotels here ). This will give you lots of flexibility, but is of course more work on your part.

Another option is to book a self-drive trip. On one of our trips to Iceland we did a self-drive trip for eight days with this company , and all our hotels, the hire car and all our breakfasts were included as part of the package.

Another company to consider is Northbound, an Icelandic operator who specialise in car rental but who have expanded their services to include comprehensive trip planning. They can help you customize 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!

You can also see self-drive trips on TourRadar here and on Guide to Iceland here , both of which offer a variety of tours from different companies in Iceland.

You can also often work with companies to add a day or customize tours a bit and obviously self-drive tours are pretty flexible as only your hotels, car, and any tours are booked so you can always detour a bit from the suggested itinerary.

When you’re planning your Iceland trip, we recommend you take a look at our guide to planning a trip to Iceland , which has lots more information to help you plan the perfect Iceland adventure!

Do I Have to Drive in Iceland?

Our 5 day Iceland itinerary is for a self-drive road-trip, and we have a guide to driving in Iceland here to help you prepare.

However, if you’d prefer not to drive in Iceland, there are other ways to get around and still see everything you want to see. Here are some options.

Day trips from Reykjavik

One option would be to base yourself in Reykjavik, and do a series of day trips with a tour operator. We have a guide to the best day trips from Reyjkavik that will give you ideas for all the things you can do.

In terms of matching the five day Iceland itinerary on this page, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding tours that cover all the highlights.

Our suggestion would be to take a full day Golden Circle tour and a full day south shore tour , both of which run year-round. You could also add in a Snaefellsnes Peninsula day trip , and if you’re visiting in winter, a trip to see the Northern Lights is a must.

There are a number of different options for many of these day tours – check out all the day tours on Get Your Guide for more ideas.

Bus Passports in Iceland

Another option is to look into a bus passport. These let you travel around the country on a tour bus, choosing where you want to get on and off. This can be a cost effective way to get around, and they stop at almost all of the tourist highlights in Iceland, depending on the itinerary you choose. However they are only an option from June to August.

Group Tours of Iceland

Finally, you should definitely consider a multi-day group or private tour if you don’t want to drive yourself in Iceland.

These will feature a driver and transport, accommodation and the majority of your meals, and will likely be one of the easiest options for sight-seeing in Iceland. You can let someone else handle all the logistics whilst you focus on just enjoying yourself.

Of course, you will be travelling to a fixed itinerary, and it won’t be as flexible as a self-drive trip, but it is a great option if you’d prefer to hand over the responsibility of planning and driving to someone else.

For our five-day Iceland itinerary, we’d suggest you take a look at the following tours.

• This 6 day tour which includes a lava cava, blue ice cave, south coast, golden circle and the Blue Lagoon
• This five day tour which includes an ice cave, golden circle, south coast and Snaefellsnes peninsula
• This 4 day tour which includes the south coast, golden circle and Snaefellsnes peninsula

These are just a small fraction of the tours available. We suggest you take a look at the group tour section of GetYourGuide , Viator , TourRadar , Guide to Iceland , and G Adventures for inspiration. Just input the time of year you are visiting, how long you are visiting for and the areas you are interested in, to see what’s available.

When looking for a group tour, always look beyond the advertised price and see what is included in a tour. A more expensive tour that includes meals and attraction entry might work out to be better value than a lower priced tour that excludes these extras.

We’ve also got a guide to some of the best multi-day guided tours of Iceland to give you an idea of what’s available for everything from 2 days two weeks, across a variety of price points, which is a great starting point.

Add-ons to your Iceland Trip

Regardless of how you choose to travel in Iceland, we think there are a few addons you will likely enjoy to experience the country at it’s fullest.

Year-Round Activities

When you visit Thingvellir National Park, a popular activity is to go snorkelling in the Silfra Fissure. This is a fairly unique experience, and lets you see the gap between the continents from a whole new angle as you float through the crystal-clear waters. This activity is available throughout the year, with dry suits issued to keep you warm.

This can be done either as a day trip from Reykjavik (see here for details ), or you can arrange to do it on site. We’d highly recommend you book in advance.

Another popular year-round activity in Iceland is whale watching.  Tours depart from a number of locations in Iceland, including Reykjavik, Grundarfjordur and Husavik, so wherever your Iceland trip takes you, you should be able to fit in some whale watching.

You can see whale watching tour options and book in advance online here .

Summer Activities in Iceland

In summer, we think you’re definitely going to want to take a trip on the Jökulsárlón Lagoon. This will let you see the beauty of the glacier up close, as well as have the experience of getting up close to the icebergs in the lake.

There are a number of tour options available, including a Zodiac Boat tour and an Amphibious Boat tour . Whichever you choose, we recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment on the day.

One of the thrills of being in Iceland in summer is to experience the midnight sun – a time when it never really gets dark. There are a number of tours that capitalise on this experience, including this fun midnight sun ATV tour .

If you like wildlife watching, as well as whale tours, you can also go on wildlife watching tours to see all sorts of wildlife from seals to puffins and other birdlife. There’s a full list of wildlife tours you can take here – most of these only run over the summer when the wildlife is more active.

Winter Activities in Iceland

In Winter, we think you absolutely have to make the effort to try and see the aurora borealis, or the northern lights. 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.

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.

There are plenty more opportunities for adventure in Iceland in winter, from skiing, to snowmobiling to horse-riding. For more inspiration, check out our detailed guide to winter activities in Iceland .

When to Visit Iceland

In our experience, Iceland is a good country to visit at any time of year, with advantages and disadvantages to both times of year. Summer is definitely the most popular and when most people visit and the most attractions are open and the best months to drive in Iceland.

This itinerary on this page works well for both summer and winter in Iceland, as it doesn’t include any serious mountain roads which may be closed in the winter months.

Visiting Iceland in winter holds the advantage that prices are lower, there are less people visiting and finding accommodation will be easier. It’s also the best time to see the northern lights, which can’t be seen during the summer months.

Disadvantages of visiting Iceland in winter are that there will be much less daylight available, driving conditions can be more challenging (we strongly recommend a 4×4 vehicle with studded tires), and some attractions and tours might not be open or running. It will also be colder!

If you decide to visit Iceland in winter, do check out our Iceland winter packing guide for tips on what to bring, as well as our guide to all the best winter activities in Iceland for inspiration.

Summer in Iceland brings with it very long days, a bit more warmth, and lush green landscapes. The advantages are long hours of daylight, warmer weather and better driving conditions. More tours and attractions are also going to be open.

The disadvantages of visiting Iceland in summer are that prices will be much higher, there will be many more tourists and it can be harder to find accommodation. If you visit during the time of the midnight sun, you might also find it hard to sleep – we highly recommend packing an eye mask to block out the light, as hotels don’t often have black out blinds.

Where to Stay in Iceland?

Iceland has a wide range of accommodation options, from farm stays, vacation rentals and B&B’s through to higher end full service hotels. We’ve included links to where we stayed for each day of the above itinerary, and you can also check out  Iceland’s listings on booking.com  for a full range of options.

Booking.com are usually our preferred option when we travel, as they have everything from hotels to apartments and hostels. They have 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.

We also use a number of other sites like Vrbo, check out our full guide to AirBnB alternatives  right here.

Further Reading to Help you Prepare for your Trip to Iceland

And that sums up our guide to spending 5 days in Iceland! Hopefully you’ve found this post useful. We’re continuing to add more content about Iceland from our experiences travelling in this beautiful country, so check back often for more. In the meantime, we think you’ll find the following resources useful for planning your Iceland trip:

• We’ve put together a detailed guide to help you  plan your Iceland trip,  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!
• If you choose to do this self-drive trip in Iceland in winter, check out our detailed guide to driving in Iceland in winter to help prepare yourself. We also have a general guide to driving in Iceland .
• Fans of the TV show Game of Thrones will want to check out our full guide to all the Game of Thrones locations in Iceland
• 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
• Our guide to finding the Iceland Plane crash , which is a fun photography location (if a bit of a walk to get to!)
• We have a full guide to Iceland’s Golden Circle
• For a longer trip Jess has put together a detailed post outlining a  seven day Iceland itinerary  to give you some route ideas. Even if you are planning more or less time, this detailed guide can help you figure out where to go. We also have a full  Iceland ring road itinerary .
• 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 guide to visiting the Blue Lagoon
• We have a detailed packing guide to help you decide  what to pack for Iceland
• 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!
• We’ve also got a guide to the  best day trips from Reykjavik  should you wish to base yourself in the capital
• 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 , and our personal  travel photography gear

And that’s it! Is Iceland on your list, or have you already visited? Is there anywhere you’d add to our list, or any questions at all about travelling in Iceland? We’re happy to help out – just pop your thoughts and feedback in the comments below!

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4th May 2023 at 3:16 pm

We are under the gun for hotels for the week 6/24-6/30. We are booked in Reykjavik 2 nights- 6/24 & 25. Based on your itinerary, is it best to spend 2 nights near Vik, or 2 nights Gulfloss? Our last night (night 6) is near the airport as we have very early flt on 6/30. We’re trying to figure out if we should start south in Vik (after leaving Reykjavik) and head north to Gulfloss or vise versa, and which area is best for the itinerary you suggest. Sure hope that makes sense. Thanks

Laurence Norah says

4th May 2023 at 6:24 pm

So I would probably say being closer to Vik will probably make more sense for those two nice, as otherwise you’re going to be having a very long drive to get out to the south coast highlights. So that would be my recommendation. You can easily do the Golden Circle as a day trip from Reykjavik if that makes things easier?

3rd April 2023 at 6:13 am

We will be arriving in Iceland on Sept 10 (early morning on an overnight flight) and departing Sept 16 (12:10 am) over to mainland Europe. With these dates are we looking at more of the summer itinerary? What adjustments to that as we will be later in season? Any chance that we will have a chance to see the Northern Lights? Thanks and lots of great information

3rd April 2023 at 10:54 am

Yes, September would be more of a summer time itinerary for sure. The advantage of September is that you do indeed have a chance of seeing the Northern Lights, although of course it will be weather dependent and dependent on solar activity. Honestly you shouldn’t need to adjust the itinerary a great deal, it should be pretty much ready to go as it is, although of course we always recommend tweaking based on your own interests 🙂

Have an amazing time in Iceland and let me know if you have any more questions!

12th February 2023 at 6:41 pm

Hi, your site is wonderful and very helpful. We are hoping to go to Iceland at the end of May. My son has allergies and very hard to cater for so we need self catering. Do you have any suggestions for self catering? If not do you think your 5/6 day itinerary would be possible from staying in one or two self catering accommodation and if so where would we need to base ourselves? We understand this would involve a bit more driving. Would it still work as a great adventure with an 8 and 13 year old? Many thanks Sarah

13th February 2023 at 10:34 am

Thanks very much! So we have stayed in accommodation with basic self-catering facilities (more like a kitchenette though than a full self-catered set up). That said, there are certainly lots of options on the main apartment rental sites. My suggestion might be to base yourself in Reykjavik for three nights and around Vik for two nights. I think you should be able to find a self-catering option easily in Reykjavik at least, and then Vik should also have some options. It’s worth bearing in mind that the most comprehensive supermarkets are going to be in Reykjavik so that is where I’d recommend doing the most of our shopping, especially as you have specific requirements.

I hope this helps, let me know if I can offer any more advice, and have an amazing time in Iceland with your family 🙂

19th September 2022 at 6:04 pm

Im sorry if you already answered this question…But can this itinerary be done with a 2 wheel drive vehicle or will there be F Roads that require 4×4? Thank you for all of your advice!

19th September 2022 at 6:56 pm

This can definitely be done with a normal 2 wheel drive vehicle. The only tricky bit might be the drive up to Dyrholaey, last time I did that the road was a bit steep and unpaved, but it is possible in a two wheel drive car. The route doesn’t include any F roads 🙂

Have a great time in Iceland!

20th January 2023 at 4:55 pm

I’ve been reading your website all afternoon – it’s a fantastic resource, thank you. Would a normal 2WD vehicle be okay in late Feb/early March? We’re travelling with my parents and our little girl (who will have her 4th birthday in Iceland!) next month. 🙂 Thank you.

23rd January 2023 at 2:21 pm

Thanks very much! So snow and ice is definitely still possible at that time of year, but the car rental should come with winter tyres. So 4wd is only something you might want for peace of mind, it won’t necessarily be needed. The roads are good and regularly cleared,especially those used by visitors. We have always had a 4wd in winter (even if it’s an estate style car) but it’s a personal choice rather than a necessity.

Have a great time in Iceland, happy birthday to your daughter, and do let me know if you have any further questions!

Diego Alexandre says

29th August 2022 at 2:34 pm

Hi Laurence,

All your posts have been really helpful. I am traveling to Iceland from Saturdar afternoon (2 pm) to Friday morning (really early morning).

Therefore I was following your five day trip, i already book the hotels and I realized that I have one more day free. Could you please provide a recommendation on what to add to the trip considering that I already booked the trip and hotels as you recommend it. Thanks!

29th August 2022 at 2:48 pm

Sure thing, and I’m glad you found our posts helpful. If you are following the main itinerary, then my suggestion would be to spend the extra day visiting the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, which you can definitely do as a day trip. If you have a car it’s easy to do, alternatively there are a number of day trips which visit it.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have additional questions 🙂

29th August 2022 at 3:29 pm

Thanks for your prompt respond. So if I was leaving from Vik to Reykjavic on day 5, I should instead go from Vik´s hotel to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula for the whole day. After that, where should go and where should I stay (hotel) that fifth day. On the sixth day I will go to Reykjavic. Any attractions that you recommend in that Peninsula? Thanks!

29th August 2022 at 3:42 pm

Yes, that would probably be the best option. There’s lots to see on Snaefellsnes, but highlights for us were the Gerðuberg basalt columns, the Vatnshellir lava cave, Kirkjufell mountain and the Shark Museum at Bjarnarhofn.

We have some more tips and also suggestions on where to stay in our 7 day Iceland itinerary . If you check out the section for Day 3 it has some recommended htels and an itinerary for the day as well 🙂

Have a great trip, let me know if you have any more questions!

4th July 2022 at 11:49 pm

Dear Laurence and Jessica, I just wanted to say thanks for your blog! I just returned from a 5 day trip to Iceland and pretty much followed your itinerary, which worked out great.

5th July 2022 at 10:44 am

We are glad to hear you had a great time, and thank you so much for taking the time to come by after your trip and let us know. It is much appreciated!

Safe travels 🙂

Lars Kaa Andersen says

13th June 2020 at 9:17 pm

Hi, I really liked your 5 days suggestion❤. We have 6 days available and would love to do a full day house riding. Do you have a recommendation for this? Much appreciated. Kind regards, Lars

14th June 2020 at 11:11 am

This is a great question. We only did a little bit of horse riding near Akureyri, so don’t have first hand experience of a company. However, the following have good reviews:

– this tour from Reykjavik is suitable for beginners and advanced riders – this is another full day tour from Reykjavik which is suitable for beginners and advanced riders

One thing to note is that most of the full day experiences seem to involve a more beginner section in the morning and a more advanced section in the afternoon. So I am not sure what your experience level is, or if you were looking to spend the whole day riding, in which case you might want to contact a provider directly and try to arrange a private session, although this will be more expensive.

15th June 2020 at 12:13 pm

Many thanks Laurence, much appreciated.

Mirela says

4th February 2020 at 6:29 pm

Thanks so much for the wonderful information. My family is planning a trip to Iceland from June 9-15, 2020 and we will follow your guide. We would like to have an ice cave tour though, if possible. Would we be able to book such a tour in June? Many thanks, Mirela.

4th February 2020 at 6:44 pm

Delighted to have been able to help. So the main ice cave season in Iceland is in winter, from around November through to March. This is when those really blue ice caves are accessible, and this is when most ice cave tours run.

However, there are a couple of ice caves you can visit in winter, including Katla ice cave (see this tour for example ) and this combination glacier hike and ice cave tour .

So yes, it is possible 🙂

Lucy Rinaldi says

30th September 2019 at 7:28 pm

Do you have a printable version of this article? I found it has a wealth of information and I’ve used it to set up our trip to Iceland in 10 days’ time – but I’d love to be able to take it with us so we don’t miss out on anything! Thanks for writing it.

30th September 2019 at 8:49 pm

Thanks very much 🙂 We don’t have a printable version per se – most browsers have built in printing capabilities, which should work. It is something we do get requested from time to time, I just haven’t figured out how to implement it. Is there a specific format you would want the post to be in to make it more printer friendly?

30th September 2019 at 9:21 pm

If I press Print in my browser, it tells me that it will take 82 sheets of paper!!!! The problem is that you have all the beautiful photos – and of course all the adverts. Ideally, a printable version would just be the words, without the pictures. If you had a link to a pdf of the words, that would be perfect.

30th September 2019 at 9:51 pm

That is an awful lot of paper. I will definitely have to put this further up my to-do list as an option, thanks for the feedback!

14th October 2019 at 9:43 pm

So I have taken your feedback to heart and there is now a “print” icon in the floating share button to the side of the post when you view it on desktop. I’ve just implemented this, but hopefully it should give you a version of the post without ads and images 🙂 Most browsers let you print to PDF from the Print menu.

We’re going to make this button more obvious and probably tidy the wording up a bit, but hopefully this should get you what you were looking for in the meantime! Any feedback, let me know 🙂

I appreciate your trip has already started…

Shelley says

8th September 2019 at 5:30 am

Dear Laurence and Jessica,

We just got back from our 5 day trip to Iceland and I just wanted to thank you so very, very much for all your incredible information. I used everything you said to create a fantastic self-drive itinerary for us and we saw everything on the southern border. Our 15 and 23 year old boys loved the snorkling and the raft trip at Jökulsárlón the best, but we loved it all and plan to return to see the north. Just loved your site. So kind and helpful of you to do this! Thanks again!! Happy travels to you!

8th September 2019 at 10:24 am

Dear Shelley,

Thank you so much for your comment and letting us know that we helped you have a great trip! Comments like this make all the hard work worth it, and we really appreciate you taking the time to contact us.

Happy travels!

Laurence & Jessica

Jerry Kings says

30th June 2019 at 7:41 pm

We just decided on a last minute spontaneous trip to Iceland for end of July and had to scramble to finalize our accommodations given the crowds. Loved your itinerary, but had to adjust slightly to fit our plans, so wanted to use your expertise to make sure you do not see any flaws. We land early morning 7/23 and depart early morning 7/29.

7/23: Snaefellsnes Peninsula (stay there) 7/24: Reykjavik 7/25: Golden Circle (stay in Fludir) 7/26: Vik (stay in Vik) 7/27: Hofn (stay in Hofn) 7/28: Drive back to Reykjavik, stay there before flying out in the AM

Also, any pluses or minuses of Air BnB and guesthouses? Thanks so much!

1st July 2019 at 10:20 pm

This trip definitely looks doable to me. The only negative of an airbnb is that you usually have to coordinate an arrival time which can restrict your sight seeing and make you less flexible. It’s not a big deal, just something to think about.

Have a great trip!

Yinghua says

25th June 2019 at 5:28 am

Thanks for all the great info/suggestions! My family of 4 is planning a trip in mid August, for 5 days. Love your plan. I’m inclined to book car rental and hotels myself. How do I sign up for the special activities such as snorkels or glacier hike? It seems that Iceland Travel and Guide to Iceland have either the self-drive tour package or day tour. Thanks again!

25th June 2019 at 2:31 pm

Hi Yinghua,

So whilst the two sites you mention do offer day tours, you can also book individual tours that don’t include transport as well. It’s just a question of finding them, and the search functionality doesn’t always make this super easy. However, as an example, here is a link for booking the Silfra snorkelling without transport.

So it is definitely possible to book these activities in advance without booking a full day tour 🙂

Andrew Meadows says

23rd May 2019 at 1:01 pm

Hi im looking at possibly heading to Iceland in mid to late August, and your 5 day itinerary sounds awesome, but wondering is it possible to see the Northern Lights around that time ? and is it getting cold or would be cold i did notice in one of your comments there was snow in june ! ! Thanks Andrew

23rd May 2019 at 1:11 pm

So in theory it is possible to see the northern lights in late August. The main issue is that it will not be fully dark until quite late, and there will only be a few hours of true darkness, so the window of opportunity is quite small.

In terms of weather – Iceland is never truly a warm place 😉 Even the warmest days aren’t usually much above 20C, and the wind can make it seem much cooler. So I would advise packing warm clothes and waterproofs whatever time of year you visit. And yes, we had snow in June when we last visited, and it rained a lot, and the temperature was around 12C most of the time!

Definitely don’t go to Iceland for the warm weather 😉

Have a great time though!

14th May 2019 at 2:06 am

Hey, loved your post! My friend and I are trying to figure out how much money we’ll need for gasoline. About how many miles was this trip? Super helpful post!

14th May 2019 at 9:06 am

Thanks very much!

I’d say likely 1200 – 1600 miles, depending on side trips and detours 🙂

2nd April 2019 at 1:16 am

Hi! Love the post! I’m planning to travel in October this year. Would we follow advice for summer or winter for theatre time of year?

2nd April 2019 at 10:06 am

Well, you’re on the boundary! I would err more towards winter though, as wintery conditions are definitely more common that summer conditions (we had snow in June!), so I would plan for it to be colder and with the possibility of snow. You should also be able to see the northern lights 🙂

Tiffanie O. says

28th March 2019 at 3:07 pm

Let me say i have learned so much reading all of the comments and thank you for all of the information. Below is the self drive itinerary we have put together for when we visit in August, with the help from Guide to Iceland. We did change a few things and does it look doable to you…

Day 1- arrive airport, get car, head to Blue Lagoon, then spend night in Reykjavik (walk around Reykjavik after blue lagoon). Day 2-we want to do the first snorkel 9:00 in Silfra and then head to Snaefellsnes Peninsula to spend the day exploring and then spend the night in Stykkisholmur. Day 3-make our way to Thingvellir National Park (explore, take pics), head to Geysir, then Gullfoss, Kerid Crater, Sellfoss then stay the night in Vik. (i know this sounds like alot but we plan to get up early and head out, plus we will be there in August so daylight will be on our side). Day 4-I believe we are booking an ice cave tour (Myrdalsjokull) so we would do this first then make our way to Hofn (any suggestions for along the way ?), spend night in Hofn. Day 5-explore Hofn, as we head back to Vik stop at Jokulsarlon and black diamond beach. spend night in Vik. Day 6-head back to Reykjavik from Vik but stop at Reynifjara Beach, Dyrholaey, maybe plane wreck, skogafoss, Eyjafjallajokull, Seljalandsfoss. Spend night in Reykjavik. Day 7- fly home (will probably be depressed about leaving)

Does this itinerary make sense? I had messaged you yesterday about fuel and gas cards. Our math was way off when trying to figure out how much to budget for fuel. Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated.Thank you so much!

28th March 2019 at 3:23 pm

Hi Tiffanie,

We’re happy we’ve been able to help 🙂 Just so you know we did reply to your comment about fuel cards which you can see here: https://independenttravelcats.com/visiting-iceland-in-winter-7-day-iceland-itinerary-by-car/#comment-300016

For your itinerary, I just have a couple of bits of feedback on what otherwise looks like a great itinerary 🙂

On Day 2 you have yourselves going to Silfra for the snorkelling. As Silfra is in Thingvellir National Park, I think this would make a bit more sense to do on Day 3, where you visit Thingvellir, otherwise you are doing a bit of a detour on Day 2. You should still be able to see the rest of your itinerary on Day 2 I would think if you do the 9am tour, just bear in mind you would have to leave the Snaefellsnes peninsula early.

Of course, I appreciate that you have likely thought about this, and that is why Silfra is on Day 2 🙂

Otherwise this looks good to me!

27th March 2019 at 12:15 am

Hi there, what a wonderful website you’ve got! So much valuable information and beautiful pictures. Do you have an estimate of how much this five-day tour cost for two people?

Thank you in advance! 🙂

27th March 2019 at 11:27 am

So giving prices is a bit tricky for Iceland as the currency seems to fluctuate a lot! However, Iceland is definitely a relatively pricey destination, and it will also depend on a few factors (what sort of accommodation you want, what time of year you visit).

My suggestion is to check out our guide to how much it costs to travel in Iceland: https://independenttravelcats.com/iceland-budget-tips-how-to-save-money-in-iceland/#How-Much-Do-Things-Cost-in-Iceland

Which has some indicative costs for everything from car hire to groceries to accommodation, and from that you should be able to easily come up with a budget 🙂

Have a great trip, and let me know if I can help any more!

27th March 2019 at 4:49 pm

Thanks so much, Laurence! Very helpful information, it’ll really help me plan my trip. Thanks again! 🙂

27th January 2019 at 1:29 am

Hello, I am planning to visit Iceland around april 12 for 5-6 days. I intend to follow your itinerary, with maybe the addition of Snaefellsnes peninsula. Looking at the map, it seems it is more convenient to add this before the rest of the itinerary, am I right? Also, any suggestions for travelling in April? Any chance to see northern lights?

27th January 2019 at 9:48 am

Yes, adding the Snaefellsnes peninsula at the start would make the most sense. For April there’s nothing specific – just be aware that Iceland can be cold and windy / wet at any time of year, so just make sure you bring enough warm clothes. There is still the chance to see the northern lights in April, all you need is clear skies and a display to happen! Good luck 🙂

26th January 2019 at 6:17 pm

Hello, what hikes would one be able to do in these areas?

Thank you!!

26th January 2019 at 7:21 pm

It really depends on the length of hike you are interested in doing and the time of year you visit. Iceland is home to shorter hikes of an hour to half a day, as well as longer multi-day hikes. For multi-day hikes though I’d advise doing something different as this itinerary isn’t really about hiking.

For shorter hikes, you have quite a few options, although of course you’ll want to adjust the itinerary as it doesn’t currently account for many hikes.

Areas you might want to consider hiking are the short hike to Kvernufoss, the hike up to (and beyond) Reykjadalur hot springs and the hikes in Skaftafell up to and beyond Svartifoss.

There are loads more hikes, including the hike out to Glymur, and the Mt Esja hike, both of which are accessible from Reyjkavik.

I hope this helps a bit 🙂

Ethan Plous says

21st January 2019 at 11:32 pm

Hi Laurence and Jessica! My name is Ethan, and my friends and I planning a trip to Iceland during the summer of 2019 (June 14-17). Unfortunately amongst the five of us, there is no one who is old enough to rent a car (we are all 18 years old). I noticed that there is a public bus system and I was wondering if that is an effective way to get around. I had read the portion of your post that mentioned bus passports, but my friends and I were planning to spend one night in a different part of Iceland for the duration of our stay and an hourly bus pass does not seem particularly efficient. Moreover, I am extremely grateful for the patience you guys had to write such an informative and extensive guide, and I am extremely open to suggestions as where to visit in our time in Iceland!

Thanks a Ton,

22nd January 2019 at 12:20 pm

So the main issue with the public bus system is that it doesn’t tend to stop at the major tourist sights, and even if it does, many of the sights don’t take very long to see, and then you’d have to wait for another bus to come along.

The bus passports: https://guidetoiceland.is/book-holiday-trips/return-bus-ticket-to-the-highlands-golden-hikers-pass?a=133265 https://guidetoiceland.is/book-holiday-trips/iceland-by-bus-south-coast-passport?a=133265

One of them is just for hiking and the other is just from July, so I don’t think these will help.

So I have two main options for you. You can maybe rent an apartment in Reyjkavik, and then do some day tours from the city, as I suggest here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/day-trips-from-reykjavik-iceland/

Or you could do a multi-day guided tour, which might be the easiest option. I suggest some here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/best-guided-group-tours-of-iceland/

But if you take a look at the following sites you’ll get some ideas:

Iceland Travel Get Your Guide Guide to Iceland

I hope this helps a bit!

Have an awesome trip, and do let us know how it goes or if you have any more questions for us 😀

8th January 2019 at 2:24 pm

Hello, many thanks for this excellent guide! I’m planning to go to Iceland in March, from Saturday (arriving in the evening) to Friday (leaving in the morning) and I was thinking to follow pretty much this itinerary. Is it feasible in your opinion to start on Sunday morning from Reykyavik and visit the Snaefellsnes peninsula (Stykkisholmur, Bjarnarhofn, Kirkjufell, shall I add/remove something?) and sleep at Borgarnes? The following day I would continue with your Day 2 (Thingvellir and so on) .

Thanks, Marco

8th January 2019 at 5:16 pm

Hi Marco – our pleasure!

So yes, if you don’t mind skipping Reykjavik then that would definitely be achievable 🙂 I also think you should be able to see everything you mention without too much trouble. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to catch your flight on the Friday morning!

8th January 2019 at 8:10 pm

Yes because my idea was to do the peninsula on day 1, keep your day 2, 3 and 4 and the fifth day go back towards Reykjavik (with long stop at the blue lagoon :)) and on day 6 take the flight back. I’ve also came up with a different solution: Day 1: From Reykjavik to Vik (Seljalandsfoss,Skogafoss ecc.. basically your day 3 but driving from Reykjavik) Day 2: same as your day 4 Day 3: from Vik to Borgarnes (visiting Geysir, Gelfoss, Thingvellir) Day 4: visiting Snaefellnes penisula and sleep a Borgarnes Day 5: blue lagoon and sleep at Reykjavik

Any suggestions on which one is better? 🙂

Many thanks, Marco

8th January 2019 at 9:49 pm

This would work. Depending on the car you have you can also take road 48 to leave the Golden Circle route, and go past þórufoss, which is a really nice waterfall. It’s a gravel road which we drove in March a couple of years ago with no problems, but it’s always worth checking road conditions of course 🙂 Of course, you could do this the other way as well, from the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.

To be honest either way will be pretty similar, it just depends which way you want to go!

5th January 2019 at 9:44 pm

Hi Laurence and Jessica,

My wife and I are planning to follow your itinerary in late January 2019. It is our first time in Iceland and really would like to see the Northern lights if we get lucky. Will it be visible in any of the locations in this road trip? if not, where is the best place to see it without deviating too far from this 5 days plan? Thank you in advance.

5th January 2019 at 10:31 pm

Yep, you can see the northern lights pretty much throughout Iceland, with the best viewing possible when you are away from artificial lights. Generally, that just means going a short distance from wherever you are staying – most towns are not too big in Iceland. Even in Reykjavik you can just travel a short distance to get good viewing! So you shouldn’t need to divert from the plan at all – you would just need to hope for clear skies and good conditions!

Have a wonderful trip 🙂

12th September 2018 at 12:58 am

In Iceland now and following this itinerary pretty closely, starting day 4 tomorrow: South Coast & Vík. Can you tell me roughly how long this day took you and if you started the day early? It seems like a jam-packed day! Thanks!

12th September 2018 at 10:24 am

Hey! So you are likely on the road now, but this is certainly a full day. We tend to start most of our days relatively early, around 8am. That said, the goal of the itinerary was to try and make every day a similar length. We’d love to hear your feedback though as to how you found it!

13th September 2018 at 10:49 pm

I booked a room last minute in Thykkvibaer, quite west of Vik/Klaustur, so I didn’t do the full itinerary for day 4 as it would’ve been too long of a drive back to the hotel afterward, so I can’t comment on the length of your itinerary for that day. I will say that there are signs in front of both the steep drive to Dyrhólaey and the entrance to Fjaðrárgljúfur that specify 4×4 vehicles only, and I had rented a small 2WD. Many blogs said a 2WD would fine on gravel roads, but it was raining and there were many potholes, and I tried it but it felt like a bad idea, so I turned back. I will definitely rent a 4×4 next visit, no doubt. The good news is there is a steep rocky pedestrian footpath from the parking lot below up to the Dyrhólaey viewpoint so hiking is an option if you can’t or don’t want to make the steep drive due to a small car or just nerves!

14th September 2018 at 11:24 am

Thanks very much for the update. You are correct, the drive up to Dyrhólaey is quite steep, and if the signs say 4WD only then it is a good idea. I’m not sure if those signs are relatively new, but I will update the post to reflect this information. Thanks very much!

8th January 2019 at 8:19 pm

Hi RB, Haven’t understood: did you manage to do day 4 starting and coming back to Vik?

Andrew Scheier says

30th August 2018 at 3:54 pm

We followed this itinerary pretty closely (added Gjain on day 2 and did the Snaefellsnes Peninsula on day 6.) Had a great time. Thanks!

30th August 2018 at 3:57 pm

Hey Andrew – that’s great! We always love to hear feedback about how things went, and we’re pleased you had a good time 😀

Victor says

18th August 2018 at 3:58 am

Thank you for all the great tips! Do you recommend a 4×4 for this trip or a regular car will be okay?

18th August 2018 at 8:40 am

Hey Victor, our pleasure 🙂

A regular car should be fine, all the roads in this itinerary are paved. If you travel in Winter you might prefer a 4×4 for some added safety, but even standard cars should come with winter or studded tires, so it should be ok. Either way, just drive safely and to the road conditions and you should be fine!

15th August 2018 at 3:19 pm

Thank you very much for providing inspiration for my future trip to Iceland.

15th August 2018 at 8:22 pm

Our pleasure – thanks for commenting!

12th July 2018 at 5:13 am

This guide is wonderful! Thanks for all the great information

12th July 2018 at 11:53 am

Our pleasure – thanks Kate!

Amanda says

27th January 2018 at 2:01 pm

I’ll be back in Iceland later this year with my dad on our way over to Greenland – this is a great first-time guide for a shorter trip! I’ll have to send it to Dad so he can start getting some ideas.

28th January 2018 at 9:46 am

We’ll be there in June 😀 Maybe we’ll run into each other!

Kristin says

23rd January 2018 at 4:45 pm

I love how moody and dramatic all these shots are, but the beauty image up top with the red jacket tops it all in my book! It’s now been 11 years since I was in Iceland, and MAN do I want to get back. My husband still hasn’t ever gone!

23rd January 2018 at 4:48 pm

Yeah, we did actually get a lot of nice days in Iceland too, but these ended up being the shots I chose for this post for some reason! You guys definitely need to get back 😀

sally-anne grainger says

28th July 2019 at 7:01 pm

I am looking at going for New year and my 40th (Jan). What is it like please? We are going for 5 days and I don’t want to be going here there and everywhere. I am after seeing the lights, blue lagoon, waterfalls, and other nice naturey stuff nearby. Done whale watching so many times I feel this is not for me. Suggestions would be appreciated. Also looking at staying at one place only where the views are good for the lights. We are looking at hiring a car also rather than pay extra for tours. Many thanks, Sally

29th July 2019 at 7:45 pm

Hi Sally Anne!

So the main thing to consider at that time of year is that it will be dark a lot of the time (the days can be as short as just a few hours of daylight). This means that you won’t be able to fit as much in in terms of sight seeing as it will be dark. However, you will have lots more opportunities for the northern lights, so that is a benefit. I think a good option would be to base yourself in Reyjkavik and to explore from there. I’d say the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon and parts of the south coast would be good options for your time, especially with a car rental. We also have a guide to Iceland in winter which might give you some more inspiration, as well as some ideas of day trips from Reykjavik. You can see those here:

https://independenttravelcats.com/visiting-iceland-in-winter-7-day-iceland-itinerary-by-car/ https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/day-trips-from-reykjavik-iceland/

Have a great time!

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Iceland 5 Day Itinerary: to the Best Free Attractions

So you only have five days to spend in Iceland? You’re worried you won’t get to see it all but you might be pleasantly surprised to know that Iceland’s best sights are easily reached within a few days by car. You’ll see the best of the Land of Fire and Ice on this incredible five-day Iceland itinerary through the heart of the country.

Walk in the footsteps of Vikings, stand at the base of mighty waterfalls, and soak away the road trip in the Blue Lagoon’s thermal spa. The best part about this itinerary? All these destinations are completely free and able to access regardless of what time of year you visit Iceland! This is the best five-day Iceland itinerary for a self-drive tour of this magical country.

Iceland 5 Day Itinerary route Map

Day 1: Arrival + (Blue Lagoon) + Reykjavik

Congratulations on your decision to visit Iceland! It’s your first day in this incredible land of lava fields and stunning vistas. Get ready to be amazed at the plethora of diverse landscapes and stunning vistas as you road trip your way through the country’s vast wilderness. The first order of business is picking up your rental car with Firefly Car Rental at the Keflavik (KEF) airport.

If you have the time, now would be a great opportunity to kick off your trip with a bit of relaxation after the long flight. Pop in to the famed Blue Lagoon, only a 20 minute drive from the airport, and be transported to a world of peace, mist, and healing waters. If you would like to try something lesser known, the Secret Lagoon located inside Reykjavik city will be an excellent hot spring alternatives for day 1.

If you’re eager to make it to Reykjavik you can always save the Blue Lagoon for right before your flight home! Stay in the capital city of Reykjavik tonight. Dine on fresh seafood, take a stroll around downtown , check out the most famous free tourists attractions like sun voyager sculpture, Hallgrimskirkja church and Harpa, or get acquainted with the locals at one of their energetic live music events.

Day 2 : Golden Circle

It’s day two of your five day road trip through Iceland and time to jump right into the heart of this island nation’s sprawling wilderness and inspiring natural wonders. The Golden Circle is a 190-mile loop and one of the best “mini road trips” in Iceland. the golden circle tour is also one of the most popular day trips and must see for those who only have a day exploring the country.

First up is Thingvellir National Park, just under an hour from Reykjavik. Walk between tectonic plates, discover Viking heritage, or go for a hike in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Keep in mind that the national park does charge for parking , ranging from $5.50 to $7.70 depending on car size. Don’t forget to pay before exploring!

Not far from Þingvellir National Park is the legendary Geysir Geothermal Area . If the name sounds familiar, all other geysers in the world were named for this one. While Geysir itself is well known, the most impressive sight in this geothermal mecca is Strokkur, a geyser that soars 131 feet (40 meters) into the air, every 5 to 10 minutes.

As if that wasn’t magnificent enough, end the day with a visit to Gullfoss Waterfall, one of Iceland’s largest and only 10 minutes from Geysir. It’s impressive both in summer and winter, when most of the waterfall is frozen. Head over to the Visitor’s Center to try one of Iceland’s culinary delights, lamb stew.

Day 3: Waterfalls + Black Sand Beach + Vik

Where there’s volcanoes, there’s black sand, and you’re headed there today! Day three of your road trip is all about immersing yourself in the stark beauty of Iceland’s famous black sand beaches.

Begin your journey by driving south, where the roads wind through landscapes of jagged lava fields, leading you towards the southern coast. Here, you’ll encounter two of the  most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland , Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, nestled only 30 minutes apart. As you approach them, you’ll hear the roar of the cascades echoing in the air, their mist painting rainbows in the sunlight. While both waterfalls are a sight to behold, each has its unique charm. Seljalandsfoss offers a rare chance to walk behind the waterfall curtain, while Skógafoss is known for its sheer power and broad curtain of water.

Seljalandsfoss

Continuing along the coast, your next destination is the dramatic Dyrhólaey arch. This enormous natural arch, sculpted by the relentless power of the Atlantic Ocean, juts out into the ocean, presenting a perfect opportunity for stunning photographs. The real star of the show today though? Reynisfjara, the iconic black sand beach, situated near the town of Vik.

Vik, with its quaint streets and small-town charm, serves as the gateway to Reynisfjara. After wandering around Vik’s quaint streets, make your way to Reynisfjara Beach itself but beware; the waves here are notoriously dangerous. Known as “sneaker waves” they have been known to drown unsuspecting visitors. After seeing the tumultuous ocean up close, head back to Vik for Black Crust Pizza, a slice as midnight as the sand.

Note that the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall does have a parking fee of around $5.Furthermore, if your spirit of adventure is still high, you can also consider booking a guided tour of the Sólheimajökull Glacier. Located near the start of today’s itinerary, it offers an exciting glimpse into Iceland’s glacial landscapes and the chance to tread on an actual glacier, a thrilling end to an already fantastic day.

Day 4: Skaftafell + Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon + Diamond Black Sand Beach + Heading back to Reykjavik

Kick off your last full day on the road with a visit to the gorgeous Skaftafell Nature Reserve, a portion of Vatnajökull National Park. Home to the largest glacier in Iceland, for which the park was named, and itself residing within the largest national park in all of Europe, this section of Iceland’s wilderness is unparalleled in its rugged beauty.

Explore the Skaftafell Glacier through a guided tour or the glacier blue ice caves if you are visiting during winter then, continue chasing waterfalls at Svartifoss, or take a short hike through the tundra. The park is also home to the famous Jökulsarlon ice lagoon and the stunning Diamond Beach, littered with glittering shards of the glacier itself. Keep your eyes peeled for the Local Langoustine food truck that parks nearby!

This evening, head back to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, for the night. It’s almost a five hour drive back and you’ll want to get started well before nightfall.

Quick tips if you are planning a trip to Iceland during winter months: You will also have a chance to see the northern lights if you are visiting the country during Iceland’s northern light season (between September and April), Day 3 and 4 of this itinerary will offer you the best chance to see the northern light — as you will be staying in the area far from light pollution. If the weather condition is good for the time you are visiting, don’t forget to watch out for the aurora!

Day 5: Departure Day (+Blue Lagoon)

It’s your final day of this epic five-day road trip through Iceland! Spend some time back in the capital of Reykjavik and check off any of the landmarks you missed the first time or foods you’re still wanting to try. Don’t forget to grab a traditional Icelandic sweater as a souvenir.

Before heading back to the airport, this is another great time to reflect on your trip with a rejuvenating experience at the Blue Lagoon. Plan in advance as the Blue Lagoon is 45 minutes away from downtown Reykjavik and 20 minutes from the Keflavik Airport.

Return your car to Firefly Car Rental at KEF and you’re good to go! Wave farewell to Iceland and her majestic scenery from the clouds as you journey home or onward.

Quick Tips to Prepare For The Perfect Self- Drive Trip in Iceland

Iceland isn’t a difficult country to travel but there are a few tips that will help make your trip perfect.

1. Start planning early!

○     Book your rental car, accommodation and flights at least a few months in advance. In general, the earlier you book the less expensive it will be. You’ll have better and more varied options, especially if you’re planning to visit in the busy summer season.

2. Rent a car in Iceland that will suit your needs.

○     Be sure to rent a car that’s right for where and when you want to go! If you’re visiting in winter, you’ll most likely need to rent a 4×4 vehicle, especially if you’re traveling the Ring Road. In summer, you can generally get by with a compact car unless you plan to trek into the interior.

3. Learn as much as you can about driving in Iceland, including the driving rules, before you arrive.

○     Read up on the rules of the road before arriving in Iceland. Know that you must stick to designated roads at all times. Icelanders drive on the right side of the road and road conditions can change rapidly due to inclement weather. Check road.is for an up to date report on current conditions.

Book Your Trip Well In Advance

Inspired to spend your next vacation doing a road trip around Iceland? We hope this five day itinerary for Iceland makes you excited to get out on the open road and explore this beautiful country. From glacial lagoons, to epic waterfalls, and everything in between, a trip to the Land of Fire and Ice is always unforgettable.

No matter what your car rental needs may be in Iceland, from hefty 4×4’s for safe winter travels to a compact sedan, we’ve got the budget options you’re looking for! Book your rental car through Firefly Car Rental Iceland for the best deals. 

Cheapest car rental options in Iceland

Dacia Duster or similar | Manual | 4×4 | 2020-2021 (CFMX)

Group e2 reservations are made by car category only. we cannot guarantee a specific car model. or similar.

• 5 Passengers
• Airconditioning

Suitable for the highland F-roads. Please read Terms & Conditions. You must be 23 years of age to drive this vehicle.

Additional Features

• 4 Wheel Drive
• 116 C0 2  g/km
• Adjustable Steering
• Electronic Stability Control
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• Power Windows
• Remote Locking

VW Golf or similar | Automatic | 2020-2021 Model (CDAX)

Group: b2 reservations are made by car category only. we cannot guarantee a specific car model. or similar.

• 2 Large Bags

This vehicle is NOT allowed in the highland F-roads. You must be 20 years of age to drive this vehicle.

• 1 Small Bag
• 2 Large, 1 Small
• 138 cc
• Cruise Control

VW Golf or similar | Manual | 2020-2021 Model (CDMX)

Group: b reservations are made by car category only. we cannot guarantee a specific car model. or similar.

• Front Wheel Drive
• 125 C0 2  g/km

VW Tiguan or similar | Automatic | 4×4 | 2020-2021 Model (IFAX)

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VW Polo or similar| Manual | 2020-2021 Model (EDMX)

Group a reservations are made by car category only. we cannot guarantee a specific car model. or similar.

• 99 C0 2  g/km
• Satelite Navigation

VW Up or similar | Manual | 2020-2021 Model (MBMX)

Group: z reservations are made by car category only. ,we cannot guarantee a specific car model. or similar.

• 4 Passengers
• Petrol or Diesel
• 95 C0 2  g/km

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The Ultimate 5 Days In Iceland Road Trip Itinerary

March 4, 2020 //  by  Follow Me Away //   155 Comments

If taking an epic 5 days in Iceland road trip is on your bucket list, you are not alone! These days it seems like everyone is suiting up, packing their photography gear, flying with a stopover, and visiting the Land of Ice and Fire. We are one of those people and we think you should absolutely take an Iceland road trip. 5 days in Iceland is the perfect amount of time to spend if you are looking for a good introduction to the country or if you are looking to visit on a stopover.

Save money in Iceland by staying at an Airbnb! Get a FREE $55 Airbnb coupon by using our code when you book! 

Table of Contents

5 Days In Iceland: The Ultimate 5 Day Iceland Road Trip Itinerary

If the thought of driving the entire Ring Road [the 827+ mile highway circumnavigating the island] doesn’t appeal to you or you don’t have enough time, you can still plan a 5 days in Iceland road trip itinerary that covers all the best parts of the country!

Our Iceland 5 day itinerary offers you the perfect “snack size” trip to Iceland and fits perfectly with a 48-hour airline stopover or extended weekend trip. We recommend  checking out Skyscanner to find the best and most affordable flights into Iceland. We use this tool to discover the best flights for our trip because you can easily compare rates. 

During your time on the island, you can still see geysers, hot springs, volcanic rock, ponies, glaciers, puffins, landscapes that look like they should be on another planet and more. If you are hoping to see Iceland in 5 days, this is the way to do it!

To help you with your planning, we put together Where To Stay In Iceland where we break down all of the best lodging options around the Ring Road. We also have 3-Day Iceland Itinerary and 4-Day Iceland Itinerary options to help you continue to plan your trip! 

Don’t forget to check out our Detailed Road Trip Packing List so you don’t forget any essentials for your trip!

Instead of driving the entire Ring Road, you will get to see the best parts of the Iceland Ring Road in 5 days. Our Iceland itinerary focuses on the stunning landscapes in the south-eastern part of the Island. You will still get to spend a ton of time on the Ring Road but you will experience it in a do-able amount of time. 5 days in Iceland is a great starting point for seeing all the best sights on the ultimate Iceland road trip.

Disclaimer: Although shortened, the entire 5 day Iceland road trip itinerary we have laid out below is not for the faint of heart. It includes a lot of driving and quite a few stops. That being said, you can always tailor it to your wants and needs so that it best fits your preferred 5 days in Iceland itinerary.  Since this is a 5 day Iceland road trip itinerary, you will be spending minimal time in Reykjavik, but that is okay because there is so much to see. Are you ready? Let’s get to planning!

Day 1: Begin Your 5 Days In Iceland By Driving the Golden Circle

Highlights: Geysers, Gullfoss Waterfall, Icelandic Ponies, Reykjavik

During the first day of your 5 day Iceland road trip itinerary, you are heading out on a loop road called the Golden Circle. It both starts and ends in/near Reykjavik so you can spend the day in nature and the night exploring the city since one afternoon-night is really all you need for Reykjavik.

The Golden Circle drive is an easy 190-miles round trip. Along the way, be sure to stop and pet the adorable Icelandic ponies who are waiting for some love! If you want to opt out of driving this part, there are many affordable Golden Circle Tours you may like to go on instead.

Check Out The Best Hotels In Reykjavik Under $80/Night

If you are dedicated to driving the Golden Circle fast, you can complete the whole thing and see all the sights in about 3 hours. We recommend budgeting around 5 hours to make the most of your experience. When you are driving this part of your 5 day Iceland itinerary, you can either start clockwise or counterclockwise. We suggest the clockwise version so you can get started seeing the sights right away! Driving the Golden Circle is a great way to kick off your 5 days in Iceland road trip and a great day trip from Reykjavik if that is where you are basing out of.

Best Stops On The Golden Circle Self Drive Itinerary:

Stop 1: Thingvellir National Park

Listen up: Vikings used to have meetings here! How cool is that? Thingvellir National Park is also where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet and you can actually go diving/snorkeling between them if you budget enough time in your 5 day Iceland itinerary. Regardless, it is a cool place to walk around and take photos. Many people choose to stay in Thingvellir instead of Reykjavik which is fine if you are looking to be outdoors and close to nature. 

Thingvellir Lake Cottage: Check Rates On Booking.com

Blue Grove Guesthouse: Check Rates On Hotels.com

Stop 2: Geysir Hot Spring Area

Boiling mud pits, the smell of sulfur, and lively geysers can all be found at Geysir Hot Spring Area and make a unique addition to your 5 days in Iceland. Geysers erupt every 7-10 minutes so you will certainly be able to capture multiple eruptions on film. The hot spring area is the perfect place to stop at a restroom since there aren’t many on the Golden Circle!

Litli Geysir Hotel: Check Prices On Booking.com | Hotels.com

Stop 3: Gullfoss Waterfall

Whether you visit Iceland for 5 days in winter or take your Iceland road trip during the warmer months, Gullfoss Waterfall is an epic sight to behold. Unlike most waterfalls that you stand under, you actually stand above and gaze down into Gulfoss. Budget spending the most time at the waterfall because it can’t be missed and should be added to your Iceland itinerary even if you are visiting Iceland in the low-season.

This is one of the best stops along the Ring Road in Iceland and you really shouldn’t miss it! 

Day 2: Continue Your 5 Day Iceland Itinerary By Traveling From Reykjavik To Vik

Highlights: Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, Sólheimasandur Airplane Wreck

Day 2 of your Iceland road trip is going to require a few hours of driving and a bunch of sightseeing and walking around. You will start by programming Vik into your GPS and will head east on the Ring Road out of Reykjavik. As we said above, it is totally doable to see some of the Iceland Ring Road in 5 days and today is when you begin!

During your self-drive in Iceland, you will traverse between a mountain pass, over glacial rivers, and through stunning lava fields. You will spend the night in or near Vik, depending on availability. Make sure to get plenty of rest because Day 3 of your 5 Day Iceland itinerary is going to be busy!

Stop 1:  Seljalandsfoss Waterfall [and the hidden Gljúfrabúi Waterfall]

To find Gljúfrabúi Waterfall, face Seljalandsfoss and walk about 1/4 of a mile to your left. You can also drive to the next parking lot over. There you will spot a small sign marking that you have arrived. In order to see the hidden waterfall, you are actually going to have to walk  through a gorge  until you get to a cave. Here you will see Gljúfrabúi Waterfall in all of its glory! This is one of the most fun stops along any 5 day Iceland itinerary!

Stop 2: Skogafoss Waterfall

If you thought the first two waterfalls were epic, you are in for a real treat! Skogafoss is only a short drive from stop 1 [about 30 minutes] and there are plenty of signs to direct you where you need to go. When you are at Skogafoss, make sure to head to both the base and the top of the waterfall. This stop is a “must” on your Iceland road trip as it is one of the most iconic spots in the country.

Many people spend a ton of time at the bottom but don’t hike the stairs to the top. Don’t spend the entire time looking at the falls either! From the top of the ridge, turn around and check out the fields and sea in all their glory! These days, Skogafoss Waterfall will be one of the busiest stops on your Iceland 5 day itinerary. There will be hundreds of other people and it won’t be that remote unless you go at sunrise or sunset!

Where To Stay Near South Coast Waterfalls:

The Garage Iceland: Check Rates On Booking.com | Hotels.com

Stop 3: Kvernufoss Waterfall

If you are looking for lesser-known things to add to your 5 day Iceland itinerary, this is it! This is one part of your Iceland road trip itinerary that many people miss or don’t know about. Shh, keep it a secret so there aren’t hundreds of tourists! Kvernufoss Waterfall is located down the same road as Skogafoss! Once you turn off the Ring Road, instead of turning left for Skogafoss, you continue straight until you reach the Skogar Museum.

Drive to the remote end of the Skogar Museum, park, and then walk behind the building and hop over a little fence. You will walk through a gorge until you arrive at Kvernufoss Waterfall! When we have visited during past 5 day Iceland road trips, there have only been 5-10 people we see the whole time! You can walk behind this waterfall too and you won’t get super wet either! It makes for a wonderful stop on your 5 day Iceland itinerary.

Find out exact directions for the hike to Kvernufoss in this post!

Stop 4: Sólheimasandur Airplane Wreck

Once you leave Skogafoss, you are heading only a few miles away to make the long trek to Iceland’s hidden airplane wreck. You used to be able to drive down the beach until you reached the wreck, but you are no longer able and must hike around 4 miles round trip. The hike is on flat ground and takes a while, but you get to see a freaking airplane on a black sand beach! This will surely be one of the most unique stops during your 5 days in Iceland!

Make sure that you know what time the sun sets based on the time of year you are completing this 5 day Iceland itinerary so you aren’t stuck rushing your visit and hoping you don’t get stuck in the dark. We were only at this cool landmark for about 10 minutes total because we didn’t budget our time correctly. Don’t make the same mistake we did and be sure to factor enough time into your Iceland road trip itinerary to enjoy this unique site.

Stop 4: Vik

Spend the night in or near the town of Vik. There are small grocery stores and a gas station if you are looking to purchase affordable food to save some money while in Iceland. If you can’t find any accommodations in Vik, try looking near Selejendafoss Waterfall. Although the waterfall is a bit further out and you will have to backtrack, you can find more affordable accommodations out here. You can visit Vik on the third day of your 5 day Iceland itinerary so don’t fret and consider locations all over the south coast for your second night’s accommodation.

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! 

Where to Stay In Vik Iceland!

Budget: Puffin Hostel Vik . Check Rates On Booking.com  

Mid-Range: Guest House Galleri Vik . Check Rates On Booking.com

Luxury: Hotel Kria . Check Rates On Booking.com | Hotels.com

Day 3: Drive From Vik To Hofn For The Next Day Of Your 5 Day Iceland Itinerary

Highlights: Black sand beach, basalt columns, glaciers, Skaftafell National Park

Day 3 of our Iceland road trip itinerary is what we call a “sleep when you die” day because you will be out and about from dawn-till-dusk! This jam-packed 5 day Iceland itinerary isn’t for the faint of heart!

You will spend the morning admiring black sand and basalt, the afternoon checking out glaciers and lava fields, and the evening driving to the city of Hofn or somewhere near it if you find an accommodation option closer.

It is a lot of work but you can totally make it happen if you only have 5 days in Iceland and want to see as much as possible! If you have a longer time to spend on an Iceland road trip itinerary, split this portion up into two or even three days!

We were able to do all of this and more in the winter when it was completely dark by 7pm. If you are fortunate to visit during warmer months, you will have more than enough time before night falls. Anything you pass up on the way to Hofn you will catch on your way back to Reykjavik. Make sure to budget some time to get out of your car and admire the lava fields during this part of your 5 Day Iceland itinerary.

Stop 1: Reynishverfi Basalt Column Beach

You will start the third day of your Iceland 5 day itinerary by visiting the countries most famous black sand beach. You have seen the photos of these basalt columns darn near everywhere, and now it is your turn to visit!

If the tide is out, climb on them for unforgettable photos! You can easily reach the basalt columns by a side road off Highway 1 near Vik. Keep your eyes out and program your GPS accordingly so you don’t miss it and have to backtrack like we did! Get an early start because this is the longest day of your 5 days in Iceland itinerary so you want to make the most of every stop!

Stop 2: Vik’s Black Sand Beach

The entrance to Vik Beach is located right near the only gas station in town. Stop for a bite to eat or to stock up on groceries and gas and then walk along the beach and admire the sea stacks and jet black sand. The beach is equally beautiful in both winter and summer. Before you visit, make sure to read up about these 5 things to know about beaches in Iceland!

Although they are beautiful, they are quite dangerous and people have died from not paying attention to safety precautions. This is not the way you want to see Iceland in 5 days so make sure to be careful.

Stop 3: Skaftafell National Park

Today is the perfect time to make a quick stop in Skaftafell National Park to see what it is all about. The park is massive with tons of hikes and beautiful landscapes, but since you only have 5 days Iceland, it is best to hit the highlights. We suggest a trip to the visitor center followed by a short 2-mile round trip hike to a nearby glacier.

The hike consists of walking down a pebble path until you reach the glacier. It is ideal for anyone and doesn’t require much time at all. If you do NOT want to hike to see a glacier, WAIT until stop 4 of today’s itinerary where you can simply drive to one! If you are pressed for time on your 5 day Iceland itinerary, skip the Skaftafell Visitor Center hike and wait for stop 4.

If you started really early or can add more time to your 5 day Iceland road trip itinerary, you may be able to take a fabulous tour of one of the Ice caves at Skaftafell National Park! Please note that you can only do this tour during the winter! If you are sticking to our 5 day Iceland itinerary, you will love the glacier hike from the visitor center! Whether you have 5 days in Iceland or more time, make sure to at least drop by Skaftafell National Park!

Where To Stay Near Skaftafell National Park:

Hotel Skaftafell : Check Prices On Hotels.com

Adventure Hotel Hof : Check Prices On Booking.com | Hotels.com

Stop 4: Svínafellsjökull Glacier

If you don’t want to hike to see a glacier, don’t worry! If you drive just a few moments past the entrance to the Skaftafell Visitor Center, you will see a small sign for Svínafellsjökull Glacier. This is the easiest place on your 5 day Iceland itinerary to get up close and personal with a glacier! When you turn off the Ring Road to go down the road to Svínafellsjökull Glacier, you will be driving on a poorly-kept dirt road.

The road is horrible so if you are driving a 2×2 you will have to go slow because of all the potholes. The short drive to Svínafellsjökull Glacier is doable during winter or summer and you will drive to a parking lot and then get out and the glacier will be right there! Walk along the side of the mountain and enjoy the wonderful views! This is a quick and easy stop to see when spending 5 days in Iceland.

Stop 5: Hofn

You will end day 3 of your 5 day Iceland road trip itinerary by spending the night in the town of Hofn. If you can’t find any accommodations in Hofn, feel free to search the entire area from Skaftafell National Park area to Hofn area. Don’t fret if you can’t find anything the town is small but the area is popular! In Hofn, you will enjoy local restaurants, a large grocery store , and multiple lodging options. Remember that you can save a lot of money by not going out to eat! 

Where To Stay In Hofn Iceland:

Budget: Hofn Hostel . Check Rates On Booking.com | Hotels.com

Mid-Range: Hotel Hofn . Check Rates On Booking.com | Hotels.com

Affordable: Hofn Guesthouse . Check Rates On Booking.com | Hotels.com

Day 4: Spend The Day Exploring Glaciers And Mountains For The Most Relaxing Part Of Your 5 Days In Iceland Itinerary

Highlights: Stokksnes, Glacier Lagoon, Hofn

By this point, you have done a TON of driving during your Iceland road trip Itinerary and you have a lot more left to do. Take Day 4 of your 5 days in Iceland to relax a little and soak it all in. If you wanted to spend more time in Skaftafell National Park, the nearest entrance is about an hour away so it is totally doable with an early start. Other than that stick around town and the surrounding areas.

Pick up some food at the local grocery store , stroll around town for some Icelandic souvenirs, and walk along the beautiful waterfront of this maritime fishing village. If the weather is nice, pack a picnic lunch and enjoy watching the boats go in and out of the harbor.

Stop 1: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Located less than an hour away from Hofn, you start Day 4 of your Iceland road trip itinerary by visiting a glacier lagoon . You haven’t seen anything until you have seen a glacier lagoon in Iceland! Seeing chunks of crystal-clear blue ice sitting on a perfectly black beach is something you will never forget and a must-see during your 5 days in Iceland. Look out for wildlife because seals often come out to play among the floating icebergs. Rain, shine, or snow, this is an essential stop on any road trip itinerary in Iceland.

We even put together an entire guide for Visiting Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon in Iceland! 

Although you will pass the Glacier Lagoon on Day 3 of this Iceland itinerary, we recommend going back on Day 4 because you will want to spend a lot of time exploring the area. While you are visiting the Glacier Lagoon, make sure to go across the street to visit the popular Diamond Beach! This is a must-see during your 5 day Iceland itinerary as the pieces of ice drift out of the lagoon and land on the beach.

Where To Stay Near Glacier Lagoon:

Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon : Check Prices On Booking.com | Hotels.com

Stop 2: Stokksnes

Simply plug the name Stokksnes into your GPS or drop a pin and within 30 minutes you will land on Mars. Okay not really, but Stokksnes looks like it shouldn’t even be on this planet! This stop will be a memorable one on your 5 day Iceland itinerary because the landscape is unlike anything you have ever seen.

The landscape consists of giant dunes, seagrass, a black sand beach, and mountains that plunge straight into the sea. Depending on the time of year, you can also see the northern lights! This is as far northeast as you will head on our 5 day Iceland road trip itinerary so make sure to spend some time exploring!

There is an entrance fee of 800 kroners to visit Stokksness and the entry is good for only one trip. If you are looking to photograph the Northern Lights, you will have to buy a ticket in advance so you can get through the gate that is there. Alternatively, you can park your car and simply walk to avoid paying the entrance fee. Stokksness is a great place to visit during your 5 days in Iceland, especially if you are a photographer!

Day 5: Finish Your 5 Day Iceland Road Trip Itinerary By Driving From Hofn To Reykjavik

Highlights: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Dryholaey

The final day of your Iceland road trip itinerary concludes with a 5-hour drive back to the capital of Reykjavik. Five hours seems like a long time, but time flies when you are having fun and taking in the scenery. This will also be the day you visit the famous Blue Lagoon! Visiting the Blue Lagoon at the very end of your 5 days in Iceland itinerary is a great way to cap off a busy Iceland road trip!

If you want to spend more time at any of your previous stops on this 5 day Iceland itinerary, now is the perfect time because you will pass each and every stop on your drive back to Reykjavik. For example, we stopped at Skogafoss again because we didn’t get enough of it the first time! Maybe the first time you stopped at the Glacier Lagoon it was very sunny and today it is moody! Weather changes in an instant in Iceland which is why this 5 day Iceland itinerary is flexible enough for you to modify if necessary!

Stop 1: Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is one of the lesser-known and most underrated stops along our 5 day Iceland road trip itinerary. This massive canyon is just a few miles away from the main road so it is an easy stop to get to. Please note that you will be driving down a dirt road. This is not an F-road and it is accessible all year round. The road is in pretty good condition but you may have to drive slowly if you are in a 2×2 vehicle.

You are able to climb to the top of the canyon to see some awesome views! We recommend hiking along the whole canyon until you come to the very end so you can see the entire length of it. If you are short on time, just climb to the top to the first lookout, take a peek, and be on your way!

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is less than two hours away from Vik so if you have less than 5 days in Iceland you can still make it a stop. We highly recommend Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon for your 5 day Iceland itinerary, even if you are short on time!

Hotels Near Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon:

Hotel Klaustur . Check Rates On Booking.com | Hotels.com

Stop 2: Dyrhólaey

Dyrhólaey is a small peninsula not too far from Vik and about a 2 and a half hour drive from Reykjavik. While you could technically make this stop on day 2 of your 5 days in Iceland, it makes for a nice view on your way back to Reykjavik. Feel free to modify this stop as you see fit! You may want to visit on Day 2 or Day 3 as it is near the Basalt Black Sand Beach. Either way, you have multiple options to fit it when you are seeing Iceland in 5 days.

It is the home to Puffin, rock formations, and stunning beaches. This stop is the ideal spot for photography, especially if you arrive during sunset. The cliffs and giant waves are reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest and you will be hard pressed to convince your friends and family that you really weren’t in Oregon or British Columbia!

Dyrhólaey has two parts, a lower beach with one view, and a higher beach with Dyrhólaey for a higher view from above. The drive up to the higher view is on a pretty sketchy dirt road with no guardrails. We have done this short drive in both winter and summer and with both a 2×2 and 4×4 so it is doable either way.

The top view of the black sand beach stretch is a highlight on your 5 days in Iceland itinerary. Dyrhólaey is a fantastic way to cap off your 5 days in Iceland and to mark the last stop along your Iceland road trip itinerary.

Stop 3: The Blue Lagoon

If you can afford it, we  highly  recommend a stop at the Blue Lagoon at either the beginning or end of your 5 days in Iceland. We love a stop at the Blue Lagoon after your 5 day Iceland itinerary has come to a close because it is a great way to relax and wind down before your flight. You may consider skipping the Blue Lagoon because it is too touristy, but we assure you it is a worthy stop to round out seeing Iceland in 5 days.

The Blue Lagoon is so large and entrance tickets are timed so only 500 people are allowed in at a time. This means it never feels overly crowded compared to some other hot springs in Iceland. The Blue Lagoon also had restaurants, saunas, changing rooms, and a huge pool area so the number of people never feels overwhelming or crowded. The blue water is so unique and you can purchase entrance tickets that allow you to have an included drink and multiple mud masks.

Consider purchasing a Blue Lagoon ticket for later in the evening in case the drive takes longer than expected. This is a wonderful way to conclude your 5 day Iceland road trip itinerary!

Hotels Near The Blue Lagoon:

The Retreat At The Blue Lagoon : Check Prices On Booking.com | Hotels.com

Lovely Cabin Close to the Blue Lagoon . Check Prices On Booking.com

Stop 4: Reykjavik

Congratulations! You just completed an epic 5-day Iceland road trip! Spend your last evening resting in the capital, hitting the town, or dropping off your rental car and catching a late flight back to your home country.

If you have already seen Reykjavik, we highly recommend spending the night near Keflavik Airport either in the towns of Keflavik or Vogar. This makes your drive to catch your flight so much easier!

There are many ways you can modify this Iceland road trip itinerary so take the parts you love and leave the parts you don’t have time for as you spend a memorable 5 days in Iceland. There are many things to do in Reykjavik but it can easily be completed in a half-day!

Where To Stay In Reykjavik: 

Budget: Reykjavik Hostel Village . Check Prices On Booking.com | Hotels.com

Mid-Range: Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik . Check Prices On Booking.com

Mid-Range: Alda Hotel Reykjavik . Check Prices On Booking.com | Hotels.com

Iceland Road Trip Map

If you are a more visual person, don’t worry! We created this Iceland road trip map so you can see where you will be heading during your 5 days in Iceland! Iceland is a very GPS friendly country and you can visit all of the locations listed above by quickly plugging them into your GPS! This makes your Iceland road trip very easy to navigate and your 5 days in Iceland a breeze!

Is Driving Necessary In Iceland?

Our 5 day Iceland itinerary is a self-drive road trip. If you are tentative about driving in Iceland, we beg you not to be! We are Floridians and if we can drive in Iceland then anyone can! Driving in Iceland is about knowing what you are getting into and we created 7 Things To Know Before Driving In Iceland as a guide for preparing you for the task! We have driven in Iceland in all four seasons including rain, snow, sleet, hail, wind and more. If you take proper precautions you should be 100% fine! 

When it comes to driving in Iceland during your Iceland road trip, keep in mind to look out for local road closures and safety information. You can visit this website to keep up with the conditions during your trip! It is run by locals and has all the up-to-date information you could ever want or need. 

That being said, if you do NOT want to drive in Iceland, there are still some options for you and ways that you can see the majority of this 5 day Iceland itinerary on your own without driving. We recognize that driving is a privilege and we want to provide you with other options! 

Day Tours From Reykjavik

There are so many wonderful day tours that you can take from Reykjavik. If you aren’t driving in Iceland, simply take a bus from Keflavik Airport to the city center of Reykjavik [or your hotel shuttle]. Many tours in Iceland pick you up form your hotel which is a wonderful option. We put together the best 15 Tours in Iceland for your money and the majority of them start in Reykjavik. 

There are many wonderful tour options from Reykjavik if you don’t want to drive like this  four hour Nothern Lights tour  departs from Reykjavik and takes you into the darkness for best chances of viewing the lights. This is actually exactly where we saw the Northern Lights in Iceland on our first trip so hopefully, you will have the same luck! If you want to visit many of the same locations on this 5 day Iceland itinerary, The  South Iceland Full Day Tour From Reykjavik  covers everything you need to see from Iceland’s black sand beaches to the most popular waterfalls in Iceland! You will never have to drive and you will still get to see fabulous sites in Iceland!

Multi-Day Group Tours

Another option where you don’t have to drive but can still experience the best that Iceland has to offer in 5 days is by taking a multi-day group tour. You won’t have to plan each individual day on your own and you can truly see the best Iceland has to offer with a local guide. Depending on how long you want to spend in Iceland, these are a few of our favorite multi-day tours in Iceland: 

5 Day Winter Tour Of Iceland: Golden Circle, South Coast, Ice Cave

3 Day Golden Circle, Glacier Hike, Ice Cave, Northern Light Tour Of Iceland

Hitchhiking

Yes! You heard that correctly! Hitchhiking is very popular in Iceland. Many people experience Iceland simply by hitching rides from others. Unlike the United States, people DO pick up hitchhikers and it is a popular culture in Iceland. This is a safe and free way to get around Iceland without a car. That being said, you will have to put some work into it by standing out until a car passes to pick you up. We saw many hitchhikers and many people picking them up so if you are brave this is totally an option! 

Bus Passports

We have to be honest, busses are not a huge thing in Iceland. That being said, they ARE a thing that exists and you can totally use them if you are interested. The best way to use buses during your 5 days in Iceland is to check into getting a bus passport . This is the most economical way to travel in Iceland if you are going to visit multiple destinations. The busses in Iceland can get you to popular locations such as Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon, and there is even a bus that will take you to Thorsmork in the Highlands if you are interested in doing some hiking during your Iceland itinerary. 

When To Visit Iceland

Don’t be surprised, but there really is no bad time to take your Iceland road trip! We created this whole post that breaks down the best time to visit Iceland and explains the pros and cons of each season. This 5 days in Iceland road trip can be done at any time of the year! Whenever you are planning your Iceland road trip and you have time off to spend 5 days in Iceland is when you should visit this beautiful country!

If you are looking to see the Northern Lights, visit during the winter! Winters in Iceland are quite mild but you need to be sure to dress properly. Want to experience neverending daylight during your Iceland road trip? Then make sure to travel during the summer! The off-season is also the perfect time for an Iceland road trip because everything is more affordable and the weather is still great. No matter when you have 5 days in Iceland to spend, you should ensure you have proper clothing so you enjoy your Iceland road trip!

Where To Stay In Iceland

As you know, Iceland is very expensive! When spending 5 days in Iceland, costs can add up quickly. For your Iceland road trip itinerary, we highly recommend that you book an Airbnb or a similar home-share type property because you will gain valuable access to a kitchen OR a hotel that offers food and dining options. We recommend hotels in our 5 day Iceland itinerary above because it is easier to book, cancel, and modify and in the event something goes wrong, the agency will back you up! 

Save money in Iceland by staying at an Airbnb! Get a  FREE $40 Airbnb Coupon  by using  our code  when you book! 

We have tried both hotels and Airbnb while in Iceland and prefer each depending on your circumstances. You will not be forced to eat all meals out [which is also expensive] and Airbnbs are roughly the same cost, if not much cheaper, than many hotels or even hostels in Iceland! If you are going for a special occasion or are looking to stay somewhere really unique, then hotels are surely the way to go! There are also some incredible hotels in areas that Airbnbs are not and vice versa. You should compare options between Airbnb and hotels in Iceland!

Check Rates For Hotels In Iceland On Booking.com

Safety Tips For Your 5 Days In Iceland

During your Iceland road trip, there are some safety tips that are essential to consider. Iceland is a beautiful but harsh country and it is important to be prepared. First off, you are going to want to watch the weather closely. The weather can change quickly during your 5 days in Iceland and can range from cold to freezing and windy. Make sure you dress in layers so you can easily take off or put on clothes based on the weather. Download a weather app to keep track of local weather during your 5 days in Iceland so that you don’t venture out when it is too dangerous.

If you hear about a wind storm warning, heed the warning and do not drive! Windstorms are common in Iceland and there is a high chance you will experience one during your 5 day Iceland itinerary. These storms often have hurricane-force gusts of wind and can blow cars off the road, especially if it is icy or slick out. When opening your car door on a windy day, be sure to park INTO the wind and hold your door with all your might when opening it.

Always let a family member or friend know if you choose to go hiking during your 5 days in Iceland so if something happens, someone knows where to find you. Luckily, Iceland has very good 4G phone service, even in the middle of nowhere, so if you need to phone for help, you will usually have the ability to do so.

When taking this Iceland road trip, always ensure that you have extra food and water in the car in the event you get into an accident and are stranded for a long period of time. You don’t want to be stuck without food and water while you wait for help. You can fill your water bottle from any tap in Iceland and we recommend a reusable water bottle as well as an emergency bottle of water during your drive.

Finally, when driving in Iceland, make sure that you drive the speed limit. The speed limits may seem a bit slow, but they are there for your safety. As mentioned above, the weather can change quickly and the wind can be strong, so these speed limits take this into account. Driving more carefully and slowly will ensure that you stay safe during your entire 5 days in Iceland.

Quick tips for your Iceland road trip

-Bring plenty of water. When taking an Iceland road trip, you will want to bring plenty of water! Be sure that you bring a reusable water bottle so you can save the earth and fill up in a bathroom or at your hotel. If you must, buy bottled water at one of the Iceland grocery stores to bring with you on your Iceland road trip.

-Be prepared to potentially pee on the side of the road. Iceland is actually a pretty desolate place so don’t be surprised if you have to pee on the side of the road during your Iceland road trip. When taking a road trip through Iceland, you may drive for hours before you see an appropriate bathroom stop. Pull over to a safe spot on the road, open both car doors, and do your business! It is all part of the Iceland road trip experience!

-Driving off-road is 100% illegal in Iceland. When taking an Iceland road trip, you may be tempted to drive off-road. After all, there is no one around and there are so many open spaces. Don’t do it! Driving off-road is actually illegal in Iceland and also destroys the environment. Stick to the approved roads for a safe, legal, and environmentally friendly Iceland itinerary.

-Leave no trace. This means that when you are taking an Iceland road trip, do not litter in any way, shape, or form. If you are driving along this 5 day Iceland road trip itinerary and have trash, do not throw it out your car window. Make sure to put it in a plastic baggie and throw it away in an appropriate receptacle when you arrive into a city.

-Do not speed or drive recklessly. It is super tempting to drive fast on the perfectly straight Icelandic roads but don’t do it! You may risk getting a hefty ticket and that isn’t an enjoyable part of an Iceland road trip. Plus, you don’t want to do anything dangerous or illegal during your Iceland itinerary.

-Make sure to stay safe at all the stops along your Iceland road trip.  Places such as the black sand beaches in Iceland are one of the best things to see in Iceland but they are also the most dangerous. When taking an Iceland road trip, make sure to read all the signs and proceed with caution when visiting many of the stops listed above. The warning signs along this 5-day Iceland itinerary are provided in multiple languages so there really is no excuse for doing ill-advised things.

-If you want to walk on the road, make sure to watch out for cars and give them the right of way. Many articles tell travelers to never walk on the road during their Iceland road trip but we disagree. Roads in Iceland are beautiful to photograph but you must do so safely. First, make sure you pull off the road as far as you can and that you stop on a straight stretch of road where you can see for a good distance and not on a hill or a corner. Then, if you are doing your Iceland road trip in a group, make sure that you have someone stand watch for oncoming cars. If you are alone, make your time walking down the road very short and quick. Never walk in the road at night at any point during your Iceland road trip.

-You do not need an international drivers license to take an Iceland road trip. As long as you have a driver license from your home country, you should be good to go when driving in Iceland. Save yourself time and money and forgo the international driving permit. If you aren’t sure, it is always good to ask the car rental company you are hoping to take your Iceland road trip with for clarification.

-Always make sure you have enough gas.  The gas stations in Iceland are few and far between so if you think you need to fill up, you probably should! It is better to be safe than sorry and stranded on a desolate Icelandic road. When taking an Iceland road trip, it is always a good idea to top off your tank when you pass a gas station, especially if the nearest town is a few hours away.

Additional Reading To Help You Plan Your Iceland Road Trip

Planning your 5 days in Iceland road trip should be fun but not hard and stressful! We know that planning your Iceland road trip for the first time can become overwhelming at times, which is why we created a whole lot of helpful posts!  These posts will provide you with further reading and additional information when planning your 5 days in Iceland! Check out these posts below for further help on planning and preparing for your Iceland road trip:

Iceland vacation planning articles:

• If you are wondering when is the best time to go to Iceland for 5 days, check out our  detailed guide on the best time to go to Iceland  as mentioned above in this post
• If you need help figuring out what to pack for your Iceland road trip, check out our  All-Season Iceland Packing List  and check out our recommendations for the  best shoes and boots for Iceland  and the  best jackets to pack for Iceland . These are real suggestions on clothes, shoes, coats and more we have actually used during our own Iceland road trips over the years!
• Considering staying in Airbnbs during your 5 days in Iceland? We put together  The Beginner’s Guide To Airbnb  to help you through your Iceland road trip and show you the ropes if this is your first time.
• Looking to plan your Iceland road trip on a budget? It is totally possible even if you are spending 5 days in Iceland! Here are our  7 Tips For Visiting Iceland On A Budget  as well as  5 More Things You Shouldn’t Forget To Budget For In Iceland  so you can save the most amount of money possible! You can also check out these  10 Budget Iceland Travel tips  to help plan your 5 day Iceland road trip!
• Looking to save even more money during your Iceland road trip or want to spend your 5 days in Iceland in the great outdoors? We put together the  First-timers Guide To Camping In Iceland  with all sorts of helpful tricks and tips including a detailed packing list.
• Since you are taking an Iceland road trip and this may be your first time driving in Iceland, we put together these  7 Tips For Driving In Iceland! 
• Planning your 5 day Iceland road trip itinerary during the winter? Here are  5 Things To Know Before Visiting Iceland In Winter  to make sure you have all the information you need to enjoy your trip!
• Is 5 days in Iceland to long for your Iceland road trip? Only have a short amount of time? Don’t worry! We put together this detailed 3 day Iceland itinerary just for you! Hint: You can do it with or without a car!

Top Things To Do And See In Iceland In 5 Days:

• Do you love cute animals? Check out the  Top  10 Animals In Iceland You Will Want To See During Your Trip.
• Taking your Iceland road trip during the winter and not sure what there is to do?  We put together this awesome list of  30 Things To Do In Iceland In Winter  and everything included on our Iceland road trip itinerary here can be done during the winter!
• Are you traveling to Iceland for 5 days to take lots of stunning photos? There are so many great places you are going to stop during your Iceland road trip and these  25 Iceland Photography Locations That Will Blow Your Mind
• Looking to hike to some of the best views in Iceland but don’t want to spend your 5 days in Iceland trekking for days? We don’t blame you! That’s why we gathered the  5 Best Easy And Rewarding Hikes In Iceland
• Of course, you are going to visit a few Black Sand Beaches during your 5 days in Iceland! Make sure to check out our  Ultimate Guide To Visiting Beaches In Iceland  so that you are well prepared! The last thing you want to happen during your Iceland road trip is to get caught by a deadly sneaker wave!

Start shopping for your Iceland road trip:

Heading to Iceland for 5 days soon? Which one of these stops along our Iceland road trip itinerary has you most excited? Have you taken an Iceland road trip? Where did you head? Let us know in the comments! 

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Reader Interactions

September 14, 2016 at 9:29 pm

Great advice! We drove the ring road in 3.5 days, which may sound ridiculous, but it really wasn’t bad. Iceland remains at the top of our favorites list! So much natural beauty!

September 14, 2016 at 9:33 pm

That is totally epic but absolutely insane!!! Glad it worked for you! 🙂

September 3, 2018 at 3:18 am

Hi, I just finished an Iceland road trip based on your itinerary and it was epic! The blog was super useful and helped us in an otherwise super time constrained planning environment to effectively utilise our time relying on the tips you provided. Thanks a bunch and please do keep sharing such blogs for your future travels. Cheers!

October 25, 2016 at 5:33 pm

Thats pretty much what we did when we went! Make sure you wear good shoes for the hike to the airplane!! My feet died and we missed out on a whole day of things 🙁 Next time around!! Loved Iceland especially near Vik!

October 26, 2016 at 12:16 am

We were there for 2 weeks and we started out going west towards Snaefellness peninsula and the Westfjords. We loved the Westfjords! No tourists and you find yourself alone for hours on the drives. It’s just you and nature, which was the best! The towns are farther apart and smaller, with very little amenities, which is probably why there aren’t any tourists. We also loved the north. The more east we went, the more crowded it got.

The places you mentioned are gorgeous (missed the hidden waterfall, but we didn’t spend much time at Seljalandsfoss) and well worth the visit, but we found the Westfjords a hidden gem that I almost don’t want to tell people about it so that it keeps the tourists away. Lol! However, there are so many places we missed that we plan to go back and explore more, especially along the F roads.

October 31, 2016 at 7:09 am

Please what’s the hidden gem?

February 15, 2017 at 3:41 pm

The Wesfjords. It’s remote and largely untouched, so it’s very rugged and no tourists.

September 18, 2021 at 4:04 pm

Jane you’re a tourist too love

December 28, 2016 at 12:09 pm

My girlfriends and I are planning on following this 5day roadtrip itinerary. Do you know a ballpark estimate on how much you guys spent on gas?

December 28, 2016 at 3:28 pm

Hey Nancy! For this trip, we would suggest budgeting around $200-$300 total. If you are splitting it, the cost won’t be as bad! To fill up, we generally end up spending around $50 USD and the cars we rent are economy not SUV or anything. Thanks!

February 24, 2018 at 7:01 pm

So, to do this 5 day trip, a regular 2WD car was fine and 4WD was not necessary?

February 24, 2018 at 7:39 pm

December 28, 2016 at 4:59 pm

Hi! This itinerary sounds awesome. I Was just wondering if there were any hostels you’d recommend staying at during this trip? Preferably affordable ones.

February 10, 2017 at 3:10 am

Thx for the great info, im just back from a great trip on the amazing island of Iceland, love togo back already ! thx Wouter

February 10, 2017 at 12:31 pm

Iceland is such a fantastic place to visit!! We could go back lots of times too! Thanks for your comment 🙂

February 15, 2017 at 12:24 am

What month did you visit? Were the roads accessible during this winter time? I plan to take my girlfriend and probably propose in Iceland 🙂

February 15, 2017 at 1:48 pm

Hi Peter! We went once in March in the dead of winter and once in mid-November which was the start of winter. The roads were perfectly accessible as long as you don’t head north. The south and parts of the west are perfectly fine. Don’t worry about getting a 4×4 car either, we have only used 2×2 with no problems. Good luck!

March 31, 2017 at 10:29 pm

Hi! Thank you for this great post. I’m planning to follow this itinerary more or less in August! Do you have any suggestions about lodging/hotel, such as the places you stayed and if you’d recommend them?

Best, Emily

April 1, 2017 at 1:07 pm

That is so exciting that you are going to Iceland! During both our trips, we have stayed at Airbnb properties. They are more affordable and there are more options than hotels. Simply join Airbnb and give it a look. Make sure to put in your budget! If you look to the right side of our website, we have a coupon code for $35 off your first booking too! Good luck 🙂

April 2, 2017 at 10:36 am

I’ve heard other people say that Airbnb is the best option in Iceland as well, so I’ll definitely plan for that. Thanks for the heads-up about the coupon!

– Emily

May 8, 2017 at 1:17 pm

Thank-you for the great post and itinerary! I wanted to write and let you know I did this road trip last week (4/29/17 – 5/6/17) and it worked great! Really enjoyed the scenery of the southern coast. Thank-you again for the excellent advice!!

Best, Brian

May 8, 2017 at 2:16 pm

That is fantastic to hear! So glad you loved Iceland as much as we did!

October 31, 2017 at 12:21 pm

Hi Brian I was wondering what type if car you hired for this trip?

May 15, 2017 at 1:38 pm

I’m planning on doing an Iceland road trip this upcoming January. Do you think this is doable in a standard car or is a jeep or something more ambitious necessary?

May 15, 2017 at 5:33 pm

NO! There is no point to get a jeep or 4×4 during the winter as you cannot off-road anyway! Go for the cheapest economy car you can find so you save money and also save on gas. Do not get a big car! We visited in the dead of winter with snow and a small car and had no problems at all! Good luck 🙂

May 16, 2017 at 4:56 am

I’m going to Iceland in a couple of months at the end of July this year with 2 of my friends. Sadly however, we will only have from August 3rd till August 7th to tour around the country due to work engagements. I loved how you detailed everything and I’m thinking of doing the same stops you did. I just have a couple of questions if you can help me out.

We’re from Lebanon so the weather will definitely be a big change for us as well as several things. My questions are what do you recommend for clothing during the time we are going? Also about the food? i heard Iceland has excellent cuisine.

We’ll be renting a car so my next question is are the roads easy to drive and safe? And Finally, Since we’ll be doing the same trip as you did most probably, what do you recommend from your personal experience?

Thank you in advance 🙂

May 17, 2017 at 4:42 pm

Hello Anthony! So exciting you are going to Iceland! The weather will be chilly but not that cold! Bring a light jacket and long pants and layer if you have any thin pair of long underwear as it may be windy. Bring closed toed shoes. Food in Iceland is VERY expensive so we do NOT suggest eating out. Rather, go to a grocery store and buy food and make at your hotel or Airbnb. We have a lot of content on Iceland on a budget so just look at our destinations > Iceland tab on our site to see more. The roads are very easy to drive and very safe. Don’t get a 4×4 as a economy car works just fine. Our advice would be to skip the “Golden Circle” and head to the south and up to Hofn and spend a little more time there. Since we wrote this post we went back and that is just a way cooler area. Either way you won’t be disappointed!

May 16, 2017 at 5:28 pm

Google Maps is reporting the drive from Hofn to Reykjavik is actually 11 hours. Any idea why when you guys say you did it in 5?

May 17, 2017 at 4:35 pm

Did you type in the correct name? 🙂 We just tried it and it says 5 hours and 18 minutes! It takes 20 hours to do the entire ring road so 11 hours would be half of it. Don’t let the time scare you away it certainly isn’t that far!

May 23, 2017 at 11:16 pm

This is such a helpful post. I am planning doing the exact trip like this, from July 1st to July 6th, but I will arrive Iceland in the afternoon at 2pm on July 1st, and will be leaving on July 6th at 5pm. Since I am arriving late in the afternoon at 2pm, do you think if that is possible for me to do the golden circle on that same day or save it for the last day? Also, do you know how is the weather will be in the beginning of July? I booked a mini car Hyundai i20 for my trip and I don’t know if that car can make that trip because I read some articles which said there were a lot of strong winds, high land road or bad condition road such as shevel road so we may need the 4×4 vehicle to drive thru all that condition.

May 24, 2017 at 12:41 pm

This is such a helpful post. Me and my wife are planning to travel to Iceland this coming July from Jul 1 to Jul 6 and I really want to do this ring road trip around the whole island. I check on google map it shows that to drive the whole circle on Route 1 would take approx. 15-17hrs, so I plan to do it in 4days, but I read some articles and saw a lot of comments saying that it would be insane if I plan to do that with in a shorten time, even though if I can make it, I will spend most of the time driving on the road and I wouldn’t have much time to enjoy the beauty of the country, so I was kinda confuse and thinking that maybe it is not a good idea… Thanks a lot for your post here, that really help me a lot on making the decision do or do not make it. another thing that I worry abt is my rental car. Since me and my wife don’t have much stuff so I decided to rent a mini car, which is affordable and save me a lot of money, but I see some people say that it may not be able to make the trip since the wind in Iceland is very strong and the condition of the road is not good at all when I have to drive thru highland, gravel road… Also, I will be arriving Iceland at abt 2pm on Jul 1st and leaving at 5pm on Jul 6th, so basicly I will have more than 5days and a half for the whole trip…do you think I should spend the rest of the 1st day to drive around the golden circle or I should save it for the last day? please give me your advice!!!

June 14, 2017 at 10:38 am

Thanks for the great article! My boyfriend and I are heading to Iceland in July for a 5 night stopover on our way to Europe and we’ll definitely do something similar to this itinerary!

June 18, 2017 at 5:25 am

Stunning photography! I’d love to visit Iceland, definitely on my 2017 wish list so I’ll check back when I get my trip organised

June 19, 2017 at 2:44 am

This is just so exciting. Travel Goals really. In awe of the Geysir hot spring area. Iceland is blessed with such surreal landscapes and so many geological wonders: Glaciers, caves, springs, Volcanoes. And to be road tripping around these would be simply fabulous. Thanks for this virtual trip.

June 19, 2017 at 5:14 am

Fantastic itinerary – we spent 7 days in Iceland and did the ring road, and felt this wasn’t close to enough time lol! Excellent suggestion to start with the Golden Circle – we were actually really underwhelmed with the Golden Circle, though I think that was because we did the rest of the country and then did the Golden Circle at the end, and the rest of the country was spectacular, with almost no tourism, so it was quite a different scenario once we jumped onto the tourist trail :D! So I think definitely start with that, because everything else is only going to get better from there!!

June 19, 2017 at 1:08 pm

To be honest, this was written after our first trip to Iceland. After our second trip, we don’t even suggest the Golden Circle to anyone anymore either. Maybe it is time for an update. We do suggest spending more time on the south coast as it is just as far away but has more epic stuff!

July 3, 2017 at 7:44 pm

If you do write an update, let me know as I’m going there in about a month from Sunday to Friday/Saturday and I really want to squeeze every last bit out of the experience.

June 19, 2017 at 10:28 pm

There’s so much to see and do in Iceland! Reynishverfi Basalt Column Beach is quite a magnificent sight! I’ve never been but have been seriously looking into visiting next year. Thanks for sharing your itinerary.

June 20, 2017 at 8:26 am

This itinerary sounds amazing! So cool that you can see such a variety of scenery in just 5 days. We haven’t been to Iceland yet, but every time I read about it and see pics I think we have to go soon! I’m sure it’s already changed a lot since so many more tourists are going there now. Thanks for your tips!

June 20, 2017 at 11:23 am

This is an awesome road trip itinerary. I would really like to drive along the Golden Circle and make detours in-roads as and when required. I liked all your picture and the place I would like to go first is the Basalt Column. It is is so out of this world.

June 20, 2017 at 12:48 pm

The basalt columns are freaking epic!!!! Highly recommend!

June 20, 2017 at 10:57 pm

Road trips are always fun. But if it is a road trip to Iceland, it must be on a different level altogether. The landscapes which are so surreal make this really out of the world. Iceland has always been a dream destination and hopes to get there someday. I am really fascinated by the crashed plane site. I am sure the hike to the plane is in itself a unique experience.

June 21, 2017 at 2:20 am

This road trip sounds epic! Iceland is really high on our bucket list already but after reading this it’s now even higher!

June 21, 2017 at 9:54 am

I think yours may be the best post I’ve ever seen on Iceland. Clear concise itinerary and stunning photos. Five days seems very doable. It’s it hard to find sufficient lodging outside of Reyjavik?

June 21, 2017 at 12:52 pm

Thank you SO MUCH!!! No it is not hard at all!! Feel free to message us and we will help you!

January 30, 2018 at 6:27 pm

Victoria and Terrence, thank you! Your post has inspired me to go to Iceland! We will be there from 7/21/18 to 7/26/18. Any modifications to this itinerary you might make in hindsight, now that some time has elapsed? This is our first trip to Iceland. Should we forego the Golden Circle and just to the south coast? I hear the Westfjords are worth seeing. Any car rental recommendations? Thanks again!

June 24, 2017 at 5:26 am

We are planning to visit Iceland in first week of October for 5 days and are thinking to follow your itinerary. Can we visit all these locations on a 2X2 car in the month of October? Also, how much you spent on gas + accommodation?

June 24, 2017 at 8:52 pm

Hello! Yes, you can visit all of these locations in a 2×2 car and they are much cheaper so that is not a problem! Budget at least $150+USD for gas and accommodations can vary from $50-$70 per night at Airbnb locations to more for hotels. If you have never used Airbnb, you can use our link and get $40 off your first stay which is a great deal! https://www.airbnb.com/c/vyore?s=41&user_id=30179875&ref_device_id=0d456c9cdc318cf302d5b4f0eece618f0fb23837

June 26, 2017 at 5:15 am

Thanks much for suggestions, can you also please help finding Airbnb in Vik and Hofn under 80$ in first week of October 2017? Am unable to find any. Or share where you took accommodation there?

June 26, 2017 at 4:39 pm

Hello! We included a link to hotels in Hofn! Simply do a search and adjust by price and some should pop up 🙂

January 2, 2018 at 11:50 pm

I went on a very similar trip to this on honeymoon in Oct 2006 (see http://www.gorge.org/iceland for the travelogue) and we stayed in annexes run by farmhouses thanks to Iceland Farm Holidays. I don’t know if it’s changed by now, but you buy vouchers from their office in Reykjavik, then book on the day with the farm where you want to stay. Some close end of Sept but still many options. We went for the option of private en suite rooms but you can choose sleeping bag dorms if you want to save money – at that time of year it’s unlikely to be busy. In most places we stayed we were the only guests.

I hope that helps. As you’ll see we stayed in many places but my absolute favourite was Hotel Eldhestar on the last night.

July 21, 2017 at 1:18 pm

Hi, can you please provide suggestions on what else to see during 5 days if we skip the Golden CIrcle?

I will be going in Oct.

Thank you so much!

July 21, 2017 at 2:22 pm

Do the same suggestions just leave out the golden circle. After going back again, we would forgo the golden cricle to spend more time near Vik! There is lots to do down in that area!

August 22, 2017 at 8:17 am

Just to let you know that we followed your itinerary recently (with some minor changes due to lack of accommodation in Höfn) and it worked out great. Pace was just right to wander off track at times and discover hidden gems. I would add Fjallsárlón to the list of places to visit as it is right off the highway.

August 22, 2017 at 9:23 pm

Yay!!! Glad you are having an amazing trip!! That is a great place to add! We also have a few things we would probably add to this now too! Maybe a revised edition is in order 😉

September 1, 2017 at 7:26 am

Hola! I am going in November to Iceland… very curious when you will update the edition! I hope it will be in time 🙂 please let me know when you are planning to do the revised edition 🙂

September 2, 2017 at 1:42 am

Hello! This is pretty much what we would suggest anyone to do on their first trip! The only modification would be to spend more time down in the south by Vik and Hofn as opposed to doing the Golden Circle! Iceland is truly epic!

September 1, 2017 at 2:59 am

This is a really helpful post! My bf and I are going for the first time from 10/1 – 10/7

I do want to follow this itinerary closely (minus Golden Circle) but we’re actually going to be in a campervan and it seems like the All Year Campsites are more abundant in the North vs the South.

However, since we’re from Southern CA and not used to driving in winter-y conditions, we thought sticking to Southern Iceland would be best.

I’m concerned that there may not be enough overnight parking for us. Are we allowed to park in the summer campsites? I’m not worried about the closed services (toilets/showers), just more worried about parking legally overnight in the South.

Thank you for any feedback! 🙂

September 2, 2017 at 1:44 am

Hello Alice! FOR SURE do the South for safety as conditions are unpredictable! You should be just fine as far as camping goes in the south. We had friends camp in winter and had no issues at all. We suggest simply emailing the icelandic tourism board or asking your camper van company just to be sure! There is plenty of parking options! Have so much fun.

November 29, 2017 at 11:20 am

We will be traveling to Iceland Sept/Oct of 2018 for a honeymoon. We are planning on spending 6 days in Iceland. I love reading everyone’s experience and suggestions. I would love to do the Ring Road and Golden Circle, but concerned that we may not have enough time and miss our flight. LOL Is the Golden circle part of the Ring Road? Any suggestions on itineraries other then the first one posted here or advice anyone can give so we get the most out of our trip? We are from Hershey in the USA and very much looking forward to this trip so I am trying to get everything covered and booked till we go. Is it best to book hotels in advance or just go with the flow and stop wherever we are? I am worried about taking the chance that we won’t get a room, unless we do the campcar thing.

November 29, 2017 at 6:06 pm

Are you able to see this link? https://drive.google.com/open?id=1CKwDir1H5_i689doOQ6WCxkZWMo&usp=sharing This was our driving itinerary for Golden Circle and part of Ring Road.

We went in early October this year so it’s around the same time as you’re thinking for next year. The campervan was amazing and I highly recommend it. When you’re driving you don’t have to worry about getting your your airbnb or hotel in time.

All the campsites we stopped at was very clean as well.

With the amount of time you’re spending, it’s very similar to our trip. However we did spend the 1st day in Reykavik to explore and then the rest on the road.

The southern part of Ring Road will have the most to see in a shorter amount of driving time as well. We loved Iceland and plan to go back to explore the northern part of Ring Road 🙂

December 23, 2017 at 10:10 pm

Your article was written with enthusiasm and was fun to read. Very thorough with so much good information! I’m visiting in July and found this quite useful. Thanks!

December 27, 2017 at 1:38 pm

Hi My partner and I are planning our trip to Iceland in Mid March. We would like to follow your itinerary. I have couple of questions though If that’s ok to ask. Do you recommend Coming to Reykjavik again after finishing Golden tour or head to Vik the same day? Also do you guys took any northern lights or ice cave tours or if yes do you recommend any? Is it possible to see Northen lights from Vik or Hofn by yourself? Also is it possible to visit an ice cave without any tour guides? Many Thanks

January 5, 2018 at 2:36 pm

Love the detail, thank you! We are doing 5 days (including the day we arrive at 9:15AM), and are renting a motorhome in September. Do you think having the motorhome will allow a bit more flexibility? Perhaps we could do some of the driving at night? I’d love your thoughts!

January 8, 2018 at 8:37 am

wow those pictures and the scenes. Love the ice caves. definitely including it in my itinerary.

January 21, 2018 at 8:03 am

I see you mentioned a few times that you would now recommend spending more time in Hofn/Vik as opposed to the Golden Circle. Could you recommend any specific sites/places/things to see in Hofn and Vik, that of course are not listed here? Thanks!

January 26, 2018 at 6:06 am

Thanks so much for this amazing plan. Did 5 days following this template. Incredibly helpful!

One thing to my fellow travellers I would add /modify (from experience) is:

Day 1 or 2 – do yourself a favour and stop at the Secret Lagoon Hot Spring (Gamla Laugin) – (on the way back on the Golden Cirlce) – cheaper than Blue Lagoon, more intimate and less people. And it is natural. We did it in -10c conditions and it was heaven.

Day 1 – Kerio crater is very cool and worth the 800Isk fee.

Day 3 – Skaftafell National Park – the Ice Cave and Glacier walk tour was pricey but worth it and encompassed everything we wanted to do. Company is Into the Glacier. We did the one at 11:45am which meant more time for other things (and also meant we did Viks Blank Sand Beach / Reynisfjara Basalt Column Beach on Day 5).

Day 3 – Do Jokulsaron on this day if you can fit it in. It means you have a much more relaxing day in Hofn on day 4 as you cut out 2 hours driving back on yourself.

Day 3 / 4 – Fjallsárlón, Iceland – just as impressive as Jokulsaron iceberg lagoon with massive blue ice lumps but with many less tourists.

Day 4 – Hoffell Hot tubs 🙂 Also Stokksnes can be a 6km hike if you want to do it.

Actually got caught in a blizzard on the first day in Reykjavik which meant roads closed and thus no Golden Cirlce on the first day.

However, we just did it in the morning on the second day, and only missed doing the Sólheimasandur Airplane Wreck on day 2. We did do it on day 5 though on our way back 🙂

January 26, 2018 at 4:22 pm

AMAZING!!!! Thank you Rick!! We haven’t done a single one of these things….okay well maybe a few…but not the crater, hoffell hot tubs etc. This is a great addition and we would love to try adding to this the next time we are in Iceland! So glad you had a good trip!

January 26, 2018 at 5:00 pm

No no, thank you for the fantastic ideas. My girlfriend and I had a wonderful time.

We also followed your idea on bringing our own food (we just had one luggage with food in it haha), and did not eat out once, only stopping at the supermarket once for veges and fruit, saving a tonne of money 🙂

I usually bring a couple of things on holiday (especially as I’m vegan and some places might not have much choice), but wouldn’t have been bold enough to bring enough for the entire trip. It was fun rationing food and snacks too, so thank you once again for your time and effort in posting this online 😀

January 26, 2018 at 6:05 pm

Oh YAY!! So glad someone followed our advice on grocery store/packing food for Iceland! It truly saves SOOOOO much money!! So glad you did it and it worked!!

February 21, 2018 at 7:21 am

Hello Rick, I plan a son/father trip on march 30-april 6 trip. we don’t arrive to rekiyack until 4.45 am on march 31. If I were to follow above iteinary. Can u pls suggest the website for lodging/accomdations at different locations on different days. Or Did you guys stayed at rekiyack as your base and drove every day to different locations. Any suggestion for suv/jeep rental vs car. Best place for snow mobile. also, do you have to book ticket or fee in advance for lagoon, ice cave hiking, kerio crater or can you show up at the location and pay for it. Also, US dollars/Visa accepted everywhere or need to convert to isk. Thank you in advance for any reply.

February 4, 2018 at 2:09 pm

This itinerary will really be helpful for my trip to Iceland in April! I’m dying to see the puffins – can they be found at any of the stops on your itinerary, or can anyone recommend where to go to see them? Thanks!

February 4, 2018 at 2:19 pm

Thank you for commenting! YES! You can see puffins at Dyrholey which is one of the last stops here [however you can do it at any time!] Puffins are onl in Iceland certain times of year so be sure to google to be sure they will be there when you arrive!

February 23, 2018 at 9:55 pm

Oh my goodess! Well you literally just planned my trip for me! I have a 6 day Iceland trip coming up at the end of May and this pretty much covers everything I want to do!

February 24, 2018 at 1:06 pm

Omg YAY! This is so exciting!!! Have so much fun! Iceland is the best!

February 24, 2018 at 5:41 am

Iceland is high on my list, great post with fantastic pictures. Saving this post for future planning

February 24, 2018 at 7:45 am

Thank you very much for sharing! I already asked myself if it is worth going to Iceland for 5-7 days. Your itinerary sounds great and I will definitely safe it. I wanted to go to Iceland this year but only have a few free days left. I thought this wouldn´t be enough time for Iceland but you convinced me otherwise 🙂

February 24, 2018 at 7:58 am

So, this looks amazing! M question is, was 5 days enough???

February 24, 2018 at 8:55 am

Great post, I wished we’d done a road trip when we visited!

February 24, 2018 at 9:17 am

Your pictures are absolutely stunning! It seriously makes me want to pack up my bags and go right now!

February 24, 2018 at 2:26 pm

This post is so great! Did you calculate how much you ended up spending on petrol whilst driving? I would love to do something similar to this but I am a budget traveller so do not know if I could afford this.

February 24, 2018 at 2:47 pm

We did it on a budget on our first trip and followed this exact itinerary. It wasn’t that expensive and we stayed at Airbnb that were $50-$60 a night split between the two of us. I think a car rental was about $375 for 8 days? Gas is expensive and we brought food from America and only brought staples from the grocery store like fruit but that was it!

February 24, 2018 at 2:30 pm

This is such great advice. I’ve never been to Iceland but have a bunch of friends who have gone recently. It looks so incredible! Thank you for sharing this.

February 27, 2018 at 4:50 pm

Thank you so much for sharing! We followed this itinerary to the T and literally just got back to Reykjavik from Hofn. It was very helpful and we had a blast!

April 1, 2018 at 11:38 am

We are doing 5 days in September. I’ve seen you reply to skip the golden circle. What shoul d we replace this with?

April 1, 2018 at 12:13 pm

We would suggest taking two days to explore the Vik area so you don’t blow by each location and you can even go back if you must. That being said, if you want to see Gullfoss and the Geyser, then Golden Circle is fine if you don’t want to spend a long amount of time at each place. If 15-20 minutes looking at a waterfall is enough for you then maybe you won’t have to go back. For us, we like to spent 1-2 hours at each place to really take it in so it makes everything take a bit longer! Have fun!

April 8, 2018 at 5:04 pm

We just booked our flights for the end of September and pretty much plan on just copying your itinerary. Can’t wait!

April 8, 2018 at 5:18 pm

Ahhhh! How epic! Have SO much fun!!!! Let us know what you think!

April 8, 2018 at 5:20 pm

Have soooo much fun! Let us know what you think! Feel free to modify any way you see fit as well!

April 15, 2018 at 5:21 pm

Awesome itinerary! We are heading to Iceland at the beggining of may and will probably follow most of your itinary! We rented a small campervan! Thanks a lot for the advices as well 🙂

May 8, 2018 at 7:32 am

Hey. Thank you for such a useful and enjoyable post. Iceland is just an incredible place and I have long been planning to make a similar trip. But I still can not decide – which transport should I choose? I planned to go with friends and take a car for rent (but we are less than 25 years there may be difficulties) I would be very grateful if you would advise what transport would be better for such a trip

May 12, 2018 at 2:31 am

Wow these places look absolutely stunning! Do you think this is doable if you can’t drive in the snow? lol

May 12, 2018 at 2:40 am

YES! I am a floridian who has never driven in the snow, that was the first time, and it was easy as it is a straight flat road! No hills no crazy cliffs nothing like that!

Iceland still tops my bucket list after all these years. Really need to pay a visit! Bookmarked your very useful article!

May 12, 2018 at 2:58 am

Great overview! I definitely will be following this advice and itinerary if and when I visit Iceland! It’s probably somewhere I would love a quick visit to check it out and then come back for a longer visit in the future.

May 12, 2018 at 5:49 am

Everyone is going to Iceland lately!! Such stunning photos and so much information! I’m saving this for our trip!

May 12, 2018 at 5:54 am

Pinned your post as I really wish to visit Iceland later on this year. This itinerary although quite short, covers a lot of the places I wish to visit. Thanks for sharing!

May 12, 2018 at 8:09 am

The waterfalls are really beautiful, especially the Gljúfrabúi Waterfall is so incredible, I would definitely visit this amazing place! The 5 Day tour is really amazing, because the pictures express the happiness. I really enjoyed the picturesque moments, you have captured, Thanks for the awesome share!

May 12, 2018 at 8:16 am

Even if I didn’t plan a road trip to Iceland before, now I want to do it after reading your article. It looks like such an amazing experience! Not to mention all the beautiful photos you took along the way!! loved it

May 13, 2018 at 7:40 pm

Thanks for posting this! My wife and I are headed to Iceland over memorial day and we are basically going to follow your itinerary.

May 14, 2018 at 11:02 pm

Yay!!! This is so exciting! Have so much fun!

June 12, 2018 at 3:55 pm

Thanks for all your help for our trip… we reorganized your itinerary just a tad because it was really rainy for the first few days… so we left the waterfalls on the SW coast to do on the drive back, and that worked out great because it was nice and sunny so you could see the rainbows through the mists!

We also went a little farther east while staying in Hofn… we drove about 2 hours NE along the coast past Stoksness to see some of the fjords, and they were spectacular! It definitely added extra driving though.

May 14, 2018 at 8:14 am

I echo everyone else’s thanks for this great itinerary. My husband, daughter and I just booked a spur-of-the -moment Iceland adventure for next month. We will skip Golden Circle and head in the direction of Vik from the airport. Can we base ourselves in Vik or Hofn? They seem to be close enough together. We’d prefer to not switch accommodations if it wasn’t necessary.And if so, which town would you suggest? Thanks again.

May 14, 2018 at 11:03 pm

Hello! If you don’t want to switch, I would recommend basing in Vik over Hofn. You can take day trips from Vik and there are tons of things to see and do! Have so much fun!!!

May 22, 2018 at 7:18 am

Can we do your entire 5 day tour this summer from 15-20th July in a 2×2 car or do we need a 4×4 . Also if we want to get a visit to a glacier how do we do the same? Would we be able to drive the car to the base of the glacier? Please advice

May 22, 2018 at 1:08 pm

Hello! YES! You can do the entire itinerary with a 2×2 car, especially in July! There is a glacier right past Skaftafell National Park entrance on your left heading North that you can EASILY drive to! It is right off the road and there is a parking lot at the base!

May 24, 2018 at 10:40 am

Such a great guide!! I’m dying to go see all those waterfalls!

June 7, 2018 at 12:01 pm

This looks amazing!! I’m dying to see all those beaches now!

June 11, 2018 at 1:06 pm

These are some really great pictures!

June 12, 2018 at 4:00 pm

My wife and I just got back from a fantastic trip to Iceland following this itinerary, and it was a great trip. I do have a piece of advice for everybody on rental cars, though…

When you book your rental car, it will often come with an included Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) which only pays the excess after you’ve paid $2,000 in damages. When you get to the counter, they will ask you if you want extra insurance… I declined this because my United Airlines credit card (like a lot of travel credit cards) cover your rental car as long as you use that credit card to pay for the car.

Well on our 4th day there were very high winds, and when we stopped for gas my wife opened her passenger door and the wind took it, pushing it too far and too fast forward. The damages were $1,400. I am HOPING my credit card covers the damages since we used their card to pay for the car and declined the extra insurance…

Two lessons here… first of all… check if your credit card covers rental car damages and follow their guidance to the letter. Secondly, ask your rental company if you can decline the automatically-included Collision Damage Waiver that comes with the car rental, because almost all credit cards require this.

June 18, 2018 at 3:05 pm

Thank you SO MUCH for this very helpful comment!! We will actually use this when we go to Iceland in September!

June 19, 2018 at 11:11 pm

Hi there – how come you sleep at Hofn one night, drive west to Jökulsárlón, then back east to Hofn to Stokksnes? Wouldn’t it save time to start at Sotkksnes then go backwards to Jokul?

Thanks again for your tips!

June 21, 2018 at 1:03 am

Hi! Thank you for this great post. I’m planning to follow this itinerary more or less in August!

July 5, 2018 at 7:43 pm

Is there a way to fit blue lagoon in this trip. My flight lands 10:30 am on day 1 and takes off at 3 PM on day 5.

Thanks for the write up, planning to stick with this itinerary when I visit next month.

July 23, 2018 at 10:04 pm

Day 5 takes 1000 km driving …. 12 hours … omg …

July 23, 2018 at 10:34 pm

No! Day 5 is only 230 miles of driving which equates to 5 hours 🙂

July 24, 2018 at 7:14 am

Oh sorry .. miss read ..

August 17, 2018 at 7:18 am

Hi, many thanks for this fantastic post! I have a day (9.30am-6pm) before my friend arrives I was thinking of doing the Golden Circle (even though you now say it’s not so spectacular :()

How long will it take me to do the round trip from Reykjavik comfortably? Alternatively is there anything else you recommend I can do?

Many thanks!

August 19, 2018 at 5:16 pm

Don’t have a license so don’t have a car to drive. Will have to rely on hitchhiking and buses. Anyway from your itinerary, it seems you stayed a different city each night correct?

October 2, 2018 at 3:51 am

Iceland!! The name of joy and purifications!! Nice images and post

November 2, 2018 at 11:24 pm

Want to ask some questions , I’m gonna switch ring road to last day , can I packed it driving ring road and explore refkjavic in 1 day ?

or when driving back from hofn to refkjavic do I still have time to do city tour ? I checked google map its about 6 hours driving, if I start at 8am probably at 2pm I will arrive at the city .. and the rest of the time exploring the city ..

January 26, 2019 at 12:03 am

Great post and pictures, Victoria and Terrence. We plan to follow this. However, we have a 2.5 year old daughter with us – can we (husband + wife + 2.5 year kid) do this itinerary? Anything that would stop us? This is crucial to know. Thanks for your reply.

January 29, 2019 at 1:17 pm

Nope that should not stop you! Just make sure to take frequent breaks! Other followers with children age 2-5 did this itinerary recently with no issues! Have so much fun!

February 15, 2019 at 2:45 pm

Great article! We are planning to go to Iceland in April for a 5 day trip. Is your article'”The Ultimate 5 Days In Iceland Road Trip Itinerary” available in PDF form anywhere?

February 15, 2019 at 3:36 pm

Hey! I am sorry but it is not! It is a good idea for the future though!

February 15, 2019 at 5:29 pm

I just got done planning our trip when I came across your site… I’m really happy with everything I booked as it appears to overlap much of your trip that looked great. Found a couple of great spots I missed but have them added to the our must see list

February 15, 2019 at 8:12 pm

Wonderful! Have SO MUCH fun!

February 26, 2019 at 5:16 pm

I have a couple extra days, and so I saw you recommended perhaps splitting day 3 into 2 days. What would you recommend if you had 1 additional day to spend on top of that (I have 7 days total)?

Thanks so much, great article!

— Josh

February 26, 2019 at 7:27 pm

YES! If you have an extra day we highly recommend going to the Sanefellsnes Peninsula. You could even do two days there. It will be a lot of driving but totally worth the extra extension!

https://www.followmeaway.com/ultimate-guide-snaefellsnes-peninsula-iceland/

April 14, 2019 at 4:28 pm

Great article 🙂 – My wife and I have planned to visit Iceland in first week of May but only for 3 days (3 full days available excluding commute days).

Can anyone please recommend what to see / skip from above 5 days’ list?

Need to make hotel arrangements, bookings etc. so quick response would be appreciated 🙂

Thank in advance

April 14, 2019 at 4:35 pm

Hello! Actually YES! We have this 3 day itineary that doesn’t include what we don’t think you can do from this one! It is right in this post here! https://www.followmeaway.com/3-days-in-iceland-itinerary/ Have fun!

May 21, 2019 at 2:58 am

Hey, thanks for this, I think this is the itinerary that we are going to follow. We will rent a car with a roof-top tent so that we can sleep outside and enjoy the nature even more (not to mention the cost), and I think this will be a great trip. We have a lot of experience in sleeping in tents and similar, but not in Iceland. I hope the cold won’t be too much for us!

August 21, 2019 at 9:18 pm

Hey! I’m thinking of going here next month and your blog is super helpful. Wondering if you remember how long the walks are to get to some of the main stops in the golden circle, etc… I have an injury so wanted to make sure I can walk it before making plans.

September 19, 2019 at 6:17 am

Amazing post! I guess car rental is the best option to choose. It will save time and money. I remember When I visited Dubai, I opted Carasti company and their services are awesome. I am also looking to visit Iceland in coming week. So, can you recommend me any affordable car rental company?

March 24, 2022 at 9:55 am

This itinerary is fantastic! We used it for a 6-day trip at the beginning of March and adjusted a few things to fit our schedule, and it was perfect! The hidden waterfall and the Kvernufoss waterfall are 100% worth it and there were not a lot of people there either. We also rented a car and went on an ice cave tour (so so recommended, it is beautiful!) and a Northern Lights tour from Reykjavik which allowed us to see the Northern Lights on our last night in Iceland! Some roads were closed in the mornings when we were there so we had do be quite flexible, and this itinerary was perfect for that! Thanks a lot!

April 2, 2022 at 2:59 pm

AMAZING!! I am so excited that you had a good time!!

June 18, 2018 at 3:07 pm

Oh my gosh thank you so much! Glad you had fun!

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A 5-Day Iceland Road Trip (Golden Circle & South Coast)

The best way to see Iceland is on an Iceland road trip.

The Iceland itinerary I’m offering is the same one I had planned to use on my trip there with my husband and our traveling couple friends . That self-drive route assumed one day in Reykjavik and four days on the road.

We had to make some adjustments — and thus miss some things — as our luggage was delayed heading into Iceland. Even so, we had a fantastic time. That’s just how exciting Iceland is.

Are you ready to hit the road and explore Iceland? Check out this guide to the best five-day Iceland road trip, likely one of the most epic road trips you’ll ever take.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, including links through the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program . As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases . At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I won’t recommend something I have not used/would not use myself, and any income earned supports the upkeep of this site.

How many days do you need to drive around Iceland?

You need at least three days to drive around Iceland if you’re sticking pretty close to Reykjavik on a Golden Circle itinerary. Five full days on an Iceland road trip allows you to travel along the country’s South Coast.

Iceland Road Trip Itinerary: 5 Days

Our five-day Iceland road trip looked like this:

• Day 1: Reykjavik, Thingvellir National Park, Geysir
• Day 2: Langjökull, Gullfoss, Secret Lagoon
• Day 3: Kerid Crater, Seljalandsfoss, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach
• Day 4: Svartifoss, Skaftafell National Park, Fjadrargljufur Canyon, Reynisfjara, Dyrhólaey Viewpoint, Vik
• Day 5: Sólheimasandur, Skogafoss, Reykjavik

How difficult is a road trip in Iceland?

A road trip in Iceland is not very difficult in ideal conditions. It can become more challenging in inclement weather.

We didn’t find any of the driving too challenging and enjoyed mild weather during our own trip, but everyone on the trip was from the Midwest . That means we’ve all driven through snow and weather that wasn’t always ideal.

Iceland road travel outside of summer requires a vehicle with 4WD. Drivers who aren’t experienced in navigating wintry road conditions should not be on the roads in the wintertime for their sake and that of Iceland’s residents.

Any Iceland itinerary requires some flexibility on your part.

You should have contingency plans to get yourself to safer conditions if the weather calls for it. Roads close around Iceland, especially in the winter . Monitor closures and weather conditions daily in case you need to change your plans.

How to Plan an Iceland Road Trip

This Iceland road trip itinerary is a self-drive itinerary . It assumes you’ll be driving in Iceland. That means you’ll need to rent a car.

We used SADcars despite the budget rental car company’s unfortunate name and had no complaints. The company was also way cheaper than all of the other big-name car rental agencies, particularly if you’re picking up and dropping off in the same city and sharing costs with a group.

Note: Here’s one of my top Iceland travel tips for folks used to automatic cars: If you can’t drive a manual car, book well ahead of your trip. Automatic vehicles sell out first.

Use an aggregator like Hotwire or Priceline to shop around for car rentals, especially if you’re a good planner plotting out your Iceland travel well in advance. If you’re interested in traveling via camper throughout Iceland, check out Cozy Campers . Some of their winter rentals come equipped with panoramic sunroofs for Northern Lights hunting.

If you’re not used to driving through snow, sleet, or icy conditions, there’s no shame in guided road trips or Iceland road trip packages that leave the driving to someone else. Here are a few guided experiences that look pretty epic to me:

What is the best time to visit Iceland?

The best time to visit Iceland for most travelers is the summer. You’ll enjoy easier driving conditions and plentiful sunshine for all of your outdoor adventures.

We visited in the late fall over the Thanksgiving holiday . I wouldn’t have done anything differently because we were able to see Iceland as the Norse gods intended: all white everything, with lots of opportunities for winter activities.

You also have a better shot at catching the Northern Lights if you visit outside of summer.

Note: Winter in Iceland can be magical, but you have much less daylight. Be prepared for early mornings if you’re traveling in the fall and winter months .

When planning your Iceland itinerary, keep in mind that in the case of inclement weather, getting from one point to the next may take much longer than you thought. That can be frustrating when you’re dealing with limited daylight outside of the summer months.

If there is any place that begs you to be flexible with your itineraries, Iceland is it.

Iceland Road Trip: Day 1

You’ll likely be flying into Keflavík International Airport, the country’s only international airport. This itinerary assumes an extra day in Reykjavik, with your car rental pickup at the airport right after you arrive.

If you have time for Reykjavik, you won’t regret it.

I have a guide to our favorite Reykjavik attractions for you to peruse, but here’s what you should prioritize:

• Blue Lagoon: No matter how you decide to spend your day, consider kicking things off with a visit to the Blue Lagoon . It’s not overrated , I promise. The best time to visit the Blue Lagoon is right when they open.
• Hallgrímskirkja: The imposing exterior of this church is meant to remind you of Iceland’s volcanic landscapes. For the best views of Iceland, get a ticket to the top of the church tower.
• Einar Jónsson Sculpture Garden: This free Iceland attraction is next door to Hallgrímskirkja. Walk through the garden and ponder the 26 sculptures by Iceland’s first sculptor.
• Harpa: The Harpa concert hall is home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and Icelandic Opera. A stop just to see the intriguing architecture from the architecture is well worth your time.
• Solfar Sculpture: Also known as the Sun Voyager, this dreamboat represents quintessential Reykjavik. With more time, you can visit the Reykjavík Maritime Museum on the western harbor near the sculpture.

We stayed overnight at a guesthouse that’s no longer operating. (That was the Thor Guesthouse.) The good news is, you have plenty of options in and around Reykjavik for a comfortable stay. Check out my guide to Iceland places to stay for more.

Interested in a map of all of the stops I’ll mention here? Follow the Google map below:

GIMME MY ICELAND ROAD TRIP ITINERARY MAP!

Stop 1: breakfast.

You’ll be starting your mornings early, especially if you’re traveling in the fall and winter when there’s not as much daylight. If you’re someone who gets hangry, grab a quick bite and hit the road.

A great option in Reykjavik for some to-go treats is Brauð & Co . They have giant cinnamon buns there that will rock your world.

Stop 2: Thingvellir National Park

Your first stop outside of Reykjavik will be Thingvellir National Park (or Þingvellir National Park), less than an hour’s drive from the city. There are three main parking lots within the park: P1 and P5 are close to the visitor center, and P2 is closest to the waterfall.

While the park itself is free, you’ll need to pay a fee to park. You can do so online once you know your car plates.

Thingvellir is an important historical location as the site of the world’s first democratic parliament, established by the Vikings.

Fun fact: It was also a Game of Thrones filming location, something I’m including because I know I’d want to know that.

If you’re up for a uniquely Iceland bucket list experience, make an advanced booking to snorkel (or dive, if you’re certified) the Silfra, a rift in the Eurasian tectonic plates that basically allows you to swim between two continents. For more information on our own experience, check out my post on bucket list Iceland attractions .

Ideally, you’ll have booked a morning snorkel tour if that’s the route you’re going.

Regardless, you’ll want to spend some time exploring the park, whether you’re going for a swim or not. Highlights include the Alþingi Site, where the world’s first parliament convened, Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest lake, and Öxarárfoss, a magnificent waterfall.

There are also numerous hiking trails throughout the park that you can tackle at your leisure. Check out the park’s main site for more information on available hikes.

Stop 3: Lunch

You have two options to fuel up for the rest of your day. For a quick bite, Thingvellir National Park has a cafeteria at the visitor center and a snack shop near the camping grounds.

If you’re feeling a bit fancier, the acclaimed  Lindin  serves up seasonal, Icelandic fare. The restaurant is about a half hour’s drive from the national park, but along the route you’ll be taking anyway. Expect shorter hours in the winter months. You can call or email the restaurant for reservations.

Stop 4: Brúarfoss

Continuing east, you’ll have the chance to visit Iceland’s “hidden waterfall,” Brúarfoss, or “Bridge Falls.” We weren’t able to make it to this one, as this was around the time we were driving back and forth from Reykjavik for our delayed luggage.

The images of this one, which isn’t as large as some of Iceland’s other  well-known waterfalls , are beautiful, with some of the bluest waters I’ve ever seen.

I’m including it here after lunch as it requires a 3.9-mile hike to get to. The shorter route through private property has been closed due to stupid tourist activity . Allow at least two hours for this excursion if you go. The hike to the falls is about a mile-and-a-half, and you’ll want some photo time once you’re there.

Our plan for making sure we were on the right path was to download an offline map of the trek on  maps.me . The GPS coordinates for the parking lot you want are 64.240256, -20.523758.

For more information, Arctic Adventures offers  a great guide .

Stop 5: Geysir

Another half hour east of Brúarfoss, the Geysir Hot Spring Area or Geysir geothermal area is one of Iceland’s most popular tourist stops. The area rivals anything you’ll see at Yellowstone .

While eruptions from Geysir, also known as the “Great Geysir,” are actually quite rare, you’ll only have to wait up to 10 minutes to watch the nearby Strokkur blow.  There’s no entrance fee to the geothermal area .

Stop 6: Dinner

There aren’t too many options up here, and you don’t want to get too far out from where you’ll be overnighting. An option near where you’ll be in Geysir is  Skjól , a hangout for backpackers that serves pizza and beer. Hours change in the winter months, so check their website before you make a plan to carb load.

You’ll be starting your day at Gullfoss tomorrow, so it’d be best to find accommodations nearby. As seems to be the trend following a global pandemic, the accommodations we used no longer seem to be taking reservations. We stayed on a horse breeding farm called Jaðar — The Old House. 

If you need additional recommendations on highly-reviewed places to stay during your trip, check out the Iceland accommodations guide I’ve already mentioned. There are lots of options within that post at varied price points that are still operating and functional. I try to keep things updated as best I can!

Iceland Road Trip: Day 2

Your second day as you road trip Iceland is no less adventurous, especially if you decide to get up close and personal with a glacier.

Stop 1: Gullfoss

We had breakfast included with our accommodations. If you’re hungry, there’s a cafe at Gullfoss that offers quick bites. The kroner add up there, though, so watch what you’re charging.

We started our morning with another bucket list excursion: snowmobiling on Langjökull glacier. If you decide to do the same, I’d highly recommend  Extreme Iceland . There are a number of tour operators that boast similar experiences, but we did our research and went by strong reviews.

Our tour was supposed to include an ice cave stop, as well, but the mild weather precluded us from doing so. The rest of the tour went on as planned.

If you’re not doing an excursion from Gullfoss, don’t miss viewing the falls there, an impressive site on its own.

There are two viewing areas of the falls. The upper tier will most likely get you better views of their scope.

Fun fact: No matter when you’re there, you’re likely to see rainbows forming in the mist. Yes, it’s pretty magical.

Stop 2: Friðheimar

You’ll be returning south now to continue your trip along the coast. One of our favorite food stops on the way back down was  Friðheimar , a tomato farm where you can indulge in all-you-can-eat tomato soup, homemade bread, and all of the other tomato things you can think of.

Yes, they have tomato beer and tomato desserts, but the soup is where it’s at. Can you think of anything that sounds better on a chilly day in Iceland than a warm bowl of homemade tomato soup? Now multiply that as many times as you like because as I said, this place is all-you-can-eat.

Spend some time exploring the beautiful greenhouse space and meeting the horses outside. You’ll want to make reservations ahead of time, so call or email before you head over.

Stop 3: Secret Lagoon

If you’ve already been to the Blue Lagoon, you already know how lovely it is to partake in Iceland’s geothermal spas. The Secret Lagoon, just a 15-minute drive from the tomato farm, isn’t as flashy. The natural landscape, which includes an erupting geyser, is just as lovely.

You’ll have to get over any qualms you have about public nudity during the showering process before your spa time. (That was a lot for me, but I survived.)

As soon as you’re in there, floating around and seeking out those hot spots, any worries you had about your bits on display in the locker room will melt away. Grab a pool noodle to make things extra special.

Hours vary depending on the season. You’ll want to  book ahead  no matter when you go as this isn’t just popular with tourists. Locals love a good soak, too.

Stop 4: Selfoss

We stayed at the  Minniborgir Cottages  for the night north of Selfoss, the main town in these parts. The cottages are about a 40-minute drive from the Secret Lagoon. You’ll have more food options the closer you get to Selfoss.

Kaffi Krús  is a notable option, known for its fresh fish of the day. Call ahead before you go if you’re traveling during the winter months, as their hours are seasonal.

We ended up eating at the restaurant attached to our accommodations for the night, splitting pizza, burgers, and a pitcher of beer. The food wasn’t anything to write home about, but it was reasonably priced for Iceland. You’re able to take another soak in the cottage hot tubs after if you’re not yet wrinkled enough.

Iceland Road Trip: Day 3

The end goal will be to make it to Diamond Beach and the glacial lagoons by sunset, so make adjustments as you need to on this day. You’ll have about four-and-a-half hours of driving today to get there.

The last day of this itinerary isn’t as jampacked as this one, so you can certainly move things around if you need to.

Stop 1: Kerid Crater

You’ll be driving through Selfoss as you continue south following this stop, so don’t worry, breakfast people. I haven’t forgotten you.

The Kerid Crater is a volcanic crater lake that you can explore in a few different ways. There’s a rim path to walk all the way around, allowing you views of the milky water inside.

There’s also a path all the way down to the lake. I’d suggest making the walk down. It isn’t strenuous at just under half a mile to get down there, and it looks completely different from that perspective. A parking lot right outside this attraction makes this stop even easier.

Stop 2: Selfoss Snacks

See? I told you that you’d be able to grab a bite to eat. Make a quick stop at  Almar Bakari , a Scandinavian bakery, for some coffee and sweet treats to keep you satiated until lunch. If you haven’t had any glazed cinnamon rolls during your travels yet, this is another spot that does them right.

Stop 3: Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss is another hour’s drive east from Selfoss along Iceland’s Route 1, or the Ring Road itinerary. This isn’t just a stop-and-look stop. If you really want the full experience of these falls, you’ll want to walk the trail behind them for a trip of a little over a mile roundtrip. Expect lots of people to be very slow while you get soaked by the water.

A short walk down the path at the exit of your behind-the-falls adventure will take you to another waterfall, Glijufrabui . You need waterproof gear to enter this one, as the water gets up to your ankles.

You can see it from the side, or just brave the chilly stream if you’re not a wuss like me.

Stop 4: Lunch

There’s an overpriced restaurant on-site at the falls, or you can get yourself some fish and chips just down the street from  Mia’s Country Van . Hours may differ in the winter months. Budget-friendly meals in Iceland are few and far between, so do what you can when you can.

Stop 5: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

You’ll be driving through to the highlights of the day now: the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. Don’t worry about additional stops along the way. You’ll have time later, I promise. Both of these upcoming stops are breathtaking, and not to be missed on any Iceland itinerary.

Start at the lagoon, and watch the blue icebergs drift along, some making their way to shore.

What is the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon famous for? The Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is famous for the procession of blue icebergs that make this one of the most photogenic spots in Iceland.

One thing we weren’t able to do was to take a boat tour along the lagoon. If you’re there in the warmer months from May through October, it looks like an awesome way to get up close and personal with some icebergs. 

Make reservations  well ahead of time in high season for your best chance of getting on a boat.

Stop 6: Diamond Beach

At Diamond Beach next door, the contrast of those same icebergs on the black sand beach will have you filling up that camera storage real quick. We were lucky enough to catch both at sunset, and I’d recommend the same.

The “diamonds” you’ll see here are chunks of ice that have drifted ashore from nearby glaciers. Breidamerkurjokull is likely the main culprit here, and don’t ask me to try to give that one to you phonetically.

If you really want to impress the locals here, learn how to say Breidamerkursandur. It translates to “sand” and what I hope is quite a bit more just based on the length of that word. That’s what folks in Iceland call this glacial outwash. The diamond moniker is for tourists.

Stop 7: Dinner

Our goal was to eat at the restaurant/brewery Jon Riki after an exciting day of adventure. They require reservations in the off months, and we just weren’t able to get through.

We ended up driving up to Höfn for lobster soup, pizza, and beer at Ishusid Pizzeria Restaurant . It was budget-friendly and delicious. No reservations are needed.

Once you’re done eating, check into your accommodations for the night. The Kálfafellsstadur Bed & Breakfast , about a 20-minute drive from Diamond Beach, is as far east as we went on this Iceland road trip.

It’s far out enough into the country that it’s a great Northern Lights spotting location, too.

Iceland Road Trip: Day 4

We had a delightful breakfast of fresh waffles at our bed-and-breakfast. This is as far east as you’ll be on this journey, slowly making your way back to Reykjavik over the next two days.

Optional Stop 1: Ice Caves

The one regret we had on our Iceland road trip was that we weren’t able to explore an ice cave. We were supposed to see one as part of our snowmobiling tour, but that element was canceled because of the nice weather we were having.

This is what I’m saying about contingency plans. Be ready to switch things up as needed no matter when you travel to Iceland.

Vatnajökull National Park is the more popular spot for ice cave tours, including the Crystal Cave. If you’re following this itinerary pretty closely, my advice would be to find a tour that goes out in the morning, as you have some driving to do today to start making your way back to Reykjavik.

Keep in mind that this is a winter excursion, and you’ll need to make a booking well in advance.

Check out some highly-rated ice cave tours below:

Stop 2: Snacks

An easy, budget-friendly food option in between all of your adventures is Glacier Goodies , a fish-and-chips truck in the lot of the main parking area for the lagoon. There are usually folks lined up for that one getting all of those fried goodies and warm soups on chilly days.

Stop 3: Skaftafell National Park

Seeing Svartifoss, also known as the “Black Waterfall,” up close takes some effort, but it’s well worth it. It’s only about a mile each way, but budget some time for dodging tourists on the way. Despite the hike, it’s a popular Icelandic site.

Skaftafell is also the jumping-off point for a variety of glacier hikes. We went as far as the base of Skaftafellsjökull glacier in our exploration at the park but weren’t able to climb further as we weren’t on a guided tour.

We saw one guy sliding around up there in his tennis shoes as he went it alone, but he was an idiot. It was exciting enough for us to explore the base and the lagoon down below, which was just as sparkly as Diamond Beach.

Leave some time to feel the wonder of this place. This was my favorite spot on our Iceland trip itinerary.

If you’re interested in any guided glacier walks and glacial experiences in the area, check out the highly-rated options below:

Stop 4: Fjadrargljufur Canyon

Fjadrargljufur Canyon is a popular diversion off of Iceland’s Ring Road, but there are enough walking paths once you’re there that it shouldn’t feel crowded with tourists unless you’re there in the peak of summer.

That’s when all of the Bieber heads come out, I’m sure, as this was a shooting location for a Justin Bieber music video. I imagine it has something to do with the serpentine river that curves below or the dramatic landscapes here more generally.

To lose those summer crowds, there are trails to get down into the canyon and wade into the river. Just beware of drones, as they’re definitely a thing here.

Stop 5: Reynisfjara

Reynisfjara Beach, or Iceland’s Black Sand Beach, was created by lava flowing into the ocean. Today, it’s a fun place to watch kids try to outrun sneaker waves coming dangerously close to their own sneakers.

Sneaker waves are exactly as they sound. These are waves that surge closer onto the shore than expected. Basically, they sneak up on you. I know I’m turning my back on the water in the photo above, but don’t do that for long. You can put yourself in a dangerous situation.

Now that that’s out of the way, this black sand beach is one of Iceland’s most dramatic landscapes even without the scary factor. It’s worth a stop to check out the enormous basalt stacks that surround the beach, too.

If you’re into black sand beaches while in Iceland, you can also visit Stokksnes, a beach on a peninsula close to Höfn.

Stop 6: Dyrhólaey Viewpoint

The narrow drive up will open up as you approach this overlook opportunity. Spend some time taking in the views and check out the castle-shaped lighthouse.

On a clear day, you’re able to see Mýrdalsjökull, the glacier to the north. To the east, you’ll see the black lava sea stacks you just left at Reynisfjara.

Looking west, you’ll see an endless coastline, and right in front of you, you’ll see where this peninsula got its name. Dyrhólaey means “the hill island with the door hole.” As you take it all in, hold onto your hats. It’s beautiful, but very windy up here!

Stop 7: Vik

Vik has a few options for dinner depending on what you’re after. We were interested in some hipster brewery action, so decided on Smiðjan Brugghus . The burgers were juicy, and the beer was even juicier. You don’t need any reservations at this one, either.

If burgers and beers aren’t your style, the Black Beach Restaurant is a pricier dining experience that offers stunning views from its dining room windows.

We stayed at the Welcome Hotel Lambafell , which features log cabin-style rooms, for the night. The potential for Northern Lights spotting is great there, as it’s pretty remote. Seljavallalaug, a geothermal pool, is free and a 20-minute walk from your lodging.

Iceland Road Trip: Day 5

This is your last day to catch any sites you missed due to weather or other acts of nature beyond your control. You’re about two-and-a-half hours from Reykjavik at this point, so keep that in mind as you move through your day.

Breakfast was included in our booking at the Welcome Hotel Lambafell . That’s what you can expect from most guesthouses you stay at throughout Iceland’s South Coast.

Stop 1: Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck

We had someone in our group who really wanted to see the Sólheimasandur plane wreck site, and I’m glad we went. This way, I’m able to tell you about the long, monotonous walk of over two miles you have to endure to get to the wreckage. (The entire trek is about 4.6 miles roundtrip.)

Once you get there, though, the backdrop to the wreckage and the general lack of people make it an interesting site. Then you have to walk back. It’s not strenuous. It’s just a long walk down a looooong, straight path.

The rusting shell has been here since 1973 when a plane crashed on its way from Höfn. All seven crew members on board survived the crash, so a visit here isn’t as grisly as it could be. No one really knows why the crash happened. Theories point to ice damaging the plane’s structure, inoperational thrusters, or pilot error.

Stop 2: Skogafoss

Just up the road from the wreckage, Skogafoss is an impressive sight. It’s a short walk to the falls from the parking area to the base, where, obviously, the closer you get, the wetter you’ll get. There’s also a staircase you can climb to get a view of the falls below. I recommend both.

If this one looks familiar to the Marvel fans out there, it may be because it was featured in Thor: The Dark World . I’m typically too distracted by Chris Hemsworth to notice waterfalls, but I’ll take Iceland’s word for it.

Unless there are additional stops you missed in the days prior, it’s time to grab some grub. Drive within an hour or so of the airport or even closer to the city center. Ölverk in Hveragerði is a pizzeria and microbrewery where you can order flights of their local beers. No reservations are needed.

Stop 4: Reykjavik

We were catching our flight back home on the evening of our last day. If you have some additional time in the city, return to my Reykjavik ideas for tips on how to fill your time and your bellies before tucking in for the night.

You can certainly also extend your time in East Iceland or North Iceland if you’re lucky enough to be able to linger in this fantastic country. I know I’m always plotting when we can make our own return Iceland trip.

With More Time in Iceland

If you have a week in Iceland or more, there’s so much you can do on your self-drive Iceland itinerary. You can drive the entire Ring Road or get to more off-the-beaten-path destinations in more remote corners of the country.

Here’s a little more detail on I still have on my Iceland bucket list:

• Snæfellsnes: The Snæfellsnes peninsula is described by many as a mini-Iceland. That’s thanks to the natural wonders packed into a small footprint. See Kirkjufell, one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland, or detour to Glymur, Iceland’s second-tallest waterfall. The peninsula is about a two-hour drive north of Reykjavik.
• Goðafoss: This waterfall in North Iceland is known as the “Waterfall of the Gods.” That’s a reference to both its size and the fact that it appears in stories featuring Norse gods. Once you see photos you’ll understand. You’ll find this one about 45 minutes from Akureyri, Iceland’s second-largest city. 
• Húsavík: This Icelandic fishing village is famous now for how heavily it was featured in the very funny Eurovision   Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga . You’ll miss out on the whale-watching tour potential here if that’s all you’re focused on. The town is just a 35-minute drive north from the waterfall described above if you want to make a full day out of it.
• Mývatn: Another 45 minutes from Húsavík, Mývatn is known for the waterfalls Detifoss and Selfoss, its excellent Northern Lights-spotting potential, and the Mývatn Nature Baths. Much like the Blue Lagoon, the baths are geothermal pools naturally heated by surrounding hot springs. It’s the best way to relax after a day of adventuring.
• Borgarfjörður: Summer Iceland travelers should try to get themselves to Borgarfjörður eystri, a small fishing fjord in East Iceland and one of the easiest places to observe wild puffins. You’ll walk boardwalk trails to keep yourself and the adorable birds safe. Stopping here will take you well off the Ring Road, but it’s perfect for an intrepid Iceland road trip.

Road Tripping Iceland: FAQs

Is an iceland road trip good.

An Iceland road trip is very good. This is one of the most scenic road trips you’ll take around the world. Add the potential for bucket list excursions along the way and your road trip in Iceland will quickly become one of your most memorable trips.

Can you do the Ring Road in 7 days?

You can do the Ring Road in 7 days, but you’ll be on a tight schedule. It will just be a lot of driving to travel an 828-mile Iceland Ring Road itinerary. I’d advise setting aside 10 full days to make it happen so that you don’t feel rushed. You may want to incorporate some excursions along the way, too.

What is the best road route in Iceland?

The best road route in Iceland depends on how much time you have to dedicate to your Iceland road trip. If you have at least a week, the Ring Road in Iceland, or Route 1, offers an overview of the country’s diverse landscapes. The road connects Iceland’s major cities with access to its most impressive waterfalls, glaciers, geysers, and more.

Travelers with limited time may prefer the Golden Circle. In just a few days, you can see quite a bit of stunning scenery a short drive from Reykjavik.

Is it worth it to drive around Iceland?

It is definitely worth it to drive around Iceland. The possibilities expand the more time you have, but five days in Iceland is enough to see the Golden Circle and a good chunk of the South Coast.

We never felt too rushed on this itinerary, even when baggage delays tried to rain on our parade.

I can’t wait to go back and see more of North Iceland and the wonder up there. This is truly one of the most scenic countries in the world.

Ready to Road Trip Iceland?

Your Flight: I use a variety of tools to find cheap airfare, but when I’m looking to book during a particular period of time, I’ll use Skyscanner . It’s a great tool for when you’re more flexible, too, as it allows you to compare travel based on length of travel, departure date, etc.

Deals to Iceland have been happening quite often. Another strategy is following the major airlines to catch good deals that may come up for your city.

For adventurous folks who travel on the reg, I also subscribe to  Going , formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights. You’ll get cheap flight deals from your home base straight to your inbox.

Your Accommodations: I included where we stayed during our Iceland road trip in the guide above. For more options, check out my Iceland hotel guide .

We primarily used Booking.com for our trip to Iceland for the cheapest rates. They have a good range of lodging options from Reykjavik to the middle of nowhere. Hotels.com is a good comparison tool when booking hotels. Vrbo has become our preferred Airbnb alternative.

Seeking even more wallet-friendly accommodations? Try  Hostelworld . Their picks are heavily vetted and reviewed to offer you a safe experience on a budget.

Etc.: For general travel goodies, visit my Essential Travel Items page. Need more travel tips? Check out my Travel Tools page.

Love this five-day road trip for Iceland? Pin me!

Planning more European travel? Check out these guides:

• Plotting an Ireland Trip? Check Out My Guide
• How to Enjoy Nice, France, on Rainy Days
• Things to Do in Brussels on Your City Break
• How to Plan a Visit to Florence & the Duomo
• Top Reasons Why You Need to See Bologna

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Too much, or just enough?

Agnes Groonwald

2 thoughts on “A 5-Day Iceland Road Trip (Golden Circle & South Coast)”

I Loved reading this! Iceland has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. It looks like such an amazing place. The waterfalls, the plane wreck, I want to see them all!

It’s truly a magical place. I hope you’re able to get out there soon!

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Iceland Itinerary 5 Days: Easy South Coast Road Trip Guide

Are you spending 5 days in Iceland and looking for the best road trip itinerary? I’ve got you covered!

During my visit to Iceland, the dramatic landscapes left me speechless, which doesn’t often happen, and it’s quickly become one of my favourite countries to visit! With its ice-capped volcanoes, sprawling lava fields, icy blue glaciers and black sand beaches, I really felt as if I hit the jackpot!

This 5 day self-drive itinerary will take you to some of the best locations along Iceland’s South Coast. From the vibrant streets of Reykjavik to the iconic Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, this road trip has plenty of stops at stunning waterfalls, steaming hot springs and lagoons filled with icebergs.

I visited Iceland during the summer which meant there was nearly 24 hours of daylight. Although this trip can be done all year round, the longer days will give you more flexibility to explore.

Iceland Itinerary 5 Days: At A Glance

Road Trip Length : 5 full days 

Total Distance Driven: 935km

Start And End Point : Reykjavik

Transport Options : Rental Car or Campervan

Accommodation Type: Hotels, Guesthouses or Campsites

When: This itinerary for Iceland’s south coast is ideal for any time of the year since it follows the main road. However, you should be aware that winter experiences shorter days and bad weather might lead to temporary road closures.

Iceland Itinerary 5 Days: Road Trip Map

Is 5 Days Enough To See Iceland? 

Well, the answer to this is yes and no.

I think 5 days in Iceland is certainly enough time to see a lot of the stops along the south coast! It’s home to glaciers, lava fields, hot springs and waterfalls so you will still have your fill of otherworldly landscapes to visit.

But, if you plan to travel the entire ring road, 5 days won’t be enough time.

You can certainly drive the length of Iceland’s ring road in 5 days as it takes about 22 hours to complete. But you would be missing a lot of awesome stops and the journey wouldn’t be anywhere near as enjoyable.

Not only that but you will be shattered from driving very long distances!

When’s The Best Time To Visit Iceland?

The best and worst time to visit Iceland depends on what you want to see, and each time of year has its own pros and cons.

In winter, you’ll score better deals on flights, accommodation, and car rentals—sometimes up to 50% cheaper than in summer! This is a great time to visit if you’re travelling Iceland solo . Plus, it’s your shot at witnessing the magical Northern Lights, with the best viewing months from September to April. However, winter also brings colder temperatures, shorter days, and potential road closures.

For those like me who are drawn to Iceland’s lush landscapes and the famed midnight sun, summer (June to August) is a must. Nearly 24 hours of daylight means you’ll have plenty of time to explore.

But peak tourist season means crowded sites, pricier accommodations, and the need for early bookings.

Day 1 Reykjavik to Skogar

Total Drive Time : 2.5 Hours

On day 1 of your 5-day Iceland itinerary, I recommend trying to book an early flight if possible so you can make the most out of this first day! Most rental companies open at around 9 am which will give you a good head start!

We skipped Reykjavik at the start of this trip as we wanted to get straight on the road, but we decided to unwind here at the end of our journey.

Reykjanes Peninsula

The Reykjanes Peninsula, located on the southwestern tip of Iceland near Reykjavik, offers a unique blend of natural wonders, geothermal activity, and rugged landscapes.

Often overlooked by road-trippers heading straight for the ring road, this area boasts steaming fields, sprawling lava beds, and the recent volcanic eruptions in 2021, 2022, and 2023. We were lucky enough to witness one of these eruptions in July 2023.

The peninsula is home to Kleifarvatn, Iceland’s largest lake with dark volcanic shores and shimmering waters fed by underground springs.

Seljalandsfoss

Whenever I think of Iceland one of the first places I picture in my mind is the iconic Seljalandsfoss.

This is one of Iceland’s most visited waterfalls which you will find just off the main road. You won’t be able to miss it and you’ll notice its crashing waters from a few miles away! It’s easily accessible and is just a few minutes walk from the car park.

What makes this waterfall unique is the path that leads behind the curtain of water. You’ll probably get soaked but it’s a really cool perspective to see the waterfall from!

Just a short 10-minute walk from Seljalandsfoss is its neighbour Gljufrabui.

This hidden waterfall is tucked between rock walls and you’ll need to enter a small cave to see it up close. If you do decide to go in, I recommend bringing your waterproof jacket as you’ll definitely get wet from all the mist flying off the rocks.

My feet got soaked when I ventured into the cave, but if you don’t mind this I definitely think it’s worth going in!

Iceland South Coast Day 1: Where To Stay

Camping: Skogar Campsite

Now this is a campsite with a view! It’s located right next to the famous Skogafoss, and I mean right next to it, so you’ll be falling asleep to the sound of cascading water.

The campsite is basic, and you do need to pay 400ISK to use the shower, but what it lacks in facilities I think it makes up for in scenery!

Accommodation: Hotel Skogafoss

So the name is probably a giveaway, but Hotel Skogafoss is also located very close to the waterfall. It’s a great location to stay for your first few stops in the morning.

Accommodation: Starlight Camping Pods

If you fancy something in the middle of camping and staying in a hotel, then Starlight Camping Pods is a good choice! It’s also close to Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool which is one of the first locations on Day 2.

Day 2 Skogar to Vik

Total Drive Time : 2 Hours

If you choose to stay at the campsite or Hotel Skogafoss, Day 2 of your 5-day Iceland Itinerary will kick off at the famous Skogafoss waterfall.

Skogafoss’s towering rock face, once part of the southern coastline, has receded about 5 kilometres inland over time.

You can choose to climb the 370 steps to the top of these cliffs to view Skoagfoss from above but personally, I loved the view from the bottom. The falls create a constant mist and Skogafoss is often adorned in a colourful rainbow.

If you happen to visit during the summer months, you’ll also find a field of vibrant lupins not far from the falls. This spot makes for a great photo with the falls in the background.

Kvernufoss is a hidden gem that is tucked away not far from Skogafoss. The great thing about these falls is they are lesser-known and are nowhere near as busy as their famous neighbour. A short hike through moss-covered landscapes will lead you to the falls which tumble down between a rocky canyon.

The return journey from the car park to Kvernufoss takes roughly 30 minutes and is predominantly flat.

Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool

Nestled at Eyjafjallajokull’s base lies Seljavallalaug, a geothermal pool from 1923. Originally for locals’ swimming lessons, it’s now a popular spot for off-the-beaten-path visitors.

This remote pool exudes rustic charm against the rugged mountains. The ‘changing rooms’ follow suit and have seen better days, embracing the rustic vibe. Expect algae in the pool – normal for Iceland’s hot springs but surprising if you’re not expecting it!

Honestly, the algae gave me the ick, making the pool floor slippery. Still, I enjoyed a swim in the warm-ish water, but a white swimsuit is not recommended!

The 25-minute rocky trail to the pool isn’t well-marked, but if you add the location in Google Maps you’ll get an idea of the right direction to walk

Solheimajokull Glacier

A quick detour from the main road will take you to the first glacier you will see on this trip!

Solheimajokull glacier is found between Katla and Eyjafjallajökull volcanoes. The dark colour you’ll see woven through the ice is ash from previous volcanic eruptions!

Sadly, like all the glaciers, Solheimajokull is melting at a fast rate due to climate change and is receding further back toward the mountains.

You might wish to book a guided glacier hike while you’re here, to see the glacier up close.

Dyrholaey Lighthouse

Perched atop the tall cliffs of the south coast, the Dyrhólaey Lighthouse offers stunning views of the ocean and the black sandy beaches below, making it a must-visit on your 5 day Iceland itinerary.

The area is renowned for its unique rock formations, with the main highlight being Dyrhólaey – a 120-meter arch shaped over countless years by the relentless erosion of the sea.

During the summer months, it’s a popular spot for puffin sightings as they nest along the cliff’s edge.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Just a short drive from Dyrhólaey Lighthouse, you’ll find the famous Reynisfjara Beach, renowned for its dramatic and moody atmosphere. The iconic black sand and hexagonal basalt columns, featured in Game of Thrones (Eastwatch by the Sea!), create such a stunning scene.

Don’t miss the uniquely shaped sea stacks known as Reynisdrangar, rising dramatically from the ocean.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach is beautiful but it can also be quite dangerous. When we arrived at the car park, we noticed lots of signs about the dangerous waves that frequent the shores. These waves are not only powerful, but the sneaker waves can sweep you out to the water in an instant.

Sadly, tourists have lost their lives here in recent years, please be careful and visit at low tide.

The quaint town of Vik is where I recommend stopping for the night. To be honest, I fell in love with it here and it was my favourite location to stay at during our 5-day Iceland itinerary.

If you love coffee, try stopping by Skool Beans. This old school bus has been transformed into a quirky coffee shop. Not only is this a cool place to relax after a long day of driving, but the coffee here was easily the best coffee we had in Iceland! They also have a sweet resident cat, what more could you want?!

Vik is also where you will find the Icelandic Lava Show , the only show in the world where you will see real flowing lava!

Iceland South Coast Day 2: Where To Stay

Camping: Vik Campsite

This is the main campsite in Vik, and even though it’s no-frills, it’s in a great location and has all the amenities you need.

You do need to pay if you wish to use the shower, which isn’t unheard of in Iceland, but the thing that I found weird was the shared shower space! There’s no curtain or wall between the four showers! This genuinely didn’t bother me but I did find it an odd experience, to say the least!

Hotel: Vik Cottages

Backed by the mossy cliffs of Iceland’s south coast, Vik Cottages are less than 500m from the black sand beach and are in a great location. These modern cabins provide spacious rooms, complete with WiFi and access to the hotel’s restaurant.

Day 3 Vik to Vatnajökull National Park

Total Drive Time: 3 Hours

Vik i Myrdal Church

Your first stop on Day 3 of your 5-day Iceland Itinerary is just a stone’s throw away!

Chances are, you spotted the charming red and white church as you drove into Vik, perched on top of the hill with a picturesque view of the town. Meet Vik i Myrdal Church which during the summer months is blanketed in vibrant purple lupins!

It’s a pretty awesome spot to visit when the light is soft in the morning.

Svinafellsjokull Glacier

This next part of your drive towards Vatnajökull National Park is where you’ll get some pretty incredible sights.

When you are about half an hour away from Svinafellsjokull, glaciers will begin to appear in every direction you look dominating the landscape.

Svinafellsjokull Glacier is part of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest ice cap, and it’s the perfect place to see a glacier tongue up close! It’s a fairly easy 15-minute walk from the car park although there are some loose rocks which can make it a bit slippery.

The glacier lagoon is full of icebergs that have fallen from the ice wall and if you listen carefully, you can hear the eerie sound of the ice moving.

This is another popular location for glacier hikes across the electric blue rivers of ice.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

After a stunning drive past Iceland’s many glaciers, you’ll reach Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Iceland’s deepest lake.

Fed by meltwater from Vatnajökull, the lake is dotted with huge icebergs that have broken off from the surrounding glaciers, making their final journey towards the Atlantic Ocean. Some of these blocks of ice are well over 1,500 years old!

There are plenty of ways to get a closer glimpse at what lies in the lake’s piercing blue water. Tours you can choose from are boat tours , ice cave tours and even kayaking tours that take you between the icebergs!

Diamond Beach

Just across the road from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, you’ll find the beautiful Diamond Beach . If you’re wondering how the beach got its name, you’ll soon understand why!

Named after its glistening treasures, the shoreline is scattered with icebergs that have washed ashore after their journey from the lagoon. These icebergs that have been broken down and polished by the waves, sparkle like diamonds in the sunlight and create a stunning contrast against the black volcanic sand.

We also spotted seals swimming along the shoreline and in the lagoon!

Fjallsarlon Glacier Viewpoint

The Fjallsarlon Glacier Viewpoint isn’t as well signposted as some of the other sights on this journey and if you blink you could miss it!

I must admit, I really didn’t expect much from this viewpoint for some reason, but when we arrived here I was blown away at the sheer size of this glacier.

This glacier lagoon is a smaller version of the more popular Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. But because of its smaller size, you can get a better view of the glacier’s blue hues and intricate crevasses.

To get to the viewpoint you will need to drive along a gravel road for about 5 minutes before the short walk to the water’s edge.

Iceland South Coast Day 3: Where To Stay

Campsite: Svínafelli Campsite (shows on maps as Tjaldsvæðið í Svínafelli)

Svínafelli campsite is just a stone’s throw from Svinafellsjokull Glacier and is the perfect place to camp for the night after a big day of exploring.

The price for the campsite includes shower and cooking facilities, and there are laundry facilities available for an extra cost.

Accommodation : Nónhamar Private Cottages

Surrounded by stunning scenery, Nónhamar Private Cottages are found at the base of the ice-covered Öræfajökull volcano.

These eco-friendly cottages are run on renewable energy and are built from sustainably sourced wood. Fully equipped with private bathrooms, a kitchen and wifi, these cottages have everything you need for a cosy, comfortable stay.

They even plant a tree for each booking made with them which I love!

Accommodation: The Potato Storage

Don’t let the interesting name fool you, you won’t be sleeping in a shed with potatoes!

This accommodation is also perfectly placed on the edge of Vatnajökull National Park. They do usually require a 2-night minimum stay . I have listed this as an accommodation choice though, as you may be lucky and find that there is 1 night free in between other bookings.

These apartments are also fully equipped, with a private bathroom, kitchen and living/dining space.

Day 4 Vatnajökull National Park to Golden Circle

Drive Time: 3 Hours

Fjadrargljufur

Nestled between Skaftafell and Vik on your 5-day Iceland itinerary is Fjadrargljufur, which is the perfect stop-off to stretch your legs and get some awesome views! This 100m deep and 2km long canyon was carved out during the last ice age and is one of Iceland’s lesser-known stops.

It’s possible to walk along the ridge or walk down in the valley and along the river, either way, you get great views!

The Yoda Cave

The Yoda Cave, also known as Gígjagjá, is a unique natural formation that has an uncanny resemblance to the iconic Star Wars character, you guessed it, Yoda.

While the likeness to its namesake might not be obvious from the outside, once you venture inside, you won’t be able to miss the unmistakable shape of Yoda.

This cave offers stunning views overlooking a picturesque black sand beach and is nestled at the base of Hjörleifshöfði mountain.

The drive to get here can be quite bumpy, so go slow to avoid any potholes!

Secret Lagoon

After a long day of driving along Iceland’s south coast, I honestly couldn’t think of a better way to end the day than soaking in one of Iceland’s hot springs.

Nestled in the heart of the Golden Circle, the Secret Lagoon , or Gamla Laugin as the locals call it, is a geothermal gem and is the oldest natural pool in Iceland. After years of being unused, it was restored to its authentic charm and eventually reopened in 2014.

Secret Lagoon is a quieter and more rustic alternative to the famous Blue Lagoon and its surroundings have been kept natural and simple. The lagoon is fed by a natural hot spring that keeps the water at a warm temperature all year round. This makes it the perfect place for a relaxing soak, even in the chilly Icelandic weather.

Although this is a quieter hot spring, I do recommend booking tickets in advance if possible.

Iceland South Coast Day 4: Where To Stay

Campsite: Flúðir Campsite

Flúðir Campsite is located in the small village of Flúðir and is less than a 5-minute drive from Secret Lagoon.

Shower facilities and wifi are included in the cost and they have a washer and dryer which can be used for an extra cost.

Accommodation: Garður Stay Inn

Located right next to the Secret Lagoon, and I mean right next to it, Garður Stay Inn is a great place to rest your head.

The guesthouse offers a shared kitchen which is great for keeping food costs down, as well as spacious modern rooms, wifi and parking.

Day 5 Golden Circle to Reykjavik

Drive Time: 2.5 Hours

Gullfoss Falls

The first stop on the last day of this 5-Day Iceland itinerary is the iconic Gullfoss Falls, also known as Golden Falls.

The powerful Gullfoss is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls and it’s easy to see why. Having not one but two distinct falls, the glacial waters from the Hvítá River plunge dramatically down the expansive cascades before disappearing into a rugged canyon.

The falls can be viewed from above and there are multiple viewpoints you can use to see them from different perspectives. If you’re visiting during the winter, some of these viewpoints may be closed depending on the weather.

Just a short 10-minute drive from Gullfoss Falls is Geysir, a well-known geothermal site situated in Haukadalur Valley.

This is where the Great Geysir can be found, renowned as one of the world’s earliest known geysers and the source of the name “geyser” itself.

The Great Geysir has mostly been dormant since 1916, with the exception of a few brief eruptions thought to be brought on by earthquakes, the most recent being in 2016.

Although this once very active geyser now lies quiet, other hot springs in the area remain very active.

The star of the show and active geyser that you will see here is Strokkur, which is known for its regular eruptions that occur approximately every 6-10 minutes. During these powerful eruptions, Strokkur propels a fountain of scalding water and steam up to 30 meters into the air.

Kerid Crater

Known for its vibrant hues of red, green and blue Kerid Crater is the remains of an ancient cone volcano that is thought to have collapsed on itself over 3,000 years ago.

The iron deposits on the crater are still classed as new (in terms of volcanoes at least!) causing the bright crimson tones that colour its slopes. The brilliant turquoise waters also owe their stunning colour to the minerals that are washed down into the crater.

Here, you have the option to either stroll along the rim or venture down into the crater itself.

Last but by no means least, we’ve reached the last stop on your 5 day Iceland itinerary, Reykjavik.

This small city is packed with so much character and charm, it’s the perfect place to end your trip. There are tons of places to grab some food and have a few drinks, with all types of cuisines to choose from.

When I was here, I loved the live music at Rúblan bókakaffi. The cocktails did cost a small fortune, but the vibe was so much fun!

If you’re still in sightseeing mode, there are numerous sites you can visit. These include Hallgrímskirkja which is Iceland’s tallest church, the famous Rainbow Street which celebrates Reykjavik Pride and the Sun Voyager sculpture that honours Iceland’s history.

Iceland South Coast Day 5: Where To Stay

If you’re not flying back home at the end of Day 5 then you’ll want somewhere to stay that’s easy to explore the city.

Accommodation : Astro Hverfisgata

These fully equipped apartments are in the perfect location and are based at the top of one of the main streets in Reykjavik.

Here you’ll have a kitchen with an oven and stovetop, a balcony, a coffee machine and a living/dining space. Considering the location, I thought the apartment was very reasonably priced! It’s also very close to one of the bus stops that connects you to the airport.

Accommodation: Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel

If you feel like a bit of a treat at the end of your road trip, the Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel is a perfect place to wind down.

This eco-conscious accommodation features sustainable products and a quiet location in the city. The hotel’s warm vibe, characterized by wooden tones and a fusion of boho and urban styles, adds to its unique charm.

Plus, guests can enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, and water, as well as access to a small gym!

Is Iceland Expensive?

It’s no surprise that Iceland has a reputation for being a bit heavy on the wallet, mainly because of its remote location meaning that many goods need to be imported.

I won’t lie, Iceland is expensive, but not as expensive as I thought it would be! Maybe that’s because the cost of living in London is extortionate and that softened the blow when I visited! Prices are definitely higher for accommodations, eating out, and even simple groceries compared to many other countries.

To save some cash, consider not dining out for every meal and bring some non-perishable food in your luggage. We packed pasta, oats, snack bars, and a few tinned items. Make sure to check what food items are allowed into the country.

Additionally, a supermarket run upon picking up your vehicle, with stores like Bonus and Kronan being the more budget-friendly options, can help keep costs in check. They also cater well to those looking for vegan food in Iceland .

What’s The Best Way To See Iceland In 5 Days?

I recommend the freedom of a car or campervan rental if you’re happy to drive. This allows you to immerse yourself in Iceland’s breathtaking landscapes at your own pace.

For car rentals, remember to arrange your accommodations along the route, ideally with cooking facilities to save money on meals.

Opting for a campervan? You’ll need to stay at designated campsites, which are usually abundant and operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. Keep in mind, that many campsites close during winter, so plan accordingly for your Icelandic adventure.

Where To Rent Your Camper

We rented our camper from Cozy Campers and I was really happy with what we got for our money. The camper was modern, clean and equipped with everything we needed to make our trip comfortable.

I also found they had the best prices for what they were offering. Each camper comes with a tablet that offers unlimited Wi-Fi, a real game-changer for navigating with Google Maps and tethering your phone.

Cozy Campers is conveniently located just outside of Reykjavik and they even provide airport transfers to their office as part of their rental package.

Where To Rent Your Car

If you’re planning to rent a car in Iceland and are looking for a cost-effective option, SAD Cars is a great company to book with. They specialize in offering second-hand vehicles that are still in good condition. They also come equipped with studded tires which is essential for safe winter travel in Iceland.

SAD Cars is a reliable choice for those who want to explore the country without breaking the bank.

Tips For Driving In Iceland

Driving in Iceland is generally straightforward, especially when following the ring road, as you will be on this trip. Many road signs in Iceland are in English and are clear to follow. However, there are some essential things to keep in mind before picking up your vehicle.

In Iceland, like most European countries, you’ll be driving on the right side of the road.

An interesting quirk of Icelandic road rules is the requirement to keep headlights on at all times while driving, even if it’s the middle of the day! If you’re driving and someone starts flashing you, then you’ve probably forgotten to put your lights on!

Iceland also has a unique type of road known as F-roads. These roads are closed off during the winter months due to harsh conditions but they open up for travel during the summer.

However, you should be aware that not just any vehicle can drive on these roads. F-roads are off-limits for ordinary vehicles.

Helpful websites that you should check daily are road.is , safe.is and vedur.is , these will give you up-to-date information about road and weather conditions on your journey. Weather can change at the drop of a hat in Iceland so I’d keep checking for updates on each leg of your journey.

Final Thoughts: Iceland Itinerary 5 Days: Easy South Coast Road Trip Guide

I think it’s pretty safe to say that you will have plenty to see while exploring the land of fire and ice! Iceland is one of my favourite places in the world, and I think you’ll love it too!

You’ll be sure to see all the diverse landscapes Iceland is home to on this 5-day itinerary. From slumbering volcanoes to piercing blue rivers of ice, the midnight sun and the northern lights, there really is no other place like it.

Charlie is a UK based travel blogger and content creator who has a passion for road trips, photography and vegan food. Over the last decade, she has travelled to over 40 countries and shares her experiences through her travel guides and itineraries.

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• Good to know

Top 5-day Iceland Itinerary Ideas

8 minute read

By Emma Gillies

21 July 2022

Whether you choose a self-drive adventure, a guided private trip, or a multi-day tour from Reykjavík, there are a few different ways you can experience your 5 days in Iceland. Read on for the best itinerary ideas to consider for your getaway.

• Find your ideal 5-day trip with these Iceland vacation packages .

1. South Iceland 5-day road trip

Exploring the south coast of Iceland gives you the chance to see many of the spellbinding sights that make Iceland so iconic. Along the south coast, you could marvel at black sand beaches, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Skógafoss waterfall, and the historic town of Vík.

To discover Iceland in 5 days, take this south coast tour that delivers everything you want to see when time is limited.

• Check out more options for Iceland self-drive tours .

Day 1: Welcome to Iceland

You’ll land in Keflavík, the main airport serving the capital, Reykjavík. The city is approximately a 45-minute drive away, and along the way, you can start to see some of the volcanic landscape that makes up much of Iceland.

If your flight lands during the day, why not start off with a visit to the world-famous Blue Lagoon ? Ideal if you’ve had a long flight, this Icelandic geothermal pool offers pure relaxation in its mineral-rich waters. After you’ve revived in the hot spring, head over to your hotel.

• Related: Sky Lagoon vs Blue Lagoon – Which One Should You Visit?

Day 2: The Golden Circle

No trip to Iceland is complete without a visit to the Golden Circle . Start in Þingvellir National Park (also referred to as Thingvellir National Park), which is 50 km (30 mi) from Reykjavík.

The North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet here, and the Mid-Atlantic rift separates the two. You can literally walk between continents!

Þingvellir National Park is home to Iceland’s only cultural UNESCO site. The Alþingi, the world’s oldest parliament, was established in the 10th century in what is now the national park. Recognized as a site of national cultural heritage, and globally as a symbol of democracy, Þingvellir remains special to Icelanders to this day.

After exploring the volcanic majesty of Þingvellir National Park, your next stop on the Golden Circle tour should be to see the intriguing Geysir area. Here, hot spring water bubbles up and out from the Earth’s crust, creating spectacular displays of steam that shoot out of the ground. The Strokkur geyser is the most reliable and impressive.

From here, drive over to one of Iceland’s best-known waterfalls , Gullfoss. Climb the path to the top of the falls and witness the Hvítá river plunging down the gorge at up to 141 cubic meters (5,000 cubic feet) per second.

Hop back on the Icelandic ring road and then head south, traveling down to Vík and the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area for your overnight stop.

• Travel Guide: Iceland’s nature & landscape .

Day 3: Scenic southeast Iceland

The southeast coast of Iceland is adorned with black sand beaches, secret lagoons, ice caves, the country’s highest mountain, and Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull. The south coast is where the landscape varies between windswept beaches, dramatic cliffs, and imposing glaciers.

To get up close and personal with this corner of Iceland, stop off in the Vatnajökull National Park and visit the Skaftafell nature reserve. It’s where you’ll find the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, a lake filled with icebergs.

These chunks of ice are strewn on Fellsfjara, also known as Diamond Beach , because the glittering icebergs sit on the black sands like huge jewels.

Skaftafell is also a great place to hike. Pick from challenging routes around Iceland’s highest mountain Hvannadalshnúkur, or novice paths that take in the scenery at a gentler pace.

Drive back to Vík for your second night’s stay on the south coast.

• Related: 13 Awesome Things to Do in Iceland.

Day 4: Waterfalls and black sand beaches

Make your way down to Vík’s most awesome black sand beach, Reynisfjara . It features towering basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar rock formations that rise from the ocean. Legend tells that the Reynisdrangar rocks were once three trolls, turned to stone by the sun while they tried to drag a ship to shore.

From here, travel to Dyrhólaey, where the land juts out into the ocean and provides stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and coastline. You can see the curious ‘arch with the hole’, and you may even be able to spot eider ducks. These year-round residents are popular with bird watchers.

Afterwards, continue inland to visit Skógafoss, one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland. It has a spectacular 60 m (197 ft) drop and is known for almost always having at least one rainbow visible in the spray. You can walk right up to the falls, but bring your waterproofs if you want to get close.

Rejoin the Ring Road and travel back to Reykjavík for your final night’s stay in Iceland.

Day 5: Last-minute Reykjavík and departure

If your flight time allows, you might be able to squeeze in some last-minute sightseeing in Reykjavík. The Hallgrímskirkja church is absolutely worth a visit if you have time, or why not take a wander down to the seafront to see the Sun Voyager sculpture?

Should you be keen to experience Iceland in the winter, you could enjoy this 5-day Iceland itinerary in the colder months. You’d get the chance to try cold-weather activities like ice caving and Northern Lights hunting on a winter self-drive tour in Iceland .

• Want to venture beyond South Iceland? Choose from these Iceland Ring Road packages .

2. Reykjavík 5-day city break

If you’d prefer not to drive around Iceland, opt for a stay based in Reykjavík. You can take guided day trips out to see the sights, returning to the comfort of your hotel in the evening.

This multi-day tour from Reykjavík covers the highlights of Iceland, including the Golden Circle and Snæfellsnes peninsula . Best experienced in the winter months, you can spend as many days exploring as you like. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker looking for glacier hiking, or you’re after some relaxing downtime, you can get the best of both.

• Discover the perfect city break for you with these multi-day tours from Reykjavík .

Days 1–2: Arrival in Iceland and Golden Circle tour

Land in Keflavík airport and transfer to your hotel in Reykjavík. If you want to, kick off your vacation with a trip to the Blue Lagoon for the ultimate relaxing welcome to Iceland!

Your first full day in Iceland will see you visit the unmissable Golden Circle. Take in the sights of Þingvellir National Park and the Mid-Atlantic continental rift. Gape at the geothermal geysers, including Strokkur which shoots water up to 30 m (98 ft) in the air!

Head over to Gullfoss to see one of Iceland’s most impressive falls, and then pop into Iceland’s unique geothermal-powered tomato farm, Friðheimar.

This pesticide-free greenhouse uses the power of Iceland’s geothermal activity to grow tomatoes and cucumbers all year round. You can even feast on tomato-themed dishes at the restaurant.

In the evening, you’ll get a chance to go hunting for the Northern Lights . The long and dark winter nights in Iceland make it a great time to search for the Aurora Borealis.

• Related: Ultimate Northern Lights guide for Iceland .

Day 3: South shore adventure

Today you travel down the south coast to Vík. You could see the impressive Skógafoss waterfall up close, and even walk behind Iceland’s stunning ​​Seljalandsfoss waterfall (although be sure to wear your waterproofs!).

The tour takes in all the renowned sights of the south coast, including black sand beaches, basalt cliffs, ancient glaciers, and the wild Atlantic coastline.

Days 4–5: Exploring Reykjavík and departure

Your final days of the itinerary give you two choices. You can opt to have a free day in Reykjavík, but if you’ve got a taste for adventure, go check out Iceland’s second-largest glacier.

In a special vehicle designed for driving on ice, visit man-made ice tunnels inside the Langjökull glacier. Discover the bright blue icy tunnels and see the wonders of the glacier.

Also included on this day trip is a visit to Europe’s most active and powerful geothermal spring, Deildartunguhver. Plus you’ll get to see not one, but two waterfalls: Hraunfossar and Barnafoss.

• To experience more guided excursions on your vacation, pick one of these small group tours of Iceland .

3. ​​Gems of Iceland 5-day private tour

There’s no better way to see the hidden gems of Iceland than with a privately guided tour. Choose from multiple Iceland itineraries to suit your wish list. Your guide will be able to give you insight into the history, culture and nature of Iceland, while you tick off the sights you’re keen to see.

This 5-day Iceland itinerary takes in some of the breathtaking nature that makes the country so famous. The tour includes the Snæfellsnes peninsula, Þingvellir National Park, Lake Laugarvatn, and the unmistakable Kirkjufell mountain. You might even get the chance to see the Northern Lights!

• Discover more private tours of Iceland to find your ideal match.

Day 1: South coast and waterfalls

Your tour kicks off by traveling down to the south coast of Iceland. Along the way, you’ll stop off at jaw-dropping waterfalls including Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, with the opportunity to get up close to both of them. Visit the tiny village of Skógar and the cultural folk museum to learn more about the history and people of Iceland .

Your private guide drives you down the coast, so you can take in the sights of Iceland’s alluring black sand beaches, basalt cliffs, and the rugged south Atlantic shore. You’ll also visit Vík, a charming coastal village characterized by its white churches and fishing history.

Days 2–3: Lagoons and glaciers

Carry on east, soaking up some of the most impressive natural sights of Iceland. Skaftafell nature reserve and the Vatnajökull glacier, Europe’s largest glacier, offer you the opportunity to see Iceland’s dazzling scenery up close.

Skaftafell is also home to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, dotted with floating icebergs broken away from the nearby glacier. These icebergs are later found on the striking Diamond Beach, shining on the black volcanic sands with an otherworldly beauty.

Following the sights of the south coast, you’ll travel back west, heading over to the Golden Circle and its unmissable sights. Visit Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and the geothermal geysers.

You could also stop in at Lake Laugarvatn, the largest body of water in the national park. Here you have the chance to relax in the hot spring waters at Laugarvatn Fontana spa and unwind after being on the road.

• Related: Your guide to glaciers in Iceland .

Days 4–5: Snæfellsnes, Borgarfjörður, and Reykjavík

For the final two days of your visit, take in the majesty of Snæfellsnes and Borgarfjörður. The Snæfellsnes peninsula, in West Iceland, is where you’ll find the iconic Kirkjufell mountain. You’ll also discover black sand beaches, basalt cliffs, historic fishing villages, and lava fields here.

Borgarfjörður boasts the Deildartunguhver hot pools, Iceland’s most powerful geothermal spring. And you’ll get to gaze at Hraunfossar waterfall, which is intertwined with a lava field to form one of the more special sights in the country.

Finally, head back to Reykjavík to wander the city and experience some of the cultural highlights of the capital.

• For more thrilling activities, go for an adventure tour of Iceland .
• Related: How long do you need in Iceland?

Ways to see Iceland in 5 days

Planning a complete Iceland itinerary in 5 days is totally possible! Just consider some key things like:

• How many days exploring you want to do (outside Reykjavík)
• Any must-see or must-do highlights on your wish list
• If there’s a specific time of year when you’d like to travel
• Whether you prefer to just be based in the capital or stay elsewhere too
• If you’d like to drive or be accompanied by an expert guide

Feel like you need more time to explore Iceland? Check out these 7-day and 10-day itinerary ideas .

The most flexible way to travel is to rent a car on an Iceland self-drive tour . If you’re visiting Iceland in the colder months, you can get 4×4 vehicles suitable for winter road conditions. A road trip means you can take things at your own pace, stopping off to observe nature, explore villages, and soak up the landscape of Iceland.

If you don’t hold a license, or you want someone else to do the driving, a city stay where you join day trips is a great option. You’ll get to experience top Icelandic highlights on guided excursions, then spend your leisure time however you want.

A privately guided tour is the best of both — you can tailor your trip exactly as you wish. With your local guide taking the lead and driving, you can really relax and enjoy the sights and scenery along the way. It’s a great option if you’re planning an extra special trip such as a honeymoon or once-in-a-lifetime family getaway.

Check out even more vacation options and start planning your adventure with Iceland Tours. Browse our guided and self-guided packages to find the perfect one for you today. Simply secure your booking with a minimum 5% deposit and we’ll handle the rest!

• Itinerary ideas ,
• Travel advice

About the author

Born in Sweden, raised in the UK, Emma’s love for travel started at a young age. After completing a degree in Modern Languages, she decided to make travel her day job as well as her personal passion. Now, Emma loves nothing better than writing about Iceland and the Nordic countries, and is always on the lookout for hidden gems to explore.

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Epic Iceland Itinerary 5 days (+5 samples)

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Iceland is a country of many wonders. From the massive glaciers and black sand beaches to the powerful waterfalls, there is much to explore in this beautiful country. You can enjoy a variety of activities, such as hiking, sightseeing, and even geothermal baths. So here’s an epic Iceland itinerary 5 days to make the most of your visit.

Whether it’s your first time in the country, your second, or if you are looking for something offbeat, we got you covered with our 5 days in Iceland itinerary guide. 

With its unique landscape and variety of activities, Iceland is a country that should not be missed. So let’s help you plan your dream trip!

Short on time? Read our 3 days in Iceland itinerary

5 days in Iceland: The Ultimate Iceland Itinerary 5 days

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What can you do in Iceland for 5 days?

As a country, Iceland is not very huge. You can drive around the country in about 1.50 days (non-stop drive), but of course, you have to stop, admire and soak in those stunning landscapes.

So depending on your interests you can surely plan a great Iceland 5 day itinerary – with a little bit of everything.

In this post, we will share a popular 5 day Iceland itinerary, which is perfect for all year round (especially off-season and summers), another one that is for winter outdoorsy exploration, plus a regional itinerary (like north and east), and a Ring Road itinerary.

You will also find ways to explore Iceland with or without a car. 

So there is a lot that you can do in 5 days in Iceland, here are our top 5 itinerary samples, 

Iceland Itinerary 5 days for summer (Sample 1)

• Day 1: Arrive and explore Reykjavik (choose Blue or Sky Lagoon stop)
• Day 2 : Golden Circle Route with Secret Lagoon
• Day 3 : South Coast 
• Day 4: West Coast – Snæfellsnes Peninsula 
• Day 5 : West Coast – Silver Circle Route

Iceland Itinerary 5 days (Sample 2): Perfect for all year round, with unique activities 

• Day 4: Day of activities (horse riding, volcano hike. Seasonal activity options like whale watching/puffins, snowmobiling, ATV, and midnight summer)

5 day Iceland winter itinerary (Sample 3): Northern lights, and winter activities

• Day 1: Arrive, stop at the Blue Lagoon, and explore Reykjavik museums (indoor activity suggestions)
• Day 2 : Golden Circle Route with Secret Lagoon + northern lights tour
• Day 3 : Full day South Coast tour
• Day 4:   Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach
• Day 5 : Ice Cave Tour Vatnajökull National Park in Southern Iceland (+ Sky Lagoon)

5 days in Iceland Road trip guide: Perfect for road trippers on the Ring Road (Sample 4)

• Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavik, and explore 
• Day 2 : Golden Circle + South Coast waterfalls
• Day 3 : More of the south coast (with glacier walks/hikes add on)
• Day 4 : East Fjords 
• Day 5 : Myvatn Lake area, and whale watching 

Iceland itinerary 5 days: North and east coast (Sample 5)

• Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavik, and fly to Akureyri. Explore 
• Day 2 : Visit Godafoss, and the Myvatn Lake area (Diamond Circle)
• Day 3 : Dettifoss, Husavik for whale watching 
• Day 4 : Hiking trails in and around Akureyri/ Grímsey
• Day 5 : Return to Reykjavik. Visit Sky or Blue Lagoon 

Are 5 days enough in Iceland? 

If you’re wondering whether five days in Iceland is enough time to see everything this amazing country has to offer, the answer is: probably not. There’s just too much to explore! 

But that doesn’t mean five days isn’t enough time to have an incredible Icelandic adventure. In fact, with a little planning, you can make the most of your five days and experience all that Iceland has to offer.

Here are a few ideas on how to make the most of your five days in Iceland:

1. Spend one day exploring Reykjavik. Take a walking tour of the city, visit some of the museums, and enjoy the unique Icelandic nightlife. (city and museum enthusiasts) 

2. Spend two days driving the Ring Road. This iconic route takes you around Iceland’s entire perimeter, and along the way, you’ll see some of the country’s most stunning scenery, including glaciers, waterfalls, lava fields, and more. (road trippers)

3. Spend a day hiking in one of Iceland’s many national parks. With so much beautiful nature to explore, you’ll want to spend at least one day hiking in Iceland. (outdoor/hiking lovers)

4. Spend a day doing unique activities such as Icelandic horseback riding. This is a unique opportunity to experience. Icelandic culture and nature at the same time. Or whale watching , snorkeling. (adventure)

5. Spend a day on an Icelandic glacier. There are several glaciers you can visit in Iceland, and spending a day exploring one is an unforgettable experience. Or ice cave, lava tours. (once in a lifetime activity)

Plus you can always add a stop at one of the geothermal pools!

With a little planning, you can make the most of your five days in Iceland and have an incredible adventure.

Is Driving Necessary In Iceland?

No, it is not necessary to rent a car and drive in Iceland. I did a solo trip to Iceland for 10+ days using tours, and domestic flights to explore the south, west, and northeastern parts of Iceland.

These were small group tours that allowed me to experience the natural landmarks intimately without being rushed, plus I was able to take a lot of photos and enjoy it too. 

Having said that, driving in Iceland is not difficult. You can book a rental car prior to arriving in the country, download all the maps needed, and follow signs to check out various attractions, trails, etc. Roads are well marked. The parking areas where our minivans (from tours) stopped are the same for all vehicles. 

Without Iceland guided tours , you can use taxis or private transfers (which could be very expensive). 

Or hop on a bus. Although you won’t be able to cross the length and breadth of the country using buses, with careful planning you can explore areas in and around Reykjavik, and the north/east near Akureyri and Myvatn areas using public transportation/bus. There are no passenger trains to travel within Iceland. 

Reykjavik Domestic Airport does have flights to the north like Akureyri and I did use them on my solo trip. They are reliable, and in the fifth itinerary sample, we will go over it in detail below. 

Preparing for Iceland 5 day itinerary: Iceland Travel Tips

If you are a first-time visitor, here are essential tips for preparing for your trip to Iceland for 5 days (or more).

Iceland belongs to Europe. It is a European state, located midway between North America and mainland North America. Its capital city is Reykjavík and is also the largest city . 

If you are traveling from overseas, especially from Asia, the United States, or Canada, you will arrive at the Keflavik International Airport, located 45 minutes from Reykjavik. In order to get to Reykjavik, you can pick up a car rental or book a transfer.

Keflavik to Reykjavik transfer: Book here

After Reykjavik, Akureyri is the next biggest city. Akureyri is located a 5+ hour drive from Reykjavik. There is also an airport and you can book a flight from the UK and certain European destinations (like Copenhagen). 

Note that Iceland is not a part of the European Union, but it uses the Schengen Agreement for tourist visa purposes. If you require a tourist visa to Europe or the Schengen zone , you can use the same visa to enter Iceland. 

Visitors with US and Canadian passports do not require a visa to enter the country and stay for 90 days; however, from 2025, an online authorization – ETIAS – is required prior to travel. 

Iceland, being a premier destination, is expensive to visit; but it is still possible to keep sightseeing within budget. Iceland’s official currency is the Icelandic Krona (ISK). 

Euros are accepted in most places. But prices are listed in ISK. We used a credit card throughout our trips to Iceland. Any experience or tickets that could be paid for online – we paid for them before our trip (in CAD, just to manage the budget).

For getting around in Iceland, a car is the best option. But be sure to rent a car that’s equipped for driving on Iceland’s rough roads. You can also get around by taking guided tours or flying between Iceland’s main cities (which is what we did).

Iceland can be a cold and wet place, so be sure to pack plenty of warm, waterproof clothing. Good walking shoes are also a must. And if you’re planning on doing any hiking or camping, don’t forget to pack a tent and sleeping bag.

Here are the top 5 packing items for Iceland: 

• Carry a waterproof warm/light jacket (all season), or winter parka for winters
• Wear comfortable walking or hiking shoes
• Don’t forget your camera and universal adaptor for charging your electronics  

Best 5 day Iceland Itinerary: The best of everything for summer (Sample 1)

Kickstart your 5 day Iceland itinerary by landing at the Keflavik International Airport. Plan to stop by the famous Blue Lagoon Spa upon arrival. 

For this itinerary sample, consider keeping Reykjavik as a base , and then take day trips (with or without a car). Learn how to spend one day in Reykjavik itinerary

Where to stay in Reykjavik Iceland?

• Center Hotels Plaza: This is one of the best properties to stay in the heart of Reykjavik City. When taking tours, you will be a 3-minute walk to the meeting point (Bus no 1), and within walking distance to many attractions including the Pond Tjörnin and lots of restaurants, souvenirs, and grocery stores nearby. Their rooms are great. Plus they also offer free breakfast. I stayed at their deluxe/premier suite and loved the views. Book your stay here
• Guesthouse Sunna: Located just by the tallest church in Iceland, Guesthouse Sunna offers rooms and apartment stays for solo travelers, couples, and families. Parking is available on-site, and paid breakfast. My stay here was comfortable and loved the views of the Hallgrimskirkja. Check out more reviews 
• Room with a View Apartments: Located on the main street of Reykjavik Laugavegur, we stayed here on our very first trip to Iceland. The rooms are spacious and walkable to various city attractions and restaurants. Book your stay here

Read: Best apartment hotels in Reykjavik

Day 1 of 5 day Iceland itinerary: Arrive and explore Reykjavik (choose Blue or Sky Lagoon stop)

Blue Lagoon Spa is located about 15 minutes from Keflavik Airport. If you are renting a car, pick up your rental and drive there. 

Or book this transfer from Blue Lagoon to Reykjavik

Tickets + Transfer: Book Here

The Blue Lagoon is considered to be one of the 25 Wonders of the World. It is a man-made thermal spa and is known for its healing waters.

Consider the following things when visiting the lagoon,

• Make a reservation prior to your visit to the Blue Lagoon. Tickets get sold out fast (and sometimes weeks in advance), so plan ahead of time and make your bookings online.
• We recommend paying for a transfer (airport transport) at the same time. 
• There are 3 packages or ticket levels at the Blue Lagoon. The basic or the Comfort Package is all you need. In this, you get access to the waters, public changing facilities, a silica mask, a drink, and a towel. 
• There is a luggage storage room at the Lagoon entrance area. Fees start at 800 ISK.
• Remember to pack your swimsuit (which can be rented as well), and leave your jewelry in the locker before getting into the pool
• Plan to spend about 2 hours at the Blue Lagoon (before leaving for Reykjavik)

Things to do in Reykjavik : 

Depending on your interests, you can do a lot (or nothing) in Reykjavik. We personally loved the energy of this capital city and it truly has a lot to offer, from great restaurants and bars to museums and art galleries. 

Spend the (rest of the) day exploring all of Reykjavik’s prime and popular attractions, like the Harpa concert hall and the Hallgrimskirkja church .

Hallgrimskirkja church is the tallest church in Iceland, and it should not be missed. This is a Lutheran church, and it is visible from almost any corner of Reykjavik. You can eat or stay in a hotel with church views!

The city is very compact and walkable, especially in the downtown area. Here are some of the things to do in Reykjavik,

• Hallgrímskirkja : Visit the tallest church in Iceland. It is free to visit inside and out. We recommend taking the church lift to the top, for amazing city views
•   The Einar Jónsson Museum : Located just a 2-minute walk from the church is the museum and garden full of Einar Jonsson’s creations. The sculpture gardens are free to explore
• Tjörnin : This is the pond, located by the city hall, and is perfect for a stroll any time of the day. You can also visit the City Hall
• Sun Voyager : Sun Voyager sculpture is a historical art landmark and is one of the popular Reykjavik symbols
• Laugavegur : This is the Main Street of Reykjavik, and it is perfect for a walk, to check out colorful houses, street art, and restaurants 
• Reykjavík Harbour : Amazing views of the bay and surrounding mountains 
• Austurvöllur and the Parliament : Enjoy a picnic at the parliament grounds/square

If you love food tours, you can join one in Reykjavik too. I did a 3+ hour food tour in the evening that included 5 restaurants, and lots of Icelandic food samplings. Here is the food to book. 

Pro tip: If you didn’t find a suitable ticket for Blue Lagoon, consider visiting the Sky Lagoon from Reykjavik (it is located 15 minute drive away. You can catch a taxi or book a transfer from your centrally located hotel). 

Tickets for Sky Lagoon: Pure Pass (mid-level) | Sky Pass (luxury level)

Day 2 of 5 day Iceland itinerary: Golden Circle Route with Secret Lagoon

Just outside of Reykjavik is Iceland’s most popular tourist route, the Golden Circle. This route takes you to some of Iceland’s most iconic natural attractions, like Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and the Gullfoss waterfall.

Spend the day exploring these amazing places, and be sure to take plenty of photos. In the evening, head back to Reykjavik for a night out on the town.

Transportation and tour:

You can book a full-day tour of the Golden Circle Route, along with Secret Lagoon

Another option is the Golden Circle Kerid Crater + Blue Lagoon tour OR

Golden Circle with snorkeling in Silfra (equipment provided)

If you are driving, plan to stop at the Thingvellir National Park (45-minute drive), and then the Geysir area, followed by time at Gullfoss (1.50 hours). You will easily find directions (Google map below) and parking is also available. 

Things to do on this route: 

Thingvellir or Þingvellir National Park should be at the top of your Iceland bucket list . This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most popular tourist destinations for a good reason. 

Located in a rift valley between two continental plates, Þingvellir is truly a unique place to visit. And, it’s also home to some of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions, including the Silfra fissure, where you can snorkel or dive between two tectonic plates – Eurasian and North American.

If you’re looking for more adventure, you can also hike or bike through the park. There are several trails to choose from, so you can find one that’s perfect for your fitness level. 

This is also a historical site, and home to the Alþing (Althing), the site of Iceland’s parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. 

If you are a Game of Thrones fan, you can also book a tour that takes on a unique GoT adventure! 

Geysir Hot Spring Area is the second stop on this popular Golden Circle Route.  The area is home to a number of hot springs and geysers, the most famous being Strokkur (“The Churn”), which erupts every few minutes. 

The hot spring area used to be much more active, with numerous eruptions every day, but in recent years activity has decreased. However, the area is still worth a visit for its landscape. 

Gullfoss is one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland.  It is located in the Hvítá river canyon. The waterfall is 32 meters high and it has a great view.

It is an easy stop along the Golden Circle route. You don’t need to hike to get a close view of the falls. There are two viewing platforms that you can use to soak in the Golden Falls aka Gullfoss.

Here you will also find a sculpture and informative plaque about Sigridur Tomasdottir. She was an Icelandic environmentalist and is known for her efforts in preserving the Gullfoss waterfalls, from industrialization. 

She had participated in and led protests, including walking barefoot from the falls to Reykjavík to show her commitment to the cause. 

She even threatened to throw herself into the waterfall to prevent it from being harvested for energy. Do take a peek at the sculpture while you are there.

Plus there is a restaurant on-site if you need a break!

Other than these 3 Classic Golden Circle spots , you can also visit the Faxi Waterfall, located 12 km (7.45 miles) from Gullfoss. Our tour made a quick stop there. 

It is small but a stunning waterfall, known for salmon fishing. If you are traveling here independently, you can also enjoy a walk/hike with a view.

Kerið crater is another stop and a popular tourist attraction in Iceland. The crater is easy to access along the Golden Circle route and the view from the edge is breathtaking. 

This is a volcanic crater and is believed to have formed about 3,000 years ago as a result of an explosion that occurred when a magma chamber beneath the earth’s surface ruptured. 

You can also go hiking here, on easy to moderate trails (note that there are no washrooms at this attraction). 

The Secret Lagoon or Gamla Laugin is a natural thermal pool, dating back to 1891. It is one of the most affordable geothermal baths in Iceland and can be easily explored on the Golden Circle route. 

Typically, you will need 1 to 2 hours here. There are restrooms, changing facilities as well as a restaurant and bar on-site. 

Day 3 of 5 days in Iceland itinerary: South Coast and waterfalls

On day three of your 5 day Iceland trip, you must head to the southern coast of Iceland to admire beautiful waterfalls and the remote village of Vík. 

You can book a full-day tour of the South Coast here . There are many attractions along this route, and tours also offer guided activities like glacier walking, horse riding, and hiking excursions. We have listed them below,

• South Coast Day Trip with Glacier Hike
• South Coast Classic with Sólheimajökull glacier

If you are driving, plan to stop at the Seljalandsfoss first (1-hour 45-minute drive), and then the Skogafoss, followed by time at the Reynisfjara black sand beach, and Vik (1.50 hours). In Reynisfjara, you can opt for a horse riding tour, if interested. 

Read : Iceland winter tours

Things to do on the South Coast: 

Start your day with a visit to the Seljalandsfoss waterfall , where you can walk behind the cascading water. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland. 

The waterfall is located about 130 kilometers (about 80 miles) south of Reykjavik, on the road to Vik. It is completely free to access the site of the waterfall and view it. Parking costs 800 ISK.

Seljalandsfoss is one of the most accessible Iceland waterfalls near Reyjkavik . You can walk behind it, go on a hike, or just photograph the stunning falls and the Seljaland farm nearby. You can also sometimes see a rainbow in the mist that the waterfall creates.

Seljalandsfoss is also associated with some historical events. The waterfall was mentioned in the Saga of Burnt Njal, a medieval Icelandic saga. The first written reference to the waterfall dates back to 1385.

Skogafoss is the next beautiful waterfall on this itinerary. It is located about a two-hour drive from Reykjavik (155 kilometers or 96 miles) and 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) from Seljalandsfoss. 

Both waterfalls are open year-round, but it’s best to visit in the summertime when the weather is nice. 

Skogafoss is fed by the glacial river Skoga and has a height of 60 meters. There is a parking lot in the area, and within a short walk, you will be near the falls. 

Then, head to the black sand beach at Reynisfjara , where you can see the iconic basalt column formations. 

Enjoy a nice walk, and take photos, but be super careful of the waves as they are very strong, and unpredictable. 

Continue to the charming fishing village of Vík í Mýrdal to visit the beautiful white and red church – Vikurkirkja.  Because of its location along Ring Road, Vik is a convenient stop for food, views, and souvenir shopping as well. 

All of the above were the classic South Coast stops. And along the way, as you drive (or get on a tour bus from Reykjavik) you will soak in glimpses of the active Hengill volcano, lava fields, and rich coastal farmlands. 

On warm summer days, you can also see the Hekla volcano and the glacier-capped Eyjafjallajökull volcano at a distance. 

You can add other activities on the South coast such as a hike to the top of Solheimajokull glacier , or Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

Day 4 of 5 day Iceland itinerary: West Coast – Snæfellsnes Peninsula 

Day 4 of the Iceland travel itinerary is all about exploring the stunning Snaefellsnes Peninsula, also known as Mini Iceland! 

Snaefellsnes Peninsula is a peninsula in western Iceland. It is known for its dramatic landscape, including the Snaefellsjökull glacier and national park. The small town of Stykkishólmur is located on the peninsula.

The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is a popular tourist destination, due to its easy accessibility from Reykjavik and its variety of attractions. It can be explored on a day tour or a road trip. This area is best explored in the warmer months when the roads are in good condition and visibility is good.

If you are looking for a place to stay on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, there are a number of hotels and guesthouses to choose from as well. 

I booked a full-day tour of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in the spring months, and it was so worth it. It was a small group tour, and we were blessed with the best weather. 

Here is the full-day tour of Snaefellsnes Peninsula to book. It does make for a long day, but the attractions that it covers, it is amazing. Do pack some snacks, and drink/s, and wear hiking shoes for a full day of sightseeing!

If you are on a road trip from Reykjavik, you can follow similar stops. It takes about 1.50 to 2 hours to get to Snaefellsnes.  

Your first stop can be at Borgarnes , a small town where you can pick up food, fuel up, or use a washroom break. All tour operators stop in this town as well. 

Things to do on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula: 

As you start from Borgarnes towards the national park, you will catch a glimpse of the ice-capped Snaefellsjokull stratovolcano. 

Located here is the Berserkjahraun lava field and which is over 4000 years old . This is your first stop. 

From here, you can capture views of the iconic Kirkjufell. Kirkjufell means ‘church mountain’, and it is widely popular due to its feature on the “Game of Thrones” television show. 

This mountain and the nearby waterfalls together are also the poster boy for all things Icelandic and are truly the most-photographed mountain in the entire country. 

When you drive closer to Kirkjufell, you will find a parking lot. From there, it is a quick walk to the mountain and the waterfalls. There are hiking trails near the mountain but are accessible without a strenuous hike as well. 

Up next is the Saxhóll Crater. It is a 100-meter-high volcanic crater, and to get to the top you will be taking the ‘Stairway to Heaven’. 

So, I normally don’t hike much but reaching the top of this 3000-year-old crater was not bad.

Once you reach the top, you will be rewarded by the stunning views of the creator and the nearby mountains (note it doesn’t have any water/pool inside so it doesn’t look like the Kerid Crater that we mentioned on day 2 of this Iceland itinerary).

Want more views and some black sand beach with Icelandic history? Then the next stop at the uninhabited settlement of Djupalonssandur is worth it. 

Djupalonssandur is a sandy beach and bay on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland, just above Snæfellsjökull. It was formerly home to 60 fishing boats and one of the peninsula’s most active fishing towns, but it is now unpopulated. 

Once you park your car (or disembark from the tour bus), you can head to the viewing platform first for views and then hike down to the beach. 

You can enjoy a walk/climb/hike and then come back to the parking and washroom area. Set aside at least 45 minutes to an hour for this stop (Note the washrooms are closed in the winter, early spring, and late fall months). 

The west coast is home to Icelandic sagas and history, and the next two stops are all about that. Visit the fishing village of Arnarstapi , and admire the huge sculpture of Bárður Snaefellsas.

Bárður is believed to be the Protector of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. The giant monument actually looks beautiful from the harbor views. From here, you can walk to check the beautifully eroded cliffs and listen to seagulls at play!

Now make your way to the Budakirkja or the “Black Church.”  This little church looks hauntingly beautiful with a gorgeous mountain backdrop. You can have a look inside the church and view historical artifacts from the 19th century. 

The last stop for the day on the west coast is the golden-colored beach of Ytri-Tunga. This is a seal beach, and on a nice warm day, you will find seals relaxing on the rocks and soaking in the sun. 

During my visit, the seals were mating, and they were playfully flapping and were coming too close to the shore. 

We need to be careful when we are at the Ytri-Tunga so that we don’t disturb them.

After a long day of sightseeing, you can drive back to Reykjavik (and driving time will be around 2 hours from here). 

Day 5 of 5 days in Iceland itinerary: West Coast – Silver Circle Route

Another west coast day trip from Reykjavik, with waterfalls, Icelandic sagas, hot springs, geothermal pools, and more! 

This area is completely different from what you saw on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and is popularly known as the Silver Circle . 

The Silver Circle is a nice driving loop, and worth a quick road trip of adventure, views, warm soak, and of Viking history. 

For sightseeing, you can also book a full-day tour. This day tour is not super jamp packed like the day before – it is slightly relaxed with food and restroom stops.

If you are driving, you can make it at a stop at Borgarnes first (reachable in an hour), and then follow along with the attractions as mentioned below.  

Things to do on the Silver Circle route: 

This route is one of the untapped areas, and it takes you away from the busy Ring Road into rich farmland, and across glacial rivers with the Langjokull, the second biggest glacier in Iceland. 

After picking up some snacks from Borgarnes, head to the Glanni waterfall . This is where you will find signs of vegetation and greenery. I found this area to be very different from the lava-ridden sites we saw before. 

This small but charming waterfall is located in Bifrost on the Nordura River. The waterfall has multiple tiers that fall down on old lava fields known as the Grabrokarhraun. 

There is a parking lot for your vehicles, and it is a nice walk to the viewing platform of the Glanni. 

The next stop is at Deildartunguhver, which is considered the most powerful hot spring in Europe. There is a lot of steam and heat coming out from the area, and it is so strong that if you are wearing glasses or on your phone, it will be all wet and steamy.

This hot spring provided warm water and power for the area and beyond. Spend some time walking along with the viewing areas, and then stop by the greenhouse nearby. 

If you have time on your hands, you can also stop at the Krauma geothermal baths and spa , located near the hot springs. 

Next, spend an hour or so at the historic site of Reykholt. There is a beautiful red and orange church here, which dates back to the 19th century. You can enter the church interiors for free and even take photos. 

Located here is Snorralaug (Snorri’s Pool). This was the home and pool of Icelandic poet and chieftain, Snorri Sturluson, who wrote many sagas. Today, Snorralaug is a protected archaeological site.

You can admire the pool and also enter the house to see. The house is like a turf house, and inside it was some wooden planks. It is very small too. 

After the historical sites, it is time for some waterfalls – not one, but two. The first is Hraunfossar, also known as the “Lava Waterfalls.”  Hraunfossar is unlike other waterfalls seen in this Iceland itinerary.

There are a series of waterfalls, actually flowing over a lava field, Hallmundarhraun, which was created a thousand years ago by a volcano eruption (under the  Langjokull glacier located nearby).

There are many walking and hiking trails located at the Hraunfossar. You will find many bridges and viewing platforms from where you can even see the meltwater from the Langjokull glacier over the lava fields, pouring into the Hvita River.

Most of these platforms are accessible and don’t require any additional elevation or strenuous hike. Hiking up will give you a bird’s eye view of the falls and the entire area. 

As you are walking/hiking in the area, you will see signs for the Barnafoss, also known as “the waterfall of the children”. This waterfall is smaller as compared to Hraunfossar and is named as such due to the tragic tale (myth) of two local children, who lost their lives here.

On the Silver Circle, you can also add an exciting lava cave tour. There is an entry fee to the cave and can be added to the day tour when you book here. The excursion takes place at the Vidgelmir Lava Cave. 

The cave is filled with stunning stalactites and stalagmites, with lava formations and multi-colored rocks. 

The guided tour lasts for 90 minutes and is a very ‘out of the world’ like experience. The area in and around the lava cave is considered to be the Icelandic highlands!

If the lava cave expedition is not something you wish to do, then you can opt to visit the Husafell Canyon Baths.  

Husafell is one of the prettiest with mountains, small turf houses, and artworks by local artists. Be sure to stop by the famous “Lifting Stone of Husafell” and admire unique creations by the modern-day sculptor Pall Gudmundsson.

Husafell Canyon Baths (Giljaböð hot springs) will be a delight on this trip. The baths use the concept of a traditional Icelandic hot spring experience at a sustainable, remote location found deep in the magnificent Hringsgil Canyon. 

To access the baths, you will have to get on a 4X4 provided by the property owners. This excursion is only available with a guide, and the area is secured for you and your party when you visit (providing a very intimate and private experience).

When I visited, there were 2 geothermally-heated stone pools (both almost of the same temperatures). There is a fully functional washroom and changing rooms for him and her. 

The guide provided us with slippers and towel/s. 

It was a fantastic experience unwinding in the highlands surrounded by mountain (and snow) views. 

Note that to access the bathing pools, you have to climb down 64 steps (and enjoy the views as you go down).

Our guide also showed us a waterfall nearby – Langifoss. It has a nice viewing platform but requires you to hike to some steeper areas to get there. We recommend wearing your hiking shoes or boots to Iceland! 

5 days in Iceland Itinerary: All year attractions with unique activities (Sample 2)

This Iceland travel itinerary is perfect for those who wish to experience unique activities along with some sightseeing. 

We recommend setting aside 1-2 days for adventure excursions. We will share a few options that can be done all year round and some seasonal ones.

We, however, highly recommend keeping days 1-3 as is, if this is your first time in Iceland. 

The Golden Circle , South Coast, as well as the Blue (or Sky) Lagoon visit, is a must, along with exploring the capital city of Reykjavik. So here you go, 

• Day 1: Arrive and explore Reykjavik (choose Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon stop)
• Day 4-5: Day of activities (horse riding, volcano hike. Seasonal activity options like whale watching/puffins, snowmobiling, ATV, and midnight summer)
• (You can embark on the Silver Circle Route all year round, however during winters or snowfall, access to the Husafell Canyon Baths will be closed). 

For all year activities, consider the following attractions

Volcano Hike: This hike can be done all year – for the most part. As it is a natural landmark, snow, and strong winds might prevent it from accessing it.

I did this 8 hour tour which included 2 hours of hike, and visits to the Bridge Between Continents, Reykjanesviti Lighthouse, Lake Kleifarvatn, and Gunnuhver Hot Springs on tour from Reykjavík.

You don’t have to book a tour , as you can drive to the Geldingadalur Valley to see the Fagradalsfjall volcano. There is a parking lot (fees apply) near the site, and you can walk to see the molten lava. 

The hike is steep but can be done on your own (just remember to wear hiking shoes and carry poles if needed) for views from above. 

You can also do a Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike and Blue Lagoon stop as a tour (same tour provider as above, who I booked).

Red Lava Horse Riding Tour: Fancy a ride on a pretty Icelandic horse? This is the tour to book near Reykjavik.  

This experience is for 2.50 hours, and round-trip transportation from Reykjavik can be arranged. 

When visiting from late April to September , you can go whale or puffin watching near Reykjavik. Here is a half day combo tour of whale watching + puffins from Reykjavik .

It lasts for 4 hours and is done on a boat. If no whales/puffins are sighted, you can re-do the tour on a different date. 

You might also like this Midnight Sun whales and dolphins cruise (4 hour tour) , perfect for summer trips to Iceland. 

Not into whale watching? Well, climb the Hafrafjall and Ulfarsfell Mountains via an ATV. Join this guided 3 hour tour for some stunning midnight summer fun, and views over Reykjavik. 

Midnight sun activities are best for trips in the summer months of June and July. This is a natural phenomenon wherein the sun doesn’t set until midnight. It occurs in places north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle.

We will cover the perfect Iceland 5 day itinerary for winters below 🙂

Iceland Itinerary 5 days for winter (Sample 3): Northern lights, and winter activities

When visiting Iceland in the winter, consider this 5-day itinerary sample below. Opt to follow days 1 through 3 as these are some of the must-do activities for the first-time visitor. 

We have a few winter and indoor suggestions to slightly modify the itinerary to suit the colder months.

• Day 4: Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and Diamond Beach

Arrive at the Keflavik International Airport on day 1, and stop at the Blue Lagoon before making your way to Reykjavik. 

Plan to visit some museums such as the Icelandic Phallological Museum, art museum, and Perlan. Do join the food tour. 

On day 2 choose the Golden Circle tour , and add in a northern lights experience. You can also add the northern lights guided tour with South Coast attractions.

Northern lights are best seen from late September to mid-April in Iceland . As it is a natural phenomenon, northern lights or aurora borealis sighting chances increase around midnight, and in places that are away from lights (so time and place also matter).

When you book a northern lights tour and aren’t able to view any, you can rejoin the tour for free on your next availability. 

For this reason, we recommend booking a northern lights tour in the early days of your Iceland trip and re-join (if needed). 

We were lucky to sight the aurora borealis on our first trip to Iceland in October.

Here are northern lights tour options

• Golden Circle + 4×4 Combo : Golden Circle & Northern Lights 4×4 Tour
• Golden Circle + bus Combo : Golden Circle and Northern Lights
• South Coast : South Coast, Glacier Hike, and Northern Lights Winter Tour
• Northern Lights Bus Tour Only: Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik with access to the Aurora Museum for free
• Northern Lights and Yacht: Northern Lights Luxury Yacht Tour

If you are road tripping, consider staying in a hotel/resort a little outside of Reykjavik like Hotel Ranga.

You can surely join any of the standalone tours (the last 2 listed above) and learn about the stars, get photo help, and more! 

As always you will be invited to join another Northern Lights tour free of charge if the lights don’t appear on the day of booking. 

On day 4 and 5 head to the Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and Diamond Beach . This can be done as a day trip as well. Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. 

The lagoon is located in the southeastern part of the country, just off the Ring Road. 

As you drive towards the lagoon, you can see the mighty Hvannadalshnjúkur mountain and the black sand desert between Skaftafell National Park and the lagoon itself. 

The lagoon first started forming in the early 1930s and has since grown to become one of the largest glacial lakes in Iceland. It is fed by melting water from the Vatnajökull glacier and offers visitors a unique opportunity to see icebergs up close.

Once you arrive there, enjoy a stroll along the shores of the lake. If interested, you can also take a boat tour of the lagoon to get an even closer look at the icebergs. These tours take place from April to October.

If you’re looking for a truly unique experience, you can even go ice climbing on the glaciers that feed into the lagoon. This is a popular activity for both locals and tourists alike and is a great way to get up close and personal with Iceland’s amazing natural scenery. 

Glacier climbs and hikes are 2-3 hour guided excursions that are open all year round.

Jokulsarlon sits south of Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier. The icebergs in Jokulsarlon are composed of ice that is over 1,000 years old.  

In the winter, particularly from November to March, opt for an ice cave tour from Jokulsarlon and explore a natural blue ice cave within the Vatnajokull glacier.

These activities can be booked as an add-on to a day tour, or if you are driving you can get to the meeting point yourselves and then participate in the guided excursion. 

Tour options:

• Full day tour (boat tour) : Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and Diamond Beach
• 3-hour glacier hike : Skaftafell National Park: Glacier Hike
• 4-hour ice cave + glacier hike : Skaftafell – Ice Cav e Tour and Glacier Hike
• 3-hour ice cave tour : Vatnajökull Glacier – Ice Cave Tour

If you are not into ice climbing or glacier hiking, you will still love the stunning Diamond Beach located by the lagoon. They make for great photo spots as well, against the black sand with the shining pieces of ice.

We recommend setting aside 2 days for exploring this part of Iceland with the hikes, and ice caving tours, when road tripping.

If you are only doing a day tour, use the second day (day 5) to unwind and soak in the warm waters of Sky Lagoon (located 15 minutes away from Reykjavik). 

5 days in Iceland Itinerary road trip guide: Iceland Ring Road Itinerary (Sample 4)

This 5 day Iceland road trip itinerary takes you through the Ring Road. 

Known as Route 1 or Highway 1, the entire Ring Road is all of 1332 kilometers (827.66 miles), and covers the coastal circumference of the island, leaving out the peninsula of Snæfellsnes and the Westfjords. 

If you were to drive non-stop, you can cover this route in about 24 hours (give or take). But in the summers when the roads and views are incredible you can turn this into a 5 day trip with stops along the way.

In the day by day road trip sightseeing list, we did add one day for transportation (car pick up, getting essentials, and then driving out on day 2), but you can expand or reduce the activities on each day to fit everything into 5 days. 

This sample takes you from South Iceland to the East Fjords and then to the North. 

On day 1 , arrive in Iceland. Get your car rental and start for Reykjavik. During the summer months, you can get a regular vehicle, but in the winters a 4X4 is recommended. 

Do make reservations prior to your visit so that you get the right car (based on your needs, budget, and occupants).

You can stay overnight in lodges, and hotels located along the Ring Road (we will share them as we go over the itinerary). In the summer months, you can also camp outside. 

Set aside days 2-3 to explore the south coast along with the popular Golden Circle route. 

Follow the Ring Road north directions to get to the Thingvellir National Park. Complete the Golden Circle stops with Geysir geothermal area, followed by the Gullfoss waterfalls. 

From here, continue traveling to the south coast to Reynisfjara Beach and Vik. Make stops at the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss before arriving in Vik, and staying there overnight. 

Accommodation: Hótel Vík is a 3-star property offering breakfast, free parking, and more. Check availability here

The next day, start for Skaftafell National Reserve. This is where you can go hiking, and also check out the stunning Svartifoss, the black waterfall, with its massive black basalt columns. 

On this day, you can also add a trip to the stunning Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon with a glacier or ice cave tour. These are guided excursions and are only available with a guide. 

There you can also check out Diamond Beach. At the Jökulsárlón and nearby, there are hiking, kayaking, and boat tours available.

Plan to stay overnight at Höfn (1 hr drive from Jökulsárlón). Hotel Höfn Inn Guesthouse

From Hofn, make your way to the East Fjords on day 4. The distance from Höfn to Egilsstaðir (first stop) is 187 km (116 miles) and it is home to the largest forests in Iceland. 

Next, visit Lake Lagarfljót, and go on hikes in this area. 

Plan to stay overnight in Seyðisfjörður (this is 3+ hours from Hofn). This town has accommodation and other services to continue your forward journey. Stay at the Hotel Aldan – The Post Office

Plus it is colorful, quirky, and artistic – a great way to enjoy some peace and tranquility with stunning greenery with views!

Finish your itinerary with sightseeing in and around Akureyri in the north. Make stops at the Dettifoss waterfall, and then get to the Myvatn Lake area. 

Stop at the Myvatn Nature Baths for 1-2 hours, before continuing your drive to the Dimmuborgir lava formations.

Pro tip: If you are interested in whale watching, skip the nature baths and plan to arrive in Akureyri by 4:00 pm. Most classic whale watching tours leave at 5:00 pm so you can surely add this to your itinerary. 

Close to Akureyri is the Goðafoss waterfall, or the ‘waterfall of the Gods’. Spend time here soaking in the views of the falls from the viewing platforms before reaching Akureyri in the evening (a detailed north Iceland itinerary is below).

As you near Akureyri, you will be enjoying scenic views of Eyjafjörður, Iceland’s longest fjord. You can stay overnight in Akureyri , and then fly out the next day from there. Stay at the IcelandAir Akureyri

Or drive back to Reykjavik and fly out from Keflavik International Airport (a 5+ hour drive from Akureyri to Reykjavik).

This epic 5-day Iceland itinerary takes you from Reykjavik to the second largest city – Akureyri showcasing waterfalls, lakes, and natural landmarks on the north and the eastern coast of the country.

On day 1 of this itinerary land at the Keflavik International airport. A visit to the Blue Lagoon is always an option if you wish to do that (just remember to book tickets ahead of time).

If you are driving, pick up a car rental from the airport. Keflavik to Reykjavik is a 45 to 50 minutes drive. 

Drive to Akureyri from Reykjavik is 5+ hours (one way). We have not added much activity on this day so that you can utilize it for transportation. 

Without driving, take the transfer to Reykjavik (45 minutes to 1.50 hours).

You can get to Akureyri by flying from Reykjavik Domestic Airport. Flights are of 45 minutes and are operated by the national carrier – Icelandair. 

Akureyri Airport may have connections from London, and Copenhagen, so it is worth checking it and booking on the IcelandAir site. 

The flight gives you a really nice glimpse of both cities, allowing you to check out the cultural delights (museums, restaurants, and churches in both cities). Read how to get from Reykjavik to Akureyri

Where to stay in Akureyri? 

• Icelandair Akureyri: I absolutely loved my stay at the IcelandAir Akureyri. Comfortable and clean beds, views, and a wonderful patio restaurant – there is nothing not to like! There is free parking, paid delicious breakfast, and a bar on-site. Check availability here
• Hotel Kea by Keahotels: Centrally located hotel, the KEA is beautifully placed by the Church of Akureyri. It is about a 12 minute walk from the Botanical Gardens and offers a stunning view of the fjords. Book your stay here
• A detailed guide to where to stay in Akureyri Iceland

On day 2, take a day trip to check out the Godafoss (waterfall), and the Myvatn Lake area (Diamond Circle). 

Transportation and day tours:

You can book a day tour, which also includes pick up from Akureyri hotels. The tour covers 5-7 stops which we will cover below. It also includes time at the Myvatn Nature Baths . 

Book this full-day tour here

When driving, you can set aside 8-10 hours with ample stops along the way. The drive takes you from Akureyri along the scenic coast of Eyjafjordur, which is one of the longest fjords in the country.

The main attraction on the Diamond Circle is the stunning Goðafoss Waterfall . Goðafoss is formed by the glacial river Skjálfandafljót, has a drop of 12 m (39 ft), and is 30 m (98 ft) wide.

The name Goðafoss means “waterfall of the gods”. According to Icelandic legend,  Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði, the country’s highest-ranking, and most notable lawmaker threw his pagan gods/statues into the waterfall after converting to Christianity.

The best time to see Goðafoss is in the summer when the days are long and the weather is good. The waterfall is best seen from the north side, where there is a viewing platform. 

There is also a trail on the south side of the waterfall that leads to the bottom of the falls.

Goðafoss is one of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions. It is easily accessible and offers stunning views all year round.

The pseudocraters of Skútustaðagígar are next on the route. The Skútustaðagígar Craters are found in the Lake Mývatn area, and it is formed due to volcanic eruptions. 

During eruptions when lava runs across an area, the heat and water trapped underneath cause a crater-like shape.

As they were not the sources of lava or volcanoes in themselves, they are not considered true craters. Hence the name pseudo-crater . 

You can spend 30 minutes to an hour hiking and enjoying the site. There are many viewing platforms that you can walk, and climb up to for panoramic views!

Next is Dimmuborgir , or the Dark Cities/Dark Fortress as it is called. Dimmuborgir was formed in an eruption that occurred in the area 2,300 years ago. It belongs to the Lake Mývatn area, which is considered to be very volcanic.

You can go on hiking trails at the Dimmuborgir and the dramatic black lava formations definitely make for an outer of the world experience. There are castles, caverns, and caves all around you. 

Other than hikes (summer months), you can learn about Icelandic traditions. The most famous of these traditions and folklore are that of half-troll, half-ogre Grýla, and her submissive husband Leppalúði. 

Grýla and Leppalúði had thirteen sons who lived in Dimmuborgir and are known as the ‘Icelandic Santa Clauses’ or Yule Lads. 

So on the thirteen nights before Christmas, these trolls come one by one to terrorize Icelanders, each with their own strategy after which they were named. 

When we visited we found costumes and set up of the Yule Lads! 

To view these areas, you must wear comfortable hiking shoes or boots at all times. The surfaces are uneven, and sometimes you may have to climb as well. 

From here, make your way to the cave of Grjótagjá and stop at the hot spring area at Hverarönd in Námaskarð. 

Grjótagjá is a small lava cave located in the Myvatn Lake area. It has a small hot spring inside the cave, and you can feel/see steam coming out of the cave. The water is too hot for a swim and it is not allowed. 

Next is the geothermal area of Hverarönd in Námaskarð. This spot is located a short distance from the huge volcanic mountain Krafla. Hverarönd is home to hot springs, mud pools, and mud pots. 

Because of the geothermal activity, you won’t find any vegetation here, but the colors of the desert land make it a stunning area. In certain spots, you will find boiling water, and there is also the emission of acids with colorful minerals. 

The smell might be very strong for some, but a visit is still worth it! 

Next is the lake viewpoint itself. Lake Mývatn is a volcanic lake, and swimming is only possible in a few areas. The lake is best known for fishing and bird watching opportunities. 

East of here is the Blue Lagoon of the North – Mývatn Nature Baths . This is a naturally heated man-made lagoon, with mineral-rich waters known for their healing properties.

We have written a detailed guide to visiting the Myvatn Nature Baths , but know that it is not super crowded and is comparatively cheaper to visit than the actual Blue Lagoon. 

On day 3 of the North Iceland itinerary, go a little slow and visit another waterfall – Dettifoss and then go whale watching in the evening. 

Dettifoss is one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe, and it is located about 2.50 hours from Akureyri. 

You go hiking from the Dettifoss to the canyon at Asbyrgi – a well-forested horseshoe-shaped canyon in Oxarfjordur. The hiking trail is about 34 km (or about 21 miles).

To access Dettifoss, you will need a vehicle, and the road access is from late May or June. This road – South to Road 1 – is closed from January until the beginning of April.

In the evening opt for a whale watching tour. Tours leave at around 5:00 pm, from the port of Akureyri, and last 3 hours. Late April to September is best for whale watching. 

(From late September to mid-April, you can sight the northern lights here )

• Classic Tour (3 hours) : Whale watching classic tour
• On a speedboat (2 hours): Whale watching tour in a RIB Speedboat

On day 4, you can explore Akureyri visiting its art museums, Botanical Gardens, historical sites such as the Nonni House, and the landmark – Akureyrarkirkja or The Church of Akureyri. 

Cultural activities in Akureyri (visiting the sites listed above and wandering the town) will take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. 

Not into cultural excursions? Consider these activities instead. There are also hiking trails in and around Akureyri including heritage walks that you can embark on. 

If interested in water activities, rafting is possible near Akureyri. 

From late April to August, you can also head to Grímsey Island for puffin watching. for more hiking opportunities. 

• Rafting : West Glacial River Family Rafting
• Hike/Climb : Akureyri: Hraundrangi Peak 10-Hour Private Climb

On day 5, drive back to Reykjavik. Or fly to the Domestic airport. If you have time on your hands, pay a visit to Sky Blue Lagoon. 

So that concludes our Iceland itinerary for 5 days. We hope you enjoy your time in this unique and beautiful country and are excited about your trip! From the snow-capped mountains to the black sand beaches, Iceland’s scenery is truly one of a kind. 

We will leave you with an Iceland itinerary map below (we have used different colors for each route), as well as some FAQs!

Iceland 5 day itinerary: Sightseeing Map

We have listed the attractions and routes by area. The last sections include the Ring Road and North Iceland itinerary.

FAQ: 5 days in Iceland Itinerary

Here are some additional tips, and frequently asked questions answered to help you plan your trip.

Iceland is a great place to visit at any time of year, but the best time to go depends on what you want to see and do. If you’re interested in seeing the Northern Lights, late September to early April is the best time to go.  For whale watching, May to October is the best time. And if you want to see Iceland’s waterfalls at their fullest, plan your trip for June or July.

There’s no shortage of delicious food in Iceland. Make sure to try some of the country’s traditional dishes, like Icelandic lamb soup and hákarl (fermented shark meat). And of course, you can’t go to Iceland without trying some of its famous seafood like Arctic Char. Also, try Icelandic hotdog, and yogurt Skyr.

There are a few things to keep in mind when traveling to Iceland. First, the weather can be unpredictable, so it is important to be prepared for all types of weather conditions. Wear layers and always carry a warm jacket and hiking shoes.  Second, Iceland is a very remote country, so visitors should be prepared for long travel times.  Lastly, the Icelandic currency (ISK) is very different from most other currencies, so it is important to have a good understanding of the exchange rate before traveling. Using credit cards is the way to go for travel expenses there.

Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavik, and explore  Day 2 : Golden Circle + South Coast waterfalls Day 3 : More of the south coast (with glacier walks/hikes add on) Day 4 : East Fjords  Day 5 : Myvatn Lake area, and whale watching

More Iceland guides:

• Transportation : Is there Uber in Iceland | How to get from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik
• Packing list : What to pack for Iceland in October | Amazon Packing list for Iceland

Pin: Perfect Iceland Itinerary 5 days

Mayuri is the founder & editor of ToSomePlaceNew. An Indian-Canadian globetrotter, she has traveled to over 100 cities and 35+ countries. Mayuri has a graduate degree in History and is an MBA. She loves traveling the world, capturing historical nuances, and discussing that over a cup of coffee with her husband, Salil. She currently resides in Edmonton, Canada, and plots travel plans to Europe, the Americas, and beyond. 

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Top 5 Best Road Trips in Iceland (with full itineraries!)

5-Day Road Trip: Golden Circle, Glacier Lagoon & South Coast

Day 1: arrival in reykjavik, day 2: exploring the golden circle, day 3: black sands and white glaciers, day 4: ice wonderland, day 5: reykjavik & blue lagoon, 7-day road trip: west & south iceland with the golden circle, day 1: first day in iceland, day 2: exploring snaefellsnes peninsula, day 3: the golden circle, day 4: waterfalls & black sand beaches, day 5: glacier lagoon & skaftafell nature reserve, day 6: driving the south coast, day 7: sky lagoon or blue lagoon, 8-day ring road adventure around iceland, day 1: arriving in iceland, day 2: golden circle & south coast, day 3: skaftafell nature reserve & the diamond beach, day 4: visiting the eastfjords, day 5: the diamond circle & lake myvatn.

• Day 6: Exploring the "Capital of the North"

Day 7: The West of Iceland

Day 8: farewell to iceland, 10 day unforgettable ring road trip & snaefellsnes peninsula, day 2: the golden circle, day 3: exploring the beautiful south coast, day 4: jokulsarlon glacier lagoon & eastfjords, day 5: a day at lake myvatn, day 6: gems of north iceland, day 7: the capital of the north, day 8: snaefellsnes peninsula, day 9: wonders of west iceland, day 10: farewell to iceland, 14 day epic road trip of the complete ring road & the westfjords, day 1-2: arrival in iceland & the golden circle, day 3: waterfalls & black sand beaches, day 4: ice lagoon & diamond beach, day 5: the charming eastfjords, day 6: lake myvatn mysteries, day 7: the troll peninsula, day 8: westfjords introduction, day 9: deep into the westfjords, day 10: dynjandi waterfall & latrabjarg puffins, day 11: ferry ride to snaefellsnes peninsula.

• Day 12: Exploring "Iceland in Miniature"

Day 13: Exploring Caves & Waterfalls

Day 14: a day in reykjavik.

Driving around Iceland is an awe-inspiring experience. The ever-changing landscapes mean that, just through your car window from the road, you will be able to witness glacier tongues and volcanic peaks, lava fields and waterfalls, geothermal areas, and incredible stretches of black sand beaches.

By booking a customizable self-drive tour in Iceland , accommodation around the country will have been pre-arranged for you and you have the option of booking admission to various tours and activities along the way. This will save you valuable time and money and you can simply focus on enjoying the journey.

You can also rent a car in Iceland and book your own accommodation , but it is more expensive and time-consuming than booking a summer self-drive tour .

We have put together the perfect road trip for a 5-day , 7-day , 8-day , 10-day , and 14-day itinerary in Iceland. Therefore, you should be able to find just the right tour for you depending on how long you're staying.

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.

• Read The Ultimate Guide to Driving in Iceland before heading out on the road

Taking a planned trip to see the highlights of the country is an experience that is highly recommended to travelers in Iceland.

Not only will it expose you to its dramatic nature, but it will also give you the freedom to spend as little or as long at each location as you like, without concern for tour guides or other guests.

All you need in order to take a road trip is a member of your group who has a valid driver’s license and confidence in driving on country roads.

Firstly, you will need to reference Iceland's Met Office and check the weather forecast before setting out each day to see what the conditions are likely to be on the road and at your destination.

Secondly, you should also reference The Icelandic Road Administration to ensure that all roads are open.

Without further ado, read ahead to see the top five best road trips in Iceland based on how many days you have to enjoy them.

In just five days, you will be surprised by how many places you can visit and the sheer variety of the natural wonders you can see. around the country.

This 5-day self-drive tour in Iceland is the perfect way to explore some of its most famous attractions.

You'll have the freedom to visit incredible places at your own pace, including the Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, Reynisfjara black sand beach, Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, and many of Iceland's most famous waterfalls.

If you have extra time, you may choose to stop at the Blue Lagoon on your way to Reykjavik. This world-renowned spa is known for its healing waters, vivid azure colors, and luxurious treatments, all set amidst a moss-covered lava field.

If you add the Blue Lagoon to your itinerary, it will be arranged according to your flight schedule. If you don't have time to visit the lagoon today, it can simply be added to another day.

The city center is very walkable and using a car to get around it is not recommended. Walk along the main street, shop at boutiques, sit down at a café, or dine at one of the many great restaurants in Reykjavik.

The first day outside Reykjavik will be spent exploring the country’s most famous sightseeing route, the Golden Circle .

The first stop on the trail is the UNESCO heritage site  Thingvellir National Park .

In 930 AD, the settlers of Iceland founded a national assembly at which they could reconcile their differences and make new laws, which they attended every year since. In the 19th century, the assembly moved to Reykjavik. However, Thingvellir retains the title of the founding site of what is now the world’s longest-running parliament still in existence.

Its historical and cultural relevance, however, is not the only thing that draws people to Thingvellir. It is also beloved for its geology.

The mid-Atlantic rift runs all the way through Iceland, leading to the country’s active volcanism, yet nowhere in the world can it be seen so clearly as here.

These fissures fill with spring water traveling through the porous basalt, which leads to the largest lake in Iceland, Thingvallavatn .

Because of the clarity of the water in these fissures, and the beautiful sites beneath the surface, you can book snorkeling tours in Thingvellir for those able to swim .

The ravine open to snorkelers is called Silfra and takes about forty minutes to swim through.

• See also: Diving and Snorkelling in Iceland

Once you have immersed yourself in the history and beauty of Thingvellir, you can hit the road once more and head to Haukadalur Valley, home of the Geysir Geothermal Area .

The largest geyser in the area is called Geysir - the one that granted all others their name. While this Geysir itself is mostly inactive, Strokkur , which sits right nearby, erupts every five to ten minutes to heights of over twenty meters.

This will give you plenty of photographic opportunities to see Iceland's geothermal power in action. Around the area are many smaller hot springs and bubbling mud pots.

Less than a ten-minute drive from the Geysir Geothermal Area is Iceland’s most iconic waterfall, Gullfoss .

Many sites surrounding the Golden Circle are within easy driving distance from Gullfoss and are well worth visiting if you have time.

The dramatic  crater lake of Kerid , for example, is under an hour's drive from Gullfoss. The contrasts here between the vivid red rock and the permanent pool of azure water barely look natural.

If you're still full of energy, you can opt for a snowmobile tour on a nearby glacier. If that doesn't appeal to you and you'd prefer to take it easy, go relax in the geothermal water of  the Secret Lagoon  before heading to your accommodation in the town of Selfoss .

You can approach this glacier tongue right to its edge, where you can marvel over the dramatic formations and the dazzling coloration of the ice blue and black veins that contrast beautifully with the white snow.

The black color comes from the ash dropped after the 2010 volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajokull .

It is imperative that you never climb on a glacier without a guide. But you can easily pre-book a glacier hike on Solheimajokull to your itinerary.

• See also: Glaciers and Glacier Hiking in Iceland

Continuing along Route 1, you will soon see a dramatic feature curving out into the ocean from a range of cliffs: the Dyrholaey Rock Arch .

From a distance, its scale is incredible, yet it is even better up close. Throughout the year, you can see hexagonal basalt columns here, and in the summer months, thousands of nesting puffins.

Reynisfjara beach is as renowned for its striking beauty as it is for its sneaker waves .

Make sure you heed the signs, and stay away from the edge of the water, regardless of the time of the year and weather.

From a safe distance, you will still be able to see the Reynisdrangar  sea stacks towering from the ocean near the arch, all that is left of three trolls that, according to legend, turned to stone by the light of the morning sun.

From there, you will head to the Skaftafell Nature Reserve , nestled under the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajokull . The area has a wide array of walking paths and hikes of various difficulty levels.

You have the opportunity to hike 3 miles (5 kilometers) towards the amazing Svartifoss waterfall, known for its black hexagonal basalt columns.

You will spend the night in Vatnajokull National Park.

The water is filled with floating icebergs that break off the nearby Breidarmerkurjokull glacier  as the meltwater flows toward the ocean.

While there, you have the opportunity to go on a 1-hour zodiac boat tour on the glacier lagoon and see the massive icebergs up close, as well as the curious seals that swim around in the lagoon.

From there, you can drive to the alluring Diamond Beach , where icebergs of various sizes float upon a shore, creating an eye-popping contrast between the shiny ice and the black beach.

• See also: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon | Iceland's Crown Jewel

When you have explored the incredible wonders of southeast Iceland, you can start driving back to your choice of accommodation in Reykjavik.

On the way to Reykjavik, you can stop along the many attractions along Route 1 if you have time. You can stop by the beautiful  Foss a Sidu waterfall  or explore the mysterious Dverghamrar cliffs  while enjoying the drive toward the capital.

If you have time, you can buy various souvenirs or a traditional  lopapeysa  knit jumper at Laugavegur , the main shopping street in the city.

On the way to the airport, you also have the opportunity to visit the famous hot spring spa, the Blue Lagoon, if you skipped it on your first day (or just go again!), which is located just a 30-minute drive from the airport.

The mineral-rich geothermal waters of the azure-colored lagoon will make you feel relaxed after an eventful trip to Iceland as you get ready to go to the airport and take the wonderful memories with you home.

If you want to experience the best of Iceland in just five days, make sure to book this fun 5-day road trip in Iceland right now!

Popular self-drive tours

10-day self-drive tour of the complete ring road of iceland with top attractions & snaefellsnes, best 1-week summer self-drive tour of the ring road of iceland & golden circle, best 7-day northern lights self drive tour through south iceland to jokulsarlon ice cave.

In addition to visiting all three national parks in Iceland, you will see plenty of waterfalls, black sand beaches, glaciers, volcanoes, and hot springs along the way. For those looking for thrills, you can add activities such as exploring a volcano's magma chamber or snowmobiling on Langjokull glacier at a discounted price, making it both budget-friendly and fun.

If you're lucky enough to spend a whole week in the land of ice and fire, this is the perfect 7-day itinerary in Iceland.

This world-renowned geothermal spa is known for its healing waters, vivid blue colors, and luxurious treatments. Its location in the middle of a moss-covered lava field gives it an otherworldly atmosphere.

If you don't have time to visit the Blue Lagoon on your first day, it can simply be added at a later date. Just contact our travel consultants, and they will happily set it up for you.

• Read more: Top 10 Things to Do in Reykjavik

The city center of Reykjavik is highly walkable, so you can simply park your car and enjoy a stroll around town, visiting landmarks such as Hallgrimskirkja church  or  Harpa Concert Hall .

You can also do some shopping at Laugavegur street or enjoy the local cuisine at one of the many great restaurants in Reykjavik.

Before heading north, you can be part of a mind-blowing excursion down into the magma chamber of Thrihnukagigur volcano .

When you're ready to start your road trip, drive Route 1 north to the town of  Borgarnes , and then continue north on Route 54, the road which encircles the peninsula.

Borgarnes is a great place to stop and get supplies or coffee before continuing. This charming town is also home to the Settlement Center , which has two exhibitions on Iceland’s early history.

Photo by Chensiyuan, from Wikimedia Creative Commons

One of the exhibitions is about the settlement era of Iceland's history when brave voyagers from Scandinavia settled on the island. The other exhibition explores ‘ Egil’s Saga ’ about the great warrior-poet Egill Skalla-Grímsson. This site, therefore, is not to be missed by lovers of Viking history or literature.

• See also: Icelandic Literature for Beginners

Along the peninsula's south coast, you will find  Ytri-Tunga beach , a stretch of coast by a farm of the same name. This is one of Iceland’s most reliable seal-watching destinations .

Just a few meters from the shore, you will see chunks of lava rock jutting from the ocean, and basking on these as if on foam mattresses, you are likely to see a few members of the colony hauling out.

The world within is quite as magical as you will discover a mossy grotto with a stream trickling its way through.

It is possible to get a little way into the ravine, but only for those with sturdy hiking shoes, waterproof clothing, and a lot of ambition. It is an impossible feat to achieve without clambering up a little waterfall and getting quite wet.

As you continue along the road, the mighty Snaefellsjokull glacier will start to materialize before you.

Near the glacier, you can go explore the lava tubes of Vatnshellir cave on a guided tour through this 650 feet (200 meters) long cave.

The fishing villages of Arnarstapi and Hellnar sit within the shadow of the snowy twin peaks.

Both of these are quaint settlements with fascinating histories, but they are best known for their beautiful coastal scenery. As ever-growing stops for visitors, both also have restaurants you can refuel at.

Near the mighty glacier, you can make a stop at Skarðsvík beach . This beautiful inlet, surrounded by cliffs, is reached by following a short trail. With its golden sands and blue waters, it will barely feel like you are still in Iceland.

Your main destination, however, should be  Kirkjufell Mountain , near the town of Grundarfjordur .

Often called ‘the most photographed mountain in Iceland,’ Kirkjufell is a beautiful stand-alone peak, made even more charming by the waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss which trickles nearby.

You can go for a midnight sun kayaking tour under the iconic mountain if you're visiting during the summer when the sun keeps shining through the evening.

As you continue east along the northern side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, you will cross over the Berserkjahraun lava fields , a place with a dark history of trickery and cold-blooded murder.

You can finish your adventure on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula at the fishing village of Stykkishólmur .

This settlement is rich in folklore and fishing culture, so it is a great place to grab a fresh bite and learn a little more about Iceland’s past.

The first stop on the circle is the historic Thingvellir National Park. The world's longest-running representative parliament was founded here in the year 930 AD, by Iceland's early settlers.

In addition to its historical significance, it is located in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where two tectonic plates drift apart. In fact, you can walk right between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates while visiting Thingvellir.

If you're feeling bold, you can even go snorkeling in a crystal clear ravine located between the two plates, called Silfra.

This valley of hot springs and fumaroles is home to the famous Geysir and its much more active neighbor Strokkur. While the former is largely inactive, the latter blasts water over 66 ft (20 m) high every five to ten minutes.

The final stop on the Golden Circle route is the breathtaking Gullfoss waterfall. Widely considered the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland, with a name that translates to "Golden Falls," which actually gives the Golden Circle its name.

Gullfoss waterfall drops down 105 feet (32 meters) into a narrow river gorge via two tiers. Make sure to stay within the fence of the viewing platform for safety. You'll still be very close to the powerful stream of this waterfall.

On sunny days, the waterfall gets crowned by a perpetual rainbow, which just adds to the natural beauty of this wonder.

Photo by Laila Gebhard

If you have a thirst for adventure, you can add a visit to Vidgelmir lava cave  to your itinerary. This 1-hour guided tour is very beginner-friendly (even for children!), as this lava cave is not dark and compact, but has a wide space with countless icicles, and mesmerizing rock formations.

If you're the thrill-seeking type, you could go for a snowmobiling tour of Langjokull glacier , which departs directly from Gullfoss waterfall.

However, if you feel you've done enough exploring for the day and want to take it easy, you can head to the serene  Secret Lagoon , close to the town of Fludir .

You also have the option of heading to the geothermal spa at Laugarvatn Fontana , which has a beautiful lake view.

Your accommodation for the night will be in the vicinity of the Golden Circle route.

After the Golden Circle, this is Iceland’s second-most popular sightseeing route, and as can be expected, it is lined with features.

As long as your going southward, it is recommended that you make a stop at the crater Kerid on the way to admire the spectacular fiery coloration of the mineral-rich rock surrounding the vivid blue lake resting at its bottom.

From there, you can stop at the town of Selfoss for a quick bite and then continue along Route 1 until you arrive at  Seljalandsfoss waterfall , one of the country’s most beloved falls.

It is particularly unique due to the fact that it falls from a concave cliff. Also, if the conditions are safe, it is possible to take a walk fully encircling the cascade.

A site often overlooked, however, which is within easy walking distance, is another waterfall called  Gljufrabui . Nestled in a cliff, it requires you to walk up a ravine into a grotto, where you can marvel at it tumbling from above.

Continuing east along Route 1, you will pass in the shadow of the notorious  Eyjafjallajokull volcano .

This was the volcano that erupted in 2010, causing enormous problems with air travel and generating a large amount of international attention on Iceland while twisting the tongues of news anchors around the world.

The next site you will stop at, however, is another waterfall, Skogafoss .

Over sixty meters high and twenty meters wide at its heaviest flow, it cascades off a cliff in one drop, thundering to the earth with enormous power.

By taking a short drive over to Skogar Museum , you can hike to a fourth and final waterfall, this one’s even lesser known than Gljufrabui.

Kvernufoss falls is located in a hidden gorge not far away, and though it cannot be encircled like Seljalandsfoss, it is also possible to stand behind the water flow.

• See also: Waterfalls in Iceland

The next major attraction following these waterfalls is Solheimajokull glacier , a tongue of the greater Myrdalsjokull (which, it should be noted, covers an even more explosive volcano than Eyjafjallajokull, Katla ).

You can approach this glacier tongue right to its edge, where you can marvel over the dramatic formations and the coloration of the ice. With blue and black veins that contrast beautifully with the white snow.

The black color comes from the ash dropped after the 2010 volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajökull.

It is imperative that you never climb on a glacier without a guide. There are, however, opportunities to take a  guided hike upon Solheimajokull , if you wish.

• See also: Glacier Hiking and Ice Climbing in Iceland

The landscapes south of the glacier are of desert-like black sands due to the floods that flash through this area whenever an eruption occurs beneath Myrdalsjokull.

Nearby you will find  Reynisfjara black sand beach , with its basalt columns, cliffs, and striking black sand. Make sure to heed all warnings about safety on the beach, as sneaker waves can be dangerous.

From a safe distance, you will still be able to see the Reynisdrangar  sea stacks towering from the ocean near the arch, all that is left of three trolls, as the legend goes, that turned to stone by the light of the morning sun.

Along the way, you'll pass stark volcanic deserts and have an incredible view of the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajokull .

On your way to Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, you can stop at the charming village of  Kirkjubaejarklaustur  for a short hike or a bite to eat.

Further ahead, you should head into the beautiful Skaftafell Nature Reserve within Vatnajokull National Park, the largest national park in Iceland. This area has many hikes, including toward the unique waterfall Svartifoss , which tumbles off a cliff of hexagonal basalt columns.

You'll finish the day at the stunning Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, where you'll surely want to spend some time admiring icebergs as they float slowly to the ocean.

This area is considered by many to be Iceland's most beautiful spot, and for a good reason. If you wish to get closer to the bergs in the lagoon, you can opt for a boat tour that will take you right out to them, either in an amphibious boat or a zodiac.

From the glacier lagoon, you can take a short walk toward the so-called Diamond Beach in Iceland . This black sand beach is where icebergs of varying sizes float upon the shore, creating a stark contrast between the black volcanic sand and the sparkling white ice.

You'll stay the night at a charming countryside hotel near Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon this evening.

Otherwise, it is a long drive back to Reykjavík, so it's best to start early.

On your return journey, you can revisit your favorite spots along the way or stop by some of the villages and towns along the south coast. Many of Iceland's locations have a completely different beauty at different times of the day or when the weather has changed.

The town of Hveragerdi has beautiful geothermal areas surrounding it, which are worth a visit. You can even go on a 3-hour hot springs horse riding tour exploring the area if you have the time.

• Read more: The Icelandic Horse - A Comprehensive Guide

If you feel like you've done enough exploring, you can also simply drive to Reykjavik early and enjoy a day of culture and cuisine in the northernmost capital city in the world and make the most of your last night in Iceland.

Soak in the city's summer atmosphere and explore the charming downtown area. Check out Hallgrimskirkja church, Harpa Concert Hall, or the Solfarid Viking Ship sculpture . You can also simply enjoy walking around the area, which is very easy to get around.

For dinner, you will have a lot of great restaurants to choose from, whether you're looking for an exotic fusion menu or something more traditional. Since it's your last night, why not splurge on something you won't forget?

At the end of the night, you will stay in your accommodation in Reykjavik.

If you have an early flight, it's wise to be at the airport at least two hours before departure, so plan accordingly.

However, if you have a late flight and want to make the most of it, we definitely recommend visiting one of Iceland's famous hot spring spas before you head off to the airport.

You have the opportunity to visit the Sky Lagoon , located in the town of Kopavogur just outside Reykjavik, within a 10-15 minute drive from the city center. We recommend booking full access to Sky Lagoon so you can enjoy all their facilities.

There you can enjoy the warm geothermal waters while enjoying the amazing views of Skerjafjordur bay from the lagoon's infinity pool. If you're up for it, you can also hit the glacial pool, steam room, sauna, and cold mist room that are located on the premises.

This is a great place to relax as you bathe in the warm, mineral-rich waters while you look back on the incredible adventure you have just taken part in.

Whether you go for the Sky Lagoon or the Blue Lagoon, when you arrive at the airport, you will feel relaxed, with a mind full of memories that will stay with you for a long time.

If you have a week to spend in Iceland and want to use this itinerary, book this unforgettable 7-day road trip in Iceland now!

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Therefore, on this unforgettable 8-day self-drive tour around Iceland , you can visit the most popular destinations in Iceland by the famous Ring Road.

By booking this self-drive tour with an 8-day itinerary, you will visit every corner of Iceland, and not just the areas closest to Reykjavik, giving you a great overview of all the different things to see and do in the country.

Exploring the popular Golden Circle and South Coast, as well as the less-visited and more remote Eastfjords and Snaefellsnes peninsula, this 8-day itinerary in Iceland really gives you the best of both worlds.

To start things off, you can either start driving through the lunar-like landscape of Reykjanes peninsula toward Reykjavik or make the first stop on your journey at the famous Blue Lagoon.

This incredible hot spring spa is known for its warm geothermal waters, vivid azure colors, and various spa treatments available for guests.

The lagoon has a swim-up bar where visitors can enjoy drinks while soaking in its healing waters, and there is also the option of eating at the restaurant located on the premises.

As you arrive in Reykjavik, your accommodations will be pre-arranged for you, making everything as simple as can be. Once you're settled in at your hotel, you can head out and enjoy the rest of the day in Iceland's capital city.

We recommend taking a stroll in the walkable city center and visiting some of the local shops and cafés on Laugarvegur street.

This day sends you to some of the best-known natural wonders in Iceland via the famous sightseeing route known as the Golden Circle.

Your first stop on this route is Thingvellir National Park . The world's oldest working parliament, Althingi, was founded here in 930 AD, and it is also where Iceland converted to Christianity in the year 1000 and declared its independence from Denmark in 1944.

Iceland is only one of a few places where the ridge is above ground where you can actually stand on it, and nowhere is that more clear than at Thingvellir.

If you're feeling brave, you can opt for a snorkeling tour into the Silfra fissure , a crystal-clear ravine of incredible underwater vistas that runs between the Eurasian and North-American tectonic plates.

• Read more: Snorkeling Between Continents - Silfra Fissure

Just a few kilometers away is the namesake of the Golden Circle, the mighty waterfall of Gullfoss, which translates to "Golden Falls." A pathway takes you to the water's edge, where you can get a real sense of the incredible power of these enormous falls.

From Gullfoss, those with a sense of adventure can hop on an optional snowmobiling tour on Langjokull glacier .

If neither a snorkeling tour nor a snowmobiling tour appeals to you, you could go for a 2-hour horse riding tour and get to know the friendly Icelandic horse while exploring southern Iceland.

As you travel further east on the Ring Road along the south coast, you will see Seljalandsfoss waterfall.

This unique waterfall looks great from afar and up close...real close! In fact, you can walk around the waterfall itself within a cave nestled behind the tumbling water.

As you continue on along Route 1, you will arrive at the mighty and mesmerizing Skogafoss waterfall, a behemoth of a waterfall with a 200 feet (60 meters) drop and a width nearly half its height.

Once you've taken in the majesty of Skogafoss (and plenty of pictures!), keep driving the same route east until your reach the quiet village of Vik where your accommodation is located.

However, be very careful of the ocean as the waves along this stretch of coast are notoriously unpredictable and dangerous. Make sure to heed all warnings at the location and never get too close to the ocean, even if it makes for a great picture, it's not worth it!

You can spend as long as you like at the beach until you're ready to hit the hay and get ready for tomorrow's journey.

Photo by Regína Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir

After waking up in the charming village of Vik, get some breakfast, refuel the car if necessary, and then head to the beautiful Skaftafell Nature Reserve, located within the greater Vatnajokull National Park.

You can choose to start your day with a visit to the natural ice cave within Myrdalsjokull glacier . These electric-blue ice caves form naturally and are usually only accessible in the winter season. This particular ice cave, however, is also accessible in the summer, so don't miss the opportunity to visit.

As the sun shines through the thick layers of ice, it illuminates the inside of the cave, creating brilliant colors and lighting up crystallized ice. There's nothing like it!

Photo from  Ice Caving & Glacier Hiking Super Jeep Tour of Katla

Once you're in Skaftafell, you can spend your time taking in the many stunning sights and exciting activities that are available. If you're a hiker, whether amateur or experienced, you will find countless scenic trails and tracks here, including one that leads to the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall.

The hike from the visitor center to Svartifoss waterfall is just about 1 mile (1.5 kilometers), making it highly accessible.

When hiking toward the waterfall, you will pass three smaller waterfalls along the way, making the walk up the river's east bank more enjoyable and giving you plenty of photography opportunities!

Approximately 11% of Iceland's land surface is covered in glaciers. Traversing these ice giants on foot is an unforgettable experience and rewarding for anyone that gives it a go.

As you continue your road trip, you'll find yourself by one of Iceland's most famous and dazzling attractions, the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.

The glacier lagoon is called such because it's a lake that is filled with the meltwater of an outlet glacier.

These icebergs, other than their size, are notable for their coloration. Although they are, as expected, largely white, most are also electric blue in part, with black streaks of ash from eruptions centuries past.

However, even from the shore, the lagoon is stunning, and you have a good chance to see seals playing around in the water. After you have enjoyed the lagoon, you can take a short walk to the nearby Diamond Beach.

At this beach is where ice caps wash up on the shore and sparkle like gemstones in the sun, giving the beach its name.

When you're ready, you can start heading toward your resting spot for the night, the fishing village of Hofn in the southeast of Iceland.

On the fourth day of your road trip, you will explore the incredible fjords of East Iceland.

This remote part of the country is little traveled, meaning your road trip here is likely to be without traffic, and the places you stop at most likely won't have large crowds.

The Eastfjords are spectacular in and of themselves. The mountains of the east are monumental, and the bays are sparkling and beautiful.

The fishing villages you will pass through are sleepy and idyllic, and the nature is spectacular.

• Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Iceland's East Fjords

In the sea, you have a better chance to spot whales and dolphins from shore than much of the rest of the country.

Along the coast, you may see seals, as well as many seabirds, including puffins, nest in the cliffs. East Iceland is also the only region of the country where wild reindeer roam.

Traveling along Route 1 will expose you to a wealth of incredible vistas and nature opportunities.

It is not just the wildlife and landscapes that are of interest, however. The first major settlement you will come to is  the village of Djupivogur . Though it is home to less than five hundred people, it is renowned for its art and its ethos.

The Eggs of Merry Bay is a series of outdoor sculptures that line the coast just to the west of the town.

The artist who created them, Sigurður Guðmundsson, modeled each of the thirty-four pieces after the eggs of the different bird species that nest in the area.

Continuing along Route 1, you will pass through the charming village of Breiddalsvik , admiring its black sand beaches and beautiful ocean views before the road curves inland.

From there, you can go to Iceland’s largest forest Hallormsstadaskogur . This verdant area has many hiking and biking routes and great spots for birdwatching.

Before reaching the largest settlement in the region, Egilsstadir , you will also pass  Lake Lagarfljot .

Those interested in cryptozoology should spend time exploring this legendary lake. The waters are said to hold a terrifying wyrm creature called Lagarfljotsormurinn, or the Lagarfljot Wyrm.

Sightings of the Lagarfjot Wyrm have been reported since 1345 all the way to the 21st century, making it a long-lasting legend of the region (and even older than the Loch Ness monster!).

You will be spending the night in the Egilsstadir area, but the drive is short, giving you plenty of time to visit various places in the surrounding area.

Driving directly along the suggested route, without stops, should take less than three and a half hours. It is thus a good idea to check out some of the  great places to visit in the Eastfjords .

If you'd rather take some time and relax out in the beautiful nature of East Iceland, you should visit the Vok Baths geothermal spa , which beautifully incorporates its environment into its design, making you feel like you're bathing in nature.

Additionally, there is Lake Urridavatn, which guests are free to hop in, while visiting the spa. The lake has exceptionally clean water, and there's no better feeling than going from swimming in the cold lake to soaking in the warm geothermal pools.

End the day in Egilsstadir, the so-called "Capital of the East," and rest up before continuing up north the following morning.

Photo by Gestur Pálsson, from Wikimedia Creative Commons .

After waking up in Egilsstadir, get ready to continue your road trip, as today is all about North Iceland and exploring the so-called Diamond Circle sightseeing route .

First off, you will take the Ring Road north towards Lake Myvatn. En route, however, you will find yourself passing by the great canyon  Jokulsargljufur .

This canyon, within the large Vatnajokull National Park, is home to Europe’s second most powerful waterfall Dettifoss , as well as the smaller but still very impressive Selfoss and Hafragilsfoss .

Dettifoss is a staggering 330 feet (100 meters) wide and sends an impressive 7,000 cubic feet (200 cubic meters) of water per second tumbling down a 144-foot (44-meter) cliff.

This incredible display of nature's power creates a thundering roar as the water crashes down the gorge, which is only known by those who witness it.

The waterfall's name directly translates to "Tumbling Falls" and was featured in the opening sequence of the Hollywood blockbuster Prometheus in 2012.

From there, you go to the region of Lake Myvatn , which is renowned for its diverse terrain.

The lake is surrounded by a range of geological formations, including geothermal hot springs, volcanic craters, and lava fields. Visitors to the area can enjoy hiking, bird watching, and exploring the surrounding areas, which are home to a variety of bird species, including many rare species.

An unmissable characteristic of the area is the beautiful Skutustadagigar pseudo-craters .

A half-hour drive from the lake, you can see the geothermal area of Namaskard , which is connected to the Krafla volcano system and home to many gushing hot springs and bubbling fumaroles.

The lack of vegetation on the slopes of Namaskard is caused by the heat beneath the earth, acidity in the soil, and the expulsion of poisonous fumes. Nevertheless, the site is far from dull, with its vividly colored earth streaked by elements brought up with the steam.

You could also go visit the Dimmuborgir lava formations , directly translated to the "Black Fortress" because of the tall and menacing shapes of the hardened lava.

Afterward, unwind in the tranquil geothermal waters of the Myvatn Nature Baths , the perfect way to recharge after a long day of exploration. The water is rich in minerals such as silica and sulfur, which are known for their therapeutic benefits.

Then, make your way to Akureyri, the charming "Capital of the North," where you'll spend the night.

Day 6: Exploring the "Capital of the North"

Akureyri is the second-largest urban area in Iceland and is often referred to as the "Capital of North Iceland." It's surrounded by beautiful landscapes, including snow-capped mountains and the sparkling waters of the fjord of Eyjafjordur .

If you missed it the previous day, you could take a whale-watching tour in Akureyri and see the many great mammals swimming in the fjord of Eyjafjordur, which is among the best spots in Iceland to see the friendly giants of the sea.

A short drive north of Akureyri, you will find the Gasir farm, where you can opt for a fun horse-riding tour and explore the nature of the Trollaskagi peninsula on foot (or hooves, to be exact).

If you haven't experienced it already, riding on the Icelandic horse is a great way to get to know the country, as horses have been a part of Iceland's history just as long as humans have.

From the time the first Norse settlers set foot on land, the Icelandic horse has been the trusty companion of Icelanders and the transportation of choice for the major part of its history.

Photo from  Scenic 1-hour Horseback Riding Tour from Gasir Farm in Northern Iceland

The Icelandic horse is kid-friendly, sure-footed and is known worldwide for its fifth gait, the so-called "tolt."

On this peninsula, you can also find the unique Beer Spa , where you have the opportunity to bathe in...yes, beer!

In the spa, you can soak away the stress of modern life by relaxing in a bath of warm, young beer and live beer yeast. To add to the experience, you can do so with a cold beer in your hand that was brewed on location.

The designated driver need not worry, as the tub of warm beer will not increase the alcohol level in your blood!

Here, you can unwind in the town's geothermal infinity pool while admiring the magnificent scenery.

As the day draws to a close, you'll spend the night in a hotel close to the town of Saudarkrokur.

Your first stop once you leave Saudarkrokur  should definitely be the cliff of Hvitserkur (pictured above), which is a unique rock formation just off the shore of Husafjordur bay.

Its distinct shape has been compared to some kind of mythical animal or a rhinoceros having a drink of water. Once you've taken in the view and snapped off some pictures, it's time to continue, as you have plenty of driving to do today.

• Read more: The Majestic Hvitserkur Sea Stack

About a 2-hour drive from Hvitserkur, you will come upon Deildartunguhver , a geothermal area that's definitely worth a visit.

Photo by Javier Rodríguez, from Wikimedia Creative Commons .

It is known for being the most powerful hot spring in Europe, producing about 50 gallons (180 liters) of boiling water per second. The water is piped to nearby towns for heating, making it an important source of geothermal energy.

Further ahead, don't miss the enchanting Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls.

Hraunfossar, which translates to "Lava Falls," garners its name because t he waterfall consists of small streams of water flowing at the edge of the Hallmundarhraun lava field  into the river Hvita below.

These waterfalls can be observed from a nearby viewing platform, making it a perfect opportunity for some nature photography.

It is a wonderful site in and of itself, twisting, turning, foaming and churning as it races down a narrow valley, from which you can view it from above. We recommend making this stop on the way to Reykjavik, as it's an easy way to visit two beautiful waterfalls in one stop.

Photo by Pjt56, from Wikimedia Creative Commons .

Those interested in history can take a detour to Snorrastofa , a medieval research institute in Reykholt , where Snorri Sturluson , one of Iceland's most prominent historical figures, wrote the famous Edda, from which most of our knowledge about Norse mythology comes.

If time allows, opt for an exhilarating caving tour of the Vídgelmir lava tubes or venture into the awe-inspiring man-made ice tunnels of Langjokull glacier .

Langjokull is the second-largest glacier in Iceland and in it, you will find a long man-made carved-out ice tunnel with multiple rooms and pathways.

Photo from  Exhilarating 10-Hour Into the Glacier Ice Caving Tour in Langjokull

When the sunlight shines on the glacier through multiple layers of ice, it lights up the cave with a bright blue color, making the surroundings look otherworldly.

You can even take an 'Inside the Volcano' tour , where you slowly descend into the colorful magma chamber of the dormant volcano Thrihnukagigur .

If you still want something to do before reaching Reykjavik, you can visit the Icelandic Settlement Center in Borgarnes , which chronicles the history of Iceland's settlement in the 9th and 10th centuries.

Once you reach Reykjavik, you can enjoy some of the nightlife in the city center if you don't have an early flight. There are a lot of fun bars and clubs to check out on the main street of Laugavegur and adjacent streets.

However, those who have a later flight can use the opportunity and go visit a geothermal hot spring spa today.

Just a 10-15 minute drive from Reykjavik's city center, you can visit the Sky Lagoon . This geothermal spa opened in 2021 and features a sauna, a steam room, a cold mist room, a cold plunge pool, and an amazing hot spring infinity pool overlooking Skerjafjordur bay.

At the lagoon, there is a swim-up bar offering refreshments for visitors and inside the facilities, you can have a nice meal before heading to the airport at the Sky Café bistro.

• Read more: Iceland's Blue Lagoon: The Ultimate Travel Guide

Established in 1987, it is the perfect place to relax as you bathe in the warm, mineral-rich waters as look back on your incredible adventure in the land of fire and ice.

If this Ring Road adventure is for you, make sure to book this amazing 8-day self-drive tour around Iceland now!

Popular tours

Best ice cave tour in vatnajokull glacier starting from jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, inside the volcano thrihnukagigur tour with transfer from reykjavik, small group tour of snaefellsnes national park with transfer from reykjavik.

But the best part is you can take your time, stop as long as you want at each destination and make impulse decisions on the fly while traveling around the country.

This amazing 10-day self-drive tour around Iceland takes you to both popular destinations, which are a must-see, as well as less-visited places that are hidden gems. These include the famous Golden Circle, the striking black sand beaches of the South Coast, the sheer variety of attractions on Snaefellsnes peninsula, and the remote fjords in the east of Iceland.

Read on and discover all the things you can do with this perfect 10-day itinerary in Iceland.

While en route to Iceland's capital city, you may choose to visit the Blue Lagoon , a world-renowned spa known for its healing waters, vivid azure colors, and luxurious treatments. It is conveniently located just a half-hour drive from the airport, close to the town of Grindavik .

Adding the Blue Lagoon to your itinerary can easily be done in one click. If you don't have time to visit the lagoon today, you will have another chance to visit it during your last couple of days in Iceland.

Spend the night in the lovely city of Reykjavik and get ready for the journey that lies ahead.

The first stop is Thingvellir National Park, where you can stroll between the Mid-Atlantic Ridge's rift valley and explore an area that played a significant role in Iceland's heritage.

Geologists from all over the world make a pilgrimage to Thingvellir because of its unique location between the North American tectonic plate and the Eurasian tectonic plate. As these two massive plates slowly drift apart, they form all kinds of rifts and cracks in the ground.

And when we say slowly, we mean very slowly, as the two tectonic plates drift apart less than 1 inch per year (about 1-2 centimeters).

Next on the list is the geothermal valley of Haukadalur, where you can admire the stunning hot springs and geysers.

The most active geyser in the area is Strokkur, which erupts every 5-10 minutes and shoots a plume of boiling water up to 30 meters into the air.

Additionally, the area also includes the behemoth hot spring, Geysir. This hot spring goes through long periods of activity and inactivity, and these days, it is unfortunately inactive.

But this hot spring is notable for the fact that the English word "geyser" is actually derived from the name of this very geyser, Geysir!

These three destinations, Thingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss, make up the classic sightseeing route Golden Circle. But if you're looking for more adventure for the day, there are some extra activities you can engage in.

• Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Iceland's Golden Circle

You can opt for a  snowmobile tour on Langjokull glacier . You'll be picked up at Gullfoss waterfall and have the opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views of the sweeping glaciers while you zoom across it. Alternatively, you can book a volcanic horse riding tour if you want to get to know the friendly Icelandic horse.

You will spend the night in the town of Selfoss, the largest non-coastal settlement in Iceland, located in the south of Iceland.

These two waterfalls are just a short drive from each other and are special in their own way. Seljalandsfoss features a cave behind the stream of water, so you can walk behind it, while Skogafoss is massive and highly picturesque.

• See also: Top 20 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Iceland

While heading to the town of Vik, take a slight detour to appreciate the dramatic Dyrholaey rock formation , which is just a short drive from the town.

From there, you can head to the black sand beach of Reynisfjara , which also features amazing basalt columns cliffs (seen below) and the impressive Reynisdrangar rock formations , which can be seen just off the shore. While you're enjoying the scenery, please make sure to keep a safe distance from the ocean, as sneaker waves can be very dangerous and even deadly if warnings are not heeded.

If you want to go for a glacier hike or experience ice caving, it would be best to do it before heading to Vik, so you won't have to rush while taking in the views at the black sand beach.

Once you've gotten past Vik along the Ring Road, you can end your day with a late afternoon hike in the Skaftafell Nature Reserve . Here, you can walk on the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajokull.

On your way to your accommodation in the Vatnajokull area, you'll pass the gorgeous Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, where enormous icebergs that have broken off a nearby glacier float around peacefully. If you're too exhausted after today's adventures, don't worry, you'll have ample time tomorrow to explore this beautiful area further.

Take a leisurely stroll down to the nearby black sand beach, lovingly known as Diamond Beach, due to the abundance of glittering icebergs scattered along it. This is where the river from the glacier lagoon flows to the ocean, and that's why it has many icebergs, big and small, that float up on its shore, making it highly picturesque!

It's known for it's jagged mountains that line up along its fjords, as well the wild reindeer that roam around freely in the untouched wilderness of East Iceland.

Definitely make a stop at the dramatic Vestrahorn mountain (seen below), which looks like something out of a Tolkien novel.

If you prefer to learn about the quirky side of the charming Eastfjords, you can visit Petra's Stone and Mineral Collection . It has a mind-boggling collection of minerals hand-picked around the region by the museum's founder, Petra, who started collecting stones in 1946 and continued to do so until she passed away in 2012, but her legacy lives on in this homely museum.

• Read more: 12 Amazing Towns to Visit in Iceland's Eastfjords

You will spend the night in your accommodation in the largest town in the east, Egilsstadir .

The lake is famous for its volcanic landscapes and an abundance of geothermal activity.

The Namaskard hot springs is a site characterized by its barren landscape, which is devoid of vegetation due to the heat beneath the earth. Despite its stark appearance, the area is anything but dull. The earth is streaked with vivid colors, ranging from red, orange, yellow, and green, created by the elements brought up with the steam.

Namaskard is home to boiling mud pools, steaming vents, and hot springs, providing a unique opportunity to witness the raw power of Iceland's geothermal activity up close. Visitors can stroll along the boardwalks and trails, taking in the otherworldly scenery and the (admittedly) pungent aroma of sulfur in the air.

Additionally, you can go see the foreboding Dimmuborgir lava rock formations. This natural wonder features an otherworldly terrain of lava formations, caves, and towering volcanic rock pillars. The name Dimmuborgir translates to "dark fortress," and it's easy to see why, as the area's formations resemble the ruins of ancient castles.

Visitors can explore the area on foot along well-marked trails, taking in the surreal landscape and the natural beauty of the surrounding area.

Then spend the night in the Myvatn region and get ready for day six!

Then take a drive through the Jokulsargljufur part of Vatnajokull National Park and visit the fascinating Asbyrgi canyon (seen above), a giant horseshoe-shaped indentation in the landscape. According to local legend, this canyon was formed when Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse of Odin, stepped on the ground.

Whatever its origins may be, all we know is that it's a beautiful place to visit!

The movie buffs reading this might recognize it from the 2012 sci-fi blockbuster "Prometheus," directed by Ridley Scott, as it was featured in the opening sequence of the film.

Next, head to the northern town of Husavik , unofficially known as the "Whale-Watching Capital of Europe."

From Husavik, embark on a trip to the northern waters of Skjalfandi bay to spot some of these magnificent sea creatures. If you're interested in whale watching, there are two options available. You can either take a traditional whale-watching tour on a sailboat or opt for a smaller RIB boat tour with additional puffin watching , which allows you to get even closer to these spectacular marine mammals.

Once you've gotten your fill of watching whales and bathing in geothermal waters, head to the town of Akureyri, where you'll be staying for the night.

Take a stroll in the charming downtown area, explore the greenery at the Akureyri Botanical Gardens  and visit the famous Akureyri church , which is impossible to miss, as it's located on top of a high hill in the center of town.

Before you leave the area, consider adding some activities to your day. If you haven't gone whale watching yet, you can go for a whale-watching tour from Akureyri harbor.

• Read more: 13 Best Things to Do in Akureyri

Alternatively, explore the natural sites of the surrounding area on a horseback riding tour, which is a great way to get to know one of Iceland's treasures, the friendly Icelandic horse.

Then, drive through the stunning mountainous region of Trollaskagi. Stop by the old fishing village of Siglufjordur where you can visit its Herring Era Museum.

Spend the night in the nearby town of Saudarkrokur.

On the way, you can enjoy the scenic rolling hills of Vatnsdalsholar and take a slight detour to see the impressive Hvitserkur rock formation, just off the shoreline of Hunafjordur bay.

Consider stopping at Eiriksstadir , a longhouse and the home of the great voyager Erik the Red , who was the first European to settle in Greenland and gave it its name. He's also known for being the father of Leif Erikson , the first European to sail to North America.

• Read more: Eiríksstaðir Long House in West Iceland

Take a short trip to Sugandisey, a small island that is accessible on foot from the harbor, and enjoy the panoramic views of the town, the sea, and the surrounding mountains.

While at the harbor, you can go on a fascinating boat tour in the bay of Breidafjordur which has so many islands that they are considered, as the saying goes, "uncountable." While on the boat, you can enjoy some sushi made with fresh fish from the bay.

• Read more: The Viking Sushi Adventure

This glacier has long fascinated Icelanders, as it can be seen across the bay from Reykjavik on clear days. Stories of mysterious activity and even aliens have been reported near this glacier. It was also featured in the classic sci-fi novel "Journey to the Center of the Earth" by Jules Verne as the entrance to Earth's core.

There are many other beautiful attractions nearby, including Djupalonssandur beach and the picturesque towns of Hellnar and Arnarstapi .

Some say it's the most photographed mountain in Iceland. As there is no way to measure that accurately, all we can say is that it's very beautiful to look at!

Spend the night at a charming accommodation on Snaefellsnes peninsula.

Borgarnes happens to be the former home of Egill Skalla-Grímsson , one of Iceland's greatest heroes of the Viking era, who was both a strong warrior and a remarkable poet.

Next, don't miss the Deildartunguhver hot spring , which boasts the highest flow rate in Europe. Further along, make sure to check out the enchanting Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls.

Photo from Inside the Volcano Thrihnukagigar Tour

For the most adventurous travelers, you can embark on an "Inside the Volcano" tour , where you can descend slowly into the colorful magma chamber of the dormant Thrihnukagigur volcano.

If you have time, go on an exhilarating caving tour of the Vidgelmir lava tubes or explore the awe-inspiring man-made ice tunnels of Langjokull glacier .

Photo from  Exhilarating 2.5 Hour Into the Glacier Ice Tunnel Tour of Langjokull

If you're a history buff, take a detour to Snorrastofa, a medieval research institute in Reykholt, where Snorri Sturluson, one of Iceland's most prominent historical figures, wrote the famous Edda, which contains most of our knowledge about Norse mythology today.

Before spending your last night in Reykjavik, you can take a short break at Fossatun , there you will find a waterfall that, according to legend, is guarded by a troll giantess named Drifa.

• Read more: The Trolls of West Iceland

Once you've visited all the sites you wanted (and maybe more), you can check in at your accommodation in Reykjavik and enjoy a nice meal downtown.

Keep in mind that you need to return your rental car at Keflavik Airport before heading home.

If you have some extra time before your flight, there are plenty of activities to do in Reykjavik, such as visiting the Whales of Iceland exhibition or experiencing the FlyOver Iceland simulation ride .

If you have some souvenir shopping left to do, you can head to Laugavegur street and buy something unique for your friends and family.

Sky Lagoon is located about a 10-15 minute drive from Reykjavik's city center, while the Blue Lagoon is located closer to the airport and takes about 30 minutes to drive from there to Keflavik Airport.

If you want to explore the wonders of Iceland using this 10-day itinerary, book the  10-day Ring Road self-drive tour now!

Popular hotels

Skuggi hotel reykjavík by keahotels, storm hotel by keahotels, hotel klettur.

If you want to get the full Icelandic experience and leave no stone unturned, this epic 14 day self-drive tour of the complete Ring Road & the Westfjords is the perfect road trip for you.

This 14-day itinerary takes you to all the major destinations along the Ring Road, which circles the entire island, exploring both the highly popular Golden Circle and the South Coast while also visiting the less visited Eastfjords and Lake Myvatn.

But that's not all, since the Ring Road drives right past the majestic Westfjords in the northwestern corner of Iceland, most travelers don't get to experience the rugged natural beauty of this part of the country. However, this unforgettable road trip takes you deep into this remote part of Iceland and includes a ferry ride over to the Snaefellsnes peninsula.

If you're willing to embark on a journey you'll never forget, this is the trip for you.

Same as above .

Now it's time to embark on a day trip through the south coast of Iceland and marvel at the beautiful Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls.

These two waterfalls are among Iceland's most photographed natural wonders, and there's no wonder! They are both absolutely stunning and conveniently located close to each other.

Next, proceed towards the Solheimajokull glacier , where you can engage in some adventure sports such as glacier hiking or ice climbing . Alternatively, head to the Myrdalsjokull glacier for an exciting ice cave tour .

Also, don't miss out on the puffin colony on the nearby cliffs during summer, so keep an eye out for these adorable birds.

• Read more: Extremely Dangerous Waves by Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Spend the night in the village of Vik (which simply translates to "Bay") and get ready for tomorrow's journey.

You might even catch the attention of some curious seals that occasionally can be seen swimming around in the lagoon.

Spend the night in a hotel of your choice near the Skaftafell Reserve.

We're heading to the gorgeous Eastfjords, where idyllic villages, breathtaking fjords, and lush green fields await. Keep your eyes peeled for some of Iceland's most incredible wildlife which can be found there, including adorable puffins, majestic reindeer, sly foxes, and playful seals.

We'll be taking a ride up and down the mountains as we venture through each fjord, each with its unique and jaw-droppingly beautiful landscape. Get ready for some incredible photo opportunities with waterfalls cascading down hillsides and panoramic views that will take your breath away.

• Read more: The Serpent in Lagarfljot Lake in East Iceland

Before hitting the hay, you can get nice and relaxed by visiting the Vok Baths , a wonderful geothermal spa that features warm infinity pools that float on Lake Urridavatn.

If you're up to it, you can have a swim in the lake itself or take it easy and enjoy the warm geothermal water with a refreshing beverage in your hand.

At Lake Myvatn, you can opt for a visit to the Myvatn Nature Baths , a lovely geothermal pool facility with wonderful views of the lake.

• Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Lake Myvatn

Nearby the lake, you also have the opportunity to visit the Grjotagja hot spring cave , which was famously featured in a romantic scene of the HBO series Game of Thrones.

Photo by Dave Herring

You also shouldn't miss the staggering Dettifoss waterfall in the Jokulsargljufur area of Vatnajokull National Park. This is the second most powerful waterfall in Europe. Observing the sheer power of the constant water flow and the thundering sound it makes will definitely leave an impression.

If you're up for even more things to see, the mud pits at Krafla are also a sight to behold.

You can upgrade your tour to include a puffin-watching segment and see these so-called "parrots of the sea" as they dive towards the ocean looking for fish.

After your adventure-filled day, cross over to the fjord of Eyjafjordur and stay the night in the fun town of Akureyri.

If you want to bathe in warm geothermal waters surrounded by trees and greenery, go visit the wonderful Forest Lagoon , a hot spring spa located just outside Akureyri, which opened in 2021.

• Learn more: The Horrific Viking Battles in Skagafjordur, North Iceland

Along the way, stop to explore the old herring-fishing village of Siglufjordur and bathe in the stunning scenery of Hofsos' swimming pool .

When you're done enjoying your lovely day in the north of Iceland, you will end your day in the cozy town of Saudarkrokur.

Along the way, you will be treated to breathtaking views of the rolling hills of Vatnsdalsholar, the natural fortress of Borgarvirki , and the striking Hvitserkur monolith.

For history and folklore enthusiasts, the Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft Museum in Holmavik (seen above) and the Sorcerer's Cottage in Bjarnarfjordur , just 16 miles (25 km) from Holmavik , are must-visit attractions.

• Read more: The Museum of Icelandic Witchcraft and Sorcery

And if you're looking to relax, consider a dip in the natural hot springs of Drangsnes .

Your day ends in the enchanting Strandir area , where you will spend the night amidst breathtaking scenery. Get ready for more excitement and adventure in the days to come!

Photo by Tamara Bitter

On the ninth day of your journey, you will continue along the Westfjords and head toward the town of Isafjordur, all the while driving along the zig-zagging fjords along the coast.

The mountains that line up closely along the shore are some of the oldest in Iceland, dating back to 18 million years ago. Keep an eye out for whales feeding near the shore, as this area boasts some of the best whale-spotting opportunities in Iceland.

Once you reach Isafjordur , take in the town's tranquil and remote atmosphere, where you will spend the night.

Photo by Bernharður Guðmundsson

After waking up in the town of Isafjordur, begin day ten by making your way to Dyrafjordur bay , where you can explore the trail of Gisli Sursson , the Viking saga hero who became an outlaw in these parts.

You can also visit the nearby Skrudur botanical garden if you have an interest in plants and greenery.

From there, you can head to Hrafnseyri to visit the museum dedicated to Jón Sigurðsson , a prominent national hero who served as president of the Althing and led Iceland's independence movement in the 19th century. His image can be found on the Icelandic 500 krona bill.

Sometimes called "the Jewel of the Westfjords," Dynjandi is approximately 328 feet (100 meters) high, falling in a trapezoidal shape. It is 98 feet (30 meters) wide at the top and 196 feet (60 meters) at the bottom.

• Read more: The Magnificent Dynjandi Waterfall - The Jewel of the Westfjords

Its dramatic shape and size are sure to take your breath away, making it almost intimidating to see in person.

Photo by Frugal Flyer

Then, make your way to the remarkable Latrabjarg cliff (seen above), which stands at an impressive 1,457 feet (444 meters) and is often considered the westernmost point of Europe.

Here, you can observe Iceland's diverse species of nesting seabirds, including puffins and razorbills, up close.

For the night, stay in the Vesturbyggd area near the town of Patreksfjordur .

Stykkisholmur is a quaint fishing town famous for its colorful houses and excellent seafood restaurants. With its rich folklore and history, it's definitely worth exploring.

For your overnight stay, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the Snaefellsnes area.

Day 12: Exploring "Iceland in Miniature"

Take a full day to thoroughly explore the area, visiting any spots you may have missed on your previous day, such as Mount Kirkjufell, seen above.

You can embark on scenic hikes through the beautiful natural surroundings or explore the intriguing rock formations and expansive sands near the Djupalonssandur black beach . With an array of hikes and activities to choose from, there's plenty to fill a day with excitement.

• Read more: Djupalonssandur & Dritvik - The Black Lava Pearl Beach on Snaefellsnes

You may also consider embarking on a tour to ascend the mighty Snaefellsjokull glacier . Departing from the charming town of Grundarfjordur , a specially-built vehicle will transport you to the base of the glacier, followed by a thrilling journey to the top in a snowcat.

Standing atop a glacier that blankets a volcano is an unforgettable experience that promises to leave you with lasting memories and exceptional photos.

There is also the possibility of exploring the mysterious Vatnshellir cave system , one of Iceland's older lava tubes that can be explored. The caves were formed in a volcanic eruption 8,000 years ago!

• Read more: The Colourful Vatnshellir Lava Cave on Snaefellsnes Peninsula

At the end of the day, you will spend another night in the captivating Snaefellsnes area.

For those with a keen interest in history, a trip to Snorrastofa in Reykholt , the medieval research institute where Snorri Sturluson wrote Heimskringla in the 13th century, a collection of sagas about Old Norse kings. He is also known for having written the Edda, the greatest single source of knowledge about Norse mythology we have to this day.

Photo by Jabbi, from Wikimedia Creative Commons

While heading back to Reykjavik, you have the option to take an adventurous caving tour in Vidgelmir lava tubes . On the 'Inside the Volcano' tour , you can even choose to descend into a vast, beautiful magma chamber of a dormant volcano.

On the way to Reykjavik, you can visit the Hvammsvik Hot Springs , a lovely geothermal spa that opened in 2022. It has wonderful views of Hvalfjordur bay and offers multiple pools of varying temperatures, including ocean plunge pools which are partially immersed in the sea.

You can opt to visit the Blue Lagoon on their final day (if you haven't already) and take the opportunity to unwind and relax before heading to the airport.

If you are interested in this journey of a lifetime, book this epic 14-day road trip now!

Taking a road trip around Iceland, no matter how many days you have, is an unforgettable experience.

The ever-changing landscapes, ethereal landmarks, and quaint towns make it one of the best countries in the world to see from the road.

These five options above will help you make the very most of your time here and you can tailor them to your preferences.

A road trip around Iceland is always spectacular and we hope our top 5 road trips in Iceland help you to make the most of your time on our wondrous shores. We’d love to answer any questions and hear about your experiences in the comments below.

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• Oct 3, 2022

The Ultimate Iceland Itinerary for 5 Days

Just a couple of days in a destination is rarely enough to do all the things you want to do and see the things you want to see. A week is short, 5 days is pushing it. Luckily, you can fit all the essentials in an Iceland Itinerary for 5 days, may it be a complete round-trip of the island or a series of excursions in the south.

Cramming in an entire holiday in only a couple of days is easier said than done. You need to know exactly what you want to see and where you want to go before you can even begin to plan a trip shorter than a week. Luckily, we put together an Iceland itinerary for 5 days, regardless of if you want to go around the entire nation, or simply enjoy the south.

Are 5 Days Enough to Visit Iceland?

If you have a limited time and are not in the mood to sit around and relax, then 5 days is just enough. If you want to see Iceland and have some downtime on your travels, we suggest not taking an Iceland itinerary for 5 days.

In the case you are 5 days in Iceland in the summer, traveling around is easier due to the long days and the mild weather. However, everything will likely be a bit more expensive, so it will be hard to travel Iceland cheaply . If you drive in the winter, know that snow tires in Iceland are mandatory by law from the 1st of November on.

Taking a Road Trip in Iceland is the Best

The land of fire and ice is also the land of adventure and extraordinary experiences. No adventure has been had while staying still in only one place! In Iceland, the best way to see all the amazing things and have the best experiences is to drive yourself. Then, make sure you have the best road trip car for your Iceland trip .

Even though we suggest a long stay, having a week-long holiday is normally the way to go . 2 days are reserved for traveling in and out, which leaves only 5 days in Iceland to explore the country. Luckily, we have a couple of suggestions for an Iceland itinerary in just 5 days. Depending on which season you come to this magical paradise, you should focus on different routes to get the most out of your Iceland road trip in 5 days.

And if you still don't know how many days you'll stay in Iceland, don't miss our other itineraries:

Iceland in 7 days

Iceland in 10 days

Iceland in 14 days

Itinerary for Driving Around Iceland in 5 Days

If you have the time, we always suggest taking a trip around the island. For the Iceland itinerary that is for 5 days, the normal suggestion will always be to take you around the south coast . If you are adamant about driving around the country, we have a plan for you. This trip takes you on the clockwise lap around the country, and is not an Iceland itinerary in 5 days that you do with kids.

You either arrive in Reykjavík on this day, or you woke up in the city with an urge to explore. Make sure your car is waiting for you and gather the supplies you want to bring with you. Water, snacks, and something to eat with a little bit of substance is always a good idea. Get ready for a long day. The goal of today is to reach Akureyri .

Your first stop will be Glymur waterfall , the second-tallest waterfall in Iceland . This one requires you to get out of the car for a short hike to the waterfall, making sure you start your journey off with a nice, relaxing hike. From Reykjavík to Glymur parking, it’s going to be about an hour, and then another hour to spend at the falls.

Your next stop on the Iceland itinerary for these 5 days will be a two-and-a-half-hour drive north to the Hvitserkur rock formations . For this location, you don’t need to hike or walk around. This is the perfect place to have a quick stop, stretch your legs, and have a snack.

After that, you are going to start the 2,5-hour long journey to Akureyri . On the way, you should stop for a late lunch in one of the towns you’re driving through. A hot tip is one of the restaurants in Blönduos. When you arrive in Akureyri it should be somewhere in the late afternoon, so you can get to a late check-in and hit the town for a nice dinner.

Highlights of the day:

Glymur Waterfall

Hvitserkur Rock Formations

Waking up today, you will have a shorter drive with more stops. To have time for today’s activities, you’ll need to leave Akureyri before 9 a.m. You can do this leg in two ways: via Husavik , or via Myvatn .

When you drive around Iceland in 5 days, it doesn’t leave much for tours and such. However, if you cut the Akureyri stroll short and hit the roads early (around 9 a.m.), you will have time to catch a 2-hour whale-watching tour in Husavik. If you’re crammed for time and still want to spot some whales, rather look at their amazing whale museum. The trip from Akureyri to Husavik is about an hour.

If you choose to go via Myvatn instead, you can take a walk in the mythical Dimmuborgir and swim in the Myvatn Nature Baths . If you rather want a slow start to this part of the Iceland itinerary you can do in 5 days, you can always stay in Akureyri. There, you can enjoy the town instead of either going whale-watching or taking a dip in the hot springs. The trip from Akureyri to Myvatn will be about an hour long.

Regardless of what you choose, your next stop will be the Dettifoss waterfall in the northernmost part of the Vatnajökull National Park . This is the largest waterfall in Iceland and one of the largest waterfalls in Europe. The trip from Myvatn or Husavik to Dettifoss will take about 1 hour and 20 minutes and you will have done the majority of the Diamond Circle .

From Dettifoss, your next stop is Egilsstadir on the east coast. This trip will be roughly 2 hours and 10 minutes, depending on the state of the road. You should arrive in Egilsstadir in the late afternoon and have just enough time to check into your hotel and find something to eat.

Husavik/Myvatn

Dimmuborgir

Dettifoss Waterfall

Vatnajökull National Park

Egilsstadir

Your Iceland Itinerary for 5 days will have less driving and more sightseeing from now on. The goal of the day is to get to Höfn . We suggest starting this day off by visiting the geothermal baths in Egilsstadir , to relax the muscles after all the driving. To have time to comfortably reach Höfn, we recommend you leave Egilsstadir no later than 12.

On your way to Höfn, it’s important to keep following Road 1. This will take your trip in and out of the fjords in the southeastern part of Iceland. Along this route, we suggest you visit Hafnarnesviti, the small, orange lighthouse in the middle of nowhere. A bit further south, in Djupivogur , you can visit the outdoors arts sculpture “ Eggs in Merry Bay ”. There you will see 34 huge replicas of eggs from nesting birds in the area.

At the end of this leg of the best Iceland itinerary for 5 days, you will likely arrive in Höfn in the midafternoon. The trip from Egilsstadir to Höfn is about 3 hours of driving and just over an hour extra for the stops.

Geothermal Baths at Egilsstadir

Hafnarnesviti Lighthouse

“Eggs in Merry Bay” Arts Sculpture

Vatnajökull national park is the big attraction for the second last day of the leg. From Höfn, you have an hour’s drive to Jökulsarlon where you can spend the day up until lunch. Here, you can go exploring Diamond Beach and admiring the massive icebergs floating around in the water.

After that, we recommend you drive to Skaftafell , just 40 minutes southwest on Ring Road 1. You can then continue to Vik where you can check out the rock formation Reynisdrangar and the most famous black sand beach in Iceland.

Jökulsarlon

Diamond Beach

Reynisdrangar Black Sand Beach

The last leg of this trip is the easiest one and goes to Reykjavík via the Blue Lagoon . Along the way, you will be able to see amazing sights like Seljalandsfoss waterfall, and Skogafoss waterfall. If you have the time, we suggest you visit the Solheimasandur plane wreck right after leaving Vik.

The entire route from Vik to Reykjavík via Blue Lagoon is going to take about 3,5 hours of only driving. Account for at least two hours in the Blue Lagoon and another two hours for visiting the plane wreck.

When you arrive in Reykjavík after this trip, it should be fairly late, and you should get some well-deserved rest. If your plane leaves today, you can skip the sightseeing and Blue Lagoon to catch your plane at Keflavik early instead.

Blue Lagoon

South Iceland in 5 Days

If you are in Reykjavík and not in the mood to travel around the entire island, you can always travel along the south coast and see all the amazing things there are to see there. This is the best Iceland itinerary for 5 days you can have if you are really short on time, but still want to relax and not rush through your holiday.

We will assume that you are ready to rock and roll on the first day of the itinerary. So, we will start with the crown jewel of short road trips in Iceland: The Golden Circle . The Golden Circle is the most popular road trip route to take . It is also a must if you stay close to the capital and want to see many of the things that Icelanders are proud of.

Here you will first go to Thingvellir National Park and experience the rich, Icelandic history. This will be the perfect start to your Iceland itinerary for 5 days in southern Iceland. After that, you will pay a visit to Gullfoss waterfall and the Geysir geothermal area. You can then return to Reykjavík via Selfoss to catch sights like Kerid Crater, Fridheimar, and the Reykjadalur thermal river.

Thingvellir National Park

Gullfoss Waterfall

Geysir Geothermal Area

Kerid Crater

Reykjadalur Thermal River

Today will be a traveling day and the goal will be to get to Jökulsarlon in Vatnajökull National Park and get on one of the many boat tours in the lagoon. After that, we suggest you enjoy Diamond Beach and start moving towards Vik for accommodation.

Today will be the most jam-packed day of your Iceland self-drive for 5 days. Starting in Vik , your first stop will be to drive to the western side of Reynisfjara black sand beach to Dyrholaey. From there, you can see both Reynifjara and the “endless black beach”.

The next two stops on the trip will be the plane wreck at Solheimasandur beach and Solheimajökull glacier. These will both take some time, so you won’t have time to do anything else that day. Your town for accommodation and dinner will be Selfoss.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Plane Wrech at Solheimasandur Beach

Solheimajökull Glacier

The Blue Lagoon is the aim of the day . It’s roughly 1 hour and 10 minutes from Sellfoss, so you will have plenty of time to explore Eyarbakki, Ölfus, Strandkirkja, and Grindavik. In the area around the Blue Lagoon, you can explore the newly erupted volcanoes if you feel adventurous. After that, your next stop will be Reykjavík.

Strandkirkja

If you are not leaving today, or leave only at night, then this is the perfect day to stroll through the city and explore it on foot as a nice and calm ending to your itinerary.

Relaxed stroll through the city of Reykjavík

What to Pack for 5 Days in Iceland

We’ve gone through how to spend 5 days in Iceland, and the most important part to remember here is that it’s only five days. Packing light is the name of the game , and you should only take what you can comfortably fit in the car with you.

When it comes to the Iceland itinerary for 5 days in the winter, we strongly suggest packing some pretty warm clothes. If you go in the summer, a thin jacket and some t-shirts usually do the trick.

Hiking boots are a must for some of the stops , and you should always bring a water flask. Check out our Iceland road trip packing list for some good tips on what to bring.

Get Started!

Now you know what the best Iceland itinerary for 5 days will look like if you are out for adventure, or if you still want to avoid the stress. Your next big step will be to choose which car to rent in Iceland and start your journey!

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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

Want to see more of ICELAND?

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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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Destinations , Europe , Featured , Iceland / January 30, 2018

The Ultimate South Iceland Road Trip

Iceland has skyrocketed in popularity as a tourist destination in recent years, with numbers more than quadrupling since 2010. Most visitors are drawn to the country’s striking natural wonders as we were for our recent five-day South Iceland road trip. The words “pretty” and “amazing” stopped having meaning we used them so often during our stunning 5 days in Iceland. With so much awe-inspiring scenery waiting around every turn, I must say it is one of the few places in the world that has truly taken my breath away. 

Line Oldager

Line standing in front of the little-known marvel, Bruarfoss in Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

5 Days in Iceland

When to travel to iceland.

Summer is the peak season for visitors to Iceland with around 30% also now touching down in Winter.

We decided to spend 5 days in Iceland in Autumn (late September) which meant there was a greater chance we would see the Northern lights.

While all the sights were still accessible, avoiding peak season meant we also avoided the biggest tourist swell. 

From October, several areas and roads are closed due to bad weather conditions.

Walking a glacier in Iceland should be on your bucket list. Image © Line Oldager

South Iceland Road Trip

I travelled to Iceland with a good friend of mine from Los Angeles .

With only 5 days in Iceland, we wouldn’t have made it to all the sights we wanted to see without a lot of careful planning.

Following this self-guided South Coast Iceland itinerary means, you will spend a lot of time driving. You’ll eat lunch in the car or at a scenic rest stop. But you will also cover a lot of spectacular Iceland sites.

Iceland Itinerary 5 Days

Thingvellir National Park |  Bruarfoss |  Geysir & Strokkur |  Gullfoss |  The Secret Lagoon

Landmannalaugar – In the Iceland Highlands

Fja ð r á rglj ú fur Canyon |  Hike on Sv í nafellsj ö kull glacier in Vatnaj ö kull National Park

J ö kuls á rl ó n |  Svartifoss in Skaftafell

Hj ö rleifsh ö f ð i Cave |  Skogafoss |  Seljalandsfoss |  Gljufurarfoss

How to Get to Iceland

We landed at Reykjavik international airport late in the evening. From there we took a Grayline transit bus to Reykjavik city (a 40-minute drive) and checked into a hotel, excited to start our Iceland adventure.

The first stop on Line’s incredible Iceland road trip, Thingvellir National Park. Image © Line Oldager

5 Days in Iceland: Day 1

The golden circle and the northern lights.

We got up early, excited to get started, and picked up our rental car; a regular 4×4. If you want to drive into the highlands of Iceland you will need a 4×4. Book one with high suspension as you might be crossing small unbridged rivers. 

After picking up our rental car, we went grocery shopping so we would have something to eat on the road. There are not many shops on this 5-day road trip around Iceland, so make sure you carry enough food and water with you and ensure you fill up with gas when you pass through a village.

We chose the road from Reykjavik towards The Golden Circle, which is a sightseeing route near Reykjavik where you’ll find several sites very close to each other.

Weaving through the landscape in the Thingvellir National Park, Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

Thingvellir National Park

The first stop on The Golden Circle route is Thingvellir National Park. Here, the two tectonic plates; ”the North American” and the ”Eurasian” plates have created a massive crack in the landscape.

You can take a guided dive in between the plates, the Silfra fissure , but this will take about three hours of your time and you’ll need more than a day to cover the Golden Circle as well.

The little known beautiful waterfall Bruarfoss, Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

Our next stop was Bruarfoss. Getting there was a bit tricky as Bruarfoss isn’t well-known, just yet. But, we had seen pictures of this beautiful waterfall and had to see it in person.

From Reykjavik, driving towards the Geysir on route 37, take a left on a road, which leads up to a summerhouse area. The turn is just after route 355 connects to route 37. When driving up towards the cottage area, there is a small parking area. Park there and walk further up the road, keeping to the left. You will come to an open area with bushes. 

Keep walking straight on the small path between the bushes. Then, you will arrive at this sign by a bridge. Cross the bridge and stay on the path. You will find several paths between the bushes, which are higher than yourself.

Ignore them and just keep going, but stay to the left. Keep going left. Then, you’ll suddenly hear the noise of a cascading waterfall. The walk takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

Once you park in the small carpark walk keep walking straight. You will arrive at this sign with by a crossing bridge that takes you to Bruarfoss. Image © Line Oldager

Cross the bridge and keep to the left and walk in between the bushes towards the waterfall. Image © Line Oldager

The icy blue colours of the river running through a deep cut in the landscape were so mesmerising that we spent far more time at Bruarfoss than we had planned. The waterfall in itself wasn’t spectacular, but it was that blue melting water and rough stream that was so fascinating.

We went down to take a sip of the water and more pictures before leaving.  As this waterfall is not well-known yet you will likely only be enjoying this scenery with a handful of tourists.

The blue water appears to melt the surrounding landscape at the stunning Bruarfoss, Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

Line and friend had the gorgeous Bruarfoss waterfall all to themselves. Image © Line Oldager

Geysir and Strokkur

Geysir (where all geysers get their name) isn’t a very active geyser these days. But Strokkur, which is right next to it, goes off every 5-10 minutes so you are guaranteed a show. I had never seen a geyser before, so this was my first time experiencing this phenomenon.

I have to say that after two-three “explosions” I was ready to move on. Though it was definitely fun to watch and I wouldn’t have been without it. I also stood in the steam of another inactive geyser hole and kept warm while looking at the geyser which I would recommend too.

Breathtaking Bruarfoss in South Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

Stokkur puts on a show for visitors next to Geysir. Image © Line Oldager

Gullfoss was the third stop on our Golden Circle trip. A massive waterfall, Gullfoss is a very popular stop, so expect to come across a lot of tourists and photographers there.

You can get very close to the waterfall, but make sure you have a rain jacket, rain pants, and rain boots to wear as you will get wet.

We were not fully dressed for that occasion so we stopped as soon as we could feel the wet mist coming at us. I wished we had known this, cause I think it would have been a fun experience. 

Gullfoss is one of the most popular sites in Iceland, so expect to encounter other tourists here. Image © Line Oldager

The Secret Lagoon

The Secret Lagoon was our final stop on Day One. We could not wait to take a dip in the hot water and relax after a long and wonderful day on the road.

Situated just off route 30 going south towards Selfoss, a native Icelander recommended we go here instead of the very popular Blue Lagoon.

It was pitch dark when we went into the hot lagoon. After a long day, it is just what our bodies and minds needed. Suddenly we heard a gasp from some of the other guests in the lagoon. We looked around and then mirrored everyone else and looked up. The Northern Lights were dancing above our heads.

My friend and I looked at each other and couldn’t believe our luck. Above us was a long stretch of green lights dancing before our eyes. This was a perfect end to an amazing first day in Iceland.  We spent the night in Selfoss.

Landmannalaugar is situated in the beautiful highlands of Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

5 Days in Iceland: Day 2

The iceland highlands.

Landmannalaugar is situated in the highlands of Iceland. There are two roads leading into Landmannalaugar area, one will get you there faster but it’s also rougher. The other is a bit longer, but better maintained and that’s the one we chose, entering Landmannalaugar from the north.

The road is predominantly dirt and gravel, so expect lots of bumps on the way. The area resembles what I imagine a newly discovered planet would be like; No trees or bushes, only grass, and moss.

The dirt is black from the ashes and in some places it can be hard to see the road markings. So, I would highly recommend only driving in this area in the daylight, or you might get lost. There are almost no signs.

Expansive landscape in Landmannalaugar in the highlands of Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

The landscape in the highlands is breathtaking. You will feel like stopping at every corner. There are several places where you can stop and enjoy the scenery, but don’t drive off-road, as you will destroy the fauna. Stick to the designated viewpoints. The drive-in took about 3 hours because we stopped so many times. The return route took about two hours.

Landmannalaugar resembles what I imagine a newly discovered planet would be like. | © Line Oldager

Our final destination in Landmannalaugar was a campground. If you have enough time, you can camp in your car or tent and spend several days hiking around the area. We only had time for a short hour-long Landmannalaugar hike up a mountain so we could get back on the road before dark. Even if you are short on time, try to spend at least a day in this area. It’s the most unusual piece of nature I have ever seen.

The breathtaking landscape in the Iceland highlands. Image © Line Oldager

We drove back towards Selfoss and further down route 1 to a small town called Vik where we spent the night. We settled in with a beer before bed to help bring us back to Earth, after feeling like we had spent the day on Mars.

Line enjoying the view at Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, South Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

5 Days in Iceland: Day 3

Up on the ice.

Our first stop on day three was the Fja ð r á rglj ú fur Canyon, a 100 meters deep canyon that stretches two kilometres long. It is narrow and sheer and there is a beautiful waterfall at the end flowing into a deep blue pool.

There is a light layer of green fauna on the rocks, as if it had snowed, only with green moss.  We spent about an hour here, before heading towards our next stop; a hike on a glacier.

The Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is a 100 m deep canyon that stretches two kilometres long. It is narrow and sheer with a beautiful waterfall at the end. Image © Line Oldager

Sv í nafellsj ö kull Glacier Hike

We drove towards Skaftafell, which is an area in Vatnaj ö kull National Park to hike the Sv í nafellsj ö kull glacier. A guided tour with Mountain Guides cost about 33.800ISK (about $AUD42) for two people for a four-hour glacier hike.

An incredible Svínafellsjökull glacier hike is a must while in Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

As we approached the Skaftafell Visitors Centre the weather wasn’t great. It was foggy and raining. We thought the hike might be cancelled but the guide at the visitor centre said it was going to clear up.

We got our gear on, went on a bus towards the glacier and as we stepped onto the glacier with our crampons strapped to our feet, the sun started to shine on us. Again, we couldn’t believe our luck.

Line exploring the ice during a hike on the Svínafellsjökull glacier in Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

Line and her friend hang in a temporary Moulin in the ice. Image © Line Oldager

Our guide was pleased with the whole group and our speed, so he said he was going to take us on the longer tour. We got to see where the glacier had once been, only a few years back.

Now, there were only pools of brown water and massive rocks carried by the glacier ice. The guide for our group had been hiking this glacier for many years, and he said the melting speed was only increasing. We were seeing physical evidence that climate change is real. 

We came across a “Moulin” or a well-like shaft that forms within a glacier. Moulins can be small or large and melt away within weeks. Luckily, we were fortunate enough to see one and walk through it. It was a breathtaking moment. The clear blue ice, which surrounded us, was truly amazing.

After a fantastic experience on the Sv í nafellsj ö kull glacier, we drove to Hotel Laki . There aren’t many places to stay around Vatnaj ö kull National Park. The hotel was fine, but some of the rooms were clearly put together very fast to keep up with the demand for accommodation for tourists.

We paid about 18.000ISK for a twin bedroom. Normally, you would expect more of the room for a price like this, but in Iceland, those are the prices you should expect for a standard hotel room.

The stunning glacier lagoon, Jökulsárlón is a photographer’s dream. Image © Line Oldager

5 Days in Iceland: Day 4

Glacier lagoon and waterfalls.

We had a slow start on day four. We were tired after the first few days of fun experiences and lots of walking. We slept in and had a nice big breakfast at the hotel. The breakfast buffet at Hotel Laki was very good. There were many healthy options, they even had freshly made fruit smoothies.

A striking scene at Jökulsárlón, the glacier lagoon in South Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

Our first stop on day four was J ö kuls á rl ó n, the glacier lagoon. This is a popular spot, so expect lots of tourist buses when you arrive.

Here you’ll see pieces of the glacier, waiting to be carried out into the sea. Some of the ice blocks are lying on the black sand beach, looking like diamonds; a photographer’s dream. 

Unfortunately, the weather was really bad during our visit so our view was impeded by fog and rain. Nonetheless, the glacier ice in the lagoon was very pretty and absolutely picture-worthy.

The vibrant fauna leads the way to Svartifoss in South Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

This waterfall is situated in the same area as where we went on our glacier hike: Skaftafell, Vatnaj ö kull National Park. Svartifoss is only half an hour hike into the national park from the Visitors Centre. You walk through lush fauna which in looks amazing in Autumn.

The columnar rocks at Svartifoss are formed from slow cooling lava. Image © Line Oldager

The waterfall is surrounded by columnar hexagonal formations, which are made when lava cools down slowly which then allows the rocks to crystalise.

That’s the theory, but looking at the results was something else. Laws of nature are hard to understand sometimes and this was one of those moments. It was incredible.  Walk down to the visitor centre by taking the alternate route on the other side of the river as you will pass the viewing platform. 

We settled back into the car, wet and cold, but happy to have made the journey up to Svartifoss and back. The day was over and we hurried to  Kirkjubæjarklaustur for the night.

Hjörleifshöfði Cave, Iceland offers the perfect panoramic vantage point with a little history thrown in. Image © Line Oldager

5 Days in Iceland: Day 5

The most amazing view.

On the final day of our South Iceland road trip, we planned to see three waterfalls (Skogafoss, Seljalandsfoss, and Gljufurarfoss, which were all on our way back to Reykjavik but we found enough time to visit Hj ö rleifsh ö f ð i Cave last-minute too which became one of the highlights of our trip.

The resting place of Iceland’s second settler, Hjörleifur Hróðmarsson at Hjörleifshöfði Cave. Image © Line Oldager

Hj ö rleifsh ö f ð i Cave

Hj ö rleifsh ö f ð i Cave is essentially a 221-metre-high rock, lying on the edge of the black sand beach. The directions on a board told us to walk up one way and down another way, clockwise.

The path is clearly marked, so don’t worry, you won’t get lost. On top of this rock is the resting place of Iceland second settler, Hj ö rleifur Hr óð marsson. He was the brother of Ing ó lfur Arnarson who was the first Viking who settled there around 874 AD.

As you hike up the rock, you get to enjoy the view of M ýrdalsjökull glacier, and Katla volcano. When reaching the top, you’ll see the sign next to the stone burial mound of Hj ö rleifur Hr óð marsson.

Surrounding it   is the most breathtaking 360-degree view featuring the glacier on one side and the black sand beach and ocean on the other. The landscape stretches as far as the eye can see. It was breathtaking and well worth the 40-minute climb up the rock.

The striking black sand beach at Hjörleifshöfði Cave. Image © Line Oldager

The amusing cave entrance that was shaped like Yoda. Image © Line Oldager

Walking down, we followed the narrow animal trails until we reached the remains of an old farmstead. The setting was noticeably peaceful. There wasn’t any wind, birds singing, or cars. Only absolute stillness. This is something, which we almost never experience these days, and it honestly felt a little strange at first.

We decided to take advantage and settled into the grass gazing at the view of the ocean while listening to complete silence. It was an experience which I wish I could go back to when the noise of the world is too much.

When we arrived at the bottom we were at the edge of the rock facing the sea and decided to walk onto the black sand beach. We noticed a peculiar cave. Once again, Iceland made us, not only drop our jaws but also laugh. The cave entrance was shaped like Yoda. It’s a fun place to take pictures, but there is nothing to see inside the cave.

Line at Skogafoss, one of three waterfalls she saw on the final day of the road trip. Image © Line Oldager

Water cascades off Skogafoss in Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

Skogafoss was the first of three waterfalls we would see on our last day. The waterfall is 60 metres high, often casting two rainbows nearby on sunny days. We walked up the stairs to see the waterfall from above, since we were pressed for time and we were happy we did as standing on the edge of the waterfall gave a better appreciation for the force the water generated, rushing over the cliff’s edge.

We only had to make one more stop since the last two waterfalls were in the same area with five minutes walk between.

Seljalandsfoss, is one of the most photographed waterfalls in Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss, is one of the most photographed waterfalls in Iceland. It is 65 metres high and the mist from the waterfall requires you to wear at least a raincoat if you want to get close, and you should get close. There is a path, which carries you right behind the waterfall.

You can watch the massive cascades of water dropping into the pool from behind the waterfall. We didn’t know it, but we had the perfect timing, cause when we got to the waterfall, the sky cleared and the sunset made the view complete.

I felt like standing there, watching the sunset on our last day in Iceland, but we had another waterfall to see, plus you get quite cold and wet standing behind a waterfall.

Gljufurarfoss

The next waterfall, Gljufurarfoss was hidden inside a canyon. We stood, peeking into the canyon, trying to see if we would walk inside without getting our feet soaked.

Of course, someone had carefully placed rocks to step on, all the way, so we made the journey inside the canyon to experience Gljufurarfoss, close up.

This waterfall was, luckily, not as powerful as Seljalandsfoss. If it had been, then we would have been soaked.

Bring a waterproof camera or bring your smartphone in a waterproof bag if you want to take pictures, otherwise, it will get very wet.

We watched the sunset completely while driving back to Reykjavik. Driving back with a feeling of being filled with adventure. We were left awestruck and grateful to be able to experience such magnificence and the very unique natural beauty of this country with just 5 days in Iceland. It is one place, that should be on your bucket list if it isn’t already.

Related: 25 Travel Tips for Iceland

Watching the sun gently set behind Seljalandsfoss, Iceland. Image © Line Oldager

Wear your rain gear to visit Gljufurarfoss, the waterfall hidden inside a canyon. Image © Line Oldager

Line Oldager is a Copenhagen local with a strong appetite for travel. Line spent 7 years travelling around the world including time studying Hospitality Management in Amsterdam and an internship with the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne, Australia. Based back in Denmark, Line is always planning the next international adventure.

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The Perfect Iceland Ring Road Itinerary in 5 Days 

Posted on Last updated: 05/12/2023

Categories ICELAND

A comprehensive Iceland 5 day itinerary for anyone wanting to see the best highlights of this epic country. This Iceland Ring Road itinerary will provide you with everything you need to help you make the most of your Iceland getaway.

Iceland is one of the best places to visit for so many reasons. With its jaw-dropping nature, friendly locals and endless activities, you can easily see why.

I love visiting Iceland because there is always something new to discover. But if you are limited on time or don’t want to miss the best locations, having an itinerary will help.

So here are my top recommendations for the perfect Iceland 5 day itinerary, to help you plan a trip to this beautiful country.

Table of Contents

• 1 Why visit Iceland?
• 2 Best time to do this Iceland Ring Road itinerary
• 3 How to get around in Iceland
• 4.1 Day 1 – Reykjavik & The Golden Circle
• 4.2 Day 2 – Vik
• 4.3 Day 3 – Hofn
• 4.4 Day 4 – Egilsstadir
• 4.5 Day 5 – Akureyri
• 5 If you have more than 5 days in Iceland
• 6 Iceland Travel Tips and FAQs
• 7 How to get to Iceland
• 8 Iceland 5 day Ring Road itinerary Final Thoughts

Why visit Iceland?

Visiting Iceland should be at the top of everyone’s bucket list!

Known as the land of ice and fire, it’s full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

If you’re looking for a dose of nature, Iceland is the place to be. The country’s diverse landscape consists of towering mountains, rugged coastlines, cascading waterfalls and black sand beaches. Not to mention the incredible Northern Lights that can be seen when the sky is clear. 

No matter what type of traveler you are, there’s something for everyone in Iceland. Whether you’re looking to take part in thrilling outdoor adventures or simply relax, you’ll find plenty of opportunities here.

Best time to do this Iceland Ring Road itinerary

If you’re planning a 5 day road trip around Iceland, the best time for your journey will depend on what kind of experience you’re looking for. The weather and driving conditions can vary depending on the season.

Visiting in the summer months (June – August) is when the days are the longest, and the weather is most pleasant. You’ll have more hours of daylight, and the roads are generally in good condition for driving. This makes it a great time to plan your road trip!

Winter (December – March) is an entirely different experience: you’ll find yourself in a magical winter wonderland with breathtaking views. If you’re looking for an adventure, this is the time to go. However, the roads can be treacherous at times.

For those who want the best of both worlds, consider booking your trip for March.

The days are still cold and snowy, but the roads are less icy compared to the winter months. This makes it easier to plan a safe road trip, while still getting to experience some of Iceland’s beautiful winter landscapes.

How to get around in Iceland

There are options available, but renting a car is the most convenient and economical way. Not only does it work out cheaper, but it also provides you more flexibility.

Plus, it’s a great way to avoid crowds and explore Iceland on your terms!

>Compare car hire prices for the best deals with Discover Cars here

If you don’t feel comfortable driving, there are public buses available. Just be aware that some of these services are seasonal and only operate during summer months. You can also arrange a private guide to take you around.

The perfect Iceland 5 day itinerary

Day 1 – reykjavik & the golden circle.

Most people fly into Reykjavik airport and use Reykjavik as a base to explore the rest of Iceland. Many travelers also stay here for their entire trip and do epic tours away from the city. 

And even though it is the best place to explore the Golden Circle, many fail to explore the capital properly, or they skip it altogether. Spend your first day here if you can.

Reykjavik has a fantastic cultural scene. With a strong cafe culture and wonderful local dishes to try, you can easily spend your day eating around the city. However, it becomes alive at night with its craft beers and music spots. 

I highly recommend spending at least 3 hours exploring this fantastic city before hitting the Golden Circle. However, one to two days is much better. 

Here are some of the Reykjavik and Golden Circle highlights you could cover on day one of your 5-day itinerary of Iceland:

Hallgrímskirkja – This distinct church is probably the most visited spot in the City. Admission is free but for the ultimate visit, take the elevator to the top of it for ISK 1,000.

FlyOver Iceland – A great indoor activity, that isn’t a museum. FlyOver Iceland is a flying ride that will show you all the amazing landscapes Iceland has from the comfort of your seat. >Book your FlyOver Iceland tickets here

Visit Grótta Lighthouse – An awesome place for observing the northern lights and birds. The mountain and sea views make this one of the best coastal walks near the city.

You can walk here in under an hour, but it’s easier to get the number 11 bus. If you are taking the bus, always take cash with you. 

Best tours in Reykjavik

To experience the city like a local, check out these tours in Reykjavik:

Where to Stay in Reykjavik

Reykjavik has so many options for accommodation that it would be hard to pick just one. But these come highly recommended as places to stay in Reykjavik.

• The Reykjavik EDITION – Located by the Old Harbor, this luxury hotel has panoramic views over the city and the waterfront. Book it here
• Midgardur by Center Hotels – Nordic style hotel located in the heart of the city, perfect to explore Reykjavik. Book it here
• Kex Hostel – A trendy hostel housed in an old biscuit factory located in Downtown Reykjavik. It also has private rooms. Book it here

Golden Circle

Geysir – With free parking, easy walking access and free entry, this attraction is worth checking out. It’s an incredible sight – Geysir erupts every 6-10 minutes and throws hot water up to 70 meters in the air. For the best experience, visit early in the morning.

Gullfoss –  This spectacular tiered waterfall is one of the most naturally stunning places on the Golden Circle and is well worth the stop. Try arriving a bit before 9 am to avoid the Golden Circle tour buses and their crowds.

Kerid Crater –  Created by a volcanic eruption around 3,000 years ago, it’s surrounded by bright red and light gray coloured rocks. You can walk around the crater ridge or go down to the blue waters – only one other in Iceland is accessible this way!

Best tours in the Golden Circle

There is a lot to explore in the Golden Circle, but if you don’t have your own car, you can make the most of it on a tour. Here are a few that are highly rated by travelers:

Where to Stay in the Golden Circle

These places to stay in the Golden Circle come highly recommended:

• Blue Hotel Fagrilundur – Located in the heart of the Golden Circle away from the city lights and perfect to catch the Northern Lights. Book it here
• Hotel Gullfoss – Only 2 miles from Gullfoss waterfall and 10 minutes from Geysir, it has a restaurant that serves traditional Icelandic dishes. Book it here
• Hotel Geysir – Only 100 meters from Geysir, this is a super stylish hotel built with materials that resemble the nature around it. Book it here
• Héradsskólinn Historic Guesthouse – This historic guesthouse overlooks Lake Laugarvatn, Hekla Volcano, and the Eyjafjallajökull Glacier. Book it here

If you are looking to stay somewhere a bit more quirky, check these places out:

• Hvítuborgir – Stunning luxury domes with mountain views perfectly located to enjoy the Northern Lights. Book it here
• Klettar Tower Iceland – A unique guesthouse built to resemble a lighthouse located 10 minutes from the Secret Lagoon, a historic geothermal swimming pool. Book it here

Day 2 – Vik

If you are looking for adventure, Vik is the area for you!

From snowmobile experiences to glacial walks, you will find incredible things to do when visiting here. 

The town is located right on the edge of a black sand beach, providing travellers with an unforgettable view. This area is also known for its spectacular bird watching opportunities, with puffins and many other species making their homes in this coastal environment. 

Here are the Vik highlights you should add to your Iceland 5 day Ring Road itinerary:

Reynisfjall – This spectacular site is home to basalt columns and black sand beaches. The main attraction at Reynisfjall is the Reynisdrangar rock formation. You can get amazing photos of them from Reynisfjara’s black sand beach below.

SAFETY WARNING Reynisfjara beach is notorious for its sneaker waves, so make sure you don’t get too close to the water, as you can get swept away by them. And never turn your back to the sea and the waves.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall – Stop at this stunning waterfall on your way to Vik and get up close and personal by walking behind it. Don’t forget your waterproof jacket and trousers, as you’ll get soaked in the mist!

Skógafoss – This epic waterfall is not only easy to access from the Ring Road, but it’s also one of Iceland’s biggest and most powerful waterfalls. Parking is free and just a short walk away you can walk up to or even above the waterfall.

Sólheimajökull – My favorite stop in Iceland! Sólheimajökull is one of the most diverse and easily accessed glaciers in Iceland. If you’ve ever wanted to try a glacier hike , this is the perfect opportunity. Some tours will even take you to Vatnajökull National Park.

This is one of the most popular things to do in Iceland , so to make the most of your trip (and to do it safely), make sure you book a tour in advance .  >Book your Sólheimajökull glacier hiking tour in advance here

Best tours in Vik

Vik is perfectly located for anyone who loves adventure, and it offers an endless variety of tours. Here are some of the most popular ones:

Where to Stay in Vik

Vik is a very small town with only 300 inhabitants, so accommodation is relatively limited, and it gets booked pretty quickly. It’s a good idea to plan as in advance as possible to make sure you have more choices to pick from.

Here are some great places to stay in Vik:

• Hotel Kría – Perfectly located along the Ring Road, this stylish hotel offers super cozy rooms and endless mountain views. Book it here
• Vik Apartments – These lovely apartments are fully equipped, and they are conveniently located in the heart of Vik. Book it here
• Black Beach Farm – Very cute one-bedroom holiday homes with lots of natural light and sea views. Book it here
• Puffin Hotel Vik – Great budget hotel located in the heart of Vik and only 10 minutes walk from the nearest black sandy beach. Book it here

Day 3 – Hofn

Your next stop on this journey is Hofn, an Icelandic fishing town located in one of the few natural harbors in the south coast of Iceland.

Hofn is a picturesque spot, with its tranquil harbor and colorful buildings. It’s also home to some great attractions, sprawling glaciers, and bubbling hot springs. 

Here are the Hofn highlights for your 5 day Iceland itinerary:

Hoffellsjokull Glacier – Despite the fact that this glacial lagoon is much less visited than others in the area, it still has plenty of beauty to offer for those who take 2-3 hours to explore. 

The breathtaking glacier and its lagoon will take your breath away, and the small icebergs scattered throughout it make it even more unique.

Vestrahorn – The incredible beauty of this mountain is why people visit – the clear blue waters and razor sharp peaks make for some amazing photos.

The black sand dunes and birds that nest in the area are also a breathtaking sight. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a reindeer or two. 

To get the most out of your visit, spend at least three hours exploring Vestrahorn. You’ll need to pay a small fee of 900 ISK per person. And don’t miss the Viking Village that was created as a movie set!

Hoffell Hot Tubs – These thermal baths offer an amazing view and unique experience that you won’t find anywhere else. The facilities are clean and well-maintained with a separate changing room and outdoor showers.

I recommend that you spend at least an hour here. Entry costs 2000 ISK per person, and it can be paid in cash directly at the entrance, or with a credit card at the hotel behind the hot tubs. Check their website before going for opening times.

Best tours in Hofn

Hofn has so many great things to do, but booking a tour makes exploring the area so much better. Here are some tours that stand out that include ice caves, northern lights, and foodie experiences:

Where to Stay in Hofn

The town of Hofn is a traditional Icelandic fishing harbor and a popular place to visit and stay the night on an Iceland Ring Road itinerary.

With a small population and limited hotels, rooms tend to be booked quickly, so booking in advance is recommended. For the best stay here, these are the hotels I recommend booking early:

• Berjaya Iceland Hotel – Located by the harbor and in the perfect location for exploring the area. Book it here
• Seljavellir Guesthouse – With ultra-chic rooms and right next to the ring road, it’s perfect if you have been driving for hours and need a place to rest! Book it here
• Hotel Jökull – A fantastic spot to stay with free parking, breakfast included, and is close to the country’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull. Book it here

Day 4 – Egilsstadir

Egilsstadir is a quaint town located on the banks of the river Lagarfljót and is the largest town in east Iceland. It offers a great combination of unique sights, cultural attractions, and delicious restaurants.

The Egilsstadir Nature Center is also a great place to start exploring the local natural wonders and the only place you will find wild reindeer! 

Here are the Egilsstadir highlights for your Iceland Ring Road itinerary:

Vök Baths – This stunning geothermal infinity pool is an excellent way to relax and take a break from the road. It has incredible views of the surrounding countryside and a peaceful, secluded atmosphere.

Make sure you book your tickets online in advance to make sure you don’t miss out! >Book your Vök Baths admission tickets in advance here

East Iceland Heritage Museum – This small museum offers an excellent overview of Eastern Iceland as well as some fascinating displays in both Icelandic and English.

The knowledgeable host will provide visitors with an insight into life in the region from the earliest settlers to present day Icelanders.

The museum also offers discounted admission for anyone who will be staying in the region overnight – just 1,500 ISK per person with a 20% discount. 

Hengifoss Waterfall – Visiting Hengifoss Waterfall is an absolute must if you’re driving on the iconic Iceland Ring Road. 

Hengifoss is very easy to access. There’s a parking lot right next to the start of the hike, but make sure you have good shoes with traction soles for the steep parts of the walk.

Once you make it to the top, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Iceland. In the summer months, you will find the Hengifoss Food Truck here, in case you’re feeling hungry.

Best tours in Egilsstadir

With so much to discover, it’s a good idea to have an early start this day. Most of the experiences in this stunning part of Iceland you can do by yourself on a self-guided tour. 

However, as mentioned, the one thing you should book in advance is the Vök Baths admission ticket . 

Many visitors prefer it to the Blue Lagoon , with a stunning setting that gives you a really relaxing few hours without the stress of the crowds. This is the only way to guarantee your spot and avoid long waiting times!

Check availability here: 

Where to Stay in Egilsstadir

Egilsstadir is on the doorstep of many amazing attractions in East Iceland, so it’s a bit of a hub for road trippers and visitors. It is surrounded by stunning, untouched nature that will make stopping here worth it.

However, it is worth pointing out that because it’s such a popular place to visit, you will need to book any accommodation in advance. For the ultimate places to stay in Egilsstadir, these are some epic places you should consider booking:

• Gistihùsid Lake Hotel Egilsstadir – One of the best places to stay in the area, it serves an amazing breakfast. It also has a spa and some of the rooms come with lake views! Book it here
• Hérad Berjaya Iceland Hotels – Located in the heart of the town but very close to the lake. Its acclaimed restaurant specializes in fish, Icelandic lamb, and reindeer steak. Book it here
• Lagarfell Studios – Private accommodation with free parking and a garden to relax in after a long day. Book it here

Day 5 – Akureyri

Akureyri is the last stop in this Iceland 5 day itinerary. It is known as the capital of the north of Iceland, and it has plenty to offer for any traveler. Stunning landscapes, whale watching , delicious Icelandic food , and plenty of cultural attractions will have you wishing you had more time here.

This charming city is surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery in Iceland, from snow-capped mountains to winding rivers and deep fjords.

In summer, the sun never sets so you can make the most of this gorgeous area by staying up late and watching nature’s spectacular show unfold before your eyes.

Here are Akureyri’s main attractions that you should add to your Iceland 5 day Ring Road itinerary:

Whale watching –  Akureyri is one the best places in the world to go whale watching. Minke whales, blue whales, and especially humpback whales can be seen all year round in the fjord. You may even get lucky and see some orcas!

Whale watching is guaranteed to be one of your top highlights in this Iceland 5 day itinerary.

With plenty of tour operators to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming to choose the right one. And it’s important to book your whale watching experience in advance , as it is one of the best things to do in Akureyri. >Book this highly recommended whale watching experience in Akureyri

Laufas Turf Houses – This museum is a portal back into the old days of Icelandic living, documented in a series of traditional turf houses dating back to the 18th century.

The Akureyri Museum runs the site, and despite its importance as a cultural heritage site, Laufas Turf Houses gets surprisingly few visitors. This is mostly because of its quiet location on the outskirts of Akureyri – tourists usually drive right past it!

Godafoss – Godafoss is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland, and it’s located along the Ring Road, so it is on your way to Akureyri. 

However, you can also visit this wonder of nature on a day tour from Akureyri and combine it with a quick stop at Myvatn Nature Baths, naturally heated baths in the heart of Myvatn geothermal area. >Book your day tour to Godafoss and Myvatn Nature Baths here

Akureyri Botanical Garden – With its magnificent setting overlooking one of the longest fjords in Iceland, Akureyri Botanical Garden offers a unique glimpse into the diverse flora of this beautiful island nation.

Although small in size, the free Botanical Garden is packed with a wide variety of native species. You can find around 430 different types of Icelandic plants, including rare and endangered species.

The garden also features sections dedicated to medicinal herbs and alpine flowers, making it a great place for nature lovers and amateur botanists alike.

Akureyri Church – Perched on top of a hill overlooking the town, the church offers some amazing views of both the fjord and the town below.

While you can take the road up, you can also walk the 112 stairs for a more immersive experience. With its unique minimalist architecture, it is totally the opposite of the Sagrada Familia, one of the most famous Modernist buildings in Barcelona . It’s one of the most beautiful churches in all of Iceland.

Best tours in Akureyri

This is one of the most popular places in Iceland to do adventure activities. So, if you are going to book a tour anywhere, do it here!

If you don’t know which tours you should consider booking, these are the most highly rated and loved options:

Where to Stay in Akureyri

Whale watching, puffin spotting, and bubbling thermal lagoons are some of the epic things you can do in Iceland’s ‘Capital of the North’. This is the place you want to stay at if you are looking for a true taste of Iceland!

To help you have the best night’s sleep here, these are the best accommodation options to book in advance:

• G7 Akureyri Central Apartments – Located in the heart of the town, this is the perfect place to stay for those looking for a self catering option. Book it here
• K16 Apartments – Another excellent self catering apartment conveniently located in the centre of Akureyri, with fantastic reviews. Within walking distance to local restaurants for those wanting to eat out. Book it here
• Hafdals Hotel – If you are looking for a taste of Icelandic countryside within a short distance from Akureyri, this hotel is fantastic. It has stunning panoramic views over the fjord, and it’s conveniently located at the airport. Book it here

If you have more than 5 days in Iceland

No matter how long your trip to Iceland is, you are guaranteed a true adventure unlike any other. But like most destinations, the longer you are here, the better.

If you are lucky enough to have more time, make sure you add these places to your Iceland 5 day itinerary:

• Thingvellir National Park – The only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iceland, it’s where one of the oldest national parliaments in the world was founded. And here, you can snorkel or dive between two continents , the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates in Silfra.

• Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands) – Take the 45-minute ferry over to the Westman Islands to spot truly untouched wildlife. You can get here when traveling along the Ring Road from Reykjavik to Vik on the south coast of Iceland. It’s the perfect place to spot puffins!
• Diamond Beach – Be amazed by the glistening pieces of icebergs that land on this black sand beach. It is also the best place in the entire country to spot wild orcas and seals!

• Myvatn Geothermal Area – A barren and colorful area with steaming hot pots and bubbling mud pools, it’ll make you think you’ve landed on Mars. Just a warning… the smell of sulfur is pretty potent.
• Hvitserkur Rock – Located in north west Iceland, it’s only a small detour off the Ring Road and is the most magical place to watch the sunset.

Iceland Travel Tips and FAQs

Five days are certainly long enough to get a taste of what this country has to offer. The best way to experience Iceland on a 5-day trip is to make sure you plan ahead. Before arriving, decide what type of experience you’re looking for and then map out which places you want to explore.

The answer is: it depends. If you are looking to see the Northern Lights, September to March is the best time to book your trip. If you love photography, then spring (April-May) is the best time of year for capturing the natural beauty of Iceland. But for long days of exploring and better temperatures, book during the summer months.

Strætó is the Icelandic transport service that links Reykjavík and beyond. However, their routes and services in winter are limited so they may not cover where you want to go. If you are planning multiple bus trips, it is worth getting a pass to keep down costs. But it is strongly recommended that you get a rental car so you can explore freely without being limited to public transport schedules. You’ll also be able to go off the beaten path and discover more hidden gems more freely.

Iceland generally has a low crime rate and is considered one of the safest countries in Europe. However, you need to take the steps to keep safe like you would in any other destination. In addition, travelers should also be aware of Iceland’s weather conditions. The North Atlantic climate can be unpredictable, with violent storms occurring unexpectedly, so always check the weather forecast with the Icelandic Meteorological Office ahead of departure.

How to get to Iceland

The most convenient way to get to Iceland is to fly into Keflavik Airport near Reykjavik. I always use Skyscanner to find the best deals on offer.

>Check Skyscanner for the best flight deals here

In the summer you can also get the Norröna ferry from Denmark if you are exploring other parts of Europe first.

>Book your ferry ticket from Denmark here

Iceland 5 day Ring Road itinerary Final Thoughts

No matter whether you’re visiting Iceland in the summer or winter, a road trip is a great way to experience this amazing country.

From stunning landscapes and iconic waterfalls to northern lights and puffins, you’ll get to see a little bit of everything during this Iceland 5 day itinerary. 

Just remember, it’s very easy to feel like you don’t have enough time here and it will be impossible to do everything. But it’s important to plan out your route carefully to make the most of it. Use this guide to help you plan the best ring road trip in Iceland and make the most of every minute of your trip! 

Do you have any questions about this Iceland 5 day itinerary? Let me know in the comments!

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Lowri is the creator of the European road trip blog, Many Other Roads . Originally from Wales, you will now find Lowri exploring Europe with her border collie Scout, sharing in-depth knowledge and tips for those wanting to hit the road!

The Best 5-Day Ring Road Itinerary

Go to chapter, a 5-day ring road itinerary for campervans, iceland ring road map, driving the ring road, can you drive iceland’s ring road in 5 days, day 1: golden circle and vik, day 2: skaftafell and the glacier lagoon.

• Day 3: The East Fjords and Egilsstaðir
• Day 4: Dettifoss, Mývatn and Akureyri
• Day 5: Tröllaskagi Peninsula and West Iceland

Iceland’s ring road is ready-made for epic road trips. And while we always recommend taking your time while traveling, we also understand not everyone can be here for two weeks. For those campers who are keen to zip around the ring road in Iceland in 5 days, we’ve got you covered. This itinerary around route 1 will have you around the island and back in Reykjavik in no time at all – without missing any highlights along the way.

While our guide focuses on a captivating 5-day Ring Road adventure, those with a desire for a more extensive journey should explore our comprehensive resource on Iceland Ring Road Itinerary 14 days . This detailed itinerary provides an in-depth plan for a 14-day self-drive expedition, guiding you through the most iconic and off-the-beaten-path attractions along the Ring Road. From the dramatic landscapes of the South Coast to the remote beauty of the East Fjords, our 14-day itinerary ensures an immersive experience of Iceland's diverse wonders. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, this guide on Iceland Ring Road Itinerary 14 days is your key to unlocking the full potential of an extended and enriching journey through the Land of Fire and Ice.

This Iceland ring road itinerary in just 5 days offers all the highlights you'll want to see. There are waterfalls and lava fields, hot springs and glaciers, black sand beaches, and volcanic valleys. Driving in Iceland in a campervan is to see all these things and more, discovering the country’s fantastic nature and friendly culture.

A campervan trip around the ring road is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to travel in Iceland. There are plenty of campsites to choose from (although you'll only need 5!) and a lot to pack into your days.

This itinerary wouldn’t exist if driving Iceland’s ring road in spending 5 days in Iceland on the ring road wasn’t feasible! It’s certainly going to be a fast trip, and you will have to give up on seeing everything, but you will be able to have a good time on a 5-day ring road itinerary.

In winter, trying to attempt the ring road in only 5 days isn’t such a fantastic idea. If you only have a short time to visit Iceland, we recommend planning a trip in summer, when there is less chance of the weather disrupting your plans. 

And don't forget, if you want a personalized 5-day itinerary tailored to your interests in the country, let our local travel expert plan your  Iceland itinerary  for you!

Without further fuss, here's a sample 5-day ring road itinerary for a campervan trip in Iceland. Feel free to follow it to a tee or make any changes you see fit!

Highlights: Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.

After picking up your camper (we’ll hustle you out of the office quick-smart) it’s time to discover Iceland’s Golden Circle. There’s no escaping this well-trodden tourist route, made up of Thingvellir National Park, the explosive Geysir, and waterfall Gullfoss. It’s busy with day-trippers from Reykjavik, but a great introduction to Iceland’s natural wonders nonetheless. In half a day you can tick off three boxes: a bit of history, a bit of geothermal activity, and your first stupendous Icelandic waterfall.

We’ve got no time to lose, so after you’ve had your fill of the different views of Gullfoss it’s time to link up with the ring road. Drive south through the knot of roads and rivers, and then turn east on the ring road towards Vik (our campsite for the night).

On the way make sure to stop off at Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, two gorgeous waterfalls tumbling off the highland shelf. Right before you reach Vik, you’ll also see the turn-off to Reynisfjara, Iceland’s most famous black sand beach.

Spend the night at the Vik campsite, which has greatly improved over the years. While in town, it’s well worth walking up to the church for the view of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks off the coast. If you're visiting during a time when the skies get dark, don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for the northern lights as well!

Highlights: Skaftafell, Svartifoss Waterfall, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach.

It’s going to be a big day, so we need to prepare properly. If you’re craving coffee, Skool Beans is a giant yellow school bus at the campsite that has been refitted as a café. Get a couple of brews to go and buckle up for the 2-hour drive along the south coast to Skaftafell, part of the vast Vatnajökull National Park.

Once its own national park, Skaftafell has since been incorporated into the vast territory of Vatnajökull National Park. Comprising of the glacier itself and all the landscapes surrounding it, this is the biggest national park in Europe.

Skaftafell is the perfect place for a hit-and-run visit to get acquainted with the area. After parking at the visitor center (750ISK), hit the trail that leads you to Svartifoss – about 40 minutes one way. This waterfall in Iceland is one of the country's most famous, tumbling over a cliff of black. basalt columns.

Afterward, make your way to the Sjónarnípa viewpoint – about another 45 minutes from the waterfall. From this viewpoint, hikers are granted an incredible view over the glacier tongue Skaftafellsjökull spilling out through the valley. Unfortunately, that’s probably all we’ve got time for, so head back to the camper and continue along the ring road.

But you won’t be sad for long, because next up is the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. This is probably the most popular attraction in the entire country. Spend some time wandering up and down the lagoon’s edge admiring the glaciers within. This part of the country is spectacular; don't forget to take the time 

Later, head to the coast, where the glaciers wash up on the black sand at Diamond Beach. Afterward, make the drive to the campsite in Höfn, a great town to sample some of Iceland’s lobster.

Day 3: The East Fjords and Egilsstaðir

Highlights: Incredible Scenery, Petra’s Stone Collection, Hengifoss, Seyðisfjörður

The East Fjords were the first part of Iceland to be discovered by the Vikings who sailed west from Norway. They were amazed at the views from the mountains, and how there wasn’t anybody around. 1000 years later, and not much has changed - for a major part of the ring road, this region feels remote and far removed from the rest of the country.

The mountains here are some of the most awesome, the fjords the deepest. The ring road hugs the coast, diving into the v-shaped fjords and passing through fishing villages of yesteryear.

There aren’t a lot of big-hitting natural attractions in the east; rather, it’s the fjords themselves that inspire awe in visitors. After a big day 2, today is going to be spent slowly driving along the coast, admiring the jagged mountain peaks, the crashing ocean, and the colorful towns. There's time to pull over and enjoy the view, browse the quiet towns, and delve down some side roads as well.  

For a quirky and unique cultural stop, visit Petra’s Stone Collection in Stöðvarfjörður. For a wonderful waterfall, visit Hengifoss, reached with a gorgeous drive alongside one of Iceland's greatest glacial rivers. If you fancy a bit of long driving day, head over the stunning mountain pass into Seyðisfjörður, the prettiest town in the area.

For puffins, hit up the remote town of Borgarfjörður Eystri further north - an adventurous and remote place to visit. Whatever you end up deciding, make sure you camp overnight in Egilsstaðir, one of the best campsites in the country. There are also a handful of fantastic places to eat in town if you feel like enjoying a meal out, and you'll be well-positioned to make a quick getaway to the north when you wake up. 

Day 4: Dettifoss, Mývatn and Akureyri

Highlights: Dettifoss Waterfall, Hverir Geothermal Area, Lake Mývatn, Goðafoss, Akureyri

Get an early start on day 4, as we’ve got a lot of stops to make - some of the biggest and most impressive in the country. First up is Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. It’s not the size or the drop that’s impressive here – it’s the sheer amount of water barreling over the side every second – an immense 200m³ on your average ‘slow’ day. The roar of this waterfall shakes the ground. 

If it recently rained, expect that figure to jump up to 500m³. The waterfall also marks the southern edge of the Jökulsárgljúfur Nature Reserve, another territory of Vatnajökull National Park. You might have thought you’d left the glacier behind, but this entire canyon was carved out of a powerful glacial flood caused by a volcanic eruption.

Back on the ring road, continue west and you’ll arrive at the burnt geothermal wasteland of Hverir, worth a quick stop. Over the hill is Lake Mývatn, which is probably the most-visited area in the whole of North Iceland, and our focus for the day. Stop off at a few of the main sights around the lake, but mainly just enjoy the volcanic scenery and the birdlife. A highlight is the Grjótagjá hot spring cave, a popular stop among Game of Thrones enthusiasts. 

From here, Route 1 continues toward Akureyri. Along the way, make a stop at the waterfall Goðafoss. Rumor has it that after Iceland adopted Christianity as its official religion, one of the country’s lawmakers threw his Pagan idols over the falls here. Hence the name ‘waterfall of the Gods’ - although it's so pretty it would deserve that name even without the legend that goes with it. 

Camp the night at Akureyri Hamrar campsite, a beautiful sprawling area in the woods south of the city where you can enjoy peaceful walks in the forest. Otherwise, there's a campsite in the middle of town as well. 

Day 5: Tröllaskagi Peninsula and West Iceland

Highlights: Tröllaskagi Peninsula, Hofsós Infinity Pool, Hvitserkur, Awesome Landscapes.

It’s another long day of driving, of watching the incredible landscapes pass by from behind the windshield. By now, you’ve probably realized just how big Iceland is, and how every fjord, valley, and mountain range hides its own secrets. Alas, we’re running out of time to explore this hit-and-run itinerary of the ring road, so it’s time to head back toward Reykjavik. 

But we’re not going to take the quickest route there. From Akureyri, take the detour north around the Tröllaskagi Peninsula. This mountainous area is an adventurous drive, with the road hugging the jagged coastline and diving through a series of tunnels that connect the towns along the way. The scenery is beautiful, with deep valleys cutting into the mountains of the peninsula. Take your time and enjoy the drive; then, stop off at the swimming pool in Hofsós for a quick dip. This stunning infinity pool offers great vistas over the fjord. 

The ring road traveling through northwest Iceland is a pleasant drive, but like the east, doesn’t contain a lot of big attractions. Rather, it’s the glimpse into the life of rural Iceland that’s fascinating. The towns are unique, there are loads of farms and horses everywhere, and every rock, river, and road are linked to the Icelandic Sagas.

Another peninsula here beckons: Vatnsnes. Along the eastern side is where you'll find Hvítserkur, or the elephant rock, jutting out of the sea. The peninsula is also known for its seals; there are several areas on the western edge where you can stop off to see them lazing on the rocks.

Otherwise, just enjoy the drive, stop off at a gas station for a hot dog, and have a poke around the rural towns. You could either camp the night at Akranes, where an atmospheric lighthouse is worth a visit, or complete the drive to Reykjavik. If you choose to stay in Akranes, it's only a quick trip to Reykjavik in the morning to drop off the camper, and voila! You’ve just crushed Iceland’s ring road in record time.

Travel Tips for a 5-day Ring Road Itinerary

• Make use of the daylight . We recommend visiting during the summer when days are long, giving you plenty of daylight hours to visit the attractions. 
• Eat on the road!  Keep your meals simple and easy to prepare so that you can hit the road sooner. We're talking about things like simple sandwiches, quick bowls of cereal in the morning, and plenty of road trip snacks. 
• Book activities ahead of time.  This might go without saying, but you should book any activities you plan to do ahead of time. If you're planning on going to the Blue Lagoon or somewhere similar, you'll need to know what time is best for your itinerary. 
• Change Drivers. With so much driving, it’s best if you’re changing drivers every so often so that you can share the long distances you’ll be covering.
• Leave the campsites early. The same as staying up late, you’ll also want to wake up early and hit the road before anyone else. You’ll have plenty of time to catch up on sleep after you’ve returned!
• Stick to the Plan!  Whether you're following this itinerary to a tee or have changed little parts, it's important on such a tight schedule to stick to what you have planned. You could be tempted to pull over a lot in Iceland; around every corner lies a beautiful view, another steamy hot spring, and another glimpse of a glacier. Of course, a few detours are always encouraged, but in such a short time, you may have to skip over a few. 

So, there you have it - a quick 5-day ring road trip to Iceland! If you're ready to hit the road, check out the availability and prices of campervans today! And don't forget to download our ring road map from above, letting you navigate Iceland with ease. 

When embarking on a 5-Day Ring Road Itinerary, one of the smartest choices you can make for your journey is considering Iceland camper rentals . With the flexibility and freedom they offer, camper rentals in Iceland allow you to explore this stunning route at your own pace, immersing yourself in the breathtaking landscapes and hidden gems along the way. Whether you're seeking an adventurous road trip or a more leisurely exploration, Iceland camper rentals provide the perfect solution. Be sure to check out our comprehensive guide to finding the ideal camper rental for your Ring Road adventure.

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Wondering what there is to do in Akureyri in Iceland? Find out the best things to see and do in Akureyri whether it’s winter or summer.

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Iceland in 5 Days: South Coast Road Trip Itinerary

Iceland is a great destination for travelers who enjoy getting out into nature. It’s also the perfect road trip destination. Being one of the most volcanic regions in the world, this land of ice and fire has everything from black sand beaches to some of the most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen. This five-day itinerary for first-time visitors will have you exploring the highlights of Iceland’s south coast.

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Planning your trip to Iceland ? Below are some places to stay, things to do, and more. For the most flexibility I recommend renting a car, click here for Iceland rental car rates !

• Blue Lagoon: Entry Ticket with transfer  (Sells out, very popular)
• Reykjavik Food Walk (try traditional foods)
• Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik
• From Vik or Reykjavik: Katla Ice Cave and Super Jeep Tour (perfect winter activity!)
• Reykjavik: Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise (see humpback whales!)
• REK Inn , Reykjavik (Convenient and affordable)
• Hotel Kria , Vik (Favourite place I stayed, great views!)
• Reykjadalur Guesthouse , Hveragerdi (Close to the Golden Circle)

I did this trip to Iceland in November when the days are fairly short so if you are going in the summer, you will have more time to sightsee. Even though shorter days might limit you in some ways, Iceland was still worth it to travel to in November. The longer nights mean you have a higher chance of seeing the Northern lights and with cooling temperatures, you can explore inside ice caves.

For the winter conditions, make sure you have everything on your Iceland packing list you need to stay comfortable and warm.

While you can add on unique day tours like hiking on glaciers, ice cave tours, and diving between tectonic plates, this five day Iceland itinerary is done completely self-guided.

Table of Contents

5 Day South Coast Iceland Itinerary in November

Length:  4 1/2 days, 4 nights Approximate km/miles: 1,225 km, 16.5 hours Start and End Point: Reykjavik Cities/Towns: Reykjavik, Vik, Hveragerdi Waterfalls: Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Kvernufoss, Gulfoss, Oxararfoss Other Sights: Blue Lagoon, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Reynisfjara

While you could do most of this itinerary as day trips from the capital of Reykjavik, I highly recommend staying further out to avoid backtracking. Especially in case of bad weather, you want to limit driving as much as possible. Because it is winter, I wouldn’t tackle the entire Ring Road in November. The south coast, Golden Circle, and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula are the best-maintained roads for winter driving conditions so plan to limit yourself to these areas. This itinerary doesn’t take in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula but you could easily add on a couple of days to explore the Snaefellsnes Peninsula at the beginning or end of this itinerary.

Because November in Iceland means daylight isn’t until around 9:30-10 am, we took advantage of this by driving long distances in the dark. This was so we could use as much of the daylight exploring as possible. With longer daylight hours, you could add in more hiking, especially around Skaftafell.

One of the best things about visiting in November is the chance to see the northern lights. I didn’t see them and regret not joining a Northern Lights tour because I think this would have been my best chance to experience the aurora. The colder weather also means it may be possible to explore an ice-cave , a pretty unique experience.

Renting a Car in Iceland

For this itinerary, a rental car is crucial. I recommend and use Discover Cars to book a car. Discover Cars helps you find the best deal by searching local Icelandic companies and international companies. Always make sure to check the ratings of the company before booking, the cheapest isn’t always better. You can also add on full coverage insurance so you have less to worry about. In Iceland, I picked up and dropped off from the airport.

Even though this itinerary is for winter, I didn’t use a 4WD car. My rental car did have studded tires though. For this itinerary, a regular car is fine as you will be staying on the main highway. Make sure to keep an eye on weather conditions to avoid bad weather though, you can check road conditions here .

Day 1: Blue Lagoon and Reykjanes Peninsula

With the overnight flight from Toronto landing at 4:30 am, I knew the first day in Iceland would be best spent around Reykjavik. After picking up a rental car, we still had hours to go until our check-in time at the Blue Lagoon. To kill some time, we drove around the Reykjanes Peninsula and looked at the Reykjanes Lighthouse in the dark. At night the landscape here is just dark and it is sort of eerie to see some of the steam vents that rise up from the ground. We actually parked at Gunnuhver and walked around the boardwalks a bit with headlamps on.

Blue Lagoon

Finally, our check-in time to the Blue Lagoon came and we headed over there. This is one of those places that you should book in advance . While it is a bit of a splurge, it was the perfect way to get over jetlag. The bright blue lagoon is relaxing to float around and we spent about 3 hours here.

If you want to save money, you can still see the bright milky blue waters of the Lagoon just outside the entrance of the Blue Lagoon. There is an area where you can walk around and get some photos of the black lava fields and the milky teal water as I discovered on my visit to the Blue Lagoon .

Reykjanes Peninsula: Gunnuhver and Brimketill

After our visit to the Blue Lagoon, we decided to return to nearby Gunnuhver on the Reykjanes Peninsula to appreciate it in the daylight. The boardwalk here keeps you safely away from the steaming vents. The boiling mud here is the largest mud pool in Iceland. There is a huge vent here as well as little areas where the steam escapes from the ground. It creates this wonderful multi-coloured landscape of red, yellows, and greens.

After Gunnuvhar, stop on the coast at Brimketill. Just a short walk up the hill takes you to a viewpoint over the Atlantic Ocean with waves crashing onto the shore. There is a large natural pool here among the jagged lava rocks. While it isn’t swimmable, the crashing waves are a sight to behold.

After a morning on the Reykjanes Peninsula, we drove to Reykjavik. While Reykjavik is an adorable city, I wanted to focus more on Iceland’s nature so all I saw of it was the Hallgrimskirkja church. Reykjavik is a very walkable city and while restaurant prices can be steep, I did have delicious noodle soup here. You can check out my full vegetarian and vegan food guide to Iceland here .

Stay in or near Reykjavik your first night before heading out the next day to check out Vik and the waterfalls on the way. If you have more daylight than I did or a bit more time there, there are plenty of interesting things to do in Reykjavik that are on my list for my next visit.

If you have time during your visit to Reykjavik, you may want to go whale-watching. Iceland has a history of whaling but is shifting to more eco-friendly practices around whales and has been promoting sustainable whale watching in Iceland .

I stayed at REK Inn just outside of the main restaurant area. The room here was a great size and there was easy on-street parking. Handily, REK Inn is right next to a Bonus grocery store so you can stock up on snacks or cook your meal in the shared kitchen.

Day 2: Reykjavik to Vik

Day two of this five day Iceland itinerary was themed around waterfalls. Today is full of some of the most spectacular and famous waterfall Iceland’s south coast has to offer. A trip to Iceland just wouldn’t be complete without several waterfalls.

Seljalandsfoss

The first stop of the day was at Seljalandsfoss. This waterfall is unique because you can walk behind it. It’s quite popular so expect to be sharing the view with a lot of people, even if you visit Seljalandsfoss in November. This is a very misty waterfall so expect to get soaked when you walk behind it. Just down the path, there are several waterfalls including Gljufrabui. Fewer people visit this one as you have to walk in the water through a small canyon to see it. You can also catch a glimpse of it outside the canyon if you don’t want to risk the freezing waters.

After Seljalandfoss, continue towards Vik stopping at Skogafoss in Skogar. Skogafoss is another big waterfall name on the Iceland waterfall circuit so it’s quite busy. Tucked into a bit of a canyon, Skogafoss is a stunning waterfall. You can walk up to the base of the waterfall but in November, the mist is quite chilly and you will get soaked.

After you can walk up to the top of the falls by going up the staircase on the right but ultimately, I didn’t think it was necessary to do. I found the view from the bottom of Skogafoss to be way more beautiful.

Kvernufoss is a short drive and hike away. This was by far my favourite waterfall I saw in Iceland. The hike to it takes you next to the river and because it isn’t right off of a parking lot, way less people. We had the waterfall to ourselves for a good 30 minutes and only saw 4 other people on the hike. Check out my post on Kvernufoss for more details on finding this hidden gem.

Like Seljalanfoss, you can walk behind Kvernufoss. When you get up close you can hear the thunder of the water as it hits the boulders below. The gorge and waterfall here felt like the magic people always talk about when they mention Iceland.

Dyrholaey and Reynisfjara

Close to Vik, we stopped at Dyrhólaey lighthouse to get a view over the black sand beaches near Vik as well as the arch here. It was incredibly windy up on this viewpoint but had fantastic views of the surrounding area.

After Dyrholaey, we drove down to what is likely the World’s most famous and best black sand beach , Reynisfjara . This black sand beach near Vik is unique not only because of the black sand but also because of the basalt columns that rise up behind it. You also get fantastic views of Dyrholaey Arch from here. Keep an eye on the waves, Reynisfjara is known to have sneaker waves which come in unexpectedly fast and can pull you out to sea. It has happened to tourists in the past.

Vik is a cute small town in a good location to base yourselves for the next two nights. You can read about everything to do in my Vik guide here . Vik had good food options, though limited. It’s worth taking a drive up to see the adorable red-roofed church at night time.

I stayed at Hotel Kria in Vik. The hotel rooms are extremely nice with very comfy beds. If you request a mountain view, you will have a full-sized window and door to the mountain that sits behind Vik and a small deck to sit on as well. I loved that breakfast was included with the room as well in the restaurant that is on-site at Hotel Kria .

Day 3: Vik to Jokulsarlon

This Iceland five-day itinerary was turning out to somehow have themed days. The theme of day 3 was glaciers. I felt like driving Vik to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and back was quite a lot of driving. Even in longer daylight hours, I wouldn’t want to tack this on to day two or drive from Reykjavik. You could stay closer to Jokulsarlon this night. I decided to stay in Vik because I wanted to be sure that I wasn’t too far from the Golden Circle on day 4 in case of bad weather.

Eldhraun Lava Fields

Not far outside of Vik are the Eldhraun Lava Fields. You definitely will be driving through these on your way to explore the glaciers of Iceland. Keep your eyes out for a small parking lot on your righthand side. There is a walkway above the mossy lava fields here. It’s important to stay on the walkway and resist the temptation to walk on the moss as it takes hundreds of years to form. The lava fields area is absolutely huge at 565 sq km and is the result of an eruption in 1783. This otherworldly landscape is part of what makes a visit to Iceland so unique.

Skaftafell, Vatnajökull National Park

The Skaftafell area of Vatnajökull National Park is a great place to do some hiking and get up close to glaciers. You can either do the short hike to the glacier here or you can hike to Svartifoss, a waterfall that falls over hexagonal basalt columns. Svartifoss was the inspiration for the design of Hallgrimskirkja church that we saw on day 1.

I chose to hike to the glacier, thinking I wouldn’t see enough of them. In retrospect, I do wish I had done the hike to Svartifoss instead. The glacier was definitely interesting was an enjoyable walk to it. After seeing what the glacier hike was like, I was actually happy I didn’t decide to join a tour as I felt I got enough out of the experience just seeing one.

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

The Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon was intended to be today’s highlight, and it was. It is well worth the drive and really was worth squeezing onto the itinerary. My only regret here is that I didn’t stay the night because I would have loved more time here. With multiple glaciers floating in the lagoon, it’s quite peaceful. I was lucky enough to spot a seal swimming in the water here.

Diamond Beach

After seeing the glaciers floating in the lagoon, go across the road to Diamond Beach. When the glaciers go out to the Atlantic, pieces of the glaciers or larger bits of ice wash up on the black sand of Diamond Beach. It makes for a spectacular sight of glittering ice on the black sand. After watching the sunset here, it was back to Vik for the night.

Day 4: Fjaðrárgljúfur and Golden Circle

Day 4 was supposed to be spent driving from Vik and doing the entire Golden Circle. But, that is not how today went. You see, Vik was so beautiful it was hard to leave it. And being so close to Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, it felt like a shame to not visit there. So with some backtracking a visit to Fjaðrárgljúfur was in order as well as a partial visit to the Golden Circle.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

Pronunciation issues aside, Fjadrargljufur Canyon is about an hour outside of Vik towards Jokulsarlon and it’s worth adding to your itinerary. This winding moss covered canyon is really gorgeous and the path takes you to two waterfalls at the end. Unfortunately, a lot of moss on top of the canyon has been destroyed because of people walking on it.

Hjörleifshöfði

On the way back towards Vik, we couldn’t resist stopping at Hjorleifshofdi. This stand-alone mountain is located right on the coast. You can drive around its base and take in the mountain and the black sand as well. It’s a lot of fun to drive and as long as you stick to the packed down road and not the loose sand, you should be fine in a car.

Golden Circle: Gulfoss and Geysir

After lunch and a brief stop to the beach in Vik, we were off towards our first stop on the Golden Circle in Iceland , Gullfoss. The drive to Gullfoss is quite scenic and makes for easy driving. As we approached Fluidr, all of a sudden everything got this thick sparkly layer of frost all over everything as the sun started to set a soft lavender colour. It honestly is one of the most beautiful landscapes I have driven through.

Gullfoss was so beautiful at sunset, I highly recommend it. The waterfall throws up a lot of mist so there was ice coating all of the grass and some of the walkways.

Nearby to Gullfoss is Geysir . Home to the namesake of geysers, the geyser that erupts now is actually known as Strokkur. Strokkur erupts very frequently and shoots water up to 30 m in the air.

On the last night in Iceland, I stayed in Hveragerdi. This small town is a convenient location to visit the Golden Circle. It’s also a reasonable distance to the Reykjavik Airport. It’s also the place where I had some of the best pizza of my life at Olverk Pizza. While here, I stayed at Reykjadalur Guesthouse . The guesthouse was on the smaller side but also more budget-friendly and for a final night, it was great.

Day 5: Golden Circle and Home

After four amazing days in Iceland, I felt like anything I got to see on my final day would be a bonus. Staying in Hveragerdi, it was close enough that a visit to the main stops on the Golden Circle was possible this morning before dropping the car at the airport and heading home.

Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir (or Thingvellir) National Park was the final destination on this trip. This National Park is culturally significant to Iceland as it is the place where the Vikings established the world’s first democratic parliament. The most impressive sights here are being able to walk between tectonic plates and Oxarafoss waterfall. It is in Thingvellir that you can go on tours to snorkel or dive between the tectonic plates. I was glad I skipped out on this tour because standing around in a snorkeling gear in November just is not my thing.

Iceland’s South Coast at Night

I looked for Northern Lights every night I was in Iceland. I was never successful but the hunt is part of the fun. Keep an eye on the Aurora forecast for Iceland to see cloud cover and aurora activity level. Just drive away from the towns and you can often find some small road or area to pull off into to watch for the Northern Lights. While I was unlucky, the lights can be very active in November so there is a reasonably good chance of seeing them. Getting good photos of the aurora can be difficult so you may want to read up on some tricks for photographing the Northern Lights before you head to Iceland.

Tips for Visiting Iceland in November

• Pack for cold and windy weather. Because of being an Atlantic island, weather can change rapidly and high winds aren’t uncommon. Pack wind pants or snow pants for hiking and definitely bring snow boots, mitts, hats, and winter jacket.
• Rental cars will give you the most flexibility and be cheaper than tours. You might luck out and have good weather but you could just as easily have a snow storm so be prepared for winter driving. You do not need a 4wd rental. An economy car is fine on the roads, even if it’s icy. Our rental car had studded tires.
• You might not see the Northern Lights. While you are more likely to see the Northern Lights but unfortunately, it isn’t guaranteed. Keep an eye on cloud cover conditions and the predicted level of aurora activity.
• Keep an eye on road conditions and check before you head out for the day so you can be prepared. Iceland has a fantastic website for road conditions and they keep it very up to date.
• Make sure you refuel your car when you see a gas station, they can be far apart.

Iceland in Five Days

There you have it, some of Iceland’s top sights in only five days! I was hesitant about traveling to Iceland in November but got very lucky with clear weather. I was also worried about the short daylight hours but again, this turned out not to be a problem. One of the good things about short daylight hours is that I got to see the sunrise every day without waking up early. I would definitely visit Iceland in November again and hopefully next time, I can see the Northern Lights.

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20 comments.

Iceland is out of this world, everything about it feels surreal. Those columns of rocks look amazing, where exactly were they? I’d love to go there. Some really useful tips too about driving, what to avoid, and how to maximize the daylight hours. Have pinned this for future reference, so much information.

The rock columns were very cool, they are on Reynisfjara beach near Vik. Glad you enjoyed the article!

This is the perfect itinerary and its exactly what we did when we went!! Beautiful pictures and post!! Makes me want to return yet again!

Thanks! I definitely would love to return to Iceland, I felt like I barely scratched the surface of what there is to do there!

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This looks surreal! Love your amazing photos and all your travel advice for the region is so helpful! Thanks for sharing!

Thank you 🙂 Iceland is such a beautiful place to photograph, it was a lot of fun 🙂

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Hey Brianna! Love love love this itinerary! I’ve been a little obsessed with all things Iceland lately with a big Europe trip coming up in late 2020, Iceland is high up on the list but I think we’ll get there summer time! I can’t wait to see the Blue Lagoon and some of the incredible waterfalls Iceland has to offer! I have no idea how I feel about the driving but I’m guessing in summer the conditions will be a lot better? Keeping this post bookmarked for our trip! Thanks for sharing! Alicia

Hi Alicia, glad you like this itinerary! I loved Iceland in the winter but am hoping to visit in the summer and take advantage of the long daylight hours. Honestly, the driving in Iceland is so easy, it even was in the winter. In the summer driving should be a piece of cake.

Oh my goodness! Iceland is so stunning and your photos are gorgeous. I can’t wait to plan a trip here. Its hard to choose, but I think Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is at the top of my list!

Thank you! Iceland is so full of beautiful sights it’s hard to pick a favourite, I loved them all. Hope you get a chance to visit Iceland soon 🙂

Oh this is a great 5 day itinerary! Just what I needed. Thank you for writing it 🙂

Thanks Nat, glad you like the itinerary 🙂

I love Iceland! It’s such a beautiful country and I think this itinerary is perfect for 5 days. I didn’t go to the Blue lagoon so it was interesting reading about your experience. I travelled by campervan for a month from mid-Feb to mid-Mar and even after snow the whole ring road was really well maintained and their local road website was kept up to date. I loved being there in the winter and seeing the landscapes shrouded in snow but would love to get back in the summer too ☺️

Thanks Sophie! A lot of people seem to use a campervan to visit Iceland and that sounds like a lot of fun! I love how Iceland has a website for its road conditions and how up to date it is so you can check before you head out. I’m also hoping to get back to Iceland for a summer visit 🙂

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I would love to visit Iceland in both winter and summer! Road tripping it sounds like the best way to see all the sights. xx Bri

Road tripping is definitely the best way to see Iceland, it’s so easy to drive it has to be one of the best places in the world for a road trip.

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The Mindful Traveller

Eco Travel Blog & Photography

5 Days in Iceland: Epic Winter Itinerary

8 June 2023 · In: Iceland , Road Trip , Travel

Planning a winter road trip in Iceland and looking for the perfect 5-day itinerary? Here is the travel guide you need to create a memorable holiday, including how to get around, what to pack and an epic route that ensures you see the best attractions and sights this island offers in winter. From the Golden Circle to Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach and Jökulsárlón Lagoon, this guide is perfect whether you are a first-time visitor or have visited Iceland before.

After my road trip around Iceland in the spring of 2017, I could not stop thinking about this country and dreamed of seeing it in winter. That is why, one year, I decided to book my plane ticket to Reykjavik and explore this gorgeous island again with my partner Matt.

We visited Iceland in January for 6 days , and once again, it was magical. The island in winter is simply stunning, and I am always amazed by its natural wonders – geysers, waterfalls, glaciers or hot springs. These are the things that make it so unique and also make you aware of the raw beauty and power of our planet.

What I also love the most is the fact that I never get bored of it – even during this second visit, I discovered so many new things, and I cannot wait to go back to explore more.

Unlike the first time, we did not go all around the island but stayed in the south, where we drove from Reykjavik to Jökulsárlón. In this article, I give you all the tips and information you need to have an unforgettable winter experience in Iceland , from planning your road trip to the best stops along the way. Plus, do not forget to check out the sustainable tips at the end. Enjoy!

Disclosure : Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, we will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase. For more information,  read our full affiliate disclosure .

Where to stay in Reykjavík

Where to stay near the golden circle, where to stay in the south, where to stay near vatnajökull, overview: iceland 5-day winter itinerary, day 1 – reykjavík.

• Day 2 – The Golden Circle
• Day 3 – The South Coast

Day 4 – Vatnajökull Glacier

Day 5 – back to reykjavík.

Iceland winter road trip – Map

Click on the top left of the map to display the list of stops and locations.

5 days in Iceland: detailed winter itinerary

Please note that this self-drive winter road trip itinerary in Iceland is only a guide with recommendations. You are welcome to spend more days in one area or add other stops on your journey. Iceland has so much to offer – you will not get bored!

Your first day on your winter road trip begins in  Reykjavík , the beautiful capital and largest city of Iceland, located on the coast. It is the ideal place to start your adventure and uncover Icelandic culture, as you will come across iconic landmarks such as the Hallgrimskirkja church, the Harpa Concert Hall or the Sun Voyager. 

And even for one day, or if you are short on time, there are plenty of attractions and activities to experience in the capital, from admiring the architecture to tasting the local cuisine or discovering street art. 

You guessed it – whether you are more into nature, art or nightlife, Reykjavík has something for everyone!

READ MORE: Reykjavík City Guide: Perfect 3-Day Itinerary

Things to do & see in Reykjavík

• Admire the view from Hallgrímskirkja
• Visit the Harpa Concert Hall 
• Stroll along the Old Harbour
• Marvel at the Sun Voyager sculpture
• Wander through the city centre
• Try the local Iceland cuisine
• Relax at the Sky Lagoon
• Go whale watching
• Discover the Imagine Peace Tower
• Chase the Northern Lights

READ MORE: 10 Eco-Friendly Things to Do in Reykjavík, Iceland

And, of course, it is impossible not to mention the  Blue Lagoon  as one of the best things to do near Reykjavík. This natural pool is the most popular tourist attraction in Iceland and is worth the visit. However, note that the Blue Lagoon is 45 minutes from the capital, so you need a car or take the shuttle bus. Plus, book your ticket in advance as it is quickly busy.

How to get around Reykjavík

The best way to get around Reykjavík is on foot! The city is compact, and all the main attractions are close to each other. Plus, it is the best way to soak up the local atmosphere and immerse yourself in art and culture.

And if walking is too challenging, rent an electric bike or take a taxi. 

The best area to stay in Reykjavík is in  Midborg , the downtown neighbourhood near the Laugavegur shopping street. Here you will find the best shops, restaurants and cafés and will be within walking distance of the top attractions in the capital.

The central location of this district makes it a perfect place to stay for one night and explore on foot, whether you are travelling alone, as a couple or with children.

And why not minimise your carbon footprint on your visit? Check out these  eco-friendly hotels in Reykjavík : 

Holt Hotel – The Art Hotel A city centre boutique hotel filled with art, history and culture. 📍 Bergstaðastræti 37, 101 Reykjavík ⭐️ 4.5/5 (Google reviews) 💵 From £205 per night BOOK YOUR STAY

Loft – HI Hostel & Bar A casual hostel with a warm atmosphere located in the city centre. 📍 Bankastræti 7, 101 Reykjavík ⭐️ 4.5/5 (Google reviews) 💵 From £106 per night BOOK YOUR STAY

It is time to hit the road and explore the famous  Golden Circle , a circular route starting from Reykjavík that will take you through incredible natural wonders, from awe-inspiring waterfalls to active geysers and secret hot springs.

Through this immersive road, you will discover three of the most well-known attractions in Iceland:  Thingvellir National Park  (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the  Geysir  geothermal area with a frequent erupting geyser and the unique  Gullfoss  waterfall.

You will also come across  Kerid , a volcanic crater lake presenting incredible colours between the red volcanic rock (the caldera) and the turquoise-blue water.

Good to know : do not worry too much about driving the Golden Circle in winter. The roads are in good condition as it is one of the most popular tourist routes regardless of the season.

My experience – I had the chance to visit the Golden Circle in January, and the road conditions were okay. There was a bit of snow and ice, but it was never a problem. Plus, seeing all those famous natural attractions under the snow was something to see! I have visited Iceland in different seasons, and exploring in winter was magical, especially Gullfoss, where half of the waterfall was frozen. 

One of my favourite experiences at that time of year was the Secret Lagoon! It is the oldest natural pool in Iceland, located in a beautiful and peaceful setting – and less touristy than the Blue Lagoon 🙂 

Things to do & see in the Golden Circle

Popular Golden Circle stops (main tour):

• Þingvellir National Park
• Geysir Hot Spring Area & Strokkur
• Gullfoss Waterfall
• Kerið Crater Lake

Less visited Golden Circle stops (hidden gems):

• Thjorsardalur Valley
• Brúarfoss waterfall
• Sólheimar Eco-Village
• Thorufoss Waterfall
• Fridheimar Tomato and Horse Farm
• Faxi Waterfall
• Secret Lagoon 
• Reykjadalur Valley

Iceland’s Golden Circle – FAQ

It takes over 3 hours to cover the entire Golden Circle route, which you can easily do in one day. This region has a lot to offer, yet, we often underestimate it because of the big three sites. Therefore, get off the beaten track and look for authentic experiences.

Yes, driving the Golden Circle in winter is easy! The roads are in good condition as it is one of the most popular tourist routes in Iceland. Either way, do not drive fast. Always check the weather conditions before you travel, and in the event of a snowstorm, do not panic and go slow.

The best way to experience the Golden Circle is to drive it clockwise, starting from Reykjavik towards Thingvellir National Park. However, you are welcome to try something else and experience it how you want! It might even be better to avoid the big coaches full of tourists.

Where you want to stay near the Golden Circle is up to you and what you plan to do. In my opinion, I recommend staying  near Selfoss or Hella  to be ready for your next day on the road. 

Here are a few  eco-responsible hotels  near the Golden Circle:

Hotel Fljótshlíd A peaceful hotel located on a family-run horse farm. 📍 Smáratún, 861 Hvolsvöllur, Iceland ⭐️ 4.5/5 (Google reviews) 💵 From £129 per night BOOK YOUR STAY

Hotel Eldhestar An eco-hotel surrounded by nature in the town of Ölfus. 📍 816 Sveitarfélagið Ölfus, Iceland ⭐️ 4.5/5 (Google reviews) 💵 From £152 per night BOOK YOUR STAY

Your third day on this winter road trip in Iceland will take you through charming towns, beautiful waterfalls and stunning black-sand beaches. 

Seljalandsfoss 

Seljalandsfoss is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland as it is possible to walk around, making it an excellent place for stunning photos and memories. However, be careful not to slip in winter – I did not go behind it in that season as I was too afraid of falling.

It is a fun attraction to discover, especially in winter when the surroundings are frozen and the colours are gorgeous.

Skogafoss is one of my favourite waterfalls! It is always beautiful, whatever the season. I also love the rainbow it creates on a sunny day. 

In addition, it is possible to walk up the waterfall to have a great view from above. But be mindful of the stairs in winter – they are slippery.

You will continue your journey to Dyrhólaey, a high promontory distinguished by a volcanic arch offering breathtaking views! 

The road to access the area is easy to drive in winter, although slightly slippery, so do not go fast. You can park nearby and walk around to enjoy the different viewpoints. 

My favourite view was the one looking over Reynisfjara, which revealed a rock isolated in the centre of the beach. I found the place even more special in winter as the black sand contrasted so well with the white snow. 

Good to know : do not forget, the environment of this place is very fragile, so you must stay on the right path and be careful not to go too close to the edge, as the cliffs are not steady.

Reynisfjara Beach

Reynisfjara is the name of the long black-sand beach. You can reach it by car by turning just before Vik. The road in winter was easy to drive and beautiful, with a little church on its left side. 

The characteristic of Reynisfjara is its basaltic rocks in the impressive shape of hexagonal tubes. You can walk down the beach and enjoy the view, but be careful of the cliffs and rocks in this area, so do not come too close to the edge. 

The Town of Vík

Your last stop of the day will be Vík,   a   pretty seaside and southernmost village located on the main ring road around the island. 

It is a lovely place to relax, stroll around and discover the iconic Vik i Myrdal Church, a beautiful white church with a red roof dating back to 1873 and offering a stunning panorama of the ocean and town.

Things to do & see near Vík

• Visit the Vik i Myrdal Church
• Stroll through the town
• Explore the abandoned plane (Solheimafjara)
• Go horseback riding
• Enjoy a coffee at Skool Beans Cafe
• Relax at the Vik Swimming Pool

Vík and its surroundings are the perfect places to stay on your third day in Iceland. However, I recommend you book your accommodation in advance as there are not many. 

Here are a few  eco-friendly hotels  near Vík:

Hotel Kría A modern hotel with a sleek exterior and stunning views. 📍 Sléttuvegur, 870 Vík, Iceland ⭐️ 4.5/5 (Google reviews) 💵 From £314 per night BOOK YOUR STAY

Hotel Katla A cosy hotel set in a breathtaking natural environment. 📍 Hofdabrekku, 871 Vík, Iceland ⭐️ 4.3/5 (Google reviews) 💵 From £273 per night BOOK YOUR STAY

You continue your winter road trip east towards glaciers, lagoons and ice caves – a true discovery of the natural wonders in Iceland!

Ice caves & glacier hike

Vatnajökull Glacier is the largest and most voluminous ice cap of Iceland and the second largest in Europe. The average ice thickness is 380m (1250ft), and below it, you will find several volcanoes. 

This glacier is so impressive, and I am always amazed when I see it. In 2017, my mum and I did a hike on it, and it was one of my favourite experiences. When I returned in winter, Matt and I visited some blue ice caves with Tröll Expeditions – an experience I recommend for all travellers; solo, couples or families! 

The colour of the caves was surreal, and I could not stop touching the ice. Plus, you can only visit these caves in winter, as they melt in summer. So each winter, new ice caves are created in different places with different shapes.

• Best glacier hike :  Skaftafell National Park Glacier Hike
• Best ice cave tour :  Crystal Ice Cave Day Tour

Jökulsárlón

Jökulsárlón is a natural wonder and a must-see on your trip across Iceland. You will find this iconic glacial lake on the edge of the Vatnajökull National Park. You can easily park near it and walk around.

The blue colour of the water and the icebergs floating on it make it a perfect place for nature lovers and photo enthusiasts!

Diamond Beach

Not far from Jökulsárlón, you will find Diamond Beach, a black-sand beach with small icebergs that washed up on the shore, looking like sparkling diamonds.

This natural attraction is created by the icebergs of Jökulsárlón being swept away and ending up on this beach, looking like little diamonds that perfectly contrast with the black of the sand. 

Yes, walking on Diamond Beach is safe! You can park nearby and explore the beach on foot. However, watch out for the waves and do not come too close. Iceland is famous for its sneaky ripples and strong tides.

Svínafellsjökull Glacier

Svínafellsjökull is an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull and one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen! You can reach it by driving off-road where you will find a car park at the end. Once there, you can continue on foot, but be careful as the floor is very slippery, so maybe go with crampons (I wish I had some). 

You can walk along the edge but not on the glacier. However, you can still get quite close, and the view from there is breathtaking. Everything was quiet and peaceful, and we could even hear the ice cracking. We experienced it at the end of the day when the sun was setting, and the light was reflecting off the top of the mountains – it was magical! A moment I will never forget. 

Svartifoss waterfall 

You will find Svartifoss inside the Skaftafell National Park, one of the most popular sights in the park. This waterfall is surrounded by dark lava columns, and its base is known for its sharp rocks – an impressive attraction worth the hike! 

It is possible to access it in winter, but I recommend dressing appropriately and wearing shoes with good grip or crampons. I also suggest checking the weather beforehand and asking the information office about the trail conditions before you go.

The hike takes around 90 minutes (1.5km) from the Visitor Centre – with photo stops, of course! Just note that the route is uphill, but you will come across other beautiful waterfalls on your journey.

Once again, book your accommodation in advance as there are not many around the area. Here are a few  eco-friendly hotels : 

Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon A modern wood-clad hotel surrounded by mountains. 📍 Hnappavellir, 785 Öræfi, Iceland ⭐️ 4.5/5 (Google reviews) 💵 From £312 per night BOOK YOUR STAY

Skyrhúsid Guest House A cosy guesthouse set in a former yoghurt-making facility. 📍 Þjóðvegur, 781, Iceland ⭐️ 4.5/5 (Google reviews) 💵 From £133 per night BOOK YOUR STAY

It is time to head back to Reykjavík on your last day in Iceland. Depending on when you need to return the car, you can make a few more stops on your journey back, especially if you missed something on your way there or would like to revisit something. 

If you have not had the chance, you can also explore Reykjavík and do some last-minute shopping before heading home. 

I hope you enjoyed your 5-day winter road trip in Iceland! Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or other suggestions. 

More itinerary ideas

Depending on if you have less or more time, here are  other itinerary ideas  for a memorable road trip in Iceland:

3-day winter itinerary : 

• Day 1 – Reykjavik
• Day 3 – Vík & the South Coast

7-day winter itinerary : 

• Day 2 – Snaefellsnes peninsula
• Day 3 – The Golden Circle
• Day 4 – The South Coast
• Day 5 – Vík to Jökulsárlón
• Day 6 – Ice cave & glacier hike
• Day 7 – Back to Reykjavik

9-day winter itinerary : 

• Day 4 – Vík to Jökulsárlón
• Day 5 – Ice cave & glacier hike
• Day 6 – The East Fjords
• Day 7 – Mývatn
• Day 8 – Akureyri
• Day 9 – Back to Reykjavik

PLEASE NOTE – I do not recommend trying to do a full Ring Road tour if you stay in Iceland for less than 9 days in winter. The days are extremely short, especially in December and January, and the weather can be unpredictable, so it takes time to travel around. Always check the weather and road conditions beforehand. 

Why should you visit Iceland in winter?

Exploring Iceland in winter is like setting foot on a magical land . And it will be, without a doubt, an experience you will never forget. 

The island in winter is simply beautiful: the waterfalls are frozen, the roads are icy, and the snowy landscapes are stunning. Plus, you will have the chance to walk through blue ice caves, soak in a hot spring surrounded by snow, and see the Northern Lights! 

Also, you might encounter fewer crowds and tourists during that time, although the island is constantly busy.

I had the chance to do a road trip through Iceland in January, which was very different from my previous trip in the spring – it was like discovering a new side of the island, and I loved it.

Is it better to visit Iceland in summer or winter?

The answer to this question is subjective and depends on what you prefer to do and would like to see . Here is some information on these 2 seasons which I had the chance to experience:

Visiting Iceland in summer

In this season, the days are longer and warmer, which makes it possible to see the surroundings better, especially the blackness of the rock and the contrast of colours in certain places.

You will find that the roads are in better condition, especially in the east and west fjords, where it can be challenging to drive in winter. Plus, the middle of the island will open up again, providing more possibilities for exploration (impossible to visit in any other season). 

It is also the perfect season to experience wildlife. You can see puffins from a few places, including Dyrhólaey on the south coast, and it is the best time to go whale watching from Reykjavik or the north of the island. 

Finally, summer is an excellent time to visit Iceland if you like camping, as the weather will be more suitable with endless daylight.

Good to know : it is also still possible to see the Northern Lights until April.

Visiting Iceland in winter

In winter, the island is covered with a beautiful white coat, the waterfalls are frozen, and the landscapes are breathtaking. It is the only time of the year you can visit ice caves, and it is also a great season to see the Northern Lights, as the location of the island makes it one of the best places in the world to see them.

Good to know : winter is not the best time to see the Northern Lights. Contrary to popular belief, just because the days are shorter and darker does not mean we see more of them. The weather is more cloudy during this period. As a result, the best months are September/October and March/April.

On the other hand, because the days are shorter, you will need to plan your road trip accordingly and be ready to change your plans if necessary. The roads might be more challenging to drive on, and you might encounter a few snowstorms, so pay extra attention to the weather and check it regularly, as well as the road conditions website.  

Despite these challenges, exploring Iceland in winter is a unique experience I cannot recommend enough!

Is Iceland expensive to visit?

Unfortunately,  the answer is yes . Iceland is one of the most expensive countries I have ever visited, so I recommend budgeting your trip beforehand. 

However, the good thing is that most natural wonders are free! So your cost will mostly come from your car, accommodation and food.

Here are some  tips for reducing your costs  in Iceland:

• Book everything in advance
• Rent a budget car
• Stay in affordable hostels 
• See all the free attractions
• Volunteer (check out Workaway )
• Cook for yourself
• Visit in summer & camp

Are 5 days enough to visit Iceland in winter?

Yes, 5 days are enough and a reasonable amount of time to discover the best of Iceland in winter . I always recommend staying longer on the island as there is so much to do and see, but I also understand that Iceland is an expensive country to visit. 

Within 5 days, you will have the chance to see some of the best attractions in the country, like the Golden Circle, Jökulsárlón, blue ice caves, Vík, black-sand beaches and Skogafoss. It will give you an excellent overview of what Iceland offers, with a variety of landscapes and cultural sites. 

To make the most of your trip, prepare your itinerary and plan your stops in advance but leave room for the unexpected, especially in winter. 

Please note that I do not recommend doing the whole Ring Road tour in winter if you stay less than 9 days. The days are too short so you will need more time to travel around.

What to pack for an Iceland winter trip

The best way to explore Iceland in winter and enjoy the cold weather is to arrive prepared. Being mindful of how you pack your suitcase is essential. Here are some clothing items and gear you will need to be comfortable on your winter trip: 

• Boots : you will need waterproof boots with good grip to keep your feet warm and dry during outdoor activities and when exploring outside. I wore my  Sorel boots , and they were perfect. They are very comfortable, and my feet were never wet or cold.
• Winter thermal socks : wearing quality socks is essential to keeping your feet warm. Mine were  thick thermal socks   that I used for this trip (and skiing in Lapland). They were not highly technical, but they did the job and were comfy.
• Coat : one of the most necessary elements for a winter gateway! Choosing a coat that is right for you and can adapt to the types of activities you want to do is crucial. I wore my  Fjällräven Nuuk parka , and once again, it was great. Buying a quality cold-weather jacket is expensive, but you will not regret it (I have owned mine for years, and I even wear it at home in the UK). This coat has kept me warm for all my winter trips.
• Base layers and second layers : these layers are crucial if you want to stay warm. The base layers are usually long-sleeved thermal t-shirts, and the second layers can be thin thermal sweaters or thick jumpers, depending on the temperature and how many layers you want to wear. They do not need to be fancy, but I recommend having several to switch over the week. Mine are from Decathlon.
• Gloves and hats : exploring Iceland in winter and enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking on a glacier without gloves or a hat sounds impossible (especially if you like taking photos)! As you will spend most of your time outside, you should not forget to protect your head and hands. I also recommend wearing waterproof gloves for extra protection and a padded hat. Again, mine are from Decathlon.
• Scarf : the scarf will depend on your preferences, as many people do not enjoy feeling something around their neck. But because the wind can be strong in Iceland, I wore a  Buff . It was one of my favourite items! The one I chose was lightweight, thermal and incredibly useful. Buff products are much easier to wear than long scarves and adapt to your activity level.
• Pants : the type of pants you wear will most likely depend on your activity and your preferences. Most of the time, I wore my jeans with tights underneath. Matt did the same (without tights, aha), but he was always warm enough. However, for some places or activities like visiting ice caves, having windproof/waterproof pants is very useful.

Eco-friendly gear you might love:

• 10 Best Sustainable Backpacks for Travel & Hiking
• 10 Best Reusable & Eco-Friendly Travel Mugs
• 8 Best Filtered Water Bottles for Travel & Hiking

Check out  this page  for more inspiration on eco-friendly products & gear.

Shop the editable travel packing list

Prepare for your perfect outdoor adventure and explore responsibly.

How to get around Iceland in winter

Rent a car & self-drive.

The best way to get around Iceland in winter is by  renting a car and self-driving around the island , allowing you to be free and stop wherever you want along the road.

You can rent your car from Reykjavík Airport  and start your journey following the Ring Road (Road 1) from here. This road is in good condition in winter, but always check the weather before setting off as it can be unpredictable and powerful winds are dangerous, especially in this season. 

To book your car,  I recommend using  Rentalcars.com  to search and compare  which one is best for you. From affordable to luxury, they make it easy to choose and have a great selection of rental agents.

It is also possible to rent a small car in winter, but I believe a  4×4 is always a good idea  for a road trip in Iceland. We had a Suzuki S-cross 4×4 for our trip in January, which made it easy and smooth.

Regarding petrol,  be careful as there are not many stations . With my mum in spring, we made a mistake once and had to turn around (which was a bit scary, considering Iceland has mostly big empty spaces).

Yes, the best way to explore Iceland is by renting a car. However, if you do not feel safe driving yourself in winter or are short on time, I suggest joining a small guided tour starting from Reykjavík.

The best way to rent a car in Iceland is to search and compete online. I use  rentalcar.com , and it always gives me the best prices. You can book your car straight from the platform, and I never had any problem!

Join a small guided tour

If you do not feel safe or confident self-driving in winter, I suggest  joining a guided tour.  It will allow you to connect with a group of like-minded people and experience the unique Icelandic culture without worrying about your itinerary or schedule. 

But please be mindful and  choose a small local tour operator  who cares about the local communities and environment. Check out their website for green practices and ask questions. 

Also,  prioritise a guided tour with a   small group of people  to ensure you do not contribute to overtourism. 

Shop the printable road trip planner

Create your dream adventure & live an unforgettable experience on the Icelandic road.

Weather & road conditions in Iceland in winter

Icelandic weather in winter.

In winter, you can expect  cold and snowy weather, with unpredictable storms and strong winds . Luckily for us, it was sunny with a clear blue sky every day in January, but I know this does not happen often. Most of the time, the sky will be covered with clouds. In fact, the week before we arrived, there was a significant snowstorm, and most roads were closed – even Road 1, so many people were stuck in different parts of the island.

You can also expect  temperatures around 0°c.  It was not too bad for us and did not feel too cold compared to your cruise in Norway in November. The sun rose around 10am and sat around 5pm (end of January), which gave us enough time to explore. Plus, the colours were always beautiful, as the sun was never really high in the sky. 

Iceland in winter is not too cold, with an average temperature of around 0 °c. The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging around -1°c, although they can go from -10°c to 5°c.

In winter, days are much shorter in Iceland, with daylight hours averaging around 5 hours. You will find the shortest day of the year in December because of the winter equinox, with only 4 hours of full daylight (11am-3pm).

Iceland road conditions in winter

I visited the country in winter, and  the road conditions were good . Most were  icy and covered with snow , but it was never bad, and I never felt scared of driving.

In any case,  never speed up ! The maximum speed on the whole island is 90km/h and 80 on gravel roads. Always check the conditions before you take the road, and  in the event of a storm, do not panic and go slowly . 

Good to know : if you do not feel 100% confident, stick to Road 1, and you will be fine. Do not try to venture inside the island as the roads will be closed (+ it is dangerous!).

Tips for driving in Iceland in winter

Here are a few more  driving tips   for a safe and unforgettable winter trip  to Iceland:

• Stick to Road 1 and the south coast
• Rent a 4-wheel drive car
• Be ready for the unexpected 
• Drive slowly & do not panic
• Check the road safety website
• Be careful of the wind
• Allow plenty of time to get around
• Do not venture on F-roads

Wifi & internet access in Iceland

Most cafés, restaurants, hotels and guesthouses offer free wifi . In fact, Iceland is a world leader in fibre internet, with 90% of homes having access to full-fibre internet services.

Regarding your internet access on the road, you will find  3 main providers: Síminn, Nova and Vodafone . They all offer good connectivity anywhere in the country, including remote areas. 

If you come from Europe, you will be able to use your phone as normally  thanks to the EU rule “roam like at home”, where you pay the same price when using the phone anywhere in Europe as you would at home, including Iceland.

However,  if you come from a country outside of Europe , this rule does not apply, so check the terms and conditions with your provider and what is included in your package regarding international plans.

The 3 providers mentioned above also supply  prepaid SIM cards  so you can use your phone and get mobile coverage in Iceland – especially important when travelling in winter.

Can you see the Northern Lights in Iceland?

Yes, Iceland is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights . The best months to experience them are September/October and March/April when it is dark but with fewer clouds.

Contrary to what one might think, it is not because the days are shorter and darker in December and January that you can see more of them, as the weather will be cloudier during this period.

Watching the Northern Light dancing above your head is a magical experience that I highly recommend – so keep your eyes on the sky in the evening! 

Tips for reducing your eco-impact on a road trip

Sustainable travel  means exploring the world whilst being aware of your surroundings and having a positive social, environmental and economic impact on the places you visit.

Iceland is the country that opened my eyes to the negative impacts of tourism. During each of my trips, people were not respecting the fragile environment of some places by going over fences to take perfect photos or using their cars on protected land to access remote sites, destroying flora and fauna.

10 ways to reduce your impact in Iceland

1-  Book direct flights to Iceland and  offset your carbon footprint . But, do not use carbon offsetting as a complete solution. Combine it with other sustainable practices, like avoiding single-use plastic on the plane and mindfully packing your suitcase to be ready for your green adventure. 

2- If you self-drive and rent a car,  choose the smallest vehicle  adapted to what you want to do and see. And to go even further, you can  rent an electric one . Many charging points are accessible around the island (check out  PlugShare ).

3- One of the best ways to reduce your environmental impact is to  plan your route in advance . I know getting lost on a road trip is fun and exciting, but when trying to minimise your footprint, planning your itinerary will help avoid making unnecessary stops or detours, wasting fuel and increasing your carbon footprint. 

4- When travelling in Iceland,  treat the landscapes and wildlife with respect!  Do not come close to animals, do not feed them and respect their home. Iceland has a fragile ecosystem, so always pay attention to where you drive, park your car and walk.

5-  Try avoiding crowded sites , and get off the beaten track by adding less visited areas to your itinerary.

6-  Stick to official routes and gravel roads  – a rugged landscape of lava or ice is so fragile that the wheels of a 4×4 can damage the land and leave scars for decades.

7-  Prioritise slow travel . This approach allows you to take more time to get to know a country and its culture on a deeper level, which can also mean travelling less but staying longer = quality over quantity. Therefore, try spending at least 4 days or a week in Iceland. And if you stay longer, you can go beyond the South and explore lesser-known parts of the island, such as the North or West Fjords.

8- If it is easier, you can  travel on an organised small group tour , which is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and protect the vulnerability of your surroundings.

9-  Always respect the local heritage . Treat people and their surroundings with respect. Sustainable travel is not only about the environment but also about the local communities. So, always be respectful and try to learn a few Icelandic words!

10-  Bring a reusable filtered water bottle and lunch boxes with you . It will help avoid buying single-use items that will be wasted. Instead, pack healthy and plastic-free snacks and refill your water bottle whenever you can – at a rest stop or in a river! It will also help you save money, as buying food and drinks at gas stations can be expensive.

Carbon offset

Here is how you can calculate the carbon footprint of your road trip:  carbon footprint calculator . It will link to local carbon-capturing projects you can support to compensate for your travel-related emissions. 

More inspiration for your adventure:

• The Complete Guide to Sustainable Travel
• 10 Best Travel Apps for Exploring Sustainably
• Best Ecotourism Activities Around the World
• 15 Travel Books to Inspire Your Next Eco-Adventure

Iceland travel planning guide

Yes, buying insurance is always valuable when travelling abroad. Enjoy your winter road trip in Iceland stress-free with one of my favourite providers,  Nomad Insurance .

Yes, tap water is safe to drink all over Iceland, unless advised otherwise. However, I also recommend travelling with the  UltraPress Purifier Bottle , a lightweight filtered water bottle perfect for reducing plastic and staying hydrated.

Yes, renting a car in Iceland is easy and is a great way to explore the country freely. I recommend booking yours with  Rentalcars.com  – they offer a variety of operators for all budgets.

The best way to book your accommodation in Iceland is with  Booking.com  – my favourite platform to compare and reserve places to stay each night, from affordable guesthouses to luxury resorts.

I recommend booking your plane with  Skyscanner . It has been my favourite platform for years, as it allows me to book the cheapest flights whilst lowering my carbon emissions.

Have you ever experienced a winter road trip in Iceland or would you like to try one day? Let me know in the comments below!

With love ♡ Lucie

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Skip the Golden Circle—Take Iceland's New Arctic Coast Way Instead

By Ashlea Halpern

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There are sites in Reykjavík and along the Golden Circle where the tourism crush has become unbearable. But as María Reynisdóttir, tourism specialist for Iceland’s Ministry of Industries and Innovation, tells Traveler , these are isolated infrastructure challenges. Iceland is still plenty big, and there are areas of the country where travelers can drive for miles without encountering another soul.

On June 8, Iceland is unveiling a rebranded Arctic Coast Way , which will connect many of these areas. The hope is to draw attention to the 21 villages, 17 communities, and four islands located along the 560-mile stretch of northern coastline spanning from Hvammstangi to Bakkafjörður. My mother and I drove a good chunk of this last September, 10 months before it became a thing. Here’s how we did it.

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The trip: Five days, 470 miles

What to drive.

Unless you’re off-roading, a compact vehicle will serve you just fine along this route. Learning to drive a stick shift saves a bundle, as an automatic costs more. My mom and I rented a car at Keflavík International Airport (KEF) in Reykjavík and drove it one-way to Akureyri Airport (AEY) in the north. For the return, we booked a one-way flight via Air Iceland Connect back to Reykjavík Airport (RKV) and pre-ordered a Flybus voucher to transfer us between the domestic and international airports.

This drive is best done between April and September, although budget-minded travelers may appreciate the (slightly) discounted hotel rates in the shoulder months of March and October. Just bear in mind that some businesses operate seasonally (mid-May through August). Note: The only thing predictable about Iceland’s weather is its unpredictability. Check road.is and safetravel.is daily for the most up-to-date driving conditions.

One of the historic turf-roofed farmhouses at Glaumbær in Skagafjörður.

My mom and I flew from Stockholm to Reykjavík and rented a shrimpy Ford Focus from the Avis at KEF. Having visited Reykjavík numerous times before, we hit the road straightaway. We had a 264-mile drive to our first overnight destination, Siglufjörður, where we had rented a cute cottage via Airbnb.

Fortunately, there was plenty to distract us along the nearly six-hour drive. Around the halfway mark, we veered 3.5 miles off Route 1, a.k.a. the Ring Road, and down a gravel path toward Kolugljúfur , a gorge where the river Víðidalsá feeds into a tumbling waterfall. Kolufossar isn’t the most famous cascade in Iceland, but it still draws the Instagram set; we encountered a dozen selfie-takers and two drone operators, the latter precariously perched on the ragged edges of the canyon cliffs.

The same ‘grammers missed the memo on Blönduóskirkja, though. The striking design of the modernist church, 40 minutes northwest in Blönduós, was inspired by a volcanic crater. Another 36 miles on, we stopped at Glaumbær in Skagafjörður. The historic turf-roofed farmhouses were built during the Age of the Settlements, circa 900 A.D., and have been transformed into a living museum. The property’s timber structures were added as recently as the 1870s, and the last inhabitants didn’t vacate the premises until 1947. Wandering the old pantry, storerooms, and blacksmith’s workshop felt like stepping onto the set of a period film.

The tiny fishing town of Siglufjörður.

We used the tiny fishing town of Siglufjörður (population: 1,206) as a base to explore neighboring villages along the rugged northwestern coast of Trӧllaskagi, a.k.a. Troll Peninsula. True to its name, trolls were the first thing we noticed in Ólafsfjörður, the town next door. They were everywhere—painted on the sides of houses, a fish-processing plant, and the town’s indoor public pool. The troll murals were painted by an American artist who had done a residency is this remote corner of Iceland. Now, roadtrippers like us make a point of stopping in Ólafsfjörður just to troll hunt.

After lunch, we drove 30 minutes south to Bjórböðin , a spa and restaurant in Árskógssandur. Opened in June 2017, this was the country’s first “beer spa,” where deep oval soaking tubs made from Kambala wood are filled with 100-degree young beer, live beer yeast, water, and hops. After baking in the outdoor sauna, we slipped into the sudsy mixture in a private bath. For 25 minutes, we scrubbed our skin with the gritty brewers yeast, which is believed to soften hair follicles and cleanse the skin. Post-soak, we headed up to a darkened "relaxation room," where our bath concierge swaddled us in towels. We laid in silent meditation and tried not to fall asleep. Weirdest family bonding experience ever? Maybe. But also surprisingly relaxing.

Shannon McMahon

Mark Ellwood

Chris Schalkx

Emily Saladino

The Goðafoss Waterfall.

After checking out of our Airbnb in Siglufjörður, we grabbed a quick and tasty lunch at Fish & Chips Siglufjörður. (This was one of the few budget-friendly meals we could find in North Iceland, although lunch for two still cost about 4,000 krona, or $33 USD.)

We stopped for home-baked pastries at the charming café Gisli, Eirikur, Helgi in Dalvik, 40 minutes south; made a failed attempt to visit Safnasafnið , an Icelandic folk and outsider art museum in Akureyri that keeps strict seasonal hours; and took a leaf-peeping spin through the 742-acre Vaglaskógur national forest in Fnjóskadalur, which was staging quite the explosive color show in late September.

But the highlight of the drive—which ended at the modest Post-Plaza Guesthouse in the port city of Húsavík—was Goðafoss , one of the most epic waterfalls in Iceland. Nicknamed the “waterfall of the Gods,” it’s where the rushing Skjálfandafljót river drops nearly 40 feet across a 98-foot expanse.

Húsavík church; Geosea Geothermal Sea Baths.

We spent the morning strolling the compact streets of downtown Húsavík. We shopped for Scandinavian housewares at Garðarshólmi ; loaded up on cream-filled pastries at Heimabakarí Eðalbrauð Ehf ; popped by the Húsavík Whale Museum , home to an 82-foot-long blue whale skeleton; and photographed the storybook-handsome, 112-year-old Húsavík church .

Continuing with the marine life theme, we joined a three-hour whale-watching tour in the afternoon. Our guide, a Dutch marine biologist from Salka Whale Watching , rated the roughness of the sea that day as “seven out of 10.” We wore winter coats plus full-body thermal suits and raincoats, and were slip-sliding across the deck, seawater spraying in our faces, as the boat flew this way and that. It might have been a miserable experience had we not been lucky enough to spot an astonishing five humpback whales—two of which swam within 20 feet of our boat. Though the water was choppy, the crew took good care of our small band of determined sightseers.

My mom and I ended the day in the best way imaginable—with no-fuss takeout from Fish & Chips , a favorite of Húsavík’s local fishermen, and a long soak at the Geosea Geothermal Sea Baths . The 10-month-old spa boasts six outdoor pools and sweeping views of Skjálfandaflói, the bay that had mercilessly knocked around our whale-watching boat like a toy in a bathtub.

Namafjall Geothermal Area, 40 minutes south of Húsavík.

We devoted our final day in North Iceland to volcanic Lake Mývatn . After moving to Fosshotel Mývatn , a higher-end chain hotel located 40 minutes south of Húsavík, we drove to the Namafjall Geothermal Area . We could smell the sulphur before we even parked the car. Located at the foothill of Námafjall mountain, Hverir put on a dazzling display of hissing fumaroles, bubbling mud pots, and cracked earth. We watched with awe as one tourist stuck his hand directly in front of a hot vent and then howled in pain when it injured his fingers.

Next we took Highway 862 out to Dettifoss , the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Right as we strolled up, a daredevil tightrope walker was beginning his terrifying cross high above the furious churn. Three rainbows appeared between the sun and the spray, making for an incredible moment. Another half-mile schlep along the rocky Jökulsárgljúfur canyon and we found Selfoss , Dettifoss’ smaller but arguably wilder sister waterfall.

In the afternoon, my mom and I spent an hour riding shaggy Icelandic geldings with Gilli, owner of Safari Hester on the southern side of Lake Mývatn. He taught us to how to tolt , a trot that is surprisingly smooth when done right. We rode across a beautiful grassy area with mountain and lake views, and up a pseudo crater. The ridges had sheer drop-offs on either side; if one of our boys slipped a horseshoe, we’d both be dead. My mom was terrified of the heights but I told her what I tell myself when I climb into a taxi in Rome or Delhi or New York City: You gotta trust the driver.

For our final meal in Iceland, we splashed out at the touristy Vogafjós Cow Cafe near Mývatn. The restaurant is attached to a working dairy farm. My mom ordered a burger, which I couldn’t stomach given the circumstances; I went with raw lamb and housemade mozzarella and geysir bread. The bill totaled almost $125. Once the sticker shock passed, we reattached our jaws and shrugged it off. Tomorrow we would be on a plane, headed back to the U.S. Memories like these are worth every penny.

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Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip: The Perfect 5-Day Itinerary

Posted: October 19, 2023 | Last updated: October 19, 2023

The Blue Ridge Mountains run from the southern edge of Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains.

Photo by Jon Bilous/Shutterstock

The lilting accents, the stiff drinks, the lingering meals—nearly everything about the American South asks us to slow down. The key to enjoying the region is not to rush. That goes for the Blue Ridge Parkway, too. With a speed limit that rarely exceeds 45 mph, the meandering, artfully laid-out, two-lane highway politely demands to be savored. It’s no surprise that people travel from around the world to experience one of North America’s most iconic routes.

Although it would only take about nine hours to drive the road straight through from Charlottesville, Virginia, to Asheville, North Carolina, give yourself five days to mosey along the 384 miles between these two cities, the most popular segment of the 469-mile-long Parkway. The drive’s scenery justifies its reputation as one of the great roads, following the rocky ridges, green plateaus, and soft hilly meadows of the Appalachian Mountains all the way from Shenandoah National Park down the Blue Ridge chain to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But the road has more appeal than just the dramatic vistas—the excuses to pause are as plentiful as the panoramas.

Illustration by Emily Blevins, animation by Claudia Cardia

Along this storied U.S. highway, you will see wild birds, breathtaking overlooks and mountain views, clear mountain streams, and mist-bound hilltops that remind you how the Blue Ridge Mountains got their name—you may even see some black bears picking their way through roadside woods for wild berries. You’ll hear birdsong as well as lots of banjos, fiddles, and guitars; you’ll hear the roar of waterfalls, and hopefully you’ll find a little silence, too. You’ll experience the sudden dark coolness of tunnels after brilliant sunlight and the particular thrill of driving around a curve to an open view that extends to the horizon.

The best time to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway

You can drive this route at any time of the year, but late spring through midfall are some of the best times to visit. Summertime can get warm, but the cooler temperatures along the parkway will work in your favor. Wildflowers bloom throughout May and June, setting the scene for an especially dreamy trip. And if you plan your trip in autumn, you’ll be rewarded with unforgettable fall foliage .

A drive early in the year (January through March) comes with a few challenges. Some of the visitor centers, picnic areas, gift shops, and other places of interest will be closed if there’s heavy precipitation or freezing temperatures. This part of the country does get snow and ice—keep in mind that temperatures are often 5 to 10 degrees cooler than the lower regions of the states you’re traveling through.

Also remember that the Parkway can get foggy any time of year. Visibility can vanish, so expect to pull over at one of the many overlooks or stop points to wait for the weather to pass. Wildlife is abundant throughout the region, making the fog even more dangerous because you can’t always anticipate animal crossings. It’s always a good idea to check the weather forecast before you begin your day.

The itinerary

It’s a drive, yes, but five days should give you plenty of time to get out of the car, order some barbecue, listen to music, and head up into those hills. Use this itinerary to make the most of your Blue Ridge Parkway road trip.

Day 1: Arrive in Charlottesville, Virginia

Charlottesville’s amenities and proximity to the Parkway’s northern entrance make it an excellent place to start your trip. If you’re flying in to do the drive, the Albemarle-Charlottesville airport is also a natural spot for a one-way car rental. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is about a two-hour drive north of Charlottesville.

Where to stay: Oakhurst Inn

• Book now : Oakhurst Inn

Start the journey with a good night’s sleep at Oakhurst Inn , a companionable cluster of buildings from the 1920s. (Two were formerly boardinghouses; one, a professor’s home; and one, a fraternity house.) The 35-room inn has a lobby cocktail bar that’s open every evening until 9.

Day 2: Charlottesville to Floyd, Virginia

• Distance : 180 miles
• Highlights : Virginia ham sandwiches, hoedowns, and hikes

If you want to linger in Charlottesville before your drive, visit nearby Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello , or stroll through the grounds of the University of Virginia. Then head west on I-64 to begin your drive south on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The start of the Blue Ridge Parkway also marks the end of Skyline Drive. Skyline Drive is a similarly scenic highway that winds 105 miles north through Shenandoah National Park’s 200,000 acres of protected land. While that direction is deeply tempting, turn south instead.

If you’re a hiker or looking to get some biking in, you will already want to pull over at Milepost 6 to set foot on the Appalachian Trail, a two-mile uphill hike from the road. Anglers, on the other hand, may want to stop instead at the Tye River access point at Milepost 28.9, where the bites abound for summertime fly-casters.

Turn off at Glasgow (Milepost 61.4) for a stop at Layne’s Country Store and a country ham sandwich. Fill up your cooler with local jams, pickles, and hand-cut bacon. From Glasgow, it’s just a 10-minute drive to Natural Bridge , an impressively tall limestone arch. (If you skipped the ham and stayed on the Parkway, look to exit at Milepost 63.7.) This geological spectacle, dubbed “Nature’s Cathedral,” was once surveyed by a young George Washington, and was bundled into a land purchase Thomas Jefferson made from King George III. Take in the natural wonder, but spare yourself its many related tourist traps.

After you get back on the Parkway, drive another hour or so, stopping to spend the afternoon in Roanoke. The Taubman Museum of Art showcases regional, folk, and contemporary artworks and has a unique permanent collection of twinkling minaudières (whimsical evening bags) from designer Judith Leiber.

Where to stay: Airbnb

• Book now : Airbnb

The best options for overnighting near Floyd are via Airbnb . Your choices include a geodesic dome , a tiny house , and, best of all, a lovingly renovated mill above a creek.

Day 3: Floyd to Meadows of Dan, Virginia

• Distance : 23 miles
• Highlights : A historic mill and luxurious mountain resort

Long before the advent of Instagram, the idyllic Mabry Mill has been one of the Parkway’s most recognizable sights. The restored 1905 millhouse rests, shake-roofed and endearingly lopsided, streamside at Milepost 176. Get your photo, and then enjoy a pancake breakfast at the on-site restaurant , with buckwheat flour produced at the gristmill. (A bag of the flour makes a tasty souvenir.)

Where to stay: Primland

• Book now : Primland

With plenty of time left to enjoy the day, grab an early check-in at Primland , a luxury mountain resort sprawled across 12,000 acres near the Blue Ridge Parkway (exit at Milepost 177.7). The resort’s unusual menu of activities includes tree-climbing, sporting clays, archery, and stargazing at an observatory in the main lodge.

Even with all the diversions, you’ll want to turn in early to linger longer in one of the property’s unique tree-house cottages, featuring all the modern amenities of lavish hotel rooms, but built high up in the canopy of beautiful old trees. Take in the sunset and sweeping views of the Kibler Valley from your private deck in the trees.

Day 4: Meadows of Dan to Blowing Rock, North Carolina

• Distance : 124 miles
• Highlights : Fresh cheese, mountain music, and historic manors

After your treetop slumber, get back on the Blue Ridge Parkway and make your way to Milepost 213, near Galax (pronounced GAY-lax ), to see what’s going on at the Blue Ridge Music Center , a casual museum dedicated to mountain music where midday pickup shows with local string bands are an everyday occurrence. Galax is the lodestar for bluegrass musicians and their fans because of this museum and for the Old Fiddlers’ Convention held the second week of August every year. The music you hear will be top-notch, down-home gold.

Meadow Creek , a small dairy in the area, produces organic cheeses from cows’ milk that have a cult-like following among discerning palates. Its cheeses are sold at Chapters Bookshop & Wine Cellar , right in Galax.

Fire up your favorite music or tune in to a good podcast (might we suggest one of our own ?) because you’ve got the next 75 miles to listen and enjoy the scenery until the next stop in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Along this segment of the Parkway, the road is softened by elegant curves and long, expansive views. You’ll cross the North Carolina border along the road’s inaugural section. Construction began here at Cumberland Knob in 1935, part of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, and the entire length of the highway was finally completed in 1987.

Where to stay: The Blowing Rock Brewing Company Ale House & Inn

Where to stay: the blowing rock brewing company ale house & inn.

• Book now : The Blowing Rock Brewing Company Ale House & Inn

After exploring the town, retire to the Blowing Rock Brewing Company Ale House & Inn for a cold beer and a comfortable bed at one of the five rooms above the brewery.

Day 5: Blowing Rock to Asheville, North Carolina

• Distance : 96 miles
• Highlights : Mountain hikes, a swinging bridge, and the finale of road trip in beer-and-food-filled Asheville

Forgo your usual morning workout and instead hike Grandfather Mountain , not far from Blowing Rock. You can find a couple of trailheads right along the Parkway between Mileposts 304 and 308, but for a greater variety of options, exit at Milepost 305.1 for Grandfather Mountain State Park. Its 11 different trails range in difficulty from easy nature paths to routes that trace knife-sharp ridge lines and traverse sheer rock faces via ladders or steel cables.

If you can, opt for the somewhat strenuous trek along the Bridge Trail and cross the Mile High Swinging Bridge , which—though solidly engineered from galvanized steel—looks a bit scary spanning an 80-foot chasm. The view from the bridge is ample reward for the hike to get there, although an elevator has been added to make the span accessible for everyone.

Where to stay: Foundry Hotel or Grand Bohemian Asheville

• Book now : Foundry Hotel ; Grand Bohemian Asheville

Stay upstairs from Benne at the Foundry Hotel , which opened in 2018, transforming an old unused factory into stylish, loftlike accommodations. Or check in for a turn-down at Grand Bohemian Asheville . Don’t be deceived by the hotel’s all-business exterior; its splashy interiors are a delightful surprise.

What to pack

Before heading out on your Blue Ridge Parkway road trip, be sure to pack:

• A variety of clothes (and layers) for seasonal weather. The Parkway—with its deep shaded valleys, windy high peaks, and sunny plateaus—is known for its micro climates, pocketed regions where temperatures can vary as much as 30 degrees in a few minutes.
• Comfortable hiking boots or shoes. Don’t bring new ones, or you’ll end up with blisters.
• A bathing suit. Some swimming holes and streams are safe for swimming and provide a refreshing break.
• A cooler. The Parkway passes lots of country stores, farms, and orchards where you can snap up local produce and perishable treats.
• Maps. Cell phone reception here is spotty. Go old-school and bring paper maps and/or make sure Google Maps is downloaded on your phone.

This article was originally published in 2019 and most recently updated on October 19, 2023, to include current information.

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Travel advisory: president biden visiting seattle later this week – plan ahead and expect travel delays.

Blog stats: 400 words | 2-minute read

At-a-glance:

• President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Seattle later this week.
• We expect significant travel delays and detours in the greater Seattle area in the coming days.
• Continue to check traffic conditions before you leave, and give yourself plenty of extra travel time.
• To stay informed, check King County Metro’s service advisories and sign up for transit alerts . You can also follow tweets from King County Metro , SDOT Traffic , and WSDOT Traffic .
• Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this Presidential visit to our region.

During President Biden’s visit, the U.S. Secret Service has the authority to provide security, including requiring intermittent closures of freeways and streets. The flow of buses and cars in downtown Seattle and around the region will be affected.

While the president’s exact travel route and timing are not published in advance, travelers can still plan ahead by anticipating delays and temporary road closures., what to expect and how to get around.

You can check media reports and the websites of local jurisdictions and transit agencies before you leave, so you have the latest information about travel conditions. Remember to give yourself plenty of extra time to reach your destination.

If you can, please consider options to get around without driving. Riding transit and biking can be good ways to avoid traffic, but please note that some bus routes may also be affected by temporary traffic closures or detours, including short-term re-routes.

Our Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) engineers can adjust traffic signal timing within the city of Seattle based on expected closures and any necessary re-routing. We may also post messages on dynamic message signs when needed.

How to stay informed

King County Metro publishes service advisories online and sends transit alerts to riders notifying them of bus re-routes and travel changes. You can see if your route is affected by visiting Metro’s service advisories page .

We also encourage you to sign up for Metro’s transit alerts and to monitor local news reports and social media updates.

• Sign up for King County Metro transit alerts
• Follow tweets from King County Metro , SDOT Traffic , and WSDOT Traffic .

Thank you again for your patience and cooperation during this Presidential visit.

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Mets vs. Cardinals series finale postponed by rain, resulting in tough August road trip

Clouds hang over Busch Stadium as weather delays the start of a baseball game between the Cardinals and the Mets on Wednesday in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Jeff Roberson

ST. LOUIS — The Mets-Cardinals rainout Wednesday yielded a particularly unfortunate rescheduling for the visitors.

The makeup game is set for Aug. 5 at 5:15 p.m. ET. That means the Mets will have to make a return trip to Busch Stadium on what had been an off day between series in Southern California and Denver (which is followed by Seattle).

That midsummer road trip now is a beast: 10 games, 10 days, four cities, three time zones.

“It’s part of it. It’s what we do,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We’ll be ready for it. We’ll worry about that when we get there, but it’s part of what we do.”

Jose Quintana and Sonny Gray were lined up to pitch the teams’ season series finale Wednesday afternoon, but Mother Nature had other ideas, with storms ravaging much of the Midwest. Everybody sat around for a rain delay of 2 1/2 hours before the game got called, just as the sun came out. More rain was expected later.

Pitching plans

Following an off day Thursday, the Mets will keep their rotation in line for a weekend set against Atlanta: Quintana on Friday, Christian Scott on Saturday and Luis Severino on Sunday.

For Scott, the Mets’ top pitching prospect, that start will mark his Citi Field debut. He made his major-league debut against the Rays last weekend.

“It’ll be electric,” Mendoza said. “Just watching our fans here in St. Louis and Tampa, how much they were cheering for him, I’m pretty sure there’s going to be a lot of people looking forward to watch Scotty pitch at Citi Field. I’m expecting a big-time crowd and a lot of support from our fans.”

Scott said: “I’m really excited to throw in front of the fans. The fans have been great to me. I’m going to give everything I got to get the win on (Saturday).”

Extra bases

Mendoza said he views the catching split between Tomas Nido and Omar Narvaez as 50-50 still, but Nido has started seven of the past 10 games . . . The Mets are likely to wear their black uniforms for the first time this season Friday. They haven’t done so yet because Fanatics hadn’t delivered the correct pants.

Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.

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Mother’s Day 2024 Events: 10 fun-filled activities to enjoy with your mother on Mother’s Day

Mother's day 2024 activities: while presenting gifts is a lovely gesture that can make her feel special and loved, planning an entire day of celebration that offers her an unforgettable experience will be even more appreciated..

The Best Mother’s Day Activities: Mothers are the sunshine in our lives, and they deserve to be showered with love and special moments on their special day. Every second Sunday of May, we celebrate Mother’s Day as an occasion to recognise the selfless love, unwavering support, and countless sacrifices that mothers make for their families.

It’s a day to honour the unique bond between mothers and their children and acknowledge the indispensable role they play in shaping our lives. While presenting gifts is a lovely gesture that can make her feel special and loved, planning an entire day of celebration that offers her an unforgettable experience will be even more appreciated.

As we approach Mother’s Day, which falls on May 12th this year, there are several fun-filled activities you can plan to make her day truly special. Here are fun-filled places you can visit with your mother that are guaranteed to create an unforgettable Mother’s Day.

1] Fine-dine restaurant:

One of the best ways to celebrate the special day dedicated to mothers is by giving them a break from the kitchen and taking them out for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Multiple restaurants and hotels come up with special Mother’s Day offers that can be capitalised to make your visit even more special.

2] Karaoke evening:

Remember when your mother used to sing lullabies, which was very well the first introduction you got to the blissful world of music? This Mother’s Day, you can recreate those memories by enjoying a fun evening of karaoke with your mother, which will ignite your nostalgia and provide you with new memories to cherish for the rest of your life.

3] Photo session:

One of the best ways to create a long-lasting imprint of your cheerful moments in this modern era is by documenting them in the form of pictures in your gallery. You can make such records with your mother on this Mother’s Day. All you need to do is just select a picturesque venue, open your camera and start clicking. You can get the printout of these pictures and gift it to your mother in a frame, which will help her revisit this moment again and again anytime she wants. You can also hire a professional photographer to have a more hassle-free session.

4] Surprise road trip:

On Mother’s Day 2024, you can take your mother by surprise with an unplanned road trip. Just bring necessities such as water and snacks, and open your map to start your adventure. Driving to a nearby town or along a scenic route opens up the road ahead of you. You can recall your childhood road trip experiences and laugh at the fun moments from those trips. It will be a guaranteed journey full of laughter, love, and memories for the rest of your life.

5] Outdoor Yoga:

While all outdoor activities are physical labour, there is one activity that can actually provide you and your mother with the calmness and relaxation that you keep looking for in your hectic day-to-day life. You can choose a calm area of the park, such as a grassy knoll or a quiet corner. Use a fresh towel or spread out a yoga mat. Inhale deeply while you both engage in yoga or meditation and witness your body getting the energy boost it requires.

6] Outdoor cooking:

While for the rest of the year, your mother is busy cooking in the kitchen, on Mother’s Day eve, you can do the monotonous act of cooking in the kitchen by taking things outside in a park or even in your backyard. You can install a temporary kitchen or use barbeque to enjoy time together with your mother and enjoy music while also indulging in the art of cooking at the same time.

7] Shopping:

One thing everyone loves but seldom gets time for is shopping. These days, people often prefer to shop online with the convenience of being at home, but offline shopping is something that is never going out of fashion. Offline shopping is a great way to buy things on your own accord and can also work as quality bonding time between you and your mother.

8] Theater experience:

These days, everyone loves to watch their movies sitting on their couch or bed, but the experience of theatre is still something it cannot match. This Mother’s Day, you can give this experience by taking her to a movie of her liking and getting yourself a perfect topic of discussion for the rest of the evening.

9] Outdoor sports:

If we are listing the things to do outside, one thing that cannot be kept off the list is the outdoor games. While your mother might be your very first sports coach, this Mother’s Day, you can crown her with that position once again while enjoying any outdoor game of her choice with her and other family and friends to make this day extra special for her.

10] Relative reunion:

One of the best ways to surprise your mother this Mother’s Day is by reuniting her with a relative or friend of hers whom she hasn’t met in a long time. You can take her on this impromptu trip without giving her specific details about the trip to make the surprise visit even more interesting. You can also choose a neutral venue for the meet-up by inviting her guests there to make the surprise more unexpected.

• Happy Mother's Day.

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Hungary and China sign strategic cooperation agreement during visit by Chinese President Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the President’s Palace in Budapest on Thursday at the start of a three-day visit to Hungary. The Chinese leader started his first European tour five days ago by visiting France and then Serbia.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, speaks during his joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban following their talks at the PM’s office, the former Carmelite Monastery, in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, May 9 2024. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via AP)

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Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during his joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban following their talks at the PM’s office, the former Carmelite Monastery, in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, May 9 2024. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via AP)

Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, on table second left, during their meeting in the presidential Alexander Palace in Budapest, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Noemi Bruzak /MTI via AP)

Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok, rear right, receives Chinese President Xi Jinping, rear left, with military honours in the Lion Court of the Castle of Buda in Budapest, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Zoltan Mathe/MTI via AP)

Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok, front right, receives Chinese President Xi Jinping, front left, with military honours in the Lion Court of the Castle of Buda in Budapest, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via APö

Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok, right, receives Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, with military honours in the Lion Court of the Castle of Buda in Budapest, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Zoltan Mathe/MTI via AP)

Tibetan protesters stretched Tibetan flags next to Chinese national flags in Gellert Hill against Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

A Tibetan protester shouts surrounded by Hungarian police next to a Tibetan flag in Gellert Hill, against Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Budapest, Hungary on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

A Tibetan woman shouts into a loudspeaker against Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit, surrounded by Hungarian police in Gellert Hill, Budapest, Hungary on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Chinese nationals take pictures of Tibetan protesters during Xi Jinping’s visit to Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Many Chinese nationals claiming to be volunteers with China’s embassy are present in the city, wearing red baseball caps to identify themselves. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

A Tibetan protester shouts surrounded by Hungarian police next to a Tibetan flag in Gellert Hill against Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Budapest, Hungary on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Tibetan protesters stretched a Tibetan flag in Gellert Hill against Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Budapest, Hungary on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok, third right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, fifth left, during their meeting in the presidential Alexander Palace in Budapest, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Noemi Bruzak /MTI via AP)

Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok, left, receives Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, with military honours in the Lion Court of the Castle of Buda in Budapest, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Zoltan Mathe/MTI via AP)

People wave Chinese and Hungarian flags as they wait for the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping outside the Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

People wave Chinese and Hungarian flags for the Chinese President Xi Jinping outside the Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

In this image provided by the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office, Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, shakes hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as he arrives for a state visit at the Liszt Ferenc International Airport in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (Vivien Cher Benko/Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office/MTI via AP)

Peng Liyuan, center left, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping watches the activity of third graders as she, and Aniko Levai, center right, wife of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visit a classroom at the Chinese-Hungarian bilingual school of Budapest, Hungary, Thursday May 9, 2024 during the state visit of President Xi to Hungary. (Zoltan Mathe/MTI via AP)

Peng Liyuan, center, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks with third graders as she, and Aniko Levai, second right, wife of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visit a classroom with headmaster Zsuzsanna Erdelyi, right, at the Chinese-Hungarian bilingual school of Budapest, Hungary, Thursday May 9, 2024 during the state visit of President Xi to Hungary. (Zoltan Mathe/MTI via AP)

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary and China signed a number of new agreements on Thursday to deepen their economic and cultural cooperation during a visit to the Central European country by Chinese President Xi Jinping, a trip meant to solidify China’s economic footprint in the region.

Xi and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held talks in the capital Budapest as part of the Chinese leader’s final stop on a five-day European tour that also took in Serbia and France . During a press briefing following the talks, Orbán praised the “continuous, uninterrupted friendship” between the two countries since his tenure began in 2010, and promised that Hungary would continue to host further Chinese investments.

“I would like to assure the president that Hungary will continue to provide fair conditions for Chinese companies investing in our country, and that we will create the opportunity for the most modern Western and the most modern Eastern technologies to meet and build cooperation in Hungary,” Orbán said.

Beijing has invested billions in Hungary and sees the European Union member as an important foothold inside the 27-member trading bloc. In December, Hungary announced that one of the world’s largest EV manufacturers, China’s BYD, will open its first European EV production factory in the south of the country — an inroad that could upend the competitiveness of the continent’s auto industry.

Hungary is also hosting several Chinese EV battery plants and hopes to become a global hub of lithium ion battery manufacturing, and has undertaken a railway project — part of Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative — to connect the country with the Chinese-controlled port of Piraeus in Greece as an entry point for Chinese goods to Central and Eastern Europe.

On Thursday, Xi said he and Orbán agreed the Belt and Road Initiative “is highly consistent with Hungary’s strategy of opening to the east,” and that China supports Hungary in playing a greater role within the EU on promoting China-EU relations.

Hungarian and Chinese officials concluded a strategic partnership agreement and signed 18 other agreements and memoranda of understanding, but no major investments were announced at the news briefing.

However, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó later said in a video on Facebook that initial discussions had begun on China developing a freight railway bypass of Budapest and a rail link between the capital and Budapest Ferihegy airport.

Orbán, a nationalist populist leader who has pursued deeper ties with Beijing while distancing himself from his more mainstream partners in the EU, noted during the news conference that three-quarters of investments in Hungary last year came from China, and spoke of Beijing’s role in the world’s shifting balance of power.

“Looking back at the world economy and commerce of 20 years ago, it doesn’t resemble at all what we’re living in today,” Orbán said. “Then, we lived in a single polar world, and now we live in a multi-polar world order, and one of the main columns of this new world order is China.”

He added that Hungary would seek to expand economic cooperation with China to the field of nuclear energy. Hungary is currently working with Russia on adding a new reactor to its Paks nuclear facility, which is expected to go online by the end of the decade.

Budapest residents met with road closures and increased security during Xi’s visit as groups of his supporters and critics gathered in various points of the city to demonstrate.

Hundreds of people gathered near Budapest’s Buda Castle waving Chinese and Hungarian flags, hoping to catch a glimpse of Xi’s motorcade. Many Chinese nationals in red baseball caps and claiming to be volunteers with China’s embassy were present.

A Hungarian lawmaker with the opposition Momentum party told The Associated Press that he and a colleague had been approached by a group of such men on Wednesday as they attempted to place EU flags on a bridge in Budapest.

In a video obtained by the AP, the lawmaker, Márton Tompos, said that the men, all wearing red baseball caps, confronted him to make sure that no flags or symbols referencing China-claimed Tibet or Taiwan would be hung on the route of Xi’s motorcade.

“They told me that they were volunteers for the Chinese embassy here, and they said they wanted to make sure that there weren’t Tibetan or Taiwanese flags, because that wouldn’t be nice,” Tompos said. The men wouldn’t let his colleague proceed “until he showed them that it was an EU flag,” he added.

Other minor conflicts broke out during the day between Tibetan protesters and some of the red-capped Chinese nationals, who attempted to prevent activists from displaying Tibetan flags by obscuring them with their own Chinese national flags.

One activist, Tenzin Yangzom, a campaign coordinator for the International Tibet Network, criticized Hungary’s government for “allowing the Chinese police to be operating on Hungarian streets.”

“This is not China, is it? This is Hungary, it’s a free country, you have freedom of speech,” she said.