Iceland Itinerary: Suggestions for Any Trip of 1-14 Days (Travel Planner)

Are you planning a trip to Iceland and looking for the best Iceland itinerary? This guide will give you a good overview of some of the best itineraries for any trip to Iceland. Take a look!

Every day I get reader questions about how to plan their Iceland itinerary… You may have seen articles claiming they have the best Iceland itinerary for X days for any season, but in reality, it’s not possible. Just one example – Iceland in winter or in summer is like two different countries… The weather is different, the sights are more or less accessible, and the daylight time varies from just 3 to 24 hours…

So the best Iceland itinerary for your trip will depend a lot on when you travel, how much time you have, and of course on your interests.

While there is no one Iceland itinerary that fits it all, I created several suggested Iceland road trip itineraries for different durations. This article covers some of the most popular Iceland trip itineraries for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 days, a week, 10 days, and 14 days.

These Iceland itineraries are meant to show you what’s worth visiting the most and how much time it normally takes to see it all with regular sightseeing days of about 8-10 hours.

We’ve been to Iceland multiple times and did several road trips in different seasons. So these suggested Iceland trip itineraries are based on our experience. We highly recommend that you rent a car and explore Iceland on a self-drive road trip.

The shorter trip itineraries – up to one week – only focus on Reykjavik and South Iceland and can be done in any season. If you are traveling in the dark season, you can also expect to see the Northern Lights in Iceland following those itineraries. The longer road trips – 10-day trips and the 14-day complete Iceland Ring Road tour including the Westfjords – are recommended in summer only.

I included the most beautiful places of Iceland in each Iceland itinerary (as much as possible, depending on the duration). That way you can get the most out of your trip, no matter how much time you have in Iceland, or in which season you travel. Find out!

How much time do you need in Iceland?

Iceland is worth a longer trip than just a day or two and 4 days is an absolute minimum for Reykjavik and the South Coast. However, no matter whether you’re traveling – in summer or in winter – I recommend planning at least 5-7 days if you want to see some of the main highlights of Iceland.

With 10 days, you could drive the entire Ring Road, whereas in two weeks, you could see all the main places in Iceland and get a bit off the beaten path.

Nevertheless, I know that Iceland has become a popular stopover destination and there are also many people looking for suggestions on what to see and do in Iceland in just one, two, or three days.

So in this post, we share suggestions for any Iceland itinerary. Whether you have just a few days or a few weeks in Iceland, this article will help you plan your trip. Find out!

 

Iceland itinerary: suggestions from one day to two weeks

• 1 day in Iceland – Reykjavik layover
• 2 days in Iceland – stopover in Reykjavik
• 3 days in Iceland
• 4 days in Iceland
• 5 – 6 days in Iceland
• 7 days in Iceland
• 10 days complete Ring Road itinerary
• 10 day Iceland trip itinerary: Akureyri to Reykjavik
• 10 days West and North Iceland itinerary
• Two weeks complete Iceland Ring Road itinerary
• Best resources for planning a trip to Iceland
• FAQ

Below is an overview of several suggested Iceland trip itineraries for different durations of your stay. In order not to repeat myself, I only give a longer explanation of the specific location once. So if you are looking at a three-day trip in Iceland, you’ll have to read the explanation of day one and day two as well.

 

1 day stopover in Iceland – best of Reykjavik in a day

Day 1: Reykjavik city tour + Blue Lagoon/Sky Lagoon or 1/2 day excursion.

Reykjavik isn’t such a big city, so you can see the main highlights in just half a day:

• Walk along the waterfront and see the two main landmarks – the Harpa concert hall and the Sun Voyager sculpture.
• Stroll the two main shopping streets, Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur.
• Visit the Hallgrimskirkja church and make sure you go all the way to the top for the best views.
• If you have time, you can visit a few museums or fun attractions in Reykjavik.

In the afternoon head to the Blue Lagoon – the most famous hot tub of Iceland. It’s located a bit outside of the city and the best way to get there is by booking a bus transfer from Reykjavik. Entrance tickets to the Blue Lagoon have to be booked at least a few days in advance; you can book Blue Lagoon tickets here.

Alternative: The Sky Lagoon is now a very popular alternative to the famous Blue Lagoon. It’s located closer to town and is easier to visit, plus the views are amazing. Also here, bus transfers are available and you really have to book tickets/transfers in advance.

Alternatively, take a short excursion from Reykjavik – there are so many amazing options! Here you can find our guide to the very best half-day tours from Reykjavik.

For dinner, you’ll find plenty of restaurants and pubs in the city center. Reykjavik is also famous for its nightlife. Not sure where to start? Check out these great Icelandic food tours in Reykjavik.

• Here you can read more about what to do when visiting Reykjavik.
• Looking for the best accommodation options in Reykjavik? Check our Reykjavik hotel suggestions.

READ ALSO: Reykjavik 1-Day Itinerary (slightly different than the above, with more time in the city and including the Sky Lagoon instead of the Blue Lagoon)

 

How to spend two days in Iceland (no car needed)

Day 1: Reykjavik city + Sky Lagoon (see our recommended itinerary for a day in Reykjavik).
Day 2: The Golden Circle or South Coast.

If you have two days in Iceland, spend one day in Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon (as described above), and the second day exploring outside the city.

The most popular day trip from Reykjavik is a visit to the area called the Golden Circle. It includes a visit to Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and the Geysir area. You can do this tour by car, but if you don’t feel like renting a car for just a day, you can easily book one of the organized tours. Here you can book a highly-rated Golden Circle group tour or a private tour.

Some of the Golden Circle tours offer combination tours that include food tasting, whale watching, geothermal lagoons, or Northern Lights viewing (in winter). You can find the best Golden Circle tour options here or check our hand-picked selection of the best day trips from Reykjavik.

South Coast is another extremely popular day trip – more information further below.

South Coast and Jokulsarlon. Alternatively, you can opt for a tour of the South Coast and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. This tour covers all the main highlights of the South Coast, but also goes all the way to Jokulsarlon. However, it’s a very long tour of 14 hours. It’s good for those who have little time in Iceland and want to get the absolute most of their trip and don’t mind a long day on a bus.

 

Iceland itinerary for three days (no rental car needed)

Day 1: Reykjavik city + Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon (see our recommended itinerary for a day in Reykjavik).
Day 2: Golden Circle.
Day 3: South Coast.

If you have three days in Iceland, you definitely should try to take a tour of the South Coast. The highlights include the black sand beaches of Vik, Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, and also glaciers.

Here is the best price-quality day trip to South Coastthat I found. Alternatively, check out this tour – it is more expensive, but it includes glacier hiking as well.

Alternatively, you can opt for a South Iceland tour that takes you all the way to Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, but it will be a very long day with lots of driving.

Good to know: If you have three days in Iceland (and you are not traveling in winter), you can do this tour with a rental car. If you rent a car, consider staying in Hvergaderi area after you visit the Golden Circle, instead of heading back to Reykjavik. It will save you quite some driving time. If you do this, you can easily add a glacier hike to your day 3 itinerary as well.

Alternatively, if you only have 1-3 days in Iceland, you can also stay in the city and make day trips from Reykjavik. Most day tours will pick you up at the hotel in Reykjavik or in the city center.

READ ALSO: Iceland South Coast: Best Sights & Attractions

 

Four days Iceland itinerary

Day 1: Reykjavik city tour + Blue Lagoon/Sky Lagoon.
Day 2: The Golden Circle.
Day 3: Southern Iceland – glaciers, waterfalls and beaches.
Day 4: Skaftafell National Park – Jokulsarlon – Fjallsarlon.

If you have four days in Iceland, you’re probably better off renting a car and making a road trip. It’s the best way to explore the country!

Days 1-3 as above.

Day 4. Take one of the many hikes in Skaftafell National Park. Then drive to the famous glacier lagoon – Jokulsarlon. You can explore the area of the lagoon on foot or – weather permitting – take a boat tour on the glacial lake. Make sure to also visit Jokulsarlon Beach, also called Diamond Beach, and the smaller glacial lagoon Fjallsarlon.

TIP: Take a look at our detailed Iceland 4 days itinerary covering all these places and more. Check it out!

 

Iceland itinerary for five to six days

If you have five or six days in Iceland, you should cover all the main highlights from the 4-day Iceland itinerary mentioned above. In addition, you can add some of the following highlights to your 5-6 day Iceland itinerary:

• Visit Snaefellsnes Peninsula – one full day is a minimum.
• Visit Heimaey Island – it can be easily combined with your South Coast itinerary and one day is enough.
• Visit the highlands. You can visit Haifoss Waterfall in your own car or take a day tour to Landmannalaugar (summer only).
• Visit Reykjanes Peninsula – it’s close to Reykjavik and Keflavik airport and half a day is enough for the main highlights.
• Go glacier hiking– make sure you book a tour in advance! It only requires half a day and can be easily added to your South Coast itinerary.
• Explore the Skaftafell National Park a bit more and take one or two longer hikes. We hiked to the famous Svartifoss waterfall and continued on the Sjónarnípa trail. It was definitely worth it!
• Visit Skogar Museum, Fjadrargljufur Canyon, and Eldhraun lava field.

 

Iceland one week itinerary

There are many ways to spend a week in Iceland. A lot depends on your interests and when you travel. In any case, Golden Circle and South Coast are a must and I highly recommend planning a day in Snaefellsnes Peninsula. In addition, consider a tour to see whales and/or puffins. And I also recommend spending some time in Skaftafell National Park or exploring the glaciers of Iceland.

Here you can find our detailed one week Iceland winter trip itinerary. It’s specifically tailored for short daylight hours and unpredictable roads. This itinerary is perfect for a trip between October and March.

In summer, the days will be much longer and so you’ll have more time to explore and/or add some additional activities to your trip – see our suggested Iceland itinerary for a summer trip below.

If you are traveling in summer (+-May to September), your one week Iceland itinerary could look as follows:

Day 1: Blue Lagoon/Sky Lagoon and drive to Snaefellsnes.
Day 2: Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Day 3: Golden Circle.
Day 4: Heimaey Island or Icelandic Highlands.
Day 5: South Coast.
Day 6: Skaftafell National Park and glaciers.
Day 7: Reykjavik (+ whale and puffin tour) or Reykjanes Peninsula.

Here you can find all the details for this 7 days Iceland itinerary.

 

Complete Ring Road in 10 days

If you want to do the entire Ring Road of Iceland in the shortest time possible while still being enjoyable, then this is the best itinerary for you!

Day 1: Arrival, Blue Lagoon/Sky Lagoon & Reykjavik.
Day 2: Golden Circle.
Day 3: South Coast.
Day 4: Jokulsarlon & Eastfjords.
Day 5: Myvatn.
Day 6: Husavik to Akureyri.
Day 7: Trollaskagi Peninsula.
Day 8: North Coast to Snaefellsnes.
Day 9: Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Day 10: Reykjavik, Reykjanes Peninsula & departure.

Here you can find the details of this complete Iceland Ring Road trip.

 

Iceland road trip in summer – 10 days itinerary from Akureyri to Reykjavik

The first time we visited Iceland in summer, we took ten days to explore this beautiful country. This is our 10-day Iceland trip itinerary from Akureyri to Reykjavik in a nutshell. This is a more relaxed itinerary where you really have the time to explore deeper.

Please note that this is a summer itinerary. We visited in June, and there were still quite some places we couldn’t get to and things we couldn’t do. I would only recommend this trip in June, July or August, maybe still in September – October, but be prepared for some snow…

Day 1: Flight to Akureyri.
Day 2: Akureyri via Godafoss to Mývatn.
Day 3: Highlights of Myvatn.
Day 4: Dettifoss, and to the Eastern part of Iceland.
Day 5: Eastern fjords to Höfn.
Day 6: Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and excursion to Ingölfshöfdi Cape and puffins.
Day 7: Skaftafell National Park.
Day 8: Vik black sand beach, Skogafoos, and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, Hekla volcano lava fields.
Day 9: The Golden Circle.
Day 10: Reykjavik.

 

10 days West and North Iceland itinerary

This is one of our favorite summer trips to Iceland. In 10 days, we visited the best places in the West, the North, and also the Highlands of Iceland.

Day 1: Arrival, visit Reykjavik, drive to Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Day 2: Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Day 3: Snaefellsnes Peninsula to the Westfjords.
Day 4: Westfjords to Blönduós.
Day 5: Blönduós to Myvatn.
Day 6: Myvatn area.
Day 7: Myvatn to Blönduós.
Day 8: Blönduós via F35 to the Golden Circle area.
Day 9: The Highlands (Haifoss, Landmannalaugar) or South Coast.
Day 10: Reykjanes Peninsula, Blue Lagoon/Sky Lagoon, and departure.

You can find all the details for this trip in our West and North Iceland itinerary for 10 days.

 

Iceland Ring Road trip – two weeks Iceland itinerary

Just as the 10-day trip, the complete Iceland Ring Road trip is best done in the warmest months +- June to September.

Someone told me I shouldn’t say it’s not possible to do the whole Ring Road in winter. It’s true, it’s not impossible. However, you might face road closures and icy roads, so I do not recommend driving in the North in winter unless you are very flexible with your schedule and feel confident driving in a serious snowstorm in the dark.

You may want to read this post for more information about driving in Iceland in winter. Be sure to also check our tips for Iceland in winter.

Day 1: Flight to Keflavik (Reykjavik) and drive to the Hveragerdi area.
Day 2: The Golden Circle: Thingvellir, Geysir en Gullfoss.
Day 3: Southern Iceland – glaciers, waterfalls and beaches.
Day 4: Skaftafell National Park – Jokulsarlon – Fjallsarlon.
Day 5: Eastern fjords.
Day 6: To Myvatn and the highlights of the Myvatn area (more info – things to do in Myvatn).
Day 7: Húsavik and Akureyri.
Day 8: Northwest Iceland to Westfjords (stop at Hvitserkur).
Day 9: To Isafjordur.
Day 10: Isafjördur.
Day 11: Dynjandi waterfall, Raudasandur, and the birds of Latrabjarg (more info – Westfjords Itinerary).
Day 12: Ferry to Snaefellsnes Peninsula and Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Day 13: Snaefellsnes – Things to do in Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Day 14: Reykholtsdal (Hraunfossar & Barnafoss waterfalls and Deildartunguhver) and Reykjavík.
Day 15: Reykjanes Peninsula, Blue Lagoon, and flight back home.

 

Resources for planning a self-drive Iceland itinerary

✓ The best way to explore Iceland is by renting a car and making a road trip. You can find some of the best deals for Iceland car rental on this website. Not only can you compare the offers from different providers and get great-value full insurance, but you are also much better protected in case a local company goes under as recently happened with our favorite local car hire company in Iceland.

✓ You can find the best deals for Iceland accommodation on Booking.com as well. This is the website where we always book all our accommodation when we travel to Iceland (or anywhere else in the world). Alternatively, check our guide to the best accommodation suggestions for a self-drive trip around Iceland.

TIP: Compare hotels and short-term rental accommodations in Iceland via the map below. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see what’s available for your stay. Check it out!

   

Iceland itinerary FAQ

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we get from our readers who are starting to plan a trip to Iceland:

How many days do I need in Iceland?

If you are visiting Iceland for the first time, we recommend at least 5-7 days. This will allow you to visit Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon, the Golden Circle, and the highlights of the South Coast. In addition, you could also visit Snaefellsnes Peninsula and – depending on the season – maybe also take a day trip to the highlands.

Can you do the Ring Road in Iceland in 7 days?

While you can drive the entire Ring Road of Iceland in just 1 day and see the main highlights along the Ring Road in 7-8 days, we recommend at least 10 days for the Ring Road road trip. Doing the entire Ring Road in 7 days would be very rushed and you would spend more time driving than sightseeing. 10-12 days will allow you to explore deeper, with 14 days, you could also add the Westfjords to your itinerary.

What is the best month to visit Iceland?

Visiting Iceland in different seasons is a very different experience. But while every season has its charms, the best months to explore Iceland are between May and September. That’s when the temperatures are mild, the days are long, and driving conditions are good. If you want to explore everything and also have a chance to see the Northern Lights, September is the very best month for the first trip to Iceland. Here you can read more about visiting Iceland in September.

How much does an Iceland trip cost?

Iceland is not a cheap country, but how much your trip costs depends a lot on the choices you make (hotels, rental car, tours), and also on the season when you travel. As a rule of thumb, count about 1500-2000 USD per person per week, not including the flights. This should cover mid-budget accommodations, car rental, and daily expenses, plus a few activities such as whale watching tour or glacier hiking.

LEARN MORE: How Expensive is Iceland (+ Budget Tips)

 

Planning a road trip to Iceland? Check out these guides:

• Best places to see in Iceland: an overview of all the best places and areas that are worth visiting the most.

• Iceland travel tips: practical tips and things you should know before planning your trip to Iceland.

• What to pack for Iceland in summer: an essential list when traveling to Iceland between May and September.

• What to wear in Iceland in winter: packing list for October to April.

READ ALSO: Iceland Travel Guide – a complete guide with an overview of all our destination guides and practical tips for visiting Iceland. You may want to bookmark it and refer to it later – it has all the info you need for planning your trip to Iceland. Check it out!

TIP: If you are planning a trip to Iceland and have practical questions, you can leave a reply below and we’ll try to help. Alternatively, join our Facebook Group for Iceland and Scandinavia Travel. It has thousands of members who can help you out with their experience-based tips and advice.

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