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

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119 Comments

1. I love to plan our family travel adventures but Iceland looks daunting, so much to see! Your itineraries and tips are amazing, I am interested in a bit more relaxed pace over 10 days but your 10 days itinerary from Akureyri to Reykjavik doesn’t have a link to it. Are you able to send that and what major sites we would miss out on if we did this instead of the 10 day ring route.

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   1. Hi Janice, I don’t have a detailed write-up for that 10-day itinerary. That was our very first trip to Iceland many years before I started this blog. You can do that trip in any direction (starting in Reykjavik and ending in Akureyri or first fly to Akureyri and start there) and simply use our Ring Road itinerary and South Coast guide for tips on what to see along the way.
      Of course, you will miss some sights – mostly the northwestern coast and Snaefellsnes Peninsula, but you will have more time to explore other places at a slower pace.
      Alternatively, you can also start with the first days of 7-day Iceland itinerary and then follow the Ring Road itinerary for the rest of the trip, up to Akureyri.
      There are so many ways to plan a trip and no matter what you choose, there is no way to see ‘everything’. But the combination of these two itineraries could give you a very good overview of what Iceland has to offer.

      Reply

2. Your travel guides are AMAZING-I thought I needed to hire a Travel Agent for the Solar Eclipse trip we are planning for 2026-with your help I think I may be able to do it on my own. Thank you so much for the amazing information!!

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   1. Thank you for your kind feedback, Stacy. You can definitely do it yourself – it’s not difficult and it will save you a lot of money. Plus, it’s very rewarding!
      Happy travels!

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3. What car rental is the best (most reliable) in Iceland? I want to reserve a car from the US. I am interested in a 4×4 to drive some F roads. I would prefer picking up at the Keflavik terminal, reserve without paying upfront, and would like to add Super Collision Waiver.
   I looked at Orbitz, but was not able to add Iceland insurance online. Is this available to add to the Europcar rental once I arrive?
   Thanks!

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   1. Hi Barbara, there is not one best company and they all have some positive and negative reviews. We personally use the this website for all our rental cars all over the world, including Iceland. You can use filters to select what you need and compare prices between different companies. They also offer a full insurance option, but you can always just pay for the insurance at the counter. It’s usually cheaper online, but if you rather take it with the car rental company directly, you can always do it at the counter. Even if you have your own insurance, they will always offer more ;).
      I’m not familiar with Orbitz. Europcar – we used it a lot (but indirectly since it’s usually much cheaper) and you can always add extra insurance when you are picking up the car.
      Hope this helps.

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   2. @Jurga, Thank you, so much. Another question.. even with Europcar, after selecting ALL the insurance options, including SCDW, there is still a deductible of around $2,400. Do any of these car companies offer $0 deductible? I’ve read something like that is called “platinum,” but I don’t see it offered?

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      1. Hi Barbara, I’m not sure how the Europcar website works in this specific case, but usually, you can reduce the deductible amount by taking extra insurance. It really depends on the company and sometimes even on the specific car you rent.
         I just checked the website we use for the conditions that they show for Europcar bookings and it says that you’ll have to leave a security deposit of about €667 (this is simply ‘blocked’ on your credit card – pretty much all companies do this, but amounts differ). Then it also says that there is a €3,000 damage excess. This part can usually be reduced to zero (unless there are any exclusions in the contract) by taking additional insurance at the counter or ‘full insurance’ option via Booking.
         No matter where you book a car, you really have to read the small letters. Even the same car hire company might have different terms and conditions depending on where you rent the car (the agreements they have e.g. via Booking might be different than what they offer direct or via other websites).
         Hope this helps.

         Reply

4. I am trying to decide between three weeks or four weeks in Iceland in August.
   We will rent a 4 wheel drive camper van and I would like to see as much as possible on this trip.
   We can take as much time as we need to see all of Ring Road, Eastfjords, Highlands and whatever else you would recommend ?

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   1. Hi Evelyn, if you want to see as much as possible and have time, then make the trip as long as you want/can. There is plenty to see and do in Iceland to fill 3-4 weeks, especially if you also want to do some hiking. You may want to add the Westfjords to your itinerary (and much more than a day ;)), also Snaefellsnes Peninsula, spend a day or two on Heimaey Island (book the ferry well in advance if you want to take the car with you)… There’s a lot to keep yourself busy.
      Just keep in mind that many places in the highlands aren’t easily accessible, even in a 4×4 camper. Even places like Thorsmork which look very simple to get to involve a (very unpredictable) river crossing, so you really need to do more research, check what your insurance covers, etc. Also, in principle, you are not allowed to camp and sleep in the car just anywhere you like in Iceland anymore. You may want to read our guide to camping in Iceland for more information.
      One more thing – August is the peak season, so book your camper asap! If you want to do any tours, take ferries, or similar, also book well ahead.
      Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!

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5. Thank You. This is awesome. Last year I followed your Swiss Itinerary for Jungfrau region and that was immensely helpful. So diving into this one straight away 🙂

   Just have one Q : From what I could understand on ring road itinerary, you will be on the road and at sites with your luggage sitting in the car as many points are between the last destination and next destination. So is it Ok, to leave the luggage like this in the car ?

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   1. Hi Vishal, thank you for the kind feedback – appreciate.
      And yes, you always have your luggage in the car when making road trips. It’s usually not a problem and most definitely not in Iceland. It’s a very safe country. Just don’t leave valuables visible in the car – it’s always best to take your documents, cameras, etc. with you.
      Have a great trip!

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6. Would be nice if it was printable. Instead I had to hand rewrite the entire thing. so I had it to use as reference in my trip planning. Not useful if I can’t see it

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   1. Hi Kelly, Ctrl+P should do the trick 😉 and you can just choose to print the page(s) that you need.
      I’m just not sure why you need to print this… It’s just a very rough guide that is meant as a starting point in the initial phase of trip planning. You’ll want to plan your days a lot more in detail than this. For that, you may want to take a look at some of the detailed day-by-day itineraries that we have linked to, for various durations of your trip.
      Hope this helps.

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7. Hello Jurga,

   Thanks so much for your blog. We will be traveling to Europe during the month of July 2024 and on the way back we had an option for 4 nights (3 days) stop over in Iceland via Iceland Air. Based on your suggestions, we modified the itinerary slightly. Appreciate if you have any recommendations or suggestions. We will be renting a car for the entire duration in Iceland.

   Day 1: Reykvajik City tour. Stay at Reykvajik.
   Day 2: Drive from Reykvajik to Golden Circle Tour (Kerid Crater, Bruarfoss Waterfall, Geysir, Gulfoss Water Fall, Seljalandsfoss). Stay close to Seljandsfoss.
   Day 3: Drive to South Iceland (Seljandfoss, Skogafoss Waterfalls, Solheimajokull Glacier, Reynisfjara Beach, Dryholae). Drive back to Reykvajik. Stay at Reykvajik.

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   1. Hi Magesh, since you are traveling in July, this itinerary should definitely be doable.
      Just book your accommodations and rental car in advance since it’s the peak season.

      Reply

   2. @Jurga, Thanks so much! Appreciate it.

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8. this blog is very infomative

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   1. Glad to help.

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9. Hello Jurga,

   We have planned our Iceland visit in April (Easter holidays) 10days. What is the best itinerary according to you? We have a 5 year old kid.

   Thanks!!

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   1. Hi Deepa, if you want to see as much as possible in 10 days, you could try doing the entire Ring Road in 10 days (keeping in mind that there is a small chance of snow on the roads in the north still).
      Otherwise, if you rather take it slow and explore deeper, just focus on Reykjavik, the South Coast, and Snaefellsnes Peninsula. You could more or less follow this 7-day itinerary adding a few days in Reykjavik and also visiting Reykjanes Peninsula.
      If your 5-year old doesn’t like to sit in a car for hours and hours, I think I’d go with the second option. In any case, be sure to look up local pools at the places where you are staying and go there in the evenings. They are cheap, always have a nice section for kids, hot tubs, saunas, etc. Our kids loved local pools in Iceland. It’s a great way to end a day of sightseeing (most pools stay open till 9-10 pm).
      Have a great trip!

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10. Hello Jurga,

    We are looking at visiting Iceland in September 2023 for 10 days. I’ve learned to slow down my vacations and not do a quick stopover just to tick a location off the list. I prefer slow travel to fast paced. The itinerary is open at this point but would prefer to base myself in 3 places and do day trips from that base. Can you suggest best towns for doing this. Thanks!

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    1. Hi Lynn, I understand your point, but Iceland isn’t the best place where you can see a lot by staying in just a few locations. Or – maybe a more accurate way to say this – you can see and do a lot of nice things, but you won’t be able to visit all the best places that way. This is because you’ll need to use the main road (Ring Road) to get to most places. Often, there are no alternatives and you can’t just take another road through the highlands (well, not in a quick way anyway).
       Also, most towns are tiny, so it might not be what you have in mind.

       Anyway, if you are looking for just 3 spots to base yourself and still see a bit of every part of Iceland (with quite some driving in between), you could stay a few days in the Golden Circle area, a few days around Skaftafell/Jokulsarlon, and a few days in Husavik in the north. But driving in between would be quite long and you would have to also do quite some backtracking to see the places along the road which you already passed.
       Alternatively, don’t try to see ‘everything’ and concentrate on the southwest of Iceland. You could stay in Reykjavik for a few days, a few days in Snaefellsnes Peninsula and/or Golden Circle area, and a few days along the South Coast (maybe Vik or Slellfoos or Kirkjubaejarklaustur). It’s all about your preferences and the places you want to visit.
       I think you should start with that first – indicate what you want to see on the map, and then it will become much clearer where to base yourself.
       Good luck with the planning!

       Reply

    2. @Jurga,
       Thank you so much. This was quite helpful. I’ll plan according to you advise and maybe not do base locations for this particular trip.

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       1. I really think it’s better to move around – at least for your first trip and if you want to see a bit of every part of the country. Take a look at our recommended Ring Road itinerary on how to best do it.
          Good luck with the planning!

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11. Hello Jurga. Thank you so much for the most thorough article with extensions that I have seen in regards to planning an Iceland visit!! I am planning a late Sept 2024 10-12 day Ring Road visit for potentially seeing the northern lites during a “new moon” and around the “fall equinox”. We want to stay in lodging away from city/town lights for best opportunity for viewing the NL. Can you suggest moderate lodgings outside of your suggested towns on your 10 day Ring tour that would be in more remote areas (away from town lights) and still be able to follow your suggested itinerary?
    Thank you so much,
    Lyn

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    1. Hi Lyn, most accommodations along Ring Road will be remote enough to see the Northern Lights if they appear. Just check for places that are not immediately in the town center (the towns are small, so it’s usually really not an issue). Often, you can also just walk a bit away from the lights of the hotel itself.
       Here are just a few ‘moderate’ lodging suggestions that would approximately fit this Ring Road itinerary and where it should be dark enough:
       – Day 2 – in Hella.
       – Day 3 – close to Jokulsarlon.
       – Day 4 – in the Eastfjords.
       …
       You can find more accommodation suggestions for each step of the itinerary in that article. We have recommendations in there for all budgets. Hope this helps.
       Just remember to go outside and wait. If it’s not raining and totally covered with clouds, you have a good chance to see the lights every night, even if the KP index is low. You may also want to read this guide to Northern Lights in Iceland for some tips.
       Have a great trip!

       Reply

12. Hi, I am planning on visiting Iceland mid March for 10 days. What itinerary would you recommend? I like the sound of your 7 day winter itinerary but would like to see a bit more of the island. Thanks in advance 🙂

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    1. Hi Leigh, March is a bit tricky since the days are long, so you could easily do much more than our 7-day winter itinerary. If you have winter driving experience, you could maybe even attempt the entire Ring Road. However, it’s still winter, the roads can get closed due to snowstorms, etc.
       So if you want to play it safe, with 10 days, I’d just focus on the south of Iceland and also add Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Reykjavik, and also Reykjanes Peninsula. Once again, the days are quite long in March already (especially at the end of the month), so you can do more each day than our winter itinerary suggests. So adjust it to your liking, definitely visit an ice cave, etc.
       Your trip could be a mix of this 7-day summer itinerary and the winter itinerary, plus a few days in Reykjavik and surroundings.
       Hope this helps a bit and doesn’t sound too confusing ;).
       Good luck with the planning!

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13. Hi,
    can i base myself in Reyjkavik and do a seven day trip around Iceland? we are planning to visit August 2022 and it is a last-minute decision so unlikely to get accommodation flexibility.

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    1. Hi Albert, there’s no way to base yourself in Reykjavik and drive around the entire island on a day trip, if that’s what you are asking. I’m not even sure I understand your question… You can’t do a ‘seven day trip around Iceland’ by staying in the city all the time…
       Anyway, what you can do is see all the best places in Reykjavik and take various day trips from Reykjavik (see this guide for the best options), by car or with tours.
       Or you could try to do this 7-day Iceland itinerary just focusing on the south and the west of the country.

       There are quite a lot of accommodations around the Hella/Selfoss area, so even if you don’t find anything further along the coast, from there you could drive as far as Jokulsarlon in a day if you make it a long day. So you could maybe stay there for 3-4 days and visit the Golden Circle and the best places along the South Coast.
       Snaefellsnes Peninsula could also be a nice place for 2 days, and even if you don’t find accommodations there, you may find something around this area.
       Hope this helps.

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14. Hello, Amazing blog. Very informative.
    Do you have detailed itinerary/suggestions for 2 weeks ring road trip that you can share on top of what you have in the blog? I was looking at details which can help me identify which places/cities i should look for accommodation during the course of 14 days that you have listed. Is it one night per place? How best to go about coupling accommodations while covering the loop? We will be traveling with 6.5 year old kid and want to do self-driving trip.

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    1. Hi Nidhi, we have a very detailed Ring Road itinerary for 10 days, plus suggestions for additional places if you have more time. That guide has all the accommodation suggestions and pretty much everything to help you plan a trip. You could add some time in the Reykjavik area in the beginning and at the end, or a day on the south coast and a day in Snaefellsnes Peninsula too.
       PS You really have to book the rental car + hotels ASAP if traveling this summer.
       Good luck!

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15. This post is absolutely outstanding! It saved me hours, if not days, of planning. I typically put trip itineraries into Google My Maps, and you’ve even done that for me. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

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    1. Glad to help, Kira. Have a great trip to Iceland!

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16. Do you have any itinerary that includes a stay in the Blue Lagoon hotel? Would you recommend it for at least one night? Should I start or end there? Any other tips for traveling with a 6 and 7 year old?

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    1. Hi Helena, you can start or end ANY itinerary here since it’s so close to the airport. So I’d let it depend on your flight schedule and see what fits you best. If you are renting a car, then spending a night in this area is definitely nice. And if you have some extra time, visit some of the best places of Reykjanes Peninsula nearby.

       I’m not so sure about staying at the Blue Lagoon Silica Hotel or the Retreat at Blue Lagoon with kids, however. Not only it’s very expensive, it’s also more meant for couples; I don’t even think they have rooms to accommodate a family with 2 kids. But it’s not adults-only, so it could work, but I think their rooms can accommodate a maximum of 2 adults and 1 child.

       There’s another hotel nearby – Northern Light Inn – that’s much more affordable and has family rooms, and they also have a shuttle to the Blue Lagoon if you don’t feel like walking for 20-25 minutes (or don’t have a car). But, of course, it doesn’t include access to the Blue Lagoon and it’s obviously not the same experience. But for the location and more relaxed atmosphere, with kids, I’d probably look into this one instead.

       As for any other tips with kids, try to look for local pools everywhere you go. The last time we were in Iceland with our kids, we researched local pools of every place where we stayed a night and went swimming every evening. Local pools are amazing for kids, better than the Blue Lagoon. They are cheap, you can actually swim in (or just sit in a hot tub while your kids swim), there are usually saunas too, and often also slides or floats for kids, etc. And they cost around 8-10 USD for adults, and even less for kids.

       In Reykjavik, check out Whales of Iceland and FlyOver Iceland, and also Perlan museum – all are great for families. Here you can find more info about the best things to do in Reykjavik.

       For the rest, it really depends on the time of the year when you go and how much time you have. In summer, go whale watching and try to find puffins, or maybe book a horse riding tour. You can also visit some lava caves. While natural ice caves and glacier hiking usually have age limit (minimum 8 years in most cases), you can visit some lava caves with younger kids as well.

       Hope this helps.
       Good luck with the planning!

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    2. @Jurga, you are super helpful and thank you for all the information, we are planning on going on June 2 for 7 days. I can’t wait!

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    3. Since we are traveling with our kids, 6 and 8 years old, would you recommend renting a camper and spend some nights at camp sites?
       Thanks!

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       1. Hi Helena, the last time I checked, big family campers were so expensive in Iceland that I don’t understand why people even do it… 🙂 Unless you are actually camping every single night and/or plan to visit places that don’t have many accommodation options, I’d just stay in hotels/ guesthouses/ apartments, etc. When we visited Iceland with kids in August, we found very affordable family accommodations for the 5 of us even in the high season (we did book well in advance though). It was cheaper than what they charge for a camper (of course, you do have car rental costs to take into account too).

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17. Your website is amazing and VERY helpful. I am planning a family trip to Iceland in June. We plan to be there for 10 days. We are very outdoorsy and love hiking. I can’t decide if we should do the 7 day southern route and find some off the path hiking places to go or if we should do your west/north and highlands 10 day itinerary. My daughter really wants to do a ice cave tour and it seems as if Vik is the only place that does them in June and that isn’t part of your west/north/highlands itinerary. I also am not sure of doing the full Ring road – Id rather concentrate on more specific areas. Seems like a lot of driving. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We just want to see it all! Thanks again! – Aimee

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    1. Hi Aimee, it’s always a tough decision where to go. One thing – you can’t see ‘everything’ in Iceland in 10 days. Also, many places in the highlands might not be accessible yet (depends on when exactly you travel and how the weather is).
       However, if you want to see a bit of all the main areas, consider doing the entire Ring Road. We have this 10-day Ring Road itinerary that includes all the best places. The days are endless in June and you can see and do a lot.
       If you don’t want to do the entire Ring Road, you can also use our 7-day itinerary and add a few nights to it at the places that interest you the most (this would be more relaxing and would allow you to explore deeper, take a few tours, etc). Vik could be a good place to add a night and you could also potentially visit part of the Westfjords from Snaefellsnes Peninsula for just 1 night or so (but you’d need a 4WD for that part and that’s a big extra cost compared to a regular car). See more info here: Westfjords 1 day itinerary.
       About the ice cave tour from Vik – it’s, at the moment, indeed the only natural ice cave tour that runs the whole year round. But please keep in mind that it’s nature and you can’t know in advance how it will look like when you visit.
       There is really not one ‘best’ itinerary and you can’t go wrong with any option. Just pick the places that interest you the most and don’t feel obliged to do the whole ring just because many people do it. Most often, the quieter, slower-going trips, are more enjoyable because it allows you to experience the place better. You could easily spend 3-5 days on the South Coast alone – see here for more suggestions on what to see and do on the South Coast.
       Hope this helps a bit.

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18. Jurga, I am very glad to have found your blog. We are traveling to Iceland for 10 days in August. We have rented a campervan from Kuku. We will have the van for 8 days and 7 nights. We are doing the ring road west to East so that we end with two days in Reykjavik. Your packing list and itinerary with distances is wonderful. Is there a print version? Thank you.

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    1. Hi Elaine, unfortunately, we don’t have a print version of each article on our blog, but you should be able to save to pdf or print straight from your browser.
       Have a great trip!

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19. Hi Jurga,

    Love reading everything about Iceland, we are going this September, can’t wait.

    We are planning a 10 days self-driving trip, does it make a difference to drive the ring road clock or counterclockwise? Most of the tour starts from the airport and to Golden Circle right away. Just wondering if most cars are going the same direction.

    Thanks,

    Wenlee

    Reply

    1. Hi Wenlee, somehow I think that you’ll enjoy your trip more if you start with the busiest places – Golden Circle and the South Coast – first and leave the rest for later. That’s also what locals will always recommend and also why many tours indeed start with the Golden Circle and the South Coast first.
       But apart from that, no, it doesn’t really matter that much if you do our trip clockwise or anticlockwise. So if you prefer to go west and north first, you can do it too. In that case, you can start with the Snaefellsnes Peninsula – a great place to get acquainted with Iceland.
       Also, traffic is not busy in Iceland at all. The busiest place is Reykjavik, but once you leave the city, it’s usually very quiet. That being said, there are several ways to visit the Golden Circle and so there, you’ll see people driving in all directions, depending on where they started their day. The South Coast is a very popular destination by itself, so many people drive up and down the same road without continuing their trip further east or north. So there will always be quite some traffic there, no matter which way you drive.
       But the chances that everyone/anyone will do the exact same trip as you do are minimal, so it’s not like you’ll start in Reykjavik and keep on running into the same people along the way for the rest of the trip.
       Good luck with the planning and have a great trip!

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20. Hi Jurga,

    Thanks for this wonderful blog. I have been trying to plan for 7 days in Iceland at the end of May with my husband and two adult daughters and I’m overwhelmed. I like how you lay out the 7 day itinerary, but I wonder if there is time to do enough in each place, or will it feel rushed? For example, is one day enough time to do the glaciers, waterfalls and beaches of the south? I imagine we will want to do a glacier hike which could take a few hours. Also, can you recommend where to stay for each of these days? I’m so confused about where I should be booking accomodations. On the one hand, it seems to be a bit time consuming and frenetic to stay in a different accomodation every night, but I also don’t want to waste time driving long distances every day before getting started with the activities.

    Any advice would be so greatly appreciated!

    Thank you,
    Sarah

    Reply

    1. Hi Sarah, if you are visiting Iceland at the end of May, this itinerary is definitely doable. The sun never sets that time of the year so you can explore as long as you want. Also, all these places are quite close to each other and most don’t require much more than half an hour or so, so you can see a lot more in a day than you think.

       Anyway, I get this question so often that I am working on a detailed 7-day itinerary for Iceland, but it’s not yet ready to publish. In the meantime, here is a copy of a 7-day itinerary that I recently suggested to someone else, but adjusted a bit for May:
       DAY 1: Golden Circle (For details on where to go, what to see, and accommodation suggestions, see our 4-day Iceland itinerary, day1. Stay in/near Hella for 2 nights).
       DAY 2: Day trip to Heimaey Island (same hotel as last night).
       DAY 3: South Coast to Jokulsarlon (for details on where to go, what to see, and accommodation suggestions, see our 4-day Iceland itinerary – day 2)
       DAY 4: Jokulsarlon to Vik (follow accommodation suggestions in our 4-day itinerary – day 3). If you don’t want to switch hotels here, you could potentially stay in Kirkjubæjarklaustur area on this and previous day).
       DAY 5: Back to Reykjavik and visit the city (stay in Reykjavik for the rest of the trip (or two nights in the city if you prefer to stay close to the airport on the last night) – see Reykjavik accommodation guide for where to stay)
       DAY 6: Day trip to Snaefellsnes Peninsula (by car or with a tour). This is doable as a day trip from Reykjavik and would save you one hotel change.
       DAY 7: Reykjanes Peninsula and Blue Lagoon (you can stay in Reykjavik or close to the airport which is close to the Blue Lagoon – see accommodation suggestions in our Reykjanes Peninsula guide). For Blue Lagoon, you have to book your tickets in advance.
       This itinerary has all the same places as in our suggested 7-day itinerary above, but the planning is somewhat different so that you have fewer hotels. You could also move things around e.g. start with Blue Lagoon, Reykjanes, and Reykjavik, followed by Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and then Golden Circle and all the rest. Or start with Snaefellsnes Peninsula, then the Golden Circle, with Reykjavik at the very end of the trip. There are many ways to do plan a week in Iceland – this is just one of the suggestions. See also how your flight hours fit with the itinerary. It’s really your choice and also depends on how often you want to switch hotels.
       As for glacier hiking, you could do it on day 3 or day 4, depending on which tour you choose. In our 4-day itinerary, we have all the suggestions, alternatively, you can also find all the details in this guide: Glacier hiking in Iceland.
       For puffins, end of May it’s likely that you could see them on Heimaye island already, so you wouldn’t really need another tour from Reykjavik.

       Hope this is not too overwhelming for you. It might look more complicated than it really is. You could do this trip with just 3 different hotels if you don’t mind some more driving here and there – first in the area around Selfoss/Hella, then further down the south coast (Kirkjubæjarklaustur or so), and then in Reykjavik.
       Hope this helps. Good luck with the planning and have a great trip!

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    2. @Jurga, thank you so much for this! I will take some time to look it over and make a plan. So grateful for your generous sharing of resources!

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21. Hi Jurga,

    This is one of the best blog I have seen for Island itinerary- thanks!

    We are thinking of going to Iceland in June for first time and planning to do 2 weeks. I was wondering if it is possible to make 3-4 places as base and do things around in that area instead of staying at new location every night. Any suggestions?

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    1. Hello, yes, it’s definitely possible to just pick a few places in Iceland as a base and explore from there. However, this depends on what exactly you want to see and how much driving you’re willing to do every day + in between these places.
       If you don’t care about seeing ‘everything’, then you could pick a few areas and just explore deeper around them. For example, Reykjavik or Selfoss area could be your base for the following areas: Reykjavik city, Reykjanes Peninsula, Golden Circle, maybe a day trip to the highlands, a day trip to Heimaey Island, and part of the South Coast. You could also make Vik or Kirkjubæjarklaustur your base for the rest of the South Coast.
       Snaefellsnes Peninsula is another nice area where you could easily spend at least 2 full days.
       Also Myvatn/ Husavik area is a perfect place for spending 2-4 days.
       But if you do this, then you’ll inevitably have to drive long distances between these places and will also have quite some driving every day. But with relatively good roads and long days in June, it should be possible.
       Or maybe opt for a mix of long/shorter stays and a few long drives and do something like this:
       Stay in the Selfoss area or in Hella area for 5-6 days, then move on to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon just for a night or two (visiting the rest of the South Coast on your way there). From there, drive all the way to Myvatn or Husavik in one go (LONG DRIVE – at least 6 hrs) and stay there for 3-4 nights. And from there, drive all the way to Snaefellsnes for 3 nights (ANOTHER LONG DRIVE, also about 6 hrs of purely driving time). Potentially, spend the last night close to the airport, depending on your flight times.
       We have lots of guides for all these areas and also accommodation suggestions for all over Iceland. You can find an overview of all our Iceland articles here.
       Hope this helps.

       Reply

22. Hi – Thank you for the ton of information you have shared. We will be doing your recommended 4 day tour this September, and I’m reading a lot about F-roads. Does this itinerary route include driving on F-Roads? I’m planning on renting a small car, as it will be just two of us (me and my wife).

    Thanks again,

    Reply

    1. Hi Raja, no, this itinerary doesn’t include any F-roads and is doable with any car. In winter, I’d probably rent a 4wd, but in September you should generally be ok with a regular car. Let’s hope winter doesn’t arrive early this year…
       Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

    2. Hi Jurga,

       Thank you so much for your very detailed articles and amazing photos! I love too that you are as captivated by natural beauty and wildlife as I am.

       I’m actually on my way to Iceland very soon and have just over four days, traveling by camper van to stay quite flexible and enjoy as much of the outdoors as possible.

       I’m currently planning to follow your 4 day itinerary almost to a “T” but am tempted to use the extra half day to either venture to the Westman island on my way back to Rekjavik, or cram in a few stops along the Snæfellsnes peninsula. I think if I skip the island I could get to the peninsula one afternoon and have part of the next morning.

       I’d so appreciate any thoughts you may have regarding this.

       Thank you so much for your thoughtful posts!

       Reply

       1. Hi Robert, it’s really hard for me to say as so much will also depend on the weather. My first feeling is that both of these places – the Westman Islands or Snaefellsnes Peninsula require at least a day each. But you can visit the island in half a day too – it depends on what you want to do there I suppose, and you could see some of the main highlights in just a few hours. I assume that you read my articles on both of those places, but I linked to them both, in case you haven’t.
          I think that the Snaefellsnes Peninsula is a bit more difficult because it’s further away from anything else in our 4-day itinerary. We just recently spent an entire day there and felt that it was too rushed. Also, it takes you several hours just to get there, depending on where you are coming from.
          In the end, the choice is yours. But please also keep in mind that the days are much shorter in September already, so you’ll already have to do your best to cover all the highlights of the South Coast as it is. And – you have to stay at the campgrounds (it’s now the law – more info about camping in Iceland) and many of them are already closed for the season, so you should do some research on that as well.
          Sorry, I can’t help you more. It’s a tough choice and I know just too well how tempting it is to try and see it all, but often less is more and you’ll enjoy your trip more if you don’t have to rush from one place to the other all the time…
          Have a great trip and – if you think of it after the trip – feel free to leave a reply here and let us know what you decided and how it went. It might be helpful to the other readers. Thank you!

          Reply

          1. Hello Jurga! I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to reply, but I’m glad to finally get back to you after my trip!

             First of all, I want to say a deep and heartfelt thank you for all of the fantastic advice you share on this blog. The photos are gorgeous “appetizers,” and your insight and experience are priceless! I followed your four-day trip almost to a “T” and am so grateful that I did.

             Regarding my decision of whether to see the Westman Islands or Snaefellsnes Penninsula, I was inclined to see the puffins and rugged beauty of the islands, but as I stepped off the tiny prop plane onto the tarmac, I got slapped in the face with wind and rain in a hearty “Welcome to Iceland!” and decided in that instant that this would make the extreme exposure of the islands a nearly miserable trip, so opted for more of a road trip adventure that would include Snaefellsnes.

             It worked out great to evade the wind and cold while seeing much of the island from a car, actually. After landing in Keflavik, I picked up my little VW camper van and shot north to the peninsula; straight up to Kirkjufell, in what I thought would be a counter-clockwise loop of the peninsula, before discovering the only available camping was back to the south in Arnarstapi. Saw so much beautiful scenery there (now going clockwise around the peninsula, stopping in Olafsvik for groceries before making my way back down past Rekjavik towards the Golden Circle and on your itinerary.

             The wind and rain kept my visits at some of the places short, while the breaks in the weather were a glorious welcome reprieve. Your advice to visit Jolulsarlon in the evening at sunset, and again at sunrise were perfect, What a magical place, as were so many other spots along the way. I would have enjoyed a little more sunshine, but this was a great way to get in from the wet and cold, and cover more ground while taking in much of Iceland’s incredible beauty through the windshield!

             Pro tip: I got an international calling option enabled on my phone ($10 per day, and only when used) but found that adding a WiFi hotspot to my rental car (I think it was $12 for the whole time) gave me all the talk/text/data of my regular plan, which was valuable for getting directions, finding camping, and streaming music on the drive. Hearing Americanized voices try to pronounce these road names and destinations was an added bonus! :]

             Thanks again Jurga. You made this a fantastic trip for me.

             Reply

             1. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience, Robert. Glad to hear that you enjoyed your trip despite the weather. I think that, indeed, Snaefellsnes Peninsula was a better choice than Heimaey Island this time of the year.
                And I agree with you on the WiFi hotspot – we also got it for our trip (despite having free phone calls and roaming in Iceland as it’s part of the EU-roaming agreement) and it was so easy to be able to connect various devices from the whole family to it. We used the hotspot in the car, also for Google Maps and driving directions. And we also used it at some hotels where hotel wifi wasn’t as good. If you are coming from outside of the EU, then it’s definitely a must!
                Once again, thank you for coming back to our site to share all this. I’m sure it will be very useful to our other readers planning a trip.
                Happy travels!

          2. Thank you for all the helpful information. I am wondering if the 14 day Ring Road Trip would work while driving a camper? Woukd we be able to travel to all the areas you have listed in a camper? We are planning a trip for early August 2022 for 2 adults and 2 kids. We thought a camper might give us a little flexibility and also give us a bathroom. Traveling with children and a lot of driving with little access to bathrroms is a worry. Are bathrooms easy to access throughout Iceland? Thanks for all you ideas! Jody

             Reply

             1. Hi Jody, if you stick to the Ring Road in Iceland, you can easily do it with the camper. I’m not so sure about the Westfjords as the roads there usually require at least a 4WD. So I don’t think it’s a great idea to drive there with the big family camper. Once again, all the other places from that itinerary should be ok and you could add a few days in the other areas (like Snaefellsnes Peninsula, North Iceland, East Fjords) to make up for the Westfjords.

                As for bathrooms, there are usually bathroom facilities at all the main natural landmarks all over Iceland. There are also petrol stations and cafés along the way. In some areas, there might be fewer facilities, but in general, we never really had a problem finding a bathroom during our trips.

                PS We have three kids and we always just rent a car and sleep in hotels or apartments during our trips. Our most recent trip to Iceland with kids was this 10-day trip visiting the lesser-known places in the west and in the north of Iceland. It was at the end of August – a great time to visit. If I can give you one tip when visiting Iceland with children is to look up local pools at every place where you plan to spend the night. It’s so nice to end a day of sightseeing with a warm soak at a local pool. Facilities are usually great and it’s very cheap; kids can often even go for free in many places.

23. Hello, we are headed to Iceland the first week in August for 7 days and renting a car. After much research, below is my intinerary. However, after reading your blogs I am wondering if I should make a change.

    Staying in the city the first two nights
    1st day – Friday. Explore the city (we arrive from the US very early)
    2nd day – Saturday. golden circle
    Leave for the south coast Sunday morning. Explore Vik and south coast on the way
    3rd night – stay in the south (we are close to jokulralson)
    Monday – head back toward Reyjavik stopping at more sites along the way back. Check back into the city Monday night.
    4th night – Tuesday. stay in the city. take a tour perhaps whale and puffin watching. Planned for no driving to break up the drives.
    Wednesday – drive up to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula for the day and drive back to the city.
    5th night – stay in the city and then Thursday morning head to the blue lagoon for a few hours before flying back to the city.

    I am wondering if we should stay near Vik Monday night instead of driving back to Reykjavík And drive back to Reykjavic Tuesday morning instead. What are your thoughts? This would break up the long drives and give us more time in the south (is there enough to do this long.) but it would also have us driving every day. I’m not sure which is better.

    Reply

    1. Hi Pam, sorry for a late reply. Somehow this comment got lost along a mountain of emails in my mailbox… And I also think that I already answered this or something very similar recently, so not sure I’m not repeating myself…
       Anyway, yes, I think that one night along the South Coast is a bit short. I usually recommend this itinerary for the Golden Circle and the South Coast
       Also, you could visit Snaefellsnes Peninsula first, then go to the Golden Circle, and then the South Coast (following our detailed itinerary I linked to) – no need to go back to Reykjavik in between, especially because you already stay there in the beginning and at the end of your trip.
       Hope this helps. Also, a lot will depend on what accommodations you can still find, so book asap.

       Reply

       1. Appreciate your reply. Thank you

          Reply

24. Dear Jurga
    Thanks a lot for such wonderful blog on Iceland. We are planning for 11 days trip in the month end of July. We will be traveling with our son (5 years old) and we will start our trip from Reykjavik and will end it in Reykjavik. We would like to cover the places by road and would like to make night stops at hotels. I read your post (10 days trip), but it starts from Akureyri. Should I use this itinerary in reverse order 🙂 or would you suggest some other. It would be great if you could recommend how many nights we should stay at which places, so that I can plan the bookings accordingly.
    Thanks in advance for your reply.
    Cheers
    Kumar

    Reply

    1. Hi Kumar, in July you could try and do the whole Ring Road in 11 days. Take our 2-week itinerary and skip the West Fjords (days 9-11). So from North Iceland head straight to Snaefellsnes Peninsula. You can do it in reverse order as well.
       I don’t have a lot of details for the whole Rin Road, but I have a very thorough article that covers the South Coast, so at least for that part of the journey you can use it to plan what to see and do each day.
       Hope this helps. Have a great time in Iceland!
       PS book your accommodations ASAP – best-priced places sell out really quickly. You can find some suggestions here: where to stay in Iceland.

       Reply

       1. Dear Jurga

          Thanks a lot for your reply. It’s helpful.

          Thanks
          Kumar

          Reply

25. My wife is fearful of “cliff-driving” (narrow shoulders, long way to the bottom). Is there much of this on the “Ring Road”? thanks

    Reply

    1. Hi Barry, there is very little to no such driving along the Ring Road in Iceland if I remember well. We just came back from Northern Italy and the mountain passes there are a whole other story… I really wouldn’t worry about that in Iceland.

       Reply

26. hello! thank you for all of your suggestions! my family (me, husband and 2 kids ages 4 and 6) are going in august. we are staying 2 days in reykjavik (blue lagoon, golden circle) and 2 nights in hella (as a base for touring southern iceland from skogar to jokulsarlon).

    I am keeping myself up at night worrying that my 4 year old will fall into a waterfall or off a cliff! ahh! help! are there any areas i should avoid? or am i worrying too much? He is great at hiking and outdoors etc, but if i take my eyes off of him for a second, are there any sites that are too treacherous? the kids are SO excited about the trip, and now I’m getting nervous.

    Reply

    1. Hi Katie, I can so relate to this! We have three boys and if I start to think of everything that can go wrong during the trip, I end up having nightmares… The reality is, however, that most accidents happen at home in a familiar and safe environment. When you are out and about exploring, you tend to be much more cautious, alert and more careful. The same is true for the children. So please stop worrying and try to concentrate on the fun side of preparing for an exciting trip.
       My best suggestion is to use common sense, be aware of the surroundings, obey the signs and hold on to your kids in the more dangerous places. There is just one place that comes to mind that doesn’t look dangerous, but actually is and it’s a black sand beach Reynisfjar in Vik. The current is very strong there and the water comes up higher than you think without much prior warning. We have been told that some accidents happened there in the past. So keep a safe distance from the water there, even if it looks very calm.
       Enjoy your trip! Iceland is a beautiful country and I’m sure you and your family will have a great time there.

       Reply

27. This is an awesome post!!! We are two 50 year old (active) couples that are going to Iceland in September. We are in Iceland for 5 nights (6 days) would love your thoughts on the itinerary. Day 1 – We are looking at going to Blue Lagoon right when we arrive. Spending afternoon/evening in Reykjavik. Day 2 – leave early and do Thorsmork hike and stay in Vik.. Day 3 – Drive to Jökulsárlón glacier and diamond beach…any other sites we should see in this area? and drive back to Vik to stay overnight. Day 4 – drive to Golden Circle (and see sites along the way) and 3 main sites in golden circle. Day 5 – drive to snaefellsnes peninsula Day 6 – drive to airport (4 pm flight). Do you think going to the snaefellsnes peninsula will be too much driving? Any other recommendations….sites along the way…Thank you.

    Reply

    1. Hi Caroline, we are traveling at the moment, so I have very little time. Shirt answer. Please check our Iceland winter itinerary – it will give you a very good idea of the places I recommend visiting on the South Coast.
       As for Snaefellsness Peninsula, I think it’s worth the drive. In September the days are still quite long and the road conditions generally ok, I think it’s doable. If you want to be closer to the airport on the last day, you could consider reversing your itinerary. But I think it looks pretty much ok for the duration of your stay. Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

28. Hi Jurga!

    This blog has been so helpful. I can’t begin to tell you how thankful I am.

    Three other friends and I are planning a 2-week trip to Iceland in late August. Your 14-day itinerary looks great but I just wanted to ask you if you’d advise us against any particular places on the list if we aren’t adventurous hikers. We love driving and long (safe) walks are no problem but hiking and trekking isn’t really our thing. Would you advise us against anything in your 14-day itinerary knowing this?

    Look forward to hearing from you. Lots of love from India!

    Reply

    1. Hi Sid, there isn’t really much hiking in that itinerary, mainly just short walks from the car to the main attractions. Skaftafell NP (day 4) has some hikes, short and long, so you can skip that if hiking isn’t really your thing at all. Most other places it’s really just about exploring the area, so there is of course some walking involved, but no hiking and definitely no trekking.
       If you like to add some variation to your trip and fill in the gaps, try to book some sightseeing excursions here and there, like puffin or whale watching, or maybe horse riding, also Myvatn nature baths are not to be missed, etc. You can find some of those suggestions here: best tours in Iceland.
       Hope this helps.

       Reply

       1. This was so helpful Jurga! Thanks again.

          I’m sorry to bug you with another question:
          We want to follow your 14 day itinerary but are only in Iceland for 12 days. If you were to reduce 2/3 days from the itinerary, what part of it would you remove?

          Thanks in advance! x

          Reply

          1. Hi Sid, I think you can visit pretty much the same places in less time as well. A lot depends on the time of the year when you travel. End of August the days are still quite long, so if you plan well and skip spend less time at the less interesting pieces you’ll be fine. If you have to skip something, you could limit your time in East fjords and/or in the North-West.
             I don’t really have the time to work out an itinerary for you, so you’ll have to do some more research to see what all these places are about and what interests you most. But in 12 days you should definitely be able to see all the main highlights along the Ring Road.

             Reply

29. Dear Jurga,

    great blog and extremely helpful! Can I ask you some questions please? I’ll travel to Reykjavik at the end of May for 10 days to visit friends there. Since they will have to work during my trip as well, and I want to see more than Reykjavik, I probably will visit a lot on my own, but i’m not keen on renting a car alone. At first I thought I will make daytrips always starting from Reykjavik, but maybe it would be better (and more affordable, since accomodation in R. is expensive and the guided daytrips as well) to do a short roundtrip of 4 to 7 days using public transport. Do you have any experiences with the public buses? Would you recommend me to do your itineraries of 4 to 7 days even if I’m alone? Which tours can I undertake without a guide to save some money?

    Reply

    1. Hi Laura, unfortunately public transport isn’t really an option outside of Reykjavik. So it’s still best to either rent a car or do day tours or a combination of both. Iceland is perfectly safe to travel alone, so I wouldn’t worry about that. The more tricky part is finding accommodations outside of the city on such short notice. You can find some suggestions for accommodations, best day trips, etc in our other blog posts. Check our Iceland page for more information.
       As for what to do alone, most places from these itineraries can be easily visited without the guide. You just need to get there. Depending on accommodation prices in Reykjavik vs outside of town and car rental prices, it can still be cheaper to do tours than rent a car if th are alone. But check it out, maybe you can find a cheap car and some affordable places to stay, you never know before you actually start to compare.

       Reply

       1. Thank you so much! I’m already excited for the holidays coming up :)!

          Reply

30. Hi JURGA
    I am planning a relaxed trip with my wife to iceland this summer in last week of may for 15 days.i am not much interested in north as it is full of drive but at the same time want to include snaefell peninsula.
    How should I plan about it.

    Thankyou

    Reply

    1. Hi Ankit, 15 days is quite long and you could easily do the whole ring road at a leisurely pace. The days are very long that time of the year and I think that you’ll otherwise find yourself bored with nothing to do if you only stick to the South Coast and Snaefellsnes Peninsula. So I think you could still consider looking at the 2-week itinerary in this post. You can skip some places and spend a bit more time at the others, and make a trip that suits you beset; but once again 15 days is long. If you still rather stick to the South, then I’d say spend a week there, then go to Snaefellsnes for 2-3 days, then maybe to the West Fjords.
       Also, make sure to book your accommodations ASAP – Iceland is very popular and this is already in less than a month. Check this post for accommodation suggestions in Iceland.

       Reply

31. Hi, I just subscribed to your blog. It’s wonderful as you travel with kids too. I have a 4.5 yr old son…5 by next summer. I’ll be traveling alone with him in mid August. Planning to do 3 days (two actual full days) in Iceland on our way from Toronto to a wedding in Finland. I may stretch it an additional day. Would you recommend just getting out of Reykjavik and booking a hotel at one of the destination places and travel from there – blue lagoon/ Golden circle? Not sure how interesting a city tour is for a 5 yr. old. How challenging are the hikes? I am also wondering whether a private or a small group tour may be a better option than renting a car? Thanks so much.

    Reply

    1. Hi Ilona, that’s a lot of questions and most answers depend on the way you like to travel I suppose. There are small group tours, but honestly with such a young child I think you will enjoy the trip more if you just rent a car and do your own thing. In summer you can easily rent a car and Iceland is perfectly safe to travel on your own.
       As to where to go in three days, Golden Circle – count about a day, then drive in the direction of Vik, visit the waterfalls of the South Coast on the way. I would also go to Jokulsarlon. Yes, it’s far, but the days are long in summer, so you could easily make it. There is not much hiking involved at any of these places.
       If you prefer less driving maybe add some kid-friendly activities like spotting puffins or Icelandic horse riding (size of a pony).
       It really depends on your preferences. Hope this helps a bit.

       Reply

32. We are planning a 2 family (4 adults, 2 boys 7&9, 2 girls 14&16) 10-day trip to Iceland in late July 18. I would love to do your 10 itinerary but am afraid we’ll be spending all our time in the car or camper (haven’t even made that decision yet) and not have enough time to soak up the experience. What do you think? Is less more with a crew like us? We’re very active but also want time to relax in between.
    What do you think? Thanks in advance.

    Reply

    1. Hi Jenny, if anything, this itinerary isn’t rushed at all. Certainly in July when the days are so long. We did the exact same trip and often felt that we had too much time in the evening. That was beginning of June and there were some places where we couldn’t hike because of the snow still. So maybe in July you can do a bit more hiking, and maybe more excursions (like whale watching or puffins). I really don’t think you should worry that it’s going to be too much, even for the kids.
       PS there is one area that I think you could consider adding if you have one more day and that is Snaefellsnes Peninsula a bit North of Reykjavik.
       If you rather do a bit less driving and more exploring, you can consider the 7 day itinerary and add Snaefellsnes to it. Make it 10 days, it will be really relaxed.
       One more thing, don’t forget to pack sleep masks for the whole family – you’ll need it in Iceland in summer, or you won’t get much sleep. Take a look at this post for more tips for packing for a summer trip to Iceland.

       Reply

33. dear Jurga,

    thank you for your swift reply! glacier hike is the only tour i am doing! have to! Just one question. if you had a 4wd would you not attempt the ring road in January at all costs?

    Reply

    1. Hi Naina, years ago we were stuck in a snow storm in the North with road closures in June and then the next day we gently slid off the road, so I wouldn’t, but that’s me :). I know some people who did the ring road in December and they said it was icy, but doable. The problem is that nobody can tell you in advance how the roads will be and it can change really quickly… So it all depends on how adventurous you are.

       Reply

34. Hi Jurga,
    thank you for your blog. i have read all your blogs on iceland (and way more for research). I just really need help with 1 thing. I am following your 7 day itenary as i am going in January. But i have ten days. everyone says do not drive north :/ what should i do for three more days? we are renting a car but over the budget to spend more on tours. i really wanted to do a dive but figuring out what route i would drive. can you suggest somethiing without having to go too north? (no roads may be opened to go north?)
    thank you o much.

    Reply

    1. Hi Naina, at first I thought about suggesting Snaefellsnes peninsula, but then I googled a bit and it seems that it also might be a bit problematic in January. It really depends on the weather. Maybe try and keep it as an option in case the weather would be really good and the roads clear… Otherwise, you can spend a bit more time in the area around Skaftafell NP where you can do some more hiking. But then again, a lot depends on the weather.
       I understand you don’t want to do more tours, but maybe just one, like glacier hiking?
       You can also spend a bit more time in Reykjavik, visit museums, or maybe spend more time at the Blue Lagoon… Alternatively, book a really nice and well located hotel, like Fosshotel Vatnajokull and spend a bit more time in Jokulsarlon area. It’s so beautiful there, and if you have more time you can go back several times, make long walks on the Diamond Beach… If you just plan an extra night at two places, you have two days extra. And some places are definitely worth spending a bit more time and traveling slower. Especially in winter.
       Not sure if this helps, I would just really travel a bit slower and spend more time everywhere.

       Reply

35. Thank you so much Jurga. You”re reading my mind haha. I thought of doing Reykjavik on Day 2 because we aren’t sleeping the night before do to the plane but I’m also seeing that it’s a small city so perhaps we can do a short tour or a local pool that day. The order may vary of course.
    I’m going with my 68 year mother who has prosthetic knees although she’s very active, she can hike but not for hours so I’m worry that it’ll be too much. The same with the lava cave. Ice cave sounds easy and the Westman Islands too.

    Reply

36. Hi Jurga! I found this post today and I followed your tour without knowing it jajaja. I´, going on September with my mother and after a loooooooooooot of research, Excels, Words and blogs the idea will be:

    Day 1: I arrive early in the morning and already have the Blue Lagoon tickets at 12, and then go to Reykjavic at the late afeternoon
    2: Free day to visit Reykjavic with walking city tour
    3: Golden Circle
    4: South coast tour+Jökulsárlón glacier (i´m combining these to have an extra day)
    5: ?????
    6: Snaefellsnes peninsula
    7: I leave early in the morning

    My question for you is: What tour do you recomend for the day 5 between these ones:
    a)Langjökull glacier
    b)Víðgelmir lava tube cave
    c)Westman Islands
    d)Day Trip to Landmannalaugar
    e)Reykjanes Peninsula

    I can only do tours, no driving and I´ve to go back to Reykjavic to sleep because i´ve the hostel paid already. Thank you!!!!

    Reply

    1. Hi Maria Laura, you’ll have a very busy schedule this way, but since you’re not driving I guess it’s feasible.
       If I were you, I’d not stay in Reykjavik on Day 2 and go on one of the tours instead. Because afterwards you have 3 very full days with lots of time in the car, so maybe do another tour on Day 2, and then Reykjavik on Day 3 or 4. Also, the day to the Golden Circle is usually not a very full day (depending on what option you choose), so you’ll still have time to see Reykjavik when you return that same day. When you spend a couple of hours in Reykjavik you’ll have a better feeling on how small it actually is, and then maybe you’ll decide that you don’t really need a full day in the city after all. That would give you an extra day to explore the other places that really interest you or spend more time on the South Coast.
       The South Coast + Jokulsarlon day trip will be particularly long. They usually recommend doing it in two days – much more relaxed option, even if that means that you paid an extra night for the hostel, I think it’s worth it. You can even combine it with a glacier hike as well. But I see that many people do it in one day and the reviews are good, so I guess it’s still worth it, even if it means that you’ll be in the car for the biggest part of the day…
       As for the recommended tours from your selection, I would go with day trip hiking in Landmannalaugar. It’s my opinion, of course, because I love hiking. This area looks amazing, and very different from anything else.
       Hope this helps! Have a wonderful trip!

       Reply

37. Great post Jurga, Iceland is on my list of places to visit one day…I’ve bookmarked your post for future reference! Thank you 🙂

    Reply

38. P.S. Our “kids” are in their early 20’s 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hi Kathy,
       I assume you’re coming from the US? Icelandair flies to different places in Europe and offers a free stopover in Iceland. So it’s easy to combine with lets say The Netherlands or U.K. or Belgium. All these are just +-3hrs flying from Reykjavik.
       I have some posts on the blog about the Netherlands, you could stay in Amsterdam and make some short day trips from Amsterdam (Alkmaar, Kinderdijk, Zaanse Schans, Giethoorn…).
       Alternatively, in Belgium I would suggest Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels.
       Not sure if this is your kind of trips.
       If you like nature more, you could try Scotland or Faroe Islands…
       Hope this helps a bit.

       Reply

39. We have 10 days beg June 24..what other trip would you recommend combining with Iceland for 5 days?

    Reply

40. I will definitely be saving this post! My husband and I are saving up for a trip with our daughter to Scotland in a few years. We’d love to take advantage of a stopover in Iceland!

    Reply

    1. If you can, try to take at least 5-6 days for a stopover in Iceland, Mar. If I remember well, Icelandair allows up to 7 days stopover at no additional cost, so it’s a great way to combine Iceland with another trip.

       Reply

41. You have covered a lot on your trips and it is great to see. I think that your pictures are beautiful too. Definitely, pinned this for when I return to Iceland as you give a great range of tips and recommendations.

    Reply

42. Hello,

    I have a slight dilemma, Our flight arrives at 2 PM on Tuesday and leaves on 4 PM Thursday. We would like to plan our trip so that we CAN do the Golden Circle, Reykjavik, and blue lagoon. Just not quite sure which would fit what day. If you were working with that time frame, What would you recommend?

    Reply

    1. I think you can easily do all of the above, Ted. Let’s say Blue Lagoon the first day (or the last), Reykjavik is perfectly doable in half a day, and the Golden Circle on a full day. In fact, there are even day trips that combine the Golden Circle with the Blue Lagoon in one day. If you book Blue Lagoon separately, make sure to check for availability before you plan anything else – it gets fully booked quite often. Hope this helps.

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       1. Wow,

          Thank you for such quick response. My wife’s bucket list is the Blue Lagoon. So she would like to spend as much time there as possible. Realistically, How much time is Enough time for blue lagoon with a 4 year old and 7 year old. Also, we are planning to rent a car. About how much time should we allocated for Golden Circle starting at reykjavik and back?

          Lastly, 1 restaurant (family style) you would recommend? Our anniversary falls on middle day of our 3 day trip. Thank you SO much!

          Ted

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          1. Hi Ted, Blue Lagoon will take you 2-4hrs. It takes some time to get in, change, etc. I don’t think you can spend more than an hour, maybe a bit longer in the pool with kids, but you know your kids better of course. It’s far from the city centre, so it will take some time to get there. Count a good half day in total.
             I would count a (relaxed) day for the Golden Circle. If you come back earlier, spend that time in Reykjavik downtown.
             As for restaurants, I really don’t know. Check Trip Advisor for some recommendations.

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             1. Thank you!

43. This is perfect!!! I’m glad I came across this. I’ll be visiting Iceland for 3 days in May before heading to London and my 3-day itinerary is exactly as you recommend. Even though I’m visiting towards the end of May, I guess I better pack for cold weather!! This make me feel better. Great guide!!

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    1. Hi Livi, glad you found this itinerary reassuring. There is a lot you can do in a specific place, but here I cover the highlights, which I think most people want to see if traveling somewhere for the first time.
       As for packing, I really don’t know about May, I think you can have all kinds of weather, just as any other season. Pack a warm waterproof outer layer, and several other layers so you are flexible. You can check this post for Iceland packing suggestions.
       Have a wonderful trip to Iceland!

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44. What an incredible itinerary for everybody! I will definitely be using this when I go!

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45. Iceland looks so beautiful. I can’t wait to visit one day. Thank you for sharing these itinerary suggestions!

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46. Very timely for me, I have 24 hour stopover this summer and just booked my Blue Lagoon ticket yesterday. I can’t read beyond your 1-day itinerary because I’m already sad at all the things I’m going to miss!

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    1. I know how you feel, Leigh! It’s a constant struggle with stopovers… Maybe that short trip will inspire you to go back and visit longer another time.

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47. Your photography is STUNNING. I just love the way you capture the light and contrasts of this beautiful island. Great post!

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    1. Thanks a lot! Really appreciate it.

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48. Great post! I’m gonna bookmark this post for future reference as I’m planning to visit Iceland one day. Thanks for sharing!

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49. I want to go there so badly! When I do I’ll definitely come back to this post and see what I can do in my time 🙂

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50. Those pictures look so amazing. It’s hard not to want to book a trip to Iceland. It’s on our list for this year, so I’m going to save this!

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51. Super double extra triple bookmarked! It is my dream to visit Iceland in the winter and see the northern lights but you are offering so many more awesome ideas I love it! I am not sure when I will get to go but I will be sure to follow this itinerary and all of your tips!

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    1. Thanks Arianne. Glad this inspired you to see more of Iceland, beyond the Northern Lights…

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52. I really want to go to Iceland. It’s been on my bucketlist for such a long time! Thanks for the suggestions!

    – Dominick

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53. This is a great post! We had an amazing trip through the southern part of Iceland 2 years ago and can’t wait to go back and explore the north!

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    1. Thank you, Ashley. We’ve been to Iceland twice, but wouldn’t mind going again either. Beautiful country to explore!

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