Complete Iceland Ring Road Itinerary (+Map & Tips for Your Trip)
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Are you planning a road trip in Iceland and looking for the best itinerary that covers the entire Ring Road? This guide is for you! This ultimate Iceland Ring Road itinerary brings you to all the must-see places in 10 days. Find out!
There are so many amazing places to see in Iceland and so many different ways to plan your Iceland itinerary! But if you are planning your first trip to Iceland and want to see all the ‘musts’, there is really no better way to do it than driving the entire Ring Road of Iceland. Iceland’s main road #1 (Þjóðvegur 1, aka Route 1) goes all around the island, and driving it is the best way to explore the main landmarks and tourist sights in Iceland.
In this article, we share the best itinerary for the complete Ring Road of Iceland in 10 days. Why 10? Because – in our opinion – this is really the shortest amount of time you need in order to enjoy all the main sights and not just tick the boxes and say that you’ve done it.
Even with 10 days for the entire Ring Road, your itinerary will be quite packed, but in a nice way, without being too stressful. If you have less time, we recommend this 7-day Iceland itinerary instead.
To help you plan your trip, we also created a map of the complete Ring Road itinerary indicating all the places mentioned in this article. You can see a photo of the map below. At the bottom of this article, you can also find an interactive version of this map that you can save to your phone and use during your trip.
PRO TIP! Reserve your accommodations in advance, especially in rural areas! Hotels close to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and around Myvatn/Husavik are the most sought-after, so book those asap. Be sure to also check our detailed guide on where to stay in Reykjavik.
Top Experiences to Book in Advance:
- Blue Lagoon & Sky Lagoon (Day 1 & Day 10 – do one at the beginning and the other one at the end of your trip).
- Glacier Hike (Day 3).
- Natural Ice Caves (Day 3 or Day 4).
- GeoSea or Myvatn Nature Baths (Day 5).
- Whale Watching in Husavik (Day 6).
Good to know: The Ring Road trip itinerary described below can best be done between May and September – the beginning of October. While – weather permitting – you can drive the Ring Road of Iceland in any season, we don’t recommend a self-drive road trip in winter because Icelandic weather is really unpredictable. Driving in Iceland in winter is often not for the faint-hearted.
If you are visiting Iceland between mid-October and mid-April, please take a look at our recommended Iceland winter itinerary. Be sure to also check our winter travel tips for Iceland.
We recommend renting your car via Booking.com. Not only can you compare different providers and find the best car hire deals in Iceland, but you also have a much better cancelation policy and an amazing service in case of any trouble. We have used them for car hire all over the world for many years and only had positive experiences.
Using the detailed Ring Road itinerary, our suggestions, and tips below, you will be easily able to plan your own perfect self-drive road trip in Iceland. However, if you find it overwhelming, you can also book a guided multi-day tour that covers the entire Ring Road.
If you are visiting in winter and/or rather go with an organized tour, this 8-day tour is one of the best options for the entire Ring Road. Plus, you have to add a day in Reykjavik at the beginning and also at the end of the trip, so it’s also 10 days in total.
This is our recommended 10-day itinerary for Iceland’s Ring Road:
Day 1: Arrival, Blue Lagoon & Reykjavik
Driving distance/ time: 70 km (45 miles), 1 hour.
Upon arrival at Keflavik airport, pick up your rental car (compare prices and find the best deals here). You don’t need a 4×4 for this Ring Road trip, but a 4WD is always a good idea in Iceland, especially if you are visiting outside of the warmest months between June and August.
Many people like to start their Iceland trip with a soak in the warm geothermal waters of the famous Blue Lagoon. Located just 20 minutes drive from the airport, this is indeed a nice stop, especially if you are coming on a red-eye flight from the U.S. Just be sure to book your (timed) Blue Lagoon tickets in advance or you risk not being able to visit!
Alternative: Sky Lagoon is a very popular alternative to the famous Blue Lagoon (and the majority of our readers who visited both lagoons, prefer Sky by far). It’s also located closer to Reykjavik center. Also here, you really have to book tickets in advance – this lagoon is much smaller and tends to sell out even quicker than Blue Lagoon.
Then head to Reykjavik, about 40 minutes drive from the Blue Lagoon.
The rest of your day will depend a bit on how much time you have. The city center is not big and quite walkable, so you could leave your car in the hotel and go explore some of the highlights of Reykjavik on foot.
TIP: If you are too early and can’t check in at your hotel yet, you could first go to Perlan, the Wonders of Iceland. It’s one of the best museums in Reykjavik, with a real ice tunnel, a fantastic aurora show, and great views of the city and surroundings. Because this museum is located a bit outside the center, it’s easier to go there by car anyway.
In Reykjavik city center, go for a walk along the waterfront where you’ll find the Sun Voyager statue and the impressive Harpa concert hall building. A bit further along the shore, you’ll find two other great attractions – Whales of Iceland and FlyOver Iceland. These are both AMAZING attractions that are well worth your time. It’s also something nice to do on a rainy day and definitely if traveling with a family.
Then check out the Althingi Parliament House and Tjornin Lake. Walk on the main shopping streets Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur, and be sure to go up the Hallgrimskirkja church tower for the best views of the city.
You’ll also find plenty of cafes, bars, and nice restaurants in Reykjavik’s city center. Or you can opt for this popular Icelandic food tour instead – there are various departure times throughout the day and it’s a nice way to familiarize yourself with the local dishes at the start of your trip.
Where to stay: There are many nice accommodations and hotels in Reykjavik city center. Since you’ll have a car, we recommend Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel as one of the best choices – it has a great location and free parking. Here you can find our complete guide to the best places to stay in Reykjavik.
Day 2: Golden Circle
Driving distance/ time: 225 km (140 miles), 3 hours. This is purely driving time, not counting any stops.
Today, you visit one of the most popular areas in Iceland, known as the Golden Circle. There are three main places that you have to see here: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall.
Your first stop today is Thingvellir National Park, about 45 minutes drive from Reykjavik. This is where you can see the mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. The best views can be found at the visitor center, and you can take a short walk here. Be sure not to miss the Öxarárfoss Waterfall, the Nikulasargja Gorge, and Thingvellir church.
TIP: Lake Thingvallavatn is home to the impressive Silfra Gorge where you can go snorkeling between the two continents. Snorkeling in the crystal-clear glacial waters here is one of the most unique things you can do in Iceland!
If you book the first snorkeling tour available in the morning (usually around 9-10 AM), you’ll still have plenty of time left for the other Golden Circle attractions. You can find all the practical information and book the best-rated Silfra snorkeling tours here.
Your next stop is Geysir Geothermal Area, about 50 minutes drive from Thingvellir.
Here, you’ll find Geysir, the original geyser that gave name to all the others, but it’s been dormant for years. The good news is that the Strokkur geyser just next to it is still very active. It erupts every 5-7 minutes, spouting water up to 30 meters (100 ft) into the air – always an amazing sight!
Don’t forget to explore the nearby Geysir Center where you’ll find interesting displays about geothermal activity and earthquakes that keep on shaping Iceland. You can even try their earthquake simulator…
The next must-see place along the Golden Circle is the Golden Waterfall – Gullfoss, about 10 minutes drive from Geysir.
Gullfoss is fed by Iceland’s second biggest glacier, Langjökull, and is a very powerful waterfall. It’s usually quite windy and cold here, but if the sun is shining, you are likely to see some spectacular rainbows over the falls.
There are several walking paths here allowing you to see the waterfall from various angles. In the summer, you can walk really close to the waterfall – see the picture below.
TIP: Langjokull Glacier is a very popular place for snowmobile tours in Iceland (and they are available the whole year). If this is something you are interested in, here you can find more information and book the best glacier snowmobile tour (or this tour that also includes a visit to an ice cave).
Usually, these tours run at around noon, so it’s quite easy to fit a tour like this in your itinerary. Just keep in mind that you won’t be able to do much afterwards anymore (which may not be a big deal since you cover all the musts before you come here).
If you start your day early and don’t do any special tours, you’ll likely be done with all the sightseeing at the Golden Circle in the early afternoon. In that case, head to the nearby Fridheimar Tomato Farm and Restaurant for lunch.
This is the most popular restaurant in the area. It’s located inside a greenhouse where they also grow tomatoes, and their menu includes all kinds of tomato dishes. Tomato soup is delicious, but we weren’t particularly fond of tomato ice cream. In high season, you really should reserve a table here in advance.
Another nice stop in this area is Kerid Crater, where you can walk around the dormant volcano crater or even take the stairs down to see the bottom of the crater. Count at least half an hour for a visit. This is also one of the few nature destinations in Iceland where there’s a small entrance fee.
There are several geothermal pools in this area as well, so if you still have some time and energy, you may want to go for a warm soak there. In that case, we recommend going to Secret Lagoon before you go to Kerid Crater.
Alternatively, head to your accommodation. Depending on where you’re staying, you could go for a swim in one of the local pools or relax in a hot tub at your hotel.
Where to stay: Stay in Hella or in Hvolsvöllur – this area fits this itinerary best and there’s a nice public pool in Hella. The best luxury hotel in this area is Hotel Ranga. On a mid-range budget, check out Stracta Hotel Hella – both these hotels have hot tubs. Hotel Kanslarinn Hella is a good no-thrills option on a somewhat lower budget. If you are looking for hostel-style accommodation, then Midgard Base Camp is the place to be.
Day 3: South Coast
Driving distance/ time: 290 km (180 miles), 3.5 hours.
Today, you drive Iceland’s Ring Road in the easterly direction and visit the beautiful South Coast of Iceland. After the Blue Lagoon and the Golden Circle, this is another one of the most visited places in the country.
There are many great things to do on the South Coast of Iceland, and you could spend several days just exploring this area. However, if you are driving the entire Ring Road in 10 days, you’ll have just one day for this area and will have to be more selective.
The main places that you have to see along the South Coast are Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls and the black sand beach in Vik. Another popular stop is Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon.
TIP: If you want to visit a natural ice cave or go hiking on a glacier in Iceland, the South Coast is the best place for that.
With just one day on the South Coast, we recommend that you do the following.
Start your day early and drive to Seljalandsfoss waterfall (about half an hour drive from Hella). This is one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland, famous for the fact that you can walk behind it. Prepare to get wet! Just a short walk to the left of the falls, there’s another waterfall hidden inside a gorge – Gljúfrabúi waterfall. Be sure to check it out too!
Afterwards, continue further east to Skogafoss, another must-see waterfall along the South Coast. Here, you can take a staircase to the top of the falls, and also visit the nearby Skógar Museum. This is a great place if you want to see some turf houses in Iceland.
Another half an hour’s drive further, you’ll find the small town of Vik. It’s best known for the black sand beach Reynisfjara and it’s really a must-see.
Another nice place to check out in Vik is the Dyrhólaey Lighthouse and rock formations. In summer, this might be a good place to see puffins, but not ideal during the day because they are usually ‘gone fishing’ then. Also, there’s a better place for that on the next day of this itinerary – more info further below.
TIP: If you want to visit a natural ice cave in Iceland, this is one of the few places where you can do that at any time of the year (it used to be the only place, but there is now one more – see day 4 of this itinerary as well). The Katla ice cave tour starts in Vik and takes about 3 hours. It has several departure times during the day, including one at around noon, which would fit this itinerary best.
Please note that most glacier/ice cave tours in Iceland don’t allow kids under 8. I found this tour to the same ice cave that allows children from 6 years old (double-check in case it changes!). A nice alternative family-friendly activity in Vik is the Icelandic Lava Show.
After that, continue to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, stopping at the Eldhraun lava field along the way. The Hofskirkja turf church is another nice short stop further down the Ring Road.
If you don’t do the ice cave tour, or if you are visiting in summer when the days are very long, be sure to also stop at Skaftafell Nature Reserve. There are several really nice hikes here, and they have a visitor center where you can get all the info. If you do just one short hike, the best option is Svartifoss (aka the Black Waterfall), about 3 km (2 miles) in total, and will likely take you at least 1.5 hours.
The Skaftafell area is also one of the best places to go glacier hiking and this is one of the best tours, with several departure times during the day. But since you only have time for one tour, my personal recommendation would be the earlier-mentioned ice cave tour from Vik.
Where to stay: The nicest and best-located hotels in this area are Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon (higher budget) and Hali Country Hotel (mid-range). For a truly unique (but very pricey) experience, check out this floating tent on Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon.
TIP: If you still have some energy, you may want to check out Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach in the evening. It’s nice to be here without the crowds of day-trippers, and this place is truly beautiful at sunset.
Day 4: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Stokksnes & East Fjords (+Puffins)
Driving distance/ time: 270 km (170 miles), 3.5 hours. This doesn’t include sightseeing or detours.
Today, you’ll be visiting one of the most popular landmarks of Iceland – the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. This glacial lake is filled with big chunks of ice that come from a nearby glacier, and the scenery changes all the time. So even if you visited last night, it will likely be totally different in the morning.
You can simply walk along the lagoon and one of the beaches across the road, popularly known as the Diamond Beach. Depending on the season and the weather, you’ll often find icebergs washed ashore here. It’s especially impressive in winter, but always worth checking out since you really can’t predict what you’ll find here.
If you want to get very close to the icebergs (and seals), you can also opt for a boat tour on the lagoon. This is one of the most popular tours on the South Coast and you have an option between amphibian boats or zodiac boats.
The amphibian boat tours are cheaper and take just half an hour, whereas zodiac boat tours take about 1 hour and are usually able to get a bit closer to the ice. Both are really nice experiences, and you’ll get to see amazing scenery either way. If you are planning on taking a boat here, opt for the earliest tour available (it’s best for this itinerary)!
Update: Recently, a new ice cave has been discovered in this area. At the moment of the last update, it is possible to visit it in the summer months as well (this is very exceptional!). So if you want to walk inside a natural ice cave, don’t miss this unique opportunity! For more information and bookings, see here.
Next, stop at Stokksnes. This is a beautiful coastal area with black sand and an impressive Vestrahorn mountain backdrop that makes for some spectacular pictures. Since it’s located on private land, there’s a small fee to enter.
Afterwards, continue your journey to the Eastfjords. This is one of the least developed regions along Iceland’s Ring Road, and a good place to see wildlife, especially reindeer.
There are several places where you can stop when touring the Eastfjords. Petra’s Stone Collection is one of the quirkiest places and also Lagarfljót Lake is worth a quick photo stop, and potentially also Hallormsstaðaskógur, the biggest forest in Iceland, or the picturesque village Eskifjörður, but it’s a bit out of your way.
Another popular place is Seydisfjordur. This is a small town best known for its rainbow path leading towards the local church, but one of the nicest things to do is simply the drive to get there.
Where to stay: Stay in Egilsstaðir, the biggest town in this area. Lake Hotel is the nicest hotel in town, but Hotel Herad also offers great value for a much better price and is perfect for a one-night stay. On a budget, check out Lyngas Guesthouse.
TIP: About a 1-hour drive northeast of Egillstadir, there’s a tiny village Borgarfjörður Eystri. If you drive all the way to the end of the road here, you’ll find a place called Borgarfjarðarhöfn. This is one of the best places to see puffins when driving the Ring Road of Iceland. And yes, it’s a detour from the Ring Road, but since you are staying in Egillstadir for the night, it’s perfectly doable.
The best time to see puffins is from mid-May to mid-August, and going there in the evening is always better since the birds return from the sea for the night. The days are endless at this time of the year, so there’s no need to worry about having to drive back in the dark.
TIP: Just north of Egillstadir, there is a nice geothermal pool called Vök Baths. They are usually open until late in the evening. It’s a nice place to end your day of sightseeing. It’s actually probably worth your time more than many of the stops along the Eastfjords (not to mention that it’s more relaxing).
Day 5: Myvatn Area
Driving distance/ time: 300 km (185 miles), 3.5 hours. This includes detours as described below, but not the time for sightseeing.
There are several ways how you could fill this day. Doing the trip as we recommend below means that you can spend the night in Husavik, which tends to be somewhat cheaper and less popular with groups than the hotels around Myvatn. But you could perfectly stay in Myvatn as well and go to Husavik the next morning.
Your first stop today is Dettifoss, about 2 hours drive from Egilsstadir. This is Europe’s most powerful waterfall and a must-see in North Iceland! This waterfall can be visited from two sides – via road 864 on the east, or via road 862 on the west.
Both sides are very impressive, but the western side is easier to get to and the road is paved all the way to the parking lot. From there, it’s about 15-20 minutes walk to the viewing platforms at Dettifoss, and you can also see another nice waterfall – Sellfoss. If you have a 4WD car, you can also visit the eastern side, but doing both would mean that you’ll lose about half a day for this waterfall alone.
Next, head in the direction of Lake Myvatn, where you’ll find quite a few interesting places. First, take a small road to the right off the Ring Road in the direction of the Krafla Power Plant. At the end of the road, you’ll find the Viti volcano crater (aka Krafla Volcano) with a green lake inside it.
It’s just a short walk from the car to the crater (or you can go all the way around it), and it’s well worth seeing. You can also stop for a short walk in the Leirhnjukur area.
The next stop is the Námaskarð geothermal area, aka Hverir, just next to the Ring Road. The colorful landscape with mud cauldrons, steaming vents, and fumaroles, makes this one of the most unique places to see along the Ring Road in Northern Iceland. Just be prepared for the strong smell of sulfur and stay on the marked paths!
After this, you can take a small detour to Grjótagjá, an underground lava cave with water inside. It only takes a few minutes to see the cave, so it might be worth a small detour (swimming is not allowed here).
Then, head to Myvatn Lake and drive all around it.
One of the must-see stops here is the Dimmuborgir lava field. There are several short hiking trails here (partially paved and easily accessible). If you feel like stretching your legs, go for a walk on the Kirkjuhringur trail. It’s a loop of about 2.2 km (1.4 miles) and shouldn’t take you more than 30-45 minutes, or you can just do a small part on the paved track. There is also a nice cafe here where you could get lunch.
Along the southern side of the lake, be sure to also stop at Skútustaðir. This is the best area to see the pseudocraters of Lake Myvatn.
But be prepared for bugs! Myvatn literally means ‘the mosquito lake’ and it’s usually full of little flies here in summer. They don’t bite but crawl inside your ears, your nose, and your mouth if you are not careful… We recommend packing a small head net – it doesn’t cost much and fits in your pocket and you’ll be glad to have it here.
By now, you’ll have covered most of the Myvatn attractions (or at least the main ones that you can see in a day), and you could drive on to Husavik where we recommend spending the night. The drive from Myvatn to Husavik is about 45 minutes.
TIP: There is a nice geothermal pool in Husavik called GeoSea, and it’s a great place to end your day. Alternatively, head to the famous Myvatn Nature Baths before you drive to Husavik.
It’s hard to compare these pools since they are so different. GeoSea in Husavik is more expensive and has a smaller limit on the number of people allowed at the same time. It’s more exclusive, plus it offers amazing ocean views. Whereas Myvatn Nature Baths are much better known and are quite busy (more comparable to the Blue Lagoon).
Where to stay: We recommend staying in Husavik. As already said before, Myvatn accommodation tends to be (even more) expensive, and staying in Husavik will make it easier to plan your next day too. The nicest hotel here is Fosshotel Husavik. A better value hotel is Post-Plaza Guesthouse, one of the top picks in Husavik. Accommodations in this part of Iceland are quite expensive and often fully booked long in advance. So you really should reserve as soon as you know your travel dates.
Day 6: Whales, Godafoss & Akureyri
Driving distance/ time: 115 km (70 miles), 1.5 hours. This includes all detours described below.
Husavik is the whale-watching capital of Iceland. So if you want to see whales in Iceland (and summer is a great season for that), this is the best place to do that. There are many whale watching tours and their itineraries and prices are quite similar (and they’ll likely all go to the same place when the whales are located).
Be sure to book in advance and take the earliest tour you can (usually around 9.30-10 AM). These tours take about 3 hours, so it will be past noon by the time you are back and you could have lunch in Husavik. This is fine because the drive to Akureyri isn’t that long and you can choose to visit a few places along the way if you want to and make this day as full or as relaxing as you feel like.
Also, there’s a nice museum – The Husavik Whale Museum – that you could visit before or after your boat tour.
Good to know: If you absolutely want to, you could also take a detour from Husavik to the nearby Asbyrgi Canyon. But it’s about 60km (40 mi) out of the way, so you’d need at least 2 hours extra for this. While a nice place to see, if you have to choose between Asbyrgi or whale watching in Husavik, I’d go for the latter. You can also do both, of course – that would mean less time in Akureyri and surroundings, so see what interests you more. You can read about Asbyrgi Canyon in our guide to the Myvatn area.
Another must-see place today is Godafoss Waterfall. It’s located right next to Ring Road, about 35 minutes drive from Husavik. There are two parking areas on different sides of the river, and they are also connected by a small bridge. So you can leave your car on one side and go explore the waterfall on foot. You can spend just 15-20 minutes here or more than an hour – the choice is yours.
It’s just a short 30 min drive from Godafoss to Akureyri following the Ring Road westwards, via the toll tunnel. This is the only toll road on this trip and you can pay the toll 24 hours before or after you drive via the tunnel via this website. But there’s a much nicer alternative – taking the old mountain road #84, which is not just free of charge, but also more scenic. It’s a good road and – in summer – adds just 10-15 minutes to your journey, and you don’t have to worry about the toll.
Also, if you take the scenic route, you’ll drive past a small village Svalbarðseyri. There’s a quirky art gallery just next to the road that you may want to check out, and there’s also a very picturesque orange lighthouse in the village itself.
For the lighthouse, you’ll have to take a small detour off the main road, but it’s literally just a minute or two down the road. It’s such a nice place for a photo stop and no tourists in sight.
On your way to Akureyri, you could also take a small detour via roads 829 and 821 to one of the quirkiest attractions nearby – Jólahúsið (Christmas House). It’s Christmas the whole year round in this shop!
We also enjoyed a short stop at the nearby Kaffi Ku, which is a working farm with a restaurant above the cowshed. They are open for lunch (noon to 5 PM) and serve some delicious Icelandic waffles. Coming from Godafoss, you’ll pass the cow café first, before you get to Christmas House.
In Akureyri, you can also stop at the Botanical Gardens, on the outskirts of town. The entrance is free of charge and it’s a really nice place for a short walk. Afterwards, head to your hotel, leave the car, and go explore Iceland’s second-largest ‘city’. Akureyri is so small that you can see the city center in an hour or so. You’ll find lots of nice cafes and restaurants here for dinner and there’s also a nice public pool in town that’s usually open late in the evening.
TIP: If you didn’t do the whale-watching trip in Husavik, you could also opt for a whale tour from Akureyri. There are quite a few tour options, including a midnight-sun/whale-watching combination trip on summer evenings. Also, there is a new geothermal pool opening in Akureyri – Forest Lagoon. It could be another nice addition to this itinerary if you have an hour or two to spare.
Where to stay: There are lots of accommodation options in Akureyri, and since there’s not that much choice further westwards, it’s probably better to just take it easy and stay here for the night. Hotel Kea by Keahotels is one of the nicest hotels in town. On a mid-range budget, check the Centrum Hotel. On a lower budget, Hrafninn Guesthouse.
However, keep in mind that parking can be a bit problematic if you stay in the center on weekdays. It’s usually not a big issue to find a spot not too far from the hotel, but sometimes you also have to pay, so keep an eye on that. We recommend Akureyri – Berjaya Iceland Hotels; it’s just a bit outside of the busiest area (still very close to everything) and parking is much easier here.
Day 7: Tröllaskagi Peninsula
Driving distance/ time: 265 km (165 miles), 3.5 hours. This includes driving past all the stops mentioned below, but not the sightseeing time.
Today, we recommend that you visit one of the nicest areas of Northern Iceland, the Trollaskagi Peninsula. This is a place that you’ll hardly ever see in any Iceland Ring Road itineraries, but we find that it’s worth your time more than some places that others visit in western Iceland just because they are closer to the main road…
The first stop is Siglufjörður, about 1-1.5 hours drive from Akureyri. This is a nice little town with an extremely picturesque harbor area.
There are some nice things to do in Siglufjordur, but if you visit just one place, don’t miss the Herring Era Museum. Please note that the museum is open daily from 10 AM in June, July, and August, but only opens in the afternoon during the shoulder season (more info on their website).
Continue your trip further along the coast and soon you’ll see Trollaskagi Lighthouse at the northernmost tip of the peninsula. The road to get to it is quite steep and gravel, but you can just see it from the road. The scenery here is beautiful!
From then on, the views just keep getting better and better, and if you are driving here on a sunny day, you’ll have to agree with me that the scenery along Road #76 is one of the most scenic places in Iceland!
The next stop is a small village called Hofsós. The main reason to come here is the local Hofsos swimming pool which has some of the best pool views in Iceland!
Following this itinerary, you’ll likely be here in the middle of the day, but I really recommend stopping here. It’s such a nice place! If the weather would be really bad, then skip it, but if it’s not raining, definitely go for a swim or a soak in the hot tub. This pool is normally open daily, from 9 AM to 9 PM. We spent about an hour here.
Just outside the village, you can find one of the oldest turf churches in Iceland, Grafarkirkja. It’s extremely picturesque and the surroundings make it look even more special. Don’t miss it! Here you can read our detailed guide for all the places mentioned above: Road 76, Hofos, Grafarkirkja, and more.
There is one more nice place to check out before you get back to the Ring Road, Glaumbær Farm & Museum. This is a reconstructed farm where you can see how people used to live in Iceland about 150-250 years ago. It’s really worth a visit, which shouldn’t take more than 30-45 minutes. In the summer season, it’s open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. More info on their website.
Once you reach the Ring Road, we recommend taking a small detour south on Road #752 to a beautiful waterfall called Reykjafoss.
It’s a bit of a hidden gem and there is a natural hot tub in that same area. It was well indicated when we visited and there were quite some people here, so it seems that it’s not that unknown anymore. Also, you have to walk for about 10-15 minutes to reach the falls, and a few minutes extra to find the hot tub next to the river. I’d say it’s not a must, but if you have some time left, it can be a nice stop.
Good to know: The natural hot tub can be found on the other side of the wooden bridge and over the hill to the right. If you plan to go swimming here, you should know that there are no facilities whatsoever. And the hot tub was also crowded when we were there. Let’s just say that we prefer the Hofsos swimming pool by far, and there’s also a nice swimming pool in Blönduós where we recommend spending the night. So plenty of places to go for a swim in the warm geothermal waters today!
The last photo stop today is Víðimýrarkirkja. It’s another really nice turf church, but because it’s located just next to the Ring Road, it can get quite busy here. It doesn’t take more than 5-10 minutes to visit, so be sure to check it out!
End your day in Blönduós, one of the bigger towns in this area. You’ll find all kinds of facilities here and also some accommodations. As already mentioned, there is a nice public swimming pool in this town as well, and it’s usually open quite late.
Where to stay: We recommend Brimslóð Atelier Guesthouse, or on a somewhat lower budget – Hotel Blanda. Both are really nice places and the hotel also has a good restaurant. There are several other options on a lower budget here as well, but accommodation choice is quite limited.
Day 8: North Coast to Snaefellsnes
Driving distance/ time: 260 km (160 miles), 4 hours. This includes all the detours mentioned below.
Today, you could just take the Ring Road and head straight to western Iceland, but you can also opt for a few short detours along the way. There are several places that we recommend checking out and I think they’re worth it more than some of the places in the west (in particular, Hraunfossar and Barnafossar waterfalls that are quite often included in the Ring Road itinerary).
Just as you leave Blonduos, you could take a detour on Road #721 to see Þingeyraklausturskirkja church, one of the oldest stone buildings in Iceland.
One of the best stops we recommend today is Hvitserkur, a rhino-shaped rock just next to the beautiful black sand beach on Vatnsnes Peninsula. On the way there, you could also stop at Borgarvirki, a medieval fortification that dates from the 9th-11th centuries. There are also several places where you can see seals in this area.
In addition, close to Ring Road 1 in this area, there’s also a nice canyon with a waterfall, Kolugljúfur Canyon. You can find more information about all these places in our guide to visiting Hvitserkur via the link below.
LEARN MORE: How to Visit Hvitserkur
Continuing your way to Snaefellsnes Peninsula, you can also stop at Eiriksstadir – Viking Longhouse. It’s a replica of a Viking-era farm with turf buildings, guides dressed in period clothing, etc.
It’s a great place to learn more about Iceland’s history, so it’s better to ask for a guided tour, or you won’t appreciate it the same way. This open-air museum is open daily from +- April to October. More info on their website.
Next is the famous Snaefellsnes Peninsula, home to one of Iceland’s most photographed mountains and waterfalls – Kirkjufellsfoss. You’ll have an entire day here the next day as well, but there’s so much to see and do in Snaefellsnes that it’s better to visit a few places today already.
Be sure to visit Stykkishólmur, a picturesque fishing village and the main town in this area. You can leave your car by the harbor and take a short walk to Súgandisey Island Lighthouse. Stykkisholmur is also one of the best places to stay in Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and there are some nice hotels and restaurants here. But ideally, for this itinerary, you drive just a bit further west today.
On the way, check out the Berserkjahraun lava field and potentially also the Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum (it’s usually open until 5 PM in summer).
TIP: We recommend staying in Grundarfjörður town, which is just near Kirkjufell mountain and waterfall. This would give you a unique opportunity to visit this popular place without the crowds and maybe even see a really nice sunset here.
Where to stay: Accommodation options in Grundarfjörður are quite limited, but if you book in advance, it’s usually possible to find something suitable. The nicest place to stay is Dis Cottages, and the most popular highly-rated option is Kirkjufell Guesthouse and Apartments.
We stayed at Grundarfjordur Bed and Breakfast, which was the only accommodation available here that could accommodate a big family like ours. It’s a good no thrills choice in Grundafjordur, and they also have a nice local restaurant where you can have dinner (also if you are not staying here).
Day 9: Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Driving distance/ time: 265 km (165 miles), 3.5 hours. This is the distance counting from Grundarfjörður, visiting all the Snaefelsness Peninsula attractions as described below and ending in Reykjavik. Driving time doesn’t include sightseeing.
Today, spend as much time as you can exploring Snaefellsnes Peninsula, before driving to Reykjavik. We have a very complete guide to the area where you can find all the practical information for your visit to Snaefellsnes Peninsula, so please see that article for more details. It even has a suggested 1-day itinerary.
Below is just an overview of the best places not to miss, listed in the right order, how you’ll be driving. Start with Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss. Even if you already saw this place last night, you may want to stop here for a quick picture in a different light once again. Then continue to Skarðsvík Beach where you can also visit the Öndverðarnes and Svörtuloft Lighthouses.
Other nice places along the way are Svödufoss (waterfall) and Ingjaldshólskirkja (church), but with so many other amazing places, don’t feel bad if you skip these two.
Don’t miss the Saxholar Volcano Crater – you can take stairs and see it from the top. And also Djúpalónssandur Beach is a beautiful place where you can take a walk between some cool rock formations and on a nice black sand beach.
If you do just one tour on the peninsula, make it the 8000-year-old Vatnshellir lava cave. It’s best to book your time slot in advance (try by phone +354 787 0001 since their website isn’t really working as it should) or you risk that it’s sold out as it was when we visited.
This tour takes about 1 hour and is one of the most unique places you can see here! I’d book it for either 1 PM or 2 PM. There are many other places nearby, so you can quite easily adjust your visit to the other areas based on the tour time you booked here.
Driving further around the peninsula, check out Malariff Lighthouse and Londrangar View Point.
Next, head to Arnarstapi where you’ll find the most spectacular coastline and interesting rock formations. There’s a nice hike that you can do here, between Hellnar and Arnarstapi, but with just a day in Snaefellsnes, it’s going to be difficult to squeeze it all in. That’s why we recommend going straight to Arnarstapi and making a short walk along the coast there. This is a must-see, so don’t miss it!
Other nice stops include Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge, Búðakirkja, and Bjarnarfoss. You could also stop at Ytri Tunga beach, where you can sometimes see seals. As you drive in the direction of Reykjavik, you can also stop for a photo at Gerðuberg Cliffs. You can find more information about all these places in our guide to the best things to do in Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Where to stay: With 10 days in Iceland, we recommend that you drive to Reykjavik in the evening on day 9, after visiting Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Here you can find our detailed guide on where to stay in Reykjavik.
In case your flight departs very early the next day, it’s best to sleep closer to the airport. B&B Hotel Keflavik Airport is a good choice with easy parking, a restaurant next door, and a free airport shuttle if you need it.
Day 10: Reykjavik, Reykjanes Peninsula & Departure
Driving distance/ time from Reykjavik to the airport: 50 km (30 miles), 45 min.
Depending on your flight time, you may want to explore more of Reykjavik. See our suggestions on day 1 of this itinerary or check out this guide to the best things to do in Reykjavik.
Alternatively, go bathing in the Blue Lagoon if you didn’t do it at the beginning of your trip, or visit some of the attractions of Reykjanes Peninsula on your way to the airport.
Another nice geothermal pool to check out is the Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik. This warm pool boasts amazing ocean views and is a great alternative to the Blue Lagoon (and a wonderful way to end your trip).
READ ALSO: One Day in Reykjavik: Detailed Itinerary
If you have more time…
One area where you could easily add a day or two extra is Iceland’s South Coast, from where you can also take a day tour to Landmannalaugar in the Icelandic Highlands. I really recommend adding a day between day 3 and day 4 in this itinerary and doing the South Coast over two days if you can squeeze it in. You’ll have more time to explore all the places mentioned in this guide, instead of just passing by. In that case, stay in Vik on day 3.
You could also spend more time in the north or northwest, visit the Westfjords, etc.
Many standard Ring Road itineraries also include a day in West Iceland, an area a bit in between Snaefellsnes Peninsula and Reykjavik. With just 10 days in Iceland and doing the entire Ring Road, we recommend Trollaskagi Peninsula (see day 7) instead of this area, but if you have a day extra, you could definitely add it here.
In that case, stay in Borgarnes town or e.g. Hotel Hamar on day 9 of this trip. Then on day 10, visit Deildartunguhver, the largest hot spring in Europe (not for swimming), Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls, and – if you are into history and Icelandic sagas, you may want to check out the Snorrastofa museum, the medieval research institute in Reykholt.
In this area, you can also take a tour of a man-made ice cave at Langjökull glacier, and the largest lava cave in Iceland, Víðgelmir. You can visit the Vidgelmir lava cave or the Langjokull glacier separately.
TIP: Don’t miss the recently opened Krauma Geothermal Baths in Reykholt.
As you can see, there are so many nice places that you could add to your Ring Road itinerary if you have more time! But if you are visiting Iceland for the first time, have about 10 days, and want to see the musts along Iceland’s Ring Road, then this itinerary is truly one of the best ways to do that.
Iceland Ring Road Itinerary on the Map
TIP:To make your trip planning easier, I also created this map, indicating all the places mentioned in our detailed 10-day Iceland Ring Road self-drive trip itinerary.
As you can see, we gave each day a different color so that you have a better idea of where everything is located and how it all fits in this itinerary.
Further below – under the FAQ section – you can also see a map indicating the total distance and driving time for Iceland’s Ring Road.
How to use this map: Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.
So, this is my suggested 10-day Iceland Ring Road itinerary. As you can see, it’s quite packed and includes not just the very best places, but also some hidden gems that will make your trip even more special.
Please note that driving the entire Ring Road in 10 days will be rushed, even in summer when the days are long and the roads are good. So if you can, plan a few days extra. But if you want to make the most of your time, this is the best way to see all the best places in Iceland that you can indeed see in about 10 days.
Below, you can find some of the frequently asked questions that we get from our readers. Check it out and – if you don’t find an answer here or in our article – feel free to leave a reply below and I’ll try to help. Alternatively, please join our Facebook group for Iceland & Scandinavia Travel – it’s a great place to meet other travelers, ask questions, and share travel experiences.
Iceland Ring Road Info & FAQ’s
How long does it take to drive the Ring Road in Iceland?
Iceland’s Ring Road no. 1 encircles the entire island and is about 1,320 km (820 miles) long. Driving the entire Ring Road without any stops or delays would take about 16 hours (see the map below).
However, this isn’t a very realistic estimate because driving in Iceland is much slower than what Google Maps indicates, and there’s so much to see and do along the Ring Rod that you wouldn’t want to just drive by anyway.
How many days do you need for the Ring Road of Iceland?
While you can drive the entire Ring Road of Iceland in just a day or two, you need at least 7 days if you want to see just the main landmarks. Ideally, plan 10-12 days for Iceland’s Ring Road.
This will allow you to see all the best places along Route 1, get a bit off the beaten path, take a tour or two, and explore some areas a bit deeper.
Can you do Iceland’s Ring Road in 7 days?
Yes, it is possible to see the main highlights along Iceland’s Ring Road in 7 days. It will be rushed and you won’t have time to explore deeper, but you will be able to see some of the best places and get a taste of what Iceland is about. If you only have 7 days and absolutely want to do the entire circle, we recommend this itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival, Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik
Day 2: South Coast to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
Day 3: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and the Eastfjords
Day 4: Lake Myvatn area
Day 5: The North Coast of Iceland
Day 6: Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Day 7: Reykjavik and departure
Can you drive Iceland’s Ring Road in winter?
While it is usually possible to drive around the entire Ring Road in Iceland in winter, we do not recommend a self-drive trip around the entire island in the darkest and coldest months. There are just a few hours of daylight at that time of the year, the weather is very unpredictable, and snowstorms are common. Furthermore, the roads in the Eastfjords and in North Iceland often get closed in winter, disrupting your travel plans.
If you want to do the Ring Road in winter, we recommend going with a local driver/ organized tour. If you are doing a self-drive trip, it’s best to stick to the South Coast. Also, be sure that you know what to expect when driving in Iceland in winter and keep your travel plans very flexible.
So, this is our recommended itinerary for Iceland’s Ring Road. All the suggestions in this guide are based on our multiple trips to Iceland.
While this trip covers all the main sights along the Ring Road, you won’t find the exact same self-drive itinerary anywhere else. I hope that these additional details and our personal recommendations will help you plan a more memorable trip to Iceland than just using a standard copy-paste Ring Road itinerary used by most agencies and tour operators.
Have a wonderful time in Iceland!
TIP:If you are looking for more information for your trip to Iceland, practical travel tips, clothing & packing advice, etc. please check our complete travel guide to Iceland. It contains an overview of all our articles about Iceland.
READ ALSO: How Expensive is Iceland (+ How To Save Money)
More tips for your trip to Iceland:
- When to travel: Best time to visit Iceland: summer vs winter
- What to see: Best places to see in Iceland
- Airport transfers: How to get to Reykjavik city from Keflavik airport
- Packing: What to wear in Iceland in summer
- Tours: Best tours in Iceland
- Itinerary Suggestions: Iceland Itinerary Suggestions for 1 to 14 Days
- South Coast: 4 days in Iceland – best short itinerary for your first trip
- South & West itinerary: 7 days in Iceland
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Amazing Read.
Coming to Iceland for my second time in Aug to run the Reykjavik Marathon again. Im going to drive the ring and this article answered so many questions. Im so excited !!!
Glad to help, Billy. Good luck at the marathon, and enjoy Iceland!
I’ve been researching options for a 10 day trip to Iceland in late Aug/early Sept. 2025. I’d prefer to drive and self guide and your 10 day itinerary looks amazing! I’d love to see the Puffins (my son’s favorite bird) and Icelandic Horses. I know you noted a place to potentially see the Puffins but is there a location or a farm perhaps open to letting visitors see the Icelandic horses up close? Thanks for putting this together!
Hi Leslie, late August is a great time to visit Iceland, but it might be too late for puffins. September is likely much too late. Maybe you can still see them on Heimaey Island, but it’s not guaranteed even in late August.
As for horses, it’s a lot easier and you will often see them just next to the road and there are quite a few places where you can go horse riding. One of the best places to add to the itinerary is Hótel Eldhestar along the South Coast. It’s a hotel with a big horse farm that organizes riding tours. You could stay here on the day 2 of this itinerary.
Alternatively, you can also find some of the most popular horse riding tours here. Most of these are around Reykjavik, but there are also some along the South Coast and in the north.
Have a great trip!
Greetings Jurga from Melbourne, Australia!
THANK YOU so much! I have travelled to many places across the world but this is the very best website for travelling and discovering a whole country. It is magnificent – from the choices you suggest to the excellence of the interactive map: what a splendid resource. I salute you! I have very recently lost my wife and, as we were planning a trip there at some stage in our early retirement, I am now planning 2 weeks on my own in Iceland in late May/June 2026 as a promise kept to her. I am also a very keen birder, so I am researching places to see the variety of arctic wildlife. This, however, is the most useful of tools for planning – I love it! Always something new to uncover in your articles, links, map etc.
I don’t really have a question, I just wanted to tell you what a wonderful resource you have provided – I shall be recommending it to many others. Go well. Cheers, David
Thank you so much for your kind feedback, David. You have no idea how much I appreciate it, even more so now when AI and big search engines are decimating personal blogs sharing authentic travel experiences!
I’m so sorry to hear about your wife, but it’s great that you are planning that dream trip nonetheless. Iceland is such a unique destination and well worth a trip from the other side of the globe!
Thanks again for reading and commenting, and I hope you have an amazing time in Iceland!
Hi Jurga,
Thank you for providing such a thorough and detailed guide. I’m planning a wedding anniversary trip to Iceland with my wife, from late September to early October and was considering following your itinerary in reverse. We’d like to explore the south coast last to fit in an ice cave visit in early October. Do you have any recommendations for adjusting your itinerary to travel clockwise around the Ring Road? Thanks in advance!
Hi Miguel, you can easily adjust this itinerary and do it in the other direction. All the recommendations are in the article, just reverse it (and keep in mind that the days are already much shorter at that time of the year, so don’t plan too many different activities each day).
Have a great trip!
Hi Jurga! I’m looking to take a trip to Iceland in the upcoming months. I don’t want to do as much planning so I was going to use your itinerary. Can you tell me if these days are jam-packed, easy going, or somewhere in the middle? I want to add a few tours but I’m not sure your days were planned to know if there’s time. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Kimberly, most days aren’t jam-packed, however, you have to take into account that there is a lot more daylight in the beginning of the summer compared to the fall months. So if the days are shorter, they will be more packed.
As for tours, we already include some of the best suggestions throughout our itinerary, so you know what can be done and where. However, always check the starting times, duration, and exact location of the tours when planning your itinerary. Use Google Maps to estimate approximate driving times between different places. And be sure to book all tours in advance.
Good luck with the planning!
Hi,
My family and I will have about 9 days. Do you recommend just following the 7 day itinerary and spending more time in a certain area or maybe add Heimaey island/Landmannalaugar. And when driving from south coast to Myvatn is there a short cut road or do I drive the whole ring road on the east side and how long of a drive is that?
Thank you!
Hi Mimi, you can use Google Maps to estimate driving distances and times between different places. And no, there are no shortcuts or you would have to cross the Icelandic Highlands which is not something to do in a regular car or in a hurry.
With 9 days if you absolutely want to do the entire Ring Road, you could drive from Jokulsarlon to Myvatn in one go (that’s about 430 km, 6 hours drive without any stops) and skip the Eastfjords. Or you could skip Tröllaskagi Peninsula in the north (day 7 of our itinerary). All this would be more rushed than just staying in the south/west as described in our 7-day itinerary, especially if you could add some extra time there. So it’s really your preference – trying to see ‘it all’ or just focusing on fewer places and exploring deeper. A lot also depends on when you are traveling. In the summer when the days are endless and the road conditions are good, you can do a lot more in a day than in the other seasons.
Hi,
Thank You so much for putting down these details. We just finished the 10 day Ring road itinerary (including most of the recommendations on the hotels) and it was a stunning. After following your blog for few years now, and planning the trips based on the recommendations for Swiss, Greece & Austria, I knew I had to start here. And wow, I did not have to look much elsewhere. Thank you so much for putting down so many details. We are a family of four and the tips felt so close to our needs.
Thank you so much for your kind feedback, Vishal. I am really happy that you had such a wonderful time in Iceland!
It’s also so nice to hear from our loyal readers – it always makes my day! I hope that you will use our website to plan future trips and please spread the word and tell your friends to check out Full Suitcase as well ;).
Happy travels!
Hi Jurga ,
your guidance on ring road itinerary is very informative ,will plan a trip on coming october , as the same time could be able to watch Northern light , my question is end of october- 8th november
self driving on ring road , will it be advisable or dangerous ? appreciate your reply , thanks
Hi Henie, it’s really hard to predict what the weather conditions will be at that time of the year. Normally, it should still be ok but it’s snowstorms can happen in late October – early November as well. So, unfortunately, there is really no way to say this with certainty, not even a week in advance.
At that time of the year and depending on how much time you have and on your winter driving experience, you may want to stick to the south coast (see this winter itinerary). Alternatively, book a guided tour and let an experienced local guide do the driving (e.g. 8-day winter tour or a 6-day Ring Road tour).
Have a great trip!
Jurga,
I found that your article is very helpful, It quite hard for me to plan my trip on Myvatn area, I can spend at least 4 nights here and I really like to stay at Husavik and take a slow time at these lovely village and also I like to take a day tour to Askja Caldera, it so much things to do, ha ha.
Could you help me plan on this area? Please🙏
Thank you so much,
NANTY
Hi Nanty, please take a look at our guide to the best things to do in Myvatn for suggestions on what to see and do there.
As for help with the planning, unfortunately, we really have no time to help our readers with individual itinerary advice. As much as I would like to help everyone, it’s just not feasible. There are also too many options and everyone has different interests, budgets, etc. But 4 nights in that area should be enough for all the highlights, just be sure to book all tours/excursions in advance.
Jurga,
Great article. The information and effort is very much appreciated!
I’m planning a trip to Iceland, (first time) but I’m only in the researching stage. My main interest is landscape/nature photography. I have little interest in some of the more commercial tourist locations. The wilder, the quieter and the less traveled the better. I’ve lived in Alaska and the western US, so I’m used to the back country. It also means I’ve seen the northern lights countless times although it never gets old! Still… while I’d love to finally photograph them, they’re not my number one priority. Finally my question(s). 🙂 What would you consider the best time of the year and the ideal length of time, (within reason of course) for a trip? That should at least be enough to get me started but if you know of any general areas to avoid or that are “must sees” please let me know.
Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and experience,
Rick
Hi Rick, that’s really hard to answer since everyone travels with different expectations.
For the best season. If you don’t absolutely need to see auroras, ice caves, and wintery landscapes, then the summer months are by far the best time to visit, with endless daylight and easy travel conditions. For more in-depth info and what to expect in summer vs winter, please see this guide: Best time to visit Iceland.
As for non-touristy locations, this depends. Even the busiest places can be very quiet if you are there at a less popular time. If you absolutely want to avoid the most popular spots, then skip the Golden Circle and the waterfalls of the South Coast. But remember that they are popular for a good reason. So my advice would be to visit those early in the morning or late in the evening. If traveling in the summer, the days are so long that you can easily do this. If you want to get completely off the beaten path, go deep into the highlands, but remember that traveling there comes with many challenges, such as dangerous river crossings which also require a certain type of car and experience. Easier to visit are the Eastern fjords which are also generally very quiet. The Westfjords also have some amazing places where you hardly meet anyone even in the summer.
Here are a few articles you may want to check out:
– Icelandic highlands with a private driver
– 10-days North and West Iceland itinerary
As for the ideal duration, it really depends on what you decide to do and in which season you travel. You can visit for a week or for a month – there’s plenty to see and do.
Whatever you decide, remember that Iceland has limited options when it comes to accommodations outside the main tourist hot spots, so booking long ahead is a must, definitely in the summer. If you plan to rent a car, also do it as soon as you know your travel dates.
Good luck!
On day 9 of your Ring Rd itinerary, you mention staying at B & B Hotel Keflavik Airport if flight leaves early next day. I clicked on your link and it took me to Booking.com. Does hotel have its own website so I can book with them directly? Or is it only available via third party? Thanks for all the info you have provided! It helps us to make better decisions.
Hi Val, most hotels have their own websites if you prefer to book directly and I’m sure you can find them online. We personally book all our accommodations via Booking.com and that’s also what we recommend to our readers. I could write the whole article about what and why, but it’s really up to you. Hope this helps.
Have a great trip!
Hello Jurga,
For someone visiting Iceland for the first and last time, do you recommend the 10 days in Iceland Itinerary for the West, North & the Highlands OR the Complete Iceland Ring Road itinerary (Also, 10 days long)?
Thanking you in advance.
Best,
Parag
Hi Parag, it really depends on your interests and the time of the year when you travel. The Ring Road itinerary covers all the ‘must sees’ and is therefore a better option for first timers who want to see all the top spots. The other itinerary – as explained in that article – takes you a bit off the beaten path and is more suitable for someone who has been to Iceland before and is looking for something different for a repeat trip. You can also make a combination of the two…
But if you only have ten days and you want to see all the places that made Iceland famous, then this Ring Road itinerary is the way to go. Just book well in advance, especially if traveling in the summer!
Hello. We can spend 12 days in Iceland. I really want to see the aurora. Would it be ok if we are there 28Sept-9Oct 2024? (I dont think we are fit to travel during peak winter Nov-Feb/Mar).
& can we do the Ring Road trip?
Thank you in advance
Hi Shahidah, yes, the end of September – beginning of October is a good time to see the Northern Lights. It’s also not wintery yet (normally), so driving the entire Ring Road should be perfectly doable. Just keep in mind that the days are shorter and it gets darker earlier, so start your days early and you should be able to cover most sights on this itinerary.
I am looking to visit Iceland and do the self driving ring road early May 2024. I am 71 and widowed. I will be traveling alone. My main concern is lodging. I ‘m not sure of exact dates yet but do plan on at least 10 days. I prefer not to book lodging in advance. I don’t like structure. I prefer to “fly by the seat of my pants”. If this a mistake not booking lodging prior to visit? If yes, how far in advance should I book rooms?
Hi Jimmy, while early May isn’t the absolute peak season, I’d still highly recommend prebooking at least some accommodations in advance. The moment you leave Reykjavik, you are in rural Iceland and in some areas, accommodation options are very limited (and often completely booked up months in advance). So at least for the south coast (the area around Jokulsarlon), and the north (the area around Myvatn and also if you are planning on stopping anywhere else in the north beyond Akureyri), I’d definitely book in advance.
I can’t tell you how many frustrated emails and comments I received this year in the spring when people couldn’t find ANY accommodations available in these places for their summer trips. Many of them were booking 3-4 months ahead and even that was too late. Once again, May isn’t as bad as the summer months, but still.
As for when to book, I always say asap – the moment you have your flights and car rental. It never gets cheaper (quite the opposite) and often, there is nothing left to choose from at all. If you book via Booking as we recommend, you often have a pretty good cancelation policy so there’s not much risk.
Hope this helps.
is it possible to self-drive the ring road WITHOUT making lodging reservations outside of Reykjavik from 21 Sept to 3 Oct?
Hi Martha, it all depends on how much risk you want to take of not being able to find a place to sleep (and waste lots of time looking for it every night). While it’s not the peak season, it’s still very busy. Accommodations in rural Iceland are very scarce too; often there’s nothing around for long stretches. I’d never make a trip without pre-booking everything unless you are traveling with a camper.
A friend is in Iceland at the moment and she had difficulties finding any decent accommodation when she booked about 6 weeks ago. She ended up taking hostel rooms in most places because there was not much available and what was left, was crazy expensive.
So yes, I’d book asap.
Hi Jurga,
This is a really detailed and helpful article! One thing I would like to know is how you managed your meals. Did you carry pre-cooked or pre-packed food with you or did you manage to find restaurants along the Ring Road?
Hi Janani, we always have some picnic with us for lunch when road-tripping anywhere in the world. (Stop at a supermarket and get some things that you like and that can stay good in the car for a few days.) And then if we find a nice looking cafe along the way, sometimes we stop for a quick lunch or some waffles, coffee, etc. That way there is no pressure to find something at a specific time.
We usually only go out for dinner as it’s so much more relaxing in the evening. You lose a lot of precious sightseeing time if you go for a proper meal at a restaurant for lunch.
But yes, there are restaurants in the villages along the Ring Road and you can also find some warm snacks at petrol stations. But it really depends on the location, so if you plan on doing that, use Google Maps to research some cafes/restaurants along the way. Sometimes there will be nothing for miles and miles.
Hope this helps.
Hi Jurga,
Asked a question in another page regarding clubbing two countries in 9 days, decided to take this tour in Iceland for 9 days. Is the entire ring road accessible for a roadtrip until the first week of October? We plan to do it from Sep 26-Oct 5. Also which one day out of this 10 day itinerary can be shortened to make it 9 days. I can see all of the places look like must see ones and I am not able to decide further.
Thank you once again for being a guide for us to pack full suitcases 🙂
Hi Sidhartha, in principle, you can do the entire Ring Road at that time of the year, but it’s not completely abnormal to see some snowfall at the beginning of October either. So you never know how it will be, but normally, you should be ok.
As for the itinerary, you can skip some places, start your days earlier (it gets dark around 7-7.30pm at that time of the year), and with some good planning make it all work. Or you skip day 7 (Tröllaskagi Peninsula) completely and have a more relaxing trip. It’s a beautiful area, but most tourists never get there and it’s not considered a ‘must’.
Hope this helps. Good luck with the planning!
Hi, Jurga,
I have been following your website, which is beyond awesome, to plan our first visit to Iceland in September (Sept. 9 to Sept. 20). Excluding the flying in and flying out days, we have ten and half days to drive the ring road. We like to travel without being rushed, experience the local culture, and see things a little deeper. Ideally, being able to stay at one place/hotel from time to time. With our two and half extra days, could you recommend things we can do beyond your 10 days itinerary?
Our group has two seniors in the mid-70’s and two young adults (early 30’s). The ability to do some the more strenuous activities will be different.
Thank you so much!!!
Hi Tina, in September, you could possibly add a day trip to the highlands or visit Heimaey Island. You can see this option described in our 7-days Iceland itinerary (see day 4). If you do both, you’ll need two days.
Alternatively, take a look at our Iceland South Coast guide for more ideas for the nicest places to visit in that region. You can easily add a day or two there.
You can also spend a day extra in the Reykjavik area + Reykjanes Peninsula as described in day-10 of this itinerary. There are so many things to do in all these areas, so you can just add a night extra in so many places and you’ll find plenty of things to do. A lot depends on your interests.
Hope this helps. Good luck with the planning!
Hi, Jurga,
Thank you so much for your suggestions. I’ll be busy checking out all these possibilities. We hope we get lucky enough to see the Aurora. We are thinking about staying at some place for two consecutive nights and try to catch the norther light. Where are the best places to do so?
Thanks
Hi Tina, every place is good if you are lucky to be in Iceland when aurora activity is high and it’s not too cloudy. Ideally, try to stay at hotels that are somewhat more remote so you have less light pollution. Most areas along the Ring Road are already quite rural, so it’s usually not a problem.
When the conditions are right, you simply have to go outside and wait. See our guide to the Northern Lights in Iceland for more information and tips.
Hi, Jurga,
Thanks for your reply. I am now better prepared as to what to expect seeing Northern Light. I just sent a request to join your Iceland and Scandinavia Trip Facebook Group. Exciting to hear other peoples/s experience.
Thanks again!
Hi, Jurga,
Thanks for your reply. I checked out your guide to Northern Lights in Iceland. Now I have a better idea of what to expect. I’ll plan accordingly.
I am in a state of panic as I just found out how hard it is to find hotels in the Jokulsarlon and Skaftafell areas during our time there. There is no availabilities in all the hotels.
Hi Tina Jen, that is, unfortunately, the difficulty in planning a road trip in Iceland in the high season (which nowadays seems to stretch pretty much from April to October). I’m afraid I can’t help you much – I hear from so many readers that accommodation around Jokulsarlon is practically impossible to find this summer. That area has very few hotels to start with and is one of the most popular places to visit on the South Coast.
Try to book something a bit further away, maybe a place that offers free cancelation, and keep on checking in case something opens up last minute. I see so many people booking 2-4 (!) accommodations for the same place/travel dates this year. I don’t get why people feel the need to do that (it must be so difficult for the businesses too), but that might mean that sometimes things open up when people get closer to their travel dates and have to finally decide which accommodation they keep and which they cancel.
Good luck!
This itinerary is great.
We’ve got 7 nights in September and was going to do west and south Iceland but now we’re thinking of pushing through to do the ring road as we liked some of the sights in north Iceland.
Hi Stacey, depending on when you go in September, keep in mind that the days are much shorter already so it gets dark earlier . 7 days is really short for the entire Ring Road, but it is doable, especially if you just stop for photos at most places and don’t do many extra activities or tours like glacier hiking, boat rides, and similar.
Good luck (and book your accommodation asap!).
Hi Jurga,
Thank you for your reply.
We arrive early September, and yes we have booked various accommodation for our trip for west and south.
We were interested in Studlagil Canyon which is what prompted us to consider to keep going around, rather than backtracking.
We did want to stay at least two nights somewhere however, which we have booked Vik, which we can’t change so I would envisage that has made the choice for us.
We were going to spend two nights in Reykjavik at the end which we may only spend one at the start now, though we did consider to maybe drive through and visit it on a day.
Hi Jurga,
Thank you soooo much for this guide! We’re just leaving Iceland after 10 AMAZING DAYS!!! We followed your itinerary plus managed to squeeze in a couple of ‘hidden gems’ as well as a half day trip to Heimaey. All worked so well and easy having all the information and tips from you!
We are really very grateful:)
With many thanks,
Katerina and family
I’m really happy to hear this, Katerina. Thanks for taking the time to leave this feedback. Have a safe trip home!
I loved the way you have mentioned details of each place in this article. I have prepared everything as per this article. Thank You and it was really helpful for me planning my first Iceland trip.
Glad to help. Have a great time in Iceland!
How can I print your 10 day itinerary?
Ctrl+p
Hi again,
Quick question. We will be arriving from the USA to Iceland at Keflavík Airport @ 7:45AM. How long should we plan to go through security, pick up our bags and our rental car before going to the Blue Lagoon?
Wondering what time we should make our reservation without being crazy rushed.
I noticed there are also cruise ships in Reykjavík on that day, August 31.
Thanks again.
Hi Barbara, this is really difficult to say. It depends on your flight – if it arrives on time. Then, how busy it is at the airport/passport control at that moment. Where your car rental is, etc. Normally 1.5 hours should be sufficient, but then you also need to drive to the Blue Lagoon.
So 10 am is the earliest that I would risk booking, but to be on the safe side, I’d probably do it a bit later, maybe 11 am. If you arrive a bit too early, I would think that they’ll have no issue with that. And if your flight is seriously late, then you just have to hope that they don’t make a big deal about you being late either… There’s always a risk and some stress involved when booking timed-entry slots on the day of arrival.
Have a great trip!
Is there an easy way to print this 10 day Itinerary to have it on hand?
Ctrl+p
Hi Jurga,
What a fabulous guide! I’m planning a 10-day trip in May 2023 and this is going to be soooo helpful!
Question: is it possible to take a tour at Landmannalaugar in May? I saw some super jeep tours which were quite expensive and it made me question if its really worth it this time of the year.
Again, thanks for your very helpful content!
Hi Ive, what will be possible will depend on the weather this spring. Usually, it’s very difficult to travel in the highlands before mid-June. That’s also when the majority of tours start running. But Landmannalaugar isn’t that far from paved roads so it’s not unthinkable that some super jeeps already try going there toward the end of May. Pretty much all the tours I checked only start in mid-June. There is one that had a few departures planned at the beginning of June.
All in all, May is not the best month to try to go to the highlands, unless you are traveling at the very end of the month and it’s exceptionally warm. Even if you could get there (only by super-jeep indeed), I don’t think you could do much hiking at all. At best, it will be very muddy.
So I’d look for alternative things to do, such as seeing puffins – they should already be around at that time of the year.
@Jurga, thank you so much! Excited to be there and use all your tips very soon!
So happy to have found your site. Thank you so much for your in depth information. We are planning our 10 day trip to Iceland in September. One route I’m unsure of is our trip from Siglufjordur to Dynjandi. Google Maps says 6 hrs for the trip. Is this do able?
We are planning on staying overnight in Hagi.
Having the ferry running on Saturdays would have been easier.
Hi Ann, I’m not sure what the ferry has to do with your questions, but indeed, in September, there are fewer departures for the ferry between the Westfjords and Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Anyway, the drive between Siglufjordur and Dynjandi in the Westfjords is doable, but it’s indeed very long. If you are going all the way to the waterfall, you’ll likely need more than 6 hours, not counting any stops along the way. And then you still have to get back to your accommodation in Hagi – on that same day? That’s an additional 1 hour at least, plus the sightseeing time at the waterfall.
We did this drive in the other direction, but a much shorter distance (from Mora Guesthouse in the same area you are staying to Blonduos – about 4 hours. It’s ok and we could still see/do plenty of things along the way (despite losing over an hour due to a flat tire)). But adding an additional 2-hour drive to this – and in September when the days are shorter and the weather is more unpredictable – would mean that you won’t have much time to enjoy (m)any of the amazing places along the day.
I don’t know what your overall itinerary looks like, but I’m not sure if I’d stretch it this far. So much depends on the weather too, and you can’t predict it in advance. Even if the weather is perfect, I think I’d either opt for Trollaskagi Peninsula OR Dynjandi, but likely not both unless you can add a day to your plan. Plus, there is a lot to see along the way between these areas too.
Good luck with the planning!
I am so glad I found your site – I am using your trip almost exactly and am so appreciative! May I ask which you think is the best glacier tour from Vik?
Hi Kim, thanks for your kind feedback.
For the tours, if you are interested in a glacier walk + ice cave, then this tour is by far the best option from Vik. This is also the only really nice natural ice cave that you can visit in any season.
If you are interested in a glacier hike, then this tour is probably the best option in that area. It starts at Sólheimajökull glacier, about half an hour’s drive west of Vik.
Hope this helps.
Hi Jurga
We are looking at doing the Ring Road in September. We were in Iceland last year and followed your 7-day south & west itinerary, which was incredibly useful. Do you recommend doing the Ring Road in a particular direction? We will have 8-9 days but will not need to do many of the South Coast/Golden Circle sights again.
Regards
Ho John, normally, we recommend doing the Ring Road counter-clockwise, so starting with the most popular places like the Golden Circle and the waterfalls on the South Coast first. That way, it gets quieter as you go, and I find it more enjoyable that way. But you can do it both ways, especially because you already covered all the busiest spots.
Just another idea for you – if you don’t absolutely need to be in the east, you could fly to Akureyri, visit the Myvatn area, and then make your way back toward Reykjavik via the north coast (so also counter-clockwise). We have quite a few articles about some nice places in the north – northwest of Iceland on the blog. You could easily fill 8-9 days, especially if you also visit (part of) the Westfjords.
Good luck with the planning!
This is wonderful! It’s exactly the kind of information I was looking for.
Thank you
Glad to help, Theresa.
Good luck with the planning and have a great trip!
Hi Jurga.
This itinerary is a life saver. I have looked at a few other itineraries, but yours is so very well laid out. I love the detail alongside the map and the colour coding. Really appreciate the guide. I am hoping to use a lot of this in July/August 2023. I thought the Ring Road was gonna be super confusing. But you have it all laid out simply. I am looking to add on an extra day to do the Rainbow Mountain at Landmannlauger. Wish me luck! Thanks again!
Hi Cintra, thanks for your kind feedback. If you are looking to add Landmanalaugar to this itinerary, it’s best to do it right after visiting the Golden Circle. So between days 2 and 3.
Have a great trip!
Omg this is so great, I’ve spent hours trying to figure a route out and this is just perfect. Would you maybe have a list of the attractions that you highlighted in the map that are free vs. paid? Like for example the whale watching I imagine we need to book in advance and would take up around 3h, I don’t if this is already taken into account on your “Day 6” itinerary? Can we do it all? Again thank you so so so much for this, honestly a life saver!! I’ll recommend to everyone I know wanting to go to Iceland 🙂
Hi Gabriela, I recommend that you read the itinerary – day per day – very carefully. It’s all explained already – how it all fits together, what you can do, and often, even the times when I recommend doing specific tours if you decide to.
For example, for whale watching in Husavik, see day 6 of the itinerary. You will see that the tour is about 3 hours and that we recommend doing it as early in the morning as possible to make the rest of the itinerary work. It’s also explained further what else you can see that day and which other options you have. For example, you can also opt for a whale-watching tour in Akureyri in the afternoon or even in the evening (in season).
So there are several ways how you can fill in each day. We try to give you all the best suggestions, and the rest you have to figure out yourself based on your interests. You can usually do at least one tour that we recommend each day. But, obviously, you have to see what works time-wise if you start to add too many options in the same day. Once again, it’s all in the article.
Re: Free vs paid attractions. Anything that doesn’t include a link to book a tour or a link for the opening hours or similar, is usually free. In general, all the natural attractions are free, local attractions (like pools) are rather cheap and you can just show up, tourist attractions and tours are rather expensive and you really should book all those in advance.
Also – book EVERYTHING that needs booking asap, especially if traveling between May and September. Start with the car, then the hotels, and then all the tours and popular geothermal spa’s.
Hope this helps.
Thank you so much for sharing this itinerary Jurga! We are excited for our Iceland holiday June 15-22nd. We will be on a cruise from Norway and will visit Akureryi and Isafjordur before disembarking in Reykjavik. We will have an overnight from the ship in Reykjavik so have plenty of time without using a day from the ten day itinerary. We will pick up a rental car when we disembark(hopefully by 9:00 am). Also, when we are in Akureryi we have nine hours; would that give us enough time to walk around the town, visit the Forest Lagoon and go to Husavik and back? By taxi, tour, or ??? We could eliminate actually going in the Lagoon, rather see Husavik and possibly whales. If so, that would also eliminate a day from this itinerary. We also have eight hours in Isafjordur. Do you have recommendations for that area?
Thanks again!
Hi Lorie, that’s a lot of questions and so many different areas, and at the moment, I really have no time to give you personalized recommendations.
Here are just a few remarks:
In Akureyri or Isafjordur, unless you stay in town, you will need a car or a tour.
In Akureyri, you could consider a day tour to the Myvatn area or just stay in Akureyri and potentially do a whale-watching trip together with other things that you mentioned.
For the Westfjords, I think you’ll have to rely on whatever tours are offered by your cruise company.
Have a great trip!
Hello,
My friends and I are heading to Iceland in late May for 7 days, flying out on the afternoon of the 8th day, I noticed the 7 day itinerary doesn’t take us north very far. We were originally thinking of doing the entire ring road, but with our schedule, I don’t think we’ll have the time to do that and really enjoy the visit.
I would still like to visit some areas in the North. Can you recommend one or two places that would be doable to visit in the north that we might be able to incorporate into our plans, considering our time frame?
Thanks, Christine
Hi Christine, with 7 days in Iceland in May, you can do the Ring Road, but we do not recommend it. As you say yourself, you will not have the time to enjoy it.
If you want to go ‘North’, then you will be doing the Ring Road. You can’t just pass through the interior of the country to get to one or two places quicker (and certainly not at that time of the year). The area that is worth visiting the most is around Myvatn and that’s quite a drive from Reykjavik or any other places in the south.
Our 7-day Iceland itinerary also has a suggested alternative itinerary for the entire circle in a week. If that’s what you decide to do, you can find more info at the very bottom of that article.
Another option would be to e.g. fly from Reykjavik to Akureyri and do the Ring Road clockwise toward the South Coast and then on to Reyjavik. But we once did that in May and had snow in the North, which made it difficult to see/do much. This doesn’t happen often at that time of the year, but you never know.
Good luck with the planning!
Hi Jurga! I am wondering why I can’t print to map of the ring road itinerary that you have laid out. Is it possible to do that to make it easier to keep track of where we want to see what?
Appreciate all the helpful hints and suggestions. Just trying to book sleeps and tours and am getting a bit confused!
thanks for any help you can offer…
Hi Becky, if you open the larger version of the map you should be able to print it with all the details. Hope this helps.
All the other info, places to see, hotel recommendations, etc. is already in the article.
Good luck with the planning and have a great trip!
Thanks Jurga for the hard work you have out into these itineraries! My friend and I are celebrating our 60th Birthdays… by going to Iceland!! I was thrilled to find your blog!
We are going May 8-18th and we are planning to follow your 10 day itinerary fair closely as we were clueless where to begin. We found yours first and then read several others but kept coming back to you!
We like the laid back approach and the flexibility in your plan. Now to book our sleeps!!
Thanks again.
Happy Travels to you and your Family…I’ll be tagging along.
I did have a good look but have you been to Turkey or Portugal?
Glad to help, Kelly. Have a wonderful time in Iceland!
As for Turkey, no, I haven’t been. Portugal – yes, many times. You can find quite some articles for various destinations all over Portugal (including the islands) in our Portugal travel guide.
Beautiful itinerary!! My family and I are planning a late may trip to Iceland and you site has been extremely helpful. I am just curious as to how many hours a day you spent touring/visiting each trip stop (I was looking at day 4 in particular). I see that from the Jokulssarlon Glacier Lagoon to where you suggested to stay (Egilsstadir) is about 4 hours driving distance. Did you just arrive late at night at each hotel? Are parks open late?
Hi Laney, some of the sites you visit are just photo stops where you maybe spend 15-20 minutes, some others require a few hours. So it really depends. Also, you can spend half an hour at a waterfall, whereas someone else will do it in 10 minutes and yet someone else in an hour. So it really depends.
Also, if you are traveling in the summer, it never gets dark and you can also do sightseeing in the evening. There are no ‘parks’ in the way that you have them in other countries. It’s all nature and yes, most sites in nature are always open.
Sometimes you would first go to your hotel and then maybe decide to see something else nearby. Day 4 is a good example of this. You could check in at your hotel first and then go see puffins afterward.
For planning, it’s always best to start your days early, but even if you just start at 9-10am and have 3-4 hours driving, you still have more than enough time left to do everything along the way and still get to your next hotel at a decent time.
Hope this helps.
@Jurga, Thank you! It does help to know all this!
This looks doable. I’m bringing along my 20 year old grandson and his burning desire is to ride an icelandic horse. Where along the 10-day tour would that happen? and we could add an extra day or 2. thanks for all the great info.
Hi Becky, there are quite a few places where you can find horse farms organizing horse riding tours. Close to Reykjavik, you can do this popular tour through the lava fields. And you can find a few more options here.
I know that there are tours in the Golden Circle area and also along the South Coast. Also in the North, we saw people riding horses close to Trollaskagi Peninsula. Close to Reykjavik is the easiest and there will be more options in terms of times, English-speaking guides, etc. For the rest – you would have to do some research yourself.
Hope this helps a bit.
@Jurga, great info and thanks for the reply. We’re both super excited to visit Iceland!
Hi!
Love your itineraries! My husband and I are trying to plan your 10-Day Ring Road itinerary for our first time in Iceland for 14 days, Aug. 31- Sept.14.
On the Golden Circle Day, we are interested in both the snorkeling and snowmobiling cave tours. Isn’t that too much for one day? We don’t want to feel so rushed and would also like to see Stokkur Geyser, as well. It also looks like we’d enjoy an extra day on the South coast.
Suggestions?
Just wanted to mention, I don’t know much about Iceland yet, so I don’t know if I have a burning desire to do the ring road or not on our first trip. We have 14 days, but my husband and I love activities, like snorkeling, snowmobiling, caving, glacier trekking, nature, trails, photography, and then relaxing. etc.
And perhaps having a quiet lunch with scenic views.
Not so rush, rush, rush. It seems, so far, that your golden circle and South Coast are right up our alley. Any suggestions as to how we could stay longer than one night in each location and really enjoy the best areas?
We will have our own car. It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Barbara Diaz
Hi Barbara, at that time of the year, you could easily do the entire Ring Road in two weeks. It’s really difficult for me to give you a detailed itinerary suggestion beyond what’s already in our articles since there are so many options. We already include a lot of explanations in our guides, alternative suggestions, etc. The rest is really up to you.
You could use this itinerary as it is and add an extra day on the Golden Circle, a day or even two on the South Coast, and maybe a day in Reykjavik. But indeed, it’s a lot of moving around.
So it really depends on your interests and how fast you like to travel.
As for your question about the Golden Circle, I think I’d do one ‘big’ activity per day and also take the time to relax at the hot springs (e.g. Secret Lagoon or Fontana Wellness, or simply book a hotel with a hot tub). So indeed, if you want to go snorkeling and take a snowmobile tour, I think you’ll enjoy it all more if you don’t try to squeeze it all in on the same day. Strokkur Geyser is very active and you can see it in action ever 5-10 minutes, so you don’t need much time there. But every time we visit, we end up stating longer than anticipated it’s fun to watch and you can also walk around the area a bit more if you like to. There is a nice hotel there (Hotel Geysir) if you want to avoid the crowds of daytime tourists at the Geysir area. Also Gullfoss waterfall is just a very short ride away and there is a nice hotel there too (Hotel Gullfoss). So this could be a nice place for a night or two – it doesn’t matter that much where you’d stay – both of these places/hotels are very close to each other and you could drive to the geyser and the waterfall early in the morning or late in the evening without the crowds of the day trippers.
Hope this helps a bit. Good luck with the planning!
This has been so incredibly helpful for planning our trip to Iceland. Thank you!!!
Glad to help! Have a great trip!
Thanks a lot for your detailed itinerary!
Planning to go Iceland next year.
Not sure which months are best for Northern Lights watching, and where are the best places to go to watch Northern Lights, if we are planning to go during the month of September to Iceland?
Hi Michael, the best months for the Northern Lights are between September and March, maybe the beginning of April. September is indeed a great time to be in Iceland, not just for that.
You may want to read these guides too:
– Northern Lights in Iceland (complete guide with everything you want to know to increase your chances to see auroras).
– Iceland in September (some seasonal travel inspiration)
Due to religious preferences I need to stay in the same place for 2 consecutive days on a 10 day ring tour of Iceland on June 23 and 24, 2023, continuing on the tour for 2 more non-consecutive nights to arrive in Reykjavik on June 27. I start in Reykjavik on June 17 and start the ring drive on June 18, 2023. Where would be the best location for the two nights on June 23 and 24th where I will not be using any form of transportation from the evening of June 23 and all day June 24? Lake Myvatn? I appreciate any suggestions.
Hi Teya, the best place to stay for a few days in the north for you would be Husavik and not Lake Myvatn. In Husavik, you can still do something without driving (whale museum, whale watching tours, GeoSea baths, etc.). In Lake Myvatn, you’d need a car for pretty much anything since the distances between the sights are too big to walk.
Hope this helps.
Hi there,
I find your 10 days Iceland itinerary very useful as this will be my first time visiting Iceland.
My friends and I plan to explore Iceland for 14 days (not including arrival/departure days) and am planning to travel late Sep to Early October by renting a car (self-drive).
2 questions:
1) will this be possible?
2) could we do your itinerary in reverse as I think the north will get winter first, so I thought if we do the north first, this might be better? If we do this in reverse, where would we stay?
Any info/help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Hi Ceciline, the end of September – beginning of October isn’t winter just yet, so normally, you should be just fine. Of course, you can never know, but in general, the roads should be ok and the chance for snowstorms isn’t that big. So yes, a 14-day trip around the entire island should be very well possible. And yes, you can do the trip in any direction as it suits you best. As for where to stay, pretty much the same places as described in our article, just in the other direction. Maybe start with the Golden Circle (this is the busiest area and many people prefer to start with that and go to quieter places afterward) and then Snaefellsnes Peninsula, followed by the northern side (Akureyri, Myvatn), then the east, and then the south coast, ending in Reykjavik.
You could then easily spend a few days in Reykjavik town. Visit the Sky Lagoon – it’s really nice! See our guide to the best of Reykjavik for more inspiration.
Good luck with the planning!
Hey we just returned from Iceland and I followed your 10-day trip. Thank you so much as it definitely helped with my planning and made my life easier. I had book marked this page and read it on a daily basis as I would usually get confused with the names of all the places. I will for sure use your other trip blogs in future! Thanks a ton!
Regards 🙂
Thanks for your kind feedback. Glad to help!
This is absolutely amazing! Thank you!
I had one question, though: Do you have a list of recommended places to eat along the road?
Hi Rados, no, not really. We usually don’t plan our trips in that much detail and just ask locals for recommendations and/or use Google Maps to find some nice places to eat nearby when we get hungry. 🙂
Every time I have a list of restaurants along the way, it never works out time-wise for us. So unless food is a very important aspect of your trip, I’d potentially only research options for dinner, close to your accommodation. Also keep in mind that many hotels in Iceland have (good) restaurants. We never had a bad experience simply dining at our accommodation.
Enjoy your trip!
We will be traveling the end of September (the 27th) for 2 weeks. Could we get buy without a 4×4? Or is it too risky.
Hi Judy, I know people who even traveled all around Iceland in a small 2wd car in February, so everything is possible. The end of September should be snow-free in most places in Iceland, so a regular 2wd should be just fine. But a few years ago, it was already snowing in the highlands and I think also in the east in the third week of September and October can be quite wintery (but usually towards the end of the month).
So it really depends on the weather, your exact itinerary, and what you are comfortable with.
Also, you don’t absolutely need a 4×4, a 4wd can be a good alternative.
@Jurga, we just came back from Iceland and we had an mid size EV-SUV. It went perfectly fine no issues but in retrospect I wish I had gotten a 4X4 for a more rugged experience. Gravel roads can be painful if your car is not a good one 🙂 But if you are not planning on that then you don’t need a 4X4.
Indeed- most people just stick to the Ring Road and paying a big premium for 4×4 isn’t worth it, but if you plan to get a bit off of the main roads, it’s definitely recommended.
How do I get a copy of the ring road itinerary ?
Hi Cynthia, the itinerary is right here for you to read as many times as you need. You can also print it (Ctrl+p) if you absolutely need it on paper.
We don’t offer any printables since it’s difficult to keep them up-to-date.
Have a great time in Iceland.
Hi-
I am trying to plan a trip for me and my 4 older kids. I love the 10 day ring road itinerary, but do not want to stay in a different place every night. Is there a way to avoid this or should we cut out one area like East Iceland? It is overwhelming there is so much to see, but most likely this will be our only trip to Iceland so trying to make the most of it. 10 days is the longest we can be gone.
Thanks for your advice!
Margaret
Hi Margaret, unfortunately, driving the entire Ring Road (and still trying to see something), it’s really best to switch accommodations pretty much every night.
If you want to avoid this, you could just focus on southwestern Iceland, instead of trying to see ‘everything’. Take a look at our 7-day Iceland itinerary and add an extra night on the South Coast, in Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and maybe in Reykjavik. Sometimes, traveling slower is more enjoyable as it allows you to explore deeper. We have detailed guides about all these areas that will give you more than plenty of ideas for things to do if you stay longer: Snaefellsnes Peninsula, South Coast, Reykjavik, Reykjanes Peninsula…
Also, be sure to book your car rental and accommodation as soon as you know your travel dates, especially if traveling in the high season.
Good luck with the planning!
Thank you…I will look at the 7 day itinerary. I wonder if we could do that and then drive to the Husavik area for a couple days which I really want to see?
Thanks-Margaret
Hi Margaret, everything is possible, but if you want to go to Husavik, it’s really best to drive around instead of backtracking. You’ll just have to plan fewer stops and cover bigger distances without stopping.
Hi! Thank you so much for this itinerary! We will be staying in Iceland full 10 days (arriving day 1 at 6:15 AM and not including departure date so technically 11 days). We are interested in your recommendations regarding snorkeling at 9:30 AM and snowmobiling at Langjokull glacier. However, it seems that all sites only have a 12 PM departure time for that. I was curious if you did both on the same day or how you think it might be possible to accomplish both? Or if there’s another spot on the itinerary with snowmobiling opportunities that you may recommend.
Thank you for your input!
Hi Michelle, first, you didn’t say when you travel, so it’s difficult to give you exact recommendations.
Either way, doing both – Silfra snorkeling and Langjokull glacier snowmobile on the same day is tricky and would be rushed and stressful. You could stay in the area for 1 night (e.g. Hotel Gullfoss or others nearby) and do the snowmobile tour in the afternoon on the first day and then Silfra snorkeling the next morning. In the most popular months in summer, there are snorkeling tours from 8 am already – e.g. this one). It’s much easier to plan your days if you just do one longer tour/ activity per day. You’ll enjoy it more as well.
Alternatively, along the south coast close to Vik, you can also do this snowmobile tour or an ATV tour to the plane wreck.
Good luck with the planning!
This itinerary looks absolutely amazing and extremely detailed. Very excited for our upcoming trip. Is there a printer friendly version of this itinerary? Sorry if I have missed that somewhere
Hi Nicole, we don’t have printables, but you can always print the info that you need straight from your browser (Ctrl+p).
Have a great time in Iceland!
Hi, would recommend doing this trip with a 4 and 6 year old? We would plan about a 14 day trip to slow it down. Thanks! Which day tours or activities are especially good with kids or ones to avoid? Also do you recommend a camper van for the end of September?
Hi Lindsey, yes, definitely. Iceland is a perfect place to travel with kids. The only things you wouldn’t be able to do are glacier excursions, but all the rest should be perfectly doable. I’d also plan some extra time at the local pools every evening when there’s a pool nearby. They have warm geothermal waters, hot tubs, saunas, and are very affordable. We tried to visit as many pools as we could on our last trip to Iceland with kids and they loved it.
Also, expect it to be cold and wet, so pack warm waterproof clothes and waterproof shoes for everyone. See this summer packing list, but for late September, I’d add some thermal underwear and a warm winter jacket. Gloves, hats, scarves – all a must too.
For the camper, no, I really wouldn’t recommend it at the end of September with kids. It’s usually quite cold already. But we aren’t campers anyway. 🙂 If you decide to do this, be sure to rent a heater and have lots of warm blankets/ sleeping bags with you. You can also read our guide to camping in Iceland.
For our own trip with kids, we rented apartments/ guesthouses via Booking and there were plenty of affordable options all around the country. And you’re just with 4 people and in the lower season, so it will be easier and more affordable than it was for us. You can also check our accommodation suggestions in this article or this guide on where to stay in Iceland.
Hope this helps. Good luck with the planning!
Amazing detailed information. I have bee surfing web to go places and so far found it so informative and even an inexperienced traveler can travel Iceland very easily. You guys have taken a lot of time to put this information together to make out trip smooth. No words are enough to express our thanks to you.
Thank you so much for your kind feedback. Have a great time in Iceland!
Thank you so much for taking the time to create all the detail in this itinerary! We are heading to Iceland at the end of June and are following your itinerary pretty closely adding one extra night at the end before returning to Reykjavik. My husband really would like to cross into the arctic circle. I see there are flights that take you to an Island from Akureyri (where we will be staying one night). Have you done anything like this and would it be worth it. It looks like the tour is about 3-3.5 hours. I am guessing we would have to give up some sight seeing to fit this in. Thank you!!
Hi Jess, yes, some people visit Grimsey Island for this exact reason – to cross the Arctic Circle. We personally haven’t done it, but if you decide that it’s worth the time and the money, you can find a tour that arranges it all for you in just about 3 hours. I’m sure you can ‘do it yourself’ too and likely cheaper, but I have no personal experience and can’t help much with advice.
In the end, it’s really about your choice and if you feel it’s worth it for you (it’s a lot of money to cross a line ;))… If you do this, I think I’d spend a night extra in the area. But since it’s just a few hours, I guess you could fit it in this itinerary too, if you plan well and skip something else indeed.
Good luck with the planning and if you end up going, feel free to come back here and share your experience – it might be useful to others!
@Jurga, Thank you! My husband really wanted to do this so we are squeezing it in! I will report back on how it was.
One more question for you. We are booking a zodiak boat tour of the ice lagoon in Jokulsarlon. They only time available for our private tour is 12:45. Is that definitely too late since I know you suggested doing it as early as possible? Would it work to do the latest tour the afternoon on day 3 when we arrive in the area? I believe the latest tour that day is at 4:45pm. Thank you!
Hi Jess, the timing of the boat tour doesn’t matter that much as long as it fits your itinerary well. Our suggestions are usually made taking into account the itinerary as we recommend, the driving times, etc. But so much depends on your actual plans, where you’re staying, etc.
If you can be at the Diamond Beach around sunset, that’s really nice, but I wouldn’t change all the plans for that either, especially if traveling in the summer when the sun never sets and there is less ice anyway.
Just see what makes sense for your itinerary and go with that. There’s no bad time to visit Jokulsarlon – it’s magical!
Hi- we are traveling to Iceland for ten days in June. So far, we have the first two days booked for Reykjavik, third night in Vik, and next night on the Westman Islands from the ferry. The ninth night will be back in Reykjavik for the flight the next day. For nights five through eight, where would you recommend us staying since we are pretty concentrated in the south the first few nights?
Also I want to make sure we don’t burn out on traveling to stay in a new place each night. Is there a way to do the ring road while being able to stay more than one night at a location and taking day trips from there? If so what towns are best for that?
Thanks, Molly
Hi Molly, it’s already difficult to do the entire Ring Road in 8-9 days and still keep it enjoyable, but it is possible in the summer (when the days are endless). But only IF you’d stay at a different place pretty much every night. Otherwise, it’s really not feasible without changing hotels often.
You could just do the South Coast indeed, but be sure to go beyond Vik – at least to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. If you can still change your accommodation, I think I’d do the Westman Islands before you go to Vik or after you visit Jokulsarlon, on the way back to Reykjavik. And then also add Golden Circle and Snaefellsnes Peninsula to your itinerary.
You could stay in Vik longer and travel to Jokulsarlon from there, if you prefer not to change hotels every day.
All in all, if you stay in fewer places, you’ll always end up driving more. But – for example – you don’t have to stay in Westman Islands – it’s an easy day trip that would save you one hotel change.
Take a look at our 7-day Iceland itinerary for ideas on how to plan your time. You can easily fit it into your schedule since you’re already planning to stay in Reykjavik for 2 days, so it would be about 9 days in total.
Good luck with the planning!
@Jurga, thanks! So, if I rearrange travel plans and basically start all over, what would you recommend after night one in reyjkavik? The 7 day itinerary plus a couple of days added somewhere else?
Hi Molly, if you follow our 7-day itinerary and have a few days extra, you could add one additional night in the Snaefellsnes area (see our guide to the best things to do in Snaefellsnes), Vik area (see our guide to the best things to do on the South Coast of Iceland), and/or around Reykjavik or close to the airport for Reykjanes Peninsula.
Hope this helps.
Hi,
I love this itinerary!!!! I am wondering if you think there might be a way to add the ferry ride from the Snaefellsnes Peninsula to the WestFjords to the ring road trip? Or do you think it would be too much driving? I have heard that is an area not to miss but I dont think I want to do your 10 day North/west highlands trip as I do want to get to a lot of the south. So if I incorporate the ferry ride – is there something you would say I could cut out to get this in when we do the full ring road?
Thanks so much!
Aimee Morland
Hi Aimee, there’s really no one perfect itinerary and you can definitely make your own combination of a few routes and create the trip itinerary that you like. A lot depends on your interests, budget, and mostly on when you travel.
It’s absolutely possible to add a visit to the Westfjords to this Ring Road itinerary, but I would recommend adding more time to your entire trip.
There are a few things to consider:
– While the Ring Road itinerary described in this article can be done in a regular car, you will need a 4WD or a 4×4 for the Westfjords. So it will be a significant extra cost compared to just renting a regular 2WD car.
– I would only recommend driving here in the warmer months (+- June (maybe May) to September (maybe October)).
– Ideally, you spend at least one night in the Westfjords – it’s a long drive to get there and you’ll also have to take the ferry schedule into consideration.
– If you have time, you could spend at least 3 days in this area and do the entire ‘ring’ around the Westfjords.
If short on time, after visiting the north, you could drive to the Westfjords (via road 60). Once you visit the main places on that side of the Westfjords, you can easily take the ferry to Snaefellsnes Peninsula and continue your trip there. Please see our 1-day Westfjords itinerary and just reverse it.
So yes, you can add this area to the Ring Road itinerary – between days 8 and 9 described above. But ideally, you would add at least one night to the trip. With just 10 days in Iceland, it will be really difficult to squeeze it all in and still make it somewhat enjoyable. In that case, you should probably skip some other places (e.g. day 7 of our itinerary above).
Hope this helps. Good luck with the planning!
Hi, thank you so much for sharing the Excellent and detailed Iceland itinerary. Love it. I will use this for my Iceland Ring Road trip.
One question- I see that Day 5 Myvatn area a bit full. If I were to split into one and a half day instead of one day, can you recommend me which sites I should cover on day 5 and which sites I can cover on Day 6 half day before moving to Akureyri ?
Hi Faith, this will highly depend on where you decide to stay, which places you want to see, and when you travel (how long the days are, how are the roads, etc). The itinerary is already described in such a way that you move on to Akureyri in the afternoon of day 6 (whale watching tour and/or Asbyrgi Canyon will take half a day and more if you do both). So there’s not much to change here unless you have one more night/day in between.
If you do indeed have more time, you could probably stay in Husavik or in Myvatn for 2 nights instead of 1. Keep day 5 pretty much as it is, but focus on the Myvatn area only, and leave everything in and around Husavik (whales, Geosea baths, and Asbyrgi Canyon) for day 6.
Hope this helps.
I love this itinerary, super helpful!!! Quick question, my husband and I will be in Iceland for 12-13 days, which two places in this itinerary would you suggest we stay an additional day at?
Hi Katrina, we already included lots of suggestions where you could add some additional days – see the ‘if you have more time’ section in the article.
I’d definitely add a day on the South Coast, maybe the Westfjords if traveling in the summer. Also for Reykjavik and Reykjanes Peninsula, a day extra would be nice…
Good luck with the planning!
Fantastic itinerary packed with great ideas.
Can’t wait to experience Iceland.
Glad you found it useful, Diane. Good luck with the planning and have a great time in Iceland!