The ULTIMATE one week Iceland Ring Road Itinerary
Iceland has it all: mountains, beaches, waterfalls, hot springs, volcanoes, and glaciers (oh my)! There is a ton to see and do, but how do you choose where to start, and how do you fit in everything when you have a limited amount of vacation time? Sadly, you won’t be able to see everything, even if you spent a month in Iceland, but we’re here to help with a one-week itinerary that covers a ton of ground and allows you to drive the Ring Road, get into the Highlands, and even make a stop at the Westfjords, so read on to see how we did it!
This is one of our favorite trips of all time and with the way we structured it, the scenery each day kept getting better and better!
Sunset at Kirkjufellsfoss
About this Iceland Ring Road Itinerary
This itinerary is designed as a road trip around Iceland’s Ring Road so you will need a rental car. Iceland doesn’t have trains like some other European countries, so if you didn’t have a rental car, you’d have to rely on busses, planes, boats, and guided day tours to get around. Having a rental car is essential to maximize your time in Iceland and have the freedom to customize the trip to your interests.
We’ve rented from Blue Car Rentals in Iceland and had a great experience with them. If you’re planning to go into the Highlands or visit some of the more-remote waterfalls on this itinerary, you’ll definitely want to get a car with higher clearance and 4wd. We opted for a Toyota RAV4 and it worked out really well for us. You could spring for an even bigger car, but unless you’re fording a river (this itinerary avoids that) or want a slightly less bumpy ride, you should be fine with a RAV4 or similar.
This Iceland Ring Road itinerary is best from May to the beginning of September. Each day of the itinerary is jam packed with a lot of things to see, and a ton of driving, so you really have to have a lot of daylight (summer) or be willing to wake up at sunrise and go until sunset (shoulder season). We did this journey in the beginning of September and most days we were waking up at sunrise to fit everything in. If you were to do this in the summer, you’d have more daylight and could stay out a little later than we did each night.
A note about gas and food: Gas stations in Iceland are few and very far between so whenever we saw a gas station we filled up. Even if we were already 3/4 full, we still filled up because you never know when you’re going to see another gas station. You’ll notice in this itinerary that there aren’t many mentions of restaurants and that’s because restaurants, and food stops in general, are also in short supply along the Ring Road, but you’ve got to eat somehow. We packed a dozen protein bars with us for quick meals on the road (we often had them for breakfast, but they worked for lunch or dinner too). Don’t underestimate a gas station hot dog - Icelanders are serious about their hot dogs and that includes ones sold at gas stations. They may not be the healthiest, but they’re affordable and they hit the spot.
Iceland Ring Road Itinerary Day 1 (arrival day)
Arrive in Iceland and hit the ground running. If you’re like us, our flight landed in Iceland at 6:30am. We collected our bags, picked up our rental car and headed directly to Reykjavik.
Admire the architecture of Hallgrimskirkja
Make your first stop Hallgrimskirkja
Get pastries for breakfast from Braud and Co
Walk around exploring the street art in Reykjavik
Check out the modern Harpa Concert Hall, go inside too!
Get lunch at Baejarins Best Pylsur and get the hotdogs with everything
In the afternoon, head to Thingvellir National Park and learn about the history of Iceland, see where it’s first parliament was held, and walk between two tectonic plates! If you’re up for it, snorkel or scuba dive between the tectonic plates at Silfra. Get snacks or dinner at the visitor’s center before you leave.
In the evening, visit Kerid crater and Faxafoss (sometimes called Faxi waterfall).
End the night at a hotel near Gullfoss. We enjoyed our stay at Hotel Gullfoss - dinner and breakfast were delicious!
Iceland Ring Road Itinerary Day 2
Day two is all about the Highlands, specifically Hveradalir. If you have no interest in going into the Highlands in Iceland, spend this day exploring more of the area around the Golden Circle.
Start your day with sunrise at Gullfoss (we told you it’d be a lot of early starts - don’t say we didn’t warn you)! The good news is that if you get here early, you’ll beat the majority of tourists and you might be lucky enough to have the place to yourself!
After returning to your hotel for a quick breakfast, head out on the road into the Highlands. You’ll be heading for the impressive, multi-colored hills of Hveradalir. It’s a long and difficult drive and we do not recommend going into the Highlands if you are not comfortable driving on unpaved dirt roads with lots of potholes. Also be aware that the weather in the Highlands can be significantly different from the weather near the coast. It’s more likely to be windier, rainier and generally colder than what you might experience near Ring Road.
Once you get to Hveradalir, take some time to hike down into the hills and enjoy the interesting geothermal river that runs through the area. Hiking poles are recommended to keep you steady in strong winds.
When you’re done admiring this otherworldly landscape, head back on the road and go to Fridheimar for some of the famous tomato soup. You’ll need to make a reservation in advance to eat here (although they do have some drop-in tables available - but you won’t have access to their famous soup buffet) so be sure to plan ahead.
After you’ve had your fill of soup and warmed up in their geothermal greenhouse, pay a stop to nearby Geysir to watch the geyser erupt like clockwork.
In the evening, hike to Bruarfoss and marvel at the incredible blueness of the waterfall. If it’s been raining, this hike can be very muddy, so be warned!
Treat yourself to a tasty meal and ice cream at Efstidalur II after your hike.
End your day at a hotel near Hraunfossar. We enjoyed our stay at Fosshotel Reykholt.
Pro Tip: Some driving directions might take you through the highlands to get from Bruarfoss to Hraunfossar and this area will be unpaved, and difficult to drive during shoulder season. We wouldn’t recommend driving in the highlands after dark.
Iceland Ring Road Itinerary Day 3
Get another early start to your day (seeing a trend yet?) and make a visit to Hraunfossar and Barnafossar waterfalls, then start heading towards the Snæfellsnes Peninsula (pronounced Snifels-ness - rhymes with Rifles-ness).
There’s so much to see and do along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, so you’ll want to do some research on what interests you the most since you’d need a couple full days in order to cover it thoroughly. In this itinerary, we only plan for one day exploring the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, but you could easily spend an extra day here if you don’t want to visit the Westfjords or the Highlands. Here are the top things we stopped to see on our visit to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula:
Ytri Tunga beach - you might see seals if you're lucky
Bjarnarfoss - impressive waterfall (we tried to see as many waterfalls as we could in Iceland)
Budakirkja - the famous black church, very popular photo stop so get there early if you can
Arnarstapi and Hellnar - you can walk between these two towns and explore the coastline. There are some great rock formations and arches to see. This would be a good place to stop for lunch - try the fish and chips!
Londrangar Viewpoint - see cool lava formations overlooking the ocean. You might also see birds at the cliffs too
Svortuloft Lighthouse and Skardsvik beach - a very difficult drive to get to the lighthouse on a very narrow road - not recommended if you’re not a confident driver and not comfortable with tight, bumpy, dirt roads with lots of hidden turns and blind hills
Saxholl Crater - a dormant volcano you can hike up with nice views from the top
Svodufoss - a very impressive waterfall (looks a lot like Skogafoss along the South Coast) and you might pass by Icelandic horse on your drive
Kirkjufellsfoss - this is possibly the most photographed waterfall/mountain combo in all of Iceland. It’s beautiful any time of day, but try to get here around sunset for some incredible views. You’ll need to pay for parking. This is a very popular spot so expect some crowds. Bring a tripod if you have one.
End your day at a hotel near Kirkjufellsfoss. We enjoyed our stay at a guesthouse, Grasteinn 1, with a view of the side of Kirkjufell, we booked it through Airbnb.
Iceland Ring Road Itinerary Day 4
This is the day we went to the Westfjords. There is so much to see and do along the Westfjords and you could easily spend a whole week there and not be bored. In this itinerary, we only had one day and we only wanted to see one thing: Dynjandi Waterfall. It’s a very long drive to get to this waterfall, and that’s literally the only thing we saw all day. If super long car rides aren’t your thing, then we’d recommend skipping this day and putting your extra time towards another area of Iceland that you might want more time (like the South Coast). Having said that, here’s what we did on day four:
Wake up early and enjoy Kirkjufellsfoss around sunrise while enjoying breakfast on the go (we often had protein bars with us). If you have a bit of extra time, you could head over to Sheep’s Waterfall, just a quick drive away from Kirkjufellsfoss.
When you’re ready, get started with the 5 hour drive to see Dynjandi Waterfall. The drive is very long and very bumpy. We would not recommend this drive to inexperienced drivers or those not comfortable driving on rough dirt roads with lots of potholes. To make this day work, you’re going to need to be driving fast and if you’re not comfortable driving on the dirt roads that will really slow you down. Gas stations are few and far between in the Westfjords, so if you see a gas station, you should fill up, even if you’re not close to an empty tank.
Eventually you’ll arrive at Dynjandi Waterfall and you’ll be rewarded for your efforts with a truly incredible view. There is a large paved parking lot and WCs available for use as well as picnic tables where you can have lunch (bring your own food, there is none on site).
We ended up spending over 2 hours enjoying the views of the waterfall and having lunch here, so for us, it was absolutely worth the effort to get here. But for many people, going this far out of your way will not be worth it, so skip this day if you’re not up for over 10 hours of driving.
When you’re done with Dynjandi Waterfall, get back on the road and head back towards the Ring Road. Plan to stay near Hofsos to position yourself for the next day. We stayed at Sunnuberg Guesthouse.
Pro Tip: When you’re driving on dirt roads in Iceland, your car can get pretty dirty. The good news is, you can wash your car for free at most gas stations! Just pull up to the car washing area and turn on the hose. The hose is connected to a long brush that you can use to clean off your car. Be sure to put a little elbow grease in it to get all that dust and dirt off.
Iceland Ring Road Itinerary Day 5
At this point, waking up for sunrise should be no surprise, so get an early start by visiting Grafarkirkja first thing in the morning. Grafarkirkja is the oldest grass-roofed church in Iceland and fun to explore.
We’ll explore an off-the-beaten-path hidden gem of Northern Iceland today: the Trollaskagi Peninsula (pronounced Trewl-a-SKY-ee). This is a very scenic peninsula and the drive is interesting; be sure to stop at the small fishing village of Siglufjordur.
The road changes abruptly from paved to unpaved, and back to paved. You might have 50 feet of paved road and then abruptly have 30 feet of unpaved road, followed again by another small section of paved road. Add to that some twists and turns as well as hills and a two-way tunnel that’s only wide enough for one car at a time, and you’ve got quite a challenging drive! Skip the Trollaskagi Peninsula and head directly to Akureyri if you’re not up for this challenge.
After stopping in Siglufjordur, head to Akureyri for a wander around town. This is Iceland’s second largest city and the church here was designed by the same architect that designed Hallgrimskirkja in Reykjavik. This city is a great place to get lunch.
After lunch, take a short drive into the Highlands to see Aldeyjarfoss. This is such an incredible waterfall and sort of a hidden gem in Northern Iceland. The road to get here is gravel, but it’s well maintained and even smaller cars should be able to manage to get here. You’ll have to open a couple of gates, drive through them, and close the gates behind you, but don’t let that stop you from making the journey to see this waterfall.
Aldeyjarfoss is surrounded by basalt columns, like Svartifoss in the south, but unlike Svartifoss, you don’t need to hike very far to see this waterfall. If you’re lucky, this waterfall will be a bright blue color, which can be incredible. When we visited in early September, the waterfall was more of a muddy gray, but that didn’t change how impressive it was.
Next up is a visit to Godafoss, waterfall of the gods. Godafoss is right on the Ring Road, so you’ll backtrack a bit if you’re coming from Aldeyjarfoss. Godafoss is very accessible and has wide paved walking paths on either side. Because it’s so close to the Ring Road and so accessible, it’s a very popular stop for tour buses and it can get crowded.
After enjoying the views of the horseshoe-shaped Godafoss, it’s time to get back on the road and head to Myvatn. This area is known for it’s pseudocraters and there are some accessible walking paths near the visitor’s center. Myvatn would also be a great place to enjoy a meal and there are several options in the area.
PRO TIP: Myvatn is filled with tiny little bugs called Midges. They are the worst, they don’t bite, but they are so annoying and they get everywhere. You’ll make your time a little more enjoyable if you wear a head net. It may look stupid, but you’ll be thankful you have it when you don’t have to swat away the bugs every few seconds.
This area would be a good place to spend the night and you could relax at the Myvatn Nature Baths, which is similar to the Blue Lagoon, but less busy. Or, if you’re fans of the movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, you could make the drive north to Husavik and stay there for the night. We enjoyed our stay at Fosshotel Husavik.
Husavik is a fun place to walk around and explore. The marina area is particularly charming and filled with old fishing ships. If you have an abundance of time, this would be a fantastic place to go on a whale watching tour, but only if you have half a day to spare. Otherwise, consider a visit to Geosea, a thermal bath overlooking the sea. You might even see the northern lights if it’s the right season! Another fun stop is the Jaja Ding Dong bar, which is dedicated to the Eurovision contest and has a very interesting exhibit about the history of the contest as well as costumes and props for the Will Ferrell movie that was filmed in Iceland.
Iceland Ring Road Itinerary Day 6
Today we start in Myvatn. If you spent the night in Husavik like we did, you’ll want to get an earlier start to the day than if you stayed in the Myvatn area. Your first stop of the day, if you’re a Game of Thrones fan, should be Grjotagja Cave - even if you’re not a GoT fan, this is still a cool thing to see. It’s a cave with a hot spring inside and incredibly blue water. Grjotagja Cave used to be a popular swimming spot for locals, but after some seismic activity in the area, the water became too hot to swim in. This cave was featured in a scene of Game of Thrones with Jon Snow and Ygritte - don’t worry, they didn’t actually swim in the water here.
Next on the agenda is a visit to Hverir Geothermal Area. This is a really fun stop right off the Ring Road. It’s relatively flat and accessible and you have some great views of boiling mud pits and steam vents. Be sure to stay on the designated walking paths though, because the earth’s crust is very thin here and if you go off the path, your foot might go through and there could be boiling mud underneath - be careful! Also, this area smells like rotten eggs from all the sulfur, but don’t let that put you off from exploring, it’s a really interesting stop!
Back track to Myvatn for a meal before heading on to Dettifoss. Dettifoss is the second most powerful waterfall in all of Europe and it’s a really impressive sight! However, the road to get to Dettifoss isn’t easy. It’s a long bumpy gravel road and you should be comfortable driving in these conditions if you choose to see this waterfall. We highly recommend a 4wd SUV with high clearance, although we did see some people with compact cars attempting to make the journey. Before you visit, you’ll need to decide if you want to go to the east or the west side of the waterfall. From what we’ve seen, the west side might be slightly more accessible than the east, but if you go to the east side like we did, you can get very close to the falls.
Additionally, if you go to the east side, you can also make the hike upstream to Selfoss. This is another incredible waterfall that is absolutely worth the effort to get to.
If you’re not running out of steam yet, when you’re done at Dettifoss and Selfoss, you can make the short drive over to Hafragilsfoss just downstream. You’ll get some pretty nice views of the canyon created by the river as well.
It’s time to get back on the road and head to Seydisfjordur. This is where you’ll spend the night. We enjoyed our stay at Hotel Snaefell. It’s a charming little town on a fjord in east Iceland. Be sure to break up your drive with a stop at Rjukandi waterfall if you’re not sick of waterfalls yet (hopefully not since there are still lots more to come in the future)!
Seydisfjordur has several restaurants, shops, and lots of murals, making it really fun to walk around this small town.
Iceland Ring Road Itinerary Day 7
Start the day early with a visit to a waterfall on the way out of town. As you’re leaving Seydisfjordur there are several pull outs on the side of the switchback road. We stopped at Gljufurfoss waterfall and took in the great views overlooking the fjord.
If you’re really into chasing waterfalls and driving down narrow dirt roads, make a detour off the Ring Road and visit Klifbrekkufossar. This one is a long difficult drive on a very steep unpaved narrow road and we don’t recommend attempting this drive if you’re not confident in your driving abilities. Klifbrekkufossar is a long cascading waterfall and it’s pretty impressive, but honestly, the best views of this waterfall are with a drone. If you don’t have a drone, the vantage point for viewing this waterfall isn’t great and might not be worth the time or effort to get to.
On the other hand, Hvalnes Lighthouse and Nature Reserve Beach are definitely worth a stop! The views here are fantastic. Mountains on one side, ocean on the other, and a black sand beach in between! Break up the drive by stopping at scenic viewpoints and waterfalls along the way. We enjoyed our stop at Sveinsstekksfoss and it was nice to stretch our legs a bit after the long drive.
There’s still a lot to do on this day, so don’t linger too long in any one spot. Next up, head to Vestrahorn. This is a very scenic area that you have to pay to enter, but it’s well-worth the entrance fee. Buy your tickets in the cafe and then head towards the mountains. You’ll find some epic views of the beach with mounds of sea grass and incredible mountains surrounding you! We ended up visiting at low tide, which resulted in pools of water on the beach that reflected the mountains in a beautiful way.
There’s also a small viking village that was part of a film set, which could be fun to explore as well. Before you leave, make a stop at the WCs here, they’re nice and clean.
The last stop of the day is Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. If you like to plan ahead, you should definitely book a zodiac boat tour of the lagoon. If you don’t want to plan ahead (or if you’re just not sure if you’ll make it in time - like us) you can stop by the ticket booth when you arrive at the lagoon to see if there are any last minute spots available. It’s a pricy excursion, but it is so worth it and quite possibly the best thing we did on our entire trip.
You’ll get suited up in insulated flotation suits before heading out on zodiac boats towards the glacier. Dress in warm layers under your flotation suit because it’ll be cold and windy on the boat. You’ll get up close to lots of icebergs and you may even see some seals. We learned a bunch about the glacier (although this could vary based on how talkative your boat captain is) and really enjoyed our time out in the lagoon. If you time it right, you could even be there for sunset (depending on the time of year).
Before you leave the lagoon area, be sure to cross the Ring Road to the side near the ocean to check out the beach known as Diamond Beach. Here, if you’re lucky, you might find a bunch of washed up icebergs that look like large diamonds sprinkled all over the black sand beach. When we visited, there weren’t too many icebergs on the beach, but it was still a great place to walk around and enjoy the sunset.
End your day at a hotel nearby Jokulsarlon, there aren’t many in the area and it’ll be a bit of a drive to get to one, but if you’re into photography like us, you’ll be happy for the close-ish position to see sunset and sunrise. We enjoyed our stay at Hotel Smyrlabjorg.
Iceland Ring Road Itinerary Day 8
This is your last full day in Iceland and it’s jam packed. We’re starting early again (nothing new) and getting on the road while it’s still dark out. Head for Diamond Beach again and enjoy a (hopefully) epic sunrise overlooking the ocean. We had a hard time pulling ourselves away, but once you do, head back to your hotel for some breakfast, or if breakfast isn’t included in your stay, get something on the road.
After breakfast, head to another nearby glacier lagoon: Fjallsjokull. It’s smaller than Jokulsarlon and the lagoon doesn’t reach the sea, so it has a different color and the icebergs can last a bit longer. It’s interesting to explore the differences between the two lagoons. If you have time and you didn’t manage to do a zodiac boat tour yet, this lagoon also offers boat tours.
Keeping up the pace, leave the glacier lagoons and head towards Fjadrargljufur Canyon. This canyon can be accessed by driving down a gravel road, but you shouldn’t need a 4wd SUV to reach it - we saw plenty of smaller cars heading this direction. There’s a massive parking lot, but it fills up fast because this is a very popular spot to stop, even tour buses stop here.
This canyon is unlike anything we’ve seen before, with it’s “fingers” jutting out from the edges to create long thin uneven walls of the canyon. It’s a gradual climb to the top of the canyon from the parking lot and there are several viewpoints to go to. It’s worth it to keep going all the way to the end until you reach the platform that overlooks a waterfall that flows into the canyon. Another reason this canyon has become so popular is because Justin Bieber filmed a music video here.
After visiting Fjadrargljufur Canyon and making a quick stop at the nearby Eldhraun Lava Field, head to the town of Vik. Here, you can refuel your car and yourself. We stopped in at the Soup Company and tried four different soups. If you buy a bowl of soup and then you can get a free refill - and it doesn’t even have to be the same flavor! Our favorite soup was the lava soup and if you pick this one as your first bowl (instead of the refill) it comes in a bread bowl!
After lunch, visit the little red and white church on a hill before you leave the town of Vik. It’s a great vantage point for seeing the town and the sea. Then continue on your journey to Reynisfjara Beach.
Reynisfjara Beach is a long black sand beach that’s notable for it’s hexagonal basalt columns, which can be fun to climb, but be careful! This beach is very popular and can be quite busy as well, many tour buses stop here. The beach is black sand, and you can explore some caves if it’s low tide. Be careful around the water though because the waves are known as “sneaker” waves that sneak up on you. The current here has a very strong undertow and you can easily be pulled out to sea very quickly, so stay far away from the water and heed the warning signs on the beach - do not visit if there are signs telling you it’s too dangerous.
If you’re up for more adventure and some great views overlooking the black sand beaches from above, as well as some well-known bird cliffs, then head over to Dyrholaey. There’s a very charming lighthouse as well.
Leave enough time in your day to visit Skogafoss. This waterfall is incredible and a must-see while you’re in Iceland. This is another spot along the South Coast that’s super popular with tour buses, and for good reason! The waterfall is huge and you can walk pretty close to it, but be warned, you’ll get soaked by the spray! There’s also stairs to the side of the waterfall that you can go up to get a nice view from the top, and a hiking path you can take to walk along the river and see even more waterfalls.
End your day at a hotel near Seljalandsfoss. We enjoyed our stay at Bru Guesthouse. If you still have daylight at this point, make a stop at Seljalandsfoss before you call it a night, if not, we’ll see it first thing the next day.
Iceland Ring Road Itinerary Day 9 (departure day)
Start your day bright and early with a stop at Seljalandsfoss (pronounced “Sell-Yah-Lands-Foss”) for sunrise. This is a really fun waterfall to visit because you can walk behind it! If you do, be warned that you'll get super wet - we recommend wearing rain jackets and waterproof pants and shoes. If you have additional time, be sure to check out the nearby waterfall Gljufrabui - it’s a waterfall in a cave! If you visit this waterfall, you might have to walk through water to see it, so just be aware that your feet might get wet.
After a long trip like this, jam packed to the fullest every single day, you deserve to relax a little. After you finish up at Seljalandsfoss, head to the Blue Lagoon (reservations recommended). Here you will be able to bathe in geothermal water that is milky blue and it’s the perfect way to relax before your flight home.
If you have any more time to kill before you depart Iceland, consider heading back into Reykjavik for some hotdogs for lunch. Alternately, if you don’t want to drive so far, you can explore the Reykjanes Peninsula - the area near the airport. There are many things to see including lighthouses, geothermal areas, the coast, a recently erupted volcano, and an area where two continents meet.
Best time for driving the Ring Road in Iceland
You could attempt this itinerary at any time of year, however, we believe it is best done from May to early September while the weather is good. The best time to do this ambitious itinerary is in the summer months when you have the most amount of daylight and you’re less rushed. Additionally, in the warmer months, hiking trails are likely to be free of snow and more accessible.
How to modify this Ring Road Itinerary
With Less Time
If you need to shorten this Ring Road itinerary by one day, you can remove the detour to the Westfjords on Day 4. This is a very long day of mostly driving just to see one (very impressive) waterfall - in many people’s eyes, it may not be worth it. If you still need to shorten the itinerary by a second day, you could remove the excursion into the Icelandic Highlands on Day 2 and just explore the Golden Circle area before moving to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
With More Time
If you have more time, consider spending an extra day along the South Coast of Iceland. This area can be slower to visit because it’s more crowded, and with more time, you’ll be able to see things without rushing so much. If you have a couple more days, you could also take a trip to the Westman Islands to see the bird colonies and learn about the volcano that erupted there.
The ULTIMATE one week Iceland Ring Road Travel Vlog
If you need more inspiration, check out our YouTube video where we documented this exact itinerary when we visited in early September. Enjoy!
