Classic Iceland Ring Road Drive - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrival and drive the South Coast to Vík

Land at Keflavík International Airport (KEF) in the morning, and pick up your rental car. Today is designated for exploration of the South Coast highlights. If you’d like, have breakfast and coffee at KEF. If you prefer to dine in Reykjavík, you can do so as well, but you'll likely need to skip the first stop on your route to the South Coast.

If you bypass breakfast, an optional stop is to head straight to the Reykjanes Peninsula to get the adventure underway. If you plan to drive northwest from KEF, consider the below order, which is listed counter-clockwise:

• Garður Lighthouse: About 15 minutes north of KEF, you will arrive at two lighthouses—one on the coast (older and not as stable), and a second a bit further inland. This scenic area can be a nice area to walk around and stretch your legs after the long flight in today. 
• Bridge Between Continents (Europe Miðlína): This area is a great symbol of Icelandic geology. The Reykjanes Peninsula is on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which pulls apart a few centimeters every year. You can cross the bridge between the continental plates while you’re here, and look down at the gap below.
• Gunnuhver hot springs and geothermal area: Here, find a couple of bubbling and steaming mud pools. Gunnuhver is named after a female ghost who was said to be trapped in the hot springs more than 400 years ago. Temperatures are extremely hot, so stick to the walkways and viewing areas. While here, continue about 5 minutes to the cliffs to stop at Reykjanesviti lighthouse with beautiful views of Iceland from atop a hill.
• Krýsuvík geothermal area: While you can walk around the area near the parking lot in as little as 5 minutes, take your time to see the steam vents and hot pools up close. Look up at the multicolored hills surrounding the area.

Once you’ve experienced the peninsula, drive toward the South Coast. Note that the sites listed below are located beyond your hotel for tonight, but you can get a jumpstart on the touring today, which will provide a bit more flexibility tomorrow.

The South Shore—between Vík and Selfoss—is full of many popular sights and destinations, and is quickly becoming one of the most popular areas of Iceland. Your first stop is Seljalandsfoss waterfall, with access from behind just a few minutes from the parking lot. Note that the ground is uneven in a few places, and there are stairs on one side. Standing in a cave under the cliff, witness the water come roaring down 20-30 feet in front of you. Pay attention to the direction of the wind or wear a rain jacket (or both). When viewed from behind, spot two, smaller waterfalls to the right, as well.

Next, along Route 1, locate the powerful Skógafoss Waterfall. Skógafoss marks the beginning of the 16-mile Fimmvörðuháls Trail, which ends in Thórsmörk. Admire the waterfall from the bottom, just a 2-minute walk from the parking lot, or if you are up for it, find the stairs to the right and climb up for a different perspective. At the top, walk along the canyon for a bit to see more waterfalls along “Waterfall Way” before turning around.
Note: Depending on snow conditions, this may not be possible.

Then, make your way to the Dyrhólaey arch and cliffs. At Dyrhólaey, there are two parking lots where you can see the famous arch. (The one high on the hill offers the better view.) Take the bumpy, dirt road to your right as you enter. From the top, spot a lighthouse and great views looking further west, along a black-sand beach that reaches as far as you can see. Look for birds flying around; they nest along the cliffside.

As you near Vík, along Route 1, look for the turnoff to Reynisfjara Beach, past a pretty church, as you drive toward the water. This black-rock beach (not as fine-grain as the one in Vík) is most famous for the Reynisdrangar Columns—huge, hexagonal basalt columns rising up out of the sand. Walk 1-2 minutes around the cliffs to the left, as you face the ocean, to find a couple of large caves, as well.  

Next, reach Vík. While the town itself is fairly small, its proximity to several great sights more than makes up for it. You can even explore the area in the evening, after the large crowds dissipate, or before the crowds arrive the next day. Toward the water, look for a black-sand beach with high cliffs on the right side, often filled with soaring and nesting birds.

Day 2: Explore the Southeast Glaciers - Skaftafell & Jökulsárlón

Leave Vík in the morning, continuing east along the Ring Road (Route 1, the only major road in this area). Today, take the drive to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, which is about 2-2.5 hours, total. If you want, you can continue to Hofn, where there is a great visitor center on the glacier and nearby area, and several restaurants serving very fresh seafood (langoustine and lobster are the specialties).

There are many highlights you will pass along the way. You can stop now, or on your drive back later in the day or tomorrow, depending on where you stay this evening.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is where the rock formations look like they’re from another world. There is a trail less than 1 mile from the parking lot, along the ridge of the canyon, that is home to some amazing viewpoints—where the river curves around these strange rock cliffs. Admire the views along the way, and venture as far as you like.

Visit Skaftafell next, where you could spend many days hiking the trails all around. If short on time, the most popular hike leads to Svartifoss, a thin waterfall surrounded by columns of basalt. The 3-mile hike offers great views alongside the river and toward the ocean in the distance. For further exploration, feel free to join an ice cave tour, a glacier walk, or embark on an ice climbing excursion. 

Next, a quick trip off the main road will bring you into Hof, where you can check out Hofskirkja, the turf church. The act of covering the roof with turf dates back to medieval times and was practiced throughout Europe to offer protection from harsh weather.

Just a few minutes before Jökulsárlón Glacier, you will find another glacier lagoon about 10 minutes from the parking lot—Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Here, you are much closer to the glacier than at Jökulsárlón, with access to better views of all the cracks and crevices.

Next, visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, with the chance to witness one of the most unique sights in Iceland: icebergs floating out to sea, and beached on the black sand. Climb the hill for a better view of the entire area.

Follow the river under the bridge to the ocean, and find many smaller icebergs along the black, sandy shores of "Diamond Beach," where the waves crash, creating a memorable sight. You may be fortunate to see seals, porpoises, or small whales that sometimes hang out in the lagoon or near the shore.

Continue 1 hour to Hofn to spend the night.

Day 3: See the scenic Eastern Fjords - Hofn to Seyðisfjörður

Today, the road from Hofn continues for another 1.5 hours into the East Fjords, winding along the coastline, to Djúpivogur. On the way, you can stretch your legs and take a short walk along the black-rock beach at the Hvalnes Nature Reserve, where you can see an abundance of birdlife. Look out for hundreds of swans in the calm waters below the jagged cliffs.

This small town of Djúpivogur sitting along the fjord makes for a great overnight. Take a short walk (less than 1 mile out and back) along the shore to the lighthouse on the rocks, where you will also have great views of the entire fjords. For coffee or a snack, try homemade cakes from Langabúð. For lunch or dinner, Hótel Framtíð has great fish dishes.

Then, take a short break to stretch the legs at the harbor town of Breiðdalsvík, just 1 minute off Ring Road. While you’re here, stop at Kaupfjelagið, where you will find all sorts of small knickknacks and treats, including fresh bread, local, salted fish, wool clothing, mittens, and hats, or you can pick up a quick meal during your drive.

As you drive north to Egilsstaðir, you have the option to take Route 1 or Route 96 to Route 92. While Route 1 is about 40 minutes shorter, consider taking the scenic route along several picturesque fjords. After a 30-minute drive over the mountain pass, you will be welcomed with amazing views of the fjord below. Once in Seyðisfjörður, you can hike several trails to waterfalls—two are fairly steep, but only take 5-10 minutes, each. Walk inside cool sound sculptures, visit a troll church, and explore the artwork and sculptures around the city.

If you're looking for a longer hike, head to the northern side of the fjord, and find the parking lot just before Langahlid Seydisfirdi accommodation. Park the car, then start hiking along the trail (which starts as a very rough dirt road). After 10-15 minutes you will arrive at the first waterfall, with several more every 10-15 minutes after that. Hike for as long as you like, and the view back down toward the fjord will keep getting better. If you continue for a full 3 hours or so, you will arrive at a lake at the top—called Vestdalsvatn.

Day 4: Dettifoss, Krafla, and geothermal sights to Lake Mývatn

The area surrounding Lake Mývatn has the highest concentration of volcanic and geothermal sights in Iceland. In one day, you can explore pseudocraters, rock formations, lava fields, hike up and around a volcanic crater, dip in a thermal pool in a cave, see mud pools and steam vents, see a lake in a volcano, hike a lava area from another world, and finish the day relaxing at the Jarðböðin Nature Baths with a view over all you just accomplished.

First, however, make the drive from Seyðisfjörður, which is about 2 hours total. En route, about 30 minutes from Lake Mývatn (or on a loop from Husavik and Asbyrgi), stop at Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. A 15-minute hike upstream along the basalt cliffs presents another giant: Selfoss. 

Next, drive past the Krafla Power Station (also worth a stop) and you will find the Viti Crater, part of the Krafla volcanic system. This crater is filled with a bright-blue lake.

Then, take a walk around the Leirhnjúkur geothermal area, which is otherworldly. After a 10-minute walk, you will arrive at some steam vents. Follow the path through lava fields—where you can see where lava oozed over until it cooled. Make sure you stay on the trail, as there are steam vents all around, and the ground can be very hot in other places. You can hike a big loop in around 1 hour to see all the highlights, or stick to the first sights along the wooden path.

At Hverarond, you can walk around various bubbling mud pits and steam vents, admiring the interesting red and orange colors. Exploring the entire area takes 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Relax in the Mývatn Nature Baths, the North’s equivalent of the Blue Lagoon, but with fewer people, a lower cost, and better views. You won’t find all the spa extras that you do at the Blue Lagoon, but you will find a couple of large geothermal pools, a sauna, and a steam room. You can enjoy views down over the lava fields and the craters around Lake Mývatn as you sit in the mineral water.

Day 5: Tour the North - From Mývatn to Laugarbakki

Today, continue discovering the beautiful sights around Lake Mývatn. The below are listed roughly in order as you would approach from the western side of the lake, driving clockwise around the lake.

The Hverfjall cinder cone is hard to miss from anywhere around Lake Mývatn. Climb up the side for a great view of the surrounding area, where you can see the Skútustaðir Pseudocraters and steam from the Mývatn Nature Baths and Hverarönd geothermal area. 

Next, take a 1-hour walk beneath large, strange, contorted Dimmuborgir lava formations, caused when the post-eruption lava flows cooled. You can see the start of the formations with only a 5-minute walk, or hike the small loop in 15 minutes. If you have longer to devote, take your time and walk the bigger loop (2 miles) to see Kirkja (“The Church”), a natural lava formation that resembles a vaulted church arch, and explore a nearby cave a bit further. 

Then, visit the Skútustaðir Pseudocraters, which were formed when hot lava flowed over the wet marsh area causing steam explosions. Take an easy, 1-hour walk among many pseudocraters on the shores of Lake Mývatn, and loop around the smaller lake, Stakhólstjörn. Hike up to a few of them, or just walk around the collection. Enjoy the nice views across the lake, where you will see steam rising from the geothermal areas and other volcanic craters in the distance.

After your in-depth exploration of Lake Mývatn, continue west, and you will soon reach the magnificent Goðafoss Waterfall, “Waterfall of the Gods,” which is impossible to miss. Hike a few minutes to see the waterfall up close, or take a longer walk around for views from different perspectives. The waterfall was named when Iceland converted to Christianity in 1000 CE. The legend says that when Þorgeir Þorkelsson, local chieftain and law speaker, made the tough decision to convert the country from the old Nordic gods to Christianity (in order to prevent war), he threw the old gods into the falls to symbolize the transition into the new era.

If you’d like to add an optional whale-watching tour into the day’s mix, head to Husavik. Unlike in other regions, where you must sail a while to find whales, Husavik often has whales, porpoises, and seabirds swimming just a few minutes from the harbor. Join a tour on some newer, carbon-neutral ships that are quieter (nicer for whales) and don’t pollute the environment (nice for everyone). Consider an excursion with North Sailing, which is right on the harbor (the entire building, restaurant, and café is made from recycled wood).

Iceland’s second-largest city (18,000 people), Akureyri sits on Iceland’s longest fjord and makes a great base for exploring the north. While here, walk around the compact downtown area, visit the Akureyrarkirkja church on the hill, or follow the path along the calm, old harbor and water to see more of the picturesque fjord. This is a good lunch spot before continuing further for the rest of the drive.

Just off Route 1 sits Víðimýrarkirkja Turf Church. Built in 1834, it is one of the only remaining preserved turf churches in Iceland. There has been a church in this area since the year 1000.

Just a 5-10-minute drive off Route 1, along Route 75, a visit to the Glaumbær Farm is a great way to experience the turf houses and to see how Icelanders used to live. The turf helped to insulate the houses during the harsh winters and strong winds. The last person lived in this house until 1947, but the oldest farm in the area dates back to around 874 (during the early Settlement Period).

A short distance from the shore along the Vatnsnes peninsula in Northwest Iceland, you will find the black-and-white rock formation known as Hvítserkur (“White Shirt"), a basalt troll, who, according to the legend, was caught in the sun and turned into stone. While it's a nice sight from above, there’s also a trail leading down from the parking lot. This area is also home to one of the largest seal colonies in Iceland—you can learn more at the Icelandic Seal Center in nearby Hvammstangi.

Day 6: Glymur Falls hike and spend the afternoon in Reykjavík

In the morning, head to Glymur Falls, one of Iceland's tallest waterfalls, for a 2-3-hour hike, depending on how far you go.

Then, continue on back to explore Reykjavík. Walk through compact downtown to check out the unique street art scene. Head to the water for the Sun Voyager Sculpture and the Harpa Concert Hall, with its unique, glass architecture. Visit Hallgrímskirkja, a church on the hill, and take the elevator to the top of the tower for a great view of the city below and panoramic views of the area.

For delicious lunch and dinner recommendations, consider the below:

• Messinn
• Sea Barron
• Kol Restaurant
• The Coocoo's Nest
• Kaffivagninn (lunch only)
• Café Loki

If you are interested in checking out Reykjavík’s nightlife scene, visit the following bars:

• Craft Cocktails
• Mikkeller & Friends
• Skúli Craft Bar
• KEX Hostel Bar (live music on weekends)

Day 7: Morning in Reykjavik, Blue Lagoon soak, and departure

Spend your last day exploring more of Reykjavík. If the need arises to escape inclement weather, consider visiting a few museums in town, such as the Northern Lights Center, Saga Museum, Marine Museum, or Whales of Iceland Exhibition. 

Snack on a world-famous hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur and make a stop by the Blue Lagoon on your drive to the airport, where you can enjoy a geothermal soak before you fly home.

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