How many days do you need in Reykjavík, Golden Circle, South Coast & Snæfellsnes Peninsula:?
- Most travelers spend 7-8 days in Reykjavík, Golden Circle, South Coast, and Snæfellsnes Peninsula combined
- Visiting Reykjavík, Golden Circle, South Coast, and Snæfellsnes Peninsula in 5 or 6 days is possible, but will feel rushed
- With 9 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
- The most common extensions are West Iceland, Westman Islands, and Reykjanes Peninsula
How Many Days to Spend in Iceland
Recommended Itineraries for Reykjavík, Golden Circle, South Coast, and Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Recommended Itinerary for 1 Week
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Reykjavík, Pick Up Rental Car, Drive to Snæfellsnes Peninsula | Snæfellsnes Peninsula |
| Day 2 | Explore Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Black-Sand Beaches & Fishing Towns | Snæfellsnes Peninsula |
| Day 3 | Drive the Golden Circle | Golden Circle |
| Day 4 | Drive to the South Coast & Explore Waterfalls, Black-Sand Beaches & Cliffs | Kirkjubæjarklaustur |
| Day 5 | Discover Skaftafell, Svartifoss & Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon | Kirkjubæjarklaustur |
| Day 6 | Drive to Reykjavík via the South Coast | Reykjavík |
| Day 7 | Explore Reykjanes Peninsula, Depart Reykjavík |
In one week, enjoy three of Iceland's most beautiful regions. Explore the black-sand beaches, cliffs, and fishing towns along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, the geothermal geological highlights in the Golden Circle, and the stunning waterfalls and glaciers along the South Coast. The trip closes out with a visit to Reykjavík and a tour of the Reykjanes Peninsula highlights, including several opportunities to soak in natural hot springs and lagoons. Read more
Recommended Itinerary for 8 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival and Downtown Reykjavik | Reykjavík |
| Day 2 | Drive to Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Hike in Glymur Falls, & Visit Borgarnes | Snæfellsnes Peninsula |
| Day 3 | Snaefellsnes Peninsula - Black-Sand Beaches & Fishing Towns | Snæfellsnes Peninsula |
| Day 4 | Explore Snæfellsnes Peninsula & Travel to Golden Circle | Golden Circle |
| Day 5 | The South Coast to Vik: Waterfalls, Beaches, Cliffs | Vík |
| Day 6 | Vik to Skaftafell, Svartifoss, and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon | Vík |
| Day 7 | Drive & Explore South Coast Back to Reykjavik | Reykjavík |
| Day 8 | Visit the Reykjanes Peninsula & Depart From Reykjavík |
This fun self-drive itinerary provides a mix of popular highlights (South Coast, Golden Circle) with off-the-beaten-path gems (Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Reykjanes Peninsula) for a real Icelandic adventure. After a day in Reykjavík, you'll head west for hiking, lava fields, and small fishing towns along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula (called "Iceland in miniature"). You'll then hit the blockbuster sights of the Golden Circle before finishing on the south coast with black sand beaches, waterfalls, and massive glaciers. Read more
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Extended Itineraries
10-Day Itinerary Including East Fjords, Lake Mývatn & Akureyri
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival and Downtown Reykjavik | Reykjavík |
| Day 2 | North to Glymur Falls and Snaefellsnes Peninsula | Snæfellsnes Peninsula |
| Day 3 | Scenic Drive from the Snæfellsnes Peninsula to Akureyri | Akureyri |
| Day 4 | The North: Godafoss, Whale Watching, and Big Waterfalls | Lake Mývatn |
| Day 5 | Geological Wonders of Lake Myvatn | Lake Mývatn |
| Day 6 | Scenic Eastern Fjords | Seydisfjordur |
| Day 7 | Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach, Skaftafell | Kirkjubæjarklaustur |
| Day 8 | South Coast Waterfalls, Black Sand Beaches & the Start of the Golden Circle | Golden Circle |
| Day 9 | Golden Circle & Back to Reykjavík | Reykjavík |
| Day 10 | Visit the Reykjanes Peninsula, Depart Reykjavík |
With 10 days on the road, you can discover a variety of regions and landscapes as you loop around Iceland's famous Route 1 (Ring Road). This moderately paced self-drive itinerary will take you to the best spots along the 828-mile (1,332 km) route, with stops in its two biggest cities, as well as volcanoes, waterfalls, lava fields, black sand beaches, small fishing towns, and massive glaciers, as well as major attractions in the Golden Circle. This is going to be one gorgeous ride! Read more
12-Day Itinerary Including East Fjords, Lake Mývatn & Laugarbakki
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival in Keflavík, Reykjanes peninsula, ATV Tour | Golden Circle |
| Day 2 | Golden Circle, Fontana Geothermal Baths | Golden Circle |
| Day 3 | Hvolsvollur to Thorsmork, Thorsmork Nature Reserve, Transfer to Hvolsvollur, South Coast waterfalls & black sand beaches | Vík |
| Day 4 | Zipline Adventure Tour, South Coast waterfalls & black sand beaches, Icelandic horse riding tour | Vík |
| Day 5 | Fjadrargljufur canyon, Skaftafell Nature Reserve & Glacier Lagoons | Höfn |
| Day 6 | The Eastfjords, The Geothermal Vok Baths | Egilsstaðir |
| Day 7 | Studlagil canyon, The wonders of Lake Myvatn | Lake Mývatn |
| Day 8 | Dettifoss, Jokulsargljufur & Husavik, The wonders of Lake Myvatn | Lake Mývatn |
| Day 9 | North West Iceland, Akureyri & Godafoss, Bjórböðin Beer Baths | Laugarbakki |
| Day 10 | The wonders of Snaefellsnes | Snæfellsnes Peninsula |
| Day 11 | The wonders of Snaefellsnes, Lava cave tour, Reykjavík | Reykjavík |
| Day 12 | Exploring Downtown Reykjavik, Departure |
Packed with exciting activities from the off-beat to iconic experiences, this 12-day self-drive adventure also explores a long wishlist of Iceland's top sites, from Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and the geological wonders of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula to Gullfoss, Dettifoss, and Goðafoss waterfalls. You'll thrill to ziplining, rides by ATV and horseback on black-sand beaches, hiking in Þórsmörk and Fjaðrárgljúfur canyons, and soaks in geothermal lagoons and even a beer-filled hot tub. Read more
2-Week Itinerary Including Westfjords, East Fjords, Lake Mývatn & Akureyri
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Reykjavík, Explore | Reykjavík |
| Day 2 | North to Glymur Falls and Snaefellsnes Peninsula | Snæfellsnes Peninsula |
| Day 3 | Snaefellsnes Peninsula - Black-Sand Beaches & Fishing Towns | Snæfellsnes Peninsula |
| Day 4 | Ferry From Snaefellsnes Peninsula to the Westfjords | Patreksfjörður |
| Day 5 | Southern Westfjords: Látrabjarg & Dynjandi | Ísafjörður |
| Day 6 | Isafjordur or Hornstrandir Hiking | Ísafjörður |
| Day 7 | Scenic Drive from Isafjordur to Akureyri | Akureyri |
| Day 8 | The North: Godafoss, Whale Watching, and Big Waterfalls | Lake Mývatn |
| Day 9 | Geological Wonders of Lake Myvatn | Lake Mývatn |
| Day 10 | Scenic Eastern Fjords | Seydisfjordur |
| Day 11 | Seydisfjordur to Djúpivogur | Djupivogur |
| Day 12 | Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach, Skaftafell | Kirkjubæjarklaustur |
| Day 13 | South Coast Waterfalls, Black Sand Beaches & the Start of the Golden Circle | Golden Circle |
| Day 14 | Return to Reykjavík |
With two weeks in Iceland, you can complete the entire Ring Road and add incredible detours. This grand tour will take you to all the best places giving you plenty of time to hike, explore, and soak it all in. This 14-day itinerary covers all the major regions except the highlands, which you can see with a couple more days or by spending less time in some of the areas below. Read more
How to travel between Reykjavík, Golden Circle, South Coast & Snæfellsnes Peninsula
How to get to Snæfellsnes Peninsula
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is easily accessed by driving, and it's possible to tour the entire area in a full day—however, it's wise to allow for more time to really explore the expansive beauty. Read more
How to get to the South Coast of Iceland
The South Coast of Iceland, spanning from just outside the capital city of Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón, is easily drivable along the Ring Road highway (Route 1). The beginning of the route is easily accessible from both the international airport in Keflavík and the domestic airport in Reykjavík, or via downtown Reykjavík, with a 45-minute drive. Read more
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