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Choose Your Ideal Iceland Trip Itinerary

08-08-2024

Road Trips in Iceland

    The Land of Fire and Ice has been explored since the Settler Era over a thousand years ago when the Vikings came ashore on the island. Unlike the Vikings, most visitors today are not here to stay, but rather explore the country throughout a couple of days.

    Whether you want to see a specific part of the country or cover as much area as possible, following an Iceland itinerary is the key to getting the most out of your holiday. In this article, we cover all bases as we break down how we would have planned our time on this stunning island.

    A 3-day Iceland Itinerary

    A 3-day Iceland trip itinerary can be the quick remedy needed to get out of the daily routine. Below is an example of how we would have planned a 3-day Iceland itinerary. It is for one day to relax and two days to travel. If you would rather relax on your last day, you can make the trip in reverse.

    Day One

    Today, you arrive in Iceland, and getting things in order is at the top of the list. Head to Reykjavik and secure your car or motorhome before you start gathering supplies for the trip. That usually doesn’t take much time, so you can spend the rest of the day enjoying the capital region and relaxing in any way you’d like.

    Things to see in Reykjavik:

    Where to stay in Reykjavik:

    View of Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach in Reykjavik, Iceland, featuring calm waters, sandy shores, and people enjoying the unique geothermal experience.

    Day Two – The Golden Circle

    The Golden Circle is the most popular road trip route in Iceland and is, fortunately, not very long. It is a modest 250-kilometer round trip, but only 190 kilometers long to the final destination of the day: Selfoss.

    Things to see along the route:

    Where to stay in Selfoss:

    • Gesthus Selfoss offers bungalows and summerhouses for the ones who want to stay indoors, and a campsite for tents, campervans, and motorhomes.
    • Hotel South Coast is an option if you rather want to stay in luxury.

    Breathtaking view of a small waterfall in Thingvellir National Park, Iceland, surrounded by vast green plains and mountains under a dramatic sky.

    Day Three – The Icelandic South Coast

    After a night’s rest in Selfoss, it’s time to hit the Viking Riviera – or the South Coast of Iceland as it is also known. This stretch is going to be about 420 kilometers long but will be a back-and-forth trip along the Ring Road, which will be an easy leg of a south Iceland itinerary. The route goes from Selfoss to Vík i Mýrdal and ends in Reykjavik, or Keflavik if you have to go straight to the airport.

    Things to see along the route:

    Panoramic view of Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach in Iceland with striking sea stacks, dramatic cliffs, and the Atlantic Ocean under a clear blue sky.

    A 5-day Iceland Itinerary: Exploring the South and West of Iceland

    If you manage to get 5 days off and you want to make the most of a trip to the Land of Fire and Ice, this Iceland travel itinerary will suit you perfectly. On this adventure, we take on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, the Golden Circle, and the Viking Riviera.

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    Day One – Towards the Snaefellsnes Peninsula

    This route takes you to Grundarfjördur on the Snaefellsnnes Peninsula. If you’re short of time, you can choose to go directly, to Grundafjördur via Road 54 and Road 56, which will be about 180 kilometers and take roughly 2 and a half hours. If you’re not in a hurry, you can loop around the entire Snaefellsnes Peninsula which adds 80 kilometers and roughly an hour to your travels.

    Things to see along the route:

    Where to stay in Grundafjördur:

    Coastal view of Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland with a white house perched near the rugged shoreline, backed by a towering mountain under a partly cloudy blue sky.

    Day Two – The Golden Way South

    On your way south, you will aim to be in Selfoss by late afternoon and drive most of the Golden Circle. This route will take you from Grundafjördur to Gullfoss Waterfall and then to Selfoss. You will be able to see all the things described on the second day of the 3-day itinerary above and you will be able to stay in the same places.

    This leg of the Iceland Itinerary is about 330 kilometers long and will require roughly 4 and a half hours on the road.

    Spectacular view of Selfoss Waterfall in Iceland at dusk, with powerful water flow, rugged volcanic landscape, and a colorful sunset sky.

    Day Three – Black Sand Beaches and Waterfalls

    With two hectic days in the backpack, this will be the shortest leg of your trip. Today, the aim is to calmly get from Selfoss to Vík i Mýrdal with plenty of leg-stretchers along the way. This part of the Iceland Itinerary is only 130 kilometers and takes 1 hour and 40 minutes to drive, so it’s the perfect day to have a slow morning and calm afternoon.

    You can see the same things as listed on day three in the 3-day Iceland itinerary above, except for the Geothermal River since it is between Reykjavik and Selfoss.

    Where to stay in Vík:

    • Vik Camping is available for those who want to sleep close to nature.
    • The Barn Hostel for a unique hostel experience just west of Vík.
    • Hótel Kría if you want to experience luxury on the south coast.

    Day Four – Cool Off in the Lagoon

    The aim of today is to visit Jökulsarlón Glacial Lagoon and end the day in Vík again. This part of the trip is about 380 kilometers back and forth to the lagoon and will take about 4 hours and 40 minutes to drive.

    Things to see along the way:

    • Jökulsarlón Glacial Lagoon
    • Skaftafellsjökull Glacier
    • Fjallsarlón Glacial Lagoon
    • Svinafellsjökull Glacier
    • Orustuhóll “Battle Hill”
    • Fossálar Waterfall
    • Eldhraun Lava Fields
    • Gígjagjá Cave

    Day Five – The Way Back

    Today, the only road you will be taking is the 185-kilometer-long road from Vík to Reykjavik. This is another easy travel day on this Iceland self-drive itinerary and only has about 2 hours and 20 minutes of travel time, making it perfect for a relaxing day like day one in the 3-day itinerary, or good for catching a flight in the early afternoon.  

    Scenic road trip view with a camper van driving on the open road from Vik to Reykjavik, Iceland, during a stunning sunset with vibrant orange skies

    A 7-day Iceland Itinerary

    A full week is perfect for the ultimate Ring Road holiday. If you have the time, try to squeeze in the Golden Circle on the first or last day of the trip.

    Day One – Settle in and Get Ready

    Just like the first day of the 3-day itinerary, the aim today is getting ready and preparing for the trip. Get your car, campervan, or motorhome, and start stocking up on things you’ll need along the way.

    Day Two – To the North

    Today, you’ll spend most of the day driving, so make sure you have everything ready for a couple of hours in the car on your way from Reykjavik to Akureyri. This leg of the Iceland vacation itinerary is about 390 kilometers long and will take almost five hours to drive.

    Things to see along the route:

    Where to stay in Akureyri:

    Day Three – Diamond Circle

    Today, you’ll drive the Diamond Circle and enjoy all the sites along the 200-kilometer-long route. You will start the day in Akureyri and end it in Reykjahlid.

    Things to see along the route:

    • Godafoss Waterfall
    • Húsavik Town
    • Ásbyrgi Canyon
    • Dettifoss Waterfall
    • Mývatn Lake
    • Mývatn Geothermal Area

    Where to stay in Reykjahlid:

    • Hlid Mývatn has everything, including cottages, a bed and breakfast, a hostel, and areas for pitching tents, motorhomes, and campervans.
    • Berjaya Mývatn Hotel just west of Reykjahlid offers a unique hotel stay with memorabilia from the pioneers of the hospitality industry in the area.

    Day Four – Heading South

    The aim of the day is to drive the Ring Road from Reykjahlid to Höfn, allowing you to experience some of the East Icelandic Fjords. This trip is a total of 416 kilometers long and takes just over 5 hours to drive if you don’t make any stops. We do, however, recommend a short detour to Studlagil Canyon, which adds about 40 kilometers and 50 minutes to your trip (excluding the time you spend there).

    Things to see along the route:

    • Studlagil Canyon
    • Vök Baths
    • Stokksnes Peninsula
    • Meleyri Black Sand Beach
    • Skútafoss Waterfall

    Where to stay in Höfn:

    Day Five – Jökulsarlón and Black Sand Beaches

    Today, we go from Höfn to Vík I Mýrdal with a stopover at Jökulsarlón Glacier Lagoon. This leg of the Iceland itinerary will be roughly 270 kilometers long and take 3 hours and 20 minutes to drive.

    From Höfn to Jökulsarlon, there aren’t many stops to make other than occasional lookout spots. For things to do from Jökulsarlon to Vík, you can check Day Four of the 5-day Iceland Itinerary earlier.  

    Day Six – Heading Back

    Today will be the same as Day Five of the 5-Day Iceland Itinerary earlier, with the added benefit of having an entire day to spend on your way back. We recommend taking this time to visit the unique Reykjadalur Geothermal River just north of the town of Hveragerdi.

    Day Seven – Relax

    Today, you take a breather and get your things in order before you have to leave. It’s a perfect day to spend in Reykjavik with some leisurely strolls and shopping in the capital, or maybe a trip to the Blue Lagoon or the Sky Lagoon to wash off the dust of the road.

    A 10-day Iceland Itinerary

    If you have 10 days to spare in Iceland, simply add days to the 7-day Iceland Itinerary.

    Between Day One and Two

    Add a day on the Snaefellsnnes Peninsula like Day One of the 5-day Iceland Itinerary.

    Between Day Five and Six

    Stop at Skaftafell Nature Reserve instead of Vík and see things like:

    • Svartifoss Waterfall
    • Hundafoss Waterfall
    • Sel Turf House
    • Skaftafellsjökull Glacier
    • Svinafellsjökull Glacier

    Add the Golden Circle

    At the beginning or end of your trip around Iceland, you can add a day driving the Golden Circle just like Day Two in the 3-Day Iceland Itinerary. The only difference would be that if you add it to the end of your trip, you would do it in reverse and if you add it in the beginning, you will start and end in Reykjavik.

    Make the Most of Your Iceland Itinerary

    When you are galivanting around one of the most amazing places on earth, it’s important to remember to enjoy the moments you have instead of thinking about where to go next. With the best Iceland itinerary, it becomes easier to not have to think of where to go next and rather think about all the cool places to visit along the way.

    The best way to cover all bases is to rent a motorhome in Iceland and take charge of your adventure. Iceland is a camper-friendly country with more than enough camp spots that will make a travel plan easy to make and follow. You have more than one Iceland sample itinerary to choose from, so the only thing that waits for you is the adventure!

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