Going on a Road Trip in Iceland has been at the top of our bucket list for a long time. So when we went in August 2022, we had sky-high expectations. We’re so happy to report that Iceland was everything that we thought it would be and MORE! Out of 50 countries visited, Iceland now ranks in my #1 spot because if it’s incredible landscapes, friendly people, amazing food, and variety of things to do.
Iceland is a unique and amazing country that should be on everyone’s bucket list. And what better way to explore this beautiful country than by taking a road trip? This seven-day road trip itinerary (modeled after our trip) will take you to some of the most popular and iconic places in Iceland, as well as some hidden gems that are off the beaten path. So buckle up and enjoy the ride!
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General Facts
Before we get started here are some general travel information you should know about Iceland:
Currency: Icelandic Krona (ISK)- We utilized our debit and credit cards without issue. Call your bank ahead of time and inform them you are traveling.
Language: Icelandic is the official language (and quite difficult to learn to pronounce), but most people speak English with ease.
Tipping: Tipping is not required or expected as servers are paid a fair wage, but always appreciated.
Power: In Iceland the power plug sockets are a type F and the standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. Therefore, if coming from the USA you will need both a power adapter and a converter.
Water: The tap water in Iceland is excellent and safe to drink.
Drinking Age: 20 years old
Entry Requirement: U.S. citizens may enter Iceland without a visa for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes. Always check the Embassy website for the latest information.
What to Pack
In terms of weather itself, the climate in Iceland can be pretty unpredictable. In August, temperatures varied from 30s to 60s, with quick swings if storms rolled in. We chose to dress in layers with the top layer being waterproof, so we could adjust mid-hike if we needed to. Here’s a page with some of our clothing and gear picks that really helped us out!
Rental Car, RV, or Tours?
The first decision you’ll have to make is whether to get a rental car, RV, or take tours. This was a heated debate for us because they each provide their own set of pros and cons. Here are the things we considered with each type of vehicle:
RV
An RV offers you more flexibility in your route. Weather changes drastically in Iceland, so sometimes being able to change where you go for the day is a nice option. In Iceland you can no longer camp and you must stay at an RV site (no more parking on the side of the road at night). We were told the RV sites throughout Iceland are pretty minimalistic and we would prefer a nice warm place to shower and be comfortable after long days hiking. We also went at the very end of the season when wind picks up dramatically which, as light sleepers, we weren’t sure if we would enjoy it.
Rental Car
We chose to drive a car and stay at pre-planned hotels. When renting a car it’s important you do so in advance if you want an automatic transmission, because in the high season they get booked out. There are many roads in Iceland called F roads that require 4 wheel drive. Our itinerary doesn’t include them because we didn’t have 4 wheel drive, but there were moments we wished the car we rented could have had the capability. So if you want more flexibility and aren’t on a strict budget, rent a 4 wheel drive vehicle. We were happy with what we rented for this itinerary, but if we go back we plan to do a different route that will include F routes, some of which tend to be unpaved.
Tours from Reykjavik
While we wanted the freedom of having our own transportation we realize some travelers don’t like moving hotels often. If that is the case for you we recommend getting a hotel in Reykjavik and purchasing day tours through Viator to see a lot of Iceland.
Day 1: Reykjavik and Blue Lagoon
After landing in Keflavik International Airport, we drove to Reykjavik (45 minutes) to check into our hotel in Reykjavik and spend the day exploring Iceland’s capital city.
Be sure to visit Hallgrimskirkja, a towering church with stunning views of the city, and Laugavegur, the main shopping street where you can find all sorts of souvenirs and beautifully painted roads. We loved spending our time just strolling this beautiful street and stopping into bars and stores.
If museums interest you there are 2 that are really popular and worth a stop
Perlan – At Perlan you can explore the wonders of Icelandic nature in a truly interactive and captivating way. Travel through a real indoor ice cave, marvel at life-like birds perched atop cliffs, learn about volcanoes with show presentations – all these exciting activities await! Plus don’t forget to check out the Planetarium dome theatre where brilliant Northern Lights virtually dance around you. Best of all is that from this mountaintop viewpoint you’ll be able get breathtaking views over Reykjavik area – ocean horizon included! Come discover why Perlan is one of Iceland’s most treasured landmarks.
National Museum of Iceland – Shows the history of Iceland and it’s transformation from a Viking settlement to present day. A great stop for any history lover.
For meal and drinks, here are a few places that we recommend based on our experience:
- Hlollabatar: This is a casual sandwich eatery with fresh made sandwiches. Honestly, this was our favorite place to eat because the food tasted SO GOOD! Try the sandwiches that have the Piri Piri sauce, they are absolutely delicious.
- Islenski Barinn: This restaurant serves more traditional Icelandic food. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try reindeer or horse burgers, or fermented shark and grilled whale. We went with the lobster hot dogs which were really good!
- Einstok Bar: This is one of the main breweries in Iceland, and it was great to be able to grab a beer and sit outside to people watch. We really enjoyed their Icelandic White Ale.
- Bastard Brew & Food: This brewpub has a really cool vibe & decor, and the mix of craft beers and pub-style food was great.
- Jungle Cocktail Bar: We had an evening drink at this cocktail bar and it did not disappoint. The plants and hanging vines placed around the bar give it a jungly look, and the drinks were varied and creative (try the Cereal Killer, which has cornflakes in it)!
Blue Lagoon
After a day exploring we opted to do the Blue Lagoon and arrived a few hours before sunset, which was 7pm. In August, sunset was at 10pm, and it was magical. We had tempered expectations because we heard that the Blue Lagoon was very touristy and crowded, but we must have lucked out because the crowds were already starting to head out by the time we arrived. Keep in mind sunset in Iceland varies greatly throughout the year so plan accordingly. I highly recommend going at sunset if possible as the lagoon lit up in the most magical colors. We chose the Premium package that included entrance, 3 mud/beauty masks, a towel, a drink, and a bathrobe. We also realized booking directly through the Blue Lagoon was the cheapest option and it also was easy to reschedule through their website if needed. We did not travel with our kids, but saw kids at the lagoon enjoying themselves so it can definitely be a fun family activity. The Blue Lagoon is an activity that you need to book in advance!
Where to Stay in/near Reykjavik
- Canopy Hilton Reykjavik: We stayed at this hotel, because we had free Hilton nights saved up through our credit card. The hotel was beautiful and had the most perfect location in the city, but definitely think there are more budget friendly options for the room size.
- Thingholt by Center Hotels: We stayed here on one of our last nights because it was a budget option and was also very centrally located to Reykjavik downtown. We were able to walk around and see the places we wanted to from here.
- Blue Lagoon Hotel: If budget is not an issue for your trip I would suggest staying at the Blue Lagoon itself. They have 2 types of accommodations: the Silica Hotel and Retreat Hotel. The Retreat is a 5-star luxury hotel directly on property and the Silica Hotel is a more intimate experience a short drive from the Blue Lagoon.
Day 2: Skogafoss
This is where the magic of Iceland really starts to reveal itself! The next two days are focused on making the drive down the southern part of Iceland and seeing incredible waterfalls, canyons, glaciers and lagoons along the way. You’ll start this day by leaving Reykjavik and taking Highway 1 east. You can either load up on snacks/supplies in Reykjavik (there’s a Costco there with good prices), or you can stop in Selfoss town, which is about an hour away. As you drive another hour past Selfoss, you’ll come across the first waterfall, Seljalandsfoss. This waterfall is unique because you can walk behind it, and it’s very easy to get to. You can then hop back on the car and drive another half hour to the next sight.
The highlight of the day (and possibly the whole trip) is the Skogafoss waterfall. Made famous by movies like “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” this waterfall is epic because you can get to the very front of it and feel the water spray on you. Most people end up stopping here, getting close to the waterfall, and leaving. But they’re missing out on so much more! Next to the waterfall there’s a set of stairs where you can go up and see the waterfall from the top. From there, there is a trail that will take you along the Skoga River. This trail is the true gem of Skogafoss, because as you keep going, you’ll keep running across more and more spectacular waterfalls. We went down the trail for about 2.5 miles and must have seen at least a dozen waterfalls, each with their own type of beauty. Even when we stopped and turned around, the trail continued, where there’s a small lodge where you can schedule a simple overnight stay, and then walk to a nearby town to take a shuttle back to Skogafoss. However, we felt like we saw an incredible amount in the 4 hours we were there and this has now become our favorite hike in the world. Do not miss this!!!
After Skogafoss, continue driving east towards Vik where you can visit Reynisfjara Beach, renowned for its black sand, dramatic cliffs, and geometric rock formations. Depending on the time that you get to Vik, you can either stay there, or keep going. We decided to keep going another hour and a half, and stayed at Fosshotel Nupar, which is a pretty remote hotel. This put us about 30 mins away from the Day 3 destination so it made the drive in the morning easier. On our way to Fosshotel Nupar, we watched the sun set at Fjaðrárgljúfur. Fjaðrárgljúfur is a very scenic river canyon with multiple vistas. Admittedly, we were really tired at the end of this day, but it was all completely worth it!
Day 3: Vatnajokull and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Be prepared for another EPIC day, this time with glaciers and iceberg lagoons. In the morning, drive from Vik (or Fosshotel Nupar) to Skaftafell National Park, where you can admire some glaciers from afar. From the Visitor Center there, you can take a hiking tour and go explore one of the glaciers. There are a ton of tour options to choose from in this region, we loved searching on Viator for what interest us the most. We chose to book with Arctic Adventure because they had a dual glacier tour and kayaking at the glacier lagoon nearby (this option is only available May- September). It is important to note that while the tour was promoted like an all in one experience it seemed like 2 separate tours on the actual day. We had to drive ourselves between the hike and the kayak portion, but for the price it was the best deal we found. The glacier tour was amazing, because as much as the glaciers are receding, it’s very likely that this type of experience won’t be possible in the future. We learned so much from our tour guide about how the glacier topography is formed, and some history about the surrounding mountains.
After the glacier hike, we continued driving towards the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon for our next activity. Prior to our kayak tour we had a small amount of time to eat and we were so surprised to find the most amazing food trucks in the parking lot. That day we found fish and chips, lobster rolls, and lobster bisque that were out of this world! The bonus was you could enjoy the food with an incredible view. This lagoon is one of the most scenic lakes we’ve ever seen. As a nearby glacier meets the lagoon, it dumps off chunks of ice, which then float down the lagoon towards a small outlet to the ocean. On the kayaking tour, we were able to get up close and personal with these icebergs. If you’re lucky, you can even see some of the icebergs flip over. There’s also seals that swim and lounge around there. After the kayaking tour, you can walk down to the nearby beach called Diamond Beach, where the icebergs float down drift onto the black sand. The contrast between the black sand and glistening ice was beautiful!
If you are visiting between November and March we would recommend adding an ice cave tour onto this day! It looks incredible, but unfortunately we were there in August so were not able to check it out.
At the end of this experience, you’ll have the option to start driving back towards Reykjavik (which is what we did), or you can stay in the area. Hof and Hofn are two towns where you can find accommodations. We drove about 4 hours back towards Selfoss and stayed at a budget hotel where we spent the night and were closer to start the Golden Circle in the morning. Looking back I think I would have rather stayed in Hof, because we were tired after that long day!
Day 4: Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is a route close to Reykjavik that offers various tourist and natural attractions. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Iceland because the proximity of waterfalls, geysers, craters and canyons along a daytrip route is really convenient. However, this also means that this area is typically the most crowded. If you’re coming from Southern Iceland, it’s easiest to begin counterclockwise, starting with the Kerið Crater. This crater is unique because you can go around the rim and also walk down to a small lake at the bottom. Afterwards, you can drive a few minutes to Skalholt, which is a historic church with a small exhibit showcasing the history of the area. From there, you can drive to Faxafoss, which is a wide waterfall where you can view it from multiple areas, and usually doesn’t draw too many clouds. This. is a great place to stop for a snack and enjoy the view.
For lunch, we recommend visiting Friðheimar, which is a tomato greenhouse that also doubles as a restaurant and bar. This stop needs a reservation! We got lucky and snagged a seat at the bar, but it was crowded. It’s a beautiful setting with some delicious tomato dishes (and you can even try tomato beer). After that, you can visit Gulfoss, one of the largest waterfalls in Europe. These waterfalls are simply breathtaking, especially when you walk down to the lower viewing area.
After Gulfoss, continue westward to reach the geysers. The Strokkur Geyser usually erupts every 8-10 minutes. You can also do a short hike to the top of the hill, where you can get a scenic view of the geysers and surrounding fields. Directly across the street from the geysers is the Hotel Geysir, which is where we stayed for the night. The hotel has a beautiful modern aesthetic (our favorite of this trip), and the restaurant there is delicious. If you want one luxurious night in Iceland this would be my choice!
If you want to finish the Golden Circle and stay in Reykjavik for the night, make sure to visit Thingvellir National Park. At Thingvellir, A UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will step back into history! It’s not only a place of historical and religious significance – you can also witness one-of-a kind natural wonders. Here, between two powerful tectonic plates lies an opportunity to marvel in awe as they part each other ever so slightly beneath your feet. With free entry but paid parking fees, this is a must when traveling on Icelandic soil. The beautiful canyon walk there has also been featured in Game of Thrones. If you are up for an adventure you can even swim between tectonic plates here, which we hear it’s an amazing (but cold) experience.
Day 5: Snæfellsnes Peninsula
These last two days consist of day trips that you can take from Reykjavik. On this day, we chose to drive to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, which is about 2 hours northwest of Reykjavik. This peninsula is a microcosm of the beauty of Iceland. It has waterfalls, iconic mountains, glaciers, craters, seaside cliffs, lighthouses, and more. We did our trip around the peninsula counterclockwise, starting with Kirkjufell Mountain. Kirkjufell Mountain is one of the most iconic sights in Iceland because of it’s striking jagged look, and was also a setting in Game of Thrones. There’s a beautiful area with waterfalls where you can enjoy the view.
From there you can make stops at the Svortuloft Lighthouse, Saxholl Crater and Djúpalónssandur black sand beach depending on what you want to see. When you get to the southeast part of the peninsula you’ll come across the towns of Hellnar and Arnarstapi. We stopped in Arnarstapi because there’s a scenic rock bridge that we took some pictures at, but the two towns have some beautiful cliff views and short hikes available. As you complete the peninsula drive, you can stop at Budakirkja, which is a picturesque black church. If you’re feeling up to a moderate uphill hike, you can check out Bjarnarfoss, a waterfall at the top of a hill. You can then return to Reykjavik to enjoy the evening in the city.
Day 6: Landmannalaugar or Reykjavik
On our last day in Iceland, we decided to stay in Reykjavik and enjoy the day walking around the city. However, if you’re still up for more adventure. You can take a day trip to Landmannalaugar. This is a striking set of mountains in the highlands and requires 4-wheel drive to get to.
However, there are organized tours available from Reykjavik that will take you there. I think those tours are about 12 hours long though, so it’s a full-day event. But it might be worth it to catch some views of those radiant, colorful mountains. Here are a few tours that looked like tons of fun from Reykjavik:
Extra Thoughts
By the end of our weeklong road trip, we were extremely satisfied, but exhausted. This road trip has you driving on average 3-4 hours per day. If your trip is shorter than 1 week, we recommend that you focus on southern Iceland and visit Skogafoss, Vatnajokull Glacier and Jokulsarlon Lagoon. Those were the absolute highlights of our trip.
Volcano Visits
Also, if you happen to go at a time when a volcano is actively erupting, make sure you prioritize seeing that volcano! We were fortunate to go during an active eruption, and it was incredible. The day after, though, the volcano stopped erupting so it was no longer an option for many people. So make sure you schedule the volcano visit first and check this website because sometimes the trails are closed due to weather and wind patterns.
Ultimately, we hope you have an incredible time on your visit to Iceland! Next time we are absolutely taking our kids so they can witness the magic of this beautiful country. If you have any questions or want more recommendations, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Instagram @thejetsettingfamily. Happy Jetsetting!
