Iceland's tourism continues to boom, and for good reason: with it's endless natural beauty, easy-to-navigate Ring Road, friendly locals and various outdoor activities, you're sure to fall in love with the country. The Land of Fire and Ice has so much to offer and one of the biggest issues I faced during the planning process was deciding on our route around the island. You may not know where to begin because even with the plethora of internet information out there it can still be confusing. Below, I'll give you a detailed look into my 8-day Iceland roadtrip itinerary. This itinerary is what my group of 4 decided was best for us to have an enjoyable time, but you may decide you'd like to switch up your route and/or activities, which is fine!
I'll begin with a short intro on the planning process and tips for driving around Iceland, followed by a run down of what we did (or didn't get to) do on each day, including notable tours, excursions, sites and a ton of tips throughout the itinerary. Accommodations and places to eat will also be included. Lastly, I'll note what worked within our itinerary and what I would change for my next visit. Several links below are of affiliate nature, meaning that a small commission may be received by myself when you purchase through them. This is in support of Black Girl Wanderer, to create more travel blogs for you to enjoy!
Table Of Content
6. Day 4 - Gushing Geysirs & An Unexpected Journey
11. Final Thoughts
Other related Iceland Posts:
3. Full, Comprehensive Travel Guide to Iceland - Coming Soon
Planning Your Trip to Iceland
This is one of the most crucial parts to having an amazing trip - The planning process! My first suggestion would be to join a Facebook group that can provide insider tips to visiting the country. It was SUPER helpful for me since topics that I wouldn't have considered were discussed often. You'll also want to decide how long you're staying; this will ultimately determine your route, activities and places to visit since a lot of driving is required to get to most sites. Due to this, I definitely suggest renting a car over booking tours because you'll not only save money, but you'll avoid eating up a lot of travel time since most tours start from Reykjavik.
My group decided to visit Iceland at the end of September, right after Fall Equinox (due to cheaper flights and higher possibility of catching the Northern Lights). We decided on an unorthodox route around the island, instead of starting in the capital of Reykjavik like most first time visitors, we opted to initially bypass Reykjavik, with our home base starting in Vík, and then traveling further east to Höfn, making our way back West to Tungufell (within the Golden Circle), heading North to Varmahlid, and then work our way back down to Reykjavik for the final 3 days of our trip.
Driving in Iceland
Driving in Iceland isn't too difficult; the Ring Road was made to be easily navigable and they drive on the right-hand side of the road like we do in the US. Weather conditions can greatly alter ease of travel, so be sure to download the SafeTravel Iceland app to keep up to date with safety and weather conditions on your route.
When booking your rental, be aware of whether or not you're choosing a manual vs automatic car, especially since automatic cars are less available and more expensive. I also highly suggest getting the extra Gravel Protection insurance offered by the rental company because you'll likely have to drive across rocky terrain, and certainly will if you drive on F roads. You'll want to make sure the car is covered for any damages. Depending on your planned route, I would consider getting Ash/Sand Protection and Water Damage protection as well. There are tons of rental companies to choose from, both US and Iceland based; we went with Enterprise but also considered Cars Iceland.
Things to be aware of while driving in Iceland: Be sure to adhere to the speed limit because you could receive a hefty fine. Also make sure to carefully study your routes to each destination; our group accidentally ended up on an F road while on our way to the North of the country but were lucky enough to not have any flat tires. You may have to slow or come to a complete stop for any crossing animals such as horses or sheep, (this happened to us with a herd of sheep and it was the cutest thing ever! I was fascinated) so please be patient. Be careful when stopping on the side of the road to get pictures, as this could be dangerous. Typically if it's safe, you'll notice an area to pull off or a signed-off rest area on the side of the road that allows you take a break safely. Finally, when stopping to get gas, be sure to use a card with a pin number and never choose the "Fill" option, as this could put a $200-300 hold on your card; choose the highest amount of ISK instead. You should also be aware of single lane bridge crossings. There are quite a few of them, especially in the South. Be sure to stop at the designated line and watch the traffic light signal to let you know if there is any oncoming traffic. There may be times where you or the person on the other side of the bridge may need to back up completely off the bridge so that you both can pass safely.
Day 1- Hit the Ground Runnin'
If you're coming from North America like I did, your flight will likely land early in the morning, around 6 or 7 am. This is the perfect opportunity to grab your rental, a quick bite to eat and head out on an adventure! Like I stated before, my group decided our home base would start in Vík, which is about a 3 hour drive from Keflavik airport. On the journey to our hotel we took the opportunity to visit famous sites along the South Coast like Seljalandfoss (2nd photo), Skogafoss (3rd photo; be sure to hike to the top!) and Reynisfkara (THE Black Sand Beach; 1st photo). The pictures honestly don't do any of it justice! After a long day of hiking up waterfalls, sight seeing and grocery shopping, we checked into our hotel that would be our home for the next two nights and got some much needed rest.
Where to Stay
Things to See
Seljalandfoss
Skogafoss
Reynisfjara
Where to Eat
Breakfast - Kökulist bakery
Lunch - Black Beach Restaurant
Dinner - Berg Restaurant on Hotel property or Strondin Pub
Groceries - Any nearby Bónus or Krónan
Quick Tips: Be aware that you''ll need to pay a small parking fee in the lot to get to Seljalandfoss and be sure to wear warm, layerable, waterproof clothing! Also, if you can manage it do take the stairs up Skogafoss, there are other beautiful landscapes to discover at the top!
Day 2 - A Forced Day of Calm
As you've probably heard or know from personal experience, Iceland's weather can be very unpredictable. We experienced this first-hand on the second day of our trip when we were forced to stay inside for most of the day - hurricane-force winds caused the main road to be closed. I even witnessed one of the flag poles in front our hotel snap in half! All was not lost; we all got to sleep in and take some time to relax. I even found a cozy nook in one of the hotel seating areas. Once the winds calmed down we were able to venture out for food and get a proper feel for the town of Vík, choosing to enjoy a more traditional meal at Halldórskaffi for lunch and taking in the views from the local black sand beach. That night while searching for something to eat, we were delighted to be greeted by the breathtaking Northern Lights, a once-in-a-lifetime beauty!
Things to See/Do
Vikurfjara (Vík's own black sand beach)
Take a hike up to Reyniskirkja Church
Enjoy the Vik Lava Show
Where to Eat
Breakfast - Our stay at Vík I Myrdal included breakfast
Lunch - Halldórskaffi (super quaint with more traditional, delicious Icelandic food)
Dinner - Strondin Pub part 2! (The food did exactly what it needed to the first time)
Quick Tip: Consider holding off on purchasing any Northern Lights tours because you may be able to catch them on your own! Be aware that you need clear skies with little light pollution. Download apps like MyAurora Forecast to help, but don't be disappointed if you don't see them immediately, as it can take a few tries. They'll show themselves to you when it's time.
Day 3 - Ice, Ice Baby
For the third day of our trip, we planned to drive 2 and a half hours further east towards Diamond Beach and Glacier Lagoon (Jökulsárlón), which are right across from one another, and then make our way to the town of Höfn so that we could eat at the well-loved seafood restaurant Pakkhús. Unfortunately, the hurricane-force winds from yesterday were still present, with their severity not allowing us to drive past Diamond Beach/Glacier Lagoon (it was actually pretty difficult driving overall this day, I wouldn't recommend driving through strong winds if you're uncomfortable). There were literal police turning folks around to head back West, so we couldn't make it to Höfn and instead decided to make our way to our next accommodation near the Golden Circle (Tungufell), which was about a 4 hour drive.
Where to Stay
Things to See
Diamond Beach
Glacier Lagoon (Jökulsárlón)
Reynisfjara
Where to Eat
Nailed It Fish & Chips
Wok On (located in Vík, where we stopped on our way to Accommodation #2)
There's also several gas stations/pit stops where you can eat as well (Tip: try the hot chocolate!)
Day 4 - Gushing Geysirs & An Unexpected Journey
We decided to only spend a day exploring the Golden Circle, since our group was mostly interested in visiting the Geysir Geothermal Area and taking some time to relax at The Secret Lagoon. We spent about an hour and a half watching and waiting to see the famous Strokkur eruption (this happens about every 5-10 minutes), then walked around the rest of the grounds to see Geysir. We did end up passing on The Secret Lagoon; hopped back in the car and made our way up to our North Iceland accommodations early. On our way, we made a quick stop to view Gullfoss, the largest volume waterfall in Europe and it was SUCH a sight to behold. After that, we were definitely in for a shock: completely unaware that our GPS would take us on a 2 hour drive through F-roads; Had we known this beforehand we would've started the journey earlier, topped up our gas and possibly found a new route, but instead had to push through due to time and little to no phone service. The car we rented wasn't ideal for driving through unpredictable F-road terrain, but thank God there were no issues with the vehicle and we made it to our log cabin stay for the night safely.
Where to Stay
Things to See/Do
Geysir Geothermal Park
The Secret Lagoon
Gullfoss
Local Varmahlid Hot Springs
Where to Eat
Fridheimar (be sure to book in advance)
Gullfoss Panorama Restaurant
Quick Tips: Make sure to study your travel route(s) beforehand so that you're not unexpectedly driving through F-roads, and be sure to have either pocket wi-fi or some sort of hot-spot in case you get stranded and need to call for help.
Day 5 - The Blue Lagoon & Good Eats
After a short but beautiful one-night stay in Varmahlid, we packed up early the next morning and took a 4 hour scenic drive back South to spend the final days of our trip in Iceland's capital, Reykjavik. Our first activity for the day was a relaxing visit to the iconic Blue Lagoon until dark, where we lazed around in deliciously warm hot spring water; our faces covered in white silica masks while sipping on our 1 free complimentary drink. This costed ~$80 for the Comfort package, but prices are dependent on the date and time you visit. After our time there we enjoyed a legitimately mouth-watering meal at PÜNK for dinner and then finally checked in to our apartment that I discovered on booking.com. Parking in the city can be a bit tricky, so be sure to download the Parka.is app to find the best spot. You can pay the parking fee through the app as well!
Where to Stay
Things to See/Do
Blue Lagoon
Where to Eat
The cafe in Blue Lagoon has delicious sushi! Or stop at Papa's Restaurant nearby.
Quick Tips: For those that want to avoid dry and brittle hair, lather it in conditioner and tie it up (don't rinse the conditioner until after you're done with your visit) to protect it from the silica in Blue Lagoon's water. Also, you will need to shower before getting into the Lagoon, but there are showers with doors located in the Women's lockers.
Day 6 - There's So Much To Do! And Eat!
For our first full day in the city, we took advantage of exploring all that we could despite the cold, rainy weather. Starting with a delicious brunch at Sandholt, we then took the day to visit several souvenir and thrift shops in search of Iceland's famed wool-knit sweaters and other local goodies like teas, gin, and chocolate to bring back home to our friends and family. After that, we took the time to view the famous Hallgrimskirkja from the outside, gape at the Sun Voyager, and enjoy some beautiful art and warmth inside Art Gallery 101.
Things to See/Do
Hallgrimskirkja
Sun Voyager
Shop/Thrift along Laugavegur Street
Visit Art Gallery 101
Where to Eat
Day 7 - Sky Lagoon
For our last day in Iceland we decided to take the day to relax and reset, and what better way to do that than to visit the luxurious Sky Lagoon. I came across tons of debate over which is better, Blue Lagoon vs Sky Lagoon, but to be honest I loved both! They each have their own benefits that you're unable to experience at the other, so if you're able to experience both please do. Sky Lagoon has 4 packages available for purchase, and I suggest the Pure Pass. You're able to complete the 7-step ritual and the only real difference with the upgrade to Sky Pass is a private change room and towel. The 7-step ritual consists of soaking in the lagoon (as long as you'd like), a cold plunge pool, dry sauna, refreshing mist, wet sauna, and finally a cooling shower. Then you can go right back into the lagoon for as long as you'd like! The perfect ending to an unforgettable trip.
Things to Do
Where to Eat/Drink
The Laundromat Cafe (Breakfast/Brunch)
Grillmarkadurnin (be sure to reserve in advance)
Jungle Cocktail Bar
Day 8 - Day of Departure
After packing up our stuff and checking out of our apartment, it was sadly time to head home. Checking in at the airport was pretty seamless, and we picked up a few more souvenirs to take home. A tip: if you're eligible for tax exemption (VAT refund if your total purchase on each receipt is at least ISK 6000 on merch/goods) from your shopping, be sure to find the Tax Refund counter in the arrival hall. You'll need to do this before checking any luggage, and you'll also need to fill out the Tax form and provide proof of receipt. Your refund will be sent to the card that the purchase was made on, within 4-6 weeks.
Also be aware that when traveling with Duty-Free liquor, if you have a layover in the US and need to go through TSA, be sure that the bottle you purchased is transparent. If it's opaque, there's no proper way to test for chemicals and it will have to be confiscated (trust me, I learned the hard way).
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