Our Iceland Ring Road itinerary uncovers what makes this land so unique from the most popular must-see attractions on the Ring Road, to out-of-the-way places complete with endless scenic indulgence and exciting experiences. Here’s how to spend 10 days in Iceland.
By: Paul Healy | Last Updated: | Comments & Questions
Iceland is a unique destination. Perched on the mid-Atlantic ridge where the Earth’s crust is thin, it’s a volcanic wonderland. Black lava fields drop from towering volcanos, sulphurous vents scar the land and colourful mountains rise above crystal-blue lakes.
It’s a stunningly beautiful country.
The Ring Road which circles the exterior has become a rite of passage for many road trippers. But to appreciate the power of nature and the utter desolation of the country, our 10-day itinerary also includes jaunts into the central highlands where the crowds disappear, and the landscapes are at their most magnificent.
We’ve developed this Iceland Ring Road itinerary so that it can be followed in either summer or winter, with suggestions for how to extend your vacation if you have more time, as well as additional reading to help you plan an epic Iceland excursion.
For more ideas, read our Iceland itinerary suggestions and our complete guide to the best places to visit in Iceland.
IN THIS GUIDE
ICELAND RING ROAD ITINERARY OVERVIEW
DAY 1 – REYKJAVÍK
DAY 2 – GOLDEN CIRCLE
DAY 3 – HIGHLANDS
DAY 4 – SKÓGAFOSS & DYRHÓLAEY
DAY 5 – SKAFTAFELL & JÖKULSÁRLÓN
DAY 6 – EASTFJORDS
DAY 7 – STUÐLAGIL & MÝVATN
DAY 8 – HUSAVÍK & DETTIFOSS
DAY 9 – NORTH ICELAND
DAY 10 – FAGRADALSFJALL
RING ROAD ITINERARY MAP
Our Ring Road itinerary spends 10 glorious days taking in some of the best sights Iceland has to offer. The below map includes all the main stops on this itinerary with each red marker representing the day.
USING OUR MAPS. Click on the top right corner to open in the Google Maps app. Click on the star to save to your Google account.
WHEN TO DO THE RING ROAD?
Our favourite time to visit Iceland is over the summer period when the F-roads are open and the incredible landscapes in the highlands are accessible to anyone with a 4×4 vehicle.
However, we’ve developed this Ring Road itinerary so that it can be followed in both summer and winter.
If you are visiting in winter, you’ll need to skip Day 3 and add another day around the Vatnajökull National Park where you can go on an ice cave experience. All the details are below.
DAY 1 – REYKJAVÍK & REYKJADALUR HOT SPRINGS
Stay – Reykjavík | Travel – 45 minutes each way to Reykjadalur
Spend the morning exploring the streets of charming Reykjavík. In the afternoon head to Hveragerði. From here a 1-hour hike takes you to Reykjadalur thermal river where you can soak in the naturally heated water while staring out at glorious scenery.
Winter – In winter spend the evening searching for the Northern Lights on the outskirts of Reykjavík. This Northern Lights Bus Tour includes free entry to the Aurora Museum on the day of the tour and it is fully transferable if the tour doesn’t go ahead due to bad weather.
Summer – In the summer, take advantage of Reykjavík’s cool bar scene. Kaffibarinn is a café by day and a bar by night with regular DJ sets and cocktail happy hour. Veður Bar has a wide selection of beer and wines in a cosy space with happy hour from 4pm to 7:30pm.
WHERE TO STAY
- Hotel Borg – an elegant art-deco stay near the centre of town with a relaxation spa.
- Loft – HI Hostel – a budget-friendly option with a roof terrace and weekly social events.
- Black Pearl Apartment – a family-friendly hotel in the centre of Reykjavík with contemporary furnishings.
DAY 2 – GOLDEN CIRCLE & SECRET LAGOON
Stay – around Selfoss | Travel – 3 hours
Today, leave Reykjavík and complete the Golden Circle – a 3-hour, 30-minute circular drive that visits some of the most popular sights on this Iceland Ring Road itinerary.
Stops include Thingvellir National Park where a fissure runs through Iceland’s historic parliament, Geysir where geysers erupt every ten to fifteen minutes, and Gullfoss, a powerful and beautiful Icelandic waterfall.
Finish the day at the Secret Lagoon geothermal pool near the town of Flúðir. It’s one of our favourite hot springs in Iceland and remains delightfully natural.
WHERE TO STAY
- Hotel Rangá – a modern, spacious hotel with an onsite observatory that’s excellent for viewing the northern lights.
- Álftröð Guesthouse – a great value guesthouse with all the facilities you need for a comfortable stay.
DAY 3 – LANDMANNALAUGAR OR THÓRSMÖRK
Stay – near Hella or Holt | Travel – 4 to 5 hours return for Landmannalaugar; 20 minutes drive to the Thorsmork bus stop at Hvollsvöllur.
Iceland is famous for dramatic scenery, but the best of its impressive landscapes is in the highlands. It’s a wild and remote part of the country but two of the best areas are accessible from the southwest. Today, head into either Landmannalaugar or Thórsmörk.
Landmannalaugar – Landmannalaugar is an area of colourful mountains in the Fjallabak National Park. It has excellent hiking with amazing views and a geothermal pool set under a cooled lava flow. The drive there passes Haifoss waterfall; the picture-perfect canyon of Sigöldugljúfur; and the volcanic crater of Ljótipollur. Read more in our Landmannalaugar Guide.
Thórsmörk – Three valleys converge forming a dramatic wilderness of spectacular scenery at Thórsmörk. Huge moss-covered mountains dwarfed by even bigger glaciers are divided by a swathe of black rivers. It’s a hiker’s paradise but even a short 40-minute walk can take you to some wonderful viewpoints. Read more in our Thórsmörk Guide.
SUMMER OR WINTER?
Landmannalaugar and Thórsmörk can only be visited in summer, so if are following this Ring Road itinerary in winter, skip this day and add an ice cave experience either around Vik or Jökulsárlón –
Ice Cave tour & Glacier Hike from Vik
WHERE TO STAY
- Hotel Rangá – a modern, spacious hotel with an onsite observatory that’s excellent for viewing the northern lights.
- The Garage – cool Icelandic stay with fully equipped kitchens, private bathrooms and laundry facilities.
DAY 4 – SKÓGAFOSS, DYRHÓLAEY & VIK
Stay – near Hrufines | Travel – around 1 hour, 30 minutes to 2 hours, 30 minutes.
On day 4 of your Iceland Ring Road itinerary, head east along the Ring Road to visit some of Iceland’s best waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss is a 60-metre drop that you can walk behind, Gljufrabui is a smaller waterfall hidden behind rocks, and Skógafoss is a beautiful 25-metre-wide cascade.
Another 30 minutes’ drive brings you to the Dyrhólaey Peninsula. This spot has great views of the black sand beach but it’s especially known for the great puffin spotting opportunities from April to August.
Some other ideas for day 4 –
- Walk on the black sand beach of Reynisfjara under basalt columns
- Drive up the rough road to Katla for wonderful views of the canyon
- Take an Ice Cave tour and Glacier Hike from Vik
- Walk to the wrecked DC-3 Plane at Sólheimasandur for your Instagram shot
WHERE TO STAY
- The Garage – cool Icelandic stay with fully equipped kitchens, private bathrooms and laundry facilities.
- Hotel Katla – a modern comfortable lodging just outside Vik with a superb hot tub and sauna
- Glacier View Guesthouse – a 40-minute drive from Vik overlooking the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier with well-decorated rooms.
DAY 5 – SKAFTAFELL & JÖKULSÁRLÓN
Stay – Vestrahorn | Travel – 3 hours to 3 hours, 30 minutes
Today head east along the south coast to the far southeast of Iceland. This drive takes you under the flanks of Vatnajökull Glacier, the largest ice cap in Europe. First stop at the moss-covered Eldhraun Lava Field, then at the beautiful Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon where a river has cut a jagged path through the gorge.
Next, go to Skaftafell National Park to hike alongside the Vatnajökull glacier. In 45 minutes (each way) you can see Svartifoss, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. In 1 hour 15 minutes (each way) you can reach the Sjónarnípa viewpoint which overlooks the glacier.
Then visit the magical Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and the massive ice cubes on the black Diamond Beach – two of the best things to do in Iceland right next door to each other.
End the day at Vestrahorn taking photos of the pointed mountains reflecting in the tidal lagoon.
WHERE TO STAY
Viking Café is the only accommodation in Vestrahorn where you can wake up right beside the mountain. For other options, read our guide to the best places to stay in Iceland.
DAY 6 – EASTFJORDS & SEYÐISFJORDUR
Stay – Seyðisfjordur | Travel – 4 to 5 hours
Spend this morning getting sunrise shots of Vestrahorn to compliment the sunset shots you got yesterday.
Then begin the long drive (3 to 4 hours) up the east coast of Iceland on Route 1 (the Ring Road).
In the summer months, when the road is open, it is well worth taking the shortcut between Breiðdalsvik and Egilsstaðir on Route 95. It’s about an hour shorter and the scenery, if anything, is better.
Just before Egilsstaðir take a detour on the 931 west to Hengifoss. From the car park it’s a 1-hour hike (each way) to the waterfall and the first 30 minutes is quite steep, but the red rings etched into the rock framing the cascade make it one of the most beautiful falls in Iceland.
There are a host of nice places to stay in the area, but our pick is Seyðisfjordur. It’s an extra 30-minute drive each way from Egilsstaðir, but this colourful town perched at the end of a fjord offers great views and the drive there is breathtaking.
Dinner Tip – The pizza and local beer at Skaftfell Bistro are an excellent addition to your Iceland Ring Road itinerary.
WHERE TO STAY
- Seyðisfjordur Guesthouse – a good value hotel with kitchen facilities in a great location
- Hengifoss Guesthouse – a family-run hotel 3.7 miles from the Hengifoss waterfall.
- Hotel 1001 Nott – a modern, cool hotel in a remote tranquil setting with a hot tub overlooking fantastic sunset views.
DAY 7 – STUÐLAGIL CANYON AND MÝVATN
Stay – Mývatn | Travel – around 3 hours to 3 hours, 30 minutes.
Start today at Stuðlagil Canyon which was revealed only in 2009 after a dam forced water levels to drop. All the details are on our Stuðlagil Canyon guide including the best viewpoints.
From Stuðlagil, follow the Ring Road northeast to the Mývatn area based around the village of Reykahlíð. There are loads of different volcanic oddities to see in the area and all of them are listed on our Mývatn guide. For this afternoon, we suggest you explore the bubbling mud pots of Hverir and/or the steaming lava fields and volcanic crater at Krafla.
Spend the evening soaking in the geothermal pools of the Mývatn Nature Baths.
WHERE TO STAY
- Fosshotel Myvatn – a modern comfortable chain hotel with good facilities and an on-site restaurant
- Hotel Laxá – modern accommodation away from the town making it the perfect location to see the Northern Lights
DAY 8 – HUSAVÍK & DETTIFOSS
Stay – Mývatn | Travel – 3 hours, 30 minutes
Today, take a detour off the Ring Road and head north on Route 87 to explore the fishing town of Husavík.
From May to September, this is one of the best places in the world to spot whales. They can often be seen from the coast, but increase your chances by taking a Traditional Whale Watching Boat Tour. In July humpback whale sightings are almost guaranteed and from April to August puffins can be seen fishing in the waters.
In the afternoon head back to Mývatn via route 85 and 864, where there are a few spots to stop on the way –
- Ásbyrgi is a unique horseshoe-shaped canyon that stretches 3.5 kilometres long and 1.1 kilometres wide.
- Hljóðaklettar is a collection of basalt columns diverging in multiple directions creating swirls, spirals, roses and arches that are known to produce haunting acoustic effects.
- Dettifoss is the largest waterfall by volume in Iceland and one of the most powerful in Europe. It plunges 44 metres into a canyon creating a watery spectacle.
WHERE TO STAY
- Fosshotel Myvatn – a modern comfortable chain hotel with good facilities and an on-site restaurant
- Hotel Laxá – modern accommodation away from the town making it the perfect location to see the Northern Lights
DAY 9 – NORTH ICELAND EXPLORE
Stay – Blönðuós | Travel – 3 hours to 4 hours, 30 minutes.
It’s a 3-hour drive along the Ring Road from Mývatn to the town of Blönðuós. On the way, stop at Goðafoss, one of the most attractive waterfalls in Iceland.
For the rest of the day, there are several choices –
- Visit more of the volcanic sights around Mývatn such as the pseudo craters or the lava cave and fissure at Grjótagjá before you leave for Blönðuós.
- Pop into the fishing town of Akureyri for lunch and a stroll along the harbour.
- Drive a loop around the Trollaskagi Peninsula where the road twists and turns around steep bends amongst lovely scenery (add 1 hour 30 minutes to the drive).
- If you have a 4×4 you can take a detour (50 minutes each way on the F26) to the waterfalls of Aldeyjarfoss & Hrafnabjargafoss
WHERE TO STAY
There are few better places to stay in the north coast than Brimslöð Atelier. This guesthouse has splendid evening meals on a shared table and breakfast is excellent.
DAY 10 – FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO & BLUE LAGOON
Stay – Blue Lagoon | Travel – 4 hours
Today, take the 4 hour drive from Blönduós to Fagradalsfjall Volcano, the site of Iceland’s most recent eruption. If you don’t find anything on the way, you can stop for lunch back in Reykjavík.
A range of different hiking trails offer magnificent views of the steaming black lava fields at Fagradalsfjall. The closest viewpoint to the eruption is the Meradalir Viewpoint via Stórhóll which takes around 4-5 hours to complete. All the details are in our Fagradalsfjall guide.
End the day soaking in the upmarket geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon. Entrance including the silica mud mask, towel and 1 drink is ISK 8,490 ($58 / £50 / €59). Advanced bookings are required.
Hot Springs – For more luxurious ways to soak, read our hot springs in Iceland round-up.
WHERE TO STAY
The Blue Lagoon is a 20-minute drive to Keflavík airport, so if you have a late flight, you can head home after a soak. Otherwise, here’s where you can stay nearby:
- Northern Light Inn – a full-service hotel including a wellness spa and restaurant just 5 minutes from the Blue Lagoon.
- Hotel Berg – a smart hotel with individually designed rooms just 2.2 miles from Keflavík Airport
- Raven’s Bed – a quirky bed & breakfast in a converted cow house with original wooden beams and an outdoor terrace just 7 minutes from Keflavik Airport.
ICELAND RING ROAD ITINERARY EXTENSIONS
MAELIFELL
Iceland’s dramatic green volcano, Maelifell, rises out of a sea of black ash and stone creating a spectacular desolate scene. There are 3 ways to get here, two of which are very achievable.
How to add Maelifel — Access is from Hrifunes, just east of Vík, so Maelifel could be added in after day 4 of this itinerary. All the details are in our Maelifell guide.
HAHFRAHVAMMAGLJÚFUR
Hahfrahvammagljúfur is a steep-sided canyon in the highlands accessed by a bumpy but very achievable mountain road. A few miles away, the thermal river of Laugavallalaug is one of our favourite hot pots in Iceland.
How to add Hahfravammagljúfur — Access is near Hengifoss or Stuðlagil so this could be added before or after day 4. More details about visiting Hahfrahvammagljúfur are in our Iceland highlands guide.
ASKJA
One of the most challenging adventurous day trips is to the calderas and craters of Askja. You’ll need at least a medium-sized 4×4, a sense of adventure, and the ability to control those jangling nerves.
How to add Askja — Access is near Mývatn so you could squeeze a trip to Askja in before or after day 7. Read more in our Askja guide.
KERLINGARFJÖLL
A mountain range concealing colourful hills and steaming vents, Kerlingarfjöll is a magical place. The mountain road here is easy to drive and makes an excellent route between Blönðuós, Gullfoss, and Reykjavík, rather than via the Ring Road.
How to add Kerlingarfjöll — Kerlingarfjöll could be added to this itinerary after day 9. Read more on our Kerlingarfjöll guide.
SNAEFELLSNESS PENINSULA
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is on the western tip of the country and is often described as a mini-Iceland. Here you’ll find a glacier, basalt columns, and dramatic coasts. In our opinion the sights are less good when compared with other parts of Iceland, so we’d save Snaefellsnes for your second trip.
How to add Snaefellsness — If you want to add Snaefellsness, it’s just 2 hours from Reykjavík, so you could add it to the start or end of this itinerary.
WESTFJORDS
Stretching out into the Atlantic Ocean, the Westfjords are a series of rugged peninsulas and massive mountains including spectacular but remote scenery. They include one of the best bird-watching cliffs in Europe and wonderful local bars and restaurants.
How to add Westfjords — The Westfjords requires at least 2 days which is best added at the end of the northern section of this Iceland Ring Road itinerary. More details are in our guide to visiting the Westfjords.
HOW TO PLAN AN ICELAND RING ROAD ITINERARY
Here is some more reading to help you plan your epic Iceland itinerary.
DISCOVERY
Firstly, if you are in discovery mode, our guide to the best places to visit in Iceland also includes 32 cool, somewhat adventurous and thoroughly enjoyable things to do.
To get a feel for what you can see in the highlands, read our guide to the top places in the Iceland Highlands.
Iceland is known for impressive waterfalls; we’ve collated a list of our top 15 waterfalls in Iceland after 4 visits to the country.
PRACTICALITIES
For general tips on planning your itinerary including a breakdown of the different regions, when to go and how long you will need, read our Iceland trip planning guide.
As this 10-day itinerary is a road trip, read our guide on driving in Iceland with helpful tips, plus advice on how to book your car rental.
If you want to head into the highlands you’ll need to travel on the mountain roads which are unmaintained gravel tracks. Our F-roads in Iceland guide has all the information you need.
MORE ICELAND READING
Iceland is an excellent destination for semi-adventurous travellers who like to get off the beaten track and immerse themselves in stunning scenery. Here’s some more reading from us to help plan your journey to the land of fire and ice.
If you found this guide useful, we’d love it if you could follow us on Instagram.
MORE READING // ALL ICELAND GUIDES
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I have done pretty much the same road, but I also went to the cliffs on the west. Your pictures made want to go back there as the nature is just stunning and one of the purest I have seen. My favorite was the icebergs place but saying out loud the name is still impossible for me 😀
There’s so much to see on such a small island, it’s incredible. Yes, we missed the cliffs on the west, so we might need to go back one day!
I am so visiting Iceland after going through this post. You have some really amazing pictures, which have captured all the moments beautifully. Thanks a ton for all those tips, which am sure, anyone who is wanting to travel along the ring road, will find incredibly helpful.
Thanks very much. Hope you make it there one day as it is spectacular!
I covered most of the places you mentioned in this article during my trip last year too. I also wish I knew some of the tips you shared in this article before I went 🙂 Your pictures are absolutely amazing! They’re making me want to go there again (right away).
Thanks, Daniel. We want to go back someday as well. Glad you found it useful.
I really enjoyed your post about driving the ring road around Iceland. We did this a few years ago, in late summer when the days were long and light, and we loved it too. I love that your itinerary combines the drive with some great hiking to really see the best of Iceland’s incredible landscapes. Wonderful photos too, I particularly love the carpet of purple flowers.
Thank you! You certainly have plenty of time to pack a lot in with those super long Iceland days. Thanks for stopping by.
Wow that’s a fantastic guide to taking one of the most popular roadtrips in the world . What a beautiful country! I love the waterfalls. Would love to visit the geothermal pools in Iceland!
Congratulations on your UK blog awards entry.
Thanks very much! Yes, the waterfalls in Iceland are some of the best I’ve seen anywhere.
Iceland has been on our bucket list and what got my attention in this wonderful itinerary is the adventure of getting into the remote highlands. Got mesmerized by the views and this came across as the best road trip ever! Love the way the details have been shared here such as the travel route, distance and suggested places to stay along with the overall route and cost indications. Highlight of each destination is like a wish list! Would want to get up close and personal with the puffins, get amazing views of glaciers of Vatnajökull Park and hike the geothermal Hveradalir.
Thanks, Navita! It takes quite a long time (plus a bit of studious effort while we’re travelling) to put all these details together, so we’re so glad you found it useful. Hope you make it to Iceland one day, you won’t be disappointed.
I love Iceland and would love to return someday to complete the ring road. I visited in the summers and as we were there for 5 days could not complete the whole ring. I started in Reykjavik and went south then did the golden circle. there s so much more to see and your post gives great details. my main one to go back for is see the humpback whales. thanks for sharing
It’s quite small, but actually, 5 days isn’t enough to see everything. Hope you get to go back sometime – the whales were amazing.
I’ve been to Iceland 3 times but only for a few days at a time, so I’ve never had a chance to go out to the east side of the country. I actually thought the snowmobile excursion would’ve been fun, but I guess it wasn’t as fun as it sounded – thanks for that tip. For my next trip back to Iceland I definitely want to drive the entire ring road but would probably forego some of the hotels you stayed at for more affordable accommodations, since the country is so expensive.
That’s so cool that you’ve been there 3 times. It’s a fantastic place, isn’t it? To be honest, the snowmobile was a bit of a disappointment mostly because of the weather – it was a complete white-out so we couldn’t see a thing. I also don’t think we got very good instructions, either that or we’re just very bad drivers!
Awesome! The blue lagoon bar looks amazing!
Yes it is!
Wow I love your recommendations! I can’t believe I haven’t been to Iceland yet but I’m going there in 2019 (maybe August) and exactly for 10 days. I like that you’ve mixed a fair amount of activities, hiking areas, gorgeous landscapes and some usual tourist sites like the Blue Lagoon & Golden Circle too. The waterfalls look spectacular as does the glacier!
That’s great! You’ll love it, it’s an amazing place. Let us know if you have any questions.
hello there . i found that your f roads itineray is really helpful! im planning to do this 10 days iceland itineray end of september . Just want to ask is that doable? All the f roads still open?
Hi Muhammad, thanks for your comments, glad you found it useful. The closing times are pretty variable – basically, they close the roads at the first snowfall. The most remote roads usually open until mid-September, whereas some others – that are not so remote – can remain open into the start of October. You’d really need to keep on eye on the status of the roads (link in this article) before you took off just to make sure.
The best itinerary lay out I’ve ever seen. I missed so many of these places when I visited and now I can’t wait to go back and visit. I’m particularly excited about the Valley of Thor and whale watching for next time, thanks for giving me so many great ideas!
Thank you very much for the compliment. Glad you liked it. Lots of great things to do in Iceland.
Iceland is on top of my bucket list. We planned to visit 2 years ago but had to cancel due to any emergency. This is the main reason why I get so excited every time I read blogs about Iceland. You just inspired me to travel again. We are keen to do some hiking and explore the scenery to take some good photos.
I did not realize that there is so much to see and do. Our itinerary was only 4 days but I guess we have to make it a bit longer. Thank you so much for sharing this detailed post. Saving it for future reference. Appreciate the information about the budget too.
It’s good if you can afford to go a bit longer because 4 days only really allows you to stay in the heavily visited part of the country. With their overtourism issues, it’s good to spread out and see a bit more.
Your photos are absolutely stunning. I’ve been to Iceland 3-4 times and haven’t done most of these things. It’s a shame the glacier snowmobile ride didn’t turn out like you’d hoped – that sounded really cool when I was reading about it. I’d love to go back and drive the ring road and do more hikes.
The hiking was great in Iceland. So many weird landscapes, plus in summer it’s light all the time so you never run out of daylight.
I so so envy you! This is a dream trip with such a wide variety of landscapes. From waterfalls to green pastures and snowy land …..there is just everything. Skaftafell National Park in particular seems awesome. And yes, I would not mind spotting the humpback whales either.
Thanks, Ami. There’s a lot to do in Iceland that’s for sure. Thanks for stopping by.