Iceland’s Ring Road · Iceland
Iceland’s Ring Road in a week
Waterfalls you can walk behind, black-sand beaches, icebergs in a glacier lagoon, the East Fjords and the steaming ground around Mývatn. A full loop of the island in seven days of driving.
- 7 days
- Friends
- Couples
- Families
- Road trip
- Nature
- Mountains
Day by day
The plan
Times are suggestions. Opening hours and seasons change, so check before you go. Once it’s in your trip, move anything you like.
- Day 1
Reykjavík
- 10:00
Hallgrímskirkja
Activity
The city’s landmark church; the tower looks out over colorful rooftops.
- 12:30
Lunch: Icelandic hot dog or fish soup
Food & drink
Two simple local favorites, easy to find around the center.
- 14:00
Old Harbour and Harpa
Activity
Walk the waterfront to the glass concert hall and its view of the bay.
- 16:30
Pick up the rental car
Getting around
Check the insurance and the spare tire before you head out tomorrow.
- 20:00
Stay in Reykjavík
Stay
Get a good night’s rest before the loop begins.
- 10:00
- Day 2
The Golden Circle
- 08:30
Þingvellir National Park
Activity
Walk through a rift valley where two tectonic plates pull apart.
- 11:30
Geysir geothermal area
Activity
Strokkur erupts every few minutes; stay behind the ropes.
- 13:30
Gullfoss
Activity
A huge two-step waterfall dropping into a canyon.
- 16:00
Drive to the south coast
Getting around
Head toward Hella or Hvolsvöllur for the night.
- 19:00
Stay near Hvolsvöllur
Stay
A good base for an early start on the waterfalls.
- 08:30
- Day 3
Waterfalls and black sand
- 08:30
Seljalandsfoss
Activity
A path loops behind the falling water; bring a rain jacket.
- 10:30
Skógafoss
Activity
A wide curtain of water, with stairs up the side for the view from the top.
- 13:30
Reynisfjara black sand beach
Activity
Basalt columns and sea stacks; stay well back from the water, the waves are dangerous.
- 16:00
Stay in Vík
Stay
A tiny village with a red-roofed church above the sea.
- 08:30
- Day 4
Glaciers and the ice lagoon
- 08:30
Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon
Activity
A mossy, winding canyon with a trail along the rim.
- 11:00
Skaftafell and Svartifoss
Activity
A walk to a waterfall framed by dark basalt columns, near a glacier tongue.
- 15:00
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
Activity
Icebergs calve from the glacier and drift slowly toward the sea.
- 16:30
Diamond Beach
Activity
Chunks of ice glitter on black sand just across the road.
- 19:00
Stay in Höfn
Stay
A harbor town known for langoustine.
- 08:30
- Day 5
The East Fjords
- 09:00
Drive the East Fjords
Getting around
The road follows deep fjords and tiny fishing villages; take it slow.
- 12:30
Lunch in a fishing village
Food & drink
Fresh fish and a break from the wheel.
- 15:00
Seyðisfjörður
Activity
A short detour over a mountain pass to a colorful village at the end of a fjord.
- 18:30
Stay in Egilsstaðir
Stay
The main town of the east, with shops and fuel.
- 09:00
- Day 6
Dettifoss and Mývatn
- 09:00
Dettifoss
Activity
One of Europe’s most powerful waterfalls, thundering into a gray canyon.
- 12:30
Hverir geothermal field
Activity
Bubbling mud pots and steaming vents on orange ground; stay on the paths.
- 14:30
Lake Mývatn
Activity
Lava formations and birdlife around a shallow volcanic lake.
- 17:30
Mývatn Nature Baths
Activity
A warm geothermal lagoon to soak in after a long day.
- 20:00
Stay near Mývatn
Stay
Quiet nights, and a chance of northern lights in the darker months.
- 09:00
- Day 7
Goðafoss and back to Reykjavík
- 08:30
Goðafoss
Activity
The waterfall of the gods, a wide horseshoe right by the road.
- 10:00
Akureyri
Activity
Coffee and a stroll in the north’s largest town, at the head of a long fjord.
- 11:30
Long drive back to Reykjavík
Getting around
Most of the day on the road, through wide valleys and over the western hills.
- 19:00
Farewell dinner in Reykjavík
Food & drink
Celebrate the loop with Icelandic lamb or fresh fish.
- 08:30
Good to know
Tips
Check roads and weather every day
Conditions change fast. Check road.is for road conditions and vedur.is for the forecast before each drive.
Seasons
Summer brings very long days and the easiest driving. In winter, days are short and roads can close; a full loop in a week is much harder.
Beach safety
On the south coast beaches, sudden large waves can reach far up the sand. Keep well back and never turn your back on the sea.
Fuel and roads
The Ring Road is paved, but gas stations can be far apart in the east; fill up when you can. Mountain F-roads need a 4x4 and are only open in summer.
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