Are you planning your road trip through Iceland but you are not sure which places are a must-visit? Then you have come to the correct place. In this blog, I will share my Iceland Road Trip Itinerary during the two weeks (including weekends) that I spent in this beautiful country. I will not only share which places I visited each day but I will also give you some tips and recommendations to improve it based on my experience.
This itinerary will guide you along the ring road with a step-by-step description of which places I visited each day. This includes the most famous spots that you should not miss during your first trip to the island but also some more adventurous hikes and activities that will make you fall in love with this country.
Interesting Facts About Iceland
Before I start with the road trip, here are some interesting facts about Iceland.
- It is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. The population of Iceland was approximately 366.000 people in 2020. Out of them, more than 2/3 live in the capital Reykjavik. This means that you will be able to drive endless kilometers with just nature around you.
- Iceland had the first democratically voted female president.
- 10% of the country is covered by glaciers and Vatnajökull Glacier is the biggest in Europe.
- The water in Iceland is one of the purest in the world. You can drink it from most rivers in Iceland so make sure to bring your reusable water bottle!
- Iceland is powered mainly by renewal energy, most of it coming from geothermal energy.
- There are more than 30 active volcanic regions around the island.
- Icelandic people love to relax in thermal pools and hot pots. You will find a geothermal pool in almost every town in the country.
- Iceland is between two tectonic plates, the North American plate, and the Eurasian plate.
Iceland Road Trip Itinerary
My trip to Iceland took place during the second and third week of June. We chose these dates for two main reasons. The first reason was because of the many daylight hours during the summer and the second one was to avoid the super busy summer months of July and August. Now that my trip is over, I have to say that it was a really good choice!
Some of these names might sound a bit difficult to pronounce and write but you will get used to them very soon, don’t worry!
Let’s get started with the road trip!
Day 1: Land in Iceland and Drive to Reykjavik
Route: From Keflavik International Airport to Downtown Reykjavik (Distance: 48 km; Driving time: 43 minutes)
Hotel: Reykjavik Downtown Hotel
On our first day in Iceland, we decided to take it slow and try to figure out how things work in Iceland.
Our flight from Icelandair landed in Reykjavik at 15h00 local time and the first thing we did was pick up our rental car. We had rented a manual Dacia Duster but they were not available at that time so we got upgraded to an automatic Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.
With our car in order, we drove to Reykjavik and checked into the Reykjavik Downtown Hotel, where we were going to be staying for the next two nights. This hotel’s strongest point is its location, less than 100 meters away from the Hallgrimskirkja!
Walking around Reykjavik
After our check-in, we went for a late lunch/early dinner at Cafe Loki since we had barely eaten anything since breakfast. We decided to try some typical Icelandic dishes, such as fermented shark! Did I like it? Well, let’s just say, I tried it and I will never have it again…
Afterwards, we just walked around the harbor of Reykjavik. There we saw the Sólfar Statue or the Sun Voyager and the Harpa Concert Hall. However, it was very windy and our ears were hurting so we decided to go do some grocery shopping and go back to the hotel to rest.
Day 2: Visit Reykjavik
Hotel: Reykjavik Downtown Hotel
STOP 1: Breakfast at Brauð
We started our day by grabbing some baked goods at the famous Brauð bakery. This bakery is not only renowned for its delicious cinnamon rolls but also for its colorful building.
It was a sunny morning, so we ate them by the sea, next to the Sólfar statue. It was very relaxing, to have breakfast with the view of the sea and the mountains.
STOP 2: National Museum of Iceland
After breakfast, we visited the National Museum of Iceland or in Icelandic Þjóðminjasafn Íslands. This museum has a permanent exhibition on the history of the Icelandic nation, from the first settlers to the present day.
The museum was very interesting and it allowed us to get a good notion of Icelandic culture and history. A must-do! Especially if it si your first trip to Iceland!
STOP 3: Hljómskálagarður Park and Tjörnin Pond
Next to the museum, you can find Hljómskálagarður Park and Tjörnin Pond. We walked around the park looking at the different sculptures and sat down on some benches to enjoy the sun and admire the view. From this park, you can glimpse in the distance the Hallgrímskirkja.
Next to the park, you have the Tjörnin Pond. This pond is surrounded by many cute houses and points of interest in Reykjavik like the National Gallery of Iceland, the Fríkirkjan, the Monument to the Unknown Bureaucrat, and Reykjavik’s City Hall.
This was one of my favorite parts of Reykjavik. It was very peaceful and not as touristy as other parts.
STOP 4: Famous Hot Dog Truck and Harpa Concert Hall
From here, we walked to Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, the famous hot dog truck in Reykjavik to get our lunch. This is just a regular hot dog truck which is famous because Bill Clinton got a hot dog from here when he visited Iceland. It was not bad, but in my opinion, there was nothing special about it. There are some high tables next to the food truck where you can eat your food, or you can walk to the Harpa Concert Hall and eat it there.
STOP 5: Rainbow Street and Laugavegur
Next, we spent some time walking around Rainbow Street and Laugavegur. These streets are the two main commercial streets in Reykjavik and are full of shops and places to eat. You can spend some time doing some shopping here (if you have some extra budget) or just window shop as we did.
These streets are also very attractive for tourists because their pavement is painted with bright rainbow colors and children’s games!
STOP 6: Hallgrímskirkja
Our last activity in Reykjavik was to visit the famous Hallgrímskirjka, the highest church in Iceland! Its architectural style imitates the basalt columns that can be found in many places in the country.
The inside of the church is very simple and I think it is prettier from the outside than on the inside. You can also get an elevator to go up its tower and watch Reykjavik from above.
Day 3: The Golden Circle
Route: From Reykjavik to Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, Gulfoss (Distance: 174km; Driving time: 2h 45min)
Walking: 13 km
Hotel: Heidi Cabin
STOP 1: Breakfast in Sandholt
Before leaving Reykjavik and officially starting our road trip through Iceland, we had one last breakfast at Sandholt Bakery & Eatery. This is another famous bakery in Reykjavik and let me just say it is for a good reason. It is one of the best brunch-style breakfasts, I have ever had.
After that, we checked out of our hotel and started our drive towards the Golden Circle!
STOP 2: Þingvellir National Park
Our first stop of the day was Þingvellir National Park, which is around 50 min (47 km) driving from Reykjavik. This park became a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2004 because it was where Iceland’s first parliament was held. The park is also special for its geographic characteristics. It is a rift valley where the North American and Euroasian tectonic plates meet. These plates separate from each other by approximately 2,5 cm per year.
We parked our car in the P1 Parking, next to the Visitor’s center, and did a 7km hike through the park that took us through the main spots of the park and some other less frequented spots.
TIP: Most people just limit their visit to the most famous places in the park (the rift valley, Althingi, Oxararfoss, etc.). I recommend taking some time to do a longer hike as we did. The park has crazy beautiful spots that nobody visits and you will be able to enjoy them all on your own.
STOP 3: Geysir and Strokkur
Our second stop within the Golden Circle was to visit the Geysir Area, another of the most famous sites in Iceland. We parked our car in the big parking next to it and before visiting it decided to warm up by getting a coffee in the cafeteria next to it.
Geysir is the geyser after which the geyser phenomenon is called. It used to eject water from the ground up to 100m but it has been inactive for some time now. Luckily, his neighbor Strokkur is still active and ejects water from the ground every 5 to 10 minutes.
STOP 4: Gullfoss
We continued our day in the Golden Circle by visiting the Gullfoss waterfall. The words in Icelandic mean Gull = Gold and Foss = Waterfall, so literally it translates as Gold Waterfall. This waterfall is very impressive because it is composed of two waterfalls making it very pretty.
STOP 5: Hrunalaug Hot Spring
After dinner and checking into our lodging for the night, we decided to end the day by taking a dip in Hrunalaug Hot Spring. This little hot spring was the perfect way to end our day in the Golden Circle.
Important: This place used to be one of those hidden gems in Iceland but it is not so secret anymore! Don’t expect to be alone there! I was there around 9 pm and there were 3 other couples. This is important to know because the place is not so big, so if you want to enjoy it, I would recommend either visiting very early or later in the evening as I did.
Day 4: Waterfalls in the South of Iceland
Route: From Reykholt to Vik (Distance: 187km; Driving time: 2h 47min)
Walking: 15 km
Hotel: Hvammbol Guesthouse
Day 4 will be a day full of beautiful waterfalls along the south coast of Iceland. Each waterfall that you see, will be more beautiful than the previous one.
STOP 1: Seljalandsfoss & Gljufrafoss
Seljanladfoss is a very popular waterfall in the south of Iceland. It is famous for being one of the few waterfalls that you can walk behind the water. Next to it, and skipped by many people there is a second waterfall, Gljufrafoss. This waterfall is inside a cave and it feels like out of a fantasy.
This waterfall is right next to the ring road and it can be seen from the road while you are driving so you will not miss it. Make sure to bring your rain clothes (even if the sun is shining) because getting close to these two waterfalls is like taking a shower!
STOP 2: Skogar Museum
Our second stop of the day was the Skogar Museum, located 1 minute away from the famous Skogafoss. This museum has a collection of 18.000 artifacts from Icelandic History as well as an open-air museum with some typical turf houses.
The museum is very interesting but there are not that many explanations about the different things you see. If you are only visiting this museum for the turf houses, I don’t think it is worth paying for the ticket. You will be able to see many turf houses along your road trip.
STOP 3: Skogafoss
After learning about how people used to live in Iceland, we drove to the famous Skogafoss. This waterfall is by far, one of the most impressive ones you will see in Iceland! There will be lots of people here but it is so big, you will still be able to take photos without anyone in your way!
After you have taken some time admiring this waterfall, go up the stairs next to it so that you can admire it from above. From here, if you are willing to do some exercise, I recommend doing the Skoga Trail, a 7km hike (3,5km each way) along the Skoga river. This trail has many smaller waterfalls but they are just as pretty. This was one of my favorite hikes in Iceland!
STOP 4: Kvernufoss
Kvernufoss is still quite an unknown waterfall and many people don’t visit it despite it being very close to Skogafoss. To reach it, you just have to drive to the end of the Skogar Museum parking. From here, there is a small path that will take you to a small metallic ladder over a fence. If you go over it, there is a path that will lead you to Kvernufoss.
I am not sure if we were really lucky, but we visited it around 17h00 and we were there completely alone.
TIP: You can also walk behind Kvernufoss, so make sure to bring your rain clothes!
STOP 5: Vik
From Kvernufoss we drove to Vik, the southernmost village in Iceland. The day had been quite chilly so we decided to warm up by having dinner at The Soup Company. As its name says, this is a restaurant that specializes in different kinds of soups. I recommend getting the tasting menu so that you can try several of them!
After dinner, we visited the famous church in Vik surrounded by lupines.
STOP 6: Reynisfjara Beach
Our last stop of the day was Reynisfjara Beach. This beach is known for its beautiful black sand and basalt columns and it is for good reason. Unfortunately, it is also known for its sneaky killer waves that can pull in the most distracted tourists to sea to drown. Please be very careful when you visit this place.
With that being said, this beach will be the delight of every photography lover. You will just have to be a bit patient to take your photos without anyone in the background!
Day 5: Fjadrárgljufur Canyon and Vatnajokull Glacier Hiker
Route: From Vik to Fjadrárgljfur Canyon and Skaftafell National Park (Distance: 180km; Driving time: 2h 35min)
Walking: 7 km
Hotel: Litla Hof Guesthouse
Day 5 was more relaxed compared to the itinerary on day 4, but not less special. In the afternoon, we were able to enjoy one of the much-anticipated highlights of our trip, a short hike on a Glacier.
STOP 1: Fjadrágljufur Canyon
During the morning we visited the beautiful and super popular Fjadrárgljufur Canyon. This canyon became super popular after Justin Beiber filmed one of his videoclips in it. Since then, every year thousands of tourists visit it.
It used to be possible to go out in the canyon borders but not anymore. This has been done for two reasons, for tourists’ safety and to protect nature so please don’t go over the ropes or fences just for a photo.
Despite this, visiting this canyon is so worth it. There are a few platforms from which you can admire its beauty. We were not very lucky with the weather (it was raining the whole morning) but we loved it anyway.
STOP 2: Vatnajökull Glacier Hike
After the canyon, we did a short hike in Falljökull, one of the glacial tongues of Vatnajökull Glacier. We booked our hike with Artic Adventures, which organizes guided hikes on the Glacier. Please don’t go on a hike on the glacier on your own, it is not safe!
The activity lasts around 4 hours. During this time, first, they provide you with the necessary safety equipment for the hike, and then, they drive you to the base of the glacier and explain how to put them on and the safety guidelines. Once this is done, you get to have between 1 to 1,5 hours on the ice.
TIP: If you have more time, I recommend booking the whole day hike instead of the short hike. The activity we did was fun and very interesting but 1h on the ice felt too short for us and would have wanted to stay a bit longer.
Day 6: Hiking in Skaftafell National Park
Route: From Litla Hof to Skaftafell National Park and return (Distance: 42km; Driving time: 42min)
Walking: 18 km
Hotel: Litla Hof Guesthouse
STOP 1: Hiking the Heidi Loop in Skaftafell / Vatnajökull National Park
Our adventure for the day was to do a longer hike in Skaftafell National Park. This park offers a variety of short hiking routes that take you to Svartifoss Waterfall as well as longer hikes to Morsárdalur valley or Kristínartindar mountain peaks.
We chose to complete the Heidi Loop (S3) which can be completed with an ascent to the Kristínartindar peak (S4). However, the day before our hike we read that ascent to the summit was still covered in snow and decided not to risk it and just border the mountain.
This hike is something else! It starts going up next to one of the Glacier tongues until you get a full view of it descending into the sea. Then you border the majestic Kristínartindar summit, walk along the ridge of the mountain with a beautiful view of the other side valley and end up in Svartifoss Waterfall!
Day 7: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Vestrahorn
Route: From Litla Hof to Jökulsárlón, Vestrahorn and Hófn (Distance: 141km; Driving time: 2h 5min)
Walking: 5 km
Hotel: Höfn Inn Guesthouse
After the big hike from the day before, we decided to have a “slower” day. Despite that, this day was another one of the “highlights” of the trip.
STOP 1: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
We started the day by visiting the famous Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. This lagoon is very well known for having many icebergs floating on it. The are many possibilities to do in the lagoon, you can just visit it and admire it from the shore, you can take a boat ride around it, or you can kayak in it!
We opted for the third option and let me tell you, this was the best choice ever! If you are planning your trip to Iceland, please consider kayaking in the lagoon! It will be some of the best spent money on your trip!
STOP 2: Diamond Beach
The icebergs in Jökulsárlón eventually either drift out into the sea or wash up onto the nearby shore, called Diamond Beach. The name of this beach is given because of the way these icebergs glisten against the black sand on a sunny day.
Important: The amount of ice you will find on this beach will vary depending on numerous factors: the season, the amount of ice that has fallen off the glacier, etc. Because of this, some people will find a beach full of ice or almost empty.
STOP 3: Vestrahorn
Vestrahorn, also known as Stokksnes, is another paradise for photography lovers. It is a beautiful black sand beach (Stokksnes beach) with the majestic Vestrahorn mountain as a backdrop.
To access it, you need to pay an 800 ISK ticket but it is totally worth it! It is the perfect spot to relax and admire the beauty of this mountain.
STOP 4: Höfn
We finished our day in the small village of Höfn. Here we had one of the best dinners in Iceland. If you are planning on spending a night in this village, I recommend you treat yourself to dinner at Otto.
Day 8: Driving along the East Fjords
Route: From Hofn to Seydisfjordur (Distance: 317km; Driving time: 4h 49min)
Hotel: The Old Bank – Aldan Hotel
This day was a lot of driving but the views while driving made us not notice! We just drove along this beautiful scenery and stopped whenever something caught our attention.
STOP 1: Red Chair Thjodvegur
The first stop of the day will be to contemplate the Atlantic Ocean from the Red Chair in Thjodvegur. This is a huge red chair on top of a rock, with the ocean on one side and mountains as a backdrop.
STOP 2: Hafnarnes Orange Lighthouse
Our second stop of the day was to visit the Hafnarnes Orange Lighthouse. You will see many orange lighthouses along your way, so feel free to stop at the one you want.
STOP 3: Klifbrekku Waterfall
The next stop will be the Klifbrekku waterfall. This is a series of several small waterfalls one after the other one at the bottom of Mjoifjordur. With its total of seven drops, it is still one of the lesser-known waterfalls in Iceland which will give you the chance of visiting almost on your own.
Unfortunately, when we were driving down the F road that leads you to this waterfall it was raining really hard we were surrounded by the thickest fog so we were not able to see anything…
STOP 4: WWII US Navy LCM Ship Wreck
Following the F road that leads you to Mjoifjordur and Klifbrekku, you will also reach the rests of a shipwreck. Same as with Klifbrekku waterfall, we were not able to enjoy it due to the weather conditions.
STOP 5: Gufu Waterfall
On the road that takes you to Seydisfjordur, there is a small waterfall that you can access right next to the road. Despite it not being the biggest or most powerful waterfall in Iceland, it has some charm so make sure to stop for 10 minutes to enjoy it.
STOP 6: Seydisfjordur
The last stop of our day was at Seydisfjordur, a small charming village in the East Fjords. It is often said that it is one of the most beautiful villages in Iceland. Its mainly known for its rainbow street with a light blue church at the end.
After dinner, I had initially planned to go relax at the Vök Baths nearby. However, the weather was so bad that day, that we were both really discouraged and decided to just chill in the warmth of our hotel room.
Day 9: Studlagil Canyon and Dettifoss
Route: From Seydisfjordur to Studlagil Canyon, Dettifoss and Lake Myvatn (Distance: 312km; Driving time: 5h 3min)
Walking: 10 km
The second week of our road trip through Iceland began really well. After the awful weather we had had the day before, we were rewarded with a super sunny morning.
STOP 1: Stuðlagil Canyon
We started our day by visiting Stuðlagil Canyon. This is a canyon with turquoise waters with horizontal and vertical basalt columns on its sides. Before 2009, this canyon could not be visited, it was only due to the construction of a nearby hydroelectric plant that it was discovered.
TIP: This canyon has become very popular for its beauty in recent years. If you plan to visit it, I recommend you go there early to avoid the crowds. We were there at 9 am and had it for ourselves for approximately 45 minutes.
STOP 2: Dettifoss, Sellfoss and Hafragilsfoss
Our second spot of the day was the famous waterfalls Dettifoss and Selfoss. Dettifoss is the second most powerful waterfall in Europe, after the Rhine Falls.
Selfoss waterfall is located a few hundred meters away from Dettifoss upstream. This waterfall is not as powerful as its neighbor but it makes up for it in beauty.
Dettifoss and Selfoss are so big, that you can visit them from their east and west side. Both sides have their advantages and disadvantages. If you have plenty of time, I would say visit both sides. However, this can take approximately five hours so if you have limited time, I would suggest choosing one of the sides. No matter which side you choose, these waterfalls will blow your mind!
Finally, Hafragilsfoss is a much smaller waterfall but it visiting its viewpoint is worth it, to get a view of the Jökulsárgljufur Canyon. Please note that Hafragilsfoss’s viewpoint is only accessible from the east side.
STOP 3: Lake Myvatn
Lake Myvatn, the last stop of the day, is approximately 1h drive from Dettifoss. Myvatn is a beautiful lake in the north of Iceland with many little islands in it. Finish your day by watching the sunset over the lake or by relaxing in the Myvatn Nature Baths (also known as the Blue Lagoon of the north of Iceland).
Day 10: Lake Myvatn
Route: Driving around lake Myvatn (Distance: 49km; Driving time: 58min)
Walking: 15 km
On day 10, we spent the day visiting places around the beautiful Lake Myvatn. I don’t know why, but this area was the part of the trip that I was the least excited about. I had very low expectations about the region but I have to say this was one of my favorite days of the trip.
STOP 1: Dimmuborgir
Our first stop of the day was a short hike around Dimmuborgir, a lava area with volcanic caves and rock formations. You can do different trails (marked with different colors) depending on how much you want to walk. We did a combination of the green and red trails which covers most of the area and we were amazed by the different caves.
TIP: This region, in particular during the summer, is full of flies that will bother you constantly. I recommend buying a mosquito net for your head like the one on this link if you want to be able to walk comfortably around.
STOP 2: Hverfjall
Not far from Dimmuborgir, you will find Hverfjall. This is the crater of an inactive volcano by Lake Myvatn. It has a 400m elevation, that you can hike up and walk all along its border. From it, you will get a 360-degree view of the region.
This was another amazing hike, that left us without words. Contemplating from above Dimmuborgir, Lake Myvatn or the Hverir geothermal area was something that I will always remember.
STOP 3: Hverir Geothermal Area
Hverir Geothermal Area was the best part of the day. Hverir is one of the most active geothermal areas in Iceland. This ochre region will contrast the sulfur boiling mud pots. Just be aware that because of the sulfur this area will smell like rotten eggs.
I recommend combining the visit to Hverir with a short hike to Namafjall mountain to admire this area from above.
STOP 4: Hofdi Loop
We finished our day by admiring the beautiful Lake Myvatn in Hofdi park. Hofdi is a small peninsula in the Lake from you where you can admire the lava pillars of Kalfastrandavogar that are in the middle of the lake.
STOP 5: Enjoy the best ice cream in Skútais
You can make the stop any time of the day but while you’re in the Myvatn area, I recommend you stop by Skútais for ice cream. We discovered this little ice cream shop because it belonged to the farmers’ guesthouse where we were lodging. Their ice creams are made with the milk from their cows and it is just delicious! It will be the cherry on top of a fantastic day!
Day 11: Godafoss and Akureyri
Route: From Lake Myvatn to Akureyri (Distance: 168km; Driving time: 2h 27min)
Walking: 7 km
Hotel: Akureyri Luxury Appartments
We loved the area around Lake Myvatn so much that we decided to spend part of the morning on day 11 visiting some things that we didn’t have time for the day before.
STOP 1: Krafla Viti
We began our day visiting Krafla Viti crater. It is a crater in the geothermal area of Myvatn filled with turquoise blue water. The contrast between the blue of the water and the crater will leave you without words.
STOP 2: Krafla Lava Fields
Only a few hundred meters from the crater, you will find the parking lot for the Krafla Lava Fields. From here, you will be able to follow a trail that will take you through sulfur areas and solidified lava. There are several trails that you can follow depending on how long you want to walk.
STOP 3: Godafoss
After we were satisfied with enough lava, we drove to Godafoss or the waterfall of the gods. It was named like this after the priest who decided to establish Christianism in Iceland. It is said that after he took this decision in Thingvellir, he returned to his home in the North of Iceland and threw the idols of the gods into this beautiful waterfall.
You can visit this waterfall from both the east and west sides to get different views of it. Trust me, you will not regret it!
STOP 4: Laufás Turf Houses
A bit north of Akureyri (approximately 20 km), you can find the Laufás Turf Houses. These very well-conserved turf houses are a part of the National Museum of Iceland, run by the Akureyri Museum.
STOP 5: Akureyri
The last stop of the day was Akureyri, also known as the capital in the North of Iceland. We spent the rest of our day visiting this small town and its main attractions like the Akureyrarkirkja and the Botanical Garden. We finished our day by enjoying a nice dinner in town.
Day 12: Hiking Súlur Mountain
Route: From Akureyri to Parking at beginning of trail to Súlur Mountain (Distance: 11km; Driving time: 20min)
Walking: 10 km
Hotel: Akureyri Luxury Appartments
STOP 1: Súlur Mountain
On day 12 we decided to attempt a new challenging hike up Mountain Súlur, from which you can enjoy a beautiful view of Akureyri and Eyjafjordur. Don’t get too confident based on the distance of only 10km, this hike was challenging! You have to cross several creeks and snow areas but the views are so worth it!
TIP: If you have hiking poles, bring them with you! The first half of the hike is constantly going uphill.
Day 13: Driving to the Snaefellsness Peninsula
Route: From Akureyri to Grundafjodur (Distance: 417km; Driving time: 4h 47min)
The trip was slowly coming to an end and it was time to start getting closer to Reykjavik… We spent the morning driving from Akureyri towards the Snaefellsness Peninsula and stopping every once in a while to admire the views.
STOP 1: Selvallafoss
Our first “official” stop of the day was Selvallafoss. This small waterfall was certainly not as impressive as all the many waterfalls we had already seen during our trip but it did have its charm.
There is no official sign or path leading you to this waterfall. If you want to visit it, stop at this parking and go down the field, after a few meters you will see a small path that will lead you to the waterfall.
STOP 2: Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellfoss
Kirkjufell is the most photographed mountain in Iceland and it is for a good reason. This impressive mountain located near the sea is a must on your visit to the Snaefellsness peninsula. Next to it, you will find Kirkjufelfoss, a small waterfall that just makes this location so beautiful.
We spent a couple of hours walking around the area and admiring its beauty.
STOP 3: Grundafjordur
We finished our day with a walk around Grundafjordur and a fantastic dinner at Bjargarsteinn Máthus. I totally recommend splurging and having dinner here with views of Kirkjufell.
Day 14: Snaefellsness Peninsula
Route: Driving around the Snaefellsness Peninsula (Distance: 132km; Driving time: 2h 5min)
Walking: 14 km
Day 14 was another one of our favorites in Iceland. We were surprised by the beauty of the Snaefellsness Peninsula and could have easily stayed a couple more days exploring this region. I honestly can’t choose which of the different places we visited this day was my favorite.
STOP 1: Skardsvík Beach
We began our day with a quick stop at Skardsvik Beach. Unlike most of the beaches in Iceland, Skardsvik has brown sand with turquoise blue water. We were lucky to be there alone and enjoy its beauty and peacefulness on our own.
STOP 2: Djúpalónssandur & Dritvík
After Skardsvík, we did a short hike between Djúpalónssandur & Dritvík Beach. Djúpalónssandur is also known as the black pearl beach and it is one of the main touristy attractions in Snaefellsness.
Most people just stay at Djúpalónssandur Beach but I recommend taking the time to reach Dritvík Beach too. It is easily accessible by following the trail to the right of the beach.
STOP 3: Londrangar Cliffs
The next stop was Londrangar Cliffs, where we did another short hike of 4,7km. Londrangar Cliffs are known for the two rock pinnacles sticking out in front of the ocean.
There are two ways to access Londrangar:
- The first option is to park your car at this viewpoint and admire them from there. If you don’t have much time, this will be the perfect option for you.
- The second option will be to park your car at the Snaefellsjokull National Park visitors center and do the short hike we did.
STOP 4: Arnastapi
We finished our day with one last hike on Arnastapi cliffs. We parked our car at the Arnastapi Port viewpoint and enjoyed a gorgeus walk from Arnastapi to Hellnar. You will never forget how pretty these cliffs are!
Day 15: Driving to Keflavik and Blue Lagoon
Route: From Grundafjordur to Keflavik and the Blue Lagoon (Distance: 322km; Driving time: 4h 27min)
This was the last day of our road trip but we still managed to visit some pretty spots in Iceland.
STOP 1: Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge
We began our day with a visit to Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge. This is a small canyon or gorge that you can enter and walk inside it. It is said that you can walk quite far inside (at your own risk of course). We only dared to walk a few meters inside but it was quite interesting.
TIP: If you are willing to enter this gorge, please bring waterproof shoes or shoes that you don’t mind getting wet.
STOP 2: Búðakirkja
Our next stop was the iconic black church, Búðakirkja. We parked our car next to it and after taking some photos of it, with mountains as a backdrop, we walked and relaxed for a while on the nearby Buða Beach. It is also possible to do some hikes around the area but we didn’t have enough time.
STOP 3: Blue Lagoon
Afterwards, it was time to leave the Snaefellsness peninsula and drive back to Keflavik. We quickly checked into our hotel and spent our last afternoon relaxing and soaking in the Blue Lagoon. It was the perfect way to end our road trip in Iceland
Day 16: Returning the car and flying back home
Route: From Keflavik to Keflavik Airport (Distance: 4km; Driving time: 6min)
On our last day we had a very early flight back to Belgium, We woke up at 4 am to drive to the airport, drop off the rental car, and flew back to Belgium.
Looking Back, Things I Would Do Differently
- Reykjavik, even though it is very pretty, the city is quite small. I stayed there for 2 nights but if you are only planning on visiting the main tourist places, 1 night is enough.
- Towns or villages in Iceland don’t have that many things to offer. If I were to plan my trip as well, I would not schedule time to visit the towns. With a generous 30-minute walk on your way to dinner, you’ve seen what needs to be seen. Instead, I would focus on visiting more waterfalls or other amazing natural landmarks.
- The Glacier hike was too short for us. I highly recommend booking a day hike instead of the 4-hour activity we did.
- Complain less about the weather and just enjoy the moment. The first week we had quite a bit of rain and I made a lot of fuss about it. Looking back, it rained yes, but it was never raining non-stop.
MAP WITH COMPLETE ICELAND ROAD TRIP
On the map below you can find all the locations and places I visited each day.
- Each color represents a different day.
- The black points are the things, I didn’t have time to visit.
Other articles about Iceland
- PLAN YOUR TRIP TO ICELAND ON YOUR OWN
- 20 BEST THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN REYKJAVIK
- HIKING IN THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK
- RENTING A CAR & DRIVING IN ICELAND – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
- ONE DAY IN THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
- THE SKOGA TRAIL – THE HIKE BEHIND SKOGAFOSS
- KVERNUFOSS – THE LESS VISITED WATERFALL NEXT TO SKOGAFOSS
- HIKING IN SKAFTAFELL NATIONAL PARK
- 21 WATERFALLS THAT YOU CAN’T MISS IN ICELAND
- KAYAKING IN JOKULSARLON
- KRAFLA VITI CRATER AND LAVA FIELDS
- HIKING IN DIMMUBORGIR
- HVERFJALL CRATER HIKE
- GLACIER HIKING AT VATNAJOKULL
- HVERIR GEOTHERMAL AREA
Enjoyed this guide? Pin it for later!
I hope you enjoyed this blog and you found it useful. Let me know what you think in the comments!