1 Week Iceland Ring Road Trip Itinerary: Visit All The Popular Spots!

Iceland’s Ring Road is one of the most iconic drives in the world, offering the adventurous travelers breathtaking landscapes, stunning waterfalls, volcanic craters, and endless natural beauty. Whether you're visiting for the first time or returning for more, this 1 week(6-days) Iceland ring road trip itinerary will guide you through the popular spots and hidden gems of this unforgettable island! We have also added our extra tips at the end of the blog to make your Iceland trip epic!

How long do you require for Iceland Ring Road trip?

We travelled to Iceland at the end of May for the first time in 2023 and completed the full ring road drive in 3.5 days. It was a crazy drive and each day we were on the road for roughly 11 hrs in our 4X4, and we do not recommend such a hectic trip through Iceland.

We had to be extremely mindful of the time spent at each location and luckily we had good weather(meaning there were no crazy storms or snow falls that slowed us down everyday). We did have a serious snowfall one morning(on May 29th can you imagine?) and we had to wait an hour as our car did get stuck on the way to Krafla volcano in North of Iceland, as the roads had turned icy and unsafe to drive on. Weather cleared up quickly and ice did melt away, without it ruining our chances to make it back to Keflavik as foreseen and miss our return flight. We do not recommend Iceland ring road trip to be done in 3 - 4 days; many things can go wrong and it's better to not drive for hours and hours without rest and being stressed about time.

Plus, Iceland deserves to be enjoyed at a slow pace, and we couldn't help but go back for a slow paced trip in August 2024. On our second trip, we concentrated on the south of Iceland, and covered some spots we had missed earlier, included a trip to Westman islands for Puffin sighting and drove the most adventurous route in Iceland: Route F208 which is open only in July and August. Details of F208 trip is not covered in this itinerary, as it is not a drive that appeals to the masses, but we are adding a blog about it soon. This blog post combines all the locations we visited on our 2 trips and we have added in stops and hotel recommendations to cover your entire trip planning.

Which season is best for Iceland Ring Road trip?

One thing to keep in mind when you plan a trip to Iceland is, depending on which time of the year you travel, you will have to compromise on few sight seeing highlights. Our itinerary is suitable for late Spring and summer, when days are longer, allowing you to cover more distances during the day. A trip to Iceland in late Spring/summer means: no chances of seeing northern lights or ice cave explorations. So if you are craving for a winter trip to Iceland, you will have to adapt this itinerary accordingly.

DISCLAIMER: None of the images in this blog are colour edited(unlike our other blogs), so you can have a realistic expectation on what to see on your Iceland roadtrip. During both our May and August trips(when weather is supposed to be great), the days were pretty much cloudy and there was a light drizzle on and off. Thus, you will see the images doesn't look as vibrant as the images you see on social media because, we want to set the right expectation for you as a traveller when it comes to Icelandic weather and the scenery.

So, let's now take you along on our Iceland ring road trip!

Iceland Ring Road trip: Day 1

Iceland ring road trip itinerary for day 1: Arrive in Keflavik & Explore the Golden Circle

Arrive at Keflavik Airport: Kick off your Iceland road trip as soon as you land at Keflavik Airport(we landed at around 10:00 AM). Rent a car and begin your journey through Iceland’s breathtaking landscapes. We used Go car rental to rent our 4 x 4 on both trips.

Visit Geldingadalir Volcano Eruption Site: Start your Iceland adventure by exploring the Geldingadalir Volcano Site, a fascinating area where you can walk on dried lava fields. It's a 1.5 hr - 2 hr walk to get to the fields(by route C which is the shortest) and much longer if you want to do the full loop. We recommend route C, and bring comfortable, waterproof shoes for this hike.

Thingvellir National Park: Next, head to Thingvellir National Park, where you can walk between two tectonic plates. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is rich in both history and natural beauty, making it one of the best stops on your Golden Circle route. Plan about 2 hrs here; we walked until the Öxarárfoss waterfall, and returned back to the entrrance via the Silfra fissure.

Thingvellir National Park

Parking tip: Park at P1, which is adjascent to visitor's center and the closest parking to the entrance of Thingvellir National Park. Perfect to have a washroom break before you start the walk.

Bruarfoss Waterfall: Take a short detour to Bruarfoss Waterfall on your way to the Strokkur Geysir, a waterfall known for its mesmerizing blue water, a unqiue waterfall in Iceland.

Bruarfoss Waterfall

Geysers & Gullfoss Waterfalls: Don’t miss the active Strokkur Geyser, which erupts every 5–10 minutes, and Gullfoss Waterfall, one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. Both are situated at a short drive from each other.

Kerid Crater: Finish the day by visiting Kerid Crater, a vibrant volcanic caldera filled with striking deep green water. The hike around the rim offers fantastic views of the surrounding area.

Kerid Crater

WHERE TO STAY ON DAY 1: Located 20 mins from the Kerid crater, Hotel ork is the perfect place to stay on your first day in Iceland if you follow this itinerary.

Iceland Ring Road trip: Day 2

Iceland ring road trip itinerary for day 2: Ferryride to the Westman Islands for Puffin Watching

Ferry tickets can be booked directly on the official website: https://herjolfur.is/en/

Drive to Landeyjahöfn Ferry Terminal and take a ferry to Westman Islands: Then take the 30-minute ferry ride to the Westman Islands, a beautiful volcanic archipelago known for its wildlife, particularly puffins. You can either leave your car at the parking at the Ferry terminal or take the car onboard the ferry(we took the car with us, as this gave us opportunity to drive around to checkout various puffin spots). On the island, you can spot adorable puffin colonies, hike up the Eldfell volcano, a red volcano, visit the elephant rock and explore dark sand beaches.

Ferry ride to Westman Island was a surreal experience!

Puffin Sighting tip: Puffins leave for the sea to catch fish in the morning and usually by 10 AM the colonies are empty. So you can either spot them early morning or spot them after 6 PM when they return from the sea back to the island. Now, please remember, these birds work without a clock, and the window before 10 AM and window after 6 PM to sight them can vary. We saw plenty of them after 6 PM, so we recommend this as the perfect time to look for them. The Westman Islands are home to one of the world’s largest puffin colonies.

Adorable Puffins with a spectacular sunset at Westman Islands

There are tours that organise puffin sighting, but honestly, if you have a car and has internet on your phone, you will find puffin view points all clearly marked on Google maps. We have pinned the 3 spots we found the most puffins at, below.

Should you stay overnight on Westman Islands?

A day here is perfect and we spend the night on the island, but you can also headback to the mainland after puffin sighting. We recommend staying overnight on the islands to fully immerse yourself in the peaceful surroundings and unique volcanic landscapes, if you have the time.

WHERE TO STAY ON DAY 2: We stayed at Westman Islands Inn, on the Westman Islands and it was very close to the ferry terminal. So if you arrive by ferry without the car, this would be the perfect place to stay. Checkout the hotel here.

Iceland Ring Road trip: Day 3

Iceland ring road trip itinerary for day 3: Discover South Iceland – Waterfalls & Black Sand Beaches

Depart from Westman Islands by First Ferry: Catch the first ferry back to the mainland and head toward Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where you can walk behind the cascading water for a truly unique perspective.

The most recognisable Seljalandsfoss waterfalls

Skogafoss Waterfall: Next, visit Skogafoss, one of Iceland’s largest and most impressive waterfalls. The view from the top is not to be missed, if you have the courage to hike up steep steps.

Skogafoss is a powerful waterfall that you can get really close to!

Visit Sólheimajökull glacier: This short glacier hike was unique because you can actually walk upto the edges of glacier and touch it! There are kayak tours and glacier hike expeditions here as well organised by tour providers such as Troll Expeditions and Icelandic Mountain Guides. We didn't do any tour, we just walked around the area.

Sólheimajökull glacier

Vik & Reynisfjara Beach: Explore the charming village of Vik and visit Reynisfjara, a black sand beach famous for its basalt columns and dramatic sea stacks. For Game of Thrones fans, this is a must-visit spot in Iceland. This was also our only stop when we had almost blue sky in August during our 4 day trip!

The famous black sand beach - Reynisfjara Beach

Stay in Kirkjubæjarklaustur: End your day at Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a quaint village nestled between glaciers and volcanoes. It’s the perfect spot to relax and recharge.

WHERE TO STAY ON DAY 3: Since we crossed the south of Iceland on both trips, we ended up staying at the same location close to Glacier lagoon, but at 2 different properties. During our May trip, we stayed at Skyrhusid HI Hostel (which had shared washrooms) and during August trip we stayed at Hali Country hotel.

Iceland Ring Road trip: Day 4

Iceland ring road trip itinerary for day 4: Explore Iceland’s Natural Wonders – Glaciers, Canyons, and More

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach: Start the day and drive towards Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon to witness floating icebergs in a stunning setting. Cross the road to visit Diamond Beach, where ice chunks wash ashore against the black sand.

One of a kind Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach

Hofn & Studlagil Canyon: Visit Hofn, a lovely harbour town before heading to Studlagil Canyon, a hidden gem known for its unique basalt columns and deep, rugged landscapes.

Hofn & Studlagil Canyon

Dettifoss & Selfoss Waterfalls: Next, head to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. Don’t forget to stop by Selfoss, located nearby, for more incredible views.

Dettifoss & Selfoss Waterfalls and Hverir Geothermal area

Hverir Geothermal Area: Finish the day at Hverir, a surreal geothermal area filled with mud pots, steaming vents, and otherworldly landscapes.

WHERE TO STAY ON DAY 4: Stay overnight in Myvatn, a region famous for its volcanic activity, hot springs, and stunning beauty. We stayed at Dimmuborgir Guesthouse, which has stunning wooden cabins right next to Myvatn lake.

Iceland Ring Road trip: Day 5

Iceland ring road trip itinerary for day 5: North Iceland – Waterfalls, Canyons, & Christmas Magic

Krafla crater & Blue lake: Start the day with a visit to Krafla volcanic crater, a geothermal area with volcanic craters and bubbling hot springs. On the way make a quick stop to admire the brilliant blue lake; be careful touching the water, it may be too hot.

Krafla crater & Blue lake

Godafoss Waterfalls: Then head to Godafoss, the “Waterfall of the Gods,” known for its picturesque horseshoe shape.

Another powerful Icelandic waterfall - Godafoss

Explore Akureyri & Visit the Christmas House: Continue your drive to Akureyri, Iceland’s second-largest city. Make sure to stop by the Christmas House, a magical spot filled with festive decor year-round.

Colourful Icelandic town of Akureyri & Christmas House that's open all year!

Kolugljúfur Canyon: Visit Kolugljúfur Canyon, a stunning, less-crowded natural wonder perfect for photos and a peaceful stroll. We were really unlucky with the lighting here, the place didn't look spectacular at all compared to what we had seen on social media.

Kolugljúfur Canyon - what we saw versus(images 1 & 2) what we had seen in photos(image 3)

WHERE TO STAY ON DAY 5: Spend the night at Basalt Hotel, an excellent place to relax after a day full of exploration.

Iceland Ring Road trip: Day 6

Iceland ring road trip itinerary for day 6: Reykjavik & Blue Lagoon – Your Final Iceland Adventure

Reykjavik Exploration: On your last day, make your way to Reykjavik. Explore the charming streets, visit Hallgrímskirkja Church, and stroll along the harbor for scenic views.

Blue Lagoon Experience: End your Icelandic road trip with a relaxing soak in the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa with warm, mineral-rich waters. It’s the perfect way to unwind before your flight.

Hallgrímskirkja Church and famous thermal bath Blue Lagoon

Return to Keflavik Airport: After a peaceful day at the Blue Lagoon, drop off your car back at the car rental and head to Keflavik Airport for your departure.

Our top advice for your Iceland Roadtrip:

For the best travel experience in Iceland, keep these tips in mind:

Rent a reliable car and take the relevant insurance: Well insured car is a must in Iceland and the add-on, ash & sand storm insurance is highly recommended for months of February, March and April when storms are strong.

Fuel up: Keep in mind that cities with fuel stations could be over 100 km or more apart, so everytime you pass a city, fuel up to full capacity.

Supermarket food: Iceland restaurants are very expensive, microwave food(check if the supermarket has one you can use close to exit / entrance), salads and sandwiches from supermarkets would be your go to meal during your trip. If you do take microwave meals back to hotels, most of them will not allow you to use their kitchen microwave to warm your food for fear of food contamination. We felt this was a ridiculous excuse to promote dining at their restaurant which will be almost 70-100 euro per person. So plan this accordingly if you plan to have your own food at the hotel.

Best supermarkets: We found Bonus supermarket had the best prices, while Netto offered more variety when it came to meals-to-go

Book your accommodations in advance: Iceland is not a mass touristic destination(yet), and doesn't have enough hotel and airbnb properties to enjoy the luxury of booking them late. We were at a loss when we had absolutely no places available close to Glacier Lagoon to stay to follow our itinerary and luckily few days before our trip, due to a cancellation, a spot opened up. So please, book your accomodation way in advance, unless you are renting a camper van.

Weather can be unpredictable: As we explained in the introduction, during our end of May trip, we had rain, snow and such strong winds powerful enough to rip our car doors off. Unexpected weather can slow down your itinerary, so be prepared to be flexible.

Pack wind/rain proof clothes and shoes: It's not absolutely essential if you travel in summer(we didnt have them with us), but we do feel the quality of your travel experience is much better if your feet and body is warm and comfortable.

That's it from us on our Iceland adventure and we hope you found it useful! Follow this 6-day Iceland Ring Road itinerary for the ultimate adventure through one of the world’s most beautiful destinations.