The Ultimate Iceland Road Trip Itinerary (+ Planning Tips)

Are you planning an Iceland road trip? This is one of our favourite counties in the world for a road trip, and here’s our ultimate south coast itinerary.

Iceland is a dream road trip destination, especially for outdoor lovers. There are so many amazing things to do in and see in the country from huge glaciers and ice caves to tiny villages and turf houses.

But, the one thing you should know about Iceland is that it’s incredibly spread out. 

Many of the country’s best sights are hours from the capital and the main airport. Depending on how long you spend in Iceland, it doesn’t always make sense to do day tours from Reykjavik every day. 

Our favourite way to explore is by hiring a car. It’s the easiest way to see the country’s natural beauty whilst exploring at your own pace. Plus, you’ll be able to visit many of the hidden gems that tours typically miss. 

So, if you’re planning a trip to this northern gem, here’s our ultimate road trip itinerary for the south. This is the exact route we followed on our last trip to Iceland. 

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11:00 – Pick up Your Hire Car

We recommend picking up your hire car directly from the airport. We book all of our rental cars through this company; they always give us the best deals and have a huge selection of options. Plus, we often get free upgrades as well!

We had to take the bus from the airport terminal to the garages where the cars were kept to collect our car. This ride took about 5 minutes. Then, we inspected the vehicle, plugged our destination into maps, and began our Iceland road trip!

❤️ This is our go-to car hire company and this company always has the cheapest and most comprehensive rental insurance.

When you arrive, you can walk along the wooden boardwalks right up to the springs. You’ll immediately smell the sulfur. If you get too close, and depending on which way the wind is blowing, you may even end up with a face full of warm eggy steam!

Honestly, it’s not as gross as it sounds and we had quite a bit of fun playing ‘dodge the steam cloud’!

You can also wander down the boardwalks to the Reykjanes Lighthouse or even continue to the Valahnukamol Sea Cliffs which are incredibly dramatic.

13:00 – Bridge Between Continents

Next, head to the Bridge Between Continents. This is a 10-minute drive from Gunnhuver is more or less exactly what it sounds like – a huge gap in the earth where the tectonic plates have divided and a large metal bridge across it. 

14:15 – Blue Lagoon

Next, head to the Blue Lagoon. This is one of the most popular places to visit in Iceland and soaking in the milky blue waters should definitely be on your bucket list.

This would usually be a journey of around 25 minutes, but due to all the volcanic eruptions at Grindavik, the most direct route was closed when we were there. It’s likely to be closed for quite a while, so you’ll probably have to go around. 

This is also the only place on today’s itinerary that you’ll need to book in advance. The Blue Lagoon is busy and tickets will sell out, especially if you’re visiting in peak season.

Nonetheless, it’s almost a right of passage for anyone visiting Iceland and we couldn’t write this itinerary without recommending it!

Once you arrive, you can soak in the waters, apply a mud mask, have a drink, and enjoy the surroundings. It’s even more relaxing after a long flight!

❤️ You’ll need to book this bucket list experience in advance!

17:30 – Seltun Geothermal Area

Once you’re nice and relaxed from the Blue Lagoon, drive to the final stop on today’s itinerary: Seltun Geothermal Area. 

This would usually be a journey of around 35 minutes, but, once again, it may be different due to all the volcanic eruptions. 

This was one of my favourite parts of the Reykjanes Peninsula. You can walk along the wooden boardwalks and get up close to the, bubbling mud pots, and hot springs. 

The beautiful landscapes almost reminded me of the highlands. The oranges, and browns were really vibrant and the whole area was streaming. It was pretty impressive. 

18:00 – Drive up to Borgarnes

Finally, drive up to Borgarnes where you’ll be spending the night. It took us around 1.5 hours to get there, but this got us much closer to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula which is where you’ll be spending the day tomorrow. 

We stayed at Hotel Hafnarfjall which was amazing. We had the cutest little self-catering cabins and they had huge glass windows and backed right onto a beach. Plus, if you visit in the right season, they’re remote enough that you could see the northern lights.

It was a beautiful place to stay and we highly recommend them.

❤️ These are some of our favourite cabins in Iceland

TOP TIP: We recommend stopping at a supermarket to stock up on groceries for the next two nights. We stopped at the Bonus store right outside Reykjavik.

Day 2: Snæfellsnes Peninsula

For the second day of this Iceland road trip, visit the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. 

This is another underrated part of the country and an incredibly beautiful area – hence why it’s known as ‘Iceland in Miniature’. It’s also much less touristy than the areas we’ll be seeing later on in this itinerary. 

Because it’s quite a long driving day, we recommend starting early. I suggest leaving your cabin by 8am at the latest. 

9:30 – Búðakirkja Black Church

If you leave at 8am, then you should reach this first stop at around 9:30am. 

Búðakirkja is one of the most well-known churches in Iceland. Against the vast white mountains in the background, this little black structure looks so cute. 

You won’t need long here. Walk around the church and take plenty of photos, before hopping back in the car and continuing along the coast.

10:15 – Arnarstapi Cliffs

The next stop is the Arnarstapi Cliffs. It’s around a 25-minute drive from the church and, with the mountains in the background, this is one of the most beautiful drives on the peninsula. 

Once you arrive, park your car next to this cafe, and grab a coffee if you need it. Then, head along the path to the viewpoints. You’ll also find public toilets near the car park. 

The cliffs are magnificent with seabirds nesting in the rocks and gorgeous coastal views. 

Walk along the cliff path and you’ll also find the famous Gatklettur Rock Arch and the Stone Landbridge which makes for a very cool photo. We spent around an hour and a half here, but you can also make it longer by walking the cliff path from Arnarstapi to Hellnar.

To reach the beach, you’ll have to walk down through a small canyon. 

What makes this different to many of the other beaches in Iceland is the wreck of a trawler that’s washed up on the shore. There are also two sides to the beach and you can explore some pretty cool rock formations too. 

We spent around an hour exploring, but you could spend longer. It’s also a great place to stop for a picnic lunch.

13:30 – Saxholl Crater

Next, drive 15 minutes to Saxholl Crater. Of all the places we visited on our Iceland road trip, this was one of our favourites. You can park at the bottom and then climb the metal staircase to the top of the crater. 

From there, you can see the mountains and volcanoes behind you, the ocean in front and a lot of other sights along the peninsula. It truly is beautiful. 

But it was super windy at the top of the crater to the point where you could actually lean into the wind and it would hold you there. You definitely need to be extra careful if you’re visiting Iceland in winter.

We travelled in March and it was still so snowy here. 

TOP TIP: If you are travelling in winter, we recommend crampons to climb the stairs. These will help to grip into the ice and snow. However, please use your common sense and if it looks really icy, don’t climb as it could be dangerous. 

15:00 – Hellissandur

This next stop was a pretty quick one. We drove 10 minutes along the coast to Hellissandur, a little oceanside village on the northwest of the peninsula. Here, you’ll find some of the coolest street art in Iceland. 

There’s an entire section of the village just dedicated to murals and artworks. We parked up and had a little wander around. My favourites were the ram and the viking ship. 

15:45 – Kirkjufellsfoss

Lastly, head to the final stop of the day – and probably the one you’re most excited to see on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Kirkjufellsfoss is magnificent. There’s no other way of saying it. 

The waterfall is one of Iceland’s most photographed spots and it looks amazing both in winter and in the summer months when it’s all green. When we visited in late March, the waterfall was still very frozen.

If you manage to catch a sunset here, it looks spectacular with the towering volcano in the background. 

17:00 – Drive back to Borgarnes

Finally, once you’ve explored Kirkjufellsfoss, drive back to your cabins in Borgarnes. This will take around an hour and a half and is mostly an easy drive.

Once you get back to your cabin, cook a tasty dinner, hop in the hot tub, or walk down to the beach to watch the sunset.

Day 3: South Coast

Next, we’re heading down the south coast. This is one of the busier places in Iceland and one of the most popular day trips from Reykjavik. However, most people will only go to the same 4-5 stops. On this road trip itinerary, we’re going to include a few hidden gems as well.

9:00 – Seljalandsfoss

The journey to the first stop is the longest drive of the entire trip. From Hotel Hafnarfjall down to Seljalandsfoss will take around 2.5 hours so, once again, you’re going to want to leave as early as possible. 

You’ll pass through Selfoss, which is a good place to stop for a coffee and a toilet break.

Once you arrive, you’ll find yourself at one of the most famous waterfalls in southern Iceland. This gem is mostly well known because you can walk behind it. It’s also pretty huge at 60 meters tall with beautiful views from behind.

TOP TIP: Every south coast day tour will likely stop here so it can be quite busy here – another reason to get here early.

9:30 – Gljufrabui

One place that many of the tour groups don’t stop at when they visit Seljalandsfoss is the second secret waterfall in a cave just a 10-minute walk from the main attraction. 

Gljufrabui is one of Iceland’s top hidden gems and it is well worth the short walk to reach. 

To see it, you’ll need to walk through a small stream and into a cavern, so prepare to get wet. But it’s magnificent and one of our favourite spots in the country.

11:15 – Kvernufoss

This waterfall is located right around the corner from Skogafoss, but somehow, people seem to miss it! Kvernufoss is one of our favourite waterfalls in Iceland and, just like Seljalandsfoss, you can walk behind it. 

To get to the waterfall, you’ll need to go on a short hike which will take around 20 minutes. But it’s so worth it for views like this. 

👉 You can read our full hiking guide for Kvernufoss here.

13:00 – Reynisfjara + Lunch

Next, head to Iceland’s famous black sand beach. Reynisfjara is located around 30 minutes from Kvernufoss, just before the village of Vik. 

This beach is one of my favourite places along the south coast and is definitely worth the hype it gets. 

The first time we visited was during our trip to Iceland in December and the beach was so peaceful. We spent an hour there just watching the waves. The second time we visited, we saw whales out in the distance.  

You can also see towering basalt columns, huge caves, and seabirds, and it’s a good spot to grab lunch at their little cafe. 

14:30 – Hike on Solheimajokull Glacier 

From the beach, head back on yourself ever so slightly to Solheimajokull Glacier tongue to go on a glacier hike. This is only a 15-minute drive from Reynisfjara, but make sure you arrive with plenty of time to spare. 

We recommend booking this tour as you can meet the guide on location in the afternoon, perfect for this Iceland road trip.

Once you meet your guide, you’ll get geared up with crampons and ice picks and head out onto the glacier. You’ll likely be out on the ice for around 1.5 hours and this still remains one of the best things we’ve ever done in Iceland. 

❤️ You’ll need to book this tour in advance but it’s one of the best things you can do in Iceland.

👉 Check out our full experience on our glacier hike here. 

18:00 – Vik Lava Show

Finally, head back to Vik for one of the country’s most unique attractions. If you’ve ever been curious about volcanic eruptions (I mean, who isn’t!), then you’ll love the Lava Show. 

You’ll literally see real molten lava being poured into the showroom and it shows you how a volcanic eruption behaves with Iceland’s landscapes. It’s fascinating and one of the coolest things you can do in Vik. 

❤️ If you’ve ever wanted to see real lava, you’ll love this show!

Stay in Vik

For tonight, we recommend staying in Vik. This town along the south coast has some of the best hotels outside of Reykjavik and plenty of choice too. 

Our top recommendations are Black Beach Suites or Hotel Kria which are both very highly rated. But book quickly because they sell out, especially in the high season.

👉 Check out our favourite places to stay in Vik.

Day 4: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

For day 4, we’re driving as far east as we’re going on this itinerary. It’s quite a lot of driving but it’s worth it as you’ll be visiting one of the most beautiful parts of Iceland.

9:30 – Svartifoss Waterfall

For your first stop, drive to Skaftafell to hike to the beautiful Svartifoss Waterfall. 

This is another of the most impressive waterfalls along Iceland’s southern coast. However, it’s much less visited than the waterfalls we mentioned yesterday. This is party because of its location, plus, there aren’t many guided tours that go here.

The drive to the trailhead will take around 1 hour and 40 minutes, depending on the weather. This stretch of road in Iceland is extremely open and frequently closed due to strong winds. 

When we drove this route, the wind was pretty intense and we had to slow down significantly. So we recommend checking safe.is before you set off and monitor the weather conditions. 

Once you reach the trailhead, the hike to the waterfall will take around 45 minutes each way. The basalt columns here are beautiful and were the inspiration for the Hallgrimskirkja church in Reykjavik.

You’ll find toilets and a small shop at the visitor centre car park, but no facilities along the trail, so it’s really important to take everything with you. 

🍃 Please take everything with you. It’s so important to leave no trace as it keeps these magnificent landscapes looking beautiful and helps to protect wildlife and nature. Leave nothing on the trails, take nothing with you, and stick to the designated trail paths.

12:45 – Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Once you’ve got back to the car, drive to another of the most beautiful spots in south Iceland: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. This is the furthest east we’ll be going on this Iceland road trip, and it’s so worth the drive as the landscapes are insane. 

The glacier lagoon is full of chunks of ice that have broken off from the nearby Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier, a part of the vast Vatnajökull ice cap. 

The lagoon is constantly changing as ice melts and shifts, while some chunks eventually drift out to sea. It’s a wonderful spot for photography and we were in awe the entire time we were there.

14:00 – Jokulsarlon Boat Ride

One of the best things you can do here is go on a boat ride on the lagoon. There are several different options at Jokulsarlon, the most popular being the Zodiac or the Amphibian Tours. 

The Zodiac allows you to get up close to the icebergs. It’s a much smaller boat and they also cover more ground, but it’s also more expensive. In contrast, the Amphibian is a slower and more relaxing cruise around the lagoon, but you can’t get as close to the icebergs. 

Both of these are great ways of seeing the lagoon from a different perspective but we recommend booking in advance as they can quickly sell out!

16:00 – Diamond Beach

Once you’ve finished your boat tour, head across the road to Diamond Beach. This is a magical place and just as impressive (if not more!), than the lagoon. 

Remember I said that some of the icebergs from the lagoon wash out to sea? Where this beach is where they end up before they reach the ocean!

Sometimes you can end up with hundreds of chunks of ice scattered across the beach, resembling huge diamonds. If you visit at sunset it’s pretty impressive and it’s a popular sunrise spot too as the sun rises directly in front of the beach. 

You can end up spending a lot of time here wandering between the icebergs and watching the waves. This is Iceland in all its raw natural beauty and it’s fantastic.

Stay at Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon

For tonight, we recommend staying at Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon. There are only a few hotels in the area, and this is one of the best. 

Plus, staying local to the lagoon means you don’t have another long drive back down the south coast and saves you potentially battling strong winds in the dark. 

Once again, book well in advance as this is quite a popular hotel. 

❤️ This is the hotel we recommend near the glacier lagoon.

Day 5: South Coast

Today, we’re going to start heading back towards Reykjavik. Though we’re technically going back the way we came, there’s still quite a lot to see on this route that we missed on the way down. We’ll be stopping at those places today.

9:30 – Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

The drive to this canyon will take around an hour and 20 minutes. It used to be a bit of an Icelandic hidden gem but has become one of the most popular canyons in Iceland thanks to a music video with Justin Beiber.

Stay in Vik

Once again, we recommend staying in Vik tonight. You could rebook your accommodation from the previous night, or stay somewhere different, but we recommend Black Beach Suites or Hotel Kria.

For dinner, try the famous Black Crust Pizzeria.

Day 6: Golden Circle

For your sixth day in Iceland, head to one of the most touristy areas in the country. You’ll immediately notice the influx of people here compared to the previous days, but driving the Golden Circle is a must in Iceland and we just couldn’t skip it on this road trip itinerary. 

9:00 – Kerid Crater

From Vik, head to Kerid Crater. This will take around 2 hours and for the most part, is along the ring road. We recommend starting early today, as there’s a lot to see. 

Kerid Crater is one of the only natural sights in Iceland that you have to buy tickets for. Entry costs 600 ISK, which is around $4 or £3.40 but, unlike many places in Iceland, parking is free. 

There are several ways to explore the crater. You can either head to the top and walk around the rim or climb down the steps and admire it from the bottom. We recommend both – the top is the best way to see the colours, but the bottom is such a unique viewpoint.

10:30 – Geysir

Next head 25 minutes north to Geysir. This is one ofthe most famous stops on the Golden Circle and it’s easy to see why. However, it’s also one of the busiest. Of all our time road-tripping around Iceland, this was the only spot where we struggled to find parking! 

Geysir is Iceland’s most famous hot spring and erupts roughly every 8-15 minutes shooting boiling water metres into the air. The entire park is full of different geothermal spots including several other hot springs and a few other geysers, although mostly dormant ones. 

You’ll likely need around an hour here. You may be waiting a little while for the geyser to erupt and this will also give you time to explore the rest of the geothermal area. 

12:00 – Gullfoss + Lunch

Once you’ve left Geysir, head just 11 minutes down the road to the famous Gullfoss waterfall. This is the most impressive waterfall on the Golden Circle. Where Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss in the south are tall, Gullfoss is wide. 

The falls are split over two levels and there are also two levels of viewing platforms. You can climb to the top and walk along it, or head down the metal steps to the bottom. 

If you visit during the summer months, there’s also a smaller path that leads you to a ledge right above the waterfall. This is closed in winter though, as it’s too dangerous. 

Gullffoss also has a visitor centre which is the perfect spot for some lunch. They sell sandwiches, hot drinks, and soups along with some hot food, so it’s a good place to fuel up before you continue your Iceland road trip. 

15:00 – Thingvellir National Park 

The final stop of the day, before we head to Reykjavik, is Thingvellir National Park. This is another of the places in Iceland where you can walk between two tectonic plates, plus the scenery is beautiful. 

Park at this visitor centre (there are several car parks in Thingvellir, so make sure you get the right one), and then head to the gorge. We recommend hiking to Oxararfoss waterfall, the most beautiful falls in the park. 

You’ll likely spend around an hour and a half here, then hop in the car and drive to Reykjavik.

17:30 – Reykjavik

Now, after 6 fantastic days exploring Iceland’s landscapes, we’re heading to the capital to learn a little more about the culture of the country.

It’s a very different vibe here from the rest of Iceland and it’s quite mad that you can find huge glaciers so close to a city!

The drive to Reykjavik should take you around 45 minutes. 

Stay in Reykjavik

For your night in Reykjavik, we recommend staying in Center Hotels Plaza.

This was the hotel we stayed at during our first ever trip to Iceland, and we loved it. It’s comfortable, the location is very central, and you’ll find some great restaurants within easy walking distance. 

For dinner, head to the Reykjavik Fish Restaurant.

👉 For more inspiration, check out our favoruite places to stay in Reykjavik.

❤️ This is one of the best hotels we’ve stayed at in Reykjavik.

Day 7: Reykjavik

For your final day in Iceland, you’re going to be exploring the capital. There’s a lot to do in Reykjavik, so you won’t be able to fit it all into one day. However, there are plenty of options. 

You could explore a museum. A few of our favourites include Perlan and Whales of Iceland. Then, you absolutely have to check out Hallgrimskirkja Church and climb to the top for panoramic views over Reykjavik.

You could pick up a traditional Icelandic sweater from one of the shops down Rainbow Street, admire the unique street art, or head to the waterfront to see the buildings and the beautiful Sun Voyager sculpture. 

You could even book a whale watching tour and admire the ocean’s gentle giant from the waters around the capital.

There are also some amazing things to do in the evenings in Reykjavik, like music venues or relaxing in the Sky Lagoon.

👉 Check out our one-day Reykjavik itinerary for a complete guide to spending 24 hours in the city. Or, if you’re considering spending a little longer, we also have a 2-day guide. 

And that’s it! A complete week-long Iceland road trip itinerary to some of the most beautiful places in the south. 

All that’s left to do now is head back to Keflavik Airport. 

Oh, and then load up Skyscanner and search for cheap flights back to Iceland! 🙂

If you have more time…

If you have a little longer than a weekday in Iceland, there’s a lot that you could add to this itinerary. 

You could spend another day exploring the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. There are plenty of waterfalls and gorges along there, not to mention a few cliff walks that are worth doing. 

You could also spend a lot longer along the south coast.

There are several things we didn’t get to see in this itinerary, including a hike where you can see around 26 waterfalls, an abandoned airplane wreck, and a cave that looks like a Star Wars character! 

👉 For more info, check out our 5-day south coast itinerary for Iceland. 

You could also spend a few days exploring the Westman Islands or even drive into the highlands. 

Of course, you could continue the drive from Jokulsarlon around the whole Ring Road, but that would involve completely rearranging this itinerary, as you wouldn’t be going back on yourself down the south coast.

Either way, there are lots you could add to turn this into a 10-day or even a 14-day itinerary. 

If you have less time…

With less time, we would recommend skipping the first day on the Reykjanes Peninsula and also potentially skipping the Snaefellsnes Peninsula too. 

This would eliminate a lot of driving. You could go straight to the Blue Lagoon from the airport, then head down the south coast, picking up the Golden Circle on the way back. 

👉 Check out our 4-day Iceland itinerary here for more inspiration. 

Final Thoughts on The Perfect Iceland Road Trip

Obviously, there are many different road trips you can do in Iceland, from the south coast road trip example we’ve outlined above to either the Ring Road, a trip around the Westfjords, or a road trip into the Highlands. 

However, for the first time in Iceland, we think this is a great place to start. You’ll visit many of the major sights in the country and probably cross most things off your bucket list.

We hope this has given you plenty of inspiration, but if you have any further questions, ask us anything in our Iceland Facebook Group.

🚗 Need help planning your road trip? Check out our automated Iceland Road Trip Planner and take all the stress out of budgeting!

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