You’re going to do a circular road trip starting and ending in Reykjavik/Keflavík, combining the south coast, the glaciated southeast, the volcanic north, and the Snæfellsnes peninsula. The key here isn’t to see everything, but to sequence the highlights to minimize kilometers and park each night where it makes sense. In my case, I arrived at 14:00 and booked the glacier tour before flying; I also saved the Mývatn bath for the long northern day and Diamond Beach at sunset because the light asks for it.
Table of contents
Map and trip summary (Day 1 to Day 10)
Reference times (approx.)
These are realistic ranges with short photo stops and “normal” Icelandic weather. If there’s wind, rain, or snow, add buffer time.
- D2 Full Reykjanes → Selfoss: 3–5 h depending on stops.
- D3 Selfoss → Vík (waterfalls): 3–4 h.
- D4 Vík → Skaftafell with Eldhraun/Dverghamrar: 2.5–3.5 h + 1.5–2 h trek to Svartifoss.
- D5 Skaftafell → Jökulsárlón → Höfn: 2.5–3.5 h, with glacier in the morning.
- D6 Höfn → Egilsstaðir → (Dettifoss*) → Mývatn: 5–8 h (long driving day).
- D7 Mývatn → Goðafoss → Akureyri → Staður: 3.5–5 h.
- D8–D9 Full Snæfellsnes → Borgarnes/Reykjavik: 5–7 h over two days.
- D10 Reykjavik → Keflavík: 45–60 min.
* Dettifoss: only if the road is open (I stress it again below).
Things to do in Reykjavik
Instagram tour of Reykjavik with a private photographer
ISReykjavik Old Town Tour and Whale Watching Cruise Tickets
Reykjavik Street Art Backstreets and Stories
Tour a pie por Reikiavik con audioguía y opción de autobús turístico
Private Tour of Reykjavik
Reykjavik: Uncomfortable Iceland — Alternative History Tour
ISReykjavík Old Town and Hallgrimskirkja Private Walking Tour
Tour privado a pie por la ciudad de Reikiavik y la arquitectura islandesa
El «CatWalk» privado de Reikiavik
Reykjavik: The Icelandic Woman Private Walking Tour
Reikiavik: tour a pie privado LGBTQ+ con guía local
El Círculo Dorado y la aurora boreal: excursión guiada desde Reikiavik + audioguía
Silfra Snorkelling & Golden Circle Tour
Golden Circle & Horse Riding Tour
Golden Circle & Northern Lights Tour
Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Small-Group Tour
Reykjavík: Golden Circle Tour with Kerid Crater Lake
From Reykjavik: Full Day Whale Watching & Golden Circle Tour
Círculo Dorado: Excursión en grupo reducido + Traslados a la Laguna Azul desde Reikiavik
Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon: Tour from Reykjavík
Golden Circle and FlyOver Iceland: Tour from Reykjavik
Círculo Dorado: Excursión Privada Personalizada desde Reikiavik
Golden Circle, Fridheimar, Sky Lagoon & Kerid Crater: Tour from Reykjavik
Blue Lagoon & Northern Lights Tour
Blue Lagoon Tour
Oficial Blue Lagoon Islandia: acceso de confort
Golden Circle & Blue Lagoon: Small-Group Tour from Reykjavík with Entry
Blue Lagoon: Private Transfer from Reykjavik
Golden Circle: Small-Group Tour + Blue Lagoon Transfers from Reykjavik
Golden Circle & Blue Lagoon: Day Tour from Reykjavik
Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike & Blue Lagoon Admission
Northern Lights Cruise in Reykjavík
Reykjavik: Whale Watching and Northern Lights Cruise Combo
Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour with Hot Chocolate & Photos
Northern Lights: 3-Hr Bus Tour + Transfer
Northern Lights Centre + Aurora Borealis Tour
Northern Lights Tour
Reykjavik: Whales and Northern Lights Boat Tour
Reykjavik: Whale Watching & Northern Lights Combo Cruise
ISReykjavik: Northern Lights Motor Yacht Cruise
Costa Sur y Cueva de Hielo de Katla
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Tour
The Entire South Coast of Iceland: Waterfalls and Glaciers
The South Coast of Iceland Day Trip
Reykjavik: South Coast Waterfalls, Beach, & Glacier Tour
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: Roundtrip from Reykjavik
South Coast Iceland: Small-Group Day Tour from Reykjavík
Vik, Skógafoss Waterfall & Black Sand South Iceland: Guided Tour + Transport
Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride and South Coast Tour from Reykjavik
South Coast and Sky Lagoon: Tour from Reykjavik
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: Roundtrip from Reykjavik
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: Full-Day Guided Tour from Reykjavik
Sólheimajökull Glacier Hiking Tour
Katla Ice Cave: Small Group Guided Super Jeep Tour from Vík
Sólheimajökull Glacier: Guided Tour
Ice Cave Tour
Sólheimajökull Blue Ice Glacier Hike with Guide
From Húsafell: Into the Glacier Ice Cave Adventure
ISSólheimajökull Ice Climbing Tour
Jökulsárlón: tour por cueva de hielo azul y paseo por glaciar
Sólheimajökull: Guided Glacier Hike
Reykjavík: Buggy Adventure to Mýrdalsjökull Majestic Glacier
Sur de Islandia: Tour Privado Personalizado
Reykjavik Whale Watching
Reykjavik: Whale Watching & Lava Show
Reykjavík: Whale Watching and Food Lovers Combo
Reykjavik: Morning Whale Watching & Wildlife Tour
Reikiavik: tour de avistamiento de ballenas, exposición Ballenas de Islandia
Reykjavik: Whale Watching with Whale Museum Entry Included
From Reykjavik: Whale and Dolphin Watching Boat Tour
ISReykjavik: Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching Yacht Cruise
Reykjavik: Whale Watching & Northern Lights Combo Cruise
Sky Lagoon: Saman Pass con Ritual de Spa en 7 Pasos
Sky Lagoon Excursion
Day Trip to Lake Kleifarvatn & Geothermal Hot Springs Hike
Hvammsvík Hot Springs
Hvammsvik Hot Springs: Admission Package
Ticket de entrada para la Laguna Secreta de Islandia
Reikiavik: pase de entrada a Sky Lagoon con ritual de spa de 7 pasos
Sky Lagoon: Sér Pass con Ritual de Spa en 7 Pasos
Sky Lagoon: Traslado de ida y vuelta desde Reikiavik
Sky Lagoon: Sér Pass con Ritual de Spa en 7 Pasos
Sky Lagoon: Saman Pass + Transporte desde Reikiavik
Lava Tunnel Tour
Reykjavik: Snaefellsnes Peninsula Day Trip with Guide
Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike: The Original Local Experience
Landmannalaugar: Helicopter tour with 3 Landings
From Reykjavik: Helicopter Tour to Hengill with Landing
IS1 Hour ATV Tour- Volcanic trails of Grindavik
Reykjavik: Lava Tube Caving Tour
ISReykjavík: 2.5-Hour Buggy Adventure with Optional Pickup
From Reykjavik: New Volcanic Area Helicopter Tour
From Reykjavik: Fire And Ice Helicopter Tour with 2 Landings
From Reykjavík: Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike with Geologist
The Lava Falls Adventure Tour
Museo Saga: Entrada
Reikiavik: ticket de entrada al Museo de Arte de Islandia
Reykjavik: Punk Food Tour with Tastings and Music History
Reikiavik: ticket de entrada a The World of Icelandic Music
Perlan Museum Ticket
Lava Show Tickets
ISReykjavik Perlan Museum Private Tour Skip-the-Line Tickets
ISSkip-the-line Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center Tour
Reykjavik: LAVA SHOW – Immersive Experience Entry Ticket
ISReykjavík: Multi-Sensory Art Installation Chromo Sapiens
Day-by-day itinerary from Reykjavik
Day 1 — Arrival in Reykjavik (14:00) and downtown stroll
I land early afternoon and spend the day settling into the Icelandic rhythm without stress. Drop your bag, take a shower, and head out for a walk: Hallgrímskirkja to situate yourself, the Sólfar sculpture by the bay, Harpa with its honeycomb façade, and the Laugavegur strip for a simple dinner. If the sky opens, go up the Hallgrímskirkja viewpoint; if it rains, Perlan is a good shelter. Quick tip: buy a local SIM or make sure you have data to navigate with your 10‑day map. Night in Reykjavik.
Day 2 — Reykjanes: Garður, Gunnuhver, Krýsuvík and Kleifarvatn (+ optional Golden Circle)
I pick up the car in Keflavík and do a volcanic loop: the Garður lighthouse, the steam and mud pools of Gunnuhver, the fumaroles at Krýsuvík, and the mineral calm of Lake Kleifarvatn. It’s the perfect start to understand that Iceland is a geology factory. You’ll drive 3–5 h with stops and, if you’re on schedule, you can add the Golden Circle (Kerið, Geysir, Gullfoss, Þingvellir). Sleep: Camping Selfoss. Personal tip: bring a swimsuit from today; if you include the Golden Circle, a hot-spring stop may happen.
Day 3 — South Coast waterfalls: Urriðafoss, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss
A day of back‑to‑back waterfalls along the Ring Road. Start gently at Urriðafoss; continue to Seljalandsfoss (walk behind it if it’s not slippery) and finish with the power of Skógafoss. In between, stands for hot soup and fish & chips. The total stretch is short (3–4 h behind the wheel), so take your time for spray‑kissed photos. Sleep: Vík or nearby. My experience: I saved time to see Skógafoss in low light with the rainbow almost touching the ground.
Day 4 — Vík: black-sand beaches + Eldhraun and Dverghamrar → trek to Svartifoss
Morning at Reynisfjara and the black‑sand beaches of Vík; watch out for sneaker waves. Continue to the Eldhraun lava fields, make a technical stop among the basalt at Dverghamrar, and enter Skaftafell. Time for the trek to Svartifoss (1.5–2 h roundtrip, easy if you wear boots): it’s impossible not to stare at its basalt columns. Sleep: near the Skaftafell National Park. Personal extra: this day was perfect for a leg “reset”: short drive, longer walk.
Day 5 — Guided Vatnajökull glacier + Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach at sunset
Morning on the glacier: the guided tour on Vatnajökull is the trip’s high point (crampons, helmet, and guide—no solo adventures). In the afternoon, the Jökulsárlón lagoon with icebergs and, across the road, Diamond Beach. I went at sunset and that’s when the chunks of ice shine as if they’d been polished. Sleep: Höfn camping. Drive calmly (2.5–3.5 h total for the day); if you want more, there are langoustine restaurants in Höfn.
Day 6 — Long leg: Höfn → Egilsstaðir → Dettifoss (if the road is open) → Mývatn baths
Long driving day. Leave early and push to Egilsstaðir. If the road to Dettifoss (862/864) is open, detour to the north’s most brutal waterfall; if not, Plan B: continue toward the Mývatn area and head straight into the Nature Baths late in the day. I did it this way and soaking in the Mývatn baths after many hours at the wheel was medicine. Sleep: Reykjahlíð. Total time 5–8 h depending on detours and conditions.
Day 7 — Goðafoss and Akureyri (+ optional fjords and seals)
Before dropping into the “capital of the north,” stop at Goðafoss and play with compositions on both sides of the bridge. Akureyri is coffee, bakeries, and a stroll by the fjord. If you’ve got hours left, a possible detour to fjords for seal watching. Sleep: Staður or nearby, logging miles so the next day is easy. In my case, I appreciated this “transition night”: early dinner and straight to bed.
Day 8 — Snæfellsnes I: Stykkishólmur, Kirkjufellsfoss, Skarðsvík, Saxhóll, Djúpalónssandur
Snæfellsnes compresses “all of Iceland” into a small area. Start in Stykkishólmur, go up to Kirkjufellsfoss with the iconic Kirkjufell in the background, and cross to Skarðsvík beach (golden sand—a surprise after so much lava). Climb the Saxhóll crater (360º views) and finish at Djúpalónssandur (another black‑sand beach with maritime history). Sleep: on the peninsula (pick a campground/guesthouse). Driving time: 3–4 h plus stops.
Day 9 — Snæfellsnes II: Arnarstapi and Ytri Tunga → optional Hraunfossar → Borgarnes/Reykjavik
Cliff walk between Arnarstapi and Hellnar, easy and photogenic, and a visit to Ytri Tunga to see seals (remember the distance—don’t intrude). If you’ve got spare time, optional detour to Hraunfossar, a curtain waterfall that seeps out of the lava field itself. Finish in Borgarnes or return to Reykjavik. Sleep: Borgarnes or Reykjavik depending on the next day’s flight.
Day 10 — Last hours in Reykjavik and car drop-off in Keflavík
Free morning for souvenirs, a final coffee on Laugavegur, or the Tjörnin lake with ducks if the sun’s out. Check the car (basic clean and fuel) and drive to Keflavík with margin. I preferred to arrive early: calm traffic, trunk in order, and zero rush. Return flight and end of trip.
Quick tips & prep (car, campgrounds, hot springs and glacier)
- Car & driving: in summer a regular car is enough; off‑season or if you want F‑roads, 4×4. Don’t run low on fuel: on my route it worked well to refuel at 50–60%. Drive “the Icelandic way”: unhurried, pulling into lay‑bys for photos.
- Key bookings: the Vatnajökull glacier hike (morning of Day 5) and the Mývatn Nature Baths (evening of Day 6) if you travel in season. I booked ahead and the hot water after the long driving day was a blessing.
- What to pack: rain jacket, thermal layers, boots with grippy soles, swimsuit/towel, microfiber cloths for the camera at waterfalls, and a waterproof phone pouch.
- Stage‑by‑stage campgrounds (indicative): Selfoss, Vík/nearby, Skaftafell area, Höfn, Reykjahlíð (Mývatn), Staður, the Snæfellsnes area, and Borgarnes/Reykjavik at the end.
- Weather & roads: the wind calls the shots. Always have a Plan B (museums/hot pools) and check road conditions the day before. I rearranged an afternoon to hit Diamond Beach at sunset and it was the right move.
- Photo safety: on black‑sand beaches (Vík, Djúpalónssandur) respect the shoreline—sneaker waves give no warning.
Common questions before you go (weather, roads, bookings and Plan B)
What if Dettifoss is closed?
Keep the base plan without that detour and recycle the time in Mývatn (more baths, pseudocraters) or Akureyri.Blue Lagoon or Mývatn Nature Baths?
If you’re doing Reykjanes, Mývatn fits better on Day 6 because it works as a “spa‑after‑drive.”How many hours do you drive per day?
The real average on this route is 2.5–4.5 h; exception is Day 6 (long).Is a 4×4 essential?
In summer, no. If you’re traveling in winter or planning F‑roads, yes.Where to sleep without booking?
In high season, better to book. Off‑season, campgrounds give you leeway. I locked in Skaftafell and Höfn to align with the glacier.How to optimize photos?
Waterfalls with an ND filter if you have one; Diamond Beach at sunset and Kirkjufell with thin clouds work brilliantly.Express checklist (gear, driving, payments and useful apps)
- Layered clothing, rain jacket, hat, gloves, boots with grip.
- Swimsuit, towel, flip‑flops, dry bag.
- Car charger, power bank, lens wipes.
- Refuel when you drop below half a tank.
- Key reservations: glacier D5 and Mývatn D6.
- Offline downloads: Google Maps and your list of pins; have a Plan B for wind/rain.
- Money: contactless card; avoid fees by withdrawing little cash.
- Respect signs and closures: if an access is closed, it’s non‑negotiable.
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Hi everyone and welcome to Reykjavik! I'm Gigi. I'm originally from Mexico with a background as an art curator. …
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