12 Days in Iceland: A Road Trip Itinerary

Follow this 12-day road trip itinerary to Iceland on your first visit to the country to discover the beauty of the south and west parts of Iceland. Visit magnificent locations and experience bucket-list activities. Walk around lava fields, see mesmerising waterfalls, enter ice caves and much more. The land of fire and ice awaits for you to explore!

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Hello everyone, and welcome to the most epic (and longest) itinerary I have ever written. The itinerary is based on a 2-week trip I did to Iceland with my boyfriend Christos. The first part was a 3-day trip to Reykjavík and the second was a 12-day road trip around western and southern Iceland. This post is all about the second part of that trip, but you could easily append the Reykjavík part at the beginning or end of this itinerary. The reason I omitted that part from here is that we didn’t have (and didn’t need to have) a car in Reykjavík.

Read on to find out how to plan this road trip around Iceland and the itinerary we followed. Find directions, accommodation and restaurant suggestions and more. The itinerary follows a tried and tested route, optimised at parts (i.e. if something we did would work better otherwise, I wrote the otherwise version here) and covers both must-see sights and smaller attractions.

12 Days in Iceland: Road Trip Itinerary Overview

Feel free to use this summary to quickly jump to a specific section.

As expected, this itinerary is mostly in plain nature, so it is very prone to weather conditions. If you need to re-schedule for any reason, I have marked the not-to-miss places with a star, to help you adjust your plan on the road.

• DAY 1: Reykjavík – Borgarnes – Húsafell – Grundarfjörður
  • The Settlement Centre
  • Into the Glacier ⭐
• DAY 2: Grundarfjörður – Snæfellsnes Peninsula – Grundarfjörður
  • Kirkjufellsfoss ⭐
  • Bæjarfoss
  • Ingjaldshólskirkja
  • Saxhóll Crater ⭐
  • Djúpalónssandur ⭐
  • Malarrif Lighthouse
  • Hellnar
  • Arnarstapi
  • Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge ⭐
  • Ytri Tunga ⭐
• DAY 3: Grundarfjörður – Golden Circle – Hveragerði
  • Þingvellir National Park ⭐
  • The Cave People
  • Reykjadalur Valley
• DAY 4: Hveragerði – Golden Circle – Hveragerði
  • Kerið Crater
  • Faxi Waterfall
  • Gullfoss Waterfall ⭐
  • Geysir Geothermal Area ⭐
  • Bruarfoss
• DAY 5: Hveragerði – Landmannalaugar – Hveragerði
  • Bláhnjúkur Mountain ⭐
• DAY 6: Hveragerði – Vestmannaeyjar – Kirkjubæjarklaustur
  • Elephant Rock ⭐
  • Sea Life Trust Beluga Whale Sanctuary / Sæheimar Aquarium
  • Boat Tour of the Westman Islands ⭐
  • Skansinn + Landlyst Museum (Heimaey)
  • Seljalandsfoss ⭐
  • Gljúfrabúi
• DAY 7: Kirkjubæjarklaustur – Vatnajökull National Park – Kirkjubæjarklaustur
  • Fjallsárlón
  • Diamond Beach ⭐
  • Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon ⭐
  • Skaftafell
  • Svartifoss
• DAY 8: Kirkjubæjarklaustur – Vík
  • Systrafoss
  • Fjaðrárgljúfur ⭐
  • Vik i Myrdal Church
  • Víkurfjara Black Sand Beach
  • Katla Ice Cave
  • Icelandic Lava Show
  • Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach ⭐
  • Dyrhólaey
• DAY 9: Vík – Þorlákshöfn
  • Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck ⭐
  • Sólheimajökull ⭐
  • Skógar Museum
  • Skógafoss ⭐
• DAY 10: Þorlákshöfn – Grindavik – Þorlákshöfn
  • Fagradalsfjall ⭐
  • Lava Tunnel
• DAY 11: Þorlákshöfn – Southern Peninsula – Byggðavegur
  • Blue Lagoon ⭐
  • Viking World
  • Brúin milli heimsálfa
  • Reykjanes Lighthouse
  • Gunnuhver Hot Springs
  • Brimketill lava rock pool
  • Garður Old Lighthouse
• DAY 12: Byggðavegur – Keflavík
  • Keflavík International Airport

Iceland Road Trip Route Overview

Iceland Road Trip: The Basics

When: Summer

Duration: 12 days

Overnight stops: Grundarfjordur (2 nights), Hveragerði (3 nights), Kirkjubæjarklaustur (2 nights), Vík (1 night), Þorlákshöfn (2 nights), Byggðavegur (1 night)

Highlights: Snæfellsnes Peninsula | Golden Circle | Landmannalaugar | Vestmannaeyjar | Vatnajökull National Park | South Coast | Southern Peninsula

Start/End point: Reykjavík or Keflavík Airport

Total driving distance: 2250 – 2500 km / 1400 – 1500 miles

Total driving time: About 32 hours (2-4 hours per day)

Car type: Any car type

Planning your Icelandic Road Trip

Below you can find some important information on how to plan your road trip in the south and west of Iceland. Click on the questions to read more about each topic.

If you have everything sorted, jump straight to the itinerary.

Day 1: Reykjavík – Borgarnes – Húsafell – Grundarfjörður

Collect your car in the morning and start driving south to cover some of the highlights of Western Iceland.

Suggested departure time from Reykjavík / Keflavik Airport: 11:00 / 10:30

12:00 The Settlement Centre

Break your driving time in Borgarnes and visit the Settlement Centre, an interactive museum about the settlement of Iceland. Take the audio guide included in your ticket and follow through the exhibits of the centre to learn more about the early years of life in Iceland.

Once you finish the Settlement Exhibition, there is a second room to visit, the Egil Saga Exhibition. This one follows a similar style to the previous one as you still get to follow through with an audio guide, but it is less interactive and more pictorial instead. The exhibition tells the story of Egill Skalla-Grimsson, one of the most known characters from the sagas.

The audio guide for each room takes about 30 minutes and is available in 15 languages.

The centre also has a restaurant, where you can have lunch. Alternatively, if you are running late you can get something quick for the road.

Adult entry fee: 2500 ISK

Find out more about the Settlement Centre here.

Distance to next stop: ~1 hour

15:00 Into the Glacier ⭐

Into the Glacier is your opportunity to get deep into a glacier and enter an ice cave no matter the time of the year you visit. Most ice cave tours, only operate during winter when many ice caves are formed in glaciers, however as this is a man-made cave you can experience it year-round.

Meet with the group at Húsafell and board the bus to Klaki base camp. The route follows an F-road, so if you have a 4×4 vehicle you can skip this part and meet the group directly at the base camp, just select the relevant starting point when booking the tour.

After that, you will be given some waterproof coats and boots to wear (if you don’t already have them). Then you will get into a special vehicle, modified to be used on glaciers, and taken to Langjökull, the second-largest glacier in Iceland. Finally, you will arrive at the entrance to the cave where the guide will take you on a tour inside the tunnels and the inner structures of the glacier.

The tour was very informative and fun and quite popular among families. At the same time it was wet (from the dripping of the cave) and very cold, so prepare appropriately. The tour lasted for about 4 hours while the actual time spent inside the ice cave was about one hour.

Adult entry fee: 20 900 ISK

Find out more about Into the Glacier here.

Distance to next stop: ~1 hour

Book the Into the Glacier activity from GetYourGuide ^[AD].

20:00 Borgarness

Normally, this stop should be your accommodation, but if you are staying in Grundarfjordur you are risking not finding anything for dinner, as most places will be closed by the time you get there. So, make a stop at Borgarness and have dinner there. There are a few restaurants around the main petrol stations at the entrance to the town.

Distance to next stop: ~1 hour

22:00 Grundarfjordur

Arrive at your final stop of the day, Grundarfjordur to check in to your accommodation and get some rest.

Suggested accommodation: Kirkjufell Guesthouse and Apartments, Grundarfjordur ^[AD] (remember to request a late check-in)

Day 1 Route Overview

Day 2: Grundarfjörður – Snæfellsnes Peninsula – Grundarfjörður

The second day of your road trip to Iceland is all about exploring the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the Snæfellsjökull National Park. Note that not all areas of the national park are suitable for all vehicles, but don’t worry no F-roads are included in the route below.

Suggested departure time from Grundarfjordur: 08:45

09:00 Kirkjufellsfoss ⭐

Start your day early with a visit to Kirkjufellsfoss, the most well-known sight of the region and of one of Iceland’s most photographic spots. If you break the word Kirkjufellsfoss down you get “Church Mountain Waterfall” and it describes exactly what you see: a set of waterfalls in front of a mountain with the shape of a church dome.

When you get there, admire the magnificent sight of the waterfalls with Kirkjufell mountain (463m) in the background. Spend some time (along with dozen other people) taking photos and walking around before moving to the next stop.

Car park fee: 500 ISK

Optional: Between Grundarfjörður and Kirkjufellsfoss, there is a viewpoint on the side of the road where you can stop to read the information board about the mountain and take some photos. On Google Maps it is labelled as Kirkjufell Viewpoint.

Distance to next stop: ~20 minutes

10:15 Bæjarfoss

The next stop is Bæjarfoss, a waterfall in the town of Ólafsvík. Although Bæjarfoss is not as popular as other stops on this route, it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Park your car at one of the parking spaces around the town and use the path on either side of the river stream to walk towards the waterfall. Go as close as you want and then return to the car to head to the next spot.

As, this is the last town you will come across until lunchtime, make a quick stop at one of the grocery shops to get some food for later if you don’t already have lunch with you.

Distance to next stop: ~15 minutes

11:00 Ingjaldshólskirkja

Ingjaldshólskirkja is a picturesque church just off the main road leading to Snæfellsjökull National Park. Turn when you see the sign for the church and after a few moments, the church will unfold in front of you like a painting. The most scenic part is the road leading to the church. Feel free to drive until the end of the road to check if the church is open, before returning to the main road.

Distance to next stop: ~15 minutes

11:30 Saxhóll Crater ⭐

If you’ve never seen a volcano crater before, Saxhóll Crater will definitely amaze you. Park at the foot of the crater and start climbing the steps. The (short) path leads to the perimeter of the crater of an extinct volcano that last erupted about 3000 years ago. From the top, you will be able to have a view of the inside of the crater and of the nearby area, which despite all the lava that has flowed, now is all green and fertile.

Distance to next stop: ~15 minutes

12:15 Djúpalónssandur ⭐

Probably my favourite stop in this area! Djúpalónssandur is one of the many black sand beaches in Iceland. Perhaps the reason that I liked it so much, was because this was the first black beach I visited and along with the cloudy weather it created a very dramatic scenery!

Once you reach the Djúpalónssandur parking lot, walk the steps down the lava formations to reach the beach. There you will find some orange iron pieces scattered around. These are the ruins of a shipwreck dating to 1948. The unlucky ship was a British trawler, Epine GY7 which was broken due to bad weather and harsh sea conditions. Eventually from the 19 people on board, only 5 were rescued.

Next to Djúpalónssandur, there is a smaller cove called Dritvík which is worth a visit if the sea is calm without big waves (otherwise, it can be dangerous to get there). Before leaving, don’t forget to have a look around the rock formations some of which are said to be from trolls who became rocks when they saw the light of the sun.

Distance to next stop: ~10 minutes

13:30 Malarrif Lighthouse

The next stop covers a few spots, with Malarrif Lighthouse being the most important one. The lighthouse used to be a signal to the fishers in the early twentieth century when they used this area for fishing with the nearby Dritvík cove being one of their ports.

In the distance, towards the east, you will be able to see the Lóndrangar rock formation, created by volcanic materials. If you want to have a closer look (and have some time available) there is a path that you can walk towards the site. Alternatively, on your way to the next stop, you can have a quick photo stop at the first parking lot you will encounter after leaving the lighthouse, where you can have a closer look at Lóndrangar. The place is labelled as Lóndrangar Viewpoint on Google Maps.

Next to Malarrif Lighthouse, there is a visitor centre, with a small museum about the area, a small shop, and toilet facilities. Have a short break here to have lunch before continuing to the next stop.

Distance to next stop: ~15 minutes (from the Malarrif Lighthouse) / ~10 minutes (from the Lóndrangar Viewpoint)

15:15 Hellnar

Continue your way along the peninsula with a stop at Hellnar. You can park your car by the Hellnar View Point, as the place is labelled on Google Maps and start walking towards the beach. There you can find a cute cafe right across the shore, where you can have a warm drink. If you want, keep following the path until you notice a colourful house, before starting to make your way back to the car.

Before leaving the area, don’t forget to pass by Hellnar church, which can make a very beautiful backdrop for your photos.

Distance to next stop: ~5 minutes

16:00 Arnarstapi

Arnarstapi is the next village on your route. It is a bit bigger than Hellnar and it has a few things that make it worth stopping by. The first one is the Bárðar Saga Snæfellsáss Statue. The rock statue depicts Bárðar, the main character from the homonymous saga which takes place in the area. The statue stands right on the path toward the cliff edge, where there are multiple viewpoints to enjoy the dramatic landscape and rock formations along with the many birds that lay there. Don’t forget to look out for the Stone Bridge (Gatklettur).

Distance to next stop: ~10 minutes

17:00 Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge ⭐

Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge is another impressive stop related to the previously-mentioned Bárðar Saga, where you walk inside a red-tinted gorge to reach a waterfall. The walk from the car park is not very long and it becomes quite fun when you have to step in the water (or the rocks on the edge) to get inside the gorge.

Most people stop once they reach the first opening inside the gorge and at the point where the waterfall becomes visible. This is what we did as well, but if you are equipped with waterproof shoes, and the weather conditions are good, you can continue walking further in.

Distance to next stop: ~30 minutes

18:00 Ytri Tunga ⭐

Ytri Tunga is the last stop on this route. The stop differs from the rest as it features a golden sand beach with the opportunity to spot some seals. Spend some time walking on the unusual brown shore while having your eyes open for any seal sightings. Remember that you need to keep a distance if you spot any seals on the sand, as the signage there instructs.

Distance to next stop: 45 minutes

19:30 Grundarfjörður

After a long day, return to your accommodation and go to have dinner. There aren’t many options for dinner, so you may want to cook instead. But if that’s not possible you can try Kaffi 59, one of the few places that stay open until late. It doesn’t have the most quality food but at least you can find something to eat at decent prices.

If you covered all the above in less time, you may want to check out the Sheep’s Waterfall and the Kolgrafarfjördur Viewpoint before you return to Grundarfjörður. Of course, there are many other stops around the peninsula, but due to only spending a day here, many places couldn’t fit on the plan. Feel free to make any adjustments if you want, and let me know in the comments below how it went.

Suggested accommodation: Kirkjufell Guesthouse and Apartments, Grundarfjordur ^[AD]

Day 2 Route Overview

Note: Due to constraints by Google Maps, I couldn’t add more than ten stops to the route above. So, I omitted the starting and ending points of the route and any optional stops I mentioned.

Day 3: Grundarfjörður – Golden Circle – Hveragerði

On the third day of the trip, the plan is to start driving south and into the infamous golden circle route. Most people spend only a day driving around the area, but I suggest you break it down into two days to be able to enjoy it better.

Suggested departure time from Grundarfjordur: 09:00

11:30 Þingvellir National Park ⭐

The first stop after your long morning drive is Þingvellir (Thingvellir in English) National Park. Þingvellir is known both for its natural beauty and for its historical significance. It is the meeting point of two continents, the place of the first parliament in Iceland and a popular snorkelling spot.

While there, take a walk along Langistígur which leads to Öxarárfoss, a waterfall with various rock formations around it. Then, continue walking towards Lögberg (Law Rock in English), which was the assembly site of Alþingi, i.e. the first parliament in Iceland in the 800s.

Silfra is another place you should aim to visit in the park. It’s around 2km from the above points of interest and it is known as being the perfect snorkelling spot to see the Eurasian and North-American tectonic plates. There are many tours that arrange dives, although beware that the water temperature is only a couple of degrees above freezing level.

Book the Silfra snorkelling or diving activity from GetYourGuide ^[AD].

In the national park, you can also find the summer residence of the Icelandic prime minister, as well as a small church. For the best views of the park head to Hakið, next to the visitor centre. There, you can find the exhibition “Heart of Iceland” that has information about the nature and history of Þingvellir. There is also a small cafe where you can get some light snacks for lunch.

Adult entry fee: 1000 ISK (this is for the “Heart of Iceland” exhibition; entry to the national park is free of charge)

Car park fee: 750 ISK for P1, P2 and P5 car parks, P3 and P4 are free of charge

Find out more about the Þingvellir National Park here.

Distance to next stop: ~30 minutes

15:00 The Cave People

The Cave People may be one of the lesser-known attractions along the golden circle, but it comes with a fascinating history. I don’t want to spoil it here, but in a few words, the experience is focused on the story of a family who used that cave as their home. It talks about their way of life, the hardships they faced and how they raised their children.

There are guided tours of the cave every 30 minutes and each tour lasts about 25 minutes. This is one of the few “indoor” attractions so it’s great even for a rainy day. If you are still curious about the cave but don’t want to do the tour, you can get there to see its home-like exterior as well as one of the side rooms which are open to the public for free.

Adult entry fee: 2100 ISK

Find out more about the Cave People here.

Distance to next stop: ~ 1 hour

17:00 Reykjadalur Valley

The last activity of the day is a 3-hour / 3.5 km (return) hike in the Reykjadalur valley. The area is known for its geothermal activity with a hot spring thermal river at the end of the hike. Start your walk at the car park and follow the route towards the bathing area. On the way, you will pass many hot pools with boiling water and the beautiful Djúpagilsfoss. Keep in mind, that you shouldn’t get into any other pools except the designated bathing areas as in other places the water can be boiling hot and burn you.

Part of the route can be covered by horse, so don’t be surprised if you meet any riders on horseback. If you want to experience the area in this way, there are tours you could get but most probably you will need to swap the order of today’s activities as most tours start earlier in the day.

Note that the Reykjadalur valley is only minutes away by car from Hveragerði. So if you arrive earlier in the area, you may want to check in to your accommodation first before starting the hike. Remember to have your swimsuit with you and a towel if you want to swim in the hot spring.

Car park fee: 500 ISK

Distance to the next stop: ~5 minutes

20:00 Hveragerði

Return to Hveragerði and settle into your accommodation, where you will spend the next three nights. If you are choosing the same place as us you may prefer to use the small kitchenette and cook something for dinner. There is a Bónus in the town, where you could get supplies. Remember to check the opening times of the store before starting the hike around Reykjadalur, as you may need to do your shopping before starting the hike.

Otherwise, there are a few other dining options in the area. On one of the nights, we tried the Ölverk Pizza & Brewery and their pizza was delicious. If that’s not for you, you may want to drive to Selfoss but I don’t suggest this for today as most places close early and you may not find any open by the time you get there.

Suggested accommodation: Inni Boutique Apartments, Hveragerði ^[AD]

Day 3 Route Overview

Day 4: Hveragerði – Golden Circle – Hveragerði

After covering a part of the golden circle the previous day, this route includes the other main attractions. The plan for day four is to focus on the main eastern sights of the route with a long hike to a very beautiful waterfall in the afternoon.

Suggested departure time from Hveragerði: 09:00

09:30 Kerið Crater

The first stop of the day is Kerið Crater. Kerið was created around three thousand years ago and the crater that was formed from that eruption is known today for its red terrain and a lake in its centre. Follow the short trail around the crater ring and before leaving take the stairs down the crater to walk around the lake.

Adult entry fee: 400 ISK

Distance to the next stop: ~30 minutes

10:30 Faxifoss

The second stop of the day is Faxi Waterfall. This is one of the least busy stops of the day but with a beautiful landscape nevertheless. The waterfall is only 7 metres in height but it spans over 80 metres creating magnificent scenery. Take some photos of the waterfall from the viewpoint near the car park and then get down closer to its shore. From there you can easily experience the force of the water with a slight drizzle too.

Car park fee: 700 ISK

Distance to the next stop: ~20 minutes

11:15 Gullfoss ⭐

Gullfoss or the “Golden Waterfall” is another jewel of Icenald and one of the most popular places we visited on this trip. It is more than four times taller than Faxifoss with a total height of 32 metres, while the water drops from 2 points in a stairway style.

Once you get there, there are a few viewpoints you can get to see the waterfall from higher above, while there is also the chance to walk on a path close to the waterfall. If you choose the latter, expect to get wet as the water flows very forcefully. At the same time, if it is very windy you might even have reduced visibility from all that water.

Distance to the next stop: ~10 minutes

12:30 Geysir Geothermal Area ⭐

When you arrive at the geothermal area of Geysir you will be immediately greeted by another huge car park and a big visitor centre. Despite the crowds, the main attraction of the area Strokkur does not disappoint. In fact, in my opinion, this was one of the most impressive things we saw in Iceland.

The Great Geysir

The geothermal area is full of hot springs and geysers. The most known geyser which also doubles as the first geyser to be included in printed sources is The Great Geysir or, simply, Geysir. The eruptions of boiling water of Geysir could reach up to 70 metres in height with the maximum recorded height being 170m in 1845. Even the English word geyser comes from Geysir. Unfortunately, it is not possible to marvel at this phenomenon as Geysir is currently dormant with eruptions becoming rare since the beginning of the century.

Strokkur

Despite that Geysir is dormant, you can still find active geysers in the park. Strokkur is only metres away from Geysir and it erupts approximately every 5 to 10 minutes. The result is really impressive, especially if you have never come across an active geyser before. Strokkur can reach up to 50 metres in height but most eruptions stay well below that at 15-20 metres.

Other things to do in the park

After you grasp a few eruptions of Strokkur, take a walk in the park around the big geysers to see some hot pools and a few smaller geysers such as Litli Geysir. You can also climb up the small hill to enjoy the view of the area and a few moments of peace, as very few people wander past Strokkur.

Before leaving, make a stop at the restaurant across the road for some lunch. There are two options there, a cafeteria serving snacks, sandwiches and some hot meals as well as a high-end restaurant. Fuel up well, as the next and final stop of the day is going to be a long one.

Distance to the next stop: ~15 minutes

15:00 Bruarfoss

Bruarfoss will amaze you with its striking blue colour and unique shape. However, to get there you need to follow a route of 3.5 km (7 km / ~3 hours return). For the first part of the route, there is not much to see, but the second part flows next to a river and some smaller waterfalls of the same blue colour.

In the past, there used to be a smaller route that lead to the waterfall which passed through private property but this is now closed to the public. On one side this made the trip to Bruarfoss longer, but on the other side, it reduced the crowds to protect the beauty of the area.

If you plan to hike this on a rainy day or even the day after (like we did) except to follow a very muddy path for about 1 km, so make sure to have appropriate shoes.

Distance to the next stop: ~50 minutes

19:00 Hveragerði / Selfoss

Finish your day with dinner at your accommodation or at one of the restaurants in Hveragerði or Selfoss. In Selfoss, you can try Kaffi Krús for pizza and burgers or Matarlyst Cafe-Restaurant-Bar for some yummy tacos.

Suggested accommodation: Inni Boutique Apartments, Hveragerði ^[AD]

Day 4 Route Overview

Day 5: Hveragerði – Landmannalaugar – Hveragerði

On the fifth day of this road trip around Iceland, the plan is to get into the Highlands. Of course, if you rented a non-4×4 vehicle it will not be that easy but it is still possible. Understandably, you will not be able to enjoy the whole of the Icelandic Highlands in a day but you can still get a glimpse of a very cool (at least in my opinion) place: Landmannalaugar.

Suggested departure time from Hveragerði: 07:45

09:00 Rjúpnavellir

If you don’t have a 4×4 car you will need to get to Landmannalaugar using the highland bus, i.e. a modified bus that can go on F-roads. There are a couple of companies that do this route starting from Reykjavík and stopping at a few stops along the way before entering the Highlands.

We chose the TREX company that has a daily service during the summer from Reykjavík to Landmannalaugar via Hella and Rjúpnavellir. Rjúpnavellir is the most convenient location to get on the highland bus for this itinerary, as you can cover as much distance in your car as possible before switching to a bus. Remember that you need to book your seat in advance to avoid a last-minute disappointment.

Find out more about planning your day trip to Landmannalaugar here.

11:15 Landmannalaugar ⭐

Two hours later you will arrive at the Landmannalaugar camping area. Landmannalaugar is one of those places that will make you not believe in your eyes. The place is insanely colourful and very unusual from the mountain terrain found in most countries, so the best way to explore it and see its different sides is on a long hike.

One of the most popular hikes to do there (and the one we did) is the hike to Mt Blahnúkúr, also called the Blue Peak. The hike is about 3-4 hours long and it is considered a moderate to a difficult one. The hike follows a 6.1 km circular route to the peak of the mountain and back to the campsite.

Alternatively, if you want a more relaxing experience, you can follow a much shorter route to the “People’s Pool” hot spring area. Remember to bring your swimsuit and a towel for that. Rangers at the base camp will be able to provide you with directions and more information.

Another option is to go on a guided hike, in which case you will not have to worry about directions and timings.

Book your guided hike to Landmannalaugar from GetYourGuide ^[AD].

Departure time from Landmannalaugar: 15:45

Make sure you return back to the campsite at least 20 minutes before your departure time. You don’t want to miss the bus. Also, double-check with the bus driver that you are on the correct bus, sometime you will need to get a different bus (from the same company) for the return trip.

17:15 Rjúpnavellir

Return to Rjúpnavellir and start driving back to Hveragerði. On your way there, you can stop at Selfoss for dinner and a short walk.

Suggested accommodation: Inni Boutique Apartments, Hveragerði ^[AD]

Day 5 Route Overview

Note: The bus trip to and from Landmannalaugar is not shown on the above map.

Day 6: Hveragerði – Vestmannaeyjar – Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Pack your bags and check out from your accommodation. This day is all about exploring Vestmannaeyjar or Westman Islands, less than an hour away by ferry from southern Iceland.

Note: You might need to adjust the timings below based on the schedule of the ferry.

Suggested departure time from Hveragerði: 09:00

10:15 Landeyjahöfn

The first stop is the port at Landeyjahöfn, where you can take the ferry to Heimaey, the main island of Vestmannaeyjar. You will need to arrive there about 30 minutes before your departure time to allow time for check-in. The journey should take less than 45 minutes. There is the option to also take your vehicle with you to the island, but for the activities below it will not be needed.

Find out more about the ferry to Vestmannaeyjar here.

11:30 Heimaey

Heimaey is the largest island of Vestmannaeyjar with most places of interest being within walking distance from the port. Heimaey is also a popular stop for cruise ships so don’t be surprised if you find one docked on the port with flocks of people in lines to join local tours.

The most popular sight of Heimaey and the reason we included this little island in our itinerary in the first place is a… rock! Yep, you read that correctly, we took this long trip to see a rock. However, this is not just any rock. What’s special about it is that it has the shape of an elephant, and you might have already seen photos of it online.

12:00 Elephant Rock ⭐

The first thing you should do when setting foot on the island is to go to the Elephant Rock. The viewpoint to the Elephant Rock is about a 25-minute walk from the port, close to the golf course. The shape of the rock will become visible as you approach the end of the golf course. Note that because the rock is a short distance from that point, you will need a clear day to see all the features of the rock.

Note that the photo above might suggest that we managed to go very close to the rock but in reality, we were standing at the edge of the golf course and used a telephoto lens to capture the view.

13:00 Sea Life Trust Beluga Whale Sanctuary / Sæheimar Aquarium

If you have enough time between your visit to the Elephant Rock and the next activity, then you should try and visit the Beluga Whale Sanctuary and Aquarium. The place specialises in taking care of two beluga whales: Little White and Little Grey who were freed from captivity in China. There you can learn about the story of the female whales and their long journey to get to the sanctuary as well as how they take care of them and the steps they follow to ensure their gradual return to their natural environment.

The sanctuary is also home to a Puffin Rescue Centre. The centre has a nursery for baby puffins and facilities to cure rescued puffins (e.g. cleaning their wings from pollution) before releasing them back to the wild. There you will be able to see some of the “long-term residents” of the centre, i.e. puffins that can’t be realised back to the wild due to injuries.

Lastly, you will find a small aquarium with different types of fish and other marine life species.

Find out more about the Beluga Whale Sanctuary here.

Adult entry fee: 2100 ISK (online price)

Alternative: If you don’t want to visit the whale sanctuary, you can head to one of the museums on the island. The most popular museum is Eldheimar, which is a volcano museum about the volcano eruption that happened to the island in 1973. Another museum is Sagnheimar, a folk museum about the history of the island.

Find out more about Elheimar here and Sagnheimar here.

Adult entry fee: 2600 ISK (Elheimar) / 1000 ISK (Sagnheimar)

14:00 Boat Tour of Vestmannaeyjar ⭐

The last activity of the day is a boat tour around the islands. The exact route you will follow will vary based on the weather conditions, but some of the highlights you can see are the outdoor enclosure for the whale sanctuary, the “signing cave”, i.e. a cave with very good acoustics, Elliðaey island, known to accommodate the “loneliest house”, a view of the Elephant Rock from the water and lots of puffins and other birds.

Find out more about the boat tours around Vestmannaeyjar here.

16:00 Heimaey

You will have about an hour between the end of the boat tour and the departure of the ferry so you can choose to do another small activity before boarding the ferry. You can visit Skansinn, an old Viking church with a distinctive black colour and Landlyst Museum, a medical museum across the road, or you can simply get a snack from Vigtin bakhús while enjoying the views of the harbour.

16:30 Heimaey Harbor / Vestmannaeyjahofn

Return to the port to get the ferry back to mainland Iceland. Remember that you need to be there about half an hour before the planned departure time of your ferry.

Walking Route for Heimaey Island

Here I have also added the two alternative museums you can visit instead of the Beluga Whales Sanctuary, so adjust the route accordingly.

17:45 Landeyjahöfn

Arrive in Landeyjahöfn and pick up your car to head to the next accommodation place. But before that, there are a few interesting stops you can stop along the way.

Distance to next stop: ~15 minutes

18:00 Seljalandsfoss ⭐

This relatively small waterfall is worth a visit for the chance it gives to pass behind the falling water. The water drops from a height of 60m in front of a cave cliff. This allows visitors to walk all the way behind the line of the falling water and it is a very cool photo location. It’s best if you have a waterproof coat for this one, as you can get really wet while following the path.

Car park fee: 700 ISK

18:30 Gljúfrabúi

A short walking distance from Seljalandsfoss is Gljúfrabúi. Gljúfrabúi is another waterfall a bit shorter than Seljalandsfoss, with a height of 40m. The interesting characteristic of this waterfall is that you can get really close to its base (and at the same time you can easily get wet). To do that you need to follow a narrow path next to a stream of flowing water (depending on the height of the water, you might need to walk into the stream) and then enter an enclosed cliff with an opening at the point where the water drops. This creates another great opportunity for photos.

Note that the car park fee covers the parking lots in front of both waterfalls, but as they are only 10 minutes apart you can park in either area and walk to the other waterfall.

20:00 Vík

Once you are ready to leave, set your direction for Vík. This will not be your final destination for the day, but similarly to Day 1, by the time you will reach your final destination most restaurants in the area will most probably be closed. So, make a stop at Vik which has a decent dining scene and find something to eat. On that night, we tried Halldórskaffi and I really liked their tagliatelle with prawns, while on another night we tried Ströndin Bistro with more pub-style food options.

22:00 Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Your final destination of the day is Hótel Klaustur at the small village Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Settle in your accommodation, and get ready for another early morning with some exciting activities planned.

Suggested accommodation: Hótel Klaustur, Kirkjubæjarklaustur ^[AD]

Day 6 Route Overview

Day 7: Kirkjubæjarklaustur – Vatnajökull National Park – Kirkjubæjarklaustur

This day is focused on Vatnajökull National Park and covers all the must-see attractions of the area which are scattered along the southern edge of Vatnajökull glacier, the largest glacier in Iceland. The itinerary below is very packed and with time constraints too, so make sure you start early to enjoy the morning places of interest before the time-sensitive activities (i.e. tours) start.

Suggested departure time from Kirkjubæjarklaustur: 08:00

09:30 Fjallsárlón

Fjallsárlón is the first glacier lagoon you will encounter on this day trip to Vatnajökull National Park. Like all glacier lagoons, Fjallsárlón fills up with melted glacial water and it is very common to find icebergs of different sizes flowing into the water.

Once you reach the parking lot, follow the path that leads to the shore of the lagoon and enjoy some moments of peace, before stepping into the far more popular spots that will follow.

Distance to next stop: ~15 minutes

10:15 Diamond Beach ⭐

If you were planning to come here to resource some supplies for your next ring, nope I’m sorry to tell you that this is not a beach full of sparkling diamonds. Instead, what you will find are bits and pieces of shining icebergs that came from the nearby Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon that really reassemble huge pieces of diamonds. The amount of icebergs you will find on the shore lying on the black sand or floating in the water depends on the weather conditions, so don’t be surprised if what you will find is different from what you see in the photos.

While marvelling at the “diamond” structures around you keep an eye on the water too as seals like to hang around in the area. Once you take it all in, return to the car and head to the next stop, which is literally 2 minutes away.

Distance to next stop: ~5 minutes

11:00 Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon ⭐

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is one of the most popular points of interest in the area, despite being a young natural formation. The lagoon gets its water from the Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier which in turn is part of the larger Vatnajökull Glacier. Similarly to Fjallsárlón, it is full of icebergs of different sizes creating magnificent scenery.

There are different ways to explore the lagoon, the simplest of which is to take your camera and walk around the area. Other options to do that include taking a boat tour around the lagoon and kayaking. We did the latter and it was one of the highlights of our whole trip to Iceland.

Kayaking at Jökulsárlón Glacier

The kayaking was an unforgettable experience (the sunny weather helped too) and I really recommend doing it. It was one of the most expensive activities of our trip but it was really worth it and we had lots of fun. You don’t need to have any experience, although it wouldn’t hurt if you had some practice with using the oars to navigate in the water. The best part was that we didn’t have to strictly follow the group, as long as we stayed within the safety limits set by the guide.

We did this tour with Ice Guide, and it is possible to get it as a combo with other activities in the area. When booking your tour, try to book one for around 11:30 am. This will allow you to have a quick look at the southern part of the lagoon and take some photos before going to meet your group to get ready for the kayak.

After you finish your kayaking, check the queue at one of the food stalls in the parking lot and if you have enough time before your next activity you can get something for lunch from there. Otherwise, ensure you bring something to eat with you so that you can avoid the queue.

Distance to next stop: ~50 minutes

14:00 Skaftafell

In the afternoon, you can plan a glacier hike around Vatnajökull. There are various companies that run glacier hikes that depart from Skaftafell and you could even get it as a combo with the kayaking activity. We choose to go with Arctic Adventures, who take you on a hike in the Falljökull Glacier which is on the edge of Vatnajökull.

The hike is relatively easy and only thing you need to bring with you are some sturdy shoes. Anything else required (e.g. crampons, axe and helmet) will be given to you once you meet the group at their office in Skaftafell. After an initial orientation, you will take your car and follow the guide to another location, where you will begin the actual hike.

Despite the tour duration being around 4 hours, the actual time spent on the glacier and walking on ice is about an hour, so have that in mind when booking your tour.

Car park fee: 500 ISK

18:00 Svartifoss

After you finish your hike, you can return to Skaftafell and visit Svartifoss. Svartifoss is a waterfall in the Skaftafell area known for being surrounded by columnal lava rocks. The hike is about 45 minutes per way (around 3 km return) and it will be a nice way to end your day with nice views over the area.

Note that when you return to Skaftafell you will need to enter the car park once more time, however, you don’t need to pay a second time as the fare you paid earlier covers the whole day.

Distance to next stop: ~1 hour

20:30 Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Return to Kirkjubæjarklaustur and find a place for dinner. On your way there you can make a quick stop for photos at Foss a Sidu in Þjóðvegur, where there is a very picturesque waterfall flowing behind a few houses. Regarding dinner, note that there are not many options around the area. We tried Systrakaffi as it was open until late and had decent prices.

Suggested accommodation: Hótel Klaustur, Kirkjubæjarklaustur ^[AD]

Day 7 Route Overview

Day 8: Kirkjubæjarklaustur – Vík

This is another day packed with activities including a tour in the afternoon, so you should try to follow the times mentioned. The trip from now on will follow the route back to the airport, but by no means it ends here. There are still many beautiful places to visit and exciting things to do.

Suggested departure time from Kirkjubæjarklaustur: 09:00

09:15 Systrafoss

After checking out from your accommodation, start your day with a morning hike to the top of Systrafoss. This waterfall is located in Kirkjubæjarklaustur and you see the waterfall from the road. This mean that if you are running late you can simply take a photo of the waterfall and leave; however, if you have around half an hour, follow the short path that leads to the top and enjoy the view of the area.

Distance to next stop: ~15 minutes

10:30 Fjaðrárgljúfur ⭐

The next stop of the day is this very impressive canyon. It is about 2km long and up to 100m wide with the river Fjaðrá flowing through. When you get there, you might notice that there are many signs to stay on the marked trail. The reason is that a few years ago, this place was featured in a video clip with Justin Bieber.

From that moment, people flocked to the canyon, but they were not as respective to the environment as they should have been. They were stepping on crossed-off points, trying to re-enact scenes from the video and hence caused destruction to the area which had to close for public access for some time to recover. So, be gentle and don’t go where you aren’t allowed to.

Distance to next stop: ~1 hour

12:00 Vík í Mýrdal Church

The rest of the day’s activities will be around the small town of Vík. You should have already passed the town on your way to Kirkjubæjarklaustur from Hveragerði. This time, you will have time to stop at the main points of interest within the town, starting with the small church on the top of a hill.

Drive to the Vík í Mýrdal church and spend a few minutes looking at the view of the town below and the sea at the back. You may also be able to spot Reynisdrangar, the conical rock formation on your right-hand side.

Distance to next stop: ~5 minutes

12:30 Víkurfjara Black Sand Beach

After visiting the church, follow the road to Víkurfjara (which on Google Maps is simply labelled as the Black Sand Beach) and enjoy a closer look at Reynisdrangar. The beach is also a common spot for horse riding tours, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself between some Icelandic horses.

Distance to next stop: ~5 minutes

13:30 Lunch break

Before you join a tour for the next activity, find a place for a quick lunch break. A popular one is The Soup Company servicing various soups and sandwiches. The location of this place is also very convenient for the next activity, as it happens to be at the meeting point of the tour.

14:00 Katla Ice Cave

Have you watched Netflix’s series Katla? Well, here’s your chance to get a closer look at the glacier around the Katla volcano and enter one of the ice caves there. To do this, you just need to join one of the tours to the Katla ice cave.

We joined the afternoon tour by Tröll Expeditions, who picked us up from the Icelandic Lava Show and drove us with a mega-truck to the entrance of the Kötlujökull glacier, which is part of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. There, they gave us the necessary equipment to walk on the glacier and navigated us to the cave.

The glacier is formed of black ice and creates spectacular scenery. The ice cave on the other hand is made up of beautiful ice formations in the shades of blue.

Keep in mind that there is no specific ice cave with the name Katla. Instead what these types of tours do is that they find a cave in the area around the volcano and bring people to see it. For this reason, the cave you will come across may be different from any photos you see online.

Remember to adjust the start time of this activity and the pick-up point based on the tour you book.

Book your ice cave tour around the Katla volcano from GetYourGuide ^[AD].

17:00 Icelandic Lava Show

Depending on the time you finish the ice cave tour, you may have just enough time to join one of the last performances of the Icelandic Lava Show. The show gives you the chance to come really close to real lava which is carefully produced on the premises.

The enthusiastic owners of the attraction run the shows and share fascinating facts about the volcanoes in Iceland, the geology of the country and even a true story about the latest eruption of the Katla volcano. It is a rather expensive activity but it is worth it if you are after an informative and unique experience.

Adult entry fee: 5900 ISK

Find out more about the Icelandic Lava Show here.

Book your tickets for the Icelandic Lava Show from Viator ^[AD].

Distance to next stop: ~15 minutes

18:30 Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach ⭐

Reynisfjara is probably the most popular location of the day, mostly known for being featured in the Game of Thrones. The beach has some huge basalt column formations which make a very cool backdrop for photos, as well as a small cave you can enter.

Distance to next stop: ~20 minutes

19:30 Dyrhólaey

The last stop of the day is Dyrhólaey. Follow the signs to the top of a hill where you will be able to enjoy great views of the area and the black sand beaches below. Walk around to find the Dyrhólaey lighthouse which looks more like a castle tower than a lighthouse and the Dyrhólaey viewpoint with views over a bridge-shaped rock. The site is a protected birdlife area so some parts may be closed to visitors depending on the season.

Distance to next stop: ~20 minutes

20:30 Vík

To finish the day return to Vík to find a place for dinner. I have already mentioned the places we tried under Day 6, but here are a few more places that caught our eye: Wok On Vík, Smiðjan Brugghús and the (quite) expensive Berg Restaurant.

After that, check in at your accommodation and get ready for another day in Iceland.

Suggested accommodation: Hotel Dyrhólaey, Vík ^[AD]

Day 8 Route Overview

Day 9: Vík – Þorlákshöfn

Prepare to check out from your accommodation in Vík and start driving west. The plan today includes visiting some well-known places in the area including a plane wreck, a glacier and some waterfalls.

Suggested departure time from Vík: 09:00

09:15 Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck ⭐

One of the coolest sights in Iceland is an almost 50-year-old plane wreck found on the coast of Sólheimasandur. If you are wondering how the plane ended there, the story goes back to 1973 when a US navy plane had to crash-land on the beach due to icing and fueling issues. There were no human casualties from the event and all plane passengers were rescued from the scene. However, this was not the case for the C-117D plane which was left there and has now become a major tourist attraction in southern Iceland.

To reach the plane wreck set your GPS to its parking lot just off the main road and then follow the 1.5 km route to the black sand beach. The fact that the whole experience needs a fair amount of walking makes it off-limits for huge tour buses full of tourists. This means that the site will most probably not be as busy as other popular places in Iceland, but it still receives a fair amount of visitors daily.

Overall, you will need about 2-3 hours to do the whole round-trip depending on how fast you walk and how much time you spend there. The route is mostly flat, so it doesn’t require much effort, especially when considering the other hikes included in this itinerary.

Distance to next stop: ~15 minutes

12:30 Sólheimajökull ⭐

Sólheimajökull is the last glacier to visit on this trip. Similarly to the Kötlujökull glacier, this one is also part of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier which covers the Kalta volcano.

This glacier visit is a bit different compared to the other glaciers in this itinerary. For this one, you will not step on any ice, but instead, you will see the glacier from a viewpoint close to the car park. In order to be able to set foot on the glacier, you need to be with a guide or be properly trained.

Distance to next stop: ~15 minutes

14:00 Skógar Museum

Next on the plan is the Skógar Museum or rather a collection of three museums. The complex consists of a Folk Museum, an Open Air Museum and a Technical Museum. Each museum is in a separate area and has a fair amount of exhibits to see. Before getting in, make sure you get something for lunch from the nearby restaurants or the museum’s cafe.

Folk Museum

The Folk Museum is separated into four sections over three floors: Fishing, Agriculture, Furnishing and Handicrafts, and Natural History. Each section has various items on display from small tools, to special equipment to big boats. There, you can find more about how people used to live and work in that part of the world.

Open Air Museum

The Open Air Museum consists of many replicas of houses and buildings found in Iceland over the years. You can find a church, a school, a farm, a storehouse and more. The structures are scattered in the outdoor area of the museum across the car park. Many of them have their doors open to step in and see what that building would look like from the inside.

Technical Museum

The Technical Museum is the third museum of the complex and it is located in a separate building. It focuses on the evolution of transportation and telecommunications around Iceland in the last two centuries. There, you will find on display many different types of vehicles as well as many technological advances of the early days.

Adult entry fee: 2000 ISK

Find out more information about the Skógar Museum here.

Distance to next stop: ~5 minutes

16:00 Skógafoss ⭐

Skógafoss is another must-see waterfall in Iceland. Its height and width (60 m x 25 m) combined make it one of the biggest waterfalls in the country. You can feel the power of the waterfall the moment you exit your car and start listening to the water falling. And as expected, the closer you get to the waterfall the wetter you will get. So, if you want to go in front of everyone to take that photo, better to re-think this as your camera (and your clothes) will most probably get wet.

The Skógá Trail 

Next to the waterfall, you will see some stairs. These stairs take you to the top of the waterfall and indeed there is a nice view from there. Many people walk up the stairs, look at the view and then go back. However, there is more to that.

There, you can find the beginning of the Fimmvörðuháls trail, which can be colloquially known as the Skógá Trail, the Waterfall Way or the Skógafoss Waterfall Hike. People who complete the trail, say that it is one of the most beautiful routes in Iceland as it passes from 26 waterfalls and many beautiful viewpoints. Yet, this hike is not for the average hiker, as it is 25 km per way. It requires about 12 hours to reach the other side, which makes it extremely difficult to make a round trip in a single day.

The end of the trail is located in Þórsmörk (Thórsmörk), a beautiful region in the Icelandic Highlands. This means that if you want to follow the full trail, you will also need to have all your equipment with you to camp overnight there.

Obviously, you will not have time to follow the whole trail, but it would be good if you followed a small part of it. Check your clock and start walking for around 30 minutes. That’s enough time to see the first few waterfalls of the route, before turning back. As this is the last activity of the day, feel free to spend more time on the route. Just remember, to return at a decent time to find dinner places open.

Distance to next stop: ~1 hour 15 minutes

18:30 Selfoss

On your way to your next accommodation make a stop at Selfoss for dinner. Selfoss has more variety when it comes to restaurants compared to the Þorlákshöfn, the final destination of the day.

Distance to next stop: ~25 minutes

20:30 Þorlákshöfn

After a long day, check in at your accommodation in or around Þorlákshöfn (Thorlákshöfn). There is not much to do around, so perhaps the best choice is to get an early night’s sleep.

Suggested accommodation: Black Beach Guesthouse, Þorlákshöfn ^[AD]

Day 9 Route Overview

Day 10: Þorlákshöfn – Grindavik – Þorlákshöfn

The plan for day 10 may not look as packed as the previous days, but it surely has some interesting places to visit. As expected, there will be a fair amount of walking, especially in the morning.

Suggested departure time from accommodation: 09:15

10:00 Fagradalsfjall ⭐

How about visiting the site of a real volcanic eruption and attempting to get close to some real lava (not the hot stuff though)? If you’re in, great! Because that’s the first stop of the day.

The Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted on the 19^th of March 2021 (yeah, pretty recently). The eruption was triggered by a series of tremors in the area in the previous months. Luckily, it was a small-scale eruption that didn’t cause much trouble to the locals.

Unlike other volcanic eruptions, lava continued to flow from the volcano for months after that. Technically, the volcano is still active and scientists expect it to be active for the next few years. The last eruption of this volcano was about 800 years ago and estimations show that it was going on for decades. However, there is no way to know when new lava will start to flow again, nor to predict the intensity of the event.

Once you reach one of the parking lots there are a few trails to follow. One goes up a hill to a point where (on a clear day) you can see the crater of the volcano, while another takes to a viewpoint of the lava dams they created to constrain the lava from reaching the nearby villages.

Beware!

The conditions of the volcano might change rapidly (either for better or worse), so before going there check the local websites. They include trails that may be closed off or the amount of toxicity in the area. There are even webcams you can use to see if the volcano is actively throwing any lava or not. If you want to avoid this type of research, you could book a guided tour of the volcano.

Most tours depart from Reykjavík, but Arctic Adventures offer additional pick-up points from locations closer to the volcano. This means that you can join the tour without having to drive all the way back to Reykjavík.

UPDATE: In August 2022 a nearby volcano erupted. Check local authorities for updates on visiting the area.

Distance from next stop: ~45 minutes

16:00 Lava Tunnel

The topic of lava continues through the day with the next activity being linked to lava too. Lava Tunnel is the name of the attraction located in the Raufarhólshellir cave. The cave was formed thousands of years ago after a volcanic eruption that caused lava to flow through the rocks creating a lava tube. What’s seen today is the remains of that event. The lava that created the cave left its trace on the now colourful walls of the cave.

Join one of the tours inside the cave to learn some fascinating facts about the geology of the place. The tours are about an hour long and are best to be pre-booked. Try and book a tour in the late afternoon, e.g. 4 pm so that you are not in a rush to leave the volcano. If you are worried about entering caves and closed dark areas, this one is should be an ok experience, as it has a clear path to follow without any narrow parts. There is even electricity in the cave to light up the path.

Adult entry fee: 6900 ISK

Find out more about the Lava Tunnel here.

Book your tickets to the Lava Tunnel from GetYourGuide ^[AD].

Distance from next stop: ~15 minutes

17:30 Hveragerði

Similarly, to the previous day, before returning to Þorlákshöfn stop for dinner in a bigger town where you will be able to find a larger variety of restaurants. You can return to Selfoss or head to Hveragerði. Both are only a short distance from the Lava Tunnel activity and Þorlákshöfn.

Distance from next stop: ~20 minutes

19:00 Þorlákshöfn

As there is only a full day left on this trip, this is probably a good time to start preparing for your return home. Pack your bags so that they are ready for your flight and start offloading your car. Unless you have been meticulously tidying up your car every evening, by this point it will most probably be full of random things you left in from the previous days. So, now’s the time to pack away that spare set of dry clothes and throw away any rubbish lying around.

Suggested accommodation: Black Beach Guesthouse, Þorlákshöfn ^[AD]

Day 10 Route Overview

Day 11: Þorlákshöfn – Southern Peninsula – Byggðavegur

It’s here… The final full day in Iceland! This final day is focused on relaxing your body in the morning with some light activities in the afternoon. Before starting your first activity, leave enough time to check out from your accommodation. Note, that you can avoid this final hotel change if you don’t have an early morning flight the next day.

Suggested departure time from Þorlákshöfn: 09:00

10:00 Blue Lagoon ⭐

“Save the best for last!” Isn’t that what they say? Well, our experience in the Blue Lagoon definitely felt like that. Book a morning slot in the thermal baths and get to experience the benefits of Iceland’s geothermal waters. After a demanding 10-day trip, your body will thank you for that.

Spend a couple of hours relaxing in the temperature-controlled pool (on average 38^oC). The warm water filled with silica, algae and minerals can have some therapeutic benefits for your body. While there, enjoy your free drink from the bar and use some silica mud mask on your face.

If a morning at the Blue Lagoon is not enough, you can extend your stay to spend the whole day there (and skip the other activities of the day). Technically, your ticket allows you to stay until they close, but if you plan to spend more hours, I suggest you get the premium pack and even book a spa treatment.

Here you can read more about our experience at the Blue Lagoon with many tips for visiting the place. Find out what you need to bring, how to take photos, how to take care of your hair before and after your visit and more.

For lunch, you can get something from their cafe, or book a special meal at the Lava Restaurant.

Adult entry fee: 6900 ISK (Comfort package) / 8900 ISK (Premium package).

Find out more about Blue Lagoon here.

Book your Blue Lagoon tickets from GetYourGuide ^[AD].

Distance to next stop: ~20 minutes

14:00 Viking World

After Blue Lagoon, head to Viking World. Viking World is a museum about the history of the Vikings, their way of life and their influence on Iceland.

The highlight of the museum is a replica of the type of ship Vikings used to sail in. This ship, called The Icelander, was created by a team of people who attempted to re-create the journey the Vikings took when they went to America. Visitors can walk inside the ship, while around the ship there are information screens with more details about the expedition.

The museum is also known for its modern architecture, which features floor-to-ceiling windows that highlight the big Viking ship.

Adult entry fee: 1500 ISK

Find out more about Viking World here.

Distance to next stop: ~20 minutes

16:00 Brúin milli heimsálfa

The next stop for the day is Brúin milli heimsálfa. Brúin milli heimsálfa is a bridge and it is famous for connecting two continents: Europe and America. Similarly to locations around Þingvellir National Park, this is another site in Iceland where you can see the meeting point of the two tectonic plates.

So, do a fun challenge and see how quickly you can cross the bridge to go from Europe to America! 😉

Distance to next stop: ~10 minutes

16:45 Reykjanes Lighthouse

The Reykjanes Lighthouse is the next stop on the list. The lighthouse offers a nice spot for photos with a short walking trail around it. Keep in mind that to park around the Lighthouse, you need to pay a rather high parking fee, which might not be worth it if you are only spending a few minutes there. So have a look at your budget, and decide accordingly.

Car park fee: 1000 ISK

Distance to next stop: ~5 minutes

17:15 Gunnuhver Hot Springs

A short distance to the lighthouse, you will find the Gunnuhver Hot Springs. Follow the short trail to the viewing platform to have a look at the steaming water coming from within the earth.

Distance to next stop: ~10 minutes

18:00 Brimketill lava rock pool

Another quick stop in the Reykjanes Peninsula. This one is the viewpoint for a natural pool formation in the sea made up of lava rocks. Beware though of getting too close, as this area is known to have huge waves.

Distance to next stop: ~30 minutes

19:00 Reykjanesbær

For dinner, head to Reykjanesbær. There are a few options in the town centre to choose from. Many of them are located along Hafnargata street, so find a parking space around there and walk around to find something you like.

Distance to next stop: ~15 minutes

20:15 Garður Old Lighthouse

To finish the day, go for an evening walk at the Garður Old Lighthouse. Once you get to Garðskagi, you will see that there are two lighthouses. The shortest one is the oldest of the two and dates to 1897, while the other one is from 1944. The newest one stands at 28 m and is the highest lighthouse in Iceland. There is a promenade you can walk on that connects the two lighthouses.

Distance to next stop: ~10 minutes

21:00 Byggðavegur

The final stop is your accommodation for the night. If you are following the accommodation options suggested here, this one will be in Byggðavegur. As I said above the reason for this hotel change is to be closer to the airport. So if you don’t want to stay in this town, anywhere close to Keflavík Airport should work.

On another note, if you really like how the cottages look, you could stay here the previous night too. Its location is still good to cover the activities on this day. The only reason we didn’t do this was that there was no availability for our dates.

Suggested accommodation: iStay Cottage, Byggðavegur ^[AD]

Day 11 Route Overview

Day 12: Byggðavegur – Keflavík

This day is mostly empty of activities to allow time to pack and go to the airport. Many flights depart from Keflavík in the morning, so if your flight is in this category then the only thing to do is to return your rental car and board your flight back home.

If you have an evening flight then you could completely omit this day and depart the evening of the previous day after visiting the Blue Lagoon. Alternatively, you could do a short day trip to Reykjavík. There are a lot of things to do in the city, which I include in the Reykjavík itinerary post. If you have already visited the city centre of Reykjavík, then you could go to one of the attractions outside the city centre such as Perlan, Árbær Open Air Museum or get a ferry to Viðey island.

Keflavík International Airport

Return your rental vehicle and head to the airport to board your flight home. Depending on where you are dropping off your car, you might need to take a shuttle or a taxi to the airport. So have that in mind when planning your time before your flight.

Day 12 Route Overview

Iceland Road Trip: Itinerary Map

To further assist your trip planning, I created this Wanderlog map for Iceland that includes all the stops mentioned in this road trip itinerary. Find all the museums, attractions, places of interest, restaurants and hotels we’ve been to. Feel free to open it and save it to your account (if you have one) or export it to Google Maps (requires paid subscription).

Remember that you can still use all the Google Maps above in real-time, while you are on your trip. Simply click on them (preferably from your phone), so that they open in the Google Maps app. Adjust the start and end points to match your accommodation and start the route guidance.

Eigðu góða ferð!

All photos were taken using the camera Sony ILCE-5100 ^[AD] and the 16-50mm ^[AD] or 55-210mm ^[AD] lense unless otherwise specified.

P.S. I hope you enjoyed reading this post and that it inspired you to start planning your first (or next) trip to Iceland. If you have any questions, I’ll be more than happy to help, so drop them in the comments!

P.S.II “Eigðu góða ferð!” means “Have a nice trip!” in Icelandic.

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