Iceland 10 Day Ring Road Itinerary

If you are visiting Iceland and want to take a trip around the Ring Road, this 10 day itinerary is excellent way to see all the amazing landscapes and sights that Iceland has to offer. This itinerary is perfect if you are travelling during the summer and are looking for something a little more relaxed 🙂

Day 1: Reykjavik and Blue Lagoon

Since most flights land super early in the morning, day 1 is going to have a really relaxed schedule to give your body time to adjust to the new climate and location.

Pick up rental car

The first step is picking up your rental car. For this itinerary, you only need a 2WD since you do not need to drive on any F roads. If you need more information about renting a car in Iceland, check out my post here: Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car in Iceland

If you are renting a car you have 2 choices: rent the car in Keflavik (where you will most likely be flying to), or rent the car is Reykjavik. Since it might be a bit tiring to wait for a bus and travel to Reykjavik after your long flight, I recommend renting your car in Keflavik.

Drive to Blue Lagoon

After a long flight, the perfect way to unwind is to relax at the Blue Lagoon. Not only will the water feel so refreshing after long hours of sitting, but also, you can beat the afternoon crowds by going in the morning. Spend as much time as you please here since this day is meant for adjusting to Iceland.

Drive to Reykjavik

After a relaxing time at the lagoon, drive to Reykjavik, the charming capital of Iceland. Here, you have some flexibility in what you can do:

Option 1: If your hotel is ready and you’re tired, check-in and catch up on some sleep. You can then explore the city after you wake up refreshed.
Option 2: If you’re eager to explore or your hotel room is not ready, start sightseeing in Reykjavik as soon as you arrive.

Rest and Relax in Your Hotel

Regardless of which option you chose, take it easy for the rest of the evening, and rest in your hotel to prepare for the exciting days ahead. If you would like to buy groceries to cook some meals yourself, I would recommend visiting Bonus (a supermarket) and picking up some snacks and essentials. Iceland food prices can be pretty high, especially if you are coming from America, so I would recommend buying snacks at the very least to help your money stretch all 10 days.

Where I would recommend lodging: Reykjavik

Day 2: Golden Circle

Today is all about the iconic Golden Circle route, showcasing some of Iceland’s most breathtaking natural wonders.

Thingvellir National Park

Drive to Thingvellir National Park and visit the Hakid visitor center. From there, you can explore various attractions in the park, either on foot or by driving to nearby parking lots. Places to cover include Almannagja (meeting of two tectonic plates), Öxarárfoss waterfall, Thingvellir church, Logberg-Drekkingarhuy trail, and Lake Thingvallavatn.

Optional: If you have the chance to, I would snorkel or scuba dive the silfra fissure. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to swim between 2 tectonic plates.

Lunch at Efstidalur Farm

Enjoy a delicious lunch at Efstidalur II, known for its mouthwatering burgers. From the dining room, you see the cows who make up the farm. The milk from these cows is used to make the ice-cream which you can enjoy in their ice-cream shop.

Explore the Rest of the Golden Circle

After lunch, explore the rest of the Golden Circle and drive to the following places:

Strokkur Geyser: You can choose to hike for 1.4 miles to a scenic viewpoint or just walk to the geyser only. The geyser erupts once every 4 minutes, so be sure to watch it erupt before you leave.

Gullfoss, the “Golden Waterfall”: This is a beautiful waterfall you cannot miss. You have the option of viewing the waterfall from a viewpoint (wheelchair friendly option), or you can hike roughly 1 mile roundtrip to to see the falls up close.

Faxi Waterfall: This beautiful waterfall is a quick 5 min walk from the parking lot and is often less crowded than the other destinations in the Golden Circle. The 5 min walk will bring you right next to the base of the falls where you can feel the full power of the water.

Kerid Crater: You can see the crater almost immediately from the parking lot, so if you do not want to walk much you do not have to. If you’re up for a hike, then you have the option of hiking down to the bottom of the crater (and touching the water) and also walking the rim of the crater.

Where I would recommend lodging: Selfoss

Day 3: Vik

Today, you’ll drive to Vik, stopping at many scenic spots along the way.

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

Your first stop is Seljalandsfoss, the famous waterfall where you can walk behind the cascading water curtain. From Seljalandsfoss, there is a path to explore the nearby waterfalls, which I would definitely recommend looking at. There is a hidden waterfall which I felt was even more majestic than Seljalandsfoss.

Skógafoss Waterfall

Skógafoss is a mighty waterfall that you can see while driving on the Ring Road. You have the option of seeing the waterfall from its base, or you can chose to hike up over 100 steps to reach the top of the waterfall. From the top of the waterfall you can continue hiking to other destinations, or just see the waterfall from a different perspective. The choice is yours depending on how much walking you would like to do.

Dyrhólaey Peninsula

Dyrhólaey Peninsula is a must-see attraction. From the location, you can see a birds eye view of the nearby black sand beaches, the glaciers (from afar of course), and the Dyrhólaey lighthouse. The views from this location were unparalleled.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Check out the world-famous black sand beach known for its dramatic basalt columns and sneaker waves (be careful not to get too close to the water as it may pull you in).

Explore Vik

Take the time to explore this charming fishing village. Popular sights to see include the Reyniskirkja Church and the crashed DC 3 plane.

Where I would recommend lodging: Vik

Day 4: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Today is full of the glaciers of Iceland.

Svínafellsjökull Glacier

The first stop is Svínafellsjökull Glacier. Take a short hike to the foot of the glacier where you can marvel at the impressive melting ice formations.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

This stop is the highlight of the show. From the parking lot, you can see the giant icebergs floating on top of Gatorade blue water and marvel at the sheer size of the formations. If you’re lucky, you might also get to see sea lions swimming in these blue waters.

If you have the opportunity to, I would highly recommend taking a boat tour of the lagoon. Especially if you are on a small boat, you can get up close and personal with the icebergs and the glacier that they originally broke off of. Your guides will give you some history about the glaciers which will make you appreciate them even more.

Diamond Beach

Right next to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, you can find Diamond Beach, where icebergs from the lagoon wash ashore, glistening like diamonds on the black sand.

One thing to note is if you go in summer, there may not be that many “diamonds” ashore. However, you can take comfort in the fact that you can still see sea lions swimming from the shore.

Where I would recommend lodging: Skaftafell

Day 5: Egilsstaðir

On this day, you’ll be driving to Egilsstaðirr, with some fun stops along the way.

Nykurhylsfoss (Sveinsstekksfoss)

Start your day with a visit to Nykurhylsfoss, a beautiful waterfall just a short 2-minute walk from the parking lot.

Djúpivogur

Next, head to Djúpivogur, a small village. This is a good place for a a bathroom break and to stretch your legs. If you would like to spend some extra time, a sight you can see is Eggin í Gleðivík.

Fardagafoss

Consider a scenic hike to Fardagafoss waterfall (3.2-mile round trip). You can hike up close to the waterfall, and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can go al the way down to the base and even behind the waterfall.

Egilsstaðir

If you have extra time, I would recommend looking around Egilsstaðir. If you would like there is a washer and dryer in this town and you can take this opportunity to wash your clothes for the upcoming days.

Where I would recommend lodging: Egilsstaðir

Day 6: Areas Near Lake Myvatn

Today, you’ll be driving to Lake Myvatn and enjoying all the scenic spots along the way.

Rjukandi Waterfall

Begin your day with a visit to Rjukandi waterfall, a short hike of approximately 5 minutes to reach the magnificent falls. If you want, you can also see this waterfall while driving if you do not want to make a specific stop to see it.

Stuðlagil Canyon

You have 2 different viewpoint for this canyon. If you would like a hike, park near the waterfall and hike to the base of the canyon. This is a long hike (about 2-3.5 miles one way). If you would just like to see the canyon, you can drive up farther to the viewpoint and see the canyon from above.

Dettifoss

Drive to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. Keep in mind, when visiting this falls, google maps will tell you to take route 864 which (although not an F road) isn’t advisable for cars that aren’t 4WD. Instead, you can drive on route 862 (a paved road) and see the falls that way. Both roads will bring you to different viewpoints of the falls.

Námafjall Geothermal Area

Explore the Námafjall geothermal area, where you can witness bubbling mud pools and fascinating geothermal activity. You can hike the mountain for a bird’s-eye view of the area.

Lake Myvatn Nature Baths (Optional)

If you’re looking for another geothermal experience, visit the Lake Myvatn Nature Baths, similar to the Blue Lagoon but on a smaller scale.

Where I would recommend lodging: Lake Myvatn

Day 7: Lake Myvatn and Akureyri

Today, you’ll see all the attractions around Lake Myvatn and finish the day in Akureyri.

Lake Myvatn Area

Grjótagjá Cave: Explore the fascinating Grjótagjá cave, which is a small lava cave that has a thermal spring inside.

Hverfjall Crater: Hike to the top of Hverfjall Crater for the incredible views. The hike is approximately 396 meters long, and you have the option of hiking around the crater if you wish.

Dimmuborgir Lava Park: Next, explore Dimmuborgir lava park and take a leisurely walk or hike through the lava formations. There are multiple trail options, so you can chose the length that best suits you.

Hofdi Lava Pillars: From the view point, you can see the amazing lava pillars and views of Lake Myvatn
Skútustaðagígar: From here, you can take a walk through the pseudo craters of North Iceland.
Goðafoss: The last attraction at Lake Myvatn is Goðafoss, the “Waterfall of the Gods”.

Explore Akureyri

If time permits, explore Akureyri’s charming city center, known for its shopping and excellent food options.

Where I would recommend lodging: Akureyri

Day 8: Vastness Peninsula

Today, you’ll be driving a lot without many vista points for stopping. However, the drive is so scenic that it will definitely be enjoyable.

Note: today, there won’t be many food option along your route, so I would recommend buying food in Akureyri before you leave

Anastadastapi

Make your first stop at Anastadastapi, where you can admire stunning cliff formations and enjoy breathtaking views of the coastline.

Svalbard Seal Watching Site

Next, head to the Svalbard Seal Watching Site, where you can see see seals basking in the sun if you’re lucky.

Hvitserkur

Here you can see the unique rock stacks of Hvitserkur, rising dramatically from the sea and creating an otherworldly landscape.

Borgarvirki

At Borgarvirki, you can see a volcanic plug that has been used as a fortress. This area was also used as a filming location for the show Game of Thrones.

Where I would recommend lodging: Hvammstangi

Day 9: Return to Reykjavik

Today, you’ll head back to Reykjavik and can explore the sites that you might have missed on day 1.

Explore Reykjavik

Upon arriving in Reykjavik, take the opportunity to explore the nearby sites and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the capital city. You can also pick up a souvenir in the city center now that you’re nearing the end of your trip.

Optional Helicopter Tour

If you have the means and opportunity, consider booking a helicopter tour to witness the active volcano eruption (if available). It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness lava bubbling and the landscape of Iceland changing right before your eyes.