Weekly Itinerary – Ring Road

Main attractions

Þingvellir · Haukadalur · Strokkur · Gullfoss · Seljalandsfoss · Skógafoss · Dyrhólaey · Dyrhólaey puffin · Reynisfjara · Lómagnúpur · Svartifoss · Svínafellsjökull · Fjallsárlón · Jökulsárlón · Breiðamerkursandur · Vestrahorn · Hverir (Námaskarð) · Grjótagjá · Hverfjall · Goðafoss · Akureyri

Other attractions

Öxarárfoss · Silfra · Geysir · Gljúfrabúi · Seljavallalaug · Kvernufoss · Sólheimajökull · Vík í Mýrdal · Víkurfjara · Eldhraun hiking route · Systrafoss · Kirkjugólf · Stjórnarfoss · Foss á Siðu · Dverghamrar · Fossálar · Sjónarnípa · Eystrahorn · Stapi · Blábjörg á Berufjarðarströnd · Pony’s Head Petroglyph · Abandoned village in the Eastfjords · Reyðarfjörður viewpoint · Egilsstaðir · Rjúkandi · Skútustaðagígar · Hrútey í Blöndu · Þrístapar · Grábrók · Glanni

Options along the way

Brúarhlöð · Faxi · Kerið · Urriðafoss · Ægissíðufoss · Gluggafoss · Írárfoss · Núpsstaðakirkja · Skaftafellsjökull · Múlagljúfur · Hoffel hot tubs · Folaldafoss · Glaumbær · Víðimýrarkirkja · Fosslaug · Reykjafoss

This itinerary follows Iceland’s famous Ring Road as a thin red line and shows you everything you can experience if you follow in the footsteps of millions of travelers who have explored the island this way before you. Slightly exaggerated, you could say that if you just keep driving straight on Route 1, you’ll manage it—but right from the start, I have a better suggestion: take a few detours and truly enjoy Iceland to the fullest.

A week on the Ring Road is both enough and not enough. I’ve spent years exploring Iceland and still haven’t seen everything, so you could say even 10 years isn’t enough. On the other hand, if you don’t mind spending about five hours a day driving—and you’ll still see plenty of beautiful scenery while driving—you can actually manage to see a lot. And the chance that you’ll return to Iceland is quite high.

The Icelandic Ring Road is 1,332 kilometers long, starting and ending in Reykjavík. Unlike most roads that go from point A to point B, this one forms a loop. From Reykjavík, we head north on Route 1 and then turn onto Route 36 to Þingvellir, the site of the world’s first modern parliament in 930, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet, and where you’ll find Öxarárfoss and the Silfra fissure in Lake Þingvallavatn.

From there, we head east to the geothermal area Haukadalur, where you can watch the geyser Strokkur erupt every 5–6 minutes, and then continue to the waterfall Gullfoss. From there, we turn south with possible stops at Brúarhlöð, the waterfall Faxi, and the crater Kerið, arriving in the town of Selfoss. From here on, we mostly stick to Route 1.

The first stop can be Urriðafoss or Ægissíðufoss, both close to the Ring Road. If you have an extra hour, you can detour in Hvolsvöllur onto Route 261 to Gluggafoss. The waterfall is beautiful and you can climb to its upper section. You also get a great view toward the Þórsmörk area. You don’t need to return via Route 261; instead, head south on Route 250 back to the Ring Road.

Then comes one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland—Seljalandsfoss, which you can walk behind. A short walk away is the hidden waterfall Gljúfrabúi, tucked inside a canyon. Both places require waterproof clothing. You can also visit the geothermal pool Seljavallalaug, one of the oldest pools in Iceland.

Next is Skógafoss, often competing with Seljalandsfoss for the title of the most beautiful southern waterfall. Nearby is Kvernufoss and the Skógar museum.

Next comes the glacier outlet Sólheimajökull. If you’re short on time, you can skip it and instead head to the rock arch Dyrhólaey and see puffins (May–August).

Then we reach the famous black sand beach Reynisfjara, which changed significantly after a landslide in 2026. After that comes the village of Vík í Mýrdal.

From here, the landscape begins to change constantly as we head east toward the Eastfjords. We pass the lava field Eldhraun, then Kirkjubæjarklaustur with Systrafoss, Kirkjugólf, and Stjórnarfoss.

Next are Foss á Siðu, Dverghamrar, Fossálar, and the historic Núpsstaðakirkja.

Then we see Lómagnúpur, followed by Skaftafell National Park with Svartifoss, Sjónarnípa, and Skaftafellsjökull.

Then Svínafellsjökull, Hof with Hofskirkja, and the canyon Múlagljúfur.

Then Fjallsárlón and the famous Jökulsárlón, with the Diamond Beach Breiðamerkursandur.

Then Höfn, followed by Vestrahorn and Eystrahorn.

We continue into the Eastfjords, passing Stapavík and green cliffs Blábjörg á Berufjarðarströnd, petroglyphs, and an abandoned village.

Then a choice: the gravel road Öxi pass or the coastal Ring Road.

We continue through the fjords to Reyðarfjörður and then inland to Egilsstaðir.

Next is the geothermal area Hverir–Námaskarð and the Mývatn region with Grjótagjá, Hverfjall, and Skútustaðagígar.

Then Goðafoss and onward to Akureyri.

After that, Víðimýrarkirkja, Glaumbær, Fosslaug, Reykjafoss, Hrútey í Blöndu, Þrístapar, Grábrók, and Glanni.

From there, the final 100 kilometers return to Reykjavík. I hope you enjoyed the journey. Safe travels!

Where to shop cheaply: Reykjavík, Selfoss, Hvolsvöllur, Höfn, Reyðarfjörður, Egilsstaðir, Akureyri, Borgarnes, Akranes · (Vík í Mýrdal)