This itinerary will guide you through the land of ice and fire and will ensure you will see all the highlights and hidden gems of Iceland within just seven days.
Day 1: Arrival
Stepping off the plane at Keflavik International Airport, you’ll immediately sense that you’ve arrived in a special place. Make most of your day by stopping at the Blue Lagoon and an awe-inspiring visit to Iceland active volcano before heading to Reykjavik.
Blue lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland’s most iconic geothermal baths. It is the perfect place to relax after your flight. Conveniently it is located about 20 minutes from Keflavik Airport.
Entry ticket
- In order to enter the Blue Lagoon, you will need to buy a ticket. There are three options whereby the price ranges from €67 to €111. If you want to enjoy the massages, therapy sessions are the spa, there are multiple options to choose from.
- Ensure to buy your ticket upfront, otherwise you will likely not be able to enjoy the lagoon.
Lagoon & Spa
- The lagoon’s warm, mineral-rich waters are renowned for their healing properties. Soak in the milky blue waters, apply a silica mud mask, and let the stresses of travel melt away.
Dining options
- There is a variety in dining options at the lagoon. If you want a drink and a snack, the café is perfect for you. If you are looking for a more mature or luxurious meal, you can dine in one of the two restaurants (including a Michelin star restaurant).
Visit a volcano
Close by the Blue Lagoon is the Fagradalsfjall volcano. This volcano was easily reachable by car in 2023. After the 2024 eruption of the Sundhnúksgiga volcano in that same area, the road was blocked and it is a challenge to visit the volcano. Nevertheless, if you like to go on an adventure, drive towards the Sundhnúksgiga volcano and see if you can get a glimpse of the magma, it is pretty cool.
The volcano is still active. So do some reading online and validate if it is safe to visit.
Travel to Reykjavik
After you enjoyed the lagoon’s warmth and the majestic feeling of the Sundhnúksgiga volcano, it is time to travel to Reykjavik and get settled. It will take around an hour (without traffic) to reach the city.
Day 2: Explore Reykjavik
Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital is perfect for a day trip. Here’s how to make the most of a day in Reykjavik.
Free walking tour
One of the best ways to get to know the city, history and culture is by joining a free walking tour in Reykjavik. The tour will guide you through the city whereby a local will tell you everything you need to know. Multiple tour operators offer the tour and it will take around two hours.
Whale watching
One of the most thrilling experiences you can have is whale watching in Reykjavik. You will board a whale watching boat and will explore the seas and look for these magnificent creatures.
The best time to spot whales in Reykjavik is from April to late September-early October. Still it is never a guarantee that you will spot the whales. In order to get a realistic perception of what you will see on a tour, visit the Elding whale diary. This touring company reports on a daily basis what sea creators they spotted.
Quick tip, the north atlantic sea can get pretty rough and can cause sea sickness. I would advise you to take some sea sickness pills before stepping on the boat. If you forgot to buy the pills, the whale watching operators also offer them.
The rough sea can also result in cancellation of the whale watching tour, so check upfront the heater conditions before booking a trip. Unfortunately this happened to us … Nevertheless, below some whale watching pictures to give you a feeling what is like spotting whales.
Discovering the Icelandic food
Iceland’s cuisine is a fascinating blend of traditional dishes, modern twists, and fresh local ingredients. From seafood caught in the North Atlantic to lamb raised on pristine pastures, the food in Iceland is both unique and delicious.
Reykjavik has a variety of great restaurants, just look them up on Tripadvisor. What surprised us during our trip, that Iceland is famous for its hot dogs (locally known as pylsa or pulsa)! It is perfect for a snack, once you try them, you will not stop eating them. They are just absolutely lovely.
Shopping
Reykjavik, Iceland’s charming capital, offers a delightful shopping experience with a mix of local craftsmanship, cutting-edge design, and quirky boutiques. Whether you’re looking for unique souvenirs, high-quality outdoor gear, or contemporary fashion.
We especially used our free time in Reykjavik to prepare ourselves for the extreme Icelandic weather conditions. There are a lot of local stores that sell outdoor (local) clothing that will keep you warm during your trip.
Sightseeing
If you join the walking tour in Iceland, you will see most sightseeing spots in Reykjavik. If you did not, we would advise you to visit the Hallgrimskirkja, the Perlan, the Harpa, the Sun Voyager and the colorful city center.
Day 3: The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is one of Iceland’s most popular tourist routes within a relatively short drive from Reykjavik. The Golden Circle is an excellent introduction to the Icelandic landscaped and geological phenomena. If you have a rental car, you can easily visit all highlights of the Golden Circle individually.
Golden Circle highlights
- Þingvellir National Park
- Geysir Geothermal Area
- Gullfoss Waterfall
- Kerið Crater Lake
- Secret Lagoon
- Friðheimar Greenhouse
Day 4 : Explore the wonders of the Icelandic South Coast
Today you will jump in the car to explore the south coast of Iceland. This routing offers plenty of stops at waterfalls, glaciers, waterfalls and charming villages.
With normal weather conditions and without stops, it will take around five hours to reach Vick. So start your day early to ensure you can enjoy all sights without rushing. Note that the roads can be slippery in the morning. We advise to always have a look at the road conditions to determine if it is safe to drive.
Below the highlights of the day in geographical sequence:
- Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Gljufrabui & Nauthúsagil.
- Skógafoss & Kvernufoss
- Reynisfjara Beach (black sand beach) & Vík í Mýrdal (lunch)
- Fjaðrárgljúfur
- Stjórnarfoss
- Fjallsárlón
- Diamond beach
Take into account that you will drive back to Reykjavik a few days later. So you can visit these sites later during the trip.
Day 5: Glacier walk and ice cave tour
One of the most spectacular experiences you can have is walking on the biggest glacier in Europe. This was absolutely one of the highlights of our trip.
There are multiple tour operators that offer a variety of glacier walks and activities in the area. The activities and locations change every season due to melting of the glaciers. We booked the glacier walk and ice cave visit with Glacier Adventure. Hereby we walked an hour over the glacier and went into an ice cave (which was pretty cool). It was all well organized and the tour guide was a nice guy.
The touring company will give you safety gear and crampons so you can walk in the ice. Quick top, ensure to bring waterproof hiking shoes, pants and jacket. We did not do it and learned it the hard way. Yes, it was very cold… Most tour operators allow you to rent waterproof clothing if needed.
Other activities you can book are: ice cave tour in combination with a helicopter tour, glacier jeep adventure, boat tours around the glacier, puffin tours & kayaking.
After the morning / afternoon activity, drink a hot coffee, eat some lunch and jump in the car. It will be a long day driving back to Reykjavik.
Day 6: Snaefellsnes day trip
This is the last day before you will finish your trip in Iceland. Use this day to explore Snaefellsnes national park and visit a game of thrones shooting location. During our trip, the weather was Icelandic (horrible), so we just drove through the rough landscapes and made a stop at the famous mountain of Game of Thrones.
Day 7: Departure day
Have a safe flight home.
Must knows when visiting Iceland
Car rental
Renting a car (4×4) is non negotiable in Iceland. It allows you to be flexible during your trip and to explore the highlights of the country. Public transport is not Iceland and is not suitable to explore the country in 7 days.
The extreme weather in Iceland can easily result in a damaged car. When picking up the car, we noted some small car damages that were caused by little stones. Make sure you take pictures of this and report it to the rental company before you accept the car. This will save you some money at the end when the rental company tries to bill you for the already present damages.
Weather
The Icelandic weather is extreme and can lead to unsafe situations. Being aware of this and preparing yourself is therefore crucial before entering the Icelandic winter. Visit for example this website and check the weather and road conditions on a daily base.
At the same time, the extreme weather can forse you to change your pre planned itinerary. For instance, when the weather in Reykjavik does not allow you to go whale watching, try to do it on day six. Another example, when ice storms does not allow you to visit the east coast on day three, swap it with day two. This flexibility ensures you get most of your trip in Iceland.
Northern lights
If you think about Iceland, you think about the northern lights.
The best time to see the northern lights is during the winter (between September and April). In order to increase your chances to spot the northern light, book a hotel outside the city center without any lights. Additionally download one of many aurora apps where you can see the likeness of spotting the northern lights. These apps allow users to report when they spotted the northern lights. This will allow you to travel to these locations where the aurora effect is the strongest.
In order to capture the northern lights on your phone, go to your settings and extend the shutter speed. Trust me, this will make a big difference.
Wrapping it up
I hope this seven day itinerary gives you the fundamentals to enjoy one of the best road trips you will ever have. Enjoy and never stop exploring.