We used the abundance of daylight in early August to our advantage, driving the entire Ring Road and venturing out to the Westfjords in eight packed travel days. This eight-day road trip itinerary covers the best of Iceland from the Ring Road to the Westfjords, including unique places to stay.

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Table of Contents

• Day 1: Arrival & The Golden Circle
• Day 2: Fimmvörðuháls Trail
• Day 3: South Coast
• Day 4: Eastfjords & North Iceland
• Day 5: Road to the Westfjords
• Day 6: Westfjords
• Day 7: Snæfellsnes Peninsula
• Day 8: Reykjavík & Blue Lagoon

Day 1: Arrival & The Golden Circle

If arriving on a late flight like us, you can book an Airbnb around the airport to get a couple hours of rest. Most international flights into Keflavik International Airport arrive early in the morning, perfect for making the most of your travel day. This comes naturally in Icelandic summer: the sun doesn’t set until 11 PM and rises around 4 AM in early August, with a golden hour that never seems to end.

Morning: Þingvellir National Park, Kerið crater, Friðheimar Farm

The first day in Iceland is dedicated to the Golden Circle, a popular 300-km loop from Reykjavik that connects several highlights. Start at Þingvellir National Park, Iceland’s former political center with a dramatic setting at the crossing of two tectonic plates. On the way to lunch, a small detour leads to Kerið crater, which turns vibrant blue on sunny days. Friðheimar Farm serves a farm-to-table lunch in their greenhouses, where they grow tomatoes year-round.

Afternoon: Geysir Hotspring Area, Gulfoss Waterfall

After lunch, continue to the other two attractions on the Golden Circle. The Geysir Hotspring Area is a collection of sizzling hot springs and geysers. Even if you don’t see the famous Great Geysir in action, an eruption from Strokkur Geyser is almost guaranteed. Ten minutes down the road is the impressive Gulfoss Waterfall, the largest waterfall in Europe by volume.

Stay: Lindartún Guesthouse

Instead of looping back to Reykjavík, we continued southeast for 110 km to Lindartún Guesthouse. This small guesthouse is tucked away in the countryside. The hostess prepares a delicious breakfast in the mornings and you can use the shared kitchen to prepare dinner. Given the remoteness of many locations and high restaurant prices, we opted for stays with kitchen facilities throughout our trip.

Day 2: Fimmvörðuháls Trail

The Fimmvörðuháls Trail is one of Iceland’s iconic day hikes, traversing incredibly diverse and surreal landscapes on a 24-km trail from Skógar to Þórsmörk. What is even tougher than the hike itself is arranging the logistics to complete it. The trail is done point-to-point, with the return by off-road bus. We started the hike from Skógafoss waterfall at 10:30 AM with destination Þórsmörk Básar Huts, planning to return on the 8:30 PM bus from Southcoast Adventure to the Skógafoss parking lot.

The trail can be divided into three parts. The first section winds up next to Skógafoss through a lush green canyon, passing another 25 waterfalls. It entails a constant but gentle climb over a course of 8 km, surrounded by stunning scenery. The end of this section is marked by the wooden bridge over the Skógá River.

The green pasture makes way for a barren and rocky landscape before leading up to the snow-covered Fimmvörðuháls Pass. This is the most strenuous section of the hike, as you plow through snow fields and volcanic soil while exposed to the elements. The last part of this section runs between glaciers Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull, passing lava fields created by the volcanic eruption that shut down Europe’s airspace in 2010.

The last section of the hike is a thrilling descent into Þórsmörk through a spectacular canyon. There are a couple of nerve-wracking parts, even if you just have a remote fear of heights. At one point the trail clings to a cliff, with a loose-hanging rope barely providing support. The grand finale is the cat’s spine, a narrow path flanked by the abyss on both sides.

We arrived at the Þórsmörk Básar Huts around 6:30 PM, clocking in at eight hours of hiking time. The 8:30 PM bus made a stop at Seljalandsfoss right before arriving to Skogar. This waterfall is unique because you can walk underneath it, sheltered by a cove. We stopped at the waterfall before the hike, but golden hour only adds to its beauty.

Stay: Skogafoss Campsite

We rented a tent at Skogafoss Campsite through Airbnb. Finding a tent ready to dive into after a long day of hiking was perfect. In the morning, the first thing you see when opening the tent is Skógafoss waterfall without the crowds.

Day 3: South Coast

Morning: Reynisfjara, Fjaðrárgljúfur

Today is a driving day, as you follow the Ring Road for 500 km along the southern coast to the Eastfjords. Route 1 is known as the Ring Road because it loops around Iceland, connecting many of the country’s highlights. The road is part of the destination, with beautiful scenery and many stops along the way. The first one is the famous Reynisfjara black sand beach. You can take a short detour to Dyrholaey Peninsula for views of the beach and a puffin encounter. Continue to Fjaðrárgljúfur, a stunning canyon accessed by a short but bumpy gravel road.

Afternoon: Vatnajökull National Park

Vatnajökull National Park is the largest national park in Iceland, named after the largest glacier in Europe. The Skaftafellsstofa Visitor Center is located right off the Ring Road. A one-hour round trip trail from the visitor center runs to the spectacular Svartifoss waterfall. Enjoy lunch with views of the glacier from the cafe inside the park. The scenic glacier lake Jökulsárlón is also located in the national park, but accessed by continuing on the Ring Road for another 45 minutes.

Stay: Stora Sandfell Cottages, Eastfjords

We booked a stay in the Eastfjords, another three-hour drive from Jökulsárlón. The last 50-km stretch to Stora Sandfell Cottages takes you inland, off the Ring Road. We were relieved to find these little fairytale houses after making it through a thick mist in the mountains. The cottages are very small but well-equipped, with a sweet local lady as the hostess.

Day 4: Eastfjords & North Iceland

Morning: Eastfjords, Dettifoss

From the Ring Road, a quick 30-minute detour leads to the Eastfjords. The eastern coast of Iceland is made up of dramatic fjords that house picturesque fishing villages, like Seyðisfjörður. The town has a scenic mountain backdrop with clear skies, but manages to keep its charm even on a misty day. Continue north on the Ring Road to the Diamond Circle, which connects several impressive sights in northern Iceland. The first one is Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe.

Afternoon: Diamond Circle, Akureyri

The attractions on the Diamond Circle become more surreal by the mile. The Krafla Víti Crater and Hverir Geothermal Area transport you to a different planet. You can skip the entrance fee to Mývatn Natural Baths, as there are free and better-smelling hot springs yet to come. The last stop on the Diamond Circle along Route 1 is Goðafoss waterfall, followed by a scenic stretch that leads to Akureyri. We treated ourselves to dinner at gastropub Strikið in the country’s second biggest city.

Stay: Guesthouse Baegisa

Guesthouse Baegisa is part of a working farm just west of Akureyri. This beautiful farm stay is scenically located between meadows and mountains. The lovely hostess prepares a delicious breakfast buffet in the morning, made with produce from the farm.

Day 5: Road to the Westfjords

From Akureyri, it takes close to four hours to reach the base of the Westfjords. The northwestern peninsula is one of the most gorgeous yet untouched parts of Iceland, as less than 10% of tourists make it there. We added a detour around Tröllaskagi Peninsula, but mist prevented us from taking in the spectacular coastline. On clear days, the heated infinity pool of Hofsós comes with extensive fjord views. But even covered in mist, it is the perfect break on a long driving day.

Stay: Country Hotel Heydalur

You’ll want to arrive early at this scenic farm stay in the heart of the Westfjords. Country Hotel Heydalur‘s serene surroundings make for a relaxing afternoon. A 10-minute walk through the countryside leads to a natural hot spring. Iceland is home to an abundance of these pristine hot springs, and the Westfjords house many of them.

Day 6: Westfjords

Morning: Road to Dynjandi Waterfall

The only road around the Westfjords clings to the fjords without guardrails, assuring some scary moments but above all spectacular views. We started our favorite day of this trip with coffee and a whale sighting at Litlibær Farm, followed by beautiful scenery and tiny fishing villages on the way to Dynjandi waterfall. Just when you are reaching a waterfall-saturation point, this impressive multi-layered waterfall leaves you in awe.

Afternoon: Reykjafjardarlaug Pool, Látrabjarg Cliffs

The Reykjafjardarlaug Pool appears as a Fata Morgana next to the road, unmanned but well-kept, with hot thermal waters and stunning views of the fjords. Before heading further into no man’s land, stock up on groceries in Patreksfjörður. On the way to the westernmost point of Europe, you pass the photogenic church of Breiðavík. The road to the Látrabjarg Cliffs is long but perfectly doable in a regular car. Iceland is home to 60% of the Atlantic puffin population, which come to nest at these cliffs in summer.

Stay: Hænuvík Cottages

The location of Hænuvík Cottages is best described as the end of the world. It takes a brief sidetrack onto a desolate road to reach the cottages when returning from the Látrabjarg Cliffs. The basic cottages lack any type of comfort, but a unique stay in a secluded setting is guaranteed.

Day 7: Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Morning: Baldur Ferry to Snæfellsnes Peninsula

The Baldur Vehicle Ferry runs between Brjánslækur on the Westfjords and Stykkishólmur on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Before boarding the 2:00 PM ferry, you can take a short but curvy detour to Rauðisandur Beach. A series of hairpin curves lead to this remote beach with red sand. The ferry transports you from one peninsula to another in three hours. Driving would take around the same time, but after more than 2,000 km we preferred to take in the scenery from the ferry deck.

Afternoon: Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Stykkishólmur is a charming fishing village in the heart of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, a short drive from the emblematic Kirkjufell. The peninsula’s scenic coastline is best appreciated from a hike. An easy 1-hour trail with stunning views runs between the towns of Arnarstapi and Hellnar. Enjoy a typical coffee break with waffles halfway at Fjöruhúsið Café. Head back to the Ring Road and complete the loop to Reykjavík, with a dip in Landbrotalaug Hot Springs on the way.

Stay: KEX Hostel and Hotel, Reykjavík

We stayed in KEX Hostel and Hotel in Reykjavík, housed in a former cookie factory. There are various accommodation options, from dorms to private rooms with shared bathroom and regular hotel rooms. The hostel is hip like its host city and offers a healthy breakfast buffet.

Day 8: Reykjavík & Blue Lagoon

Morning: Reykjavík

The final day in Iceland is reserved for exploring the capital and most famous attraction. Reykjavík is very compact and can easily be explored on foot. The Hallgrímskirkja Church is the city’s landmark building and a great place to start. Take the lift to the top of the church for views of the colorful city streets. The Old Harbor houses restaurants in former warehouses. Embark on a culinary seafood tour with lobster soup from Sægreifinn, followed by a delicious fish pan at Messinn. The charming streets of the Old Town are perfect for a stroll after lunch.

Afternoon: Blue Lagoon

No first visit to Iceland would be complete without a dip in the iconic Blue Lagoon. Advance reservations are necessary, as popular time slots sell out. We made a reservation at 8 PM to avoid the biggest crowds. The standard package comes with a drink from the in-water bar, a mud mask and access to the complex of pools, sauna and steam cave. Soaking in the silky waters turned out to be the perfect way to relax prior to our 6 AM flight home.