Overwhelmed planning your Iceland itinerary?! Here's the perfect 10 day Iceland road trip itinerary to get you started!

Traveling to Iceland and wondering how to plan the perfect 10-day Iceland itinerary? Even though this country can be expensive to visit, it’s worth every penny. My husband, friends, and I visited and had such a great time road-tripping around the country and exploring the insane topography. If you’re spending an extended amount of time here definitely rent a car and explore not just the Golden Circle but beyond. We even saw the Northern Lights one night staying in the most insane hotel. You also dive and snorkel between two tectonic plates, the only place in the world you can do so! This post is packed with all the best things to see in Iceland and how to have an epic Iceland road trip.

A Complete Guide for a 10 Day Iceland Itinerary

Iceland Road Trip Day-by-Day Itinerary Overview

1 &2: First stop on your Iceland road trip, Reykjavik

3: Snæfellsjokull National Park Reykjavik • Raudfeldsgja Gorge • Londrangar Rock Cliffs • Olafsvik (3.5 hours driving, 150 miles)

4: Explore Iceland’s Glaciers • Kirkjufellsfoss • Hraunfossar • Into the Glacier • Reykjavik (4 hours driving, 180 miles)

5: Drive the Golden Circle • Reykjavik • Bruarfoss • Geysir geothermal area • Gullfoss • Laugaras (2.5 hours driving, 100 miles)

6: Drive the Ring • Road Kerid • Seljalandsfoss • Skogafoss • Black Sand Beach • Dyrholaey Arch (2 hours driving, 88 miles)

7: The Many Glacier Lagoons • Fjallsarlon • Jokulsarlon • Diamond Beach • Fosshotel (40 minutes of driving, 24 miles)

8: Hike Vatnajokull National Park & Fjadrargljufur Canyon

9: The Blue Lagoon

10: Bonus day on your Iceland itinerary

When to Travel to Iceland

One question you should ask yourself when deciding when to travel to Iceland is what is the main reason you want to travel to Iceland? Peak tourism in Iceland is from May to September. Even though these months are the busiest, they offer a unique 24 hours of sunlight. If you’re trying to admire the Northern Lights, you won’t be able to see them during this time and with this much daylight. Even in fall before winter, Iceland experiences snowfall and colder temperatures. This however is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland. In my opinion, fall is the perfect balance of average temperature, daylight hours, and amount of tourists. Visiting during the winter also offers ice cave activities, something you would not be able to do during other seasons. Keep in mind for your Iceland itinerary that because of the weather, there can be road closures due to snow, which would affect an Iceland road trip. Meliss Meets World uses affiliate links and earns a commission from any purchases you choose to make from our affiliate links. This is at no additional cost to you, for more information please refer to our policies.

Best Places to Stay on your Iceland Road Trip

Stay at the Fosshotel near the Glacier Lagoons

Stay at The Blue Lagoon

Iceland Itinerary Road Trip: What you Need to Know

Regardless of what rental car you choose, rent from a reputable car company and rent a 4×4 so you can drive on the “F Roads”–‘roads’ being a generous word. These roads can be quite rocky and bumpy, and the last thing you want is to be stuck in a remote part of Iceland with no cell signal! One of the most important things to know when planning an Iceland itinerary is gas stations are sometimes few and far between, so always fill your gas tank when you can. We also always had plenty of snacks and water with us as well. Depending on where you’re driving in Iceland, some places can be extremely remote without any cell signal. Also, you should always carry emergency equipment like blankets, flashlights, and a spare tire. Make sure to inquire about this when you book your rental car. Insider tip: Buy your alcohol including beer at the airport duty-free since it is much cheaper there than after you leave the airport!

10 Day Iceland Itinerary

Day 1&2: First stop on your Iceland road trip, Reykjavik

Pick up your rental car near Reykjavik

Renting an automatic car in Iceland will be more expensive than renting a manual if you can drive a manual. If you’re following this Iceland itinerary, I would highly recommend booking an automatic 4×4. The terrain can change quickly in Iceland, and renting an automatic SUV or similar would be best for your Iceland road trip.

Iceland’s capital city Reykjavik

Reykjavik is Iceland’s capital and largest city. Stay at least a night in Reykjavik to experience the city’s culture and become acquainted with the country before starting your Iceland road trip.

Best things to see and do in Reykjavik

Start exploring the central area of downtown known as Laugavegur. Even though we walked through Reykjavik’s City Hall, it wasn’t all that interesting–the view of the water and surrounding residential area was much better. Make sure to visit Hallgrimskirkja, the largest church in Iceland. We didn’t choose to go inside but I wish we would have! After seeing this beauty, head to the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center. This building is an architectural feat. You can also find the popular Sun Voyager sculpture right down the road.

Best Places to Eat in Reykjavik

Going out to eat in Iceland can be quite expensive. When we visited Iceland, we ate out maybe once a day if that but otherwise bought groceries and made our meals. Two restaurants in Reykjavik that I would recommend are Kol Restaurant and the Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, which translates to the best hot dogs in town; they even date back to 1937! Check out this article on Culture Trip that explains how this hot dog stand became one of Iceland’s most popular eats and why you should at least try it.

Best Places to Stay in Reykjavik

Hilton $$ • Loft Hostel $ • Guesthouse Galtafell $$ • Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel $$$ • Black Pearl Apartment Hotel $$$ • The Reykjavik Edition $$$$

Day 3: Snæfellsjokull National Park

Reykjavik • Raudfeldsgja Gorge • Londrangar Rock Cliffs • Olafsvik (3.5 hours driving, 150 miles)

Raudfeldsgja Gorge and Londrangar Rock Cliffs

On the second day of your Iceland itinerary start your Iceland road trip heading to Snæfellsjokull National Park. If you’re visiting this park, don’t leave without seeing Raudfeldsgja Gorge and ‘The Rocky Castle’ Londrangar Rock Cliffs. These cliffs are volcanic plugs of basalt if you can believe it! When driving from Reykjavik, you will take the start of the Ring Road, or Route 1, to Route 54. Heading towards Snæfellsjokull, you will pass through the quaint town of Borgarnes. Olafsvik is another small town on the northern side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. If you’re looking for somewhere to stop and re-stock or re-fuel in the area, these towns would be your best bet.

The remote area of Olafsvik

After we drove through the national park on our Iceland road trip, we headed to our Airbnb between Olafsik and Grundarfjordur on the north coast of Snæfellsnes. Like most of Iceland, this is quite desolate. We did find the cutest restaurant on Route 574 right off Route 54, Hraun. There are a few restaurants in this peninsula’s general area, but it will take at least an hour or two to drive around it. Keep in mind when the sun sets, in case you don’t feel comfortable driving in the dark.

Best Places to Stay near Snæfellsjokull National Park

Adventure Hotel Hellissandur $$ • Hotel Langaholt & Restaurant $$ • Hotel Budir $$$

Day 4: Explore Iceland’s Glaciers

Kirkjufellsfoss • Hraunfossar • Into the Glacier • Reykjavik (4 hours driving, 180 miles)

The ‘Sorting Hat’ Kirkjufellsfoss

Still located within Snæfellsjokull National Park is Kirkjufellsfoss, or as Harry Potter fans would describe, ‘The Sorting Hat.’ Because of its beautiful waterfalls in the foreground, it is the most photographed mountain in the park. We stopped at this spot during our Iceland road trip on our way out of the park en route to Hraunfossar.

Hraunfossar waterfall

Hraunfossar was one of my favorite waterfalls in Iceland. It was such a lovely drive to this area, and I remember feeling like I was driving through a residential countryside. Since we visited in October, there were hints of yellow, orange, and red still left in the foliage.

Venture into Iceland’s Glacier Langjokull

Into the Glacier is located very close to Hraunfossar. I will say this, even though this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I’m not sure I would recommend it. Into the Glacier is a fairly new tour with access to the largest man-made ice tunnel in the world. This ice tunnel is located in Iceland’s second-largest glacier, Langjokull. The reason I wouldn’t recommend this tour is because the area is quite desolate and out of the way. Our ride back to Reykjavik was the scariest drive of my life. Even though we followed Google Maps, we took an infamous F road. This road wasn’t much of a road, and we had to crawl at less than 10 mph for hours due to the potholes. Even though we had a 4×4 vehicle, it still was a very uncomfortable ride. Because the area was so desolate, there was no civilization that the eye could see, and no cell service. We could have driven back the way we came, but that would have added hours onto our trip and we were already losing daylight.

Best Places to Stay in Reykjavik

Hilton $$ • Loft Hostel $ • Guesthouse Galtafell $$ • Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel $$$ • Black Pearl Apartment Hotel $$$ • The Reykjavik Edition $$$$

Day 5: Drive the Golden Circle

Reykjavik • Bruarfoss • Geysir geothermal area • Gullfoss • Laugaras (2.5 hours driving, 100 miles)

Start your Iceland road trip at Bruarfoss

Bruarfoss Waterfall was our first stop on Day 5 of our Iceland itinerary and Iceland road trip. Technically Thingvellir National Park was our first stop on the Golden Circle, but we chose to stay in Reykjavik another night before hitting the road. If you’re driving the Golden Circle starting in Reykjavik, you will start along Route 1. We then continued to Route 36, 37, and 35. One of the best things to see in Iceland is the Silfra Fissure in Thingvellir National Park. It is the ONLY place in the world you can dive between two continents, the North American and European tectonic plates. Here’s one of the best ways to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Visit the Geysir geothermal area

Geysir geothermal area is another hot spot; quite literally hot because it’s over 200 degrees Fahrenheit! This geothermal area is a natural and rare phenomenon. ‘Strokkur’ is the most active geyser which erupts every five to ten minutes, sometimes reaching over ten stories high. If you’re following our Iceland itinerary, this place was a great spot for lunch. The architecture and interior design of the space was incredible. Their visitor center also had a restaurant and gift shop that sells top-notch outdoor gear and apparel made in Iceland. I bought the most beautiful scarf!

Gullfoss waterfall

Gullfoss Waterfall is one of the more popular waterfalls along the Golden Circle. It would make sense as this waterfall is immense. In the summer approximately 459 cubic feet of water surges down the waterfall every second, while it reduces to 358 cubic feet in the winter. Make sure to bring your raincoat, if you get too close you may need it! Don’t forget to stop and visit the Icelandic horses, they can be found around the area!

Where to Stay Exploring the Golden Circle

Hotel Skalholt $$ • Hotel Fludir $$ • Blue Hotel Fagrilundur $$

Day 6: Drive the Ring Road

Kerid • Seljalandsfoss • Skogafoss • Black Sand Beach • Dyrholaey Arch (2 hours driving, 88 miles)

First stop Kerid

The next stop on this Iceland itinerary will be Kerid. This is a stunning volcanic crater lake. It’s massive, and you can walk around the entire lake. Don’t miss the footpath that leads down to the lake to get an even more stunning view. This was one of my favorite places in Iceland! With over 15,000 reviews this guided day trip from Reykjavik includes a visit to the Kerid crater lake and many others!

The most photographed waterfall Seljalandsfoss

One of the most photographed waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss will be your next stop on your Iceland road trip. This waterfall is located right off the Ring Road, and its easy accessibility off the road makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. The most distinguishing feature of this majestic waterfall is the walkway that wraps behind the waterfall. Don’t forget your raincoat this day either, you are likely to get wet if you take the path behind the waterfall. Its neighbor Gljufrabui, is less than a mile from Seljalandfoss and not as well known by tourists. We stumbled upon this hidden gem, and I recommend it!

Skogafoss waterfall

We then headed to the small Icelandic village of Skogar, where we visited Skogafoss and the Skogar Museum Skogasafn. Even though you can walk from the waterfall to the museum, it is a bit of a walk. Near the waterfall, there is a steep staircase that gives you a bird’s eye view of the water and surrounding landscape. I remember there being a sign to proceed at your own risk, and it looked like it was not for the faint of heart!

Iceland’s most dangerous Black Sand Beach

Driving the Ring Road was a busy day, and our next stop was the popular Black Sand Beach or Reynisfjara located in Vik. There are multiple ‘black sand beaches’ in Iceland, but this is the most popular one. The jet-black color of the sand is quite remarkable. The sand gets its black hue from eroded volcanic rocks. The volcanic rocks formed because when cooled lava loses its temperature it turns jet black and hardens. What’s even more remarkable than the color of this beach is the rock formations, they’re perfect for a photo op! If you’re planning a 7-day Iceland itinerary or 5-day itinerary in Iceland, you have to include this in your Iceland itinerary! There are multiple signs at this site to be aware of ‘sneaker’ waves. Don’t get too close to the edge of the water when you visit because these waves can ‘sneak’ up and drag you into the dangerous sea. Use extreme caution even if the sea looks calm, and always be aware of how close you get since the length of the waves can come up so quickly!

Find Puffins at Dyrholaey Arch

About twenty minutes from Black Sand Beach is the southernmost point in mainland Iceland Dyrholaey Arch. What’s even more stunning than this arc? It’s the sweeping views from the top of this cliff. You can see for miles in either direction. The hike up the hill is around two miles, but you can also drive a narrow, winding road to the top. If the views don’t give you enough reason to visit, Dyrholaey has been known to be one of the best places to see puffins in Iceland from May to September. Make sure to include it in your itinerary for your Iceland road trip!

Stay near Vik this night

Hotel Kria $$$ • Hotel Viki Myrdal $$$ • Vik Cottages $$

Day 7: The Many Glacier Lagoons

Fjallsarlon • Jokulsarlon • Diamond Beach • Fosshotel (40 minutes of driving, 24 miles)

Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon

The next day on your Iceland itinerary will be Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon. If you’re looking for breakfast options, plan ahead as this is one of the only cafes in the area on your way to Jokulsarlon’s Glacier Lagoon. Fjallsarlon is considered the younger brother of Jokulsarlon’s, and about five times smaller. The views are similar, but you can see the ice cap at Fjallsarlon.

Iceland’s popular glacier Jokulsarlon

The two most popular Icelandic glacier lagoons, Fjallsarlon and Jokulsarlon’s are located right down the street from each other. The highlight of visiting these lagoons was taking a boat ride around Jokulsarlon’s Glacier Lagoon. Click here for more information and book tickets. Here’s a highly rated hiking tour if you’re interested!

The stunning Diamond Beach

This gem is located right across the street from Jokulsarlon’s Glacier Lagoon. We visited when the sun was setting at Diamond Beach, and it was magical! This is one of the best things to see in Iceland and I highly recommend you visit. Seeing the light reflect off the many natural ‘diamonds’ or glistening icebergs was one of my highlights of visiting Iceland.

Stay at The Fosshotel

One of the best places to stay in Iceland, you have to book a stay at Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon. The hotel’s architecture is stunning and south-facing so it looks upon the roaring sea. Book reservations for dinner in their restaurant–the food is delicious. They also offered quite a spread for breakfast and lunch buffets. This was my favorite stay in Iceland and I would HIGHLY recommend it. Check out how to book your next stay here!

How to see the Northern Lights

The best Northern Light display we saw was when we stayed at the Fosshotel. It was actually the waitress in the restaurant who tipped us off on the Northern Lights when we were finishing dinner. After hurrying outside, we could see them plain as day. Since we weren’t far from the glacier lagoons, we decided to drive there to get a better view. The smaller of the glacier lagoons was closest to us, and when we arrived we had an stunning view of the Northern Lights dancing above the lagoon’s ice cap.

Day 8: Hike Vatnajokull National Park & Fjadrargljufur Canyon

You can choose from multiple hikes in Vatnajokull National Park. One of the real gems in this park is Svartifoss Waterfall, but you can also go glacier climbing! You will head back to Reykjavik this day on your Iceland road trip. Make sure to stop at Fjadrargljufur Canyon on your way. For this night on your Iceland road trip, you can stay in either Reykjavik or The Blue Lagoon! Here’s a highly rated with over 1600 reviews of a guided experience to visit Vatnajokull’s glacier blue ice caves!

Day 9: The Blue Lagoon

Our last day in Iceland was spent at one of the busiest tourist attractions and one of the best things to see in Iceland, The Blue Lagoon. We first had lunch at the Lava Restaurant and then enjoyed the spa. The Blue Lagoon is close to Reykjavik’s Keflavik International Airport. Due to its proximity to the airport, it would be best to visit The Blue Lagoon heading to or from the airport. If you’re worried about storing your luggage, don’t worry because you can pay a small fee to store your luggage. If you return your car or camper, they have a shuttle to the airport. If you’re planning a 7-day Iceland itinerary or 5-day itinerary in Iceland you have to include this stop!

Day 10: Bonus Day on your Iceland Itinerary

Plan your bonus day of your Iceland itinerary and spend an entire day at The Blue Lagoon or fly out after your visit like we did. You can also use this day and add it to your Iceland itinerary at any time to extend your Iceland road trip!