9-Day Iceland
Summer Itinerary
Ring Road Self-Drive Adventure
Table of Contents
It was a courageous decision for me to go to Iceland in the summer, as I suffer immensely in cold weather. We went on this 9-day trip around the Ring Road, hoping to experience the freedom of travel once again and immerse ourselves in Iceland’s raw, untouched beauty. During our journey, we encountered more horses and sheep than people.
Driving through Iceland felt like stepping into a scene from Jurassic Park or the Avatar movies. The landscapes were constantly changing, resembling the images of a screensaver on a computer. The magnificence of nature in Iceland is so vast and breathtaking that it feels like being in a dream.
We traveled across almost the entire expanse of Iceland in 9 days and 8 nights, relying on RentalCars.com for car rental and Booking.com for accommodation reservations in Iceland. Our priority was finding the most affordable accommodation options in Iceland that provided private bathrooms. Although the prices were somewhat expensive, we were never disappointed with any of the places we stayed.
A significant portion of our travel budget in Iceland went toward renting a car, even though we opted for a small one. We didn’t regret not renting a 4×4 vehicle in Iceland (which was costly), as we simply avoided roads labeled as “not paved.” Taking advantage of the never-ending daylight in Iceland’s summer, we often drove until late hours.
To save money, we chose not to dine out at restaurants. Instead, we always kept some food in the car trunk, allowing us to enjoy impromptu picnics with panoramic views of Iceland’s natural landscapes.
The weather conditions in Iceland were incredibly variable. We experienced a Mediterranean-like summer with temperatures as high as 26°C/79°F, while simultaneously encountering cold and windy winter-like conditions in Iceland with temperatures as low as 10°C/50°F on the same day.
Practical Knowledge
Language Tips
In the Icelandic language, suffixes hold significant meaning. For instance, “foss” means waterfall in Iceland, “kirkja” means church, “fjörður” means fjord, and “höfn” means port etc…
Parking Info
Most attractions in Iceland are free to visit, but keep in mind that parking often requires payment. Always check the signs when you park—payment is usually quick and done online.
FUN FACTS
Frosty Babies
You may notice babies in strollers left outside shops and cafes in Iceland. They are not abandoned! Parents intentionally leave their babies outside to acclimatize them to the cold while shopping or having some drinks inside the cafes or bars!
Elf Houses
Contrary to their appearance, the small turf-roof houses you may come across in Iceland are not merely decorative. According to locals, these houses serve as accommodations for the elf community in Iceland, which reflects rich Icelandic folklore and traditions.
The Itinerary – 9-Day Iceland Road Trip Plan
1. day - KEFLAVIK
Before leaving KEF Airport, we purchased alcoholic drinks as recommended by locals to save money.
Car rental in Iceland took a while—there’s always a queue—thankfully, we had spared some time.
Spent a relaxing evening in Keflavik, strolling around the seaside and cozy streets, souvenir shops and cafés.
We could have gone to the Blue Lagoon SPA, but I was afraid of getting cold and ruining my trip, so I saved it for the last day.
Slept in a hostel in Keflavik with a private bedroom.
2. day - Reykjavik
In the morning, we checked out from Keflavik. Before reaching the capital, we wanted to visit the erupting volcano Fagradalsfjall. Google Maps helped us admirably; there are two parking lots, and the latter is closer to the volcano hiking trail. There were already a lot of cars and tourist buses, so it was easy to know we were in the right place. An officer was even providing information to tourists from his car.
We hiked for an hour, passed through a zone where we observed still-boiling magma, and then climbed the first hill opposite the volcano for a panoramic view of the eruption. We didn’t climb the second hill, as it would have taken 90 minutes or more. The weather was rainy and extremely windy—I think I have never experienced such wind in my life!
After Fagradalsfjall, we went to Reykjavik, checked in at our hotel, and changed our clothes. On foot, we explored the cozy streets of old Reykjavik, picked up lots of souvenirs, tried the famous Reykjavik hot dog, and went to bed early.
3. day - Golden Circle Area
Early in the morning, we left for the Golden Circle area in Iceland.
The first stop was Thingvellir National Park. After the visitor centre, there are some paths to follow—you can make it short (just the placas), medium (placas and church area), or long (walk all the area around). We chose the medium-length path, but decided that the placas side, where you can walk between the tectonic plates in Thingvellir, was the most interesting of all.
The second stop was Geysir geothermal area. Plan to spend some time here if you want to capture the perfect photo—you’ll likely try many times to catch the geyser explosions. Geysir has a nice visitor centre; I still remember the image of the salmon sandwiches we didn’t buy. Instead, we enjoyed a picnic at a panoramic viewpoint on the way to Gullfoss waterfall.
Gullfoss is an amazing waterfall, also known as the “Golden Waterfall.” According to legend, there is a hidden treasure beneath it, which gives it its name. It’s one of the most iconic stops on the Golden Circle route.
We made a small deviation to visit Hjálparfoss, a beautiful twin waterfall in Iceland—and we didn’t regret it at all. There was no crowd, not even a single person, just us, admiring the view and taking photos in total peace.
Later, we checked in at our lovely farm stay hotel in Iceland, Vatnsholt Farmhouse, surrounded by animals and offering a magnificent countryside view.
We wanted to try the Viking Restaurant for dinner, and on the way, we visited Stokkseyri, a picturesque Icelandic fishing village.
The Viking Restaurant was a little touristic but still an amazing dining experience, featuring traditional Icelandic specialties like lamb and fermented shark.
4TH DAY South Iceland, Vik
We left Vatnsholt in the morning and headed towards Vik, Iceland. On the way, we saw many amazing Icelandic waterfalls that felt like being in Jurassic Park Movie. We stopped at the Thorsteinslundur picnic area, enjoyed Drífandi Falls, it is not only beautiful but also interesting because you are encoruage to drink this fresh falling water, as there are many pictures of children enjoying and drinking this water.
After just a few kilometres, we came across Gluggafoss waterfall (also known as Merkjárfoss). It’s not as majestic as Seljalandsfoss, but we could walk behind it and with sun, a beautiful rainbow appears through the splashing water, it is really beautiful!
Then we reached what many say is the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland – Seljalandsfoss. When you continue to walk the path behind this famous waterfall, there is a hidden cave called Gljúfrabúi (Gljufrafoss) we encountered a dog tasting his echoes on the rock of a cave which was so cute and funny. It is understandable why the Seljalandsfoss waterfall is the favorite waterfall of everybody as you can walk behind it. But be careful – the path is slippery, you need to have proper shoes on. It’s usually very crowded, especially on weekends and sunny weather. So it is recommendable to go there early and on weekdays for the best Seljalandsfoss photography opportunities.
Next, we stopped at Skógafoss waterfall, one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, high and powerful surrounded by green hills and rainbows. We climbed the stairs beside it to get a higher view and even did a short riverside hike near the stream that feeds the fall. Once you see these famous waterfalls you are confused which one is your favorite. This has a background rocks like Game of Thrones, really intimidating.
Just 13 minutes away by car, we reached Sólheimajökull Glacier. After parking, we walked for about 15 minutes to reach the glacier view. It was an easy walk and totally worth it!
We missed the famous Sólheimasandur plane wreck, even though it was on our way – but that’s okay, because the next stop was incredible: the Dyrhólaey Arch. This giant rock arch in the sea is reached by a panoramic walk along the Dyrhólaey Peninsula. There’s a good parking lot there, but the road up is steep, narrow, and sometimes foggy – if not for Google Maps, we would’ve thought we were lost!
After Dyrhólaey, we arrived in Vik, a lovely little town where the Netflix series Katla was filmed. We visited the stunning Black Sand Beach, went to the Vik Church, and stopped by the only shopping centre we found to buy some warmer shoes. Prices were high, but the quality was worth it. I also picked up some cozy Icelandic wool socks with traditional motives and a few souvenirs.
To end the day, we grabbed some hot dogs and burgers from a local shop and had a quiet dinner in our hotel room. We stayed at Hotel Dyrhólaey, located between Vik and the Dyrhólaey Peninsula, which is a big and mass tourism type of hotel, which is not generally our style but the nature around was amazing.
Briefly Day 4:
Heading towards Vik, waterfalls first. (If you go Vik directly from Vatnsholt it is only 1hr 45 min drive) On the way do not miss Drifandi Falls and Gluggafoss.
After 55 min super panoramic drive, waterfall Seljalandfoss (the one that you can enter inside) and just behind it, Gljufrafoss, inside a cave, don’t miss it)
In around 25 min. Skogafoss
In around 13 min. Sólheimajökull Glacier
In around 10min. Sólheimasandur plane wreck (we missed it unluckily!!)
In around 20 min. The Dyrholaey Arch
In around 20 min. Black Sand Beach and Vik City
5TH DAY - SOUTH ICELAND
Before leaving Vik, in the morning we visited Reynisfjara Beach. Black Sand Beach wasn’t that interesting for us, but Reynisfjara Beach is amazing with its dramatic rocky mountains that look like something out of Game of Thrones, and the large triangular sea stacks in the ocean. Both Black Sand and Reynisfjara Beaches are extremely dangerous beaches in Iceland due to big and sudden sneaker waves that can pull you in. There have been several tourist deaths recently, so be very careful—it’s easy to get distracted by the stunning view while trying to get a good photo.
Fjadrargljufur (Fjaðrárgljúfur) Canyon – often considered a minor stop among Iceland’s highlights – is actually an amazing canyon and a very photogenic spot.
Passing through Skeidarsandur (Skeiðarársandur), the largest glacial outwash plain in the world, we reached Nupsstadur (Núpsstaður), the famous abandoned farm in Iceland. We were the only ones there, so maybe it’s not that famous after all—or just hard to spot from the road. There are no signs, and even Google Maps doesn’t mark it clearly. Watch out for the turf houses, park by the entrance, and walk in. It’s truly abandoned—no entrance fee, no checkpoints.
Next stop: highly recommended Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park, home to Svartifoss Waterfall and Skaftafellsjökull Glacier. These spots share the same parking area but lie in opposite directions. There’s also a nice open-air café/bar near Skaftafellsjökull.
We hiked to Svartifoss—a 45-minute walk (1.5 km one-way) on a narrow, steep trail packed with people. Maybe that’s why we felt a bit let down, even though the basalt-column waterfall is actually quite stunning. It was a crazy hot Sunday (around 27°C!), which explains the crowd.
The walk to Skaftafellsjökull is much easier—flat and about 35 minutes. It might have been more exciting if we had done a glacier hike. In hindsight, because of the long walks and heavy foot traffic, we wish we had skipped both hikes—there are more impressive waterfalls and glaciers further along the way.
About 45 minutes later, we arrived at the famous Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. They’re located on opposite sides of the main road. We visited Diamond Beach first, since we had time before our pre-booked Jökulsárlón Lagoon excursion at 16:00. Due to the heat, the iceberg fragments were melting, so the “diamonds” on the beach were few—but still enough for some nice photos. What caught our attention more were the seals swimming against the current.
Then we moved to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon parking lot. Even with online tickets, we had to check in. We went on an amphibian boat tour (land-to-water) that cost about 50 USD per person. We had our doubts, but sailing among the huge blue and white icebergs was magical. Still, the lagoon is amazing even without the tour—you can enjoy the view just by walking along the beach.
After this highlight, we drove for about an hour to reach Höfn, a town famous for its Icelandic shrimp. We had two delicious shrimp sandwiches at the port diner Hafnarbúðin. Ideally, we should’ve stopped for the night here, but we had already booked at Berunes HI Hostel, so we drove another two hours and arrived around midnight—in full daylight. If not for the time spent in Skaftafell, we could’ve arrived earlier and taken more amazing photos along the way. The Berunes HI Hostel was so cozy—I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone.
6th DAY – East to North ICELAND
After a lovely morning coffee made in our room and enjoyed outside with a wonderful view, we visited the small Beruneskirkja Church, located right on the Berunes property. It was a peaceful start before choosing our route to Húsavík, aiming to see as much as possible on the road.
The road was incredibly scenic, with views of cliffs and tons of Icelandic sheep posing for photos like they knew they were part of our adventure. 🐑
We passed through Edilsstadir (Egilsstaðir) a convenient stop for refueling, grabbing food, and checking out Lake Lagarfljót, home to a legendary Icelandic lake monster. While it’s a popular stop, we didn’t find it as charming as Seyðisfjörður.
To reach Seyðisfjörður, we climbed a steep mountain road wrapped in fog, snow, waterfalls, and glacier lagoons—a breathtaking journey in itself. The village, a peaceful fisherman’s town, felt like something out of a storybook, full of color and calm.
After spending time in this sweet little town, we drove about 2.5 hours to visit Dettifoss Waterfall, one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe. The landscape suddenly shifted from lush greens and blues to arid volcanic black and grey, giving a whole new vibe to the journey. Visiting Dettifoss is easy—the path starts right near the parking lot, and you can walk around or alongside the falls for different photo perspectives.
From Dettifoss, we drove 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach Húsavík, ready for food. We headed straight to the harbour, booked our Gentle Giants Whale Watching Tour, and grabbed some classic Icelandic fish and chips while enjoying the harbour view.
To save a bit on accommodation, we booked a stay just outside of town at Skógar Sunset Guesthouse, and we were really happy with our choice. After checking in and changing into warmer clothes, we went back out for the last whale watching tour of the day.
The Gentle Giants Company provided super warm overalls for the cold, and the experience was honestly unforgettable. On our way to see the whales, we passed by Puffin Island, where thousands of puffins were living their best lives. It was just as exciting as spotting whales, and we were so glad we chose the combined tour instead of just whale watching alone.
Briefly – 6th Day Itinerary:
Morning in Berunes, visit Beruneskirkja
Scenic drive through Egilsstaðir, stop by Lake Lagarfljót
After 1.5 hr drive: Seyðisfjörður, a cozy fisherman’s village
2.5 hr drive: Visit Dettifoss Waterfall
1 hr 15 min drive: Arrive in Húsavík, enjoy fish & chips at the harbour
Evening: Gentle Giants Whale Watching Tour (with Puffin Island stop)
7. DAY – Mývatn Lake, Godafoss, Akureyri, Seal Watching in Vatnsnes & Sunset in Stykkishólmur
Our original plan was to leave Húsavík, head directly to Akureyri, and then make our way to our night stay in Stykkishólmur. But we noticed a lot of daily excursions from Húsavík and Akureyri to the Mývatn Lake area, and we got curious. Without changing the itinerary too much, we added the most popular attractions for a quick morning adventure. That was an excellent decision!
We started with a drive to Skútustaðagígar, a beautiful area of pseudo-craters around Lake Mývatn. The green hills and craters were perfect for a peaceful walk. Next, we visited Hverir, an extraordinary geothermal area with bubbling mud pools and steaming vents. Both stops were easy to visit, with parking lots close by, and they’re both free of charge. My favorite spot among this additional morning adventure has been the Hverir Area.
After Hverir, we continued toward Akureyri, and about 45 minutes into the drive through a scenic volcanic landscape, we arrived at the powerful Goðafoss Waterfall. Even from a distance, we could see the mist and hear the thunder of the water. Goðafoss, or the “Waterfall of the Gods,” has a unique history—legend says Icelanders threw their pagan idols into the falls after converting to Christianity.
After another 30 minutes of driving, we reached the city center of Akureyri, the Capital of North Iceland. We stopped first at the Akureyri Botanical Garden, which surprisingly hosts a wide variety of flowers, just 50 km from the Arctic Circle. The café in the garden was packed (thanks to a rare sunny day), so we went downtown instead.
We parked behind the main street, Hafnarstræti, and headed to the famous Pylsuvagninn Hot Dog Stall. Normally, I’m not a big hotdog fan—but Icelandic hotdogs are on another level. So many creative toppings, and they were seriously tasty! After that, we climbed the steps to the Akureyri Church, took a look inside, and then hit the road again.
After a 3-hour scenic drive, we arrived at the Vatnsnes Peninsula, known for seal watching and the iconic Hvítserkur, the Rhino Rock. There’s not much else around, just beautiful views, horses, and the sound of the sea. Totally worth the detour.
From there, we drove another 3 hours to the magical Snæfellsnes Peninsula, also known as “Micro Iceland” because it has a little bit of everything—volcanoes, waterfalls, beaches, cliffs, and fishing villages.
We spent the night in Stykkishólmur, the biggest town in the peninsula. This beautiful village with a stunning harbor view, framed by a dramatic little mountain became immediately my favorite town in Iceland. The Sjávarpakkhúsið Restaurant close to the harbour is extremely cozy. The peaceful evening stroll through Stykkishólmur made for the perfect end to a very full day.
Briefly – 7th Day Itinerary:
1 hour from Húsavík: Visit Mývatn Lake Area, walk the Skútustaðagígar pseudo craters
20 min drive: Explore Hverir Geothermal Area, free and close to parking
45 min drive: Visit Goðafoss Waterfall, learn its history
30 min to Akureyri: Park near Akureyri Church or Hafnarstræti, eat a hotdog at Pylsuvagninn, visit the church and Botanical Garden, coffee at Café Laut
3-hour drive: Explore Vatnsnes Peninsula, admire Hvítserkur and look for seals
3 more hours: Arrive at Snæfellsnes Peninsula, stay in Stykkishólmur village, dinner with a view (or a walk if restaurants are closed)
Day 8: Exploring the Snæfellsnes Peninsula – Iceland’s Miniature Wonderland
The plan was to discover Micro Iceland, explore the Snaefellsnes Peninsula (Snæfellsnes), and reach Reykjavik (Reykjavík) for the last night before our flight back home.
Just after we left Stikkisholmer (Stykkishólmur), we encountered Helgafell, the saga mountain—not very interesting at first look, but it becomes so when you read the Icelandic sagas about it.
About 20 minutes later, we arrived in Grundarfjordur (Grundarfjörður), a lovely neighboring village that thrives on fishing. Just beyond Grundarfjordur lies the most photographed place in Iceland: the iconic Kirkjufell mountain and its astonishing Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall—a spot known worldwide from Game of Thrones filming locations in Iceland.
Only 2 minutes further is Olafsvik (Ólafsvík), followed by Rif in another 8 minutes. Four minutes later, we reached Hellissandur, where we had fish soup and coffee & cake at Gilbakki Café—one of the best coffee shops in Iceland we’ve ever visited.
We continued driving toward Ondverdarnes Cape (Öndverðarnes), the westernmost point of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula (Snæfellsnes). The road became rough, covered in small stones that could damage tires, but our curiosity led us on. There are no road signs, so without Google Maps, we wouldn’t have made it. First, we reached the tropical-looking white sand beach Skardasvik (Skarðsvík), and after a cautious 10-minute drive, we arrived at Svortuloft Lighthouse (Svörtuloft). We didn’t go into the lighthouse itself but spent time on the huge seabird cliffs nearby, home to many Icelandic puffins and seagulls.
After about 30 minutes, we reached Djupalonssandur (Djúpalónssandur) and Dritvik (Dritvík). There’s one parking area, and from there, you walk across Djupalonssandur, also called the Black Lava Pearl Beach, to Dritvik Cove. Both coves are surrounded by dramatic volcanic formations. At Djupalonssandur, you’ll see remnants of a shipwreck and lifting stones—a traditional Icelandic strength test once used to qualify men to work on fishing boats. The smallest stone weighs 23 kg and the heaviest 154 kg. A tourist group was trying to lift them, laughing together. Dritvik is more photogenic, with dramatic waves crashing against volcanic rock.
Thirty minutes later, we visited the famous Budir Black Church (Búðakirkja), which was unfortunately closed. It reminded us of the charming little church we saw earlier in Berunes.
The drive back toward the capital was stunning, full of scenic Iceland landscapes. Although not exactly on the way to Reykjavik, we were curious about the Hraunfossar waterfalls, so we made an extra detour—about 100 km round trip. It might be too far to visit just for this, especially after seeing such powerful waterfalls throughout the trip. Still, we were happy to see Hraunfossar and its twin, Barnafoss—which has a haunting saga about two children disappearing in the waters and their mother building a crossing to prevent such tragedies.
That night, we stayed just outside Reykjavik to save some money. Luckily, Hotel Fisherman’s Village (Hildsfishermann) had a beautiful ocean view—it would be an ideal spot to watch the aurora borealis in Iceland, and it was also close to shopping malls and supermarkets.
Briefly – Day 8 Driving Overview:
10 min drive from Stikkisholmer (Stykkishólmur) to Helgafell, the saga mountain
30 min drive to Grundarfjordur (Grundarfjörður)
5 min parking to Kirkjufell mountain & Kirkjufellsfoss, Iceland’s most photographed location
2 min to Olafsvik (Ólafsvík), and 8 min to Rif
4 min to Hellissandur – don’t miss Gilbakki Café for fish soup or coffee & cake
22 min to Ondverdarnes Cape (Öndverðarnes), the western tip of Snæfellsnes
Must-see: Skardasvik Beach (Skarðsvík), Svortuloft cliff and lighthouse (Svörtuloft)
30 min to Djupalonssandur & Dritvik (Djúpalónssandur & Dritvík) – the Black Lava Pearl Beach and volcanic coves
30 min to Budir Black Church (Búðakirkja)
Optional: Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls – 100 km round trip
From Hraunfossar to Reykjavik: 1 hr 45 min
From Budir to Reykjavik: ~2 hr 15 min
Day 9 – Last Day Around Keflavik and Blue Lagoon
The last day, we wanted to stay around Keflavik (Keflavík), the airport city in Iceland, and discover nearby towns like Gardskagi with its Old Lighthouse, Gardur, and Grindavik.
Before heading to the airport, we went to the world-famous Blue Lagoon —a geothermal spa in Iceland with striking blue seawater surrounded by a volcanic lava field. We had booked our Blue Lagoon evening session a couple of days in advance. (During the pandemic, there weren’t many tourists, but booking in advance is usually highly recommended.)
There are several Blue Lagoon day visit packages to choose from—we booked the most affordable option, and it was more than enough. Honestly, you don’t miss anything other than a couple of free drinks or added fluff with the premium ones.
At the Blue Lagoon parking lot, we noticed shuttle buses from Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik city center, which is handy if you’re flying in or out the same day.
After our relaxing soak, in less than 20 minutes we were already at the airport and boarded our flight back home. A perfect end to a magical trip.
Briefly – Day 9 Driving Overview:
Explore around Keflavik (Keflavík) before your flight
Visit Gardskagi (Garðskagi) and its Old Lighthouse
Explore Grindavik (Grindavík) coastal village
Optional: In ~45 min drive, visit the Blue Lagoon (if you missed it on Day 1)
Book Blue Lagoon in advance for guaranteed entry
From Blue Lagoon to Keflavik Airport: Less than 20 minutes
BYE BYE ICELAND...
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