Routes in Iceland - Recommendations for 7 and 14 days

Our Iceland tour was by far one of the most beautiful trips of recent years. We drove around the fascinating island, exploring its various highlights day after day. Never before have we experienced so many facets of a country so intensively. Nature reveals itself at its most spectacular on the island: glaciers, volcanoes, mountains, lava landscapes, hot springs, lakes, fjords, black beaches, ice crystals on the beaches, and much more. Whether north, south, east, or west – Iceland is a must-see at least once in your life.

We were repeatedly asked which routes in Iceland we recommend. Of course, that depends on many factors. How much time do you have? Are you traveling with a rental car in Iceland or are you dependent on tour buses? Do you prefer seclusion, or can you also enjoy a bit of the hustle and bustle of the capital? Will you be staying in a tent or would you rather book accommodation with a bed?

In the end, a lot of it is simply a matter of taste. We experienced many corners of the island in 15 days and would probably do the same route again. Due to very bad weather at the beginning of our trip, we had to skip a few highlights. But we’ll take a look at them on our next trip. In the following article, we would like to introduce you to two routes for 7 and 14 days. Perhaps you will find the right route for you.

Iceland Route for 1 Week

You don’t have much time but still want to travel to Iceland and experience a few highlights? We understand that only too well. Iceland is simply beautiful and always worth a trip. However, if you only have 7 days for Iceland, we do not recommend a complete circumnavigation of the island. Instead, focus on selected highlights and enjoy your time thoroughly. Less is sometimes more, so you shouldn’t try to explore all of Iceland in 7 days. Firstly, that’s not feasible and secondly, it’s far too stressful. In the following section, we’ll present a possible route. However, you can customize it.

island-rundreise-7-tage-route

Itinerary Overview Route 1

Day 1 – Arrival in Keflavik

The starting point for your tour is the airport in Keflavik. Planes usually land very late, so it’s best to spend the first night in this area. Pick up your rental car at the airport immediately after arrival. This way, you can start right away the next morning. There are supermarkets, gas stations, and ATMs near the airport. You’ll find everything you need nearby.

Accommodation: Blue View Bed and Breakfast*, Nordic Guest House*, The Base by Keflavik Airport*

Day 2 – Reykjanes Peninsula

Well rested? Well then, it’s finally time to get started. With your Iceland rental car, you’ll drive from your accommodation at the airport along roads 43 and 427 to the Krýsuvík thermal spring area. What makes this area special is its hissing, bubbling, and bubbling action. You can explore the area via a footbridge and marvel at a green crater lake nearby. Here on the Reykjanes Peninsula, there’s also a bridge from which you can hop from one continent to the other. This is where the Eurasian continental plate meets the American one.

The day continues on route 38 to Hveragerði. The highlight of this town is its geothermal energy. The hike to the famous hot river might be of interest to you. It goes right through the lush green hills of Reykjadalur. You’ll also encounter bubbling holes in the ground and babbling streams along the way. Plan on about 45 minutes each way for this hike. The river reaches around 38°C in some places. So pack your swimsuit.

Accommodation: Reykjadalur Guesthouse*, Hótel Eldhestar*, Skyr Guesthouse*

Day 3 – Thingvellir and Geysir

On the third day of your trip, you should get up early and start the day. Several highlights await you today. The Golden Circle is one of Iceland’s highlights for a reason. From Hveragerði, you can drive to Thingvellir National Park in just under an hour. Here, at Lake Pingvallavatn, a beautiful landscape awaits you, with the famous rift valley, two tectonic plates. Another highlight is the Öxarfoss waterfall and the Silfra fissure. You can dive and snorkel in this fissure. A truly unforgettable experience.

Then we continue to the Great Geysir and Strokkur. You can park your car for free in the large parking lot and walk across to the other side of the road. A small circular path leads you through the Geysir area. Here, you’ll see mud pots, steaming earth, gray mud, and water fountains everywhere. If you’re lucky, the water will shoot several meters into the air. You just need a little patience.

One last highlight of the day awaits you north of the Geysir. The mighty Gulfoss is definitely worth a visit. It is one of the largest waterfalls in Europe. Here, the water plunges almost 70 meters down over steep cliffs. Several paths lead along the waterfall to a rocky plateau, from where you have a wonderful view.

Accommodation: Ljósafossskóli Hostel*, Laugarvatn Hostel*, Borealis Hotel*

Day 4 – Waterfalls & Airplane Wreck

On the fourth day of your Iceland tour, you continue south and southeast. Numerous sights await you again. Via Fluðir (home to the “Secret Lagoon”) and Hvolsvöllur, you reach the beautiful Seljalandsfoss. You can easily reach the waterfall just a few meters from the Ring Road. Because it’s so easy to reach, it’s usually very busy. The water plunges around 66 meters into the depths and collects in a natural pool. Another special feature is that you can walk behind the waterfall. But wear rain gear, it will get wet.

Just 30 kilometers from Seljalandsfoss is the mighty Skogafoss. The 25-meter-wide curtain of water is simply unbelievably beautiful to behold. The enormous masses of water plunging into the depths are simply impressive. If you still have time and inclination, you can take a detour to the airplane wreck.

This is located just 10 kilometers from Skogafoss. There’s a parking lot along the road where you can park for free. From there, it’s about a 40-minute walk to the wreck. If you’re interested in aviation (like we are), it’s a truly great detour. For some, however, it’s nothing special, so you can save yourself the time.

Accommodation: Hotel Gullfoss*, Guesthouse Fludir*, Kennarabústaður*, Nicehostel Seljaland*

Day 5 – Vík and Skaftafell National Park

Today, explore Vik and the surrounding area. Take your time and enjoy the morning with a coffee and some pastries fresh from the bakery. The small town of Vík í Mýrdal is located in the very south of the island. The village has only 300 inhabitants, yet almost every tourist comes here. And why? Quite simply: Some of the most spectacular beaches in the world are located here.

There’s also a cool thermal bath, a café, a wool factory, a small shopping center, and restaurants. If you’re lucky, you might spot puffins on the nearby cliffs. A detour to Reynisfjara Beach and the area around Cape Dyrhólaey is recommended.

Today, we continue towards Skaftafell National Park. It’s a leisurely 1 hour and 45-minute drive along the Ring Road to the park entrance. Here, you can park your car and take one of the many hikes. We took the tour to Svartifoss and then continued to the viewpoint overlooking the Skaftafellsjökull glacier tongue. In total, it took us just under 3.5 hours.

Accommodations: Hotel Skaftafell*, Ásólfsskáli Cottage*, Hótel Skógafoss*

Day 6 – Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Now it’s time for the last highlight of this short tour. From Skaftafell National Park or from Hof, we continue to the Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. Everyone is probably familiar with the stunningly beautiful images of icebergs and ice crystals on Diamond Beach. Now it’s time for you to see this lagoon in real life. You can take various tours on the lake. Inflatable boats or amphibious boats will get you close to the icebergs. Right next door is Diamond Beach with its beautiful ice crystals.

Accommodation: Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon*, The Barn Hostel Vik*, Guesthouse Carina Vik*

Day 7 – Return & Departure

Now it’s time to head back towards the airport. Around 420 kilometers lie ahead. You should plan at least 5 to 6 hours for this journey. You can also drive part of the route the day before (day 6) so that you don’t have so much to do on the last day (day 7). Flights back to Germany usually leave late in the evening or at night. This generally leaves enough time to drive back to the airport in Keflavik.

By the end of the 7 days, you will have experienced many of Iceland’s highlights. Of course, you can customize this itinerary. You can easily do this route in a week. There are many other highlights along the route that you can see. But always remember: less is sometimes more. It’s better to skip some highlights and spend more time at selected spots.

Other highlights in the area: Westman Islands, Fjaðrárgljúfur Gorge, Volcanic Peak Laki, Porsmörk Valley, Pjofafoss, Straße 32, Reykjavik.

Duration: 7 days
Distance: around 1,000–1,100 kilometers
Average: 142 kilometers per day
Gas costs for a small car: around €120–140 (at €1.80 per liter)
Alternative: 7 days Golden Circle and Snæfellsnes

Iceland route for 2 weeks

Do you have a little more time and want to see more of the island? Then do what we did. We circumnavigated the island in 15 days and explored countless highlights. The best part was that we didn’t have to stress. Of course, we didn’t see everything, but we want to travel to Iceland again anyway. You can easily drive around Iceland in two weeks with a rental car. We’ll now present our route. As always, you can customize it, extend it, or shorten it.

Itinerary Overview Route 2

Day 1 – Reykjanes Peninsula

We planned these days the same way we presented it for the one-week itinerary. After the first night near the airport, we drove across the Reykjanes Peninsula in our rental car on the first morning. Here we marveled at the Seltún geothermal area. The first time we saw bubbling and smoking earth. What an experience! Afterwards, we visited the small town of Stokkseyri and then drove on to the thermal baths in Hveragerði.

Day 2 – Golden Circle

Afterwards, we visited some of the highlights of the Golden Circle. We visited the Geysirs, the mighty Gullfoss, and Thingvellir National Park. We hadn’t planned it that way, but the weather thwarted our plans. Due to very bad weather, we slept the second night at the cool Ljósafossskóli Hostel*. So we had to leave our tent in the trunk for another night.

Day 3 – Off to the West

On the third day, we drove west for the first time in our rental car. Before we left, we discovered a few cool spots around Thingvellir National Park before we continued on. From then on, we were guided solely by the weather. We actually wanted to go to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, but the weather was too bad. So we decided to skip this highlight. Instead, we just wanted to get to the campsite comfortably, cook something, and hop into our tents early.

Accommodations: B59 Hostel*, Lækjarkot Rooms and Cottages*, Grand-Inn Bar and Bed*, Puffin Palace Guesthouse*

Day 4 – The Vatnsnes Peninsula

The weather kept getting better and better. Early in the morning, we set off for the Vatnsnes Peninsula. We didn’t know what to expect, but we were excited about the day. And we weren’t disappointed. The peninsula is beautiful and promises several highlights. We were able to observe seals in the bay in the north of the peninsula. The landscape, with its lush colors, also left us speechless. The sky was so clear that we could see all the way to the Westfjords. We spent several hours almost alone and deserted on this little piece of earth. The views from the cliff above Hvítserkur are particularly beautiful. But it’s best to see it for yourself. You’ll be surprised by what this corner of Iceland has to offer.

Accommodations: Geitafell Guesthouse*, Ósar Hostel*, Hotel Hvítserkur*

Day 5 – Siglufjörður and Whale Watching

A new day began. The sun was shining, the sky was clear. We headed straight to Hofsós and Siglufjörður. It is the northernmost town in Iceland and only 40 kilometers from the Arctic Circle. Crazy, right? The town is super cozy and incredibly pretty. We would have loved to stay a little longer. After a leisurely coffee break, we continued on toward Ólafsfjörður and Dalvik. We stopped in Hauganes. Quite spontaneously, we decided to go on a whale-watching tour. You can find out more here: The best highlights in the north of Iceland.

Accommodations: Siglo Hotel*, The Herring Guesthouse*, Brimnes Bungalows, Akureyri HI Hostel*

Day 6 – Godafoss & Lake Myvatn

The next morning, we set out for Myvatn. A fairly short route lay ahead of us, but before that, we stopped at Godafoss. This waterfall is spectacular and shouldn’t be missed on your trip. The water is around 30 meters wide and about 12 meters deep. That might not sound particularly spectacular, but the entire scenery is simply breathtaking. We spent almost two hours here and took countless photos.

We then continued on to the North of Iceland to Lake Myvatn. You shouldn’t just plan one day here, but two or three. There’s simply so much to see. From the pseudo-craters to the natural paradise of Höfdi, the tephra crater Hverfjall, and the Grjótagjá cave. And if you have enough time, you can take a dip in the Mývatn Nature Bath (a cheaper alternative to the Blue Lagoon). The lunar landscapes of Hverir and the Krafla volcanic system are also highly recommended.

Accommodations: Icelandair Hotel Myvatn*, Hlid Bed and Breakfast*, Hótel Gígur by Keahotels*

Day 7 – Hengisfoss and Seyðisfjörður

After a restful but bitterly cold night in our tent at the campsite in Möðrudalur, we set off early in the morning for the East of Iceland. But before we reached the East Fjords, we made a detour to the beautiful Hengifoss waterfall in Egilsstaðir. We highly recommend this short hike; the scenery is absolutely stunning.

In the late afternoon, we finally reached our destination for the day, the beautiful little town of Seyðisfjörður. Here, we pitched our tent and warmed up in the common room. The town is beautifully situated amidst the mighty mountain ranges of the East Fjords.

Even the drive over the mountain pass to the town is spectacular and worth it. The next morning, we explored the small town and let ourselves drift a bit before continuing our Iceland tour. Incidentally, the ferry from Denmark also docks here. So if you arrive by ferry, you will be “kicked out” here in Seyðisfjörður.

Accommodations: Hafaldan HI Hostel*, Post Hostel*, The Old Apothecary*, Hótel Snæfell*

Day 8 – East Fjords to Jökulsarlon

Now our longest stretch lay ahead of us. In our small car, we drove from Seyðisfjörður along the coast, from the east of Iceland to the southeast of Iceland. When we set off, we didn’t have a destination for the day. But we ended up at the Jökulsarlon glacier lagoon for sunset. We drove almost 330 kilometers that day. Incredible, right? You’ll discover many fjords along the way (there are some great hiking trails in the east, by the way). The clouds hung so low, however, that we missed a few spots.

The route then led us past Reyðarfjöðdur, Eskifjörður, and Neskaupstaður. Shortly before the Öxi Pass (Road 939 – apparently not suitable for small cars!!!), the Ring Road branches off towards the coast and winds its way along the water from there. Slowly, the landscapes became greener and greener. We felt like we were crossing a Hobbit film set. Although the clouds hung very low, the landscapes still looked impressive. We made our way southeast, fjord by fjord.

Accommodations: Taergesen B&B*, Kaffihúsid Eskifirdi*, Guesthouse Askja

Vestrahorn and Jökulsarlon

Now we come to two of the absolute highlights of our tour. We reached Stokknsnes and the dark and eerie Vestrahorn mountain. The property also features a film set of a Viking village and beautiful, long, black sandy beaches. We stood there speechless, unable to believe what we saw. The scenery is absolutely amazing! But see for yourself.

But it was no less beautiful. As the sun set, we reached the Jökulsarlon glacier lagoon. We couldn’t have chosen a better time. The sun had just set, and the sky was turning a beautiful hue. Blue blocks of ice floated on the glacier lagoon, and camera-hungry vacationers stood everywhere, waiting to capture the perfect shot. We even spotted a few seals in the area, curiously emerging from the water every now and then. We even visited the beautiful Diamond Beach.

Accommodation: Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon*, The Barn Hostel Vik*, Guesthouse Carina Vik*

Day 9 – Skaftafell National Park

After a pleasant night at the Svinafell Campground (we saw the Northern Lights that night), we set off for Skaftafell National Park. This is part of the vast Vatnajökull National Park. We took a great hike to Svartifoss waterfall and further to the viewpoint at the Skaftafellsjökull glacier tongue. You can continue hiking from the viewpoint to, for example, the Gláma viewpoint or the Kristinartindar peak (1126 meters). Our hike took around 2.5 hours.

Accommodations: Hotel Skaftafell*, Hof 1 Hotel*, Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon*

Day 10 – Vík and Surroundings

After our hike in the national park, we drove to the Fjaðrárgljúfur Gorge (absolutely go there!!!!), before reaching the village of Vík in the south of Iceland on day 9 The weather then worsened again, so we just sat in the campsite’s common room that day and warmed up in the small thermal baths in the village in the evening, where the temperature reached 40 degrees Celsius. The next day (day 10) didn’t really improve, but we wanted to explore the surrounding area a bit. There are several highlights here, such as the black beaches, the bizarre rock formations in the sea, the church on the hill, Cape Dyrhólaey, and much more (see itinerary for week 1).

Accommodations: The Barn Hostel Vik*, Guesthouse Carina Vik*

Day 11 – Waterfalls, Airplane Wreck, and…

Now, some truly amazing highlights awaited us in the south of Iceland. Well, what isn’t great about Iceland? Everything on this island is simply magnificent! Early in the morning, we drove to the DC-3 airplane wreck in our rental car. Afterwards, we stopped at the mighty Skogafoss waterfall.These enormous masses of water are simply spectacular. Our journey continued to the beautiful Seljalandsfoss, another highlight of any tour.

Accommodations: Eg Homestay*, Nicehostel Seljaland*, Ásólfsskáli Cottage*, Hótel Skógafoss*

Day 12 & 13 – Off to the Westman Islands

We still had plenty of time and spontaneously made a detour to the Westman Islands. We drove from the campsite in Hella to Landeyjahöfn. Here we parked our car and took the ferry over to Heimaey. This island is also the only inhabited island in the archipelago off the south coast of Iceland. We went on a beautiful hike across the local mountain, Heimaklettur, saw puffins, and visited the thermal baths with locals. The island has a lot to offer and is definitely worth a visit. You can also just make it a day trip or stay overnight.

Accommodations: Puffin Nest Capsule Hostel*, Aska Hostel*, Lava Guesthouse*, Midleiti Cottage*, Eldey Apartments*

Day 14 – Off the Beaten Track

On the penultimate day, we wanted to just drive around a bit. We didn’t have a plan, but simply let Google Maps inspire us. And so, by chance, we ended up at the cool Pjofafoss waterfall, at Hjalparfoss, and at several beautiful viewpoints along roads 32 and 26. We actually wanted to go to Haifoss, but the road there wasn’t suitable for our small car.

Day 15 – Reykjavik & Departure

We packed up the tent one last time, rolled up our sleeping bags, and boiled water for coffee on the gas stove. The trip was almost over, and we were slowly longing for a warm bed. Fifteen days in Iceland were behind us, and we still couldn’t believe how many incredibly amazing moments we had experienced on this island.

But the trip wasn’t quite over yet. We still had plenty of time before our flight (12:35 a.m.), so we headed to the capital. Here, we ate delicious hot dogs, strolled through the cool streets, settled into hip cafés, met up with our blog readers, and checked out some of the highlights. Reykjavik is a really cool city. All about it in our latest article: Reykjavik Highlights.

Accommodations: Akurholt Guesthouse*, Galaxy Pod Hostel*, City Center Hotel*, Glad’s Guesthouse*

Duration: 15 days

Distance: around 2300 kilometers

Average: 164 kilometers per day

Fuel costs for small cars: around €250 to €280 (at €1.80 per Liter)

Alternative: Highlands, Snæfellsnes & Westfjords, Far North

Costs of our Iceland tour here

More highlights and routes

Iceland has so many stunningly beautiful spots. We haven’t seen everything yet and are already looking forward to our next trips to Iceland. Due to weather and time constraints, we had to skip a few things, but we would still like to introduce them to you. This way, you can decide for yourself which highlights to include in your itinerary.

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

According to other tourists, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is supposed to be truly beautiful. Unfortunately, the weather spoiled our plans, so we had to drive past the peninsula. We originally planned to spend two days there. From Reykjavik, it’s about 160 kilometers and just under 2 hours by car. From Borganes, it’s about 118 kilometers to Olafsvik (1.5 hours by car).

This peninsula is also called “Mini Iceland.” Here, you’ll find pretty much all the landscapes you’d find in the rest of the country. There are landscaped green belts, long beaches, hot springs, cliffs, high mountain ranges, a volcano with a glacier cap, and mineral and thermal springs. You can also go whale-watching from Olafsvik. These are also somewhat cheaper than Hauganes and Husavik.

Highlights: Eldborg Crater, mineral springs in Lysuholl, Kerlingarskard Pass, Gatklettur stone arch, hike from Arnarstapi to Hellnar, glacier hike on Snæfellsnesjökull, Djúpalónssandur beach, view from Saxholl, the 463 m high Kirkjufell, the village of Stykkishólmur, boat trip in the archipelago of Breiðafjörður Fjord.

If you want to explore the peninsula, previous visitors recommend at least 2 days. Of course, you can visit a few highlights in one day, but it’s better to allow yourself more time and travel without stress.

The Westfjords

Ah, how we would have loved to explore the Westfjords. At first, however, we couldn’t estimate the distances and weren’t sure if we would have enough time. And when the weather spoiled our plans, we simply drove past the Westfjords. But we definitely want to travel to Iceland again to see only the west.

The Westfjords are one thing above all else: remote, quiet, authentic, rugged, and wild. But you shouldn’t just visit this region casually. Take your time and explore this area thoroughly. The Westfjords are something of a jewel of the country. Mountains, waterfalls, villages, fjords, arctic foxes, shipwrecks, puffins, great campsites, hot springs, and plenty of untouched nature await you here.

According to experts and former visitors, the Westfjords are not for first-time visitors to Iceland. However, if you love peace and quiet, want to fully enjoy the beauty of nature, and need less excitement and action, the Westfjords are just the thing. Some people only come for a short visit. However, you should plan for at least 5 days or more.

The Central Highlands

The Central Highlands are almost impossible to reach without an SUV. Since we didn’t want to book a tour, the highlands were left behind for us for the time being. But at least it’s another reason (one of many) to travel to Iceland again. We’ve spoken with many travelers, and time and again, we’ve heard that the highlands are the most spectacular corner of the entire country. The highlands stretch over 40,000 square kilometers and are one of the largest uninhabited areas in all of Europe.

Here you’ll find a magical mountain range, volcanoes, explosion crater lakes, fascinating valleys, and much more. During the winter months, the mountain roads are closed. They only reopen (usually in June or July) once the snow has melted. Then, the roads are usually open until September. In the southern highlands, you’ll find numerous treasures that you can explore in your own off-road vehicle or on a guided bus tour. But be careful: There are many things to consider, even when driving an SUV.

Highlights: The magical Þórsmörk Valley, Landmannalaugar, the Hekla volcano, Kerlingarfjöll, Hveravellir, Herðubreið, Askja, Kverkfjöll, and many more.

Conclusion on the routes for Iceland

You can find tons of suggested routes online. Some drive around the island, including the Westfjords and Snæfellsnes, in 11 days; others take it easy and explore only the south and southeast. In the end, everyone has to decide for themselves what they want to see and experience. There are even tourists who drive around the island in 5 days. That would be too stressful for us, especially since you always have to keep an eye on the weather. It also makes a big difference whether you come to Iceland in summer or winter. In winter, many roads can be closed, so in the worst case scenario, you could completely abandon your route.

Generally, you can circumnavigate the island quite quickly in good weather, as long as you don’t make too many detours. The Ring Road is in very good condition, and you’ll discover many great highlights along the way. We, too, had already reached the southeast after day 9. All this was without stress and without much driving each day. This meant we were even able to enjoy some other really cool adventures.

Driving in Iceland is incredibly fun, as you’re glued to the windshield the whole time and can hardly believe the natural beauty. We only had a really long stretch on one day, where we spent half the day sitting in the car. Since the weather wasn’t particularly good that day anyway, it fit quite well into our itinerary. If you want to make several detours on your Iceland tour and not just stay on the Ring Road, you should plan at least 14 days (outside of the winter season).

Route suggestions (not in winter):

3 to 4 days: Reykjavik and Golden Circle

5 to 7 days: Reykjavik, Golden Circle to Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

5 to 7 days: Reykjavik, Golden Circle and Snaefellsness Peninsula

8 to 10 days: Reykjavik, Golden Circle, Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Vestrahorn

12 to 15 days: Ring Road with detours (+ day trip to the Highlands)

16 to 21 days: Ring Road, possibly also the Westfjords and/or Highlands

and many more possibilities

Our travel diary on YouTube

Routes for an Iceland tour – Recommendation 1 and 2 weeks

Other important Iceland topics: