Scenic Iceland: Self-Drive Highlights

Touch down in Iceland and let the adventure begin. After collecting your rental car at Keflavik International Airport, the 45-minute drive into Reykjavik is your first taste of the otherworldly volcanic landscape. Check in to the centrally located hotel and shake off any jet lag with a walk through the city's colorful Laugavegur shopping street and down to the old harbor.

Scenic stops en route:

• Sky Lagoon - Oceanside geothermal pool with a dramatic infinity edge overlooking the North Atlantic. Only 15 min from the city center. A more intimate, local alternative to Blue Lagoon.
• Blue Lagoon - Iceland's most iconic geothermal spa, near the airport on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Milky-blue silica-rich waters. Book in advance — it fills up fast.
• Hallgrímskirkja - The basalt-column-inspired church that dominates Reykjavik's skyline. Ride the elevator to the tower for panoramic views over the city and Faxaflói Bay.

What’s Included: Your program features carefully selected accommodations with daily breakfast (in the Grundarfjordur hotel, breakfast is not included). As this is a self-drive journey, car rental is tailored to your preferred vehicle category and travel dates and is added to the final package price upon confirmation. You may also enhance your experience with optional add-on activities and private local guide services available throughout your trip.

Please note: This itinerary can be enjoyed year-round. Spring and summer offer long daylight and full access to all roads and activities. Autumn brings shorter days and occasional rain, while winter requires a 4×4 vehicle, careful driving, and awareness of possible road closures in highland areas.

This is one of Iceland's great driving days — a seamless string of iconic landmarks along a single coastal road. After breakfast, check out and head east on Route 1. The landscapes shift from lava fields to farmland, then dramatically toward the volcanic coast as you approach Vík.

Scenic stops en route:

• Seljalandsfoss - Walk behind the 60m curtain of water for a soaking, unforgettable perspective. Best visited in early morning light. Wear waterproof gear — you will get wet.
• Skógafoss - One of Iceland's largest and most photogenic falls. Climb 370 steps to a viewing platform and the start of the Fimmvörðuháls trail, with sweeping coastal views.
• Reynisfjara Beach - Dramatic black sand beach with perfect hexagonal basalt columns and the iconic Reynisdrangar sea stacks. Respect the "sneaker waves" warning — never turn your back on the ocean here.
• Dyrhólaey Arch - A massive volcanic arch rising from the sea. In September you may still catch Atlantic puffins nesting in the cliffs before they migrate south. Panoramic views of the entire south coast.

Travel tip: Stop for coffee at the Skógafoss café before the beach section. The road from Skógar to Vík is one of Iceland's most scenic — don't rush it. Eyjafjallajökull glacier volcano looms above you the entire way.

Driving distance: 210 km
Estimated time: approx. 3 hours (excluding scenic stops)

By the time you reach the charming village of Vík, your journey along Iceland’s south coast has revealed a stunning mix of iconic waterfalls, dramatic black sand beaches, and breathtaking coastal vistas. Settle into your cozy hotel, where the peaceful surroundings provide the perfect setting to unwind, reflect, and savor the unforgettable sights.

A built-in breathing day — rare and valuable on any Iceland road trip. The village of Vík itself is tiny but charming, sitting at the foot of Mýrdalsjökull glacier. This is a perfect day to add an optional glacier experience that isn't possible on a driving day, or simply to explore the area at leisure.

Optional activities:

• Katla Ice Cave Tour: Depart from Vík to explore the spectacular ice caves inside Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Guides lead 1–2 hour tours of neon-blue ice tunnels carved by geothermal heat.
• Hjörleifshöfði Headland: A lone volcanic hill rising from the black sand plain — a short, rewarding 30-min hike with sweeping views of the entire south coast and out to the Vestmannaeyjar islands.
• Lava Centre, Hvolsvöllur: Iceland's best interactive geology museum, 45 min west. Explore the story of Eyjafjallajökull and Iceland's volcanic history through immersive exhibits. Perfect for a rainy morning.

Travel tip: Walk to Vík's red church on the hill at sunset — it's a 10-minute stroll and the views back over Reynisfjara beach are exceptional.

Today's drive crosses the vast black sand outwash plains of South Iceland and delivers you to one of the country's most otherworldly scenes: a glacial lagoon where ancient blue icebergs calve from Europe's largest glacier and drift silently toward the sea. The journey itself is as spectacular as the destination.

Scenic stops en route:

• Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon: A sinuous moss-draped gorge that looks like a fantasy novel landscape. An easy 1-hour walk along the rim reveals cascades and serpentine river bends. Don't skip it — it's a hidden gem.
• Skaftafell / Svínafellsjökull: A spectacular glacier tongue descending from the Vatnajökull ice cap. Walk to the viewpoint — the glacier surface, crevasses, and ice formations are visible from the lookout. Great for photos.
• Jökulsárlón Lagoon: Massive blue-white icebergs drifting in a gunmetal lagoon, with seals often basking on the ice floes. Take the amphibian boat tour for an up-close experience among the bergs.
• Diamond Beach: Just across Route 1 from the lagoon, crystal-clear ice blocks wash ashore on black sand — a photographic spectacle. Walk east along the beach for the most dramatic compositions.

Driving distance: 200 km
Estimated time: approx. 2.5 hours (excluding scenic stops)

Upon arriving in Hnappavellir, check in to your hotel and enjoy a well-deserved evening at leisure. Take in the peaceful surroundings of this remote area, perhaps stepping outside to admire the glacial landscape and the soft evening light reflecting off nearby rivers or icebergs. It’s the perfect moment to relax and recharge after a day of exploring South Iceland’s dramatic scenery, preparing for tomorrow’s adventures.

Fewer tourists make it this far east, which is exactly what makes the Eastfjords so rewarding. The road winds dramatically in and out of deep fjords, through tiny fishing villages unchanged for decades, alongside mountains that plunge straight into the sea. This is Iceland at its most raw and authentic.

Scenic stops en route:

• Reindeer Spotting: East Iceland is the only place in the country with wild reindeer, descended from Norwegian stock. Scan hillsides and fjord edges.
• Petra's Stone Collection: In Stöðvarfjörður, this extraordinary privately-built mineral museum overflows into its garden. One of Iceland's most quirky and beloved roadside stops — free to enter.
• Fáskrúðsfjörður: A village with a fascinating French heritage — Breton fishermen wintered here for decades. French and Icelandic road signs remain as a nod to this unusual history.

Lunch stop: The Mjóeyri Resort café in Eskifjörður has excellent fish soup and fjord views — a good halfway break. In Egilsstaðir, the Skálinn restaurant on the lakeside is recommended for dinner.

Driving distance: 225 km
Estimated time: approx. 3.5 hours (excluding scenic stops)

Upon arriving in Egilsstaðir, check in to your hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening at your own pace. Take the opportunity to stretch your legs with a stroll around the town or along the nearby lake Lagarfljót, soaking in the peaceful East Iceland landscapes. It’s the perfect chance to unwind after a scenic day along the fjords and prepare for tomorrow’s adventures.

Today's highlight comes early: Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, where the glacially-fed Jökulsá á Fjöllum river plunges 44 meters into a canyon of volcanic rock. The ground shakes underfoot. After this visceral encounter, the landscape transitions into Mývatn's surreal volcanic world — a place unlike anywhere else on Earth.

Scenic stops en route:

• Dettifoss: Europe's most powerful waterfall — 193 m³ of water per second thundering into a misty abyss. The west bank (Route 862, paved) gives the best views. Arrive early to beat any tour groups.
• Námafjall Hverir: A sulfurous geothermal field of bubbling mud pots and fumaroles along Route 1 before Mývatn. The alien, hellish landscape is one of Iceland's most evocative — accessible right from the road.
• Optional: Húsavík Detour - 30 min north of the main route, Húsavík is Iceland's premier whale watching town. Skip the Akureyri tour and do it here for a more intimate experience if you prefer.

Driving distance: 185 km
Estimated time: approx. 3 hours (excluding scenic stops)

By the time you reach the area around Lake Mývatn, the evening light often casts a golden glow over the lava fields, craters, and steaming geothermal areas, creating a mystical atmosphere that feels almost timeless. Settle into your hotel and let the serene surroundings provide the perfect backdrop to relax, reflect, and soak in the ethereal beauty of this northern Icelandic wonderland.

Mývatn ("Midge Lake") is a place you could spend a week and still not exhaust. The caldera lake and its surrounding landscape is a Tolkien-esque arrangement of lava formations, craters, volcanic cones, bird colonies and geothermal pools — all within a 20 km radius of your hotel.

Optional activities:

• Dimmuborgir Lava Fields: "The Dark Castles" — a labyrinth of towering lava pillars and arches formed 2,300 years ago when lava flowed over a lake. Multiple self-guided walking trails through the formations, 30–90 min.
• Krafla Volcano: Drive 30 min north to the Krafla caldera — a 15-min walk brings you to the vivid emerald Viti explosion crater, and another leads to active lava fields from the 1984 eruption.
• Mývatn Nature Baths: The North's answer to the Blue Lagoon — fewer crowds, equally beautiful mineral-rich geothermal pools with views over the volcanic landscape. Best visited at dusk for aurora potential.
• Mývatn Birdlife: The lake hosts more breeding duck species than anywhere else in Europe. Harlequin ducks, Barrow's goldeneyes, and tufted ducks are common in September before migration.

Travel tip: Check the Icelandic Met Office aurora forecast (vedur.is) each evening. The dark skies around Mývatn are excellent for viewing — away from any light pollution.

A short but scenic final leg northward takes you past one of Iceland's most historically resonant waterfalls before arriving in Akureyri — a city that punches well above its weight for such a small population, with excellent restaurants, a botanical garden, and a lively arts scene set against fjord and mountain scenery.

Scenic stops en route:

• Goðafoss — Waterfall of the Gods: In year 1000 AD, chieftain Þorgeir Þorkelsson threw his pagan idols into this horseshoe-shaped falls after Iceland adopted Christianity. A wide, accessible, beautiful waterfall — best viewed from both banks.
• Akureyri Botanical Garden: The world's northernmost botanical garden, thriving in a microclimate pocket. Free to enter. A surprising and peaceful place to stroll on arrival afternoon.
• Akureyri Dining: Try Strikið restaurant for creative Icelandic cuisine with fjord views, or Rub23 for fresh Arctic seafood. Both are local institutions and represent some of the best food outside Reykjavik.

Driving distance: 95 km
Estimated time: approx. 1.5 hours (excluding scenic stops)

Arrive in Akureyri, Iceland’s vibrant northern capital, where cozy streets, charming cafés, and the surrounding mountains and fjord create a welcoming backdrop for a relaxing evening. Settle into your comfortable hotel and enjoy the tranquility of the North, while still having the option to explore the city at your own pace—stroll through the botanical gardens, admire the iconic church, or simply soak in the serene fjord views as the day winds down.

Akureyri punches well above its weight for a city of 20,000 people. Sitting at the head of Eyjafjörður — Iceland's longest fjord — it combines a surprisingly vibrant urban scene with instant access to some of the most dramatic landscapes in the north. The town is walkable in a morning; the surrounding region could fill a week.

Optional activities:

• Akureyri Church & Botanical Garden: Start with the iconic Art Deco church that towers over the town — climb the steps for sweeping fjord views. A short walk away, the world's most northerly botanical garden is a peaceful spot with an impressive collection of Arctic and sub-Arctic plants. Free entry; allow 1–2 hours for both.
• Forest Lagoon: A beautifully designed geothermal spa nestled in the Vaðlaskógur forest, just a few minutes' drive from the centre. Infinity pools overlook Eyjafjörður fjord — quieter and more intimate than the Blue Lagoon, with a strong aurora viewing potential on clear evenings.
• Goðafoss — Waterfall of the Gods (30 min drive east): One of Iceland's most photogenic waterfalls, where the river Skjálfandafljót drops 12 metres across a 30-metre-wide curved cliff face. According to legend, when Iceland converted to Christianity in the year 1000, the local chieftain threw his Norse pagan idols into the falls. Best seen in morning light. Allow 1 hour.
• Húsavík (1 hr drive east): Iceland's whale watching capital, with some of the highest success rates in Europe. Humpback whales are regularly spotted in Skjálfandi Bay between May and October. The town itself is charming, with a striking timber church and a good whale museum. Allow a half day.
• Laufás Heritage Site (25 min drive south): A beautifully preserved 19th-century turf farmstead that offers a rare glimpse into traditional Icelandic rural life. The interconnected grass-roofed buildings, stone walls, and period interiors feel genuinely unchanged. Allow 1–1.5 hours.

Travel tip: Akureyri sits at 65°N, making it an excellent base for aurora hunting. The dark fjord-side roads just outside town are well away from light pollution — check the Icelandic Met Office forecast at vedur.is each evening and keep your eyes on the northern sky.

Your longest driving day takes you across the breadth of Iceland — from the fjord-carved north down through highland moors and farming valleys to the wild Snæfellsnes Peninsula. This is a day for audiobooks, podcasts, and frequent impromptu stops. The landscape changes five or six times, and no two hours look alike.

Scenic stops en route:

• Skagafjörður Horse Country: The valley is Iceland's horse breeding heartland. Watch Icelandic horses tölting through fields alongside the road — a meditative, characteristically Icelandic sight.
• Kirkjufell: Iceland's most photographed mountain — a perfectly symmetrical arrow-shaped peak rising above the sea near Grundarfjörður. The Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall in the foreground completes the composition.
• Snæfellsnes North Coast: The last 60 km along Route 54 are spectacular — Snæfellsjökull glacier volcano looms ahead, lava fields meet cliffs, and tiny white farmhouses dot the coast.

Driving distance: 375 km
Estimated time: approx. 5.5 hours (excluding scenic stops)

Arrive in the charming coastal village of Grundarfjörður, beautifully set between the fjord and dramatic mountain scenery. Settle into your accommodation and take a moment to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of this small fishing town. With the iconic Kirkjufell rising nearby and the stunning landscapes of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula all around, you’ll find yourself perfectly placed to begin exploring one of Iceland’s most diverse and captivating regions.

Your final full driving day takes you back to Reykjavik via some of western Iceland's most magical inland scenery. The Snæfellsnes Peninsula earned its nickname "Iceland in Miniature" — even half a day exploring it reveals glaciers, lava tubes, bird cliffs, and a glacier volcano that Jules Verne used as the entrance to the center of the Earth.

Scenic stops en route:

• Snæfellsjökull Glacier: The glacier-capped volcano at the tip of the peninsula was Jules Verne's "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" gateway. On a clear day it's visible from Reykjavik, 120 km away.
• Hraunfossar & Barnafoss: In Borgarfjörður, dozens of lacy waterfall threads emerge through porous lava rock and cascade into the turquoise Hvítá River — one of Iceland's most unusual and beautiful natural formations.
• Deildartunguhver Hot Spring: Europe's most powerful hot spring, 1 km off Route 1 near Borgarnes. 180 litres per second of boiling water — the heat is piped to towns 60 km away. Atmospheric and free to visit.

Driving distance: 225 km
Estimated time: approx. 3 hours (excluding scenic stops)

Upon arriving back in Reykjavik, check in to your hotel and take a well-deserved moment to relax after your scenic journey across the country. Spend the evening at your own pace—stroll through the colorful streets of the capital, explore charming cafés and boutique shops, or simply soak in the peaceful atmosphere. It’s the perfect opportunity to unwind, reflect on your adventures, and recharge before your final day in Iceland.

Today marks the end of your unforgettable Iceland adventure. In the morning, check out from your hotel and drive to the airport (allow 45–60 min for the drive from central Reykjavik). As you take off, enjoy one last glimpse of Iceland’s dramatic landscapes and carry with you the memories of a truly remarkable journey. We wish you a safe and pleasant flight!

Travel tip: If your flight is afternoon, consider a final dip at Sky Lagoon (2 km from downtown) before checkout. They have luggage storage. Or pick up smoked arctic char from the Kolaportið flea market if it's a Saturday.