5 Days in Iceland Itinerary: An Amazing Road Trip Adventure

5 days in Iceland is an excellent amount of time to see this magical place. While exploring for a full two weeks would be ideal, it's not always possible. Thankfully, it's possible to see quite a bit of Iceland in less than a week, and I'm going to show you exactly how to do it.

I suggest renting a vehicle to make the most of your time. It's also best to visit during the late spring or summer months (May to the start of September). Not only will you experience better weather (we love late May/early June for Iceland!), but there are way more hours of daylight.

Getting Around by Campervan

One of the best and most cost effective ways of seeing Iceland is traveling by campervan. It is a little home on wheels. Choosing a campervan is one of the best ways to get from point A to point B when spending 5 days in Iceland. Alternatively, you can rent a car in Iceland, but you will need to stay in hotels, cottages or guesthouses on the way.

In terms of campervans, it's possible to rent everything from a basic compact campervan, a 4x4 campervan, or even a full motorhome with its own kitchenette and bathroom. A regular campervan is perfectly fine for this 5 days in Iceland itinerary. If you decide to venture off to the F roads (mountain roads) in the summer, consider a 4x4 vehicle.

Embark on a self-drive journey of Iceland and park your van at campsites overnight. There are many campsites open all year long. They will have facilities like bathrooms, showers and Wi-Fi, and some campsites even include a small breakfast in the morning.

Campervan Reykjavik is a great campervan company with 24/7 customer service and the insurance is included. They offer a wide range of vehicles for every preference. Their campervan rentals come with unlimited mileage, no hidden fees, and even winter tires from November to April.

Please note that wild camping is not permitted in Iceland. You can't simply park your van wherever you like overnight. You must stay at a designated campsite or have permission from the landowner.

Also, remember to check the road conditions before you venture out for the day, especially if you're visiting in the late fall, winter, or early spring. Many roads are closed for the whole winter season. Others may be impassable due to flooding or other poor conditions.

5 Days in Iceland: A Complete Itinerary

Here are the best things to do in 5 days in Iceland. These will be five complete days in Iceland, exploring Reykjavik, the Golden Circle, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and the South Coast. These are the essential places to visit on your first trip to Iceland.

Please note that this itinerary assumes that you'll be arriving in the early hours on your first day and not leaving until either late on the fifth day or flying out on the sixth day. If you only have 5 days in Iceland and you're leaving on the fifth day, I suggest either omitting day 5 (Jokulsarlon) or day 3 (Snæfellsnes Peninsula).

Day 1: Reykjavik and Sky Lagoon

Welcome to Iceland! It's day one and after arriving at the Keflavik Airport, pick up your rental vehicle and head into town. Alternatively, take the bus from the airport to Reykjavik. Pick up your vehicle on day two when the road trip begins.

Spend the morning and the evening in Reykjavik, and spend the afternoon relaxing at Sky Lagoon. Sky Lagoon is a bit more convenient to visit than the Blue Lagoon since it's within Reykjavik, whereas the Blue Lagoon is closer to the airport (45 minutes away).

The Reykjavik city center is very walkable. You can walk to most of these attractions or if you're shorter on time, it's possible to rent scooters in town, too. I would explore by foot so you can take your time to admire the architecture, street art, and pop into little shops and cafes. Here are a few must visit places:

• Hallgrimskirkja: It's the tallest church in Iceland and you can admire the most amazing panoramic views from the top
• Laugavegur: Reykjavik's main shopping street lined with shops and cafes
• Rainbow Street: A colourful rainbow mural is painted on the ground, perfect for photo opportunities
• Reykjavik Waterfront: Admire the views and check out Sólfar, the Sun Voyager sculpture
• Harpa: The impressive glass concert hall building, amazing architecture, and go inside (even if you aren't seeing a concert)

In the afternoon, head over to Reykjavik's oceanside geothermal lagoon, Sky Lagoon. Sky Lagoon is a large pool, surrounded by natural rocks, with a 75-meter infinity edge. There's also a swim-up bar and beautiful views all around.

We took part in the 7-step Skjól Ritual that consists of alternating between hot and cold environments, like most Scandinavian spa experiences. The seven steps include the lagoon itself, a cold plunge, the sauna, a refreshing cold mist, an exfoliating body scrub, a hot steam room, and an elixir of native Icelandic crowberries called krækiber.

Spend the first night in Reykjavik, whether it's at a campsite within the city limits or just outside of it. If you are looking for a hotel, we loved staying at the Grandi by Center Hotels. It's conveniently located in downtown Reykjavik and you're able to reach most places by foot. The hotel even has its own complimentary spa, including pools and a sauna.

Day 2: Golden Circle

It's day two of our 5 days in Iceland getaway and time to venture out of Reykjavik. On the first day of the road trip, let's visit one of the most quintessential driving circuits in Iceland, the Golden Circle.

The Golden Circle encapsulates so many magical things that we love about Iceland, all within a relatively short driving trip. There's a brilliant national park, a famous geothermal area, and a stunning waterfall.

Our first stop of the day is Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's the only place in the world where two individual tectonic plate boundaries are visible above the ground (most are only seen underwater). It is possible to walk between the ridges of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Thingvellir National Park is also the site of Iceland's first parliament in 930AD. It led to the founding of the nation of Iceland, and laid the groundwork for its cultural heritage and national identity. Thingvellir National Park has many natural attractions including trails, a river, a waterfall, scenic views and more.

Next up, we drove to Geysir in the Haukadalur geothermal area. The largest one, named Geysir, rarely erupts and you likely won't see it erupt when you visit.

The slightly smaller geyser called Strokkur erupts on a regular basis, once ever two to 10 minutes. When Justin and I were there, we got to see Strokkur erupt a few times. The water bursts from 15 to 40 meters high without any warning.

Last, don't miss Gulfoss, also known as the Golden Falls. It's a huge waterfall on the Golden Circle route. There's a viewing platform from up above or a path leading down to the top of the waterfall to get closer. It can be really misty if you get close to Gulfoss, so be sure to bring a waterproof rain jacket because you will get wet.

Day 3: Snaefellsnes Peninsula

On the third day of our 5 days in Iceland itinerary, let's drive to the west side of the country to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. This area of Iceland is often referred to as "Iceland in miniature" for all of the spectacular wonders in one place.

Start your journey in Grundarfjörður, home to one of the most famous places in Iceland, Kirkjufell. This is a 463 meter high mountain, and its name translates to mean "church mountain". It's one of the most photographed places in Iceland. A small waterfall and river meanders in front of the mountain, it's quite gorgeous.

Next, drive to Snæfellsjökull National Park for a stunning road trip. Snæfellsjökull Glacier looms in the distance. Stop at Saxhóll, a volcano crater that was created about 3000-4000 years ago. Climb the stairs up to the top of the crater for some amazing views.

The Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge is another great stopping point on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Walk inside a mossy cavern and prepare to be in awe of this scenery.

We spent the night in Grundarfjordur at G4 Apartments. If you're travelling by campervan, it's even better if you can stay in Borgarnes or even closer to Reykjavik again. For day four of the itinerary, it's all about the south coast of Iceland.

Day 4: South Coast Waterfalls and Glacier Hike

When you travel to Iceland for 5 days or more, make sure you spend at least a couple of days on its epic south coast. There are waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches, icebergs and so many other surprises.

Today, we visited two amazing waterfalls and embarked on a unique adventure, hiking on a glacier. Unlike group tours that only allow you a short amount of time at each place, driving yourself allows you to fully explore each site.

For instance, Seljalandsfoss is a beautiful waterfall that's 60 meters tall. There's a trail that loops around behind this waterfall, allowing you to admire it from many perspectives.

Once you've fully appreciated Seljalandsfoss, there's a second "secret" waterfall at this location that not many tourists visit. Walk along the path to reach Gljúfrabúi, meaning "the one who lives in the canyon".  Be careful as you step inside the narrow entrance of the Franskanef Cliff (home of the elves), to see this spectacular waterfall inside the canyon.

The next location is home to Skógafoss, one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland. It has a width of 82 meters and it is 60 meters high. Hike up the staircase at the side of the mountain to reach the top of the waterfall. There's also the option to go for a longer hike here, too.

Spend the afternoon on a tour hiking the Solheimajokull Glacier. It's not possible to go hiking on this glacier on your own. You must book with a licensed tour guide because they will keep you safe and provide you with the proper equipment. Book your tour here.

Wearing hiking boots, crampons, a helmet and carrying an ice axe, hike on top of this rugged terrain and the glacier itself. There's even a moment where we drank water from the glacier itself. There are floating chunks of ice in the lake down below and mountains all around. It's breathtaking!

Day 5: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and South Coast

On the final day of our 5 days in Iceland, let's continue along the south coast to Jokulsarlon and Diamond Beach. Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is part of Vatnajökull National Park.

Huge ice blocks break apart from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier and drift around the lagoon, eventually joining the Atlantic Ocean. One of the best ways to experience this icy lagoon and its stunning landscapes is by taking a zodiac boat tour.

There are two boat tours here: a larger boat and a smaller zodiac boat. The zodiac boat allows you to get closer to the icebergs and the massive glacier wall. Definitely choose this option if it's available. These tours are limited and sell out early, so I advise you to get your tickets in advance.

After seeing Jokulsarlon and Diamond Beach in the morning, head back towards Reykjavik on the Ring Road. In the afternoon, stop by the dramatic black sand beaches at Reynisfjara after driving through the town of Vik.

Walk down to Kirkjufiara Beach to see the rock formations up close and off in the distance. Don't get too close to the water. Watch out for "sneaker waves". The water here might look unassuming, but the waves hit the shore both fast and furious. It's one of the most dangerous places in Iceland.

Lastly, before heading back towards Reykjavik or Keflavik, go for a walk to see the Sólheimasandur plane crash site. In 1973, a United States Navy Douglas Super DC-3 airplane made a crash landing here. Thankfully, everyone survived. The plane wreck was never removed and you can still see it today.

The trek to the plane crash site takes about 45 minutes in one direction, so only add this to your travel plans if you have a couple of hours to spare. You can walk inside this old wrecked plane, but don't climb on top of it. Please admire this site, but don't damage it so we can all enjoy this unique place in the future.

5 Days in Iceland: Don't Make This Mistake!

Now that you know what to see in 5 days in Iceland, don't make these mistakes. I've seen some other itineraries online and suggested trip plans that involve way too much driving. Even this trip involves hours of driving each day, which in unavoidable if you'd like to see all of the natural attractions I've mentioned.

I've seen some bloggers and travellers recommend attempting to do the entire Ring Road in 5 days or a week. Iceland is much bigger than it looks! Don't try to drive the entire Ring Road in 5 days.

I suggest sticking to the southern side of the country if you only have 5 days in Iceland, as I've written in this itinerary. Alternatively, you can venture up to Akureyri, Husavik and Myvatn, but then you'll need to skip the south Iceland.

I also wouldn't add the Westfjords to your trip unless you have at least 2 weeks in Iceland. It's either that or you decide to spend the bulk of your trip in west and northwest Iceland. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the comments section below.