So, you're spending 7 days in Iceland! Even though it's possible to cover quite a bit of ground with 1 week in Iceland, the country is much larger than it looks. I'm going to show you how to plan a 7 day Ring Road itinerary of Iceland, circling the country in a week.
Now, you will need to prepare yourself for several hours of driving each day. I also only suggest this itinerary for the summer months. In the land of the midnight sun, it stays light out well into the night, which makes these longer days and packed itineraries easier.
While the first couple of days in Reykjavik and driving the Golden Circle have significantly less driving, the itinerary really ramps up by day three. As we venture towards the east and north of Iceland, there will be long driving days.
Total disclaimer: while a 7 day road trip around the Ring Road is doable, I still recommend taking two weeks to explore, if possible.
When Justin and I visited Iceland, we took two weeks to see it all and added some time in the Westfjords. You may want to even push your trip to 10 days if you want to drive the whole Ring Road.
7 Days in Iceland Itinerary
Upon your arrival at the Keflavik airport, pick up your rental car from Cars Iceland. This will also be the drop-off point for your rental car after spending 7 days in Iceland on an epic Ring Road road trip.
We'll be venturing around the entire Ring Road in seven days. If this schedule seems to busy for you or you don't want to do quite as much driving, I suggest expanding upon our 5 day itinerary, adding a couple of ideas from this post.
And I don't recommend doing this itinerary in the winter. Many northern roads close in the wintertime due to the ice and snow. Always check the road conditions in Iceland before you head out, no matter the time of year.
One more tip: don't wait too long to fill up your car with gas. Once we drive out to the east and north areas of Iceland, gas stations are few and far between. Fill up more frequently to avoid running out of gas.
Day 1: Reykjavik
While the natural beauty of Iceland is its main draw, don't skip the capital city of Reykjavik. A day in Reykjavik is ideal for getting over jetlag. Plus, it's easy to see most of its attractions in a day.
Experience the City
Reykjavik is very walkable. I loved exploring on my own two feet. Laugavegur is Reykjavik's main shopping street with many shops, restaurants and cafes. From Laugavegur, wander up the Rainbow Street where a bright rainbow is painted on the ground, spanning the width and length of the road.
Hallgrimskirkja is an unmissable attraction - you need to visit in person, but you also won't be able to miss it since it's the tallest church in the country. For a small fee, take an elevator to the panoramic viewing platform of Hallgrimskirkja for the best views of Reykjavik.
Some other landmarks you need to see when you're in Reykjavik include Harpa (the concert hall and architectural marvel), Sólfar, (Sun Voyager sculpture) and Reykjavik's waterfront for beautiful scenery.
Sky Lagoon
Sky Lagoon is an oceanside geothermal lagoon and such a great way to relax after your flight. While Sky Lagoon is manmade, soaking in the naturally heated waters is a longstanding cultural tradition in Iceland.
Admire the rugged volcanic rocks and seaside views as you relax in the hot springs. I also recommend Sky Lagoon's 7-step ritual, which includes their sauna, exfoliating scrub, steam room and more.
Where to Stay: Grandi by Center Hotels, Reykjavik
Day 2: Golden Circle
One of the most famous day trips from Reykjavik is Iceland's Golden Circle. Let's experience the Golden Circle on the second day of our itinerary. Rather than a day trip from Reykjavik, it will be the first segment of our 7 day Iceland road trip itinerary.
The Golden Circle consists of Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, and Gullfoss. One is an amazing national park that's great for walkind exploring, one is a geothermal site with geysers, and the last is a massive waterfall.
Thingvellir National Park
Thingvellir National Park has great geologic and historic significance, making it a worthwhile stop on any trip to Iceland.
First, the park itself exists on two tectonic plates: the North American tectonic plate and the Eurasian plate. It's the only place in the world where the rift is above sea level. You can technically walk alongside both plates in one place, meaning that you're wandering between two continents.
Next, the world's oldest parliament was founded in the year 930 in Þingvellir. The word "Þingvellir" means "the fields of parliament". While this idea of parliament is a far cry from what we have today, it happened centuries before parliaments were formed in other European countries.
When you visit Thingvellir National Park, you can simply go for a walk around the grounds. Check out the little white church, Öxaráfoss (a beautiful waterfall) and other stunning scenery. It's also possible to book a snorkeling tour at the Silfra Fissure to witness the tectonic plates in crystal clear waters.
Geysir
Did you know that all geysers in the world are named after Geysir, this most famous geyser in Iceland? However, it's worth nothing that Geysir rarely erupts anymore.
But, there's a slightly smaller geyser called Strokkur that erupts once every two to 10 minutes. The water violently erupts into the sky anywhere from 15 to 40 meters up.
Gullfoss
Gullfoss, also known as "Golden Falls", is the final stop on the Golden Circle tour. It's a huge, tiered waterfall, and its water source is the Hvita River and Langjökull glacier.
There's a platform overlooking the entire waterfall and another pathway leading down to the falls. I've visited Gullfoss twice now and it's been raining and misty on both occasions. If you decide to walk closer to the waterfall, be prepared as you will get wet!
Where to stay: Gesthus Selfoss
Day 3: South Coast
Next on our Iceland itinerary for 7 days, we continue from the Golden Circle route to the South Coast. Iceland's South Coast is home to majestic waterfalls, black sand beaches, and a popular plane wreck site.
We're going to visit everything I've just mentioned for day three of our Iceland 1 week itinerary. Let's go!
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss is a gorgeous waterfall and the first stop of the day. This waterfall is quite unique as there's a large path wrapping around it, meaning that you can walk right behind the falls. I also loved the mossy and very green landscape that surrounds Seljalandsfoss.
At the same location, walk a short distance to discover Gljúfrabúi, a hidden waterfall. Gljúfrabúi means "the one who lives in the canyon" and it's thought to be the home of the elves. Gljúfrabúi is behind a narrow entrance in the gorge, so it's easy to miss if you aren't looking for it.
Skógafoss
Only a short drive away, Skógafoss is the next waterfall on this South Coast day trip. This is one of the largest waterfalls in Iceland with a width of 82 meters and a height of 60 meters.
Admire Skogafoss from the base of the falls. Then, hike up a staircase at the side of the mountain for spectacular views from up top. You can continue walking and enjoying amazing scenery all around.
Sólheimasandur Plane Crash Site
In 1973, a United States Navy Douglas Super DC-3 airplane made a crash landing in the middle of the Icelandic countryside. Thankfully, everyone survived. The plane wreckage remains near the Sólheimasandur black sand beach.
It's about a 45 minute walk from the parking lot off the Ring Road to the Sólheimasandur Plane Crash Site. To be perfectly honest, it's not the most exciting walk in the world. It's flat terrain and the scenery isn't anything to write home about.
However, the plane crash itself is quite interesting, especially if you're interested in aviation history or you enjoy quirky places. You can get up close to the plane and even walk inside it, but please don't climb on top of it. It's important to preserve this site for future visitors since the plane is getting more frail as time goes on.
Reynisfjara
Reynisfjara is a dramatic black sand beach not too far from Vik. There are intriguing rock formations and tiny black pebbles as far as you can see. Walk down to the beach and wander into little caves in the cliffs.
Justin and I walked around Kirkjufiara Beach and gazed out to the deep blue waters. Massive pillars extended out from the sea, carved by nature over many generations.
Be careful of the "sneaker waves". While the water might look calm, the waves can really sneak up on you. The ocean here is very powerful, and the waves can pull you into the sea and below the surface in a split second. For this reason, don't get too close to the water.
Where to stay: Lambhus Glacier View Cabins
Day 4: Southeast and East Coast
Let's continue our Iceland 7 day itinerary traveling on the Ring Road in a counterclockwise direction. We're heading around the southeast and east coast of Iceland, from Diamond Beach and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and ending in the cute down of Seydisfjordur.
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
Jokulsarlon is Iceland's deepest lake, and the icebergs here are over 1000 years old. The waters of this lagoon form a unique color because they consist of freshwater (from the glacier) and seawater (from the ocean).
The best way to experience Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is by taking a zodiac boat tour. Justin and I loved getting up close to the floating icebergs, the glacier wall, and even a seal that lounged on one of the icebergs.
Driving the East Coast
The East Fjords of Iceland are truly stunning. While the South Coast, North Iceland and even the Westfjords get all the credit, the eastern side of Iceland is really special.
There are brilliant black sand beaches, towering rock formations, and snowcapped mountains. There are many scenic viewpoints on the Ring Road that you might even have all to yourself on this leg of the journey. Make frequent stops to take it all in.
Seydisfjordur
Don't miss the adorable and colorful town of Seydisfjordur. Located about 30 minutes off the Ring Road, Seydisfjordur sits at the edge of its namesake fjord.
The town has a vibrant arts scene and there's street art all around. Coupled with cozy cafes and a little white church in the middle of town, this was one of our favorite stops of our Iceland Ring Road trip.
There's even a gorgeous waterfall at the edge of town called Gufufoss. "Gufa" means vapor or steam, so you have the aptly named, vapor or steam waterfall (there was quite a bit of mist coming from Gufufoss!).
Where to Stay: Við Lónið Guesthouse
Day 5: North Iceland and Myvatn
This is going to be a really packed day (feel free to leave off any of these attractions if you run out of time!), but you'll make such amazing memories. Traveling through northeast Iceland towards Lake Myvatn, you'll experience some natural attractions of Iceland's Diamond Circle.
We won't have enough time on this trip to check out Husavik, the whale watching capital of Iceland. Please feel free to add on an extra day to this itinerary if you'd like to visit Husavik (I vote yes on this one!).
Dettifoss
Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe. This waterfall, which flows from Vatnajökull glacier, is 100 meters wide and plunges 44 meters. There's a large observation deck here, but be prepared to get wet! The falls are very powerful and it gets really misty here.
Krafla / Viti Crater
Krafla, a caldera, formed after past volcanic eruptions. At its center lies the Viti crater with its surreal blue-green lake. It's possible to walk around the outer edge of the crater, marveling at this vibrant lake and the colorful landscapes that surrounds it.
Namafjall Hverir
Namafjall Hverir has an otherworldly landscape, reminiscent of the planet, Mars. This is a prime example of Iceland's underlying geothermal powers. Steaming vents and bubbling gray mudpots are scattered across a green, orange, and gray speckled ground.
Dimmuborgir Lava Fields
Dimmuborgir is home to rugged black rock formations created from hardened lava that dates back over 200 years. Lava once flowed across a small lake and caused the water to boil. The steam from this lake created lava pillars, hollowed tubes and chimneys that form a unique landscape.
Where to stay: Skutustadir Guesthouse
Day 6: Akureyri to Hvammstangi
On the sixth day of our 7 days in Iceland itinerary, we drive across north Iceland reaching the unofficial northern capital, Akureyri and ending up in Iceland's seal capital, Hvammstangi. The scenery you'll witness from the car is nothing short of magnificent.
Akureyri
Akureyri is a great place to spend half a day in Iceland. While we've spent the majority of our Ring Road trip visiting natural sites, we'll break up the trip by spending some time in the city.
As its even smaller than Reykjavik, Akureyri is very walkable. There's an abundance of public art and murals to see, as well as shops, cafes and restaurants. Some other local attractions include the Akureyri church, the Akureyri Botanical Garden, and Kjarnaskógur Forest.
Hvammstangi
We'll end the day at Hvammstangi, also known as the seal watching capital of Iceland. Naturally, I recommend going seal watching as it's the best place to see these beautiful creatures in the wild. Also, don't miss a trip to Kolugljufur Gorge to see a lush canyon and waterfall.
Where to stay: Hvammstangi Cottages
Day 7: Snæfellsnes Peninsula
This might be one of the longest driving days, but it's worth the extra mileage to encircle the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. It's thought to be "Iceland in miniature" as there's a national park, spectacular mountains, gorges, and volcanic craters.
What better way to sum up your 7 days in Iceland with a reminder of everything that you've witnessed in this beautiful country.
Kirkjufell
Kirkjufell is Iceland's most photographed mountain and you've likely seen it in pictures before. The name Kirkjufell means "church mountain" and it's a magnificent green mountain just outside of Grundarfjörður. A little cascade and river run in front of the mountain, adding to the magical scene.
Saxhóll Crater
Situated inside the Snæfellsjökull National Park, Saxhóll is a crater from an ancient volcano that erupted between 3000 and 4000 years ago. There's a winding staircase at the side of the crater that leads to the top of it. Enjoy some amazing panoramic views from the top.
Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge
Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge was another surprise visit for us as we only noticed it from the side of the road. There's a small opening at the side of the gorge. Hike inside the gorge to witness a shallow stream of glacier water flowing through it. Moss covered rocks extend to the sky.
From Grundarfjordur, it's about a three hour drive to Keflavik Airport. This is totally fine if you have a flight later in the day. If your flight is earlier, consider staying in Borgarnes as it's only an hour and thirty minutes from the airport.
Where to stay: G4 Apartment in Grundarfjordur or Hotel Hamar in Borgarnes
1 Week Travel Budget in Iceland
Iceland is an expensive country to visit by comparison to other places in the world. Your main expenses in Iceland include:
- Rental car, gas and parking
- Hotels and accommodations
- Attractions and tours
- Dining and food
This 7 day Iceland itinerary doesn't include many pre-planned tours or guided trips. This is primarily a self drive tour of Iceland. You'll visit the natural attractions on your own without pre-booking anything.
We stayed at accommodations overnight rather than camping or sleeping in a van. However, we also made sure to stay at cottages with small kitchenettes to cook all of our own food. By buying groceries for most of our trip, we saved money by not dining at restaurants.
There will be some parking fees at larger attractions. For the most part, the natural attractions in Iceland are completely free to visit, including the parking. The only attractions with fees in this blog post are the spa and hot spring experiences, like Sky Lagoon.
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