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Iceland Ring Road Itinerary: An Efficient 10-day Roadtrip for 2024

Europe   /   Iceland   /   Reykjavik   Vik   Hella         •••

Welcome to my travel guide to exploring Iceland in 10 days! There’s a lot to share on this topic and I couldn’t possibly fit it all into a single post, but you can consider this Iceland itinerary to be a solid basis from which to start crafting your own road trip around Iceland’s Ring Road.

To say that Iceland exceded my expectations would be an understatement. It pretty much got to the point where I was exhausted from looking at all the gorgeous and diverse landscapes as we drove the Ring Road, a highway that forms a complete loop around the country.

You will not be disappointed when you visit this country, but it’s also important to be mindful that tourism has exploded in Iceland and its roads and infrastructure are not necessarily intended for the volume of visitors it receives every year. For this reason, we all have to do our part to travel as sustainably as possible and treat these precious natural sights with respect 😄

Let’s get started!

P.S. Will you be visiting Iceland this Winter? You’ll find my post on Iceland Winter activities useful! It’s list of awesome things to do in Iceland in Winter, a winter packing list, and tips for driving safely on Winter roads in Iceland.

13 Special Things To Do in Iceland in Winter

Iceland in Winter is totally unique. Whether it's ice caves, northern lights, hiking on a glacier, or seeing wild orcas, you'll love these Iceland winter activities. Learn about Iceland's winter weather, what to wear in Iceland in Winter, and Iceland winter safety tips.

Related post

Iceland Itinerary: 10-Day Ring Road Travel Guide

Each section has its own map including driving instructions, where to stay, and special sights to see along the way. We went around Iceland counter-clockwise, but you can also just as well go clockwise (it’s simply less typical to do).

  1. Reykjanes Peninsula (Keflavík → Reykjavik)
  2. The Golden Circle (Reykjavik → Hella)
  3. Iceland’s South Coast (Hella)
  4. Black Sand Beaches (Hella → Skaftafell)
  5. Glaciers (Skaftafell → Höfn)
  6. From the East Fjords to North Iceland (Höfn → Mývatn)
  7. Explore Mývatn and the Northeast (Mývatn → Akureyri)
  8. From Northwest Iceland to the Snæfellsnes peninsula (Akureyri → Snæfellsnes)
  9. Finish the Snæfellsnes peninsula and head to Reykjavik (Snæfellsnes → Reykjavik)
  10. Depart from Reykjavik (Reykjavik → Home)
Skogafoss in Iceland
Some links in this post are to affiliate sites. If you purchase something through them, I may earn a small comission — which costs you nothing! I am very grateful when you use my links to make a purchase.

Duration 10 Days
Dates visited Feb 23 - Mar 4
Recommended Accommodation in Iceland
Honestly I got really lucky with my hotel selection in Iceland. Basically everywhere I stayed ended up being great, except the container hotel in Skaftafell (pro-tip: container hotels sound cool but are just expensive boxes with marginal food!). Besides that, here are the places personally stayed in Iceland and enjoyed the most.

  1. Hotel Ranga ($$$) – Hella (Southwest)
    If you’re going to treat yourself, Hotel Ranga is the place to do it. It’s a super convenient location to base yourself at while you explore both the Golden Circle and Iceland’s South Coast. I bought our stay here as part of my boyfriend’s 30th birthday gift 😏 It’s a bit of a splurge but there’s no reason not to treat yourself, you’re in Iceland anyways! There are three jacuzzis, a Northern Lights wakeup list, an amazing on-site restaurant, and even mimosas included in the complementary breakfast 😉

  2. River Hotel ($$) – Hella (Southwest)
    A more budget-friendly alternative to Hotel Ranga, you still get a jacuzzi and a view over the river. Unlike Ranga, this hotel doesn’t have its own restaurant (they’ll organize for you if you have a group of 10+ people) so you’re left with Hella’s 4 restaurants as dining options. Super friendly staff, they brought us towels to keep our ears warm as we sat in the jacuzzi despite gale-force winds!

  3. Guesthouse Dimmuborgir ($$) – Mývatn (Northeast)
    Here you can stay in the cutest individual guesthouses, complete with roofs lined with Christmas lights and a view over the Mývatn lake. Many come with kitchens, so there’s another opportunity to cook while you’re in Iceland.

There are many factors that going into deciding where to stay in Iceland and how to pick accommodation. For more details on this, check out my in-depth guide on where to stay in Iceland what to consider when choosing a hotel. This is especially important when traveling in Winter conditions.

Best Places to Stay in Iceland Along the Ring Road

If you're planning a road trip around Iceland, these are the best hotels and accommodation in Iceland near the Ring Road. Plus, tips for picking your hotel in Iceland, the best ideas on where to stay in Iceland, and what to avoid!

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Before you go You don’t need a bunch of special equipment to enjoy this country, but I found two items particularly helpful during my trip given the particular conditions of Iceland:

  • Get some crampons (spikes for your boots) – If visiting Iceland in winter, I strongly advise you to buy a pair of crampons before you go. Walking around without them can be downright dangerous. They’re also way cheaper to buy before arriving in Iceland. I bought these crampons and I could’ve saved about $20 (and a lot of falling on my butt) if I had bought them before arriving in Iceland. I also missed hiking all the way to a waterfall because it was too dangerous without crampons 😞

  • Get an offline-friendly travel guide – We also extensively used this Iceland travel guide . Wifi and cellular data are NOT a given in Iceland. There is a lot of no-man’s land where you will want offline information about smaller towns. For this, an offline-friendly guidebook is essential! Also be sure to download offline maps for Iceland, but be aware you may lose your signal.
Crampons
Crampons, my new best friend

Handy websites Get familiar with Vedur.is the Icelandic weather service. You’ll need it to travel safely, and for the aurora forecast if you’re visiting in Winter and want to see the northern lights.

♦ ♦ ♦ A must-see | ♦ ♦ Liked it | ♦ Point of Interest

1. Reykjanes Peninsula (Keflavík → Reykjavik)

Welcome to Iceland! It’s time to pick up your car and hit the road. Before settling down for the night in Reykjavik, take a drive around the nearby Reykjanes Peninsula .

Reykjanes Peninsula

Things to do on the Reykjanes Peninsula

  • Reykjanesviti ♦ – See your first Icelandic lighthouse! This is also Iceland’s oldest lighthouse. Just down the road is also your first chance to experience Iceland’s geothermal fields.
  • Krýsuvík and Seltun ♦♦ – A larger area for geothermal activity, where you can walk across bubbling mud pits by way of wooden pathways.
  • Blue Lagoon – I didn’t enter the Blue Lagoon because we didn’t book early enough. If that happens to you too, don’t fear, there are more options to take a dip later down the road!
  • Buy an Icelandic sweater – Handknit sweaters will run you around $200 or more, but are also sure to keep you warm with thick Icelandic wool!
  • Spend the evening in Reykjavik – Check out Reykjavik’s city center and pick a spot for dinner. We ate our very first meal at Icelandic Fish & Chips , which was delicious but very touristy. That said, Reykjavik’s city center is about 90% tourists so it could very well be like that in just about any restaurant 😜
  • Explore the "Volcano Garden" in a 4x4 Jeep – Even if you aren’t renting a car, you can still explore this area as part of a guided tour from the airport directly or from Reykjavik. This particular tour also includes a full education about volcanos, which is the key element that makes Iceland’s landscape so fascinating.
Seltun geothermal area

2. The Golden Circle (Reykjavik → Hella)

This trio of sights is easily the most popular in Iceland, and your surest bet to be battling other tourists – that is, unless you get lucky like us and a “no travel” storm begins brewing the morning before you go out. Practically no one was on the road and we had everywhere essentially to ourselves! Now, you might not get as lucky unlucky as us. So your best bet is just to join the crowds and take your time exploring the area. One day is plenty of time to see the best of the Golden Circle.

Things to do on the Golden Circle

  • Þingvellir National Park ♦♦ – Þingvellir is famously the site of the oldest parliament in the world. Here you’ll find a quaint church and summer houses, a small river, waterfall, and wooden bridges connecting paths throughout the park. This is also the place where you can famously go snorkeling between tectonic plates at the Silfra Fissure.
  • Strokkur Geysir ♦♦ – So, somehow we didn’t know until getting there, that the original Geysir actually closed up after an earthquake a few years back. Now you can see its smaller counterpart, which still gets big enough to drench you if you stand downwind!
  • Gullfoss ♦♦♦ – Your first proper waterfall!! Note that there are two ways to view the waterfall, one from above (where there is a giftshop) and another parking lot below.
  • Kerid Crater – Sadly we couldn’t visit this Krater because of the intense storm that kicked in during the afternoon.

TIP – If you aren’t renting a car, you can see all the highlights of the Golden Circle mentioned above on this particular small-group tour . Whether you drive yourself or not, there will still be locations with massive parking lots full of huuuuge tour busses. At the very least you don’t need to ride with them, and the cost between a small group and a large group is not very much (especially in terms of “Iceland prices!").

Þingvellir National Park
Þingvellir National Park
Geysir
Geysir
Gullfoss
Gullfoss

Stay: Hotel Ranga in Hella

If you’re going to treat yourself, Hotel Ranga is the place to do it. Beautiful rustic cabin-style rooms, three separate jacuzzis from which you can watch the Northern Lights, and a gourmet restaurant (can you say, reindeer carpaccio?!). I bought our stay here as part of my boyfriend’s 30th birthday gift, which was our trip to Iceland. Extravagant but 💯 worth it.

Hotel Ranga Room
Hotel Ranga

We wanted to stay two nights at Hotel Ranga but weren’t able to owing to how limited the space is. If you’re looking for a night or two of luxury, definitely check the availability for Ranga sooner rather than later!

3. Iceland’s South Coast (Hella)

Today’s theme is water. We’ll meet two of Iceland’s best-known waterfalls, plus a hidden natural swimming pool just out of sight in the mountains along the Ring Road.

Driving up to our first stop, Seljalandfoss , from the West is awesome because you can already see the waterfall’s narrow stream jutting out from the side of an immense mountain as you approach. Coupled with the morning sunshine, it looks like a scene from a fantasy movie.

Seljalandfoss

Next to Seljalandfoss are several other smaller waterfalls, but 90% of the people visiting never seem to take the short walk. In one waterfall, you can completely walk inside the cave where it’s located, just make sure you’ve got your wellies! You might also remember Seljalandfoss as a place where you can also walk behind the waterfall, but it does require being waterproofed from head to toe!

Next, get ready for a small hike to Seljavallalaug Zwembad . This natural pool (which literally just pipes in water from a nearby hotspring) is not that warm in the winter, but absolutely an adventure in and of itself. It’s pretty easy to find – you drive to Seljavellir, park your car, and soon find yourself on a path.

Seljavallalaug Zwembad
Seljavallalaug Zwembad
Seljavallalaug Zwembad
Seljavallalaug Zwembad

My number one tip: stay close to the river. It’s easier to cross the river where it’s wide and shallow, rather than where the water is running faster (I share this from firsthand experience: I fell in trying to use the rocks as a small bridge. No-worky).

Seljavallalaug Zwembad

After taking a dip, hop back in the car and drive a few miles down the road to Skogafoss , of the most recognizable waterfalls in the whole island! You can get essentially as close to the waterfall as you want, just be prepared to get wet!

Skogafoss with a rainbow

Places to see on Iceland’s South Coast

  • Seljalandfoss ♦♦♦ – You can also go behind this waterfall, but be prepared to get drenched! Don’t miss the other waterfalls along the mountain.
  • Seljavallalaug Zwembad ♦♦ – Bring waterproof shoes for this hike, and you’ll be rewarded with a very cool natural bath surrounded by mountains.
  • Skogafoss ♦♦♦ – We visited Skogafoss twice, once during a small snowstorm and once during sunshine. It’s amazing how different it looks depending on the weather!

4. Black Sand Beaches (Hella → Skaftafell)

Black sand beaches were one of the coolest things I was looking forward to seeing when I came to Iceland, and they didn’t disappoint. There are so many unique vantage points from which you can see stark contrast of the white foamy sea on ebony sand. Here are some of the best places to see Iceland’s black beaches.

  • Dyrholaey Arch ♦♦♦ – Even though the next spot on this list is better known, the area you reach after turning onto the road to Dyrholaey has some of the best views. There’s a lower parking lot, which offers great views, and a steep and trecherous gravel road that leads you to even better vistas (plus this lighthouse!).
Dyrholaey Arch
Reykjanes Lighthouse
  • Reynisfjara ♦ – I’ve got a confession: the basalt columns you find at this location are actually kind of tiny! There are so many tourists here, even in the dead of winter, that it’s not somewhere you’re going to want to spend a lot of time (unless of course you show up first thing in the morning and beat the crowds).
Reynisfjara black beaches
  • Sólheimasandur Plane Crash ♦ – The walk to this plane takes about 45 minutes each way. It’s extremely easy to find (there’s a wide path lined with reflective markers every 50 meters), just make sure the weather is going to cooperate on your walk!
Sólheimasandur place crash site
  • Fjaðrárgljúfur (Moss Canyon) ♦ – Covered in snow, the Moss Canyon leaves a lot to be desired (plus the road can be very icy in winter!). Minus the snow, there are a bunch of hiking trails in and above the canyon. I’d love to come back here when it’s green and beautiful, but I wouldn’t recommend the detour in Winter.
Moss Canyon

UPDATE – Apparently Moss Canyon was closed owing to hordes of visitors after Justin Bieber shot a music video there. I am not joking. It was scheduled to re-open in June 2019 according to this report but I do not know if that went according to schedule.

5. Glaciers (Skaftafell → Höfn)

If there’s anything that makes traveling Iceland in Winter a challenge, it has to be the unpredictable weather. It’s not that it’s obscenely cold, but that the weather can completely derail your plans for the day with little-to-no notice.

What you need to know about booking a glacier tour

  1. They’re very prone to be canceled due to weather. Booking another tour last minute may be possible! We had to do that when our original tour company canceled due to wind concerns.
  2. You can only go inside the ice caves during Winter, as they’re flooded the rest of the year! Check in advance if they will be open while you are visiting. You can still hike on glaciers during the Summer though.
  3. Try to visit less popular ice caves for a more intimate experience. In our experience, there are loads of tour groups coming to the same cave at the same time. If possible, opt for an ice cave besides Crystal Cave. This particular ice cave tour lasts 6 hours and visits more remote caves than the large group tours.

Where to experience glaciers and ice caves in Iceland

  • Svartifoss ♦♦ – In winter, I daresay Svartifoss isn’t accessible without crampons! A 2km hike that’s about half uphill, if you’re going in the winter you’re going to want the extra security of spikes under your shoes. From nearby you can also hike to see a great view over the glacier!
  • Skaftafell ♦♦ – This is one of the most popular places to actually hike on the glaciers. It’s really important to book in advance because, believe it or not, LOADS of people visit Iceland in Winter and want to do the exact same thing. You can either take a 3-hour glacier hike or a 5-hour glacier hike .
  • Ice Cave tour ♦♦ – Some companies operate on different glaciers and go to different caves, so you can get a more personal experience than if you go in a large group tour.
  • Jökulsárlón ♦♦ – Glacier Lagoon and the accompanying Diamond Beach is where chunks of glacier float out to sea, year-round. This beach is a very popular starting point for a number of ice cave tours.
13 Special Things To Do in Iceland in Winter

Iceland in Winter is totally unique. Whether it's ice caves, northern lights, hiking on a glacier, or seeing wild orcas, you'll love these Iceland winter activities. Learn about Iceland's winter weather, what to wear in Iceland in Winter, and Iceland winter safety tips.

Related post
Ice caves in Iceland
Ice caves in Iceland

Stay: Guesthouse Hafnarnes

Höfn ended up being one of my favorite small towns in Iceland, and an important component of this was definitely seeing the Northern Lights for the first time from Guesthouse Hafnarnes . There were intense, blistering cold winds which prevented us from taking photos without a bunch of blur from the wind shaking the tripod. Luckily, we could even see the northern lights from inside the guesthouse.

Northern Lights in Höfn

Eat: Pakkhús

It is amazing what five days in Iceland will do to your sense of what is expensive and what is a bargain. Case in point: we got a recommendation from the host at the guesthouse that Pakkhús is a great place to eat for dinner. The special of the day was $50 for a three course meal – and we thought to ourselves, “Wow, that’s a good deal! Someone has to get it.” In my normal, non-Iceland life I would never spend $50 on a single meal. But in this country, it was a really good deal and in fact, the best meal of the entire trip.

Icelandic food at Pakkhús

You can try Icelandic lobster here “on a budget” in the form of lobster soup for $18. It sounds insane, but you will not be as offended by this price by the time you get here 😜

6. From the East Fjords to North Iceland (Höfn → Mývatn)

Today is a long day of driving, but easily one of the most scenic, culminating in Europe’s most deadly waterfall just before nightfall. So get yourself some road snacks and let’s start this beautiful drive!

East Fjords in Iceland

One thing I noticed about this drive along Iceland’s east coast was that the climate changed dramatically from the south. There, we experienced a ton of snow and storms, but on the east we had clear blue skies and saw mostly moss and exposed rock. There are more black beaches, and the east is dotted with small industrial towns where you can pull off to visit the general store or get gas at an unmanned gas station.

Seydisfjordur
Seydisfjordur

My top tip for today would be make sure you have a good playlist! It’s the longest day of driving, and you’ll spend most of your time looking at beautiful mountainscapes from the car.

Places to see in East Iceland

  • Gorgeous drive along the Eastern Fjords ♦♦♦ – This long and windy road will keep you close to the sea. Keep an eye out for possible road closures in Winter, as you may need to improvise and take a slight detour off the Ring Road.
  • Egilsstaðir ♦ – The only “major city” in East Iceland, here you can stock up at the grocery store, get gas, and even buy some crampons at a local outdoors shop (bear in mind: winter hours mean they open at 3pm).
  • Seyðisfjörður ♦♦ – You have to take a mountain pass from Egilsstaðir to access Seyðisfjörður, but if weather permits it’s worth it to visit this adorable harbor town. There’s a weekly ship that heads to the Faraoe Islands and then on to Denmark from here, but the main attraction has to be one of Iceland’s prettiest, tiniest churches. Coming out of town, you can also pull off to see a small waterfall, naturally.
  • Dettifoss ♦♦♦ – Dettifoss can be accessed from two different directions, from the east and from the west. On the East, you’ll meet an unpaved road which may be closed in Winter (it was for us). This side let’s you get right to the edge of Dettifoss, which is amazing for photos. The road on the West is newer, paved, and you only have to walk for about 20 minutes to reach the waterfall along a paved path. If you have the time, it’s probably worth it to view Dettifoss from both sides.
  • Selfoss ♦♦♦ – While Dettifoss is more powerful, Selfoss is definitely the prettier waterfall. The distance markers are a bit misleading, as Selfoss is a quick walk from the car park and will be your last stop of the day.
Selfoss

Stay: Dimmuborgir Guesthouse

From the pair of waterfalls, you’ll continue to Mývatn , which you’ll likely only see by night today. Right on the East Coast of the lake you’ll find the Guesthouse Dimmuborgir , which is basically a series of cute cabins outfitted with kitchens and either a lake view or a crater view. It’s also a great location to start the next day exploring the lake area.

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    7. Explore Mývatn and the Northeast (Mývatn → Akureyri)

    Mývatn has to be one of the most alien areas of Iceland that you can encounter from the Ring Road. The landscape largely comprises lava rock, and the craters especially make it feel like you’re on another planet. In this area you’ll also find a less commercialized alternative to the Blue Lagoon, which is definitely worth a visit.

    Things to do around Mývatn and North Iceland

    • Dimmuborgir ♦ – These lava formations were supposedly home to the “Yule Lads”, a gang of trolls who lived in these formations. It’s said that the area looks like an entire city formed out of lava rocks, but it’s hard to see it when it’s covered in snow. I bet this place is more interesting once the snow melts.
    • Námafjall Hverir ♦♦ – If you’ve been to geothermal areas elsewhere on this trip, you should still visit this one – it’s bigger and more impressive than the others, and you can get even closer to some of the springs and bubbling pits.
    • Mývatn Nature Baths ♦♦ – A much less expensive alternative to the Blue Lagoon, here you can experience the Icelandic tradition of naked bathing and getting into ultra hot water. In the winter it’s hard to see the surrounding landscape because of the steam coming off of the water, but that also makes it even more interesting to explore.
    • Krafla Power Plant ♦ – Iceland is a leader in producing the energy consumed in the country using geothermal means, and this powerplant is just one that harnesses nature to provide power to homes in Iceland. In the Spring you can take a tour of the plant, but in the mean time you can still drive up to the plant and see it at work.
    • Skútustaðagígar ♦ – You can walk around the rim of some of these craters, which is definitely a unique experience. You’ll encounter these craters when doing a loop around Myvatn, you basically can’t miss them from the car window!
    • Góðafoss ♦♦♦ – Take it in because Góðafoss is the last proper waterfall we’re going to encounter in Iceland! Luckily it’s very beautiful, and extremely easy to access from the Ring Road. You can basically park next to the waterfall, and it can be accessed by foot from both sides by a bridge.
    Dimmuborgir
    Dimmuborgir
    Námafjall Hverir geothermal area
    Námafjall Hverir geothermal area
    Myvatn nature baths
    Myvatn nature baths
    Krafla power plant
    Krafla power plant
    Skútustaðagígar craters in Iceland
    Skútustaðagígar craters in Iceland
    Godafoss
    Godafoss

    Stay: Iceland Air Hotel Akureyri

    Tonight you’ll arrive in the second largest city in Iceland, Akureyri . Compared to all the small towns we’ve seen lakely, Akureyri feels pretty poppin’. We won’t do any sight-seeing here, just walk around the city in the evening, a quick look at the church (which was designed by the same architect as the Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavik), and of course: dinner. There are also a bunch of souvineer shops in Akureyri if you’re still missing a postcard or viking helmet 😉

    There are more choices for a hotel in Akureyri than almost anywhere else on this list, but Iceland Air Akureyri has a great location you can use to walk anywhere in the center of town, including past the church. Enjoy the feeling of civilization before we head back out into the country tomorrow!

    Iceland Air Hotel Akureyri

    8. From Northwest Iceland to the Snæfellsnes peninsula (Akureyri → Snæfellsnes)

    Today also involves a lot of driving (I know, I’m saying that a lot: but we are on a road trip!) but it’s not as scenic as the one along the East Fjords. That said, there are still a number of points of interest you can use to punctuate the day, such as stopping at the turf houses in Glaumbaer or walking down to the Hvitserkur, a rock in the sea that looks like a rhino.

    Icelandic horse

    Towards the end of the day, we’re going to meet the most photographed mountain in Iceland, Kirkjufell (Church Mountain), as well as one of the most famous churches, Búðakirkja (Black Church). Both can be visited again the next day, but today is the day we can take in both at sunset!

    Places to see in Northwest Iceland

    • Hvitserkur ♦♦ – On the detour up to this rhino-shaped rock formation, you’ll do a tour around a peninsula which gives you the best possible view of the West Fjords you’ll get on this trip! Hvitserkur is relatively small, but if you plan it right you can come during low tide to get a closer photo.
    Hvitserkur
    • Turf houses in Glaumbaer ♦♦♦ – Come here to see some preserved turf houses, a short detour from the Ring Road. There’s also a museum, but the hours in Winter are irregular, and you can visit the turf houses and a very sweet neighboring church at no cost.
    Icelandic turf houses
    • Go inland (during Summer) for hiking – Iceland has so-called F-roads, which go deep in the heart of the country. In the winter it’s not possible to access the interior (even with four-wheel drive!) but in the Summer you can drive inland for hiking in Kerlingarfjöll and see incredible rust-colored hills.

    Places to see on the Snæfellsnes peninsula

    • Kirkjufell ♦♦♦ – Bring an ultra-wide angle lens to take that iconic shot of Kirkjufell! You really need to fit a lot in to get the waterfall and the mountain. The combination of the two is really special, albeit unoriginal (which is how you may feel trying to squeeze in to the row of professional-looking photographers all taking the same picture as you 😂).
    Kirkjufell
    • Búðakirkja ♦♦♦ – The black church is right off the Ring Road and a perfect last stop for your first day on the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
    Budakirkja
    • Hellnar ♦ – We came here looking for a gas station (spoiler: it’s no longer in service) but stopped for a coffee and to have a look at the church in Hellnar which is especially nice.
    Hellnar
    • Lóndrangar ♦♦ – This lava field paired with rock formations is said to be the location of the Elf Church and Elf Library. It takes a lot of imagination to get there, but that’s one reason why this field is so special.
    • Borgarnes ♦ – One of the more sizable towns between the Penninsula and Reykjavik, this is where I bought my Icelandic wool sweater!

    Places to stay on Snæfellsnes peninsula

    • Grundarfjörður – This tiny town is right next to Kirkjufell. If you’re going to want to take photos of this mountain at sunrise or during the northern lights, you might find it very convenient to stay here!
    • Guesthouse Kast – One of the only places you can eat dinner in the sparsely populated peninsula, staying here would be a great optimization. Here we really experienced more home-style Icelandic food, and the staff was incredibly kind. They also have a northern lights wakeup list, and the wifi works really well.
    • Guesthouse Hof – Some real budget accomodation in the area, you actually share a guesthouse with other people. That said, at $65 a night, it’s hard to complain…especially when each house also comes with a jacuzzi! If you don’t need a lot of privacy, the view of the sunset over the ocean and jacuzzi combo is pretty amazing.
    Kirkjufell during northern lights

    9. Finish the Snæfellsnes peninsula and head to Reykjavik (Snæfellsnes → Reykjavik)

    Anything you missed yesterday can be reached today by doing a loop around the peninsula and then continuing on to Reykjavik . The first day, we saw Kirkjufell and Búðakirkja. The next day we saw Kirkjufell again, and visited the rest of the places on the list. There are also a few opportunities we didn’t take, such as climbing down into a cave (there are descents every hour).

    You can stop in Borgarnes on your way to Reykjavik if you need gas, something from the supermarket, or in my case, an Icelandic wool sweater!

    Depending on when your flight is, you can visit Reykjavik tonight or spend the day around the city.

    10. Depart from Reykjavik (Reykjavik → Home)

    Anything you haven’t done yet in Iceland, today is the day to do it. Pick up your sweater, try on a viking helmet, get some postcards, or just take it easy and enjoy a beer in the pub. I think most people who’ve done the Ring Road are about as unenthusiastic about Reykjavik as I am, so don’t feel like you’ll miss much if you don’t spend enough time in this city.

    I didn’t do much in Reykjavik, but I would recommend the two restaurants I tried: Icelandic Fish & Chips and Drunk Rabbit Pub. If you want to try more Icelandic foods, it’s probably less expensive (but still expensive) to do this on the countryside!

    Reykjavik

    Ideas for things to do in Reykjavik

    • Visit the Hallgrímskirkja – Bear in mind that the winter hours for going up in the church for a view over Reykjavik are very limited! We missed the possibility by mere minutes, which was very frustrating, especially because it was still bright and sunny. In any case, it is still beautiful from the outside.
    • See the Harpa – There was a lot of construction around this beautiful building when we were there, so the view was not as nice as it could’ve been.
    • See the Sun Voyager sculpture – In the harbor in Reykjavik, you can come see this shiny metal ship that resembles a viking ship.
    • Walk around the tiny downtown – Reykjavik can be explored in approximately one afternoon, so take the time to meander around town and see some of Reykjavik’s cute, historic streets. Just don’t be taken aback when you hear more English than Icelandic in this tourist-heavy town.

    Time to fly home!

    Being on the road for ten days in Icelandic is not enough to see and do everything, but definitely sufficient to get you thinking about visiting in another season!

    Have you been to Iceland?

    What’s the number one thing that you want to experience? Let me know in comments! Especially if you have anything you think I missed in this itinerary!!

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      About the author

      Hi there! I'm Monica, an American expat living in Germany for over six years and using every opportunity to explore the world from my homebase in Berlin. My goal is to capture my memories in photos and posts that show how easy it is to start from scratch and travel the world by working abroad.

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