The Best Iceland Itinerary: 7 Days (2024)
Looking for a 7 day Iceland itinerary? One full week in Iceland is an optimal amount of time to see the country.
Iceland can be explored in even less time (see my 5 day itinerary) but 7 days in the country is much better – it gives you a lot more legroom; more time to see the things there are to see, and to enjoy them.
My first trip to Iceland was 6 full days. Based on that experience, I know that that one extra day would have been very beneficial. I’m going to show you our basic itinerary and how we structured it, but also point out the things that I later realized we missed- so that you don’t miss them too.
I’m positive that this Iceland 7 day itinerary will show you the most fascinating and stunning sights in South Iceland.
So, let’s jump in!
What To Know About This Itinerary
✅ People generally rent a car to exploring Iceland for one week, although you don’t need to. Below, there’s an example of one Iceland 7 day itinerary with a car, and one without.
✅ This 7 day Iceland itinerary includes 7 full days in Iceland. It doesn’t include the arrival or departure day. Set aside an additional 1-2 days for your flight days
✅ It can be done with all ages. There is quite a bit of driving on day 3, which was frustrating for my 7 year old when we went. There also might be a few activities you decide not to do if you’re in Iceland with really young kids. Overall though, you can take the itinerary and fit it to your group’s needs
✅ It can be done year round. My husband and I have visited Iceland in August and in February, and I will make recommendations of what you should keep in mind for winter or summer
Iceland Itinerary: 7 Days (Road trip)
Arrival day in Iceland
On your arrival day in Iceland, try to fit Blue Lagoon in right after you land at the airport and pick up your rental car.
Blue Lagoon is only a 25 minute drive from the Keflavik airport, so many people visit there right before or after flights. Doing it right after landing in Iceland gives you a chance to refresh after your flight.
If you do head to Blue Lagoon, budget to spend around 2 hours there; including the time needed to check in, shower beforehand, and soak in the hot springs. It closes at 10pm.
After Blue Lagoon, (or after you leave the airport if you opt not to visit the lagoon) the goal is to head further east. This will save time on Day 1.
Pro Tip: There’s a small town called Selfoss just east of Reykjavik that has some grocery stores. It might be a good idea to stop there to pick up snacks, and food for road.
Drive about 90 minutes east of Reykjavik on the Ring Road 1, and check into an accommodation near a town called Hvollsvollur.
Here are some accommodation options in the area:
- Hellisholar Cottages (where we stayed) Beautiful wilderness views from the cottages
- Kviholmi Premium Apartments – Free parking and wifi, rooms have a small fridge and coffee maker
- Fljotsdollir HI Hostel– Former farmhouse converted into a hostel. Have access to a kitchen, and luggage storage (Important – you need to email or call to book, and pay in cash only upon arrival.)
Day 1: Journey to Vik, making stops along the way
Total Driving Time:
After grabbing breakfast, set out earliest for your journey towards Vik. There is a only X of driving time to reach the town of Vik, but three stops to make along the way.
1. Stop #1: DC plane engine
Time required: 1-2 hours
As soon as you check out of your accommodation near Hvollsvollur, head straight to the DC Plane Wreck if you’re interested in seeing it. It should only be an 5-10 minute drive from your accommodation.
This plane crashed in the early 70s, (luckily no one was hurt) and is today a very popular tourist attraction.
There is a carpark to visit this airplane, but be aware that it’s a 4 km (2.4 mile) hike from the carpark to the airplane.
For this reason, you’ll need about 2 hours to visit the plane, to account for the walking. The other option is to take the shuttle, which is a 10 minute ride, each way and will save you time.
The shuttle to the DC airplane needs to be booked online in advance. The earliest shuttle leaves at 10am, and I would recommend grabbing a seat on that one, to leave more time in the rest of the day.
Pro Tip: All ages can ride the shuttle. The costs is 3,000 ISK per adult (equivalent to to just over $20 USD.)
2. Stop #2: Seljandsfoss
Time required: less than an hour
Seljandsfoss is without a doubt, one of the best waterfalls in Iceland. A big part of what sets it apart is the walkway behind the waterfall, that allows you to view it from all angles.
There is a carpark just a short walk to the waterfall, and then you can probably spend around 30 minutes doing the loop around the waterfall, admiring it from all angles.
Pro Tip: If you have any rain gear with you (which I’d highly recommend for Iceland) wear it to visit this waterfall, as it is very misty behind the waterfall. I only wore a hoodie, but it got a little damp.
3. Stop # 3: Skogafoss
Time required: less than an hour
Around 30 minutes after leaving Seljandsfoss waterfall, you’ll arrive at the other most popular waterfall in Iceland – Skogafoss. Skogafoss is one of the tallest waterfalls in the country, with a drop of almost 200 feet.
While you can’t walk behind it, there is a staircase that allows you to walk up to the top and get a photo of the cascades falling over the cliff.
Skogafoss waterfall is about a 5 minute walk from the large parking lot. You can stand near the bottom and get photos in front, and climb up the staircase.
Head back to your car for another short drive to the final destination for today.
4. Final Stop: Vik
It should be early afternoon by the time you arrive in the village of Vik i Myrdal. Usually just called “Vik,” the village has about 300 residents, and is known for its cute red and white church on a hill, surrounded by dramatic terrain.
I recommend stopping at Black Sands Beach, or walking there after parking in Vik.
You can either park at the Black Sands beach parking lot, or you can park in Vik (which is what we did) and walk to Black Sands Beach, which takes around x minutes.
5. Head to Black Sands Beach
Time required: less than an hour
The most popular attraction in Vik is, by far – Black Sands Beach. You can visit this before or after checking into accommodation, but I would recommend before.
Black Sands Beach is known for its tall basalt columns. On certain days, when the tide isn’t in, you can get up close to them, and even sit on them. Climbing isn’t recommended, although you might see people doing it.
There are washrooms and a place to grab fast food at Black Sands Beach. You can also head into the town of Vik if you’re hungry – there are several restaurants which I’ll list below.
Places to Stay overnight in Vik (1 night)
- Budget: Hótel Vík i Myrdal Scenic views from the hotel, restaurant on-site and breakfast is included
- Mid Range: Hótel Kría Located amongst the mountains with full-length windows, Hotel Kria offers a free hot breakfast
- Luxury: Hótel Katla by Keyhotels Outdoor hot tubs and sauna, just 5km from Vik. Breakfast included
Places to Eat in Vik
If you’re craving American-style fast food, then head to Smiðjan Brugghús for burgers or Black Crust Pizzeria for pizza.
For Icelandic cuisine, there is Restaurant Suður-Vík, and Halldórskaffi.
Pro Tip: I also highly recommend Skool Beans Cafe for one of your Vik meals. It’s a converted school bus turned into a café.
Day 2: Glacier Hike + Glacier Lagoon
On the morning of day 2 in Iceland, grab breakfast at your accommodation, and check out.
After you’ve checked out, head to the meeting spot for the Sólheimajökull glacier hike which is just a 5 minute drive from downtown Vik.
1. Sólheimajökull Glacier hike in Vik
Time required: 3 hours
Sólheimajökull Glacier is.
It’s important to know that all travellers must be 8+ years old to hike the Sólheimajökull glacier. If you have young kids with you, then there are many other things to do in Vik that I’ll list below.
If you want to do the glacier hike, the earliest one leaves at 9:30am, there’s also a 10:30am option. Book the glacier hike in advance, as it’s one of the “likely to sell out” activities.
The Sólheimajökull glacier hike will take you with a guide through some very interesting terrain that is probably unlike anything you’ve seen. I felt like we were on the set of Star Wars or something (apparently, some Star Wars scenes were shot here.)
All your equipment is provided, and a guide will lead you through the terrain. It was one of the highlights of our trip in Iceland, so I highly recommend the Sólheimajökull glacier hike.
If you don’t want to do the Sólheimajökull glacier hike, here are some other things to do in Vik:
- Go check out Dyrholaey, which is popular for nesting puffins in the spring. 12 km or 7.4 miles from Vik
- Katla Ice Cave tour – 3 hours long. Book here
- Go horseback riding – book on the Vik horse adventure website here.
If neither of these things interest you, you can also simply drive straight to Glacier Lagoon and have extra time there.
2. Drive to glacier lagoon
Time required: 2.5 hours
After your glacier hike or whatever other morning activity you choose in Vik, make your way to Glacier Lagoon.
Glacier Lagoon is probably the most iconic attraction in Iceland, so I would head straight there without stopping. (There will be opportunity to make stops when you come back the other way tomorrow.)
If you did the glacier hike, it might be a good idea to grab lunch in Vik before heading to Glacier Lagoon.
Otherwise, there is a cafe at the Glacier Lagoon that is open until 5, 6 or 7pm depending on the time of year.
Pro Tip: To have more time at Glacier Lagoon, I recommend having a snack prepared, and just heading straight there after the glacier hike and having a bigger meal later. But the choice is yours.
3. See glacier lagoon and diamond beach
Time required: 1 hour minimum, maybe up to 2
Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach are only a 2 minute walk from each other.
You could spend x admiring the lagoon, and the large blocks of ice at the diamond beach. This is what we did. I simply just wanted to take in the sights. We sat there for a long time just admiring it, as I’d never seen anything like this in my life.
If you want, there are boat tours in the glacier lagoon – and some of them leave later in the day.
You can go kayaking on the glacier lagoon (about $150 per person for a 2.5 hour tour starting at 3:30pm.)
Or, there are boat tours that you can book through the Glacier Lagoon directly that leave as late at 16:20 and 17:40. See details and book here.
4. Check into accommodation for 1 night
Aim for an accommodation that is just west of Glacier Lagoon, to make your drive tomorrow shorter and allow more time for visiting Svartifoss waterfall if you choose to.
Here are some options just west of Glacier Lagoon:
- Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon (20 minutes from Glacier Lagoon)
- Hotel Skaftafell (40 minutes from Glacier Lagoon)
Day 3: Journey back to Reykjavik, making stops along the way
Check out of your accommodation, and start making your way back west on the Ring Road 1, the way you came.
There are two optional stops to make on the way that I’d recommend – Svaritfoss waterfall, and the Canyon.
Stop # 1:Svartifoss waterfall
Time required: Around 2 hours
Svartifoss is a really unique looking waterfall, surrounded by basalt columns (the same kind you find at black sands beach.)
Visiting may not be for everyone, because you need to walk for about 1 hour to get to it. It’s an easy, family-friendly walk however.
The trail to follow to get to Svartifoss is 3.2 km or 1.9 miles roundtrip. It’s a great way to start your morning and get some steps in before the long day of driving ahead.
Stop # 3: Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
We had not planned to see Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, but saw the turn-off from the Ring Road. Turns out, I am so glad we saw it.
This canyon was used in a Game of Thrones scene (where Daenerys Targaryen flies her dragons through it.)
You don’t need a lot of time to visit the canyon, but you could spend up to an hour if you wanted to. There’s a walkway along the top of the cliffs that you can walk along, enjoying the views.
We probably spend about half an hour walking along the cliff’s edge, and it was definitely time well spent.
Pro Tip: Visiting Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is free of charge, and there is a parking lot located about 3 km from the Ring Road.
Stop #4: (Optional) Lunch stop in Vik
Vik is another 68 km (42 miles) – around 50 minutes driving time from the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon canyon in case you want to stop for lunch.
Continue on to Reykjavik after lunch, which will take another 2 hours from Vik.
Stop # 4: Check into accommodation in Reykjavik
Here are some recommendations for places to stay in Reykjavik:
- Budget: Hotel Reykjavik Grand
- Mid-Range: Hotel Orkin
- Luxury: Entire Villa with Outdoor Sauna and Views of Reykjavik
Day 4: Explore Reykjavik
Yesterday was a long, busy day on the road, so use day 5 to take it easy and explore Reykjavik.
At this point, you could turn in your rental car if you want to. You could still use it, or you could take day tours from Reykjavik for day 5 and 6.
Things to do while walking around Reykjavik (doing them in this order would work as they’re all within walking distance of eachother):
- Walk along the harbour, and check out the Sun Voyager sculpture (pictured above)
- Walk down Laugavegur street in the heart of downtown Reykjavik, which is full of restaurants, bars and Icelandic souvenir shops
- Visit the famous Hallgramiska church, go inside and climb to the top for a view of Reykjavik. (It costs ISK 1000 for adults to climb to the top and you must be 7+.)
- Visit the The Settlement Exhibition which shows you the Viking history of the city and of Iceland. It’s right downtown, just a short walk from attractions
Optional evening activity in Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour
Northern Lights Tours in Reykjavik typically start between 9 and 10pm, and run for 2-4 hours. It isn’t guaranteed that you’ll see the lights.
Check the Aurora borealis Iceland forecast in advance. If you want to book a northern lights tour for tonight or one of the next 2 nights, then here are some options:
- Northern Lights Yacht cruise from Reykjavik (2 hours) about $100 per person
- Northern Lights Bus tour from Reykjavik (4 hours) and about $150 per person
Day 5: Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is a drive east of Reykjavik that includes four very special gems that are worth seeing – the famous Geysir, Thingvellir National Park, Gulfoss Waterfall and the Kerid Crater.
In fact, I think its worth it to come to Iceland just to see these things alone. Expect it today a good full day (5-8 hours, depending on how long you want to spend at each place) to explore the Golden Circle.
If you’re not wanting to do your own driving, there are several Golden Circle tours offered out of Reykjavik.
Stop # 1: Thingvellir
Time needed: around 2 hours
Thingvellir is a good ‘first stop’ on the Golden Circle, because its the place where you likely need the most time.
You could spend lots of time at Thingvellir National Park – all day if you wanted to. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Sight, and known for being the one place in the world where you can stand between two continental plates– Europe and North America.
In the summer, you can do scuba diving or snorkeling between the two continental plates. (Takes about 3 hours, and costs around $170 per person.
There are also walking and hiking trails, as well as horseback riding in the park.
- You could do a 4.3 km (2.6 mile) hike to Öxarárfoss Waterfall
- Lögberg – Drekkingarhylur hike, which is only 1.6 km (0.9 miles) and fairly easy.
- Thingvellir Loop, which is quite challenging and takes about 3 hours to complete
See more details of the above the Thingvellir website.
Stop # 2: The Geysir
Time needed: 20-30 minutes
Be sure to make a stop at the Geysir to see the x foot tall explosion of water into the air. It ‘erupts’ every 15 minutes, so you will need at least 30 minutes to see it erupt twice.
We stood there in the rain with groups of other tourists to watch it go at least twice.
You want to witness the geysir least once without your camera, so you can experience it – but then you might want to do a second time with your camera to get a good shot of it. Depending on how quick you are, you might need at least 45 minutes here.
You can also take some time to walk around the whole area, as there are other little bubbling ponds of geothermal water, plus a second (smaller) geysir.
Stop # 3: Gulfoss
Time needed: 30 minutes
Gulfoss Waterfall is near the Geysir, just 10 minutes away. You can get views from a distance, plus walk along the path way which will take you right in front of the cascades (see photos below.)
You will likely be hungry by the time you arrive at Gulfoss. There’s a restaurant on-site where you can grab food. See the menu here.
Stop # 4: Kerid Crater
Time needed: 20- 30 minutes
Kerid Crater is very cool, and worth seeing- but if you’re completely ‘done’ by end of the day after seeing the other three attractions, you could skip Kerid Crater (either do it tomorrow, or just omit all together.)
If you have the time and energy, Kerid Crater can be a quick stop. You can view the crater from above, and even walk down to the water’s edge. The water is a turquoise colour, and the sand reddish.
Day 6: Snaefullness Peninsula
One of the best things about spending a full 7 days in Iceland is that you have time to see the Snaefellness Peninsula, which is one of the best places to visit in Iceland – which most tourists miss out on.
Snaefellness is just as scenic as the Ring Road, but you can see much more in a shorter distance and with less time. It’s just under 2 hours north of Reykjavik.
In addition, it takes around 2 hours to drive around the entire peninsula – but you should add another couple hours onto that, to account for all the stops you’ll make.
If you’d rather not drive, book this day trip to the Snaefellness Peninsula from Reykjavik. (11 hour tour, for about $120ish per person and leaves at 8am and 9am.)
Drive towards the peninsula. It will take just under 2 hours to drive there from Reykjavik, and you should give yourself the rest of the day to explore it. There are some really beautiful and incredible things to see.
Here are some stops to make (in order) on the Snaefellness Peninsula.
1. Gerðuberg Cliffs
Time needed: 20-30 minutes
Gerðuberg Cliffs are basalt cliffs, similar to the ones at the Black Sands Beach. There is a parking nearby, and you only need a short amount of time to admire these symmetrical rock formations. If you’re lucky, you may even see some wild horses!
2. Budakirka
Time needed: 10 minutes
Budakirka is a black wooden church built in the 1800s, surrounded by the Icelandic countryside and the sea.
It’s worth a quick stop stop (10-15 minutes) to take some photos of, and admire the surroundings.
We didn’t go inside the church, and I don’t think you can or even need to. The main draw is just to see it from the outside with the surroundings because its so quaint looking.
3. Arnastapi village
Arnastapi is a small town in Snaefellness. It has a few good places to eat, such as Stapinn (good portions of comfort food) or Samkomuhúsið Arnarstapa for Icelandic food.
Pro Tip: These are not by any means the only places to eat on the peninsula – there are restaurants scattered throughout.
3. Bárður Snæfellsás Statue
Time needed: 10-15 minutes
The Bárður statue is one of the most interesting things to see on the Snaefellness peninsula. It’s a 19-foot tall statue of Bárður, a human giant hybrid from Icelandic sagas.
It’s interesting to look at, but even more so if you have interest in Icelandic folklore. It was built by an Icelandic sculptor in the late 1970s and is a popular stop for those visiting the Snaefellness peninsula.
We stopped here, and walked right up to the statue. Like others, its just a quick stop but worth checking out for its uniqueness.
4. Lóndrangar
Time needed: 30 minutes
Lóndrangar are rock pinnacles and cliffs right along the sea, and 100% worth a stop on the Snaefellness peninsula. They’re located right at the western tip of the peninsula, and are popular with nesting birds.
We spent about 20 minutes walking along the cliffs, checking out the rock formations and the archway.
It can be windy along the cliff, so be sure to wear something warm!
5. Kirkjufellsfoss
Time needed: around 30 minutes
Kirkjufellsfoss mountain and waterfall is probably the most iconic thing to see in Snaefellness. It’s so distinct looking – the mountain reminded me of something from a Dr. Seuss book, and with accompanying small waterfall its quite the sight.
There is a hike you can do, but it would take 2 hours so there probably wouldn’t be time for it today.
We just simply parked and took photos of Kirkjufells, which you can do in less than an hour.
The parking fee for Kirkjufell at the time was 700 ISK, and you can access the lot year-round. Road 54 leading you to the lot is mostly paved, with some gravel sections.
After Kirkjufellsfoss, make the 2 hour drive back to Reykjavik. There are some small towns to stop at along the way, such as Borganes if you want to grab food – but otherwise you could wait until you reach Reykjavik.
Day 7: Discover Iceland’s wildlife or natural wonders
Spending the last day seeing wildlife in their natural habitat is a great way to leave you in awe of this amazing country. There are puffin and whale tours out of Reykjavik in the summer, and some fascinating museums to visit.
Here are some suggestions:
- Puffin tour (summer only) 1 hour tour, they leave frequently throughout the day from Reykjavik. About $50 per person
- Whale-watching tour (summer only) 2.5 hour tour and about $100 per person.
- Perlan Museum of Wonders – amazing museum with interactive exhibits about Iceland’s geology. There’s a man-made ice cave, and and aurora show, lots of information. We spent hours here and loved it.
- Whales of Iceland -really interesting museum where you can see live-size structures of whales, and learn about them. Great for adults or with kids. I love whales, so this was one of my favourite things to do in Reykjavik. It’s located just north of the old town, about a 15-20 minute walk. There’s plenty of parking. See admission ticket options here.
Iceland Itinerary: 7 Days FAQ
Here are the most commonly asked questions about spending a week in Iceland
Is 7 days enough to see Iceland?
Yes, 7 days is enough time to see the best of Iceland. You can fit quite a bit into 7 days in Iceland. It gives you enough time to explore all the the highlights on the south Ring Road, Reykjavik, and a little bit of Western Iceland (north of Reykjavik) too.
Is 1 week in Iceland too much?
One week in Iceland is not too much – it is ideal. You need a bare minimum of 5 days in Iceland to make the trip worth it, and two extra days gives you more time to see extra things that you wouldn’t have time for in 5 days.
How many days in Iceland to make it worth it?
You need at least 5 days in Iceland to make it worth the visit, because it takes at least 2-3 days to do the trip out to Glacier Lagoon and back. Plus, you still need to see Reykjavik and some of the surrounding areas.
Can you do the Ring Road in 7 days?
You can do with south Ring Road only in 7 days. Theoretically, you could do the full Ring Road in 7 days, but you would spend more of your trip driving than having a chance to really enjoy anything, and I don’t recommend it.
Final Thoughts on Spending a Week in Iceland
I hope that this Iceland 7 days itinerary has given you every step you need for your week in Iceland. I truly hope that has given you each of the steps and knowledge you need to see everything you want in this short time.
7 days isn’t a lot, but you can see a lot in Iceland in that time. I truly hope that this itinerary has been helpful, and that you have a great week in Iceland!