Once you have decided what time of year and how long you want to visit Iceland, you might think about planning your itinerary. For choosing a trip program, you can stay on our tour packages with already worked-out routes. The good thing about choosing a prepared package is that you do not need to work out the details of the trip and accommodation. However, how to make sure that the route is optimal for you, and you do not miss something interesting worth coming to Iceland. To better understand the variety of Iceland’s tourist attractions, we would like to introduce you to the most popular routes.
Most travelers visit Iceland by arriving at Keflavik International Airport and then exploring local attractions in two ways. The first is to spend most of your time in Reykjavik and take day trips along the most popular routes out of town. This option is handy during the low season. According to the second scenario, travelers try to spend most of their time outside the city to minimize road overlapping or they even take a trip around the island; this option is convenient in the summertime. The most numerous trips in Iceland in terms of supply and demand are day trips from Reykjavik.
Golden Circle
Golden Circle is the most popular route in Iceland. The trip duration along the route is 8 hours, and the driving distance is about 250 km / 156 miles. The route goes to the northeast of Reykjavik passes through three important sites for Iceland’s history and geology: Thingvellir National Park, the site of the American and Eurasian tectonic plate fracture, and the site of the ancient Althing Parliament, formed during the Viking Age in the 10th century. The second place of the route is the Haukadalur Valley, or as it is also called the Geyser’s Valley. This place became famous thanks to the first gushing hot spring in Europe, Geysir, which erupted for hundreds of years, but today its activity is insignificant. There is another geyser in the valley – Strokkur, which attracts tourists with frequent eruptions. And finally, the third attraction of the route is the Gullfoss waterfall, one of the symbols of Iceland and the second-largest waterfall in the country.
The Golden Circle classic route can have additional attractions, such as a visit to the Secret Lagoon or the Fontana Spa. Alternatively, you can combine the route with snowmobiling at the Langjokull Glacier or snorkeling in the Silfra fissure. These additions increase the travel time, so combined tours are possible in the spring-summer period when daylight allows traveling 10-12 hours a day. The Golden Circle route is shorter than other trails from Reykjavik and is recommended for first-time visitors to Iceland or if your time is limited.
South Coast
The South Coast is the second most popular route in Iceland. It goes east from Reykjavik towards the south shore along the Ring Road to Vik village and back. The trip duration is about 10 hours, and the driving distance is about 400 km / 250 miles. The main attractions on the way will be waterfalls and places along the ocean coast. The South Coast is a two-hour drive from Reykjavik, so the beginning and end of the trip will involve transfers from and to Reykjavik.
The main places along the route are the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, known by the trail behind, and Skogafoss the powerful and impressive waterfall, known for its rainbows on a sunny day. Both waterfalls are fed by rivers from the Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull glaciers. Glaciers are visible from the main road if low clouds do not obscure the volcanoes. Other attractions along the route are Dyrholaey south cape and Reynisfjara black sand beach. Dyrholaey is a volcanic rock formed by eruptions during the last Ice Age. Reynisfjara black sand beach is a must-see spot on the south coast. The beach is known for its volcanic sand and pebbles, vertical basalt columns, and Reinisdrangar cliffs. Another place along the route is the Solheimajokull glacier, the outlet of the Myrdalsjokull glacier covering the powerful Katla volcano. If you would like to hike the glacier, this can be arranged with one of the dedicated local operators. You can also combine the South Coast with other activities in the region, such as snowmobiling on the Myrdalsjokull glacier or quad biking on Solheimasandur Beach. Combined tours are possible during the summer when daylight is long enough for a 12-hour or more trip.
Extention of the South Coast route can be driving east from Vik to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, which doubles the route. The glacial lagoon is worth taking a Zodiac speedboat ride between floating icebergs and getting closer to the glacier descending into the water. The combined South Coast and Glacier Lagoon route is the longest possible in one day, 14-15 hours, and about 780 km /490 miles. It can be done during one day in the summer, in other seasons, it is better to plan a trip for two days. Then you will have extra time to visit the Fjadrargljufur Canyon, Skaftafell Park, and hike the Vatnajokull Glacier. In winter, glacier hikes are replaced by Ice Cave tours.
Snaefellsnes Peninsula
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is another popular route from Reykjavik. We suggest a trip to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula for those who have already visited the Golden Circle and South Coast and want to explore more secluded places. This route is well suited for nature lovers and photographers. The landscapes of the Snaefellsnes peninsula will pleasantly surprise and remain in your memory. In terms of duration, the route is designed for 10 hours, and the travel distance is about 440 km / 275 miles. The long-distance is because the peninsula is a two-hour drive from Reykjavik, and you will spend half a day on a transfer from Reykjavik to the peninsula and back.
The route involves a trip along the coast of the peninsula around the famous volcano Snaefellsnesjokull covered by a glacier. This region is dominated by nature. Numerous lava fields, small waterfalls flowing down mountain slopes, and oceanic cliffs all await you on this route. The main attractions along the way: the old church of Budir and the yellow sand beach on the shore; Arnarstapi fishing village with beautiful ocean cliffs and many sea birds nesting in the area in summer; Londrangar rocky cliffs at the footage of Snaefellsjokull volcano; Djupalonsandur black sand beach that was once used as a station for fishing boats and onshore fish processing; Kirkjufell mountain, a favorite spot for photographers, and Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall opposite the mountain. Since this route is long for one day, the time for other activities is particularly limited. But, you still can add to the trip the Vatnshellir lava cave, a killer-whale sightseeing tour from Grundafjordur, or a boat trip from Stykkisholmur. The combined tours are recommended in summer, or the Snaefellsnes Peninsula route can be extended to two days.
Landmannalaugar
A route to Landmannalaugar from Reykjavik is a good addition to the described above. This route towards the central highlands requires 4×4 vehicles, preferably with good ground clearance for driving on a dirt road through fields of volcanic ash and solidified lava. A trip to Landmannalaugar is possible during the summer period, from mid-June to September, when the roads in this area are officially open. This route is well suited for hikers or those who want to soak in natural geothermal springs or just for active travelers. The route to Landmannalaugar with a short hike in the valley takes 10 hours, and by a distance is about 380 km / 238 miles. Landmannalaugar is a fairly large area that is part of the Fjallabak nature reserve and includes tens of kilometers of hiking trails. The local rhyolite mountains were formed during the ice ages and are colored yellow, red, orange, brown, green. This peculiar geological “rainbow” was formed at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level.
The route to Landmannalaugar runs east from Reykjavik on the Ring Road and then, after an hour’s drive, goes further north through the Fjarsarlon valley. On the way, you can stop at the Hjalparfoss and Sigoldufoss waterfalls. Then the asphalt road ends, and the wild nature begins. Another stop on the way will be at Frostastavatn Lake. In Landmannalaugar itself, the Brennistainalda and Blauhnjukur mountains are especially beautiful. After a short hike and a dip in the hot spring, the return journey will take you through the Domadalur valley. You can drive closer to Hekla, the most erupting volcano in Iceland, to explore fields of volcanic ash from recent eruptions.
Diamond Circle
The Diamond Circle can be described as a circular route in northeastern Iceland that includes some of the region’s most stunning attractions. Most travelers explore the Diamond Circle from Akureyri, the second-largest city in Iceland. You can get to Akureyri on the Ring Road from Reykjavik in 5 hours or fly from the local airport in 45 minutes. The route is suitable for all travelers, and the trip from Akureyri takes 10 hours; the travel distance is about 300 km / 188 miles.
The Diamond Circle includes 5 main attractions: The picturesque horseshoe-shaped Godafoss waterfall; This is followed by the famous Myvatn lake , whose unearthly blue and green landscapes will pleasantly surprise you. Here you can walk between Skutustadir pseudo-craters, visit the mystical lava fields of Dimmuborgir and soak in Myvatn natural geothermal baths. Not far from the lake, you will find a geothermal area called Hverir; The next attraction along the route is Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, formed by the melted waters of the Vatnajokull glacier; Further along, the path will be Asbyrgi, a crescent-shaped canyon. There are several trails in Asbyrgi that you can take for a walk among the trees that grow at the bottom of the canyon; The last stop along the route is a Husavik village, the whale capital of Iceland. Here you can additonally take a boat trip for whale watching. After that, the route ends at Akureyri. If you decide to stay for the night at Lake Myvatn, the sequence of destinations along the route can be reversed.
Ring Road
Iceland Circle Route provides the ideal journey around the island for those looking to get the most out of their time in the country. It includes the popular routes of Golden Circle, South Coast and Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Circle in the north, and Borgarfjordur area in the west. On a six-day drive along the famous Ring Road, you will discover Iceland’s many regions and landscapes. And if you wish, the route can be extended by including the Snaefellsnes Peninsula or Western Fjords in the trip.
The most convenient time for a Circle Route is summer. This will also be the right time for those wishing to explore the route in May or September. Below are the areas by day of the route around the island in a counterclockwise direction. Many people might choose to make a trip in the opposite direction, but this is at your discretion. The main thing is your desire, preparation for the trip, and favorable weather. Here below is axample of Classic Road trip in duration of 6 days / 5 nights,
Day 1. Golden Circle and South Coast | Hotel in Vik
Day 2. South-East Coast and Glacier Lagoon | Hotel in Hofn
Day 3. Scenic East Fjords and Hengifoss Waterfall | Hotel in Egilsstadir
Day 4. Dettifoss, Geothermal Sights, and Myvatn | Hotel at Myvatn Lake
Day 5. The North – From Mývatn to Laugarbakki | Hotel in Laugarbakki
Day 6. Historic West of Iceland & Return to Reykjavik | Hotel in Reykjavík