How to Experience the Best Iceland Has to Offer in 8 Days: An Itinerary
Our trip to Iceland was, hands down, the most incredible experience of my life. The 8-day trip, touring the Ring Road, was the perfect way to celebrate my 40th birthday. During the week, we visited countless waterfalls, snorkeled between the tectonic plates, and explored the gorgeous countryside. To summarize our trip in one word, it was unbelievable.
I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I said, “Wow!” on our trip. Every time we turned a corner, my jaw dropped to the floor. Iceland is truly the most beautiful place I’ve ever experienced. I would love for you to have a similar experience, so I’m sharing our jam-packed 8-day itinerary of Iceland.
Below, you’ll find our 8-day itinerary that took us all around the Ring Road. Each day, I’ve included suggestions of things for you to do, what we did, where we stayed, and what we ate. To help keep the article as brief as possible, I didn’t go into a ton of detail about each stop, but there are links embedded throughout the post that will help you learn more about what we saw, what we did, and where we stayed. We hope that sharing this information with you will help you plan for what will surely be one of the most incredible adventures of your life!
Table of Contents
Day One: Arrive in Iceland
When we arrived in Iceland, I was underwhelmed. The airport, located in Keflavik, is on a peninsula in the western part of Iceland. This is the least attractive part of Iceland. Don’t worry: it gets better! Much better.
Your first stop is the Blue Lagoon. What better way to unwind after a long flight than by relaxing in a geothermal pool? Stop by the mud mask bar (or the regular bar) to enhance your experience.
Related Post: Visiting a Pool or Lagoon in Iceland for Newbies
After you’ve been rejuvenated at the spa, it’s time to head into the city. In Reykjavik, you’ll find plenty of places to explore.
You can spend the rest of the day:
- Walking along the harbor (start at the Sun Voyager Statue and make your way to the Harpa Concert Hall)
- Shopping on Laugavegur
- Stopping by the Penis Museum
- Snap a selfie at the Rainbow Street
- Join a walking tour
- Go into the tower of Hallgrímskirkja (Iceland’s tallest church)
Suggested lodging: Sand Hotel by Kea Hotels
Suggested Eateries: Rossopomodoro (Italian), BrewDog Reykjavik, Ísbúðin litla Valdís (ice cream), Sandholt (bakery)
Our Experience
We arrived at the airport early in the morning and picked up our rental car. We immediately went to the Blue Lagoon where we had reservations to enjoy the lagoon. Our package came with a total of 4 different masks and 2 beverages. Despite the early hour, we grabbed some local beer to try while we indulged in the masks.
We spent about 2 hours at the Blue Lagoon before showering off, getting dressed, and driving to Reykjavik. Our post on the Blue Lagoon goes into detail about the various packages and what you can expect at the lagoon.
The drive to Reykjavik was a breeze. We quickly found a parking garage near Harpa Concert Hall (Arnarhóll, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland) and set out to explore the harbor area. Our first stop was the Penis Museum which…was…interesting.
Next, we walked to the Harpa Concert Hall. We stepped inside to marvel at the incredible glass structure. We walked along the seawall down to the Sun Voyager sculpture.
Realizing we were close to our hotel, we walked that way and checked in. Our hotel was surrounded by a bunch of shops, so after dropping off our luggage, we did a bit of shopping. We stopped by the iconic Rainbow Road before grabbing dinner and calling it a night.
Day Two: Golden Circle
You better double up on your caffeine this morning, today’s going to be a busy day! Say “Bless” (goodbye) to Reykjavik and drive to the Golden Circle. Your first stop is Thingvellir National Park, one of the most important sites in Icelandic History.
Suggestions for Thingvellir:
- Snorkel between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates
- Visit Lögberg (Law Rock) where the Icelandic Parliament once gathered
- Hike to Öxarárfoss
- Drive around the park to see the unique terrain
I cannot emphasize how awesome snorkeling between the tectonic plates was! I was nervous leading up to the experience, but oh man, all that anxiety was worth it. It was such a magical experience!
Next, you’ll head deeper into the Golden Circle, heading towards Vik on the southern coast. There are several places you can stop along the way, including Geysir, Brúarhlöð, Secret Lagoon, Kerid Crater, and Laugarvatn Fontana (to make geothermal bread).
Our stops included:
Suggested Lodging: Black Beach Suites
Pro Tip: If you have an extra day that you can tack on to your trip, this is an excellent place to do it. We missed a lot of things in the Golden Circle because we only had 1 day in this region.
Our Experience
Our first stop was Thingvellir National Park. We were in the park by 9:15, which ended up being perfect. Had we gotten there any later, we would have had to nix a few things later in the day due to time constraints.
I really wish we had more time to spend exploring the Golden Circle. Had we not spent as much time as we did at Thingvellir National Park, we would have been able to squeeze more in. However, we booked a 12:00 tour to snorkel between the tectonic plates at Silfra that lasted about 3.5 hours.
If you skip the snorkel tour (don’t), you’ll have time to squeeze in a few extra things like Brúarhlöð, Secret Lagoon, Kerid Crater, and Laugarvatn Fontana.
We got on the road around 4 to visit Geysir Geothermal Area. It was kind of neat to see the OG Geysir (this is the natural phenomenon where all other geysers get their name), but after seeing it erupt once or twice…you can pretty much just move on.
Iceland is home to thousands of waterfalls. As we made our way down to Vik, we passed tons of them. We made pitstops at some of them; Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, and Kvernufoss.
One of the benefits of visiting Iceland in the summer is the extremely long days. Take a guess at what time it is in the photo above. I’ll reveal the time in just a minute.
Our last stop of the day was Skogafoss, one of the more popular waterfalls along the route. What’s neat about Skogafoss is that it is 1) close to the parking lot, so it’s easy to access and 2) you get the view the waterfall from the base of it. You can literally feel the spray from the falls hit your face or dip your toes in the pool at the base of the fall.
What many people don’t realize is that there’s another (perhaps even more incredible) waterfall right next door! Kvernufoss (pictured above) was my favorite waterfall in all of Iceland! Not only can you view it from below, but you can also walk behind the waterfall! When we visited, there were several sheep grazing along the trail leading to the waterfall. It was a really neat experience.
And now…to answer the question…the photo above was taken at 10:48 PM!
Our hotel was about 30 minutes east of Kvernufoss, which meant we didn’t get in until about midnight, which made for a really long day. If I were to do this itinerary again, I’d tack on an extra day at Black Beach Suites and backtrack to Gljufrabui, Seljavallalaug swimming pool, Skogafoss, and Kvernufoss. We also didn’t get to visit the famous Reynisfjara Beach, which is right near the hotel, so I’d add that on, as well.
Day Three: Southeastern Coast
Today is all about ice! Book a tour of the Katla Ice Cave. The cave is everchanging, so each visit/tour is a unique experience. You’ll start your tour with a walk through a lava field before arriving at an ice cave. Your guide will lead your group across a series of planks and into the ice cave. It’s a pretty cool experience!
Afterward, drive to Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park. Here, you’ll embark on one of the most incredible hikes we experienced on the trip: the trek to Svartifoss.
From Vatnajökull National Park, you’ll continue east to the world-famous Diamond Beach.
Suggested Lodging: Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon
Suggested Eateries: The Soup Company, Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon
Our Experience
After a delicious breakfast at our hotel, we drove 10 minutes down the road to the meeting spot for our tour. We were escorted in a Superjeep through an old lava field to the base of the ice cave. After a safety briefing and an overview of our equipment, we followed our guide into the Katla Ice Cave.
Walking on ice, and using crampons, was new for us Florida girls, but once we adjusted we had a great time. It was neat to hear the Icelandic folklore about the cave, and the science behind how it was formed. Because it is constantly melting/freezing, the cave is continuously changing. No two tours experience the same cave. In fact, the entrance to the cave changes every couple of years due to this process.
Our next stop was probably the most challenging/exhilarating part of our entire trip. Yes….it beats snorkeling between the tectonic plates in freezing cold water and exploring an ice cave. The hike to Svartifoss is one of my favorite parts of the entire trip.
Now hear me out…the hike itself was about 2 miles round trip (1 mile in and 1 mile back), but man, was it tough. It probably didn’t help that I had an asthma attack before we even started our hike. I’ve read several people’s accounts of the hike, and most have said it’s an easy/moderate hike. They’re all damn liars. I’mma keep it real with you. The hike was tough. And that’s not just because I’m 40 and overweight, I saw many people struggle. Hell, Ashley didn’t even end up finishing the hike. She went back to the car while I finished it solo.
Much of the trail is uphill and the trail is rather steep. What made things worse was that we were all layered up from our ice-cave experience, so despite the fact it was less than 60 degrees (15 degrees Celcius), it was hot as hell. Like, to the point where I stripped down to my undies on the trail and removed a couple of layers.
Arriving at the waterfall, marveling at the hexagonal columns, and cooling off with the refreshing water made the trip so incredibly worth it. I’m glad that I toughed it out!
After meeting Ashley back at the car we drove about 45 minutes east to Diamond Beach. The beach was beautiful. The contrast between the black sand and the crystal-clear ice was stunning.
Our hotel was about 20 minutes west of the Glacier Lagoon, so we had to backtrack a little, but it wasn’t a huge deal.
When we arrived at the hotel, we reserved a time for the sauna and made dinner reservations. Dinner was scrumptious- one of the best we had in Iceland!
Day Four: The East Coast
Today will be your first long driving day. Don’t worry, it’s an incredibly scenic ride. At times you’ll be hugging the coastline high up in the mountains. Oh, and I should probably mention that the Icelandics don’t believe in guardrails.
The drive is about 4.5 hours. We didn’t make any stops along the way, aside from a few unnamed roadside waterfalls (which you’ll find plenty of).
In Egilsstaðir, you can:
- Visit the East Iceland Heritage Museum
- Hike to Fardagafoss
- Scope out Heavier Mountain
- Hike to Gufu Waterfall
Suggested Lodging: Hotel 1001 Nott
Suggested Eateries: Askur Pizzeria
Our Experience
The drive up to Egilsstaðir was absolutely breathtaking. Could this be my favorite corner of Iceland? Our four-hour journey took us along a windy path tracing the Icelandic coast. We zoomed through tunnels, scaled mountains, and passed through charming little villages. One interesting thing about Iceland is that the 820-mile long Ring Road doesn’t have any guard rails. There were times when the road was dangerously close to a cliff, and there was nothing to stop you from going over.
We didn’t make any stops along the way, choosing instead to take in the beauty of the countryside. Since we missed out on the amenities at our previous hotel, we wanted to take advantage of the ones at today’s hotel. We got checked into the hotel, and within 10 minutes, we were in the hot tub.
We didn’t have any big plans for the day, so we each went online to find things to do in the area. Ashley found a reindeer sculpture and a waterfall for us to check out.
The hike to the waterfall, Fardagafoss, was easy. I’m glad we had waterproof hiking boots because we had to cross a little creek a couple of times to get to the falls.
Leading up to our trip, I saw countless photos of women posing topless in front of waterfalls. So, there, in the light rain, with no one else around, I started removing layers of clothes until I was exposed. You’ll have to DM me for that pic (LOL kiddddddinnnnnngggg……).
Each morning of our trip, I’d grab fruit from our hotel and bring it with us in hopes of running into some of Iceland’s famous horses. We passed a least 14,249,843,216 sheep along the Ring Road, but we had yet to see any Icelandic horses. It turns out the sheep wanted nothing to do with me, so I was holding on to the hope of seeing the horses.
Today was finally my chance to feed Icelandic horses! Near our hotel, there was a pasture with horses practically begging me for a treat.
I should probably note that I’m not really a horse person. My only real experience with horses was horseback riding in St. Maarten and that ended with me being covered in horseshit. But that’s a story for another time.
The horses were gorgeous! But man, was a a bit intimated by them. I approached them cautiously, and after dropping the apple about 46 times, I was finally able to feed one. Lemme tell you, feeding apples to a horse is nothing like feeding apples to my labrador.
Day Five: The Northeastern Coast
Today, you’ll make your way from Egilsstaðir to Akureyri, the capital of the north. It’ll be a busy day, so you’ll want to get on the road early.
There are plenty of places that you can stop along your way, including:
- Dettifoss waterfall
- Lake Mývatn
- Mývatn Hot Baths
- Husavik
- Godafoss
- Akureyri
Husavik and Akureyri are both well-known for their whale-watching opportunities. Consider booking a whale-watching tour.
Suggested Lodging: Hotel Kea
Suggested Eateries: Húsavík öl Brewery, Restaurant Salka
Our Experience
The tricky thing about booking tours in Iceland is ensuring you have enough time to get from Point A to Point B. Everything is pretty spread apart, so you have to account for the drive time. In addition, if there is any kind of accident on the Ring Road you’re pretty much screwed because it’s just a two lane road. The weather in Iceland is also unpredictable and constantly changing, so it’s always best to give yourself plenty of time to get somewhere.
We had a 3:00 whale watching tour Husavik, a 3 hour drive from Hotel 1001 Nott. We were on the road by 8:30, battling the rain as we headed north.
Our first stop was a trio of waterfalls called Hafragilsfoss, Dettifoss, and Sellfoss. Dettifoss is the second most powerful waterfall in Europe. The hike to both falls was a breeze and a welcome break from being in the car. It was a great stop!
Next, we made a pit stop in the Lake Mývatn area. Honestly, I don’t see the hype behind this region. Mývatn is a volcanic lake with some geothermal hotspots. Don’t get me wrong, the lake is pretty, but we didn’t end up lingering in the area. Instead, we chose to continue making our way up to Husavik.
Husavik made up for everything that Mývatn lacked. Husavik is renowned as being the whale watching capital of the north. It’s a charming, busy little town filled with vibrant restaurants, bustling shops, breweries, and impressive views.
After a quick picnic lunch along the shore, we set out to explore Husavik on foot. We stopped by the old Husavik Wooden Church and grabbed drinks at Húsavík öl, a small brewery.
While at the brewery, we noticed a Pride Parade was kicking off outside. We downed our drinks and joined in on the fun. After exploring the town (via the parade route), we made our way to the port, where we met up with our whale-watching guide.
We were outfitted with gear and given a brief rundown of what to expect before we headed out on the rib boat. Our guide scanned the horizon, looking for the spray of a humpback. As soon as he spotted it, the captain would race in the direction of the whale(s). We chased whales for well over an hour, anxiously hoping one of them would jump out of the water.
We grabbed dinner at a local restaurant before heading to our hotel in Akureyri.
Day Six: Akureyri & The Troll Peninsula
You’ll spend day six exploring Akureyri, the capital of the north, before driving west to Siglufjordur.
While in Akureyri, you may want to:
- Stroll through the Akureyri Botanical Garden
- Soak in the Akureyri Geothermal Pool
- Browse the Christmas House
- Visit the Home of writer Jon Sveinsson
- Go horseback riding
Suggested Lodging: Siglo Hotel by Keahotels
Suggested Eateries: Seagull 67 Brewery, Torgid Restaurant
Our Experience
We learned early on into our trip that we enjoyed the Icelandic countryside more than we did the towns, so we didn’t spend too much time in Akureyri. Our hotel was off the main shopping thoroughfare, so we spent some time popping in and out of the shops and walking along the waterfront.
Our favorite part of Akureyri was the stunning botanical garden. The park is home to more than 7,000 different plant species, which is pretty impressive considering how harsh the Icelandic weather can be. We spent well over an hour strolling through the beautiful free garden before getting on the road to Siglufjörður.
Fortunately, today’s drive was the shortest one yet! Our hotels were only 70 minutes apart, so we arrived in no time.
It turns out that Siglufjörður is an incredibly sleepy town on Sunday mornings. Since it was too early for us to check into the hotel, we hopped back in the car and drove to the town of, Hofsos.
Hofsos is known for 3 things: the cute church with a blue roof, the Staðarbjörg basalt columns that plummet into the sea, and the geothermal pool. Ashley didn’t want to get wet and deal with the wind, so she read near the pool while I took a dip. The warm weather was incredibly relaxing. I loved being able to look out at the sea from the infinity pool.
One of my favorite things about Icelanders is that they have a folktale for everything! Every waterfall and every landmark has a story behind it. The basalt columns are no different.
The story goes that a group of trolls were building a bridge or a fortress along the coastline. While they were working, they were caught by the rising sun, which turned them—and their unfinished construction—into stone. This explains the eerie, geometric appearance of the columns, as if they were carefully crafted but never completed.
Back in Siglufjörður, we walked along the harbor. We visited the newly erected sculpture, “The Herring Girl,” and enjoyed dinner at Torgid. After exploring the small fishing village, we checked into our hotel and took advantage of the hotel’s hot tub and sauna. It was refreshing to have a day to relax and take it easy, especially since many of our days involved quite a bit of driving.
Day Seven: The West Coast
If you have an extra day, you could tack on time in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula here.
Today, you’ll start making your way back down to Reykjavik. It’s about a 5-hour jaunt from the northern coast to the capital city.
Along the way, you can stop at:
- Kolugljufur Canyon
- Grabrok
- Deildartunguhver Hot Spring
- Krauma Health Spa
- Hraunfossar
- Barnafoss
- The Cave Vidgelmir
- Selgil Hot Spring
Our Experience
Today we traveled south down the west coast and began our journey back home. Our first stop was the Deildartunguhver Hot Spring. Deildartunguhver is known as the highest-flow hot spring in Europe, producing around 180 liters (47 gallons) of boiling water per second at a temperature of about 97°C (207°F). It was kind of neat to see the bubbling hot water shooting from the Earth’s crust.
While we were there, I tried something I hadn’t eaten in about 35 years…a hot dog. Leading up to our trip, I kept reading about how incredible Icelandic hot dogs are. Hot dogs have always grossed me out, so I nixed the idea of trying one. While we were at the spring, Ashley spotted a food truck that sold hot dogs, so she grabbed one.
I cautiously grabbed the hot dog from her and took a little nibble. It wasn’t horrible. The rémoulade that it was served with had a bit too much mustard for my liking, but I tried it. And for me, that’s huge.
20 minutes down the road, we made a stop at Hraunfossar. Hraunfossar is unique in that it doesn’t flow from a river. Instead, the water comes pouring out of a lava field before cascading down to the river. It’s a pretty cool sight and well worth the stop.
If you make the pit stop, make sure you walk over to the neighboring waterfall, Barnafoss, as well.
In retrospect, I wish we had visited The Cave Vidgelmir while we were in the area instead of heading down to the city. Vidgelmir is Iceland’s largest lava cave.
Instead, we drove the rest of the way to Reykavik, where we shopped and looked for souvenirs to bring home to our loved ones.
Day Eight: Reykjavik to Keflavik
Today’s plans depend on your departure time.
You could:
- Explore more of the city
- Spend some time at a geothermal pool
- Relax at the Blue Lagoon,
- Tour the Reykjanes Peninsula
- Sleep in
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