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In the three years we have run the site, we have heard from a lot of people who have asked us about the ring road or told us about the fun they have had on traveling on it. They are in many ways typical of our users, people who are thrilled by Iceland and want to travel on their own, and most often by going on Icelandic road trips.
The Different Types of Icelandic Road Trips
Each has their own version of a road trip in Iceland:
Free road trip plans with maps
Day-by-day plans for the four drives most people take, each on an interactive map with where to sleep, fuel stops, waterfalls and reader discounts along the way. Built for a relaxed pace, not a race.
See all road trip plansMap of hot springs, spas and pools
Every lagoon, wild hot spring and town pool in Iceland on one map. Find warm water near you, and see which spas give my readers a discount.
- 57 places to soak
- % Reader discounts
- American artists like Evan Mather are coming here to create a time-lapse film of the whole ring road trip
- Other people create heartwarming videos of discovering Iceland and Icelandic nature by driving on the ring road
- Some see massive volcanic eruptions
- Self-driving tours in Iceland are family-friendly
- Discover the multitude of species of birds that reside here.
So what will you discover on the 1,132-km-long drive? The following destinations seem to be highlights of an Icelandic road trip. In this way, we assume you start in Reykjavik, drive along the south coast first, then the East Fjords, the north of Iceland, and then head back south to Reykjavik.
Three iconic waterfalls grace the southern coast
There are three waterfalls that are really close together and in relative short distance from Reykjavik. These are Seljalandsfoss waterfall, its often-overlooked neighbor, Gljufrabui waterfall, and Skogarfoss waterfall.
The Black beach at Reynisfjara is a destination for many Icelandic road trips
The black beach at Reynisfjara, a scene in many commercials and films, is a must-visit destination. Don´t forget to check out the village of Vik and the promontory of Dyrholaey with its lovely lighthouse as well.
Sólheimajokull glacier
With the caveats that the gravel road to Sólheimajokull glacier is often pretty rough and that you should never, ever, go on an Icelandic glacier without an experienced guide, we recommend you check it out.
Skaftafell and Vatnajokull glacier
At Skaftafell, you have to see the lovely waterfall of Svartifoss and the magnificent Vatnajokull glacier. For the intrepid hiker, there is always the possibility of joining a trek to Hvannadalshnjukur peak, the highest point of Iceland, or the rather magnificent Hrutfjallstindar peaks. For the love of god, do not embark on Vatnajokull glacier without an experienced and qualified guide. It is super dangerous.
Batman Mountain
Well, it isn´t really called Batman Mountain, but Vestrahorn Mountain in the South East of Iceland looks like the Batman logo from a certain angle.
Fierce Metal Festival
If you are traveling in eastern Iceland in July, you might want to see whether you can attend the totally epic Eistnaflug metal festival. It has an incredibly friendly atmosphere and fierce music.
The King of Icelandic Waterfalls
In the North East resides Dettifoss waterfall, which is by far the most powerful and largest waterfall in the country. Nearby is its pretty little cousin, Selfoss waterfall.
Lake Myvatn
This is simply a lovely area, and we found a special hidden pathway there the other day. Enjoy it, but make sure it stays tranquil, take nothing but pictures, and only leave memories.
The capital of whale watching
Husavik town is best known for its whale watching. We tried it the other day and found it to be a contact sport full of anticipation and great rewards.
Akureyri
The capital of the north is really nice. It has imposing mountains surrounding it, but whatever you do, try the sushi pizza and what is probably the best ice cream in Iceland. Like Husavik, it has whale watching on offer, and the other day, they created a rather nifty video about it. Near Akureyri is the turf farm of Laufas, which is a great example of how the Icelandic 1% lived back in the day.
Snaefellsnes Peninsula
This is a bit of a digression from the ring road, but with the Snaefells glacier of ´Journey to the Center of the Earth´fame and the incredibly beautiful beaches and birdlife, I think you will find the Snaefellsnes peninsula worth it. After Snaefellsnes, it is a relatively short drive back to Reykjavik.
